Abstract: Improved vaccines and methods of using the same are disclosed Immunosuppressive compositions for treating individuals who have autoimmune diseases or transplants and methods of using the same are disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided poly(vinyl alcohol) polymers and copolymers containing vinyl alcohol or vinyl acetate and derivatives thereof such as poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) polymers or polyether-grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) polymers. These polymers can contain various functional groups. Such polymers can be use as polymer matrix or solid support for various chemical substrates such as organic substrates and reagents. Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) polymers and copolymers are also provided. Methods for preparing such polymers as well as several of their uses are also included.

Abstract: A polymer having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 10 000 g/mol comprising a monomeric rigid moiety R and a monomeric flexible moiety F, wherein R comprises a main-chain polycyclic core and F has a main chain comprising a number of atoms sufficient for the transition temperature of the polymer to be lower than the degradation temperature of the polymer is provided. A method of manufacturing of same is also provided. Biomedical devices, scaffolds and supports for tissue engineering, delivery devices, textiles, moulds, vehicle parts, tubes, active disassembly devices, microactuators, toys and inflatable membranes comprising same are also described.

Abstract: There are provided compounds of formulas (VA), (VIA), (VIIA) (IXA), (XIA), (XIIA), (XIIIA), and (XIVA): wherein A, Z, R2, X?, and L2 represent various different possibilities. Methods for using such compounds are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of F4+ non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains to promote growth in an animal. The present invention also relates to the use of such strains to homogenize growth among a herd of animals. More specifically, the animal(s) of interest in the present invention are those wherein growth promotion or growth homogenization are desired goals, such as animals reared for meat production. The present invention further relates to a method for promoting growth of an animal as well as a method for homogenizing growth among a herd of animals.

Abstract: A polypeptide, the amino acid sequence of which comprises a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, including at least one mutation within the degron domain of the polypeptide encompassed between positions 1 and 35 of the sequence, wherein said at least one mutation reduces the susceptibility of the polypeptide to ubiquitin-proteasome degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer comprising a cholane core having at least one derivatizable group covalently bonded thereto and a hydrophilic polymer chain covalently bonded to derivatizable group(s) and a process for producing it The present invention also relates to micellar aggregate formed from the polymer of the present.

Abstract: An intramolecular bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), biosensor for monitoring receptor activity and signalling cascades is disclosed. The “double-brilliance” biosensor sandwiches ?-arrestin (?-arr) between Renilla luciferase (Luc) and the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). ?-arr associates with G-protein coupled receptors GPCR following receptor activation, bringing Luc and YPF into close proximity that favours energy transfer. In addition to providing new insights into the agonist-induced conformational rearrangements of ?-arr in living cells, the double-brilliance ?-arr offers a universal biosensor for GPCR activation, allowing the study of native receptors in large-scale screening analysis. The activity of other signalling molecules known to interact with ? arrestin could also be monitored by double brilliance ? arr.

Abstract: There are provided compounds of formulas (VA), (VIA), (VIIA) (IXA), (XIA), (XIIA), (XIIIA), and (XIVA): wherein A, Z, R2, X?, and L2 represent various different possibilities. Methods for using such compounds are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image segmentation methods, and is more specifically concerned with an intravascular ultrasound image segmentation method for characterizing blood vessel vascular layers. The proposed image segmentation method for estimating boundaries of layers in a multi-layered vessel provides image data which represent a plurality of image elements of the multi-layered vessel. The method also determines a plurality of initial interfaces corresponding to regions of the image data to segment and further concurrently propagates the initial interfaces corresponding to the regions to segment. The method thereby allows to estimate the boundaries of the layers of the multi-layered vessel by propagating the initial interfaces using a fast marching model based on a probability function which describes at least one characteristic of the image elements.

Abstract: There are provided compounds of formulas (VA), (VIA), (VIIA) (IXA), (XIA), (XIIA), (XIIIA), and (XIVA): wherein A, Z, R2, X?, and L2 represent various different possibilities.

