The invention belongs to the technical field of collagen detection, and in particular relates to a peptide probe for the specific detection of pathological collagen in tissues, the preparation methods and applications. The peptide probe disclosed in this invention comprises a peptide sequence (Gly-Hyp-Pro).sub.n and a signal molecule modified at the N-terminal of the peptide sequence (Gly-Hyp-Pro).sub.n. The peptide sequence (Gly-Hyp-Pro).sub.n can maintain a stable single-stranded conformation without introducing other components, and will not form a trimer state at all. After the N-terminal of the peptide sequence is connected with a signal molecule, it can be used as a peptide probe for the detection of pathological collagen. The preparation method of the peptide probe is simple. Compared with the existing peptide (GPO, GPP or GOO) probe, it can continuously maintain 100% single-stranded structure, and the concentration of the single-chain probe can be accurately quantified. Moreover, this peptide probe can recognize pathological collagen in tissues of diseases such as arthritis, which has wide prospects of application in fields such as early diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of collagen-related diseases.

Methods, kits, and active ingredients for diagnosing or treating arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, or for selection of subjects for therapy. The methods for diagnosing arthritis involve the detection of an autoantibody, which is associated with arthritis, or excluding the presence of an autoantibody against collagen II. The methods for diagnosing a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, involve the detection of an autoantibody against thrombospondin-4 or COMP. The kits contain a detection agent for an autoantibody and can be used for diagnosing arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system. The active ingredient can be used for treating or preventing autoimmune-associated arthritis.

Implant related risk of revision not caused by an infection or metal on metal reaction can be addressed by the methods provided herein, including diagnosing implant related risk of revision, use of kits for such diagnostic purposes and compositions for use in the treatment of implant related risk of revision, in particular implant related risk of revision not caused by an infection or metal on metal reaction.

Implant related risk of revision not caused by an infection or metal on metal reaction can be addressed by the methods provided herein, including diagnosing implant related risk of revision, use of kits for such diagnostic purposes and compositions for use in the treatment of implant related risk of revision, in particular implant related risk of revision not caused by an infection or metal on metal reaction.

A fluorescent probe includes one or more metal binding functional group, such as phosphonic acid group and an arsonic acid group, in which the functional group is covalently linked to a fluorescent core via a sp.sup.2-carbon atom of the fluorescent core. In embodiments, the fluorescent core is an organic fluorescent compound/moiety, that can be a tetrapyrrole derivative, such as porphyrin or phthalocyanine, acridine, BODIPY, cyanine or cyanine derivatives, carbazole, coumarine or coumarine derivatives, xanthene or xanthene derivatives such as fluorescein or rhodamine. The fluorescent probe can bind to calcium and/or a calcification, such as hydroxyapatite (HAP). In a further aspect, a fluorescent probe is used in a method of detecting calcium, such as a calcification or HAP, in a bodily tissue. The use of the fluorescent probe is also provided for detecting calcium, a calcification and/or HAP, such as calcium depositions in a bodily tissue.

The presently claimed invention relates to materials and methods for diagnosing a chronic inflammatory disease in a patient comprising testing a biological sample from the patient for a level of a first neurovascular biomarker of lymphatic activation and diagnosing the patient as having the chronic inflammatory disease if the tested level of the first neurovascular biomarker of lymphatic activation is less than a first normal level.

This disclosure relates to methods and kits for diagnosing osteoarthritis and for determining the progression of osteoarthritis in a subject.

The present invention refers to osteomodulin (OMD) protein or fragment of osteomodulin (OMD) protein for use in the prognosis and/or diagnosis of osteoarthritis and/or subchondral bone sclerosis of mammals, preferably human individuals. The present invention further refers to a method for prognosis and/or diagnosis of osteoarthritis and/or subchondral bone sclerosis, comprising the following steps: i) measuring osteomodulin (OMD) protein or a fragment or fragments of osteomodulin (OMD) protein in samples of body fluids of mammalian individuals, preferably human serum samples; ii) judging that decreased levels of osteomodulin (OMD) protein or of said fragment(s) compared to levels in body fluids, preferably serum, of healthy individuals indicate onset of osteoarthritis and/or subchondral bone sclerosis. The present invention also provides an immunological binding partner specifically binding to osteomodulin (OMD) protein or fragment of osteomodulin (OMD) protein for use in the prognosis and/or diagnosis of osteoarthritis and/or subchondral bone sclerosis of mammals, preferably human individuals and a kit comprising said immunological binding partner.

This invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that Shn2 and Shn3 play an important role in skeletal remodeling and skeletal patterning. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for identifying medulators of Shn2 activity and methods for modulating bone formation and mineralization and Shn2-associated disorders using agents that modulate Shn2 expression and/or activity, in addition to methods for modulating Shn2 and Shn3.

The present invention provides new protease resistant polypeptides, as well as compositions and methods for treating, ameliorating or preventing conditions related to joint damage, including acute joint injury and arthritis.