Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080206761 | Ex Vivo Gene Expression in Whole Blood as a Model of Assessment of Individual Variation to Dietary Supplements - A method is disclosed for individually tailoring the administration of dietary components such as supplements. In the method, whole blood of a mammal is exposed to a dietary component. The level of a marker mRNA linked to a disease state is measured in leukocytes after exposure to the dietary component, and in some cases after further stimulation of the exposed blood cells. By comparing the mRNA level after exposure with the value found in unexposed blood cells, it is possible to determine what the effect of the dietary component will be in the mammal. By screening blood of the mammal against a number of possible dietary components, it is possible to develop an optimized set of dietary components tailored to the specific mammal to treat or prevent a disease state. | 08-28-2008 |
20080261207 | Method of Measuring Cancer Susceptibility - An individual's susceptibility to cancer is assessed based on the individual's cellular response to mutagenic agents such as radiation. The level of a growth-suppressing marker is measured before and after the individual's cells are exposed to the mutagenic agent. The individual's susceptibility to cancer as a result of the mutagenic agent is correlated with the degree to which the growth-suppressing marker is induced by exposure to the agent. A method is also disclosed for assessing cancer prophylaxis effects of compounds, such as vitamins or food extracts, in individuals. Cells from an individual are incubated with at least one compound in vitro, or the compound is directly administered to the individual, after which some of the incubated cells, as well as non-incubated cells, are exposed to a mutagenic agent such as ionizing radiation. The level of the growth-suppressing marker in the cells incubated with the compound and exposed to the mutagenic agent is then compared with the level in the non-incubated cells exposed to the agent. The cancer prophylaxis effects of the compound are correlated with a higher level of the marker in the incubated cells. | 10-23-2008 |
20090011410 | METHOD FOR TAILORING ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS BY QUANTITATION OF MRNA - The present invention discloses a method for tailoring drug protocols to individual patients based on the levels of marker mRNA measured in leukocytes after stimulation of whole blood of the patient with candidate drugs. A method of measuring a patient's responsiveness to a drug is disclosed that includes exposing whole blood of the patient to the drug for 7 hours or less; after the exposure, measuring the amount of an mRNA associated with an effect of the drug in blood cells; and identifying responsiveness to the drug based on the results of the measurement, wherein a change in the amount of the mRNA indicates the patient's responsiveness to the drug. The amount of mRNA measured in the blood cells may be compared with the level of mRNA present in the cells before exposure or with the level of mRNA present in cells exposed for the same amount of time to a control vehicle. Marker mRNAs useful in the present invention include mRNAs encoding the gene product of the p21, BAX, PUMA, NOXA, and IL-2 genes. The method may be employed for patients with, among other conditions, cancer or diseases or conditions requiring immunosuppression. | 01-08-2009 |
20090111128 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING IMMUNE RESPONSE TO NEOPLASTIC DISEASE BASED ON mRNA EXPRESSION PROFILE IN NEOPLASTIC CELLS AND STIMULATED LEUKOCYTES - Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is capable of inducing apoptosis by interacting with specific TNF receptors on the surface of cancer cells. Because multiple members of TNF ligand and receptor are present within each superfamily, over 300 different ligand-receptor combinations exist. Activated blood leukocytes produce TNF as part of the immune response to cancer, as well as producing chemokines to attract other leukocytes to the site. A method is disclosed of detecting significant induction of a variety of TNF superfamily subtype and chemokine mRNAs in blood leukocytes when whole blood is exposed to heat-aggregated IgG or anti-T cell receptor antibodies as a model of immune system interactions. Substantial individual-to-individual variation is observed in TNF subtypes and chemokines induced. Since peripheral blood leukocytes are the supply of anti-cancer immune cells, the quantitation of ex vivo inducibility of appropriate TNF ligands and chemokines in blood will be useful in individualized cancer immunotherapy. If the tumor mass is small, such as with early invisible metastatic lesions, appropriate TNF assaults may be sufficient to prevent relapse. | 04-30-2009 |
20090215064 | QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL CANCER SUSCEPTIBILITY BY MEASURING DNA DAMAGE-INDUCED MRNA IN WHOLE BLOOD - Heparinized human whole blood from patients with invasive breast cancer, with (multiple primary) and without (single primary) a second primary cancer, and from unaffected controls was stimulated with 0.1-10 Gy of radiation and incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours. P21 and PUMA mRNA were then quantified. The results suggest that cancer susceptibility represented by the multiple primary cases was significantly related to over-reaction of p21 mRNA, and not PUMA. | 08-27-2009 |
