Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of heterocyclic phosphonic compounds or compositions comprising the same for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds of general formula (1) as claimed herein or compositions comprising the same for use in the treatment of fibrotic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the identification of genes that are expressed in tumors that are responsive to a given therapeutic regime and whose expression correlates with responsiveness to that therapeutic regime. One or more of the genes of the present invention can be used as markers to identify patients that are likely to be successfully treated by a therapeutic regime.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro diagnosis of heart failure. More specifically, the invention relates to specific antibodies of a peptide domain which is situated on either side of hinge region R76S77 of proBNP(1-108). In particular, the invention relates to a method of obtaining the aforementioned antibodies and to the use thereof in detecting blood proBNP(1-108) with the exception of BNP(1-76) and BNP(77-108). The invention also relates to a method of detecting blood proBNP(1-108), reagents and a kit for same.

Abstract: A mutant Fab fragment of the 13B8.2 anti-CD4 antibody that binds a CD4 molecule and includes a mutation of at least one residue in a position situated in the VH variable domain of the heavy chain and/or in a position situated in the V? variable domain of the light chain.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for detecting in vitro resistance of cancer cells to a treatment by detecting in the cancer cells supernumerary nucleolar organizer regions (NOR), whereby identification of the presence of supernumerary NOR in the cancer cells is indicative of treatment resistance. The present invention also concerns a method for defining the capacity of a candidate agent to modulate NOR genes number of cancer cells by contacting the cancer cells with a candidate agent for a time sufficient to permit modulation of NOR genes number; and observing whether NOR genes number increases or decreases in said cancer cells. The present invention also provides a candidate agent that modulates NOR genes number of cancer cells obtained by the method of the invention and a composition for treating and/or preventing a cancer in a patient, comprising said candidate agent. Such a candidate agent decreases the NOR genes number in said cancer cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of monohydroxy or polyhydroxy amino acids, and the lactone forms thereof for making medicines with insulin-analogue and/or insulin-sensitizing effects on peripheral tissues targeted by insulin, and more particularly the use thereof for making medicines for treating and preventing insulin-resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro diagnosis of heart failure. More specifically, the invention relates to specific antibodies of a peptide domain which is situated on either side of hinge region R76S77 of proBNP(1-108). In particular, the invention relates to a method of obtaining the aforementioned antibodies and to the use thereof in detecting blood proBNP(1-108) with the exception of BNP(1-76) and BNP(77-108). The invention also relates to a method of detecting blood proBNP(1-108), reagents and a kit for same.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting in vitro resistance of cancer cells to an oxaliplatin treatment characterized in that it consists in measuring mitochondrial apoptosis of cancer cells being treated or capable of being treated or to be treated with oxaliplatin.

Abstract: A mutant Fab fragment of the 13B8.2 anti-CD4 antibody that binds a CD4 molecule and includes a mutation of at least one residue in a position situated in the VH variable domain of the heavy chain and/or in a position situated in the V? variable domain of the light chain.

Abstract: A method for detecting a compound modulating complexing between RNA polymerase and a protein intervening during transcription, which consists in: incubating a mixture comprising RNA polymerase intervening during transcription and the compound to be detected; detecting, by a complexing test, the possible significant variation of the amount of complex formed between RNA polymerase and the protein relative to a control value corresponding to the amount of complex formed between RNA polymerase and the protein in the absence of any modulator; and deducing therefrom, when there is a significant variation as defined above, that there has been formation of a bond between the compound and RNA polymerase and/or the protein intervening during transcription, which results in a modulation of the complexing between RNA polymerase and the protein intervening during transcription.

Abstract: An isolated CDR-derived polypeptide from monoclonal antibody 13B8.2, a pharmaceutical composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least a peptide, and a method for treating a subject suffering from an autoimmune disorder, including administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition, a method for treating a subject suffering from a transplant rejection including administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition, a method for treating a subject suffering from an HIV immunodeficiency disorder including administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition and a method for treating a subject suffering from a tumoral disorder including administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A method that assays activated antithrombin III (AT III) is useful for monitoring the effect in vivo of an agent that activates AT III. It involves the steps of contacting AT III with a solution sample containing the agent, wherein the agent is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan or a sulfated oligosaccharide, followed by contacting the sample with i) a first monoclonal antibody that preferentially binds AT III activated by the agent, as opposed to binding native AT III, and ii) a second monoclonal antibody that preferentially binds denatured AT III as opposed to either AT III activated by the agent or native AT III.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyfunctional hydrophilic spherical microparticles of uniform size which contain from 5 to 95% of units originating from the copolymerization of an aldehyde of the formula ##STR1## R.sub.1 being an alkyl radical, from 5 to 90% of units originating from the copolymerization of an acrylic acid ester of the formula ##STR2## in which R.sub.2 is H or alkyl and R.sub.3 is a hydroxyalkyl group, less than 15% of units originating from an acrylic acid derivative chosen from amongst ##STR3## R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 being alkyl radicals, and from 0.1 to 10% of units originating from a crosslinking product.The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the said microparticles and to the use of these microparticles for the nephelometric determination of HB.sub.s antigen.