Abstract: The invention relates to the field of flow cytometry and more particularly to a panel of antibody reagents conjugated to fluorescent compounds. Provided are reagent compositions, comprising at least eight distinct fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies comprising a set of at least three identification antibodies for the identification of a leukocyte population of interest and at least four characterization antibodies for further characterization and/or classification of said leukocyte population. Also provided are kits and methods related to the reagent compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing cancer in a subject comprising detecting in the DNA of said subject at least one hypermethylated CpG island associated with said cancer, wherein an elevation in the level of methylation in said CpG island of said subject, relative to the level of methylation in said CpG island of a control subject, is indicative of said CpG island being hypermethylated.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of molecular medicine and provides methods for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. These methods are based on the observation that microRNA-9 and microRNA-9* are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease in that the overexpression of microRNA-9/9* block myeloid differentiation in vitro. More in particular, microRNA-9/9* were found to play a role in leukemic transformation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of genetic analysis for the classification, diagnosis and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The invention provides a method for producing a classification scheme for AML comprising the steps of a) providing a plurality of reference samples, the reference samples comprising cell samples from a plurality of reference subjects affected by AML; b) providing reference profiles by establishing a gene expression profile for each of the reference samples individually; c) clustering the individual reference profiles according to similarity; and d) assigning an AML class to each cluster. The invention further relates to a method for classifying the AML of an AML-affected subject, to a method for diagnosing AML in a subject, and to a method of determining the prognosis for an AML-affected subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing hyperproliferative disease in a body tissue of a subject, comprising the steps of administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that induces double strand breaks in the DNA of the hyperproliferative cells of said body tissue; and subjecting the hyperproliferative cells of said body tissue prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to step a) to hyperthermia to thereby induce in said cells the degradation, inhibition and/or inactivation of BRCA2.

Abstract: A method for predicting the iris color of a human, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a sample of the nucleic acid of the human; (b) genotyping the nucleic acid for at least the following polymorphisms: (i) the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12913832 or a polymorphic site which is in linkage disequilibrium with rs12913832 at an r2 value of at least 0.9; (ii) the SNP rs1800407 or a polymorphic site which is in linkage disequilibrium with rs1800407 at an r2 value of at least 0.5; and, (iii) the SNP rs12896399 or a polymorphic site which is in linkage disequilibrium with rs12896399 at an r2 value of at least 0.5; and (c) predicting the iris color based on the results of step (b). A method of genotyping said polymorphisms, and kits comprising or a solid substrate having attached thereto nucleic acid molecules suitable for performing the method.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of molecular diagnostics for cancer, in particular, for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The invention provides methods for diagnosing AML patients with a favorable prognosis. We have found that not all AML patients carrying a CEBPA mutation may have a more favorable prognosis. We found that only the group with double mutations, i.e., biallelic mutations, have a particularly favorable prognosis. We also found a method that distinguishes mono-allelic CEBPA mutations from bi-allelic mutations.

Abstract: The present relates to a method to stimulate thymocytes to differentiate, proliferate and increase thymic output by administration of a hormone-based reagent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence and/or progress of vasculogenesis in a subject, said method comprising the steps of detecting the presence of activated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a sample of a circulation fluid of said subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modulating neovascularisation comprising administering to a subject one or more compound selected from an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a gene selected from the group consisting of RIKEN cDNA 9430020K01, Agtrl1, Apelin, Stabilin 1, Stabilin 2, TNFaip8l1, TNFaip8 and FGD5, and homologues thereof; a gene product encoded by said genes or their homologues genes, and functional fragments thereof; an antibody or derivative thereof directed against a gene product of said genes or their homologues genes, and functional fragments thereof; an antisense molecule capable of binding to a gene or an mRNA gene product of said genes and homologues thereof; a small molecule interfering with a biological activity of a gene product of said genes and homologues thereof, and a (glyco)protein, a hormone and other biologically active compounds capable of interacting with said genes and homologues thereof or with a gene product thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an animal model of cardiovascular disease and a method of preparation and use thereof. In particular, it relates to a genetically engineered animal model of aortic aneurysms and methods for screening drugs using the animal model. Provided is a genetically-modified, non-human mammal, wherein the modification results in a disrupted Fibulin-4 gene. Also provided is a genetically-modified animal cell containing a disrupted Fibulin-4 gene. The mammal or animal cell can be used as a model for a cardiovascular condition or disease, preferably aortic aneurysm, more preferably thoracic aortic aneurysm. Furthermore, methods for identify or validating a compound that can be used to treat or to prevent an aberrant cardiovascular condition are provided, as well as method to identify a gene involved in the response to aortic failure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of cancer diagnosis and the application of diagnostic techniques in pathology and hematology. Specifically, the invention relates to improved flow cytometric techniques, and kits related thereto, for the detection of chromosomal aberrations and the detection of tumor specific gene products exclusively expressed by tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosis or prognosis of cardiovascular disease in a subject, said method comprising the steps of detecting the presence of activated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a sample of a circulation fluid of said subject. The invention further relates to biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis of cardiovascular disease in a patient, said biomarker comprising the expression product of a gene the expression of which is regulated during vasculogenesis.

