52results about "Immune system evaluation" patented technology

Stimulation of one or more neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, including the splenic nerve, to attenuate an immune response, including an inflammatory immune response, is discussed. Devices and systems to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to attenuate an immune response are also discussed. Devices discussed include pulse generators and drug pumps. Systems are described as optionally having one or more sensors and operator instructions. In specific examples, stimulation of the splenic nerve of pigs with a pulse generator is shown to be safe and effective in attenuating a lipopolysaccharide-induced immune response.

An implantable system control unit (SCU) includes means for measuring tissue impedance or other condition to determine allograft health, in order to predict or detect allograft rejection. The SCU also includes at least two electrodes coupled to means for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient within whom the device is implanted, and may also include a reservoir for holding one or more drugs and a driver means for delivering the drug(s) to the patient. In certain embodiments, the system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one SCU includes a sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters. Alternatively, this sensory “SCU” sounds an alarm, communicates an alarm to an external device, and / or is responsive to queries regarding sensed information, such as tissue impedance.

The present invention teaches methods and apparatus for user control and operation of physiological modulation, including neural and gastrointestinal modulation, for the purposes of treating several disorders, including obesity. This includes programming of neuromodulatory signal for the modulation of autonomic neural and neuromuscular modulators, used to modulate tissues, including the afferent neurons of the sympathetic nervous system to induce satiety and efferent neurons to modulate metabolism.

Vectors for DNA immunization against cervical cancer comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one non-toxic T-cell epitope of the E6 and / or E7 antigens of a strain of human papilloma virus (HPV) associated with cervical cancer, such as HPV-16, and a promoter operatively coupled to the nucleic acid molecule for expression of the nucleic acid molecule in a host to which the vector is administered.

Novel methods and imaging agents for functional imaging of lymph structures are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the methods utilize highly sensitive optical imaging and fluorescent spectroscopy techniques to track or monitor packets of organic dye flowing in one or more lymphatic structures. The packets of organic dye may be tracked to provide quantitative information regarding lymph propulsion and function. In particular, lymph flow velocity and pulse frequency may be determined using the disclosed methods.

Devices and methods for draining excess lymph fluid are disclosed. The device can be fixed to the blood vessel adjacent to the thoracic duct. The device can have a port for withdrawing lymph fluid exiting the thoracic duct. The device can have a cannula and / or subcutaneous port to draw the lymph fluid away from the thoracic duct and reduce hemostatic pressure in the lymphatic system.

An implantable system control unit (SCU) includes means for measuring tissue impedance or other condition to determine allograft health, in order to predict or detect allograft rejection. The SCU also includes at least two electrodes coupled to means for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient within whom the device is implanted, and may also include a reservoir for holding one or more drugs and a driver means for delivering the drug(s) to the patient. In certain embodiments, the system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one SCU includes a sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters. Alternatively, this sensory “SCU” sounds an alarm, communicates an alarm to an external device, and / or is responsive to queries regarding sensed information, such as tissue impedance.

Devices and methods for draining excess lymph fluid are disclosed. The device can be fixed to the blood vessel adjacent to the thoracic duct. The device can have a port for withdrawing lymph fluid exiting the thoracic duct. The device can have a cannula and / or subcutaneous port to draw the lymph fluid away from the thoracic duct and reduce hemostatic pressure in the lymphatic system.

The present invention comprises methods for detecting, monitoring and treating lymphedema by using imaging devices to generate patient anatomical information from which body part volume measurements or geometries can be derived. Yet further, the present invention comprises methods of fitting compression garments for treatment of lymphedema by using the anatomical measurements derived from the patient anatomical information.

A device and kit for pulsing a biological sample with a pulsing agent is disclosed. The biological sample so pulsed is subsequently stabilized and the device or kit provides a control reaction. Applications for the described device and kit are found in the field of medical diagnostics, particularly immunology.

The invention relates to systems and methods for tomographic imaging in diffuse media employing a fast reconstruction technique. A hybrid Fourier approach is presented that enables the fast tomographic reconstruction of large datasets. In certain embodiments, the invention features methods of in vivo fluorescence molecular tomographic (FMT) reconstruction of signals, reporters and / or agents (i.e., contrast agents or probes) in a diffusive medium (e.g., a mammalian subject). The method preserves the three-dimensional fluorophore distribution and quantitative nature of the FMT approach while substantially accelerating its computation speed, allowing FMT imaging of larger anatomies.

The invention describes apparatuses for nano-scale integrated circuits applied to nanorobotics. Using EDA techniques, the system develops fully functional nano ICs, including ASICs and microprocessors. Three dimensional nano ICs are disclosed for increased efficiency in nanorobotic apparatuses. Nano-scale FPGAs are disclosed. The nano-scale semiconductors have applications to nano-scale and micro-scale robots.

Novel imaging agents targeted to a lymph vascular cell receptor and a hyaluranon cell receptor are disclosed. The disclosed imaging agents incorporate biological molecules such as hyaluronic acid which bind to the receptors. Lymph vascular cell receptor expression may be related to the beginnings of tumor formation. As such, embodiments of the imaging agents may be used to stain lymph structures for detailed imaging of lymph architecture as well as serving as potential markers for tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastases, etc.

The present invention relates to computer-implemented methods and system for analysing a biomarker which cycles in a subject. In some other aspects, the present invention relates to analysing a biomarker which at least initially increases or decreases in amount in a subject following a treatment for a disease. In further aspects, the present invention relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for determining a preferred time to administer a therapy to treat a disease in a subject. The present invention also relates to computer program product to implement the methods. Further, the present invention relates to methods of determining the timing of treating a disease in a subject in which the immune system is cycling.

