| Tufts Medical Center, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120121706 | PAR-1 Activation by Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) - Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) play many important roles in normal and pathological remodeling processes including atherothrombotic disease, inflammation, angiogenesis and cancer. This invention relates to the activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) by endogenous platelet MMP-1 collagenase on the surface of platelets. Exposure of platelets to fibrillar collagen converts the surface-bound pro-MMP-1 zymogen to active MMP-1, which promotes aggregation through PAR-1, MMP-1 is shown to cleave the PAR-1 extracellular domain at a novel site, which then strongly activates Rho-GTP signaling pathways, cell shape change and motility, and MAPK signaling. Blockade of MMP-PAR 1 suppresses thrombogenesis under arterial flow conditions and inhibited thrombosis in animals. These studies provide a link between matrix-dependent activation of metalloproteases and platelet-G protein signaling and identify MMP-1/PAR-1 as a new target for the treatment and prevention of arterial thrombosis and other thrombotic diseases. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120115175 | METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING ELEVATED RIGHT OR LEFT VENTRICULAR FILLING PRESSURE - The present invention features a method of diagnosing elevated left or right ventricular filling pressure and cardiovascular dysfunction in a subject by detecting increased levels of sEng in a biological sample from the subject. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120114629 | IGA1 PROTEASE POLYPEPTIDE AGENTS AND USES THEREOF - Polypeptide agents useful in the treatment of IgA1 deposition diseases and methods of using such polypeptide agents. Methods of screening for inhibitors of IgA1 proteases and agents that inhibit IgA1 proteases are also disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120083676 | FETAL ECG MONITORING - A method for fetal monitoring includes acquiring electrical signals from a set of electrodes, for example, a set of surface electrodes applied to a maternal abdominal region. The electrical signals are analyzed, including by performing a morphological analysis of fetal electrocardiogram signals. A clinical indicator is then determined from a result of performing the morphological analysis. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120046189 | MARKERS RELATED TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AND USES THEREFOR - Described herein are compositions, kits and methods for diagnosing and tracking the progression of AMD in a subject by detecting the presence or absence of particular lipid metabolism markers associated with AMD. Predictive computer models of disease risk are also disclosed. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120021983 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF CANCER AND PROGRESSION, AND FOR SCREENING ANTI-CANCER AGENTS - MicroRNA (miRNA) profiling of cells showed unique miRNA signatures for each of three Akt isoforms. Among differentially regulated miRNA species, the miR-200 family was downregulated in Akt2-expressing cells. Akt1 knockdown inhibited expression of miR-200 and promoted TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) and a stem cell like phenotype. Carcinomas developing in MMTV-cErb2/Akt1 | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120016209 | FETAL ECG MONITORING - A method for fetal monitoring includes acquiring electrical signals from a set of electrodes, for example, a set of surface electrodes applied to a maternal abdominal region. The electrical signals are analyzed, including by performing a morphological analysis of fetal electrocardiogram signals. A clinical indicator is then determined from a result of performing the morphological analysis. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110295277 | HANDHELD SAFETY SUTURING DEVICE - Needle-stick injuries are associated with considerable risk of morbidity for healthcare workers and patients. The present invention of a handheld surgical suturing device allows for visualization of surgical field and better control of the suture needle with possible one-hand operation The device also provides active safety features that protect the surgeon from needle-stick injury. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110294682 | Polynucleotides Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Methods for Evaluating Patient Risks - Disclosed are methods for diagnosing AMD or a susceptibility for AMD by identifying one or more markers associated with peripheral retinal phenotypes. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110150775 | GENOMIC APPROACHES TO FETAL TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS - The present invention provides systems for developing and/or testing therapies for prenatal diseases and conditions including Down Syndrome. The present invention also provides diagnostic methods for Down Syndrome involving, in some embodiments, gene expression analyses of fetal RNA and/or detection of expression of particular genes involved in Down Syndrome. Also provided are microarrays and kits useful in prenatal diagnostic applications. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110118125 | NEONATAL SALIVARY GENOMICS - The present invention provides systems for assessing neonatal development and/or conditions by analyzing neonatal saliva RNA. Methods of identifying genes involved in neonatal development and/or conditions affecting neonates, are provided. Methods of determining a diagnosis of a neonate comprising detection of one or more differentially expressed genes are also provided. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20100323380 | METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING BLOOD VESSEL REOCCLUSION - The present invention features a method of diagnosing blood vessel reocclusion in a subject by detecting increased levels of sFLT-1 in a biological sample from the subject. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100286043 | USE OF NEUREGULIN-1 IN REDUCING BRAIN DAMAGE - Methods of reducing and/or protecting against disorders in perinatal subjects are disclosed. Such methods can be used for disorders associated with neuronal cell damage. In certain aspects, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of neuregulin or a biologically active analog with a pharmaceutical carrier to a perinatal subject. In addition, the perinatal subject can be a fetus where the neuregulin is administered to the pregnant mother. Methods for assessing whether a perinatal subject is at risk for developing a neurological disorder are also disclosed. For example, expression levels of neuregulin can be used as an indication the perinatal subject is at risk for developing a disorder associated with neuronal cell damage. Evaluating the genotype of the NRG locus in a perinatal subject can also be used as an indicator of the risk of developing neurological disorders. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100100974 | Models of Malignant Brain Cancer, and Therapeutic siRNAs Against Oncogenic Signaling Pathways, and Methods and Kits for Uses Therefor - Methods for screening compounds to treat an oncological disorder regulated through a tumor-inducing pathway are provided. The compounds are administered to non-human animal subjects having a disease model, so that the subjects display pathology symptoms that correspond to the oncological disorder in humans. The subjects carry a regulatable transgene expression, of which is associated with tumor formation, and further carry regulatable genes for suppression of tumor formation. The disease-pathology symptoms are induced using a site-specific recombination system to induce expression of the transgene associated with tumor formation and negatively regulate or eliminate the genes for suppression of the tumor formation. The methods further involve analyzing tumor formation in subjects administered the compound and comparing appearance and amount of tumors in the subjects administered the compound with control subjects not administered the compound. Also included are a vector for engineering a disease model and a kit for its use. | 04-22-2010 |
