Abstract: Method for measuring a spherical-astigmatic optical surface (40), includes: a) generating a spherical-astigmatic wavefront as a test wavefront with a wavefront generating apparatus (10); b) interferometrically measuring wavefront aberrations between the wavefront generating apparatus and the surface which is adjusted to the wavefront generating apparatus such that the test wavefront impinges each point on the surface substantially perpendicularly, plural measurements being taken in which the surface is measured at a number of positions, spherized about the two centers of the radii of the astigmatism and/or rotated by 180° about a surface normal to the surface, such that corresponding interferogram phases are determined; and c) determining the wavefront of the wavefront generation device and a shape of the surface using a mathematical reconstruction method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a modified von Willebrand Factor (VWF) having a higher Factor VIII binding affinity than non-modified VWF, its pharmaceutical use and method of its preparation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pliers, in particular a center cutter, having two pliers limbs (6, 7) arranged to cross in a joint which forms a pivot axis (8), the two pliers limbs (6, 7) forming, on one side of the joint, interacting working regions (2, 3) that have free ends (15, 16), and the pliers limbs having gripping limbs (10, 11) on the other side of the joint. In order to improve a pliers of the kind specified at the beginning in such a way that an advantageous design structure is achieved for the greatest possible force transmission ratio, it is proposed that one of the pliers limbs (6) is formed in the shape of a U on the joint side and that the pivot axis (8) passes through the U-limb (12).

Abstract: An inhibitor of FXII/FXIIa for the prevention of the formation and/or stabilization of thrombi during and/or after a medical procedure performed on a human or animal subject comprising contacting blood of said human or animal subject with artificial surfaces, wherein said inhibitor of FXII/FXIIa is administered before and/or during and/or after said medical procedure.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is, in the most general aspect, the prevention and/or treatment of a secondary edema. In particular, the present invention relates to a C1-Inhibitor for use in a method of preventing the formation and/or reducing the size of a secondary edema of the central nervous system (CNS) in a subject wherein the subject has or has had at least one disorder selected from the group consisting of stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, perinatal stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Preferably the secondary edema of the CNS is a secondary brain edema. Another subject of the present invention is the treatment of disorders associated with an increased permeability of the blood brain barrier or the blood spinal cord barrier. And a third subject is a plasma-derived C1-inhibitor for use in a method of preventing, reducing or treating brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the stability of a Factor VIII molecule after purification, lyophilization and reconstitution, comprising preventing proteolytic cleavage of the Factor VIII molecule into a first fragment comprising essentially the A1 domain and the A2 domain and a second fragment comprising essentially the A3 domain, the C1 domain and the C2 domain throughout manufacturing of the Factor VIII molecule. The invention further pertains to a method for improving the bioavailability of Factor VIII after intravenous and non-intravenous injection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a covalent complex of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and Factor VIII, wherein the complex is modified such that it has an extended half-life in vivo. The invention further relates to a method of producing the complex, as well as the therapeutic or prophylactic use of the complex for treating or preventing bleeding events.

Abstract: A pipe wrench or water pump wrench includes a clamp having a first shaft-like grip part and a handle having a second shaft-like grip part. A first jaw having a first gripping surface is disposed at one end of the clamp and a second jaw having a second gripping surface is disposed at one end of the handle. The second gripping surface is formed so as to be complementary to the first gripping surface. The jaws extend in a jaw gripping direction. The gripping surfaces form a first gripping recess. An adjusting mechanism having a toothed slot is disposed in the clamp. The toothed slot is curved in the jaw gripping direction. A pivot pin connects the clamp and the handle in a pivotable manner with respect to one another. The pivot pin is displaceable via the adjusting mechanism.

