Leland Stanford Junior University

Other

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

Robert C Axtell

Lawrence Steinman

Michael C Walker

Jing Shi

May H Han

Ryan D Schubert

Brigit A De Jong

Jeffrey Edward Dunn

Chander Raman

The present disclosure provides for the diagnosis and prediction of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in subject. It also provides for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a subject.

Treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica

Disclosed herein are methods in which an individual with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be classified into one of six subject groups, each subject group predictive for the patient's responsiveness to an interferon-&#x3b2; (IFN-&#x3b2;) therapy. The individual with MS can be classified according to the individual's serum marker levels, e.g., at baseline or following treatment with therapy. Depending on the classification, the individual with MS can be treated with standard therapies (e.g. IFN-&#x3b2;) or one or more alternative therapies with or without IFN-&#x3b2;.

Biomarkers for assessing subjects with multiple sclerosis

Compositions and methods are provided for classification of individuals suffering from a demyelinating disease into groups that are informative of the individual's responsiveness or lack of responsiveness to treatment with a J3-interferon (IFNJ3) acting therapy. In particular, it is shown that the effective immunomodulatory treatment of demyelinating disease with IFNJ3 is associated with an increase in circulating transitional B cells in the patient. Diseases of interest include without limitation inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, e.g. multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), etc.

Markers for determination of patient responsiveness

Compositions and methods are provided for prognostic classification of inflammatory diseases, e.g. inflammatory demyelinating disease, patients into subtypes, which subtypes are informative of the patient's need for therapy and responsiveness to a therapy of interest. The patterns of cytokines provides for a signature pattern that can identify patients likely to benefit from therapeutic intervention as well as discriminate patients that have a high probability of responsiveness to a therapy from those that have a low probability of responsiveness. Assessment of this signature pattern thus allows improved methods of care. In one embodiment of the invention, the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica.

A buoyant wading aid has a generally U-shaped body. The body includes a front portion and rearwardly extending legs. A pair of handles are provided on the legs. A storage container may be tethered to the body of wading aid to be towed behind the body when in use. The storage container may be adjusted into a transport configuration between and supported by the legs. The handles may be rigidly attached to a frame that provides structural support for the body of the wading aid.

Wader floatation device

A portable generating system for converting either water or wind energy into electricity comprises a paddle wheel assembly having a housing and a plurality of impellers rotatably mounted therein. The housing defines inlet and outlet openings for receiving a fluid stream, whether water or air, therebetween so as to rotate the impellers. The impellers are axially connected to a generator for producing electricity upon impeller rotation as the fluid stream flows between the housing openings. The generator may be mounted within the paddle wheel housing adjacent the impellers or at a distance therefrom and coupled thereto with a shaft. A plurality of mounting brackets are fixedly attached to the outer surface of the housing. The generating system further includes a plurality of height-adjustable support legs that may be coupled to the mounting brackets so that the paddle wheel housing may be positioned at a predetermined height above a support surface. The support surface may be a dry ground area such that electricity is generated as a result of an air stream or may be a body of water such that electricity is generated as a result of a water stream. The system may easily be assembled and disassembled and moved between desired locations.

Growing community of inventors

Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America

Robert C Axtell