Provided herein are methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by targeting the CD24-Siglec axis.

The present invention provides methods and composition for diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and/or treatment of cancers such as melanomas. The subject invention provides biomarkers (e.g., galectin-3 (Gal-3)) and methods for assessing the severity of a cancer/tumor and for monitoring the progressing of a cancer/tumor. The compositions according to the subject invention regulate and alter melanoma signaling, growth, and survival. The subject invention also provides molecular mechanisms governing melanoma metastasis to identify candidate diagnostic or prognostic markers and develop novel therapeutic opportunities. Further, the subject invention identifies the tumor-suppressive function of Gal-3 in melanoma cells, emphasizing the negative crosstalk between Gal-3 and NFAT1 and its role in dictating melanoma metastasis.

The invention comprises a therapeutic composition adapted to induce innate and antibody-based immune responses. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to therapeutic compositions for respiratory viruses suitable for nasal and/or nasopharyngeal administration. More specifically, the therapeutic compositions comprise mannose binding lectins (MBL) including e.g., modified MBL (mMBL), selected viral peptides, and combinations of MBL or mMBL and selected viral peptides, optionally in combination with an adjuvant and/or carrier. The invention provides for the simultaneous stimulation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the proximal aggregation of the invading respiratory vims to its targeted mucosal antibody which maximizes the opsonization of the infecting pathogen.

The invention comprises a therapeutic composition adapted to induce innate and antibody-based immune responses. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to therapeutic compositions for respiratory viruses suitable for nasal and/or nasopharyngeal administration. More specifically, the therapeutic compositions comprise mannose binding lectins (MBL) including e.g., modified MBL (mMBL), selected viral peptides, and combinations of MBL or mMBL and selected viral peptides, optionally in combination with an adjuvant and/or carrier. The invention provides for the simultaneous stimulation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the proximal aggregation of the invading respiratory vims to its targeted mucosal antibody which maximizes the opsonization of the infecting pathogen.

This disclosure provides for the application of a multi-disciplinary analysis of information sources to draw novel conclusions that result in new methods to diagnose, prevent or treat COVID-19. COVID-19 appears to be an extremely complex disease, encompassing three critical aspects at least: a viral infection, an immune system disorder, and a cardiovascular/pulmonary/renal disease with significant coagulation system dysregulation. This disclosure principally focuses on the design and methods of use of a combinatorial apparatus that addresses critical needs to treat patients with COVID-19, especially those at high risk of, or experiencing, adverse effects of COVID-19 infection, including but not limited to kidney function support, supplemental oxygen administration, correction of cardiovascular dysfunction, and removal or modification of deleterious molecules or agents from or in a patient's blood, including virus particles or molecular components thereof. Applications of the combinatorial device for disease management other than for use with respect to COVID-19 are also described.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) is caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene, resulting in non-functional dysferlin, a key protein found in muscle membrane. Treatment options available for patients are chiefly palliative in nature and focus on maintaining ambulation. A method of treating LGMD2B is disclosed herein. The method includes administering to a patient a suitable amount of a galectin protein or fragment thereof. Treatment with a recombinant galectin promoted myogenic maturation as indicated through improvements in size, myotube alignment, myoblast migration, and membrane repair capacity in dysferlin-deficient myotubes, explant myofibers and mice.

A medication delivery device for treatment of a pulmonary disorder in a patient includes an elongate member, an expandable member is coupled to a distal end of the elongate member, and an agent delivery portion coupled to an external surface of the expandable member. The agent delivery portion includes an agent that disrupts nerve activity.

Ophthalmic compositions including compatible solute components and/or polyanionic components are useful in treating eyes, for example, to relieve dry eye syndrome, to protect the eyes against hypertonic insult and/or the adverse effects of cationic species on the ocular surfaces of eyes and/or to facilitate recovery from eye surgery.

The object of the present invention is to provide an aggregatable carrier material for drug delivery system and a micelle formed thereof. The present invention provides an aggregatable carrier material for drug delivery system, which is formed by utilizing the reaction between thiol group and alkyl halide. It is formed by using carbosilane dendrimers containing silole and labeled proteins such as green fluorescent protein in aqueous solvent or in mixed solvent of the aqueous solvent and organic solvent. The micelle composed of the material may incorporate compounds having a variety of molecular weight and biopolymers in the aqueous solvent.

The present invention is directed to the discovery that Galectins and in particular, Galectin-8 and Galectin-9 control mTor response (Galectin-8 is a mTOR inhibitor and Galectin-9 is modulator/upregulator of AMPKinase) to endomembrane damage and these compositions can be used, either alone or together, optionally in combination with a lysomotropic agent and other bioactive agents as compositions for the treatment of autophagy-elated diseases. The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating autophagy-related diseases as described herein.