20090253133 | ENHANCED T CELL RECEPTOR-MEDIATED TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR SUPERFAMILY AND CHEMOKINE MRNA EXPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH CROHN'S DISEASE - A method is disclosed for determining whether a human having Crohn's disease is likely to respond to a therapy targeting a TNFSF member or a cytokine by measuring the level of certain mRNAs in response to a stimulus. A method of evaluating the effectiveness of a Crohn's disease therapy in a human is also disclosed. Furthermore, a method of screening compounds for use in the treatment of Crohn's disease is disclosed. A method of monitoring the disease state over time in Crohn's disease patients is also disclosed. | 10-08-2009 |
20090263837 | METHOD OF MINIMIZING REAGENT CONSUMPTION IN MICROPLATE-BASED REACTIONS - A method is provided for performing a reaction, such as the synthesis of concentrated cDNA, in the wells of a microplate while minimizing the volume of the solution of reagents required to perform the reaction. In the method, a pestle is inserted into the well of a microplate to which a substance has been immobilized. A volume of reagent solution is introduced into the well that is insufficient to cover the portion of the well onto which the substance is immobilized. The insertion of the pestle displaces reagent solution and increases the surface area of the solution in contact with the portion of the well to which the substance has been immobilized when the pestle is inserted. | 10-22-2009 |
20090298071 | METHOD FOR TESTING DRUG SENSITIVITY IN SOLID TUMORS BY QUANTIFYING MRNA EXPRESSION IN THINLY-SLICED TUMOR TISSUE - A method is disclosed for assaying the sensitivity of neoplastic tissue to therapeutic agents, and in particular, for the quantification of pro-apoptotic marker mRNA expression in cells obtained from thinly-sliced living tumor tissue in such methods. The method may comprise ascertaining a particular apoptosis marker mRNA for an individual tumor or tumor type as well as exposure of thin-sliced live cancer tissues from the individual tumor to candidate chemotherapeutic drug regimes in vitro, followed by an assessment of the level of the marker mRNA in the tissue. | 12-03-2009 |
20090311684 | ENHANCED FC RECEPTOR-MEDIATED TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR SUPERFAMILY AND CHEMOKINE MRNA EXPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - A method for predicting patient responsiveness to rheumatoid arthritis treatments involving altering expression of TNFSF-3, TNFSF-4, TNFSF-7, TNFSF-11, or TNFSF-14 is disclosed. A method for monitoring the effectiveness of such therapy is also disclosed. Furthermore, a method of screening compounds for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is disclosed. A method of monitoring the disease state over time in rheumatoid arthritis patients is also disclosed. | 12-17-2009 |
20100279296 | ENHANCED FC RECEPTOR-MEDIATED TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR SUPERFAMILY MRNA EXPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - A method for predicting patient responsiveness to rheumatoid arthritis treatments involving altering expression of tumor necrosis factor superfamily (“TNFSF”)-2, TNFSF-8, or TNFSF-15 is disclosed. A method for monitoring the effectiveness of such therapy is also disclosed. Furthermore, a method of screening compounds for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is disclosed. A method of monitoring the disease state over time in rheumatoid arthritis patients is also disclosed. | 11-04-2010 |
20110045470 | PATHOGEN DETECTION IN LARGE-VOLUME PARTICULATE SAMPLES - Methods and filter systems for detecting microorganisms in a sample, such as a food sample, are disclosed. The filter is configured to attract the microorganism, for example by electrostatic charge. The filter containing the microorganism is incubated to grow the microorganism so that it may be detected. The filter may be degradable and the detection may involve extracting the microorganism or the molecular marker of the microorganism from the filter for detection. The filter system may also include a porous microbead component selected to trap dirt and other contaminants from the sample while allowing the microorganisms to pass among the microbeads. Methods are disclosed for detecting microorganisms in samples using the filter systems described. The methods may also include adding a polymer and/or a microorganism detection reagent to the filter to localize microorganism growth and prevent evaporation of reagents. | 02-24-2011 |
20110269149 | METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF BODY INTERNAL CONCENTRATION OF PROTEIN-BASED DRUG - It is an object of the invention to provide a method for rapid and accurate quantification of a sample in the human body of a patient. | 11-03-2011 |
20110318751 | PUMA, A PRO-APOPTOTIC GENE, AS A NOVEL MOLECULAR BIOMARKER FOR TNFalpha-INDUCED HUMAN ISLET DAMAGE - p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) is a biomarker associated with islet cell health. If PUMA is low, islet cells are typically healthy. If PUMA is high, islet cells are typically unhealthy or dying. PUMA may be measured by either measuring its nucleic or amino acid. PUMA mRNA may be induced by TNF-α stimulation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and β cell apoptosis is induced through a mitochondrial pathway. TNF-α significantly inhibited glucose-induced preproinsulin precursor mRNA synthesis. Such β cell stress signaling in human islets indicates overall state of islet health and, ultimately, the risk of onset and/or degree of severity of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. | 12-29-2011 |
