Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises a protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises a protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises a protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises an protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises an protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: A silicon carbide sintered body for a mechanical seal which has independent pores having an average pore diameter of from 10 to 40 .mu.m and a porosity of from 4 to 13 vol %. The mechanical seal includes a stationary sliding ring and a rotary sliding ring, with at least one of the rings being the silicon carbide sintered body. The silicon carbide sintered body is preferably made of .alpha.-silicon carbide powder.

Abstract: A mold for molding an optical disc includes a first mold member having a recess, and a second mold having a body and a plate-like sintered ceramic member secured to the body and having a flat seat surface. The recess and the flat seat surface jointly provides a mold cavity when the first and second mold members are mated together. A disc-shaped thin stamper is adapted to be seated on and detachably secured to the flat seat surface. The ceramic member is made of a ceramic material having Rockwell hardness (A-Scale) of not less than 90, so that the flat seat surface is not subjected to undue damage for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A glass-grinding sheet is prepared by a process wherein 100 wt. parts of a powdery metal composition consisting of, based on the weight of the composition, 80-96.8% copper, 3-15% of tin and/or zinc, and 0.2-5% of nickel and/or titanium, are mixed with 0.5-30 wt. parts of a diamond powder; the mixture is sintered; and then, the obtained sintered body is rolled into a sheet of the desired thickness. The powdery metal composition is either a copper alloy consisting of (a) copper, (b) tin and/or zinc and (c) nickel and/or titanium, or a mixture of a copper alloy consisting of (a) copper and (b) tin and/or zinc, with (c) nickel and/or titanium.

Abstract: An abrader for use in mirror polishing of glass comprises a porous cured unsaturated polyester resin and zirconium oxide or cerium oxide or red iron oxide. Desired mirror polishing of glass is effected by grinding the glass surface with this abrader under continued supply of water or a cutting oil to the interface of grinding.