Abstract: A method of predicting bile flow through a liver is described. The method comprises: (a) dividing the axis connecting the central vein and a portal vein of a lobule into zones; (b) measuring secretion of bile by hepatocytes; (c) calculating the transport rate of said bile of (b) through each of the zones defined in (a), using differential equations; (d) providing a three-dimensional representation of the bile canaliculi in said lobule; (e) calculating a correction factor as the ratio between hydraulic radius and geometric radius of said bile canaliculi; and (f) calculating bile transport through (f-i) said three-dimensional representation of (d) using the transport rates determined in step (c) and said correction factor calculated in step (e), by solving the Navier-Stokes equations for said representation of (d); or (f-ii) a porous medium model of said liver lobule using the transport rates determined in step (c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of specific carbazole derivatives in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of disorders relating to pathological processes in lipid rafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific sphingolipids/sphingolipid derivatives as pharmaceutical compositions as well as their use in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of disorders relating to pathological processes in lipid rafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound comprising a tripartite structure in the format C-B-A or C?-B?-A? wherein moiety A and moiety A? is a raftophile, moiety B and moiety B? is a linker, moiety C and moiety C? is a pharmacophore; and wherein moiety B and B? is a linker which has a backbone of at least 8 carbon atoms and wherein one or more of said carbon atoms may be replaced by nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. Furthermore, specific medical and pharmaceutical uses of the compounds of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of specific steroid derivatives in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment or prevention and/or amelioration of disorders relating to pathological processes in lipid rafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific sphingolipids/sphingolipid derivatives as pharmaceutical compositions as well as their use in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of disorders relating to pathological processes in lipid rafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vivo-assay to screen for anti-proliferative drugs, the assay comprising the steps of: (a) contacting cells of a primary cell culture or of an established cell line with a candidate substance, (b) subsequently or concomitantly with a candidate substance, contacting the cells with a growth factor, (c) processing the cells for immunofluorescence staining to detect APPL1 and APPL2 using an anti-APPL1 and/or 2 antibody, or alternatively using GFP-tagged APPL proteins stably or transiently expressed by the cells via transfection, (d) assessing the degree of colocalisation of APPL1 and/or 2 and the growth factor, the solubilisation of APPL1 and/or 2 and their translocation to the nucleus, (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) with cells not previously treated with the candidate substance, and (f) comparing the degree of colocalisation of APPL1 and/or 2 and the growth factor, the solubilisation of APPL1 and/or 2 and their translocation to the nucleus between the cells not previously tr