CDU Patents

This patent introduces idiographic techniques on a computer-based (mobile or web) platform that enable individualized assessments of the thoughts and cognitive processes that influence a person’s behavior, emotional responses, and psychological functioning, in order to tailor clinical and behavioral health interventions to that person. Such individualized assessments could help to improve a person’s overall engagement with healthcare.

This patent involves an invention of an efficient E-cigarette (E-cig) aerosol generation and exposure system for rodent models. This device addresses the unmet need for animal models for studies of health effects of E-cigs.

This E-cig inhalation exposure system implemented a new and unique method for whole-body and nose-only exposure. This technology ensures episodic delivery of adequate aerosol dosage during scheduled puffs and sufficient fresh air between puffs to maintain a healthy microenvironment for animals, similar to human intermittent E-cig vaping behavior. The system has computer-controlled solenoid valves that switch between activation of E-cigs and fresh air with independently controlled flows. The system can provide 30 to 60 air changes per hour (ACH) of fresh air for rodents to breathe as well as to clear the residual E-cig aerosol and contaminating gases such as NH3 and CO2 from the metabolism of the rodents.

In this invention, the outlet of the E-cig mouthpiece is open to the animal exposure chamber without connection tubing nor additional chamber for smoke dilution. This design minimizes coagulation, condensation and vaporization of the aerosol particles (droplets), and consequently, minimizes dynamic changes in the particle size distribution and other physical properties of the E-cig aerosol. Therefore, it closely resembles the properties of the aerosol inhaled into the respiratory system of vaping human. And, it is highly efficient.

This system provides clinically relevant E-cig inhalation exposure in otherwise physiological conditions and healthy micro-environment for in vivo rodent models. Clinically relevant E-cig exposure is defined as the pharmacokinetics/blood nicotine levels similar to human E-cig vapers.

Monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) is a molecule found in high amounts in many types of cancer and is connected to lower survival rates. Interfering with MCT4 or reducing its levels can halt or slow the growth of cancer, particularly in breast, colon, and brain cancer. Despite its potential as a target for cancer treatment, there are not any specific drugs that can inhibit MCT4. Some existing substances like siRNA, shRNA, and N-acetylcysteine can reduce MCT4 levels, but they are not ideal solutions. We have found a potential MCT4-blocking drug, called CB-2, along with several substitutes like CB-3, CB-1, and CB-33. These were found using computer modeling and cell testing. CB-2 blocks a harmful product of MCT4, lactate, and can kill cancer cells. This discovery could lead to new treatments for advanced or resistant forms of breast cancer.

Obesity and related metabolic conditions mainly arise from the imbalance of calories gained versus its expenditure. This excess surplus calories remains stored in the body and contributes towards the progression of these diseases. This patent application is based on a novel discovery of a protein called follistatin that can increase significant calorie burning by inducing beneficial brown adipose tissue levels, and thereby, has the potential to treat or reduce such metabolic conditions including obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular complications. Methods and assays could be developed to screen compounds and agents with the ability to modulate follistatin levels, and its action could be utilized for therapeutic treatment of these metabolic diseases.

Myostatin is an important regulator of muscle mass and performance. Inhibiting Myostatin levels results in dramatic increase in muscle mass. Modifying the expression levels of Myostatin by genetic manipulation of the gene in non-human animal models can be leveraged to study muscle phenotype in target muscle tissues. The transgenic mouse model developed under this invention can be manipulated during very early stages of life or any other developmental stage to gain helpful insight regarding muscle development. Generation of Conditionally Myostatin Overexpressing Transgenic animal (COMT) models in this invention will provide useful information that could be exploited to develop therapeutic drugs for the treatment of muscular dystrophy and aging-associated muscle loss.