Provided herein is a fluorescent probe compound of formula (I):

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as well as methods of using said compound.

Methods for transfusing blood to a mammalian subject. The method includes obtaining a unit of blood, rejuvenating the blood with an enhancement composition, measuring a level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the blood, and delivering the blood to a subject.

The invention provides peptides capable of inhibiting the individual activity and inter-pathway communication of BNIP3, BAX and mitochondria. The peptides can be used in methods of treating a disease or condition in a subject in which it is desirable to prevent cell damage and cell death.

A specific and sensitive in vitro ELISA assay and diagnostic test kit is disclosed for determining levels of NT-proBNP protein in a variety of bodily fluids, non-limiting examples of which are blood, serum, plasma, urine and the like. The NT-proBNP ELISA assay test employs the sandwich ELISA technique to measure circulating NT-proBNP in human plasma. In order to obtain antibodies with specific binding properties for targeted amino acid sequences within human proBNP, recombinant human proBNP (or rhproBNP) was expressed and purified for use as an immunogen. Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) to specific amino acid sequences were subsequently purified from goat serum by sequential affinity purification. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against specific polypeptides. Recombinant human NT-proBNP (or rhNT-proBNP) was expressed and purified in order to obtain material for use in calibration of a quantitative method for measurement of human NT-proBNP.

The present invention relates to a composition for detecting hydrogen sulfide or measuring a concentration of hydrogen sulfide, and a composition comprising same as an effective ingredient for diagnosing or imaging in vivo inflammation, tissues having hypoxic damage, or cancer. The composition for detecting hydrogen sulfide or measuring a concentration of hydrogen sulfide according to the present invention, which comprises the compound represented by formula 1 (.sup.99mTc-alpha-hydroxy acid) having alpha-hydroxy acid labeled with .sup.99mTc, enables the detection or concentration measurement of hydrogen sulfide in in-vitro and in-vivo levels and, as such, can be advantageously used for detecting hydrogen sulfide and measuring a concentration of hydrogen sulfide and furthermore for discovering biological roles of hydrogen sulfide in vivo, especially, for detecting, imaging, and quantitatively measuring hydrogen sulfide in a disease selected from the group consisting of angiogenesis, inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular ischemia, and cerebrovascular ischemia, or in hypoxic tissues.

A specific and sensitive in vitro ELISA assay and diagnostic test kit is disclosed for determining levels of NT-proBNP protein in a variety of bodily fluids, non-limiting examples of which are blood, serum, plasma, urine and the like. The NT-proBNP ELISA assay test employs the sandwich ELISA technique to measure circulating NT-proBNP in human plasma. In order to obtain antibodies with specific binding properties for targeted amino acid sequences within human proBNP, recombinant human proBNP (or rhproBNP) was expressed and purified for use as an immunogen. Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) to specific amino acid sequences were subsequently purified from goat serum by sequential affinity purification. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against specific polypeptides. Recombinant human NT-proBNP (or rhNT-proBNP) was expressed and purified in order to obtain material for use in calibration of a quantitative method for measurement of human NT-proBNP.

The invention describes a method of determining the presence of acute cerebral ischaemic disorder in a subject comprising: a. measuring the concentration of one or more purines in a body fluid of the subject, the purines being selected from adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and ATP, and b. comparing the measured concentration with a threshold concentration of the one or more purines, wherein the threshold concentration is preferably in the range 5 M to 15 M and wherein a measured concentration higher than the threshold concentration indicates the presence of acute ischaemic disorder. Also is described a method of determining the absence of an acute cerebral disorder in a subject comprising: a. measuring the concentration of one or more purines in a body fluid of the subject, the purines being selected from adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and ATP, and b. comparing the measured concentration with a threshold concentration of the one or more purines, wherein the threshold concentration is preferably below 4 M and wherein a measured concentration lower than the threshold concentration indicates the absence of acute cerebral ischaemic disorder.

The invention provides a method of determining a predisposition to a condition associated with ATP depletion, such as an ischaemic event, in a subject comprising: a. measuring the concentration of one or more purines in a body fluid of the subject, the purines being selected from adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and ATP, and b. comparing the measured concentration with a threshold concentration of the one or more purines, wherein the threshold concentration is preferably in the range 2 [micro]M to 8 [micro]M and wherein a measured concentration higher than the threshold concentration indicates the presence of ischaemia.

A metabolomic signature of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and the determination thereof in a method for identifying a subject suffering or being at risk of suffering from AMI. Also, a kit that includes elements for determining the metabolomic signature of AMI and implementing the method for identifying a subject suffering or being at risk of suffering from AMI.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosing and predicting the occurrence of ischemia. For example, the present invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosing and predicting the risk and cause of transient neurological events (TNE) as ischemic or non-ischemic.