Abstract: The invention is in the field of prevention and medical treatment of liver diseases, in particular non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The invention provides means and methods for the treatment of hepatic inflammation, fibrosis and more in particular NASH. More in particular, the invention provides a composition capable of raising anti-oxLDL antibodies in vivo for use in the treatment of liver inflammation or fibrosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new approach to constructing cellular aggregates in vitro and their use in methods for producing 3D-tissue constructs in a modular way. In particular, the invention is directed to a method for in vitro producing a tissue construct comprising: a) combining living cells to form supracellular aggregates using spatial confinement; b) combining two or more of the supracellular aggregates in a mold or on a biomaterial; c) applying conditions that induce self-assembly within the combined supracellular aggregates to obtain the tissue construct; and d) applying conditions that induce tissue morphogenesis in the tissue construct.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical treatment, in particular the invention provides a method for the prevention and treatment for sepsis or septic shock. The invention provides a novel use of a known medicament, i.e., pentasaccharide-depleted heparin, for use in the treatment or prevention of sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, severe sepsis or septic shock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the likelihood of disease outcome of a patient diagnosed with microsatellite stable, stage II colorectal cancer. More in particular, the present invention relates to a method for determining the prognosis of a patient diagnosed with microsatellite stable, stage II colorectal cancer wherein the CpG island methylation status of the promoter of the CHFR gene is determined and wherein methylation of the promoter is indicative of a poor prognosis.

Abstract: The present invention, in some aspects, relates to systems and methods for determining oxidized proteins, including glutathionylated proteins such as S-glutathionylated proteins. The systems and methods of the invention can be used in vitro (e.g., in cell or tissue culture) or in vivo, for example, to diagnose a person having an oxidative stress condition. For instance, in some cases, the invention can be used to spatially determine the location and/or concentration of oxidized proteins within cells and/or tissues (e.g., through visual detection). In one set of embodiments, a glutathionylated or otherwise oxidized moiety on a protein may be reacted with a detection entity, which may be, for example, fluorescent, radioactive, electron-dense, able to bind to a signaling entity or a binding partner in order to produce a signal, etc.

Abstract: The present invention, in some aspects, relates to systems and methods for determining oxidized proteins, including glutathionylated proteins such as S-glutathionylated proteins. The systems and methods of the invention can be used in vitro (e.g., in cell or tissue culture) or in vivo, for example, to diagnose a person having an oxidative stress condition. For instance, in some cases, the invention can be used to spatially determine the location and/or concentration of oxidized proteins within cells and/or tissues (e.g., through visual detection). In one set of embodiments, a glutathionylated or otherwise oxidized moiety on a protein may be reacted with a detection entity, which may be, for example, fluorescent, radioactive, electron-dense, able to bind to a signaling entity or a binding partner in order to produce a signal, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of blood clotting. Specifically, the invention relates to particular inhibitors of artificial activation of the blood clotting process through contact with foreign surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of molecular biology and medicine, more specifically to treatment and prevention of heart disease. The invention provides alternative methods for counteracting, diminishing, treating, delaying and/or preventing heart disease.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of genomics and it provides an in vitro method for predicting whether a compound is genotoxic in vivo. In particular, the invention provides a method for predicting the in vivo genotoxicity of a compound comprising the steps of performing an Ames test on the compound and determining if the result is positive or negative, followed by a step wherein the gene expression of at least 3 genes is determined in a HepG2 cell, compared to a reference value and predicting that the compound is in vivo genotoxic if the expression level of more than 2 of the genes is above a reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of protein chemistry, biology and medicine. More specifically, it relates to the design and preparation of proteinmimics of members of the cystine-knot growth factor superfamily. Further, the invention relates to the use of these proteinmimics as a medicament or prophylactic agent. The invention provides proteinmimics of members of the cystine-knot growth factor superfamily, preferably for use in immunogenic and/or therapeutic compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to diagnostic and therapeutic tools and applications, particularly useful in diseases that affect vascular health and in inflammatory diseases. In particular, said diagnostic and therapeutic tools employ suitable detection or modulation of endothelial glycocalyx.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical treatment, in particular the invention provides a method for the prevention and treatment for sepsis or septic shock. The invention provides a novel use of a known medicament, i.e. pentasaccharide-depleted heparin for use in the treatment or prevention of sepsis, SIRS, severe sepsis or septic shock.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to treatments involving glutaredoxins. In one aspect, systems and methods of the invention can be used to treat a subject having an oxidative stress condition, for example, airway inflammation or asthma. In some embodiments, a glutaredoxin may be used to treat a subject. Also provided in certain aspects of the present invention are kits for therapies involving glutaredoxins, methods for promoting such therapies, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to treatments involving glutaredoxins. In one aspect, systems and methods of the invention can be used to treat a subject having an oxidative stress condition, for example, airway inflammation or asthma. In some embodiments, a glutaredoxin may be used to treat a subject. Also provided in certain aspects of the present invention are kits for therapies involving glutaredoxins, methods for promoting such therapies, and the like.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of molecular medicine. It provides antagonistic compounds for frizzled 1 and/or frizzled-2 receptors, which may be useful in molecular imaging of the wound healing process after myocardial infarction and in therapeutic intervention into wound healing after remodeling of the heart, thereby ameliorating the consequences of myocardial infarction. The invention provides a method for antagonizing frizzled-1 or frizzled-2 receptors, wherein the receptor is contacted with a composition comprising a linear fragment of Wnt3(a) or Wnt5a or a functional analogue thereof, which comprises at least one cysteine residue, one threonine residue, one aspartic acid residue and one glycine residue.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical molecular diagnostics. It provides methods and means for the in vitro detection of the neurodevelopmental toxicity of a compound by determining the gene expression of a limited number of genes.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of genomics and it provides an in vitro method for predicting whether a compound is genotoxic in vivo. It provides a method that employs the analysis of expression profiles of microRNAs in cells exposed to a potentially genotoxic compound. It was found that differential expression of a number of microRNAs could reliably predict whether a compound was a genotoxic or a non-genotoxic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject at risk of developing hypertensive and organ damage, such as and in particular heart failure, comprising: a) obtaining a biological sample of said subject; b) determining the level of at least one non-myocytal marker in said sample; c) comparing the level of said marker to a standard level; and d) determining whether the level of the marker is indicative of a risk for developing hypertensive end organ damage. The non-myocytical marker preferably is galectin-3 or thrombospondin-2.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of molecular biology and medicine, more specifically to treatment and prevention of heart disease. The invention provides alternative methods for counteracting, diminishing, treating, delaying and/or preventing heart disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the identification of genotoxic carcinogenic compounds. In particular, a method is disclosed for the identification of genotoxic carcinogenic compounds wherein a eukaryotic cell is exposed to a potentially genotoxic compound in a culture medium where after samples are taken from the cell and/or the culture medium at least one predetermined time point which samples are then analysed for increased or decreased expression levels of at least three DNA repair genes as compared to a control cell that is not exposed to the carcinogenic compound.