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The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are used for a variety of imaging application. The present invention discloses an improving MRI device and method by amplifying signals received by resonant NMR coils of MRI systems. It utilizes positive feedback from low-noise Field-Effect Transistor to amplify the signal current that can be coupled out to receiving loops positioned externally without loss in sensitivity. Therefore, the NMR coil can be flexibly positioned near internal tissues and used to develop high-resolution images in highly invasive situations.

The vast majority of people infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) will have chronic infection. Over decades, this can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. In fact, HCV infection is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Several new drugs have recently come into the market that have changed the HCV treatment paradigm. However, the effectiveness of these new drugs can vary depending on the HCV genotype. Furthermore, all oral, interferon free therapeutic regimens for HCV infection will need combinations of drugs that target different aspects of the HCV life cycle.

Available for licensing are methods to generate T cells responsive to multiple polyomaviruses. The resulting T cell populations could be useful in treating immunosuppressed individuals with polyomavirus infections or polyomavirus-associated pathologies such as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), hemorrhagic cystitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), and trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS). The methods could also be used to restore polyomavirus-specific immunity in immunocompromised individuals.

Investigators at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have designed a novel lentiviral vector as a potential gene therapy for sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. The novel lentiviral vector encodes the beta-globin gene in a forward orientation and can produce 5-10 fold higher viral titer and 4-10 fold higher gene transfer efficiency to hematopoietic stem cells than reverse-oriented lentiviral vectors. In vivo studies conducted in rhesus macaques show beta-globin production after transplantation with this novel lentiviral vector.

Upon intranasal vaccination, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) viruses may replicate within the nose for several days. Current clinical diagnostic tests cannot distinguish between LAIV viruses and multiple influenza viruses in recently inoculated patients that present with respiratory symptoms. This poses a problem for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with respiratory symptoms, as these symptoms may not be caused by influenza. CDC researchers have developed a real-time RT-PCR assay to detect the presence of LAIV viruses.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of renal failure and is characterized by proteinuria that progresses to renal inflammation and decline in the glornerular filtration barrier (GFB). Podocytes are specialized epithelia cells in the glomerular capsule that have a role in filtration of blood and maintaining the integrity of the GFB; dysfunction of these cells plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of DN. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a cytosolic enzyme whose inhibition has beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases.

Bag6 (BCL2 associated athanogene 6) is a multifunctional chaperone involved in tail anchored protein biogenesis, endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation, and degradation of mislocalized membrane proteins. It is the central component of a stable three chaperone complex that also contains two cofactors-Ubl4A and Trc35. This complex acts in conjunction with the co-chaperone SGTA to channel proteins bearing an exposed hydrophobic segment in the cytosol to avoid protein aggregation.

The Molecular Recognition Section of NIDDK announces the availability of a novel triazole-based probes, structures which act as antagonists at human P2Y₁₄ receptors. Although the physiologic functions of this receptor remain undefined, recently it has been strongly implicated in immune and inflammatory responses. Prior work with a 4,7-disubstituted 2 naphthoic acid derivative (PPTN) established the ability to inhibit chemotaxis of human neutrophils in the lung and kidney.

The invention concerns novel capsid-free AAV vectors that can be used for gene delivery and gene therapy applications. The invention provides for a linear nucleic acid molecule comprising in this order: a first adeno-associated virus (AAV) inverted terminal repeat (ITR), a nucleotide sequence of interest, and a second AAV ITR, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is devoid of AAV capsid protein coding sequences. The said nucleic acid molecule can be applied to a host at repetition without eliciting an immune response.

Impaired functioning of pancreatic beta cells is a key hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Beta cell function is modulated by the actions of different classes of heterotrimeric G proteins. The functional consequences of activating specific beta cell G protein signaling pathways in vivo are not well understood at present, primarily due to the fact that beta cell G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are also expressed by many other tissues.