Novel compositions, methods, assays and kits directed to a diagnostic panel for Alzheimer's disease are provided. In one embodiment, the diagnostic panel includes one or more proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The present invention relates to a universal calibration method of use for assaying inhibitors of the same enzyme, for example for assaying inhibitors of an enzyme of blood coagulation. The invention also relates to the use of this universal calibration in a method for assaying a reversible or irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme in a biological sample. The invention also relates to the use of the universal calibration in a method for screening inhibitors of the enzyme.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

The invention relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing, or monitoring or staging the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using biomarkers. The invention also relates to a method of scoring to determine the severity of NAFLD, and a method of treating NAFLD.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting at least one direct factor Xa inhibitor in a sample other than citrate plasma, comprising the step of mixing a sample containing a factor Xa inhibitor with a composition containing factor Xa under conditions which allow the factor Xa to release a detectable substance from a chromogenic substrate.

Featured are a foodstuff containing an inter-alpha inhibitor protein (lαlp) (e.g., lαl, Pαl, a heavy chain (e.g., H1, H2, H3, H4, and/or H5), a light chain (e.g., bikunin), or a combination thereof), methods of preparing a food-stuff containing an lαlp, and methods of treating and/or reducing the likelihood of developing a disease or condition (e.g., a disease or condition characterized by inflammation and/or low levels of an lαlp) in a subject in need thereof by administering a composition or a foodstuff containing an lαlp. Also featured are methods of purifying an lλlp (e.g., lαl, Pαl, a heavy chain (e.g., H1, H2, H3, H4, and/or H5), a light chain (e.g., bikunin), or a combination thereof) from milk.

The invention relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing, or monitoring or staging the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using biomarkers. The invention also relates to a method of scoring to determine the severity of NAFLD, and a method of treating NAFLD.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

According to one embodiment, a detection device includes a sensor element and a probe molecule. The probe molecule is immobilized at the sensor element. The probe molecule associates with a receptor exposed at a surface of a detection target. The sensor element detects cleavage of the receptor having associated with the probe molecule.