Abstract: The invention relates to the biotechnology sector involving the area of human health. More specifically, the invention is based on the surprising usefulness of peptides LxVPc1, c3 and c4 as efficient selective inhibitors of the calcineurin signalling pathway (CN)-NFAT and the phosphate activity of CN. Said compounds are useful immunosuppressors and serve as a base for the preparation of therapeutic compositions for the prophylactics and treatment of human diseases associated with T-lymphocyte activation, including, but not limited to, autoimmune diseases, inflammation and allergy or transplant rejections. In addition, said peptides and the associated biological and genetic material can form useful tools for the development of tests that can be used to find compounds that have a selective antagonist activity in relation to CN.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and reagents for the determination of telomere length in tissue sections by the single cell telomeric mapping technique based on a fluorescent in situ hybridization step using a telomere-specific probe and an interpolation step using a standard curve correlating fluorescent intensity and telomere length obtained from a collection of cell lines of known telomere length. The invention further relates to methods for the identification of stem cell niches within tissues and for the identification of compounds capable of triggering stem cell mobilization using the telomere length as criteria for the identification of stem cells and which rely on the single cell telomeric mapping technique of the invention.

Abstract: Methods of use, accessories and chambers, optimal for performing Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA molecules in ‘Contour Clamped Homogeneous Electric Field’ (CHEF) and ‘Transversal Alternating Field Electrophoresis’ (TAFE) systems, are provided herein. DNA molecules are rapidly separated in the minigels of these chambers. The sizes of chambers and accessories are determined by the separation between the opposite polarity electrodes; which is comprised between 6.2 and 15 cm. Reproducibility of molecule separation is achieved because the accessories warrant homogeneous electric resistance in the buffer and minigels. Chambers allow a high-throughput sample format using the reagents efficiently. It is attained excluding the non-useful electrophoresis zones. For a better optimization, TAFE chambers have several useful electrophoresis zones (UEZ), each carrying a minigel.

Abstract: There is provided compounds of formula (I), wherein Z, M, R1, X, R2, R3 and B have meanings given in the description, and pharmaceutically-acceptable esters, amides, solvates or salts thereof, which compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases in which inhibition of a protein kinase (e.g. a PIM family kinase or PI3-K) is desired and/or required, and particularly in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases which comprises coated tablets of acetylsalicylic acid, coated tablets of simvastatin or pravastatin, and coated tablets of lisinopril, ramiphl or perindopril. The capsules are used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in high-risk populations.

Abstract: A process for rapid typing of yeast, parasites and bacteria is provided. It comprises the following steps: a) Preparing immobilized intact DNA in 5 to 60 minutes aided by a method involving a reagent kit that only contains buffer solution, a detergent, a metal chelating agent and an agent to disrupt the hydrogen bonds. b) Separating intact DNA molecules or their restriction fragments in miniequipments for Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis of the CHEF (Contour Clamped Homogeneous Electric Field) and TAFE (Transversal Alternating Field Electrophoresis) systems in times comprised between 2.5 and 7 hours. c) Selecting the optimal conditions that should be set in miniCHEF with the aid of a method to simulate the electrophoresis patterns d) Providing reorientation times, migration velocities and sizes of the molecules calculated with the aid of a method to analyze the migrated distances without the use of size markers.

Abstract: The invention describes new compounds derived from formula I pyrroles, methods for obtaining them and their application as drugs in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of cancer due to their inhibitory activity on certain histone deacetylases.