Abstract: An inhibitor of FXII/FXIIa for the prevention of the formation and/or stabilization of thrombi during and/or after a medical procedure performed on a human or animal subject comprising contacting blood of said human or animal subject with artificial surfaces, wherein said inhibitor of FXII/FXIIa is administered before and/or during and/or after said medical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified cDNA sequences coding for factor X polypeptides, in particular human factor X and its derivatives which can bypass the need for either factor VIIIa/factor IXa or factor VIIa/tissue factor for activation. The invention relates further to recombinant expression vectors containing such modified cDNA sequences, host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors, recombinant polypeptides and derivatives which do have biological activities of the unmodified wild type protein but having altered activation properties, and processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also covers a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified DNA sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified nucleic acid sequences coding for coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and for von Willebrand factor (VWF) as well as complexes thereof and their derivatives, recombinant expression vectors containing such nucleic acid sequences, host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors, recombinant polypeptides and derivatives coded for by said nucleic acid sequences which recombinant polypeptides and derivatives do have biological activities together with prolonged in vivo half-life and/or improved in vivo recovery compared to the unmodified wild-type protein. The invention also relates to corresponding FVIII sequences that result in improved expression yield. The present invention further relates to processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also relates to a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified cDNA sequences coding for human Factor X and their derivatives with improved stability and modified activation sequences, recombinant expression vectors containing such cDNA sequences, and host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors. The invention also relates to recombinant factor X polypeptides and derivatives which have biological activities of the unmodified wild type protein but with improved stability and processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also covers a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified DNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapeutic fusion proteins in which a coagulation factor is fused to a half-life enhancing polypeptide, and in which both are connected by a linker peptide that is proteolytically cleavable. The cleavage of such linkers liberates the coagulation factor from activity-compromising steric hindrance caused by the half-life enhancing polypeptide and thereby allows the generation of fusion proteins may show relatively high molar specific activity when tested in coagulation-related assays. Furthermore, the fact that the linker is cleavable can enhance the rates of inactivation and/or elimination after proteolytic cleavage of the peptide linker compared to the rates measured for corresponding therapeutic fusion proteins linked by the non-cleavable linker having the amino acid sequence GGGGGGV.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method to reduce adverse events caused by a pharmaceutical preparation derived from a plasma fraction said plasma fraction comprising antithrombin III wherein the method comprises contacting the plasma fraction with heparin or a heparin-like substance thereby reducing the activity of at least one activated serine protease per ml of the plasma fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising an isolated sugar for use in the treatment of von Willebrand disease and/or hemophilia A, wherein the sugar is an accessible sugar residue derived from ABO(H) blood group antigen.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is, in the most general aspect, the prevention and/or treatment of a secondary edema. In particular, the present invention relates to a C1-Inhibitor for use in a method of preventing the formation and/or reducing the size of a secondary edema of the central nervous system (CNS) in a subject wherein the subject has or has had at least one disorder selected from the group consisting of stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, perinatal stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Preferably the secondary edema of the CNS is a secondary brain edema. Another subject of the present invention is the treatment of disorders associated with an increased permeability of the blood brain barrier or the blood spinal cord barrier. And a third subject is a plasma-derived C1-inhibitor for use in a method of preventing, reducing or treating brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of Factor VII (FVII) and Factor VIIa (FVIIa) albumin linked polypeptides. More specifically, the invention relates to cDNA sequences coding for human Factor VII and Factor VIIa and derivatives genetically fused to a cDNA coding for human serum albumin which may be linked by oligonucleotides which code for intervening peptidic linkers such encoded derivatives exhibiting improved stability and extended functional plasma half-life, recombinant expression vectors containing such cDNA sequences, host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors, recombinant polypeptides and derivatives which do have biological activities of the unmodified wild type protein but having improved stability and prolonged shelf-life and processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also covers a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified DNA sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a modified von Willebrand Factor (VWF) having a higher Factor VIII binding affinity than non-modified VWF, its pharmaceutical use and method of its preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences coding for modified coagulation factors, preferably coagulation factor VIII, and their derivatives; recombinant expression vectors containing such nucleic acid sequences; host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors; and recombinant polypeptides and derivatives coded for by said nucleic acid sequences, whereby said recombinant polypeptides and derivatives have biological activities and prolonged in vivo half-lives compared to the unmodified wild-type proteins. The invention also relates to corresponding sequences that result in improved in vitro stability. The present invention further relates to processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also relates to a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified cDNA sequences coding for vitamin K-dependent polypeptides, in particular human Factor VII, human Factor VIIa, human Factor IX and human protein C and their derivatives with improved stability and extended plasma half life, recombinant expression vectors containing such cDNA sequences, host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors, recombinant polypeptides and derivatives which do have biological activities of the unmodified wild type protein but having improved stability and processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also covers a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified DNA sequences.