GEORGIA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130323832 | ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELL POPULATIONS AND THEIR USE AS REAGENTS FOR ENHANCING OR REDUCING IMMUNE TOLERANCE - The present invention is based on the discovery antigen-presenting cells (APCs) may be generated to have predetermined levels of expression of the intracellular enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Because expression of high levels of IDO is correlated with a reduced ability to stimulate T cell responses and an enhanced ability to induce immunologic tolerance, APCs having high levels of IDO may be used to increase tolerance in the immune system, as for example in transplant therapy or treatment of autoimmune disorders. For example, APCs having high levels of IDO, and expressing or loaded with at least one antigen from a donor tissue may be used to increase tolerance of the recipient to the donor's tissue. Alternatively, APCs having reduced levels of IDO expression and expressing or loaded with at least one antigen from a cancer or infectious pathogen may be used as vaccines to promote T cell responses and increase immunity. | 12-05-2013 |
20130296660 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING DYNAMIC CHANGES IN THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF A SUBJECT - Methods for remotely measuring or monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a subject, such as blood volume pulse, heart rate, respiratory wave, or respiration rate, are provided. The methods include capturing a series of images of the subject, and processing the images to obtain physiological parameters of interest. These methods can be used to analyze single channel signals, including signals obtained from active night vision cameras. As a result, these methods can be used to measure or monitor one or more physiological parameters in both daylight and low-light conditions. Also provided are methods of removing false positives. Systems for remotely measuring or monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a subject, as well as methods of using thereof, are also provided. | 11-07-2013 |
20120288472 | REGULATION OF T CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY BY TRYPTOPHAN - A mechanism of macrophage-induced T cell suppression is the selective elimination of tryptophan and/or increase in one or more tryptophan metabolites within the local macrophage microenvironment Expression of IDO can serve as a marker of suppression of T cell activation, and may play a significant role in allogeneic pregnancy and other types of transplantation. Inhibitors of IDO can be used to activate T cells. Inhibiting tryptophan degradation, or supplementing tryptophan concentration, can be used in addition to, or in place of, inhibitors of IDO. Increasing tryptophan degradation (thereby, decreasing tryptophan concentration and increasing tryptophan metabolite concentration), for example, by increasing IDO concentration or IDO activity, can suppress T cells. One can manipulate local tryptophan concentrations, and/or modulate the activity of the high affinity tryptophan transporter, and/or administer tryptophan degrading enzymes. Regulation can be further manipulated using cytokines such as MCSF, IFNγ, alone or in combination with antigen or other cytokines. | 11-15-2012 |
20120283306 | MOUSE MODEL FOR AVM - Arteriovenous malformation, or Arteriovenous vascular malformation (AVM) is a congenic disorder characterized by an abnormal connection between veins and arteries, resulting in hemorrhaging and even death. A lack of good animal models has long been an obstacle for identifying effective drugs for neurological AVM treatment. Describe herein is a mouse model for AVM that includes a viable, postnatal animal with a conditional deletion of the activin receptor-like kinase 1 (Alk1;Acvrl1). The Alk1-cKO mouse model can be used to identify genes and gene products that are upregulated in subjects suffering from AVM. For example, it has been discovered Agpt2, IL1β, and TNF-α, are upregulated in Alk1-cKO compared to controls. Pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of AVM are disclosed. Preferred compositions inhibit or decrease expression of angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors, such as VEFG, Cox-2, Agpt2, IL1β, TNF-α, and matrix metalloproteinases. Methods of determining efficacy of potential AVM therapeutics are also disclosed. | 11-08-2012 |
20120270243 | Diagnosing and Managing Venous Thromboembolism and Intracardiac Thrombi Using a Provoked D-dimer Test - The present invention provides methods for diagnosing a venous thromboembolism or intracardiac thrombi in an individual in need of such treatment. A representative method of the present invention comprises the steps of: obtaining a plasma sample from said individual; determining the baseline level of D-dimer in said sample; contacting said sample with a compound that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin; and measuring the level of D-dimer is said sample after administering or contacting said sample with a compound that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, wherein a significantly greater concentration of D-dimer after contact with a compound that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin than prior to contact with a compound that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin indicates that said individual has pulmonary embolism or venous thromboembolism. | 10-25-2012 |
20120141998 | ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELL POPULATIONS AND THEIR USE AS REAGENTS FOR ENHANCING OR REDUCING IMMUNE TOLERANCE - The present invention is based on the discovery antigen-presenting cells (APCs) may be generated to have predetermined levels of expression of the intracellular enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Because expression of high levels of IDO is correlated with a reduced ability to stimulate T cell responses and an enhanced ability to induce immunologic tolerance, APCs having high levels of IDO may be used to increase tolerance in the immune system, as for example in transplant therapy or treatment of autoimmune disorders. For example, APCs having high levels of IDO, and expressing or loaded with at least one antigen from a donor tissue may be used to increase tolerance of the recipient to the donor's tissue. Alternatively, APCs having reduced levels of IDO expression and expressing or loaded with at least one antigen from a cancer or infectious pathogen may be used as vaccines to promote T cell responses and increase immunity. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139828 | Communication And Skills Training Using Interactive Virtual Humans - A system for providing interaction between a virtual human and a user, the system comprising: a tangible interface providing a physical interface between the user and the virtual human, an imaging system directed towards the physical interface to provide images of the user interacting with the tangible interface; a tracking system tracking at least one position or the user; a microphone capturing speech from the user; a simulation system receiving inputs from the tangible interface, the imaging system, the tracking system and the microphone, the simulation system generating output signals corresponding to the virtual human; and a display presenting the output signals to the user. | 06-07-2012 |