Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of sphingolipids for the preparation of a food item, a food supplement and/or a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus type 2 and/or Metabolic Syndrome. In particular, the invention relates to the use of a sphingolipid with the general formula (I): wherein Z is R3 or —CH(OH)—R3; A is sulphate, sulphonate, phosphate, phosphonate or —C(O)O—; R1 is H, hydroxyl, alditol, aldose, an alcohol, C1-C6 alkyl or amino acid; R2 is H or unsaturated or saturated (C1-C30) alkyl chain; R3 is unsaturated or saturated (C1-C30) alkyl chain; Q1 is a primary amine group (—NH2), secondary amine group (—NH—) or an amide group (—NH—CO—); and t is 0 or 1, or a precursor, a derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a disorder selected from the group consisting of insulin resistance, diabetes type 2 and Metabolic Syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of cholesterol and triglyceride-lowering methods and compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of sphingolipids, more preferably phytosphingosine, sphingosine, sphinganine, ceramide, cerebroside and/or sphingomyelin for lowering the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a subject and to the use of sphingolipids as a plasma and/or serum cholesterol and triglyceride lowering agent. The invention also encompasses methods of treatment of subjects suffering from high plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as food items and supplements with increased sphingolipid levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the composition of the intestinal flora, to a food comprising a sphingolipid for use in such a method, to methods for the preparation of such a food and to the use of sphingolipids for the preparation of a medicine for improving the composition of the intestinal flora. More in particular, the present invention relates to a method and food in which a sphingolipid chosen from the group consisting of phytosphingosine, sphingosine, lysosphingomyelin and sphinganine, or a precursor, a derivative, or suitable salt thereof is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to agents to improve the uptake of nutrients and medicines, and more in particular to sphingomyelin and/or lysosphingomyelin for use in a pharmaceutical preparation to improve the uptake of certain nutrients and pharmaceutically active substances. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical preparation in which sphingomyelin and/or lysosphingomyelin is incorporated, a food provided with sphingomyelin and/or lysosphingomyelin and methods for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an immobilised oligopeptide for detecting protein prenylation consisting of an oligopeptide containing the amino acid sequence Xad-Xac-Xab-Xaa-OH at its carboxyl-terminus, at least one of Xaa, Xab, Xac and Xad representing cysteine (Cys), said sequence being capable of acting as a substrate for a prenyl transferase catalysing protein prenylation, and being bonded to a solid carrier, preferably at its amino-terminus. The invention further provides a kit for detecting protein prenylation comprising a first immobilised oligopeptide as mentioned above and a second immobilised oligopeptide which differs from said first immobilised oligopeptide in that the cysteine residue is substituted by another amino acid. Also provided are antibodies against the prenylated oligopeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising among others a fibrinopeptide A releasing compound. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of the composition as calibrator in plasma containing fibrinogen. A test kit comprising the said composition and a method to determine soluble fibrin also belong to the invention.

Abstract: A method for the quantification of active plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-type-1 (PAI-type-1) presence in a sample, a method for preparing a reference curve for use in the quantification, a kit for carrying out the method for quantification and a carrier such as a microtiter plate comprising immobilized antibody directed against plasminogen activator.

Abstract: Antibodies are provided which are directed against a sequence of amino acids corresponding to amino acids from the sequence 311-379 in particular 311-336 of the .gamma.-chain of fibrinogen. These novel antibodies react specifically with fibrin, both type I and type II. They are effective in detecting, preventing and treating blood clot formation.

Abstract: Antibodies are provided, which are directed against a sequence of amino acids corresponding to amino acids from the sequence 111-207, in particular 148-161, of the A.alpha.-chain of fibrinogen. These novel antibodies react specifically with fibrin, both type I and type II, and not with fibrinogen. They are effective in detecting, preventing and treating blood clot formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for assaying the activity of tissue plasminogen activator (TA), in which a sample is incubated with plasminogen, a substrate for plasmin giving a detectable reaction product on reaction with plasmin, preferably H-D-Val-Leu-Lys-pNA, and, as a stimulator for the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by TA, water-soluble fibrinogen or fibrin fragments comprising at least partially the D-domains of the fibrinogen or fibrin molecule. The amount of the detectable reaction product of the plasmin substrate is measured. Preferably, said fibrinogen or fibrin fragments have been obtained by reacting fibrinogen or fibrin with CNBr and removing lower molecular components from the reaction product.The invention also relates to kits for performing the assay and comprising the reagents to be used.