Abstract: Biomarker signatures were identified which can be used to diagnose or predict kidney or liver toxicity and more specifically renal tubular toxicity as a consequence of disease or drug treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in part, to a method of measuring ?-2-microglobulin to assess glomerular alteration or damage of the kidney.

Abstract: A discovery process beginning with an in vivo screening of proteins, peptides, natural products, classical medicinal compound or other substances. The administration of compounds to the animal can be either direct or indirect, such as by the administration and expression of cDNA-containing plasmids. Since the discovery process of the invention is based on a non-preconceived hypothesis and whole organism multi-organ analysis, a compound can be selected for testing in the absence of any biological selection criteria. The resulting organism-wide pattern of the gene expression changes in the transcriptome provides an overview of the activities at the molecular and organism-wide levels. The discovery process of the invention then integrates in vivo profiling and internal and external genomic databases to elucidate the function of unknown proteins.

Abstract: Biomarker signatures were identified which can be used to diagnose or predict kidney or liver toxicity and more specifically renal tubular toxicity as a consequence of disease or drug treatment.

Abstract: A discovery process beginning with an in vivo screening of proteins, peptides, natural products, classical medicinal compound or other substances. The administration of compounds to the animal can be either direct or indirect, such as by the administration and expression of cDNA-containing plasmids. Since the discovery process of the invention is based on a non-preconceived hypothesis and whole organism multi-organ analysis, a compound can be selected for testing in the absence of any biological selection criteria. The resulting organism-wide pattern of the gene expression changes in the transcriptome provides an overview of the activities at the molecular and organism-wide levels. The discovery process of the invention then integrates in vivo profiling and internal and external genomic databases to elucidate the function of unknown proteins, typically within few months.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods to produce selective immunomodulation in epithelial tissues to treat epithelial inflammatory disorders. This invention provides methods for the use of pimecrolimus to treat epithelial inflammatory disorders, including asthma and inflammatory bowel disease while minimizing systemic side effects.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for scrubbing with water a continuous flow of charged gas, the apparatus including a scrubbing chamber; an inlet via which the scrubbing water is fed into the scrubbing chamber; a scrubbing throat for mixing the scrubbing water with the charged gas in the scrubbing chamber; a removal device for removing the scrubbing water and the collected particles; and a removal device for removing the continuous flow of at least partially scrubbed gas.

Abstract: A device for purifying contaminated gas, such as air drawn from an automobile painting tunnel and containing a mist of paint particles, includes an upper water feed orifice 1 connected to a lower flow channel 4 by an intermediate channel 3 which diverges progressively from top to bottom. A horizontal, transverse wall 8 is positioned beneath the feed orifice at a downstream section of the intermediate channel. Water falling against the wall splashes out in a curtain of droplets through which the air must pass, with the paint particles thus being entrained in the droplets and removed from the air flow. The low divergence angles of the intermediate channel ensures the continuous wetting of its walls to prevent clogging.

Abstract: A device is provided for scrubbing a polluted gas in which this gas passes through at least one sheet of a scrubbing liquid. The device comprises trickle walls (7) which together define a first opening (8), a first transverse wall (12) disposed beneath the first opening, and a trickle passage with a vertical axis, surrounding the first transverse wall, and limited by two confining walls (10) attached to the underside of the trickle walls on either side of the first opening. Inside the trickle passage, under the first transverse wall (12), further walls (15) are arranged defining a second opening (16), with a second transverse wall (17) being disposed beneath the second opening.

Abstract: A washing device is provided which comprises at least one inclined wall or floor defining at least one orifice therein, means for causing a washing liquid to flow over the upper side of this wall, means for causing the polluted gas to flow from top to bottom of the device, at least one transverse wall situated below the orifice, and a flow channel having a vertical (or substantially vertical) axis surrounding the transverse wall. This device further comprises a connecting channel whose upper end terminates at the orifice, which has a downwardly divergent shape, and whose lower end is connected to the flow channel.