Abstract:
Described herein are method, compositions and kits for prognosis of prostate cancer. The methods include determining the ratio of PCA3 and of a prostate-specific marker expression in a urine sample and correlating the value of the PCA3/prostate-specific marker ratio with the aggressiveness and mortality risk of prostate cancer in the subject. The method for prognosing prostate cancer in a sample of a patient includes assessing the amount of a prostate cancer specific PCA3 mRNA and the amount of prostate-specific marker in the sample; determining a ratio value of this amount of prostate cancer specific PCA3 mRNA over the amount of prostate-specific marker; comparing the ratio value to at least one predetermined cut-off value, wherein a ratio value above the predetermined cut-off value is indicative of a higher risk of mortality of prostate cancer as compared to a ratio value below the predetermined cut-off value.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of oligo(alkylene glycol)-functionalized polyisocyanopeptides comprising the steps of functionalizing an isocyanopeptide with oligo-(alkylene glycol) side chains and subsequently polymerizing the oligo-alkylene glycol-functionalized isocyanopeptides. Several isocyanopeptides may be functionalized with various linear or non-linear oligo-(alkylene glycol) side chains having variable chain length. The alkylene glycol may be selected from the group consisting of ethylene-, propylene-, butylene- or pentylene glycol. Preferably, the isocyanopeptides are functionalized with at least three ethylene glycol side chains. The peptides may comprise L-amino acids, D-amino acids or D, L-amino acids. The obtained oligoalkylene-functionalized polyisocyanopeptides are a new class of materials with unique thermo-responsive properties.
Abstract:
The invention is in the field of molecular immunology, more in particular, in the field of the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases, more in particular, systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. The invention is based on the observation that SSC patients have an elevated plasma level of CXCL4. This was found to contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc, in particular, fibrosis. When CXCL4 was neutralized in in vitro experiments, the fibrotic effects could be neutralized. This led us to conclude that SSc may be cured by reducing the plasma level of CXCL4. The invention, therefore, relates to a method for treatment or prevention of fibrosis in patients with scleroderma, wherein the plasma level of CXCL4 is reduced.
Abstract:
The invention is in the field of molecular immunology, more in particular, in the field of the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases, more in particular, systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. The invention is based on the observation that SSC patients have an elevated plasma level of CXCL4. This was found to contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc, in particular, fibrosis. When CXCL4 was neutralized in in vitro experiments, the fibrotic effects could be neutralized. This led us to conclude that SSc may be cured by reducing the plasma level of CXCL4. The invention, therefore, relates to a method for treatment or prevention of fibrosis in patients with scleroderma, wherein the plasma level of CXCL4 is reduced.
Abstract:
The current invention relates to a method for identifying a subject at risk of developing an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and/or diagnosing a subject suffering from an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, preferably wherein said idiopathic inflammatory myopathy is Inclusion Body Myositis. The invention provides methods in diagnosis, use of specific antigens, and kits for use in studying the presence or absence of (auto)antibodies in samples derived from subjects.
Abstract:
The present invention is in the field of a National Individual Floating Transportation Infrastructure (NIfTI) wherein floating vehicles can travel by magnetic levitation and propagation. The vehicles can travel at a controllable height above the existing, albeit modified, road infrastructure and at relatively high speeds.
Abstract:
A breath sampler for collecting a breath sample from a patient is disclosed. The breath sampler has a non-rebreather part including a sample inlet, a one-way outlet valve downstream of the sample inlet, and an air inlet. The one-way outlet valve and the sample inlet define a first portion of an internal breath flow pathway therebetween. The air inlet is arranged to be closed by a one-way inlet valve arranged to allow air to enter the non-rebreather part. The breath sampler also has a sample delivery part in fluid communication with the non-rebreather part at an upstream end via the one-way outlet valve. The sample delivery part defines a second portion of the internal breath flow pathway, and has an air diverter, a sample outlet, a return inlet and a sample collection chamber connector. The air diverter is arranged to divide the sample delivery part into an upstream portion upstream of the air diverter and a downstream portion downstream of the air diverter and is configured to divert the breath sample into a sample collection chamber including a liquid capture interface. The sample collection chamber is coupled to the sample collection chamber connector and includes a liquid capture interface.
Abstract:
A heart support device for circulatory assistance is disclosed. The device comprises a chamber body (10) defining a chamber having an internal volume configured to be filled with blood. The chamber body (10) has a first opening (12) and the chamber is dimensioned such that the first opening (12) and the chamber are fully disposed within a chamber of the human heart. A dynamic volume body (14) is provided and configured to be inflated or deflated to alternately increase or decrease the interior volume of the chamber. A catheter (16) comprising at least one lumen in fluid communication with the dynamic volume body is configured to deliver fluid to the dynamic volume body to inflate the dynamic volume body. A directional flow structure is configured to direct a flow of blood out of the chamber in a direction substantially aligned with a direction in which the catheter (16) extends.
Abstract:
The invention relates to therapeutic nanobiologic compositions and methods of treating patients who have had an organ transplant, or who suffer from atherosclerosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's, autoimmune diseases including diabetes, and/or autoinflammatory conditions, or after a cardiovascular events, including stroke and myocardial infarction, by inhibiting trained immunity, which is the long-term increased responsiveness, the result of metabolic and epigenetic re-wiring of myeloid cells and their stem cells and progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen and blood induced by a primary insult, and characterized by increased cytokine excretion after re-stimulation with one or multiple secondary stimuli.
Abstract:
The invention relates to therapeutic nanobiologic compositions and methods of treating patients who have cancer, by promoting trained immunity, which is the long-term increased responsiveness, the result of metabolic and epigenetic re-wiring of myeloid cells and their stem cells and progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen and blood induced by a primary insult, and characterized by increased cytokine excretion after re-stimulation with one or multiple secondary stimuli.