Methods are provided for assessing a clinical response to a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (GRA) in a human subject and for diagnosing Cushing's syndrome.

Aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising one or more live bacterial strains for topical administration to the skin, wherein the one or more live bacterial strains are Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterial strains, and methods for use.

Aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising one or more live bacterial strains for topical administration to the skin, wherein the one or more live bacterial strains are Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterial strains, and methods for use.

A detection system for determining alpha-methylacyl-CoA (AMACR) levels in a bodily sample includes at least one reaction solution for generating H.sub.2O.sub.2 upon combination with AMACR in the bodily sample and a biosensor for determining a level of generated H.sub.2O.sub.2. The reaction solution includes a (2R)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer that can be chirally inverted by AMACR to a (2S)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer and an enzyme that carries out beta oxidation with the (2S)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer to generate hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2).

A detection system for determining alpha-methylacyl-CoA (AMACR) levels in a bodily sample includes at least one reaction solution for generating H.sub.2O.sub.2 upon combination with AMACR in the bodily sample and a biosensor for determining a level of generated H.sub.2O.sub.2. The reaction solution includes a (2R)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer that can be chirally inverted by AMACR to a (2S)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer and an enzyme that carries out beta oxidation with the (2S)-2-methylacyl-CoA epimer to generate hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2).

Disclosed herein is a new and improved therapy for the treatment of cancer, which comprises the step of altering cell membrane lipid composition by treating a cancer cell with an enzyme inhibitor which inhibits enzymes regulating the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. One preferred protein target in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway to inhibit is oxidosqualene cyclase. In some forms, inhibitors of one or more pathways are combined with an existing chemotherapeutic agent to combat drug resistance and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of conventional therapy.

Disclosed herein is a new and improved therapy for the treatment of cancer, which comprises the step of altering cell membrane lipid composition by treating a cancer cell with an enzyme inhibitor which inhibits enzymes regulating the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. One preferred protein target in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway to inhibit is oxidosqualene cyclase. In some forms, inhibitors of one or more pathways are combined with an existing chemotherapeutic agent to combat drug resistance and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of conventional therapy.

The invention provides a method for isolating particular members from a library of variant cells in individual microreactors, wherein the phenotype of the biomolecule secreted by the cell is evaluated on the basis of multiple parameters, including substrate specificity and kinetic efficiency.

Motion detector comprising a flexible support (1,5) adapted to hold at least one object (6-9), a sensor (4) for measuring the displacement of said support (1) and processing means for differentiating the fluctuations of said support (1) from those induced by said object (6-9).

Motion detector comprising a flexible support (1,5) adapted to hold at least one object (6-9), a sensor (4) for measuring the displacement of said support (1) and processing means for differentiating the fluctuations of said support (1) from those induced by said object (6-9).