1. A method for the detection of a lymphedemous condition in a mammalian subject, the method comprising:
determining an lymphedema dataset from a sample obtained from said mammalian subject;
comparing said lymphedema dataset with a control dataset; wherein a statistically significant match with a positive control or a statistically significant difference from a negative control is indicative of lymphedema in said mammalian subject.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sample is a cutaneous sample.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sample comprises dermal or epidermal tissue.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said dataset comprises quantitative data for the presence of at least one pathway chosen from acute inflammation pathways, immune response pathways, complement cascade, wound healing and fibrosis, stress response, angiogenesis, cytoskeletal genes, wnt pathway, and adipogenesis pathway.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said dataset comprises quantitative data for the presence of at least three of said pathways.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said dataset comprises quantitative data for each of said pathways.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said determining comprises:
contacting a biological sample comprising protein with an antibody that specifically binds to one or more lymphedema associated gene products;
detecting the presence of a complex formed between said antibody and said gene products;
wherein an alteration in the presence of said complex, compared to a control sample, is indicative of lymphedema.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said biological sample is contacted with a panel of antibodies specific for said gene products.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said contacting is performed in vivo.
10. The method according to claim 4, wherein said determining comprises:
contacting a biological sample comprising mRNA with a probe that specifically binds to one or more lymphedema associated gene products;
detecting the presence of a complex formed between said probe and said gene products;
wherein an alteration in the presence of said complex, compared to a control sample, is indicative of lymphedema.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detection provides for a diagnosis of lymphedema.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detection provides for staging of lymphedema.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detection provides for assessing extent of progression of lymphedema in an individual.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mammalian subject is provided with a therapeutic regimen prior to said determining of a lymphedema dataset, and wherein said detection provides for an analysis of efficacy of said therapeutic regimen.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said therapeutic regimen comprises administration of a candidate therapeutic agent.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprises determining a plurality said lymphedema datasets over a period of time following said therapeutic regimen.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said mammalian subject is an animal model for lymphedema.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said mammalian subject is a human.
19. A method of determining the efficacy of a candidate therapeutic agent for treatment of lymphedema, the method comprising:
contacting an animal having a surgically induced lymphedematous condition with said candidate therapeutic agent;
monitoring immunocyte trafficking in response to said agent;
comparing said immunocyte trafficking with a control animal; wherein a statistically significant difference with a positive control or a statistically significant match to a negative control is indicative of the efficacy of said candidate therapeutic agent.
20. A method for the treatment of lymphemeda, the method comprising:
administering an anti-inflammatory agent in an amount effective to reduce lymphedema symptoms.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for providing a restricted operating mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a driver seat for a driver, rear passenger seats for one or more rear seat passengers, and vehicle accessories for operating in the vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one primary key adapted to be assigned to a primary driver;
at least one secondary key adapted to be assigned to a secondary driver;
a key ignition device positioned on each of the primary key and the secondary key and adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver;
a seat occupancy sensor for detecting the presence of at least one rear seat passenger;
a passenger restraint system having an engaged condition for providing crash protection for the at least one rear seat passenger; and
a controller operably coupled to the key ignition device and the seat occupancy sensor, wherein the controller includes a memory storing first, second, and third sets of rules defining respective restricted operating modes containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of the accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver, the controller being adapted to:
determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver in response to the driver status signals;
determine whether a rear seat passenger is present;
determine whether the rear seat passenger is restrained; and
selectively impose operational limitations to at least one of the accessories to reduce potential distractions when the secondary driver is detected, wherein the controller imposes i) the first set of rules characterized by moderate operational limitations in response to a determination that no rear seat passenger is present, ii) the second set of rules characterized by stricter operational limitations in response to a determination that a rear seat passenger is present and every rear seat passenger is restrained, and iii) the third set of rules characterized by strictest operational limitations or deactivation of an accessory in response to a determination that any rear seat passenger is present and unrestrained.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the passenger restraint system is adapted to generate a restraint status warning when a rear seat passenger is detected and the passenger restraint system is not in the engaged condition for the rear seat passenger, wherein the controller is capable of allowing the driver to disable the restraint status warning, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of defeating the driver’s ability to disable the restraint status warning.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the passenger restraint system comprises a seat belt and wherein the restraint status warning is comprised of a seat belt reminder.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the vehicle accessories include a mobile phone, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of sending an automated message that the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger without the passenger restraint system being in the engaged condition for the rear seat passenger are simultaneously detected.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle accessories include an audio system, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of inhibiting an output from the audio system.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle accessories include a mobile phone, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of sending an automated message that the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger are simultaneously detected.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle accessories include a transmission control with a park position, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of inhibiting the transmission control from moving out of the park position.
8. A method of providing a restricted operating mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a driver seat for a driver, rear passenger seats for one or more rear seat passengers, a passenger restraint system having an engaged condition for providing crash protection for the rear seat passengers, and vehicle accessories for operating in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
tagging at least one primary key to a primary driver;
tagging at least one secondary key to a secondary driver;
configuring a controller in the vehicle to store first, second, and third sets of rules defining respective restricted operating modes containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of the accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver;
initiating operation of the vehicle using the primary key or the secondary key;
generating driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver;
detecting the presence of at least one rear seat passenger;
determining whether the rear seat passenger is restrained; and
selectively imposing operational limitations to at least one of the accessories to reduce potential distractions when the secondary driver is detected, wherein the operational limitations are comprised of imposing i) the first set of rules characterized by moderate operational limitations in response to a determination that no rear seat passenger is present, ii) the second set of rules characterized by stricter operational limitations in response to a determination that a rear seat passenger is present and every rear seat passenger is restrained, and iii) the third set of rules characterized by strictest operational limitations or deactivation of an accessory in response to a determination that any rear seat passenger is present and unrestrained.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the passenger restraint system is adapted to generate a restraint status warning when a rear seat passenger is detected and the passenger restraint system is not in the engaged condition for the rear seat passenger, wherein the controller is capable of allowing the driver to disable the restraint status warning, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of defeating the driver’s ability to disable the restraint status warning.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the passenger restraint system comprises a seat belt and wherein the restraint status warning is comprised of a seat belt reminder.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle accessories include a mobile phone, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of sending an automated message that the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger without the passenger restraint system being in the engaged condition for the rear seat passenger are simultaneously detected.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the vehicle accessories include an audio system, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of inhibiting an output from the audio system.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the vehicle accessories include a mobile phone, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of sending an automated message that the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger are simultaneously detected.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the vehicle accessories include a transmission control with a park position, and wherein one of the rules is comprised of inhibiting the transmission control from moving out of the park position.