Abstract: The present inventions relates to beads as biocompatible material adapted for use within the human or animal body. Said beads are highly useful for tissue engineering, in situ tissue regeneration, as well as for drug and/or cells delivery. In addition, said beads may support biotechnological applications such as cell carriers.

Abstract: An imaging method using shear waves for observing a viscoelastic medium, comprising: several successive excitation steps j during which elastic shear waves are generated respectively at different excitation loci (Lj) in the viscoelastic medium by an imaging device, the different excitation loci being separated from one another by a maximum distance Dm, an imaging step corresponding to each excitation step j, in which a set j of successive raw images Imj(tk) of the viscoelastic medium at times tk are determined during propagation of the shear wave, the raw images having a resolution R which is larger than the maximum distance Dm, an averaging step in which raw images Imj(tk) corresponding to the same relative time tk are averaged to determine an average image Im?(tk).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the in vitro preparation of cardiovascular progenitors cells from mammalian embryonic stem cells (ES cells) or mammalian embryonic-like state cells, preferably from primate, wherein said method comprises the use of the CD15 (SSEAI) marker as a positive cardiovascular progenitors differentiation marker. The present invention also claimed the use of a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, particularly the SU5402 or SU11248 in association with the BMP2 for improving the efficiency of the desired differentiation. The present invention is also directed to the use of platelet lysate as foetal animal serum substitute in a culture medium intended to the proliferation or propagation of primate ES cells maintaining their pluripotency feature. Derived compositions or kits in relation with the claimed methods or product obtainable by the claimed methods form also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a collection for the electrochemical detection of target nucleic acid sequences. According to the method, a biological sample that may contain a nucleic acid is provided, said nucleic acid being capable of containing a target sequence, said biological sample being mixed with an oxidizing agent, said target sequence comprising at least one nucleotide base that can be oxidized by said oxidizing agent; complementary means capable of coupling with said target sequence are provided; according to the invention, said complementary means comprise activatable amplification means suitable for replicating said target sequence, said amplification means comprising at least nucleotides which include said nucleotide base, wherein said nucleotides are able to be consumed during replication so as to constitute replicated nucleic acids; and the presence of said target sequence is determined by applying an electric field to said sample and recording the decrease in the electric current.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems for reducing the quantity of residual antibiotics reaching the colon following oral or parenteral antibiotic therapy, and for delivering metallo-dependent enzymes, and methods of use thereof, are disclosed. The drug delivery systems include pectin beads that encapsulate the active agent (which can be a metallo-dependent enzyme). The pectin is crosslinked with zinc or other divalent cations, and the pectin beads are coated with Eudragit®-type polymers. The delivery of the active agent can be modulated to occur at various pre-selected sites of delivery within the intestinal tract. A stable metallo-dependent enzyme formulation can be delivered to the lower intestine or colon. The use of zinc cations to crosslink the pectin is particularly preferred when the metallo-dependent enzymes are zinc dependent, where other cationic used to gel the pectin beads might adversely affect the activity of such metallo-dependent enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer obtained from the polymerization of: (i) at least one monomer of formula (I) (CH2?CR1)CO—K (I) wherein: K represents 0-Z or NH—Z, Z representing (CR2R3)m—CH3, (CH2—CH2—O)m—H, (CH2—CH2—O)m—CH3, (CH2)m—NR4R5 with m representing an integer from 1 to 30; R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently represent H or a C1-C6 alkyl; and (ii) at least one bio-resorbable block copolymer cross-linker.

Abstract: A method for quantifying the development of pathologies involving changes in volume of a body represented via an imaging technique, including normalizing gray levels by a midway technique for two images I1 and I2 representing the same scene, resulting in two normalized images I?1 and I?2; calculating a map of signed differences between the two normalized images I?1 and I?2; and performing one or more statistical tests based on the assumption of a Gaussian distribution of the gray levels for healthy tissues in the normalized images I?1 and I?2 and/or in the calculated difference map. Advantageously, results of two or more of the tests can be combined for a more specific characterization of the development.