Abstract: Procedure for the obtaining of polyvinylacetate with average molecular mass between 10000 and 40000 daltons, remnant monomer content less than 2 ppm by weight, water content less than 1.5% by weight, innocuous after oral ingestion, obtained by polymerization of vinyl acetate in solution, preferably in ethanol, or in suspension, with use of dibenzoyl peroxide as initiator and that is characterized by: the purification of the polymer by means of the addition of an adequate volume of hot water to a solution of the polymer (in ethanol or other volatile solvent), or by means of the addition of a solution of the polymer to an adequate volume of hot water (>80° C.), during a time that depends on the employed equipment, on the slow mechanical stirring, and on the maintenance of a high temperature (>80° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and reagents for the determination of telomere length in tissue sections by the single cell telomeric mapping technique based on a fluorescent in situ hybridization step using a telomere-specific probe and an interpolation step using a standard curve correlating fluorescent intensity and telomere length obtained from a collection of cell lines of known telomere length. The invention further relates to methods for the identification of stem cell niches within tissues and for the identification of compounds capable of triggering stem cell mobilization using the telomere length as criteria for the identification of stem cells and which rely on the single cell telomeric mapping technique of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses new live attenuated strains for oral immunization against cholera that are provided in freeze dried formulations for long term storage and administration to humans. These strains combine the two most important properties of live attenuated cholera vaccine candidates. One such property is being well tolerated by people ingesting them. This was achieved by virtue of mutations already described in the art. The second property is having enhanced environmental safety due to the absence of VGJ? DNA in their genomes and also due to null mutations in the mshA gene or other spontaneous mutations conducive to the lack of MSHA type IV fimbria on the bacterial surface. This was done envisioning that VGJ? is a filamentous phage able to recombine with CTX? and disseminate the cholera toxin genes. This VGJ? phage as well as the VGJ?-CTX? recombinants uses the MSHA fibers as receptor.

Abstract: Methods of use, accessories and chambers, optimal for performing Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA molecules in ‘Contour Clamped Homogeneous Electric Field’ (CHEF) and ‘Transversal Alternating Field Electrophoresis’ (TAFE) systems, are provided herein. DNA molecules are rapidly separated in the minigels of these chambers. The sizes of chambers and accessories are determined by the separation between the opposite polarity electrodes; which is comprised between 6.2 and 15 cm. Reproducibility of molecule separation is achieved because the accessories warrant homogeneous electric resistance in the buffer and minigels. Chambers allow a high-throughput sample format using the reagents efficiently. It is attained excluding the non-useful electrophoresis zones For a better optimization, TAFE chambers have several useful electrophoresis zones (UEZ), each carrying a minigel.

Abstract: Biomaterials for bone implants constituted by an inorganic phase formed by calcium salts, mainly phosphates, hydroxy- and carbonate-apatite and an organic phase formed by polymers obtained from vinyl acetate and crotonic acid. These biomaterials can be dense or porous and present different speeds of resorption when they are used as implants in the live tissue depending on the nature and proportion of the phases and they can also work as supports for the production of controlled drug delivery systems.

Abstract: A three-dimensional map of the probability of brain or heart functional states is obtained based on electric or magnetic signals, or a combination of both measured in the surface of body. From signals, the statistical descriptive parameters are obtained and a map of its distribution is calculated. The map is the inverse solution of the problem based upon: a) the restriction of the solution to structures with high probability of generating electric activity using for this restriction an Anatomical Atlas and b) imposing that the solution belong to a pre-specified functional space. The probability is determined that this map belongs to a test group. The spatial and temporal correlations of the map are modeled as well as their dependence on experimental covariables. The resulting probabilities are coded in a pseudocolor scale and they are superimposed on a Anatomical Atlas for their interactive three-dimensional visualization.

Abstract: Vibrio cholerae vaccine strains which have a disrupted hap gene and which are tagged with celA coding functions from Clostridium thermocellum are described. A contained, genetically defined thyA mutant of Vibrio cholerae and the general methodology of making along with the sequence of thyA gene are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is related to microbiology and forms part of a system for rapid microbiological diagnosis. The invention allows detection of turbidimetric changes due to microbial growth, using equipment comprised of two main devices: a static turbidimetric minireader and a microflow sensor which is fed by a peristaltic pump; this equipment is coupled to a microcomputer with a program package for acquisition, processing and formation of databases used in generating necessary reports. The diagnostic kit has a glass vial with culture medium and a polymer with derepressive activity and two additional substrates for E.coli identification, as well as a set of antibiotic discs arranged in a strip for antibiogram determination from previously isolated colonies or samples obtained directly from their sources, allowing detection of urinary tract infections from direct samples of urine, and additionally simultaneous identification of E.coli.