Abstract: A manipulator for an instrument for minimally invasive surgery, having at a proximal end a handle for operating the instrument, and wherein the instrument is removably placed at a distal end, and wherein a parallelogram construction is provided between the proximal end and the distal end for guaranteeing an unambiguous positional relationship between the handle and the instrument, wherein the parallelogram construction is coupled with a system of bars for controlling the position of the parallelogram construction, the bars of the system of bars being connected to the parallelogram construction as well as to each other by means of cardan joints.

Abstract: An activity based probe (ABP) comprising a glycosidase inhibitor, and a detection-group. The ABPs of the inventions are used for diagnosing storage disorder for screening of compounds suitable for preventing and/or treating a storage disorder, for monitoring of therapeutic enzymes for lysosomal storage disorders, and for ultra-sensitive visualization of glycosidase-fusion proteins in molecular imaging.

Abstract: Mammography-apparatus for detecting malignant cells in a breast comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector that cooperates with the x-ray source for providing an x-ray image of said breast, and further comprising a paddle for flattening the breast by pressing it against said x-ray detector, wherein at least one sensor is applied for measuring a parameter that is used for determining the pressure at which the paddle compresses the breast, and wherein a control system is provided which controls the actuation of the paddle depending on the pressure that is applied to the breast, wherein there is a contact area measuring unit for measuring the contact area between the breast and the paddle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dating a body sample, such as blood, includes taking at least one spectroscopic measurement of the sample at at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. A measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances is then determined from the measurement, and the measured relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances is compared with a known variation of the relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time. A good fit of the measured relative concentrations to the known variation of the relative concentrations is then determined, so as to provide an indication of the age of the sample. Alternatively, instead of measuring the relative concentrations of each of the predetermined substances, the rate of change of the relative concentrations is determined.

Abstract: An instrument for minimally invasive surgery suitable for use with a manipulator comprising a tube provided at its first end with a mouthpiece wherein control means for the mouthpiece pass through the tube, and wherein at a second end of the tube opposite to the first end comprising the mouthpiece control organs are provided that are coupled with the control means for the mouthpiece that are passing through the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of molecular biology, medicine, virology and vaccine development. Because the different forms of the presently available vaccines all have their specific drawbacks, there is a need for alternative vaccine strategies. The current invention provides means and methods for such alternative vaccine strategies.

Abstract: The present invention provides means and methods for determining whether a hepatitis B patient is susceptible to hepatitis B treatment, comprising determining whether a sample of the patient comprises nucleic acid with nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with a positive outcome of hepatitis B treatment and/or determining whether a sample of the patient comprises an expression level of carnitine or of a carnitine derivative that is associated with a positive outcome of hepatitis B treatment. Compositions, kits of parts, (micro)arrays and vectors useful for such methods are also herewith provided.

Abstract: Described is the use of Eubacterium hallii et rel. and/or Alcaligenes faecalis et rel., as well as pharmaceutical, food, or feed compositions comprising these bacteria as a medicament, in particular, for preventing and/or treating insulin resistance and/or insulin resistance-related complications such as metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as insulin resistance in endocrine diseases (e.g., obese subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease and lipodystrophy syndromes. Also described is a method for preventing and/or treating insulin resistance and/or insulin resistance-related complications such as dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as insulin resistance in endocrine diseases (e.g., obese subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease and lipodystrophy syndromes) in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising the step of increasing the level of Eubacterium hallii et rel. and/or Alcaligenes faecalis et rel. in the small intestine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dating a body sample, for example a sample of body fluid involves taking a series of spectroscopic measurements of the sample, each measurement in the series including at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum. The positions have spectral characteristics corresponding to two or more predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. The measurements in the series are spaced in time. A concentration of each of the substances present in the sample is then determined from each of the spectroscopic measurements at each point in time. Next, a ratio of the concentrations of the two predetermined substances at each point in time is determined and then the ratios of the concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time are analyzed to estimate when the concentrations of the two substances were at a limit of their concentrations, thereby providing an indication of the age of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second light sources for respectively generating broadband and monochromatic lights, a beamsplitter optically coupled to the first light source for splitting the broadband light into a reference light and a sample light, a reference arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the reference light and returning the received reference light into the beamsplitter, a sample arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter and the second light source for combining the sample and monochromatic lights, delivering the combined light to the target of interest, collecting a backscattering light and a Raman scattering light generated from interaction of the combined light with the target of interest, returning the backscattering light into the beamsplitter so as to generate an interference signal between the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light in the beamsplitter, and directing the Raman scattering light in an output optical path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapy, in particular in vivo gene therapy, of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The invention provides recombinant AAV virions being highly efficient in delivering genes encoding therapeutic proteins to the arthritic joints, and method for using such virions in in vivo gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to radiolabelled MMP selective compounds, a processes for the preparation thereof, and uses thereof. The derivatives of the invention have formula (I) wherein Y represents O, CH2, (CH2)2, S, NH, or C(?O)NH; X represents 1-5 substituents, wherein said substituents can be the same or different and wherein at least one of said substituents comprises a radioisotope suitable for PET and/or SPECT and/or a ?-emitter; Z is S; Q is chosen from the group consisting of 3-pyridyl and carboxyl; and R is chosen from the group consisting of C(?O)—NH—OH, (II), (III, (IV). The MMP selective compounds of the invention are selective for MMPs and can be used for the identification and treatment of unstable atherosclerotic plaques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dating a dating a body sample, such as blood, includes taking at least one spectroscopic measurement (37) of the sample at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. A measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances is then determined (41) from the measurement, and the measured relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances is compared (43) with a known variation of the relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time. A good fit of the measured relative concentrations to the known variation of the relative concentrations is then determined, so as to provide an indication of the age of the sample (44).

