The present invention relates to methods and medicaments useful for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by administering anti-CTGF antibodies. Methods for prognosing individuals with IPF are also provided.

Compositions comprising a fluorescein component and benoxinate component and the corresponding uses of these compositions are described herein. These compositions have improved storage life and the fluorescein component and/or benoxinate component minimally degrade after 12 to 18 months of storage.

Peptide epitopes identified in subjects infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and methods of use thereof for diagnosing, determining prognosis, and treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and developing prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

The present disclosure provides an isolated, engineered or non-naturally occurring protein comprising an antibody light chain variable domain (V.sub.L) which may comprise at least one negatively charged amino acid positioned between residues 49 to 56 according to the numbering system of Kabat, the protein capable of binding specifically to an antigen.

The present invention discloses indicator fluids, reference indicator fluid, and usage thereof, and systems and methods for assessing movement of molecular substances within, to or from a cerebrospinal fluid, brain or spinal cord compartment of a human cranio-spinal cavity. Indicator fluid moving from the cerebrospinal fluid compartment enables measurements of levels of indicator fluid in blood or urine and assessment of the cranio-spinal cavity's ability to remove molecular substances. The indicator fluids may be contrast agents used for imaging, such as by computed tomography imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging, or imaging utilizing radioactive substances by positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography or scintigraphy. Using these imaging modalities, the invention describes indicator fluids, systems and methods enabling assessment of movement of substances within, to or from a cerebrospinal fluid, brain or spinal cord compartment of a cranio-spinal cavity, and from the human cranio-spinal cavity to lymphatic pathways or kidneys.

Therapeutic compliance and more particularly a composition having: a drug substance, selected from an active ingredient and a placebo, and a detection agent. The drug substance being different from the detection agent. The composition being configured such that the detection agent allows to indicate an ingestion of the drug substance. The composition is such that the detection agent includes a hydride that will dissolve upon contact with an aqueous medium in a human or non-human animal body, releasing dihydrogen.

A method for evaluating kidney function utilizing a nanoparticle that can be eliminated from the body by the kidneys as an exogenous marker. The method includes administering the nanoparticles to a subject, followed by collecting a blood or urine sample after a period of time, characterizing the nanoparticles in the blood or urine sample, and finally comparing a characteristic parameter of the nanoparticles in the blood or urine sample between the tested subject and a control group having normal kidney function.

The present disclosure relates to methods for determining the renal glomerular filtration rate or assessing the renal function in a patient in need thereof. The method comprises administering, subcutaneously or intramuscularly, a pyrazine compound of Formula I to a patient, wherein the administration produces a plasma concentration of the compound that is substantially similar to a plasma concentration produced by intravenous administration of an identical amount of the compound; and monitoring the rate in which the kidneys of the patient eliminate the pyrazine from the systemic circulation of the patient. The pyrazine compound fluoresces when exposed to electromagnetic radiation which may be detected using one or more sensors. The rate in which the fluorescence decreases in the patient may be used to calculate the renal glomerular filtration rate in the patient.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises: (a) a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a first biosensor, wherein said first biosensor is a first molecule capable of interacting with a second molecule; (b) a second nucleic acid sequence encoding an effector-activating module, wherein the effector-activating module comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a first part of a protease, wherein said first part of the protease is capable of interacting with a second part of said protease to form an active form of said protease; (c) a third nucleic acid sequence encoding a third biosensor comprising a protease cleavage site, wherein the protease cleavage site is sterically occluded in the absence of a stimulus for said third biosensor and wherein the protease cleavage site becomes accessible in the presence of said stimulus.

The present invention provides a test meal composition, a test meal packaging, a test meal kit, and methods and uses of same for detection of prediabetes in an individual. The test meal composition comprises dextrose, lecithin, and soy protein. Additionally, the test meal composition is packaged for consumption by an individual based on a body weight of the individual. The consumption of the test meal is used in methods for detection of prediabetes, and the determination of efficacy of diabetes treatments. Assessment of the presence and degree of prediabetes and diabetes is based on the degree of meal-induced hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.