Abstract: A test apparatus for evaluating a measuring device for measuring a diffusion capacity of a person's lungs by measuring a change of concentration of a gas species in a mixture, when the mixture is inhaled and subsequently exhaled by a person, wherein the test apparatus includes (a) a port for connecting to the measuring device; (b) a compartment coupled to the port; (c) a circulation circuit configured to circulate gas from the compartment back to the compartment; and (d) a gas species removing element configured to selectively reduce a partial pressure of the gas species at a point in the circulation circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting preeclampsia, comprising determining the expression level of calcyclin in chorionic villi. The invention further relates to a marker for detecting preeclampsia wherein said marker is calcyclin.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a measuring device for measuring, in normal operation, a diffusion capacity of a person's lungs by measuring a change of concentration of a gas species in a mixture, when the mixture is inhaled and subsequently exhaled by the person or imposed by an artificial ventilator, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the mixture in a compartment; (b) circulating gas from the compartment back to the compartment through a circulation circuit; and (c) selectively reducing partial pressure of the gas species in the circulation circuit to a predetermined level. A device for implementing the evaluation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting physiological or pathological blood vessel formation, preferably glioma activity, comprising determining the expression level of colligin 2 in blood, cerebrospinal fluid or tissue vasculature. The invention further relates to the use of a method for detecting physiological or pathological blood vessel formation wherein said use is for monitoring a disease process; a healing process; or a response to a disease therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for quantification of a degree of obstruction in a liquid passageway, notably a male urethra. Data related to sonic waves generated by a liquid passing the obstruction may be accessed from a suitable file, or, alternatively may be directly obtained as a result of a measuring step 2. For determining the degree of obstruction of the urethra the measuring step 2 may be performed by arranging at least one sensor, notably a microphone, in the area of the perineum for detecting sonic waves generated by a liquid (urine) passing the obstruction. At the step 5 the power spectrum of the obtained data related to the sonic waves is calculated, after which a suitable feature 6a, 6b, or 6c representative of the power spectrum is selected. Preferable embodiments of the feature comprise a weighted average frequency of the power spectrum, a standard deviation of the power spectrum, or a skewness of the power spectrum, discussed above.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method method to identify tumor suppressor genes by detecting genes in a mouse retroviral insertion mutagenesis model which expression is inhibited by methylation of the viral insertion or the VIS-flanking gene. This is preferably accomplished by first randomly cutting the mouse genomic DNA, immunoprecipitating the methylated DNA and amplifying the VIS-flanking DNA by inverse PCR, optionally followed by cloning and sequencing of the amplicons. Next to the already known tumor suppressor genes Smad1 and Mad1-like, several putative tumor suppressor genes have been found. The tumor suppressing properties of these genes, as indicated in Table 3 also form part of the present invention. Further use of these genes and/or its substrates or downstream products, for diagnosis and therapy of cancer, preferably AML is envisaged.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of genetic analysis for the prediction of treatment sensitivity and survival prognosis of patients with brain tumors, especially oligodendroglial tumors. The invention provides a method for producing a classification scheme for oligodendroglial tumors comprising the steps of a) providing a plurality of reference samples, said reference samples comprising cell samples from a plurality of reference subjects suffering from oligodendroglial tumors; b) providing reference profiles by establishing a gene expression profile for each of said reference samples individually; c) clustering said individual reference profiles according to similarity; and d) assigning an oligodendroglial tumor class to each cluster.