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of molecular biology, medicine, virology and vaccine development. Because the different forms of the presently available vaccines all have their specific drawbacks, there is a need for alternative vaccine strategies. The current invention provides means and methods for such alternative vaccine strategies.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a therapeutic target for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. It was found that inhibition of non-lysosomal glucosylceramidase (GBA2) sufficiently restores chloride current in cells from CF patients carrying the common delF508-CFTR mutation. With the catalytic center (4) of the enzyme positioned on top of the membrane bilayer face particularly potent inhibitors are found in deoxynojirimycin derivatives having a group that is capable of inserting in the membrane bilayer.

Abstract: The invention relates to medicine, in particular to internal medicine and/or cardiology. The present invention provides means and methods for typing a sample and identifying and/or treating a patient suffering from or at risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease by measuring mi RNA present in a sample of said patient. The present invention further provides means and methods for identifying new cardiovascular disease therapies.

Abstract: A method of prognosticating progression of Barrett's esophagus in a patient comprising detecting in a sample of esophageal cells from the patient at least one abnormality selected from the group consisting of p16 loss, p53 loss, chromosome 7 aneuploidy, and chromosome 17 aneuploidy, which method can further comprise detecting at least one abnormality selected from the group consisting of 20q gain, C-myc gain, and Her2 gain; and a kit comprising (a) a set of probes comprising a probe for p16, a probe for p53, a probe for chromosome 7, and a probe for chromosome 17 and (b) instructions comprising determining at least one abnormality selected from the group consisting of p16 loss, p53 loss, chromosome 7 aneuploidy, and chromosome 17 aneuploidy, which kit can further comprise at least one additional probe selected from the group consisting of a probe for 20q, a probe for C-myc, and a probe for Her2 and additional instructions comprising determining at least one additional abnormality selected from the group consi

Abstract: Mammography-apparatus for detecting malignant cells in a breast comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector that cooperates with the x-ray source for providing an x-ray image of said breast, and further comprising a paddle for flattening the breast by pressing it against said x-ray detector, wherein at least one sensor is applied for measuring a parameter that is used for determining the pressure at which the paddle compresses the breast, and wherein a control system is provided which controls the actuation of the paddle depending on the pressure that is applied to the breast, wherein there is a contact area measuring unit for measuring the contact area between the breast and the paddle.

Abstract: The present invention provides means and methods for counteracting and/or preventing aggregation of a polyQ protein. Further provided are improved poly constructs which are, amongst other things, useful for testing assays. According to the invention, several peptidases like, e.g. tripeptidyl peptidase II (TPPII), appear to be capable of cleaving long polyQ peptides comprising at least 45 glutamine residues. Hence, according to the invention, administration of such peptidases to an individual suffering from a polyQ expansion disorder results in degradation of long polyQ peptides.

Abstract: An instrument for minimally invasive surgery suitable for use with a manipulator comprising a tube provided at its first end with a mouthpiece wherein control means for the mouthpiece pass through the tube, and wherein at a second end of the tube opposite to the first end comprising the mouthpiece control organs are provided that are coupled with the control means for the mouthpiece that are passing through the tube.