Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for the plasma treatment of successive substrates comprising one or more steel products in which the substrates are transported, one after another, through at least one plasma treatment zone, characterized in that the electric power for generating the plasma in the treatment zone is varied according to the area of the substrate is present in this treatment zone when the substrate is running through this zone.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve comprises a self-expanding frame which includes a self-expanding atrial skirt that forms a flanged region, a self-expanding ventricular skirt, and a first self-expanding tab coupled with the ventricular skirt. A receptacle for receiving a valve leaflet is formed by the area bounded by an outer surface of the atrial skirt, an outer surface of the ventricular skirt, and an inner surface of the first tab. The receptacle has a window for receiving the valve leaflet that is defined by a gap between an edge of the flange and a tip of the first tab. The gap is maximized when the tip of the first tab is unconstrained and a base of the first tab is at least partially constrained. The gap is minimized when the tip of the first tab and its base are unconstrained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stable immunogenic product for the induction of antibodies against one or more antigenic proteins in a subject. The invention is characterized in that it comprises proteinaceous immunogenic heterocomplexes which are formed by associations between (i) antigenic protein molecules and (ii) proteinaceous carrier molecules and in that less than 40% of the antigenic proteins (i) are linked to the proteinaceous carrier molecules (ii) by a covalent bond.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising, as the active ingredient, human natural antibodies of the IgG isotype, that neutralize the activity of a human cytokine selected from VEGF, IFN?, IL-4, TNF? and TGF?, the said neutralizing antibodies inhibiting at least 50% of the maximum biological activity induced by an amount ranging from 0.006 ng to 0.05 ng of the said cytokine in vitro.

Abstract: A stable immunogenic product for the induction of antibodies against one or more antigenic proteins in a subject, characterized in that it comprises proteinaceous immunogenic heterocomplexes which are formed by associations between (i) antigenic protein molecules and (ii) proteinaceous carrier molecules and in that less than 40% of the antigenic proteins (i) are linked to the proteinaceous carrier molecules (ii) by a covalent bond.

Abstract: The invention concerns vaccines comprising as an active principle an immunogen which is a cytokinetic factor or a cell regulating factor particularly transcriptional or another type of factor with immunosuppressive/apoptotic/angiogenic properties abnormally released in the extracellular (stromal) environment by cancer or stromal cells of malignant tumors, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for inducing a systemic or mucosal immune response with secretory formation of class IgC or IgA neutralizing antibodies directed against the native factor, or which is derived from such a factor and the use of said immunogen to obtain a medicine for use as anticancer drug.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stable immunogenic product for the induction of antibodies against one or more antigenic proteins in a subject. The invention is characterised in that it comprises proteinaceous immunogenic heterocomplexes which are formed by associations between (i) antigenic protein molecules and (ii) proteinaceous carrier molecules and in that less than 40% of the antigenic proteins (i) are linked to the proteinaceous carrier molecules (ii) by a covalent bond.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel method for preparing a stable immunogenic product comprising antigenic heterocomplexes of TNF? and a carrier protein, the method steps of which are disclosed in the specification.

Abstract: An immumogenic polypeptide for inducing antibodies that neutralize the immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic activity of an E7 protein from Papillomavirus, wherein said immunogenic polypeptide consists of an E7 protein from Papillomavirus that has been inactivated so as to eliminate at least 70% of the immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic activity of the non-inactivated E7 protein. The inactivation is effected by physical and/or chemical treatments and/or by modification of the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.

Abstract: A method for inducing a mucosal immunity with production of secretory IgA antibodies that neutralize of block a native E7 protein originating from cancerous cells, from cells infected by a human Papillomavirus or from an immune system cell. The method includes administering to a patient in need thereof, a vaccine composition containing an active compound which is the native E7 protein, the properties of which have been inactivated by at least 70% by a physical and/or a chemical treatment, by genetic recombination or by adjuvant conditions; an inactive fragment of the immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic native E7 protein; a DNA molecule encoding the immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic native E7 protein inactivated by at least 70% by mutation; or a DNA molecule encoding an inactive fragment of the immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic native E7 protein; along with an adjuvant of mucosal immunity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic or vaccine composition inducing an immune response towards the HPV-16 Papillomavirus native E7 protein, without simultaneously inducing an immunosuppression, said composition comprising, as the active ingredient, a non immunosuppressive mutated E7 protein, comprising the amino acid sequence consisting, from the N-terminal end to the C-terminal end, in: i. the 1-19 amino acid sequence of sequence SEQ ID No. 3; ii. an amino acid sequence possessing (a) the substitution of at least one amino acid, compared to the 20-29 corresponding amino acid sequence of sequence SEQ ID No. 3 or (b) the deletion of at least four consecutive amino acids, compared to the 20-29 corresponding amino acid sequence of sequence SEQ ID No. 3; and iii. the 30-98 amino acid sequence of sequence SEQ ID No 3.

