It has been discovered that certain genetic variants are predictive of risk of prostate cancer in humans. The present invention discloses such variants and their use in methods of determining susceptibility to prostate cancer in humans. Also disclosed are kits and computer systems for use in such methods.

It has been discovered that particular variants in the human Asporin gene are associated with risk of conditions such as intracranial aneurysm and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The present invention provides methods of determining susceptibility of these conditions using such variants. Also provided are computer-implemented methods for determining susceptibility to these conditions.

This invention relates to a vehicle suspension system where two or more flexible members are arranged in a non-planar way with a distance there between. These flexible members are being rigidly mounted between a frame structure of a vehicle and a wheel structure of the vehicle and the arrangement of the flexible members is so as to provide guided suspension and being resistive against forces other than those in the intended direction of the suspension movement.

The invention relates to coating of suppositories containing free unsaturated fatty acid, fatty acid ethyl ester and fatty acid monoglyceride that are susceptible to oxidative degradation. The coating retards oxidative degradation of unsaturated fatty acids and gives the suppository a non-oily and smooth surface. The coating will enhance the shelf-life of the suppository and allow their storage at room temperature for extended time period. The coating may or may not contain medicament such as local anesthetic or steroid. According to this invention chemically unstable fatty acids in coated suppositories can be used to stimulate the process of defecation or to treat disorders such as hemorrhoids, bacterial infections, viral infections and inflammations, as well as against fissura ani and pruritus ani. Furthermore, coating suppositories,that contain high concentrations of free fatty acids,can reduce acid induced rectal irritation.

It has been discovered that particular variants in the human TP53 gene are associated with risk of cancer. The present invention provides methods of determining susceptibility of cancer using such variants. Also provided are computer-implemented methods for determining cancer susceptibility.

Dermatologic compositions for therapeutic use, containing a growth factor, or a growth factor purified from transgenic plants, or animal, bacterial, yeast or insect cells, or a mixture of growth factors in purified form, for treatment of various dermatological conditions and diseases. The pharmaceutical compositions are suitable for treatment of sensitive and challenged skin due to conditions and illnesses such as challenged skin due to systemic lupus erythematosus, Lichen simplex chronicus, blepharitis and blepharokeratoconjuctivitis. The skin compositions are also useful for use in combination with agents to treat anti-fungal infections such as Clotrimazole, Terbinafine, Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Amorolfine and Econazole.

Cosmetic and dermatologic compositions for skin care, containing a non-plant derived growth factor, purified from a host organisms or host cells such as bacterial, yeast, or animal cells, including insect cells, or a mixture of growth factors in purified form, for use in topical therapeutics, dermatology and cosmetics. Importantly this invention provides stabilised, safer growth factors available for use for cosmetic and topical treatment. Preferred composition comprises a non-plant derived growth factor and hyaluronic acid. The skin-care/dermatological compositions with stabilised growth factor do not carry the risk of unwanted breakdown products and the resulting loss of activity of the composition.

The invention pertains to certain genetic variants that have been determined to be susceptibility variants of breast cancer. Methods of disease management, including diagnosing increased susceptibility to breast cancer, methods of predicting response to therapy and methods of predicting prognosis using such variants are described. The invention further relates to kit, medium and apparatus useful for assessing risk of breast cancer.

A device and method for measurement of spinal mobility are provided for measuring spinal mobility. The apparatus is a hand-held device that includes a gripping portion (4) connected to a force transmitter (5), a reference member (7), a displacement sensor, and a load cell. A force applied downwardly on the gripping portion (4) is transmitted to the force transmitter (5) which is placed on a vertebra of the spine of a subject. The reference member (7) rests on an adjacent vertebra. The displacement sensor determins the displacement of the force transmitter (5) relative to the reference member (7), as a function of the applied force measured by the load cell.

This invention relates to a learning system and a method adapted to personalize language learning to individual users. An output device generates and presents learning related data to a user associated with a user ID. An input mechanism receives, in response to the learning related data, response data from the user indicating the users response to the learning related data. A processor associates the learning related data to the response data to couple the response from the user to the learning related data. A database including a storage space associated to the user ID is used for storing the learning related and the associated response data and thus generates an individualized language knowledge database for the user.