Abstract: The invention provides a method for diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, using genetic markers that are implicated in severe, early-onset Crohn's Disease (CD). The invention also provides coding sequence mutations in the OCTN1 gene that significantly reduces its ability to transport the organic cation carnitine. The invention further provides mutations in the promoter region of OCTN2 (that downregulates both basal transcription and transcription induced either by heat shock or arachidonic acid. This transcription difference is apparently due to the disruption of a binding site for heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF 1). A haplotype of two mutations is found in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. Together, these mutations reduce cellular ability to respond to metabolic stress in inflamed tissue and may further be involved in the clearance of toxic substances from cells.

Abstract: A support comprising a base and a plurality of projections extending from the base has a plurality of sleeves which are retained on the projections against accidental displacement therefrom, and which are slidable on the projections to permit their removal and installation on an article to be marked. The free end portion of each projection is such that, at least when a sleeve is positioned thereover, there is a cavity into which an end portion of the article to be marked is introduced during installation of the sleeve on the article.