Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial process for the preparation of 17-hydroxy-6?,7?;15?,16?-bismethylene-3-oxo-17?-pregn-4-ene-21-carboxylic acid ?-lactone of formula (I), and to the key-intermediates for this process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving viability and/or stress tolerance of viable biological material and using the said material comprising applying hydrostatic pressure to said biological material; keeping the said viable biological material at the hydrostatic pressure for a predetermined time period; releasing the hydrostatic pressure; and using the said material for any desired purpose in accordance with any useful protocol. The usage of the said biological material incorporates any techniques, protocols that are applicable in the field of assisted reproductive techniques, biotechnical and/or biotechnological manipulations.

Abstract: The present dental handpiece has a burr sleeve, a head section, an air supply passage for introducing compressed air into the head section for driving the burr sleeve, and an air discharge passage for discharging the compressed air. The air supply passage includes a through hole axially extending through the rear terminal part of the handpiece, and a tubular pressure regulating member and an air supply tube connected in series between the through hole and the head section. The pressure regulating member has an aperture for allowing communication with the air discharge passage, and an annular valve body arranged axially slidably for opening/closing the aperture. When the pressure of compressed air passing through the air supply passage exceeds a predetermined level, the valve body is slid to open the aperture to discharge the compressed air for regulating the pressure of the compressed air to be supplied to the burr sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of Echinacea or Echinacea preparations for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions which can be used to relieve natural occurrences of anxiety. The compositions can also be used to relieve the symptoms of various anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, panic, acute traumatic stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias of various kinds including social phobia, compulsive disorders, and anxiety states related to withdrawal from drugs (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs). The phrase “Echinacea” embraces Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, or their combination. Echinacea preparations can be administered alone, but should preferably be used in combination with a vitamin mix (including but not limited to B1, B2, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, biotin, folic acid B12, and/or C vitamin) and/or a mineral mix (including but not limited to calcium, magnesium and zinc).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for accessing a slide from a plurality of digitized microscope slides from a remote workstation, wherein the plurality of digitized microscope slides are accessible via a plurality of data station units (DSU), the method comprising: providing a central management station unit (CMSU) connected to a communication network for storing slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides, allowing the workstation to connect to the CMSU via the communication network; providing at least a part of the slide information of the plurality of digitized microscope slides to the workstation; allowing the workstation to select a digitized microscope slide based on the provided slide information; and allowing for a direct connection over the communication network between the remote workstation and a DSU enabling access to the selected digitized microscope slide. The invention further relates to a system and a CMSU for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of the 17-acetoxy-11?-[4-(dimethylamino)-phenyl]-21-methoxy-19-norpregna-4,9-dien-3,20-dione of formula (I): from 3,3-[1,2-etandiyl-bis(oxy)]-oestr-5(10),9(11)-dien-17-one of formula (II):

Abstract: A process for the production of 1-(4-3(R)-[3(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropyl]-4(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone (ezetimibe) according to the following reaction scheme: (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI) where the substances of the general Formulas II, IV, VI, VIII, IX, X and XI are new, Formula III is a non-isolated intermediate, R1, R2 and R3 are represented by the compounds of Formulas Va-Vd, (Va), (Vb), (Vc), (Vd) and R4 is a silyl, e.g., tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyl, tert-butyl-diphenyl-silyl group.

Abstract: The invention relates to unglycosylated folded C-terminal fragments of a multidomain serine protease of the complement cascade obtainable by expression in a bacterial host, wherein said serine protease is capable of binding a recognition molecule of the complement cascade, e.g. C1 or MBL. The invention also relates to methods and bacterial expression vectors for the preparation of said fragments, uses of said fragments for raising antibodies and screening substrates or inhibitors of said serine proteases and uses of the fragments in research and treatment of complement related disorders. The invention also relates to assay methods for assessing MASP-1 and MASP-2 levels in a sample of biological origin. The invention provides for research tools, assays and diagnostic kits useful in complement research and research and diagnosis of complement related disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides for a novel cholesterol loaded insect cell membrane preparation having an increased cholesterol level as compared to physiological cholesterol levels of insect cell membranes or to control insect cell membrane preparations without cholesterol loading, wherein said cholesterol loaded membrane preparation comprises an ABC transporter protein having an increased substrate transport activity due to increased cholesterol level of the membrane. The invention also relates to reagent kits comprising the preparations of the invention. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing said preparations and methods for measuring any type of activity of the ABC transporters present in the cholesterol loaded membranes as well as studying or testing compounds and interaction of compounds and ABC transporters, in this assay systems. The invention also provides for a test system useful for testing whether ABC transporter proteins can be activated by cholesterol in an insect cell membrane.

Abstract: A new industrial process for the synthesis of solvate-free 17?-acetoxy-11?-[4-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl]-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione [CDB-2914] of formula (I) which is a strong antiprogestogene and antiglucocorticoid agent. The invention also relates to compounds of formula (VII) and (VIII) used as intermediates in the process.

Abstract: The medical handpiece of the present invention has a cutting tool having a flexible shank and a bur provided at the distal end of the cutting tool for cutting an affected area, a tubular sheath for receiving the cutting tool therein, and a handpiece body for detachably holding the proximal end of the cutting tool and transmitting driving force from a drive source to the cutting tool. The sheath and the cutting tool are made flexible for a particular range, with the sheath being plastically deformable and the shank of the cutting tool being elastically deformable. The medical handpiece is further provided with a plurality of bearings arranged in the sheath, first interposed members that are tubular and flexible and arranged proximal to, distal to, and between the bearings, and second interposed members that are tubular and flexible and arranged inside the first interposed members.