Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the quantitative analysis of complex nucleic acids (NA), i.e. their fragmentation/degradation and amplificability as a marker of biomolecular quality and integrity of a biosample. Said method comprises the steps of subjecting said NA to a multiplex polymerase chain reaction using primers to generate different-size amplicons (referred to as indicator PCR). For simplicity, a duplex PCR using one primer pair for the generation of a longer PCR product and a second primer pair for the generation of a shorter PCR product is being described as the most simple variant of this test. Following the duplex PCR amplification, the ratio between the yield of the longer PCR product and the yield of the shorter PCR product generated during duplex PCR is determined using a read-out that allows relative quantification between the two (e.g. Pyrosequencing).

Abstract: The activity of a selected endopeptidase in a body fluid is determined by the mass spectrometric measurement of the reaction products of reporter substrate molecules added to the body fluid. Each reporter substrate molecule includes a peptide with the cleavage motif of the endopeptidase, an anchor group A1 on one side of the cleavage site and a different anchor group A2 on the other side of the cleavage site. One anchor is used to extract the reporter substrate molecules from the body fluid and the other anchor is used to extract digest fragments of the reporter molecules from the body fluid. Mass markers allow several reporter substrates to be used simultaneously in the same body fluid sample to measure the activity of different types of endopeptidase.

Abstract: The activity of a selected endopeptidase in a body fluid is determined by the mass spectrometric measurement of the reaction products of reporter substrate molecules added to the body fluid. Each reporter substrate molecule includes a peptide with the cleavage motif of the endopeptidase, an anchor group A1 on one side of the cleavage site and a different anchor group A2 on the other side of the cleavage site. One anchor is used to extract the reporter substrate molecules from the body fluid and the other anchor is used to extract digest fragments of the reporter molecules from the body fluid. Mass markers allow several reporter substrates to be used simultaneously in the same body fluid sample to measure the activity of different types of endopeptidase.

Abstract: The invention describes a method wherein therapeutically useful compounds can be identified via the determination of the expression of glycoprotein antigens of the CEACAM family. These have properties that can prevent the development of hyperplastic alterations that have been identified as the precursors of neoplastic transformation and can lead to the development of a carcinoma, or restore the normalization of the tissue. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for the identification of one or more compounds that are suitable for the prevention of tumorigenesis or for the treatment of precursor stages of tumors. The selected compounds are in a position, through regulation of gene expression, to increase the apoptosis sensitivity (or lowers the apoptosis resistance) of cells of the colon mucosa, especially the precursor cells.

Abstract: A chimeric anti CEA antibody comparable to ATCC Accession No. BH 8747 is described.

Abstract: A chimeric anti CEA antibody comparable to ATCC Accession No. BH 8747 is described.