Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of hyperpolarized 129Xe and to a method for the production of a contrast agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for dissolving solid polarised material while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a material is polarised in a strong magnetic field in a cryostat 2 and then brought into solution while still inside the cryostat 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of hyperpolarized 129Xe and to a method for the production of a contrast agent.

Abstract: Genetic evidence that an imbalance in the activity of serine proteases can cause severe skin disease has recently been presented. The serine protease SCCE is preferentially expressed in cornifying epithelia. Increased expression of SCCE in psoriasis has previously been reported. Increased SCCE expression also in chronic lesions of atopic dermatitis is described herein. Transgenic mice expressing human SCCE in suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes were found to develop pathological skin changes with increased epidermal thickness, hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammation, and severe pruritus. The results strengthen the idea that SCCE may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases, and may offer a new therapeutic target.

Abstract: a method of investigating chemical changes resulting from commensal microflora colonisation of mammalian intestine which comprises: a) measuring gene expression in commensal bacterium-colonized and germ-free intestine of at least one gene; and b) identifying a gene from a) that has at least a 2-fold difference in expression level between commensal bacterium-colonized and germ-free intestine. The method selects genes for further evaluation, and gives rise to the development of prophylactic treatments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for dissolving solid polarised material while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a material is polarised in a strong magnetic field in a cryostat 2 and then brought into solution while still inside the cryostat 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for melting solid polarised sample while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a sample is polarised in a sample-retaining cup (9) in a strong magnetic field in a polarising means (3a, 3b, 3c) in a cryostat (2) and then melted inside the cryostat (2) by melting means such as a laser (8) connected by an optical fibre (4) to the interior of the cryostat.

Abstract: A fibrinolytically active plasminogen activator of the tissue type, wherein the growth factor (G) domain has been deleted, and wherein also the K1 domain has been deleted and additionally has been modified in one or more of the following sites or region: the sites of amino acid residues 177, 184, 277 and 448 and the F domain, the F domain modification if present being a deletion of part or all of said domain; DNA-sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for said plasminogen activator; expression vector which in a transformed host cell can express said DNA-sequence; host cell transformed using such vector; pharmaceutical composition comprising the fibrinolytically active plasminogen activator; plasminogen activator for use in treating thrombotic disease; a process for the manufacture of such fibrinolytically active plasminogen activator; a process for the treatment of thrombotic disorder; and a process of localizing thrombi while using such plasminogen activator.