Abstract: A garment assembly for a human body comprising a first garment element and a second garment element. The first garment element comprising a top end having a first neck opening, left and right lateral sides having left and right first arm openings respectively, a front side, a back side having an opening, and a bottom end. The second garment element comprising a top end having a second neck opening, left and right lateral sides having respective left and right second arm openings respectively, a front side having an opening, a back side, and a bottom end. When assembling the first and second garment elements on a human body, the first and second neck openings provide for the neck of the human body to be placed therethrough, the first garment element front side covers the front of the human body, the second garment element back side covers the back of the human body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of evaluating the efficiency of sterilization processes by measurement of degradation level of prion protein indicators. When exposed to sterilization conditions, prion indicators are degraded in a manner to proportionally indicate the level of degradation of prion proteins themselves on medical devices or other surfaces usable in surgery and health cares.

Abstract: A garment assembly for a human body comprising a first garment element and a second garment element. The first garment element comprising a top end having a first neck opening, left and right lateral sides having left and right first arm openings respectively, a front side, a back side having an opening, and a bottom end. The second garment element comprising a top end having a second neck opening, left and right lateral sides having respective left and right second arm openings respectively, a front side having an opening, a back side, and a bottom end. When assembling the first and second garment elements on a human body, the first and second neck openings provide for the neck of the human body to be placed therethrough, the first garment element front side covers the front of the human body, the second garment element back side covers the back of the human body.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a method of treatment or prophylaxis of atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia or a cardiovascular disease associated with atherosclerosis, which method comprises administration of one or more Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides (GHRPs) to a patient in need of such treatment or prophylaxis. There are also provided methods of reducing blood plasma cholesterol levels, as well as methods of modulating the expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 and genes involved in cellular cholesterol efflux.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies immunologically specific for an attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) virulence-associated protein, products, compositions and methods and to their use thereof in the prevention of an AEEC infection in a mammal. The antibody of the invention is immunologically specific for an AEEC virulence-associated protein and is capable of preventing an in vivo AEEC intestinal infection when administered to a mammal. The antibody of the invention is preferably useful for preventing the development of A/E intestinal lesions associated with the AEEC. This is achieved by preferably using IgY antibodies immunologically specific for one or more AEEC virulence-associated proteins, such as Eae, Tir, EspA and Paa.

Abstract: New methods are provided for the post-genomic era that will permit the analysis of the dynamic expression and localization of gene products in living cells. Herein we propose the development of such a method from a bioorganic approach involving organic synthesis and protein engineering. Specifically, novel compounds bearing two maleimide groups attached directly to fluorescent cores will be prepared, whose latent fluorescence is quenched until their maleimide groups undergo a specific thiol addition reaction. Complementary a-helical proteins are designed bearing two cysteine residues appropriately positioned to react with our novel fluorogens. Genetically fusing our helical probe peptides to test proteins of interest, we can selectively label the target sequence in living cells with our small synthetic fluorogenic molecules. The scope of this technique is described in the context of studying protein localization and protein-protein interactions in living cells.

Abstract: Peptides that are designed to inhibit the biological activity of the IL-1R type 1 receptor and inhibit IL-1R/IL-1RacP related cell signaling and biological activity are disclosed. Compositions comprising IL-1R antagonists of the present invention are useful in the treatment of IL-1 related diseases or conditions such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease as well as other chronic or acute inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists in combination with an inhibitor of metachromatic cell activation, such as an anti-inflammatory agent, an immunosuppressor, or a kinase inhibitor, and use of such combinations in the treatment of disorders associated with activation of metachromatic cells. Disorders associated with the activation of metachromatic cells include allergic/non-allergic rhinitis, allergic/non-allergic asthma, allergic/non-allergic urticaria, immuno-inflammatory disorders, metachromatic cell-related autoimmune disorders, transplant rejection, and other metachromatic cell-related disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel aldolase-inhibiting compounds that can be advantageously used as medicaments (in therapeutic doses), especially for treating certain cancers, due to the inhibition efficacy thereof. An inventive compound corresponds to general formula (I) wherein the aldehyde group (—CHO) and the phenol group (—OH) are linked to two carbon atoms adjacent to the same aromatic chain, i.e., the first aromatic chain, and R is a phosphate group or a phosphate group mimetic linked to a carbon atom of the second aromatic chain.