Pro-toothpaste compositions formulated to receive a volume of allergen solution to provide toothpastes that exhibit efficacy for oral mucosal immunotherapy (OMIT) and acceptable consumer and product stability properties, along with kits of pro-toothpaste, allergen/extracts of allergens, and optionally compounding means and/or specialized toothbrushes are provided. Toothpastes suitable and effective for OMIT and methods for managing allergic symptoms and for reducing risk of allergy in people without symptoms employing the pro-toothpastes, toothpastes and kits of the invention are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for antibiotic therapy guidance, stratification and/or control in a patient suspected of having an infection. In particular, the method comprises providing a sample form said patient, determining a level of proADM or fragment(s) thereof in said sample, and wherein the level of proADM or fragment(s) thereof in said sample is indicative of whether an initiation or a change of an antibiotic treatment is required. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises additionally determining in a sample from said patient a level of PCT or fragment(s) thereof. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a kit for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Methods of determining whether specific drugs or patients carry an increased risk of causing or developing, respectively, long QT syndrome or Torsades de Pointes and methods of treating such patients.

The invention relates to water soluble .sup.18F-prosthetic groups and the synthesis and use .sup.18F-labeled biological molecules containing the .sup.18F-prosthetic groups for imaging various processes within the body, for detecting the location of molecules associated with disease pathology, and for monitoring disease progression are disclosed.

Provided is a diagnostic drug for evaluating permeability of intestinal mucosa, including chitin and/or chitosan as a main component. The chitin and/or chitosan to be used preferably has a weight average molecular weight prepared to a range of from 1,000 to 11,600.

The invention provides methods of monitoring development of renal inflammation in a subject following administration of a nephrotoxic agent. The methods involve analyzing levels of one or more UDP-hexoses, such as UDP-glucose, UDP-galactose, UDP-glucuronic acid, N-acetyl-UDP-glucosamine, or N-acetyl-UDP-galactosamine, in a sample from the subject. The invention also provides methods of treating or preventing renal inflammation in a subject who has been given a nephrotoxic agent by providing a P2Y 14 receptor antagonist to the subject.

Provided herein are new compositions and methods to target and deliver agents to pathological areas by utilizing multifunctional compounds. These compounds include three or more domains: (i) a vimentin-binding peptide, (ii) a linker, and (iii) a drug binding, a capturing reagent, or a detectable moiety. These compounds can be used to detect, isolate, and/or treat cancerous cells such as circulating tumor cells.

Provided herein are methods of inducing psychosis in animals using light-responsive opsins and methods of identifying or screening compounds that may be useful in treating psychosis.

Symmetrically and asymmetrically branched homopolymers are modified at the surface level with functional groups that enable forming aggregates with water insoluble or poorly water soluble pharmaceutically active agents (PAA). The aggregates formed are specifically induced by interaction of PAA and homopolymer and are different from aggregates that are formed by the polymer alone in the absence of the PAA or by the PAA alone in the absence of the polymer. Such aggregates can be used to improve drug solubility, stability, delivery and efficacy.

A non-leaching mediator may include a polymer having a polymeric backbone, and a plurality of phenothiazine groups bonded to the polymeric backbone. The plurality of phenothiazine groups may include at least one of a phenothiazine group having the general formula (IV): ##STR00001##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded, and a phenothiazine group having the general formula (V): ##STR00002##
and salts thereof, where n is about 9 and R represents the polymeric backbone to which the phenothiazine group is bonded.