Abstract: A method for diagnosing and/or staging a hemoglobin disorder such as ?-thalassemia involves contacting a blood sample of a subject with an Alpha-Hemoglobin Stabilizing Protein which may be present on a solid support, and detecting and/or quantifying free ?-Hb. Detection or quantification can be achieved by photometry such as HTRF or immunological procedures such as EIA and ELISA. The free ?-Hb is compared to a reference value, and can be used to correlate with the diagnosis and/or staging of the hemoglobin disorder for the subject.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assaying soluble fibrin in a sample, in which said sample is brought into the presence of a plasminogen activator with a high specificity for soluble fibrin (PA-Fb sp) and the soluble fibrin count in the sample is measured by measuring the difference between the count of fibrin degradation products obtained after degrading soluble fibrin with PA-Fb sp and the base count of fibrin degradation products determined before bringing the sample into the presence of PA-Fb sp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the collection, pre-analytic treatment, transport and grinding of solid samples, comprising a flask (1) having an opening (11) closed by a removable stopper (2), for receiving a solid sample. Said flask contains a pre-analytic medium (4), a plurality of balls (3) consisting of a solid material, and a means for holding the balls in place, that is designed to lose its effect when the flask is mechanically shaken or closed by the stopper, in such a way that, when the flask is mechanically shaken, the impact of the balls causes the grinding of the solid sample and the mixing thereof with the pre-analytic medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor and of a farnesyl-pyrophosphate synthase inhibitor, or of one of their associated physiologically acceptable salts, in the preparation of a composition, particularly a pharmaceutical composition, for use in the treatment of human or animal, pathological or nonpathological situations related to the accumulation and/or the persistence of prenylated proteins in cells, such as during progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome), restrictive dermopathy or physiological ageing.

Abstract: A method for preventing or treating cardiomyopathy due to energy failure in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a gene that can reverse energy failure. An exemplary cardiomyopathy is that which is associated with Friedreich ataxia and an exemplary nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleic acid that encodes frataxin (FXN).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing and treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject is at risk of having or developing a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) comprising the step consisting of determining the level of calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) in a blood sample obtained from the subject. The present invention also relates to an agent effective to inhibit the binding of CASK to hCD98 present on the surface of podocytes for use in the prevention or treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A balloon catheter adapted for cooperating with an endoscope, the balloon catheter including a catheter shaft, a balloon located at a catheter shaft tip, wherein the catheter shaft includes visual markers designed for determining the length of a stenosis in a bodily structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a physiological state of a patient deviating from a reference physiological state, in which, after having determined, in each of Q frequency bands, R reference matrices PRq,r with qe[1 . . . Q] and r?[1 . . . R] which correspond to the reference physiological state, the following steps are repeated in a loop: carrying out measurements, in M time segments, of an electroencephalographic signal; filtering and centering the measurements in Q frequency bands to obtain and determine M×Q scaled matrices of spatial covariance; for each time segment m, calculating a deviation from the reference physiological state, and comparing each of the deviations from the reference physiological state to a predefined threshold. The invention also relates to a monitoring device applying said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a Leber congenital amaurosis in a patient harbouring the mutation c.2991+1655 A>G in the CEP290 gene, comprising the step of administering to said patient at least one antisense oligonucleotide complementary to nucleic acid sequence that is necessary for preventing splicing of the cryptic exon inserted into the mutant c.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing platelets from mature megakaryocytes. More particularly, the invention relates to an ex vivo method for producing platelets, from mature megakaryocytes, said method comprising a step of subjecting a suspension of mature megakaryocytes to a flow having a minimal shear rate of 600 s?1 on a solid phase coated with Von Willebrand factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various soluble forms of CD31, including a novel form which is shed by activated platelets and released into the circulation. Methods for detecting said soluble forms of CD31 are disclosed, as are methods of specifically 1 detecting said platelet-derived shed CD31 and the use of such methods as a diagnostic tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of fluid accumulation in and/or under the retina.

Abstract: The percutaneous probe, made in MRI-compatible materials, comprises: a body percutaneously inserted into the tissue of a patient's body organ (8) having a region (10) to be analyzed, treated and monitored during a single medical procedure; at least one information collection sensing device (30,33,34); treatment application transducers (30) 360° disposed to emit focused or defocused therapeutic ultra-sound waves. The computerized system comprises a parametrizable command device (50) adapted to simulate then command a generation of the therapeutic ultra-sound waves, and to monitor the treatment by thermal MRI images.

Abstract: A combination product includes as active substances, at least an inhibitor of the HMG-CoA-reductase enzyme and citrulline, or a bioequivalent compound thereof, for treating excess weight or obesity and/or the accumulation of body fat. A cosmetic treatment method for improving or slimming the figure and/or for stimulating the loss of excess weight and/or of cellulite and/or for limiting the accumulation thereof, includes the administration of a combination product including as active substances, at least an inhibitor of the HMG-CoA-reductase enzyme or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, and citrulline, or a bioequivalent compound thereof, or one of theirs analogues, and the renewal of the administration until the expected cosmetic effect is obtained. The combination product such as previously defined for improving or slimming the figure and/or for stimulating the loss of excess weight and/or of cellulite and/or for limiting the accumulation thereof is also described.

Abstract: The endovascular prosthesis includes a first expandable framework and a first jacket for the first framework, the first framework and the first jacket forming a first channel when the first framework is in the expanded state. The first framework and the first jacket each have at least one opening, which openings are arranged substantially opposite one another and through which a sleeve is received, the sleeve having a first end and a second end, the perimeter of the first end being attached to the perimeter of the opening of the first jacket, while the second end extends inside the first channel.

Abstract: The invention related to a gelling formulation including calcium gluconate in solution in water and a poloaxmer and to the use thereof in the treatment of hydrofluoric acid burns.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention concerns methods and kits for quantifying a target nucleic acid in a sample. In embodiments, a method comprises sequestrating the target nucleic acid by one or more interactors to form a sequestered conjugate that will be further labeled to form a labeled conjugate. The signal produced by the labeled conjugate is measured and correlated to the amount of the target nucleic acid. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid in a sample by a reaction of the nucleic acids in the sample with a nucleic acid interactor or set of interactors to form a conjugate. The conjugate is then sequestered from the rest of the sample with a molecule bound to a support, to form a sequestered conjugate. The sequestered conjugate is labeled to form a labeled conjugate. The signal produced by the labeled conjugate is measured and correlated to the amount of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for viewing a digital image comprising means (2) for viewing at least one portion of the digital image. According to the invention, the viewing means include a viewing mask (2) held by a stand (3) such that the viewing mask (2) is used at the eye level of a user such that same can bring his/her eyes closer to the viewing mask in order to examine the portion of the digital image displayed, the viewing mask comprising side extensions (6g, 6d) for protecting the user from outer visual interferences, and in that the viewing device further includes at least one movement handling device (7, 200) that can be controlled by the user in order to control virtual movement of the digital image such that the user is able to view another portion of the digital image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I): wherein: n is 0, 1 or 2; A is in particular CH or N; X is in particular CO, SO2, CS, and R1 is in particular H, R2 is a group of formula NR3R4 or OR5, R3 and R4 being in particular H, and R5 an alkyl group, R6 is in particular H or an alkyl group, and R7 is in particular an aryl group, for its use in the prevention and/or the treatment of viral pathologies or infections.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating multiple sclerosis by administering biotin. The invention also provides methods for treating sequelae after multiple sclerosis attacks by administering biotin.