Abstract: Genetic evidence that an imbalance in the activity of serine proteases can cause severe skin disease has recently been presented. The serine protease SCCE is preferentially expressed in cornifying epithelia. Increased expression of SCCE in psoriasis has previously been reported. Increased SCCE expression also in chronic lesions of atopic dermatitis is described herein. Transgenic mice expressing human SCCE in suprabasal epidermal keratinocytes were found to develop pathological skin changes with increased epidermal thickness, hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammation, and severe pruritus. The results strengthen the idea that SCCE may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases, and may offer a new therapeutic target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expression system comprising a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide which has a biological activity of human &kgr;-casein, the system comprising a 5′-flanking sequence capable of mediating expression of said DNA sequence. In preferred embodiments the 5′-flanking sequence is from a milk protein gene of a mammal such as a casein gene or whey acidic protein (WAP) gene and the DNA sequence contains at least one intron sequence selected from the intron sequences presented in SEQ ID NO:30. The invention also relates to DNA sequences, replicable expression vectors and cells harboring said vectors, recombinant polypeptide e.g. in glycosylated form, and milk, infant formula or nutrient supplement comprising recombinant polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expression system comprising a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide which ha a biological activity of human &kgr;-casein, the system comprising a 5′-flanking sequence capable of mediating expression of said DNA sequence. In preferred embodiments the 5′-flanking sequence is from a milk protein gene of a mammal such as a casein gene or whey acidic protein (WAP) gene and the DNA sequence contains at least one intron sequence. The invention further relates to DNA sequences, replicable expression vectors and cells harboring said vectors, recombinant polypeptide e.g. in glycosylated form, and milk, infant formula or nutrient supplement comprising recombinant polypeptide.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are isolated polypeptides consisting of amino acid sequences derived form ospA and/or ospB of various B. burgdorferi or portions thereof and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which cooperate with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal the tube at successive cross sections (54) by means of induction heating elements (29) on the jaws (12); and each jaw (12) has a pair of movable elements (60) for interacting with and correcting supply of the tube (14), and the travel of which is controlled by a control assembly (95) in response to a signal (107) related to the position of designs (31) on the packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal the tube at successive cross sections by means of induction heating elements (29) on the jaws (12); and the jaws (12) and counter-jaws (13) are guided along respective work paths by pairs of cams (50, 51) having different profiles for controlling interaction of the jaws (12) and counter-jaws (13) with the tube (14) of packaging material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic non-human mammal comprising a DNA sequence encoding human extracellular superoxide dismutase (human EC-SOD) or a variant thereof which is expressed in the milk. Transgenic mice containing a chimeric whey acidic protein gene promoter operatively linked to human EC-SOD gene were produced. Levels of up to 0.7 mg human EC-SOD protein/mL milk were observed. The mammalian expression system is preferably expressed in a non-human mammal selected from the group containing rabbits, mice, rats, goats, sheep, pigs, llama, camels and bovine species. The human EC-SOD proteins dismutate superoxide radicals and bind heparin. Within the scope of the invention are also method for producing a transgenic non-human mammal capable of expressing human EC-SOD as defined above, and methods of making milk and methods of isolating protein from the milk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or an analogue or variant thereof having SCCE activity as defined in the present application, such as a polypeptide having a sub-sequence of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having SCCE activity as well as to expression systems, expression vectors, plasmids and non-human organisms comprising said nucleotide sequences. Important aspects of the present invention relate to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and skin care compositions comprising a polypeptide having SCCE activity, and the use of a polypeptide having SCCE activity for the treatment or prophylaxis of various diseases such as acne, xeroderma or other hyperkeratotic conditions such as callosities and keratosis pilaris as well as the various ichthyoses, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases such as eczemas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasmid containing a promoter sequence, a nucleotide sequence encoding an exogenous protein, and a nucleotide sequence encoding an enzyme capable of modifying the exogenous protein. In a specific embodiment of the invention the encoded exogenous protein is human .beta.-casein and the encoded enzyme is a human kinase capable of phosphorylating recombinant .beta.-casein in a bacterial system. Phosphorylated recombinant human .beta.-casein synthesized using the plasmid of the invention is shown to have the same bioactivity as native human .beta.-casein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or an analogue or variant thereof having SCCE activity as defined in the present application, such as a polypeptide having a subsequence of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having SCCE activity as well as to expression systems, expression vectors, plasmids and non-human organisms comprising said nucleotide sequences. Important aspects of the present invention relate to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and skin care compositions comprising a polypeptide having SCCE activity, and the use of a polypeptide having SCCE activity for the treatment or prophylaxis of various diseases such as acne, xeroderma or other hyperkeratotic conditions such as callosities and keratosis pilaris as well as the various ichthyoses, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases such as eczemas.

Abstract: The invention discloses nucleic acids encoding variant Bile Salt Stimulated Lipase (BSSL; EC 3.1.1.1). The encoded variant BSSL enzymes maintain catalytic activity but contain fewer glycosylation sites that full-length BSSL. This reduced glycosylation facilitates purification and characterization of recombinant BSSL proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing phophorylated, recombinant human .beta.-casein having 3 to 5 phosphates in a bacterial cell using a single vector containing in tandem both the nucleotide sequence encoding .beta.-casein and a sequence encoding the enzyme CKII .beta..alpha. which is capable of phosphorylating human .beta.-casein.