Abstract: The invention concerns a derivative of viral regulatory protein or a fragment of viral regulatory protein or of the alpha interferon or a fragment of alpha interferon, which is carboxymethylated, a method for preparing, use of the resulting product in a method of treatment for the human or animal body, a pharmaceutical composition and a vaccine containing as active principle, at least one of the carboxymethylated proteins or fragments.

Abstract: The serum levels of anti-tat antibodies, tat protein, and p24 protein are predictive of disease progression in HIV infected individuals and serve as prognostic markers. The present invention relates to a method for determining the prognosis of an HIV infected individual by measuring serum levels of one or more of these prognostic markers. In addition, a method for monitoring whether an HIV infected individual is in need of immunization with a tat vaccine and a method for monitoring the efficacy of immunization with a tat vaccine are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to retroviral regulatory proteins or fragments thereof, or interferon alpha protein or fragments thereof, which are carboxymethylated. This chemical modification leads to new proteins or fragments which are biologically inactive but preserve their immunogenicity (toxoids). These proteins or fragments thereof, or interferon alpha or fragments thereof, can be utilized in the treatment and prevention of retroviral infections. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one carboxymethylated protein or fragment of the invention, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also relates to a vaccine comprising at least one of the carboxymethylated proteins or fragments of the invention, together with an immunologically acceptable carrier. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining an immunogenic yet not toxic retroviral regulatory protein or fragment, or interferon alpha or fragment.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a protein derived from cancer cells, virus-infected cells or immune-defence cells or a fragment of said protein, characterized in that said protein is initially an immunosuppressive and/or angiogenic protein with local activity and said properties are inactivated by at least 70%, through a physical and/or chemical treatment, by genetic recombination or by adjuvant conditioning, said treatment preserving its property of being identified by antibodies directed afainst said protein, and preserving sufficient immunogenic properties for generating antibodies neutralizing or blocking said native protein, to obtain a medicine for use as local anti-immnumosuppression and/or anti-angiogenic agent as an anticancer agent. The invention also concerns the resulting immunogenic compounds, their preparation method and their uses.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a protein derived from cancel cells, cells infected by a virus or immune cells or an inactive fragment of said protein, said protein being initially an immunosuppressive and/or an angiogenic protein with local activity whereof said properties have been inactivated by at least 70% by a physical and/or chemical treatment, such as formolisation, carboxamidation, carboxymethylation, maleimidation or oxidation by oxygen bubbling, by genetic recombination or by adjuvant conditioning, said treatment preserving its property of being identified by antibodies directed against said protein, and preserving sufficient immunogenic properties for generating antibodies neutralizing or blocking said native protein, or the use of a DNA molecule corresponding to said protein inactivated by mutation or to said inactive fragment, for obtaining a medicine designed to provide a patient with mucosal immunity based on secretion of IgA secretory antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions for the mucous m

Abstract: The present invention concerns a chemically modified TNF-?, and a pharmaceutical composition and a vaccine composition containing the chemically modified TNF-? which are useful for combating overproduction of native TNF-?.

Abstract: Cytokines, which are biologically inactive in humans but remain immunogenic, are used in pharmaceutical compositions to promote a neutralizing immune response against native cytokines when administrated to a subject in need thereof to treat homeostatic conditions and disorders associated with an overproduction of cytokines.

Abstract: The invention concerns a viral regulation protein or a viral regulation protein fragment or the alpha interferon or the alpha interferon fragment which is carboxymethylated. The invention also concerns the preparation method and the use of the resulting product in a therapeutic method for treating the human or animal body, a pharmaceutical and vaccine composition containing, as active principle, one at least of the carboxymethylated proteins or fragments.

Abstract: The invention discloses the use of a compound of general structural formula (I) R-NH-K-Q-K-NH-R, wherein Q is a divalent radical of formulae (II) to (V), K is a methylene group, or, when Q is a group of formula (II), K is a binding valency. R is a radical selected from the group comprising benzyl, benzyl substituted with halogen or trihalomethyl groups, substituted trihalomethyl benzyl, indanyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenylalkyl, bicycloalkyl, bicycloalkenylalkyl, bicycloalkylalkyl; and the organic or mineral acid addition salts thereof. The preparation of a medicament for correcting the expression of cytokine genes and/or a receptor thereof for treating a dysfunction related to an exogenous or endogenous disease state is also described.