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for quantifying inflammation in tissue or anatomy. The method includes analysing Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI data. The analysis comprises determining a value quantifying inflammation in the tissue. The value is a continuous score value and small changes in the inflammation result in a change in the determined value.

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting an altered gene expression levels in a subject suspected of having an autoimmune disorder. Further described herein are methods of treating an autoimmune disorder in a subject having an exhibiting an altered gene expression level.

The present invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for use in assessing breast cancer in a mammalian subject. In particular, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for screening and / or diagnosing breast cancer, the metabolic biomarker set comprising at least (a) one amino acid selected from glutamine, glutamate and serine, and one lipid, or (b) glutamine and glutamate. Further, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for prediction of therapeutic response to breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Further, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for assessing biochemical reflection of breast cancer tumor activity. Further, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for subclassification between intrinsic breast cancer tumor subtypes. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for assessing breast cancer, which comprises obtaining a biological sample, preferably blood, from a mammalian subject and measuring in the biological sample the amount and / or ratios of metabolites. By employing the specific biomarkers and the method according to the present invention it becomes possible to more properly and reliably assess breast cancer.

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting an altered gene expression levels in a subject suspected of having atopic dermatitis. Further described herein are methods of treating atopic dermatitis in a subject having an exhibiting an altered gene expression level.

Regions where metastatic cancer cells can exist are detected with high accuracy in a sentinel lymph node. Quantum dots are injected into the vicinity of a cancer in a living body, thereby identifying the location of the sentinel lymph node by means of fluorescence. Subsequently, the sentinel lymph node is extracted. With respect to the sentinel lymph node extracted with quantum dots injected, structural analysis is conducted by means of precision fluorescence measurement which uses a confocal fluorescence microscope for monomolecular observation. Specifically, the fluorescence intensity is measured with respect to each of multiple areas in the sentinel lymph nodes, and out of the multiple areas measured, one or more areas are detected as afferent lymph vessel inflow regions in descending order of fluorescence intensity.

The invention describes apparatuses for nano-scale integrated circuits applied to nanorobotics. Using EDA techniques, the system develops fully functional nano ICs, including ASICs and microprocessors. Three dimensional nano ICs are disclosed for increased efficiency in nanorobotic apparatuses. Nano-scale FPGAs are disclosed. The nano-scale semiconductors have applications to nano-scale and micro-scale robots.

The invention belongs to the technical field of pathological apparatus and discloses a positioning and marking system for finding lymph glands. The positioning and marking system for finding lymph glands solves the technical problems that the prior art depends on hands of the pathologist to find lymph glands, the finding time is long, the lymph gland number is insufficient, and the small lymph glands are easy to be neglected. According to the technical scheme, the positioning and marking system for finding lymph glands comprises an ultrasonic detecting device body, an imaging device, a probe, a positioning and marking device, an automatic identifying device, a mode selecting device, a wireless power supply receiving device, and an assorted wireless power supply emitting device connected with an external power supply. The positioning and marking system for finding lymph glands uses ultrasonic imaging principle and wireless design to realize observation, positioning and marking in real time, and the probe change, detecting and marking modes, observation angle regulation and positioning needle marking power can be decided according to actual situations; the positioning and marking system for finding lymph glands provides comprehensive and effective support for the later lymph gland shearing for the pathologist, has advantages of flexible use, convenience in carrying, comprehensive detection and time and labor saving, effectively reduces the workload of the pathologist and improves the working efficiency.

Described herein are membrane permeabilizing peptides and antimicrobial peptides, polynucleotides encoding the peptides, and compositions containing the peptides. Furthermore, described herein are methods for using the peptides, polynucleotides, and compositions for research, diagnosis, and therapy.

A metabolic biomarker set for use in assessing, screening, and / or diagnosing breast cancer in a mammalian subject includes at least (a) one amino acid selected from glutamine, glutamate and serine, and one lipid, or (b) glutamine and glutamate. Described further, is a metabolic biomarker set for prediction of therapeutic response to breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy; a metabolic biomarker set for assessing biochemical reflection of breast cancer tumor activity; and a metabolic biomarker set for subclassification between intrinsic breast cancer tumor subtypes. Moreover, a method for assessing breast cancer is described, which includes obtaining a biological sample, preferably blood, from a mammalian subject and measuring in the biological sample the amount and / or ratios of metabolites. By employing the specific biomarkers and the method it becomes possible to more properly and reliably assess breast cancer.

A system and method for determining the immune status or immune cycle in a subject is provided. A sampling component for obtaining physiological data from the subject is provided together with a data storage component for storing the physiological data obtained from the subject. A processing component is provided to analyse the physiological data and thereby determine the immune status or periodicity of the immune cycle and the immune cycle of the subject. An output component for outputting the immune status or periodicity of the immune cycle, and the immune cycle of the subject and / or the future status or immune cycle of the subject is provided.

A system and process for immune system evaluation includes sensors such as a blood analysis sensor, a computing device communicably connected with a communications network, an application configured for: detecting a current status and a current health of the patient's immune system, detecting a percentage of the patient's immune system that is currently operating, identifying vitamins and minerals that are currently in low quantities in the patient's blood, such that replacement of said vitamins and minerals would strengthen the patient's immune system, providing product purchase suggestions to the patient based on the vitamins and minerals that were identified above for strengthening the patient's immune system; and executing an online sale of the vitamins and minerals that were identified above for strengthening the patient's immune system.