20120258076 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING HOST IMMUNE FUNTION BY EX VIVO INDUCTION OF OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE IMMUNE MARKERS - A host's immune function can be characterized by quantifying changes in offensive and defensive immune function associated markers. Certain methods can be used to identify a potentially efficacious therapy for a subject based on the induction of expression of offensive and defensive immune function-associated markers. Additionally, some methods can be used to identify drugs that allow the stimulation of either the offensive or defensive immune response while inhibiting the other of offensive or defensive immune response. | 10-11-2012 |
20130084577 | METHODS OF CHARACTERIZING HOST RESPONSIVENESS TO INTERFERON BY EX VIVO INDUCTION OF INTERFERON-RESPONSIVE MARKERS - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ex vivo methods of quantifying expression of interferon responsive genes and characterizing an individual's potential responsiveness to interferon administration. Certain embodiments relate to methods to monitor the efficacy of ongoing interferon therapy by evaluating expression of interferon responsive genes before and after interferon administration. | 04-04-2013 |
20130089855 | METHOD OF CHARACTERIZING VASCULAR DISEASES - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods of diagnosing diseases and measuring homeostatic states. In particular, the methods described here are used to characterize RNA from vesicles for expression of disease related markers. Embodiments of the invention also relate generally to the characterization of RNA by using sensitive techniques such as PCR to internally sample organ health using whole blood. | 04-11-2013 |
20130089864 | METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING KIDNEY FUNCTION - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods of characterizing kidney function. In particular, several embodiments quantify kidney-associated marker RNA isolated from vesicles contained in patient urine samples. In some embodiments, the quantified RNA from urine vesicles is compared to a normal population and in some embodiments is compared to the patient to evaluate kidney function over time | 04-11-2013 |
20130172208 | ASSESSMENT OF BONE MARROW RECOVERY BY MEASURING PLASMA EXOSOME mRNAS - The present disclosure relates to the characterization of bone marrow conditions through the quantification of bone marrow-associated markers. In several embodiments, the bone marrow-associated markers are expressed in exosomes, which can be obtained from biological fluid samples, such as plasma or whole blood. In several embodiments, quantification of such markers allows for the assessment of bone marrow recovery following bone marrow transplantation. | 07-04-2013 |
20130226032 | PORTABLE DEVICE FOR EX VIVO STIMULATION OF WHOLE BLOOD - Disclosed are methods, device kits, and systems for improved quantification of mRNA from whole blood. More particularly, the devices and kites related thereto are useful for the controlled and repeatable ex vivo stimulation of whole blood. | 08-29-2013 |
20140080132 | METHOD AND KIT FOR PREDICTING CYTOTOXICITY - A method for predicting ADCC activity in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a biological sample from the subject, said sample including a leukocyte, (b) bringing a portion of the biological sample and an antibody into contact with each other, (c) detecting expression of at least one marker of ADCC activity selected from the group consisting of tumor necrosis factor super family 15, chemokine CXCL3, and interleukin 6 in the leukocyte in (i) the portion of the sample brought into contact with the antibody and in (ii) another portion of the sample not brought into contact with the antibody, (d) comparing an expression level in portion (i) with the expression level in portion (ii); and (e) predicting presence of the cytotoxic activity when the expression level in portion (i) is higher than the expression level in portion (ii) | 03-20-2014 |
20140099649 | VESICLE CAPTURING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - Provided is a device that collects vesicles and vesicle-like materials from biological fluids. Such devices comprise at least one sample loading region; at least one corresponding vesicle-capture material, wherein said vesicle-capture material comprises glass-like materials; and at least one corresponding sample receiving region, wherein passage of the biological fluid from the sample loading region through the vesicle capture material and into the sample receiving region results in the capture of vesicles. Additional methods provide for a method of isolating vesicles and vesicle-like materials from biological fluids are also provided. | 04-10-2014 |
20140147470 | METHODS OF PREDICTING HOST RESPONSIVENESS TO CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPIES BY EX VIVO INDUCTION OF LEUKOCYTE-FUNCTION-ASSOCIATED mRNAs - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ex vivo methods of quantifying expression of leukocyte-function associated mRNAs and using the quantification to characterize an individual's potential responsiveness to cancer immunotherapy. Certain embodiments relate to methods to monitor the efficacy of ongoing cancer immunotherapy by evaluating expression of leukocyte-function associated mRNAs genes before and administration of an anti-cancer immunotherapy regimen. | 05-29-2014 |