Beta-cryptoxanthin compositions and methods are described for the management of cardiometabolic syndrome and associated risk factors, in a subject, in need thereof. Methods herein are directed to identifying such subject at risk of developing cardiometabolic syndrome and administering beta-cryptoxanthin composition to assess the condition of an organ. Compositions and methods herein can effectively reduce risk factors of cardiometabolic syndrome, such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and/or related cardiovascular disorders. Beta-cryptoxanthin compositions and methods herein can reduce body weight, body fat, glucose levels, and free fatty acids, when administered in effective amounts. The compositions and methods herein can also reduce oxidative stress on organs such as the eye and liver and/or reduce inflammatory and/or oxidative markers, when administered to subjects in need thereof.

The present disclosure relates to an in vivo fluorescent or radioactive probe represented by a compound of formula I which is capable of longitudinal imaging of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in living cells and living animals on a real time basis. The probe of the present disclosure can exhibit specific and high affinity binding to the iNOS enzyme with reduced enzyme inhibitory property and also enables longitudinal monitoring of iNOS expression along with its activity or NO production in a same experimental subject throughout the progression of a physiological or disease process without employing separate subjects as controls and experimental. The present disclosure further provides a rapid and inexpensive real time method for visualizing iNOS expression and its activity in living cells and living animals precisely, conveniently and reversibly along with simultaneous in vivo imaging of its catalytic product, nitric oxide (NO) in live physiological settings.

Novel compositions that promote hair growth or hair restoration, and compositions that prevent hair loss. Compositions including an iNOS inhibitor as an active ingredient are provided. Advantageous affects for hair growth or hair restoration are obtained when a composition including an iNOS inhibitor as an active ingredient is administered to a mammal. For the iNOS inhibitor, a low-molecular compound, an antibody, or a nucleic acid drug such as an antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA may be used. A method of screening for effective substances for promotion of hair growth or hair restoration or prevention of hair loss is also provided.

The present invention relates to endothelial cell biomarkers and diagnostic and prognostic methods for vascular diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The invention also provides compositions for detecting endothelial cell biomarkers (e.g., endothelial cell-derived exosome biomarkers) as well as compositions and methods useful for treating vascular diseases (e.g., atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease).

The present invention relates to the field of biomarkers. More specifically, the present invention relates to biomarkers useful in diagnosing brain injuries. In a specific embodiment, a method for diagnosing perinatal brain injury in a patient comprises the steps of (a) determining the ratio of phosphorylated nNOS to unphosphorylated nNOS in a sample collected from the patient using an ELISA; and (b) comparing the ratio with predefined ratios of the same proteins that correlate to a patient having perinatal brain injury and predefined ratios of the same proteins that correlate to a patient not having perinatal brain injury, wherein a correlation to one of the predefined ratios provides the diagnosis.

The invention provides methods of treatment or prophylaxis of damaging effects of penetrative injury to the brain or other part of the central nervous system. The methods are based in part on results in a rodent model of penetrative ballistic injury showing that an inhibitor of PDF-95 NMDAR interaction is effective in inhibiting neurological deficits resulting from such injury. The methods are useful for treating subjects having or at risk of penetrative brain injury, including subjects who have been shot in the head or at risk of such injury (e.g., military or law enforcement personnel).