Abstract: A method for characterizing bacteria includes passing a liquid containing an analyte comprising a first bacteria and a second bacteria over and in contact with a polymer material on a substrate. The polymer material is formulated to bind to the first bacteria, and the first bacteria binds to the polymer material with a higher affinity than the second bacteria. A heat transfer property of the polymer material varies based on an amount of the analyte bound thereto. The method further includes binding a portion of the first bacteria and the second bacteria of the analyte to the polymer material, removing at least a portion of the second bacteria from the polymer material, detecting a temperature of the substrate, and calculating a concentration of the first bacteria in the liquid based at least in part on the temperature of the substrate.

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: 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: A method for characterizing bacteria includes passing a liquid containing an analyte comprising a first bacteria and a second bacteria over and in contact with a polymer material on a substrate. The polymer material is formulated to bind to the first bacteria, and the first bacteria binds to the polymer material with a higher affinity than the second bacteria. A heat transfer property of the polymer material varies based on an amount of the analyte bound thereto. The method further includes binding a portion of the first bacteria and the second bacteria of the analyte to the polymer material, removing at least a portion of the second bacteria from the polymer material, detecting a temperature of the substrate, and calculating a concentration of the first bacteria in the liquid based at least in part on the temperature of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of medicine and molecular therapeutics. The invention provides means and measures for diagnosis and treatment, in particular for diagnosis and treatment of tumors, more in particular for determining the level of hypoxia in a tumor and for reducing the risk of metastasis of a tumor in a subject. The invention comprises a method wherein a level of exosome-associated GABARAPL1 is determined in a bodily fluid of the subject and wherein an elevated level of exosome-associated GABARAPL1 is indicative of an increased level of hypoxia of the tumor. The invention also comprises an antibody directed against GABARAPL1 for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer.

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 molecular diagnostics. More in particular it provides marker genes for determining the immunotoxicity of compounds. A method according to the invention employs samples obtained from a cell exposed to a potentially immunotoxic compound and determines expression levels of a number of marker genes in order to distinguish between immunotoxic compounds and non-immunotoxic compounds. More in particular, the invention relates to an in vitro method for determining whether a compound is immunotoxic wherein the expression level of at least one marker gene is determined in a sample obtained from a nucleated cell exposed to the compound, wherein the at least one marker gene is selected from the group consisting of ABCA1, CHAC1, CRIM1 and HMGCS1, and wherein it is concluded that the compound is immunotoxic if the expression level of said at least one marker gene is below or above a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds acting as selective inhibitors of CD40-TRAF6 interaction, their use as medicaments and their use in the treatment of (chronic) inflammatory diseases. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.

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: 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 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 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: 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 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.