Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug such as AZA or 6-MP by genotyping the patient for a polymorphism in the gene encoding ITPase (ITPA). The present invention also provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug by determining a level of ITPase activity or ITP in a sample from the patient. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a thiopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in the ITPA gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the response of a disease in a subject, preferably a human, to a drug providing 6-mercaptopurine, the method comprising the step of: (i) determining the presence or absence of a variant allele at a polymorphic site in a human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-G gene wherein the presence of said variant allele at said polymorphic site is indicative of clinical response or tolerance to said drug. The invention also provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a condition that would benefit from a drug providing 6-mercaptopurine.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides circulating biomarkers for conditions associated with metabolic syndrome, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and congestive heart failure. The biomarkers include plasma DNA, neuron-specific enolase, 11?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, rhodopsin, retinoschisin, RPE65 and cardiac troponin T. Methods and kits for detecting these biomarkers in the prediction, monitoring and diagnosing of disease are provided, particularly for determining mRNA levels thereof in a subject's blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aiding the diagnosis of a disorder in a subject, said method comprising; providing a sample from said subject wherein the sample comprises blood; assaying at least two characteristics of said sample, said characteristics selected from: the structural composition of a polypeptide comprised by said sample; a metabolite comprised by said sample; and a catalytic activity comprised by said sample, wherein each of said at least two characteristics is determined from a multiplexed analysis of the same sample. The invention also relates to certain compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for classifying a shockwave is described, particularly for use in an Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) system. The method for classifying a shockwave generated and directed towards a stone in an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment comprises receiving an acoustic signal at a passive unfocused acoustic sensor, determining whether at least one characteristic of the received acoustic emissions exceeds a respective pre-determined threshold value, and classifying the shockwave as effective or ineffective in dependence upon said determination. A method for predicting the outcome of an SWL treatment is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making a peptide standard for mass spectrometry said method comprising (a) identifying endopeptidase cleavage sites in a parent polypeptide sequence of interest; (b) selecting peptide sequences from said parent polypeptide which are defined by endopeptidase cleavage sites of step (a); (c) adding a C-terminal extension to each selected sequence; wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is C-terminal to its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises 1 to 6 amino acids, wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is N-terminal to its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises said recognition sequence, wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is within its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises the remainder of said recognition sequence C-terminal to the cleavage site; and (d) synthesising a peptide having the extended amino acid sequence of step (c).

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for maintaining a patient in a position in which the patient's torso can be moved during surgery, for example by which the sternum can be closed after open chest surgery. The device comprises two contact members for contacting a respective scapula and support means for maintaining the contact members in a grip position in which, in use, each contact member imparts a force on the respective scapula to close the patient's sternum.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening for variant peptides using mass spectrometry (MS). The present invention also relates to a system and a kit for performing the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug such as AZA or 6-MP by genotyping the patient for a polymorphism in the gene encoding ITPase (ITPA). The present invention also provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug by determining a level of ITPase activity or ITP in a sample from the patient. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a thiopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in the ITPA gene.