Abstract: The use of a combination of sPLA2 activity and OxPL/apoB cardiovascular risk factors for the diagnosis/prognosis of a cardiovascular disease/event or for the monitoring of a cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject having or at risk of having or developing a cardiovascular disease and/or a cardiovascular event, includes: measuring, in a sample obtained from the subject, at least two cardiovascular risk factors: a) sPLA2 activity and b) oxidized phospholipids on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL/apoB), combining the measurements, the combined value of sPLA2 activity and OxPL/apoB being indicative of having or a risk of having or developing a cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular event.

Abstract: Oral drug delivery formulations which specifically administer antibacterial agents to the ileum, caecum, and/or the colon, without significant administration elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract, are disclosed. The formulations include, as actives, a combination of a macrolide or aminoglysoside, or quinolone antibacterial and an anti-Gram-negative lipopeptide (polymyxin) antibacterial agent or other peptide antibacterials effective against Gram-negative bacteria. The formulations can be used to treat infections or unwanted colonization in the colon, and to provide effective decontamination of the colonic flora from unwanted or potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject having or at risk of having or developing a cardiovascular disease and/or a cardiovascular event, includes: measuring, in a sample obtained from the subject, at least two cardiovascular risk factors: a) sPLA2 activity and b) oxidized phospholipids on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL/apoB), combining the measurements, the combined value of sPLA2 activity and OxPL/apoB being indicative of having or a risk of having or developing a cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular event.

Abstract: A method for reading an emulsion (3) including droplets and a continuous phase surrounding the droplets, the method includes: two-dimensional scanning of the emulsion (3), and construction of a two-dimensional image of the emulsion (3) based on the scanning. Preferably, the droplets do not move during scanning, for example by solidifying the continuous phase or by using a two-dimensional compact or semi-compact network of droplets. The method can further include time-based monitoring of a chemical or biological reaction taking place in at least one of the droplets. A device implementing this method is also described. The method is applicable for the detection and/or sorting of microdroplets performing the role of microreactors or containing specific cells or molecules, in fields such as gene expression or diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting a predisposition to a basal cell carcinoma and methods for screening a treatment of a basal cell carcinoma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of at least one compound of formula (I) for the manufacture of a medicament intended for preventing or treating infections by a Plasmodium parasite in an individual, by inhibiting the pre-erythrocytic development stage of said Plasmodium parasite.

Abstract: Method for measuring a physical parameter in soft tissues of a mammal, in which a mechanical shear wave is propagated through the soft tissues and observation of the propagation leads to determine values of a shear wave propagation parameter. The physical parameter is computed on the basis of these values.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the in vitro preparation of cardiovascular progenitors cells from mammalian embryonic stem cells (ES cells) or mammalian embryonic-like state cells, preferably from primate, wherein said method comprises the use of the CD15 (SSEAI) marker as a positive cardiovascular progenitors differentiation marker. The present invention also claimed the use of a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, particularly the SU5402 or SU11248 in association with the BMP2 for improving the efficiency of the desired differentiation. The present invention is also directed to the use of platelet lysate as foetal animal serum substitute in a culture medium intended to the proliferation or propagation of primate ES cells maintaining their pluripotency feature. Derived compositions or kits in relation with the claimed methods or product obtainable by the claimed methods form also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic imaging and in particular to the diagnostic imaging of fibrosis. More particularly, the present invention provides a polypeptides, cyclic polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the non-invasive visualization of fibrosis. The polypeptide of the invention may comprise an amino acid sequence consisting of: X1-X2-M-H-G-L-X7-L-X9-X10-D-E wherein amino acid X1 is R, F or P; amino acid X2 is F or V; amino acid X7 is Q, H or L; amino acid X9 is W or G and amino acid X10 is A or D.