A biofluid-based diagnostic screening system and associated methods are disclosed for screening a volume of biofluid of a patient for an at least one medical condition. In at least one embodiment, the system provides a lateral flow test strip, a test housing sized and configured for removably receiving the test strip therewithin, and a user application residing locally in memory on an imaging device and configured for screening a volume of biofluid of a patient, as deposited on the test strip, for an at least one medical condition.

A method of treatment for pulpitis and/or enhancement for dentinogenesis, includes using dental materials that include at least one of a protein having matrix metalloprotease 3 activities or matrix metalloprotease 3 precursor protein as an active ingredient. The dental materials can also contain a carrier having biocompatibility, and can contain at least one cell type among pulp cells, pulp stem cells, pulp progenitor cells, odontoblasts or cells that can differentiate into odontoblasts.

Biomarkers useful for diagnosing and assessing inflammatory disease are provided, along with kits for measuring their expression. The invention also provides predictive models, based on the biomarkers, as well as computer systems, and software embodiments of the models for scoring and optionally classifying samples. The biomarkers include at least two biomarkers selected from the DAIMRK group and the score is a disease activity index (DAI).

The present application provides methods for contacting a body fluid sample from a subject with a molecule ex vivo. The method comprises contacting a body fluid with a molecule comprising a reporter thereof and the reporter is cleaved by an agent in the body fluid. An additional ingredient is added to the body fluid sample, and the rate of formation or the amount of the cleaved reporter is higher compared to a sample without addition of the ingredient. Diseases and conditions that can be determined by the method are also described.

Biomarkers tests which can be used to predict a positive or negative risk of preeclampsia are described. More specifically, a panel of biomarkers including MMP-7 and gpIIbIIIa, described. The test is useful to predict preeclampsia when a biological sample is obtained between the 16.sup.th and 22.sup.nd week of pregnancy. Prediction later in pregnancy can be achieved by a combination of Siglec-6, Activin A, ALCAM, and/or FCN2.

The present disclosure provides biomarkers associated with caveolin-1 peptide therapy in subjects with interstitial lung disease. In particular, the present disclosure describes biomarkers such as MYDGF, soluble RAGE, pSMAD2/3, and PDGFR associated with caveolin-1 peptide therapy in subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These biomarkers could be used to determine efficacy, monitoring, and optimal dosing of caveolin-1 peptide therapy in subjects with interstitial lung disease.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more markers selected from the group consisting of Clusterin, Heart-type fatty acid binding protein, Hepatocyte growth factor, Interferon gamma, Interleukin-12 subunit beta, Interleukin-16, Interleukin-2, 72 kDa type IV collagenase, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Midkine, and Serum amyloid P-component as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in renal injuries.

MMP-8 activation products are disclosed that have a MMP-8 middle-part activation product having a size between 20-35 kDa. Methods of detecting the MMP-8 activation product or activated MMP-8 fragments in a biological sample derived from a subject are also disclosed. The MMP-8 activation product or activated MMP-8 fragments diagnose diseases based on abnormal or elevated levels of activated MMP-8.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods of use involving binding proteins, e.g., antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind to the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) protein (MMP9 is also known as gelatinase-B), such as where the binding proteins comprise an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain (or functional fragment thereof) and an Ig light chain (or functional fragment thereof).

Screening assays and methods of using same for screening to identify modulator agents or compounds that affect matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mediated activation of toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) are described herein. Pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions comprising agents or compounds that modulate MMP-2 mediated activation of TLR-2 are also encompassed. Methods for modulating MMP-2 mediated activation of TLR-2 using MMP-2 peptides in pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions, as well as vaccines, are also envisioned. Melanoma is an exemplary tumor type that expresses MMP-2 and for which such pharmaceutical and immunogenic compositions, as well as vaccines, would confer benefit to patients. Also encompassed are methods for reducing MMP-2 mediated activation of TLR-2 and downstream signaling therefrom so as to achieve more effective T cell responses to MMP-2 expressing tumors.