Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to discover selective inhibitors of phosphatases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of prophylaxis or treatment of a senescence-associated disease or disorder by administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a NMT inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates formed from a cell-penetrating peptide carrier linked to a therapeutic molecule, wherein the peptide carrier is defined by specific domains and the therapeutic molecule is a nucleic acid formed of trinucleotide repeats. The present invention further relates to the use of such a conjugate in methods of treatment or as a medicament, especially in the treatment of trinucleotide repeat disorders such as myotonic dystrophy (DM1).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating properties of a mixture of two or more surfactant species are provided. Multiple molecular dynamics simulations of the mixture are performed, each simulation using a particular total concentration of the surfactant species and a particular ratio of the surfactant species, such that the multiple simulations cover a plurality of such total concentrations and a plurality of such ratios, each simulation being carried out above the critical micelle concentration of the simulated mixture. For each simulation, and from the results of each simulation, a distribution of each surfactant species between at least a micellar pseudo-phase and a non-micellar pseudo-phase of the mixture at the particular total concentration and particular ratio for that simulation is determined.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for aiding prediction of the likelihood of progression from Barrett's esophagus to high grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma in a subject, is disclosed. The method can include (a) providing an oesophagal sample from said subject (b) determining if said sample stains abnormally with Aspergillus oryzae lectin; (c) determining if there is a DNA content abnormality in said sample; and (d) determining if there is low grade dysplasia in said sample; wherein if (b) is abnormal and (c) is abnormal and low grade dysplasia is present, then an increased likelihood of progression is determined. The disclosed subject matter also relates to an apparatus, and to different uses of certain materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel liposomes comprising Gd.DOTA.DSA (gadolinium (III) 2-{4,7-bis-carboxymethyl-10-[(N,N-distearylamidomethyl-N?-amido-methyl]-1,4,7,10- =tetra-azacyclododec-1-yl}-acetic acid), characterised in that the liposome further comprises a neutral, fully saturated phospholipid component (e.g. DSPC (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospocholine]), which are of particular use in the preparation of magnetic resonance contrast agents for enhancing a magnetic resonance image of tumours in a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to discover selective inhibitors of phosphatases.

Abstract: We disclose methods and apparatus for measuring pH in a sub-surface volume of a diffusely scattering sample. Probe light is directed to an entry region on the sample surface, and collected from a collection region on the sample surface following diffuse scattering within the sample. The collection region is spatially offset from the entry region, so that when one or more Raman spectral features are detected in the collected probe light, a pH of the sub-surface volume can be determined from the spectral features.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting one or more species in a sample, wherein laser probe light is frequency swept across at least one infra red absorption spectrum feature of each of the species. A path from the probe light source to a single detector element may be switched between at least one sample absorption cell or volume and one or more reference cells or volumes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B and their use in therapy, particularly in the treatment of a disease state alleviated by the inhibition of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B, for example a disorder associated with accumulation of misfolded proteins or proteostatsis disorder. Compounds of the invention include compounds having the formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1a, R3a, R5a, Xa and Ya are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B and their use in therapy, particularly in the treatment of a disease state alleviated by the inhibition of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B, for example a disorder associated with accumulation of misfolded proteins or proteostatsis disorder. Compounds of the invention include compounds having the formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1a, R3a, R5a, Xa and Ya are as defined herein.

Abstract: A fluid-cooled laser amplifier module (100) is disclosed which comprises: a casing; a plurality of slabs (110) of optical gain medium oriented in parallel in the casing for cooling by a fluid stream (154, 156); a polarisation rotator (120) disposed between a first group of one or more slabs (111) of the optical gain medium and a second group of one or more slabs (112) of the optical gain medium; optical windows (150, 152) for receiving an input beam or pulse (130) for amplifying by the slabs and for outputting the amplified beam or pulse (140); and fluid stream ports (155, 157) for receiving and discharging the fluid stream for cooling the slabs.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus (10) for measuring Raman spectral features (52) of a sample (12), from which background light of variable intensity is also received, for example due to the incidence of ambient light (14) or due to variable fluorescence. Detection pixels (42) and storage pixels (44) are defined on a CCD device (40). Laser probe light (22) is directed to the sample. In a repeated cycle of first and second intervals, in each first interval background light is received at detection pixels, and in each second interval both background light and scattered laser probe light is received at the detection pixels. The accumulated signal from each of the first and second intervals is retained in the storage pixels during the second and first intervals respectively. In other aspects laser probe light is directed to the sample during both of the first and second intervals, but has a different wavelength in each interval.

Abstract: Methods and materials relating to cultured choroid plexus organoids comprising: (a) an epithelium comprising a tight epithelial barrier; and/or (b) one or more cysts surrounded by an epithelium, plus other authentic features and markers.

Abstract: There is described an infrared spectrometer having an optical circuit which comprises one or more hollow waveguides provided by elongate channels formed in a substrate. The optical circuit is arranged such that infrared light in the optical circuit acquires one or more spectral properties for detection by the spectrometer. A laser source couples laser light into an input hollow waveguide portion of the optical circuit, and an optical detector receives the light from an output hollow waveguide portion of the optical circuit, so that an analyser can determine said one or more spectral properties from the detected light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, in particular cell penetrating peptides, of 40 amino acid residues or less comprising at least one directly glycosylated amino residue and one or more arginine rich arm domains, and to conjugates of such cell penetrating peptides with a therapeutic molecule. The present invention further relates to the use of the peptides or conjugates in methods of treatment or as a medicament, especially in the treatment of genetic disorders of the central nervous system.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus (10) for measuring Raman spectral features (52) of a sample (12), from which background light of variable intensity is also received, for example due to the incidence of ambient light (14) or due to variable fluorescence. Detection pixels (42) and storage pixels (44) are defined on a CCD device (40). Laser probe light (22) is directed to the sample. In a repeated cycle of first and second intervals, in each first interval background light is received at detection pixels, and in each second interval both background light and scattered laser probe light is received at the detection pixels. The accumulated signal from each of the first and second intervals is retained in the storage pixels during the second and first intervals respectively. In other aspects laser probe light is directed to the sample during both of the first and second intervals, but has a different wavelength in each interval.

Abstract: Compositions comprising silica particles having a mean size by standard particle sizing of between 0.5 nm and 20 nm are described for used in activating lymphocytes in culture or in whole blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B and their use in therapy, particularly in the treatment of a disease state alleviated by the inhibition of PPP1 R15A and PPP1 R15B, for example a disorder associated with accumulation of misfolded proteins or proteostatsis disorder. Compounds of the invention include compounds having the formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1a, R3a, R5a, Xa and Ya are as defined herein.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an infrared spectrometer comprising first and second opposing reflectors spaced apart by a spacing length, and a plurality of discrete concave reflecting facets, the reflecting facets being facets of at least one of the opposing reflectors. An infrared laser source is arranged to form a laser beam. The opposing reflectors are arranged such that the laser beam is reflected alternately from each of the opposing reflectors, including being reflected at least once by each of the reflecting facets. A detector is arranged to detect spectral properties of the laser beam after reflection from each of the plurality of reflecting facets, and an analyser then determines properties of a sample disposed between the first and second opposing reflectors from the detected spectral properties.