Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of hapten-labelled peptides which is characterized in that (a) a peptide with the desired amino acid sequence is synthesized on a solid phase from amino acid derivatives whose reactive side groups are blocked by protecting groups wherein the protecting groups on primary amino side groups are selected in such a way that, if desired, they can be selectively cleaved off, (b) protecting groups are cleaved to form at least one free primary amino group, (c) a hapten-active ester derivative is coupled to the at least one free primary amino group of the peptide and (d) if desired protecting groups that still remain are cleaved off, the hapten being selected from the group comprising sterols, bile acids, sexual hormones, corticoids, cardenolides, cardenolide-glycosides, bufadienolides, steroid-sapogenines and steroid alkaloids.

Abstract: A stable aqueous NAD reagent useful in the measurement of analytes in biological fluids, particularly ethanol and lactate. For the determination of alcohol, the reagent contains alcohol dehydrogenase, pyrazole, NAD, SUTTOCIDE A and an aliphatic, zwitterionic buffer having a secondary or tertiary amine group. Preferred buffers are TAPSO, AMPSO, POPSO, TAPS and DIPSO. For the determination of lactate, the reagent contains lactate dehydrogenase, pyrazole, NAD, SUTTOCIDE A and an aliphatic, zwitterionic buffer having a secondary or tertiary amine group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and reagent for the specific determination of the LDL fraction in the presence of other serum lipoproteins by adding a water soluble polymeric LDL-aggregating agent and a zwitterionic and/or non-ionic detergent. The LDL aggregate is determined in a direct turbidimetric measurement. Preferred LDL-aggregating agents are polyanions having a branched structure with acid groups, particularly branched alkane sulfonic acid groups as side branches. Preferred detergents are those known as "Zwittergent".

Abstract: Saccharomyces mutants with defects in N-glycosylation which are obtainable by ?.sup.3 H!-mannose suicide selection, introduction of one or several selective markers, selection of those strains which, after transformation with the plasmid YEpL/glucose oxidase, secrete 10 mg/l glucose oxidase or more into the culture medium after culture under standard conditions, are allelic to the ngd mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DSM 7042, DSM 7338, DSM 7160 and/or 7340 and express proteins with a uniform carbohydrate structure.

Abstract: A process and a reagent for the specific and direct determination of the LDL-fraction in the presence of other serum lipoproteins by adding a polymeric LDL-aggregating agent, followed by direct turbidimetric measurement of the LDL aggregate. Preferred are polymers which have a comb or brush type structure with the side groups having acid character, such as branched alkane sulfonic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detection of a specific nucleic acid sequence which comprises forming a reaction mixture by combining(1) a sample suspected of containing a nucleic acid;(2) a probe/enzyme donor polypeptide conjugate comprising(a) an enzyme donor polypeptide sequence comprising a .beta.-galactosidase fragment; and(b) a single-stranded oligonucleotide sequence attached to (a) and capable of hybridizing with said nucleic acid;(3) an enzyme acceptor polypeptide capable of forming an active enzyme upon complementation with said enzyme donor fragment; and(4) a substrate for .beta.-galactosidase; anddetecting hybridization of said probe/enzyme donor conjugate to said sample nucleic acid to form a double strand-specific sequence by determining the amount or rate of enzyme activity on said substrate in said reaction mixture.

Abstract: An instrument for determining a characteristic of a biological fluid or a control comprises a radiation-reflective surface, a first source for irradiating the surface, a first detector for detecting radiation reflected from the surface, and a mechanism for determining the characteristic based on the detected radiation. A slide holds a sample of the biological fluid or control the characteristic of which is to be determined. The slide has two opposed walls transparent to the radiation. The first source and first detector are disposed adjacent a first one of the two opposed walls and the radiation reflective surface is disposed adjacent a second of the two opposed walls. A system is provided for supplying power and regulating supplied power from one of multiple power sources to the instrument.

Abstract: The application describes homogeneous assays for determining ligands. A sample is contacted with a labeled substance P.sub.2 and receptor R. The receptor R consists of one molecule of P.sub.1, which monovalently and specifically binds to P.sub.2, and one molecule for R.sub.1, which binds to the ligand of interest. Complexes of P.sub.1, P.sub.2, R.sub.1 and ligand form, and are determined. R.sub.1 must be a nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: An instrument and a method for determining a characteristic of a biological fluid or control comprise providing a radiation-reflective surface, a source for irradiating the surface, a detector for detecting radiation reflected from the surface, and a cuvette for holding a sample of the biological fluid or control. The cuvette has two opposed walls substantially transparent to the source radiation and reflected radiation. The source and detector are disposed adjacent a first one of the two opposed walls and the radiation reflective surface is disposed adjacent the other wall. The method comprises detecting radiation from the source reflected from the surface using the radiation detector to determine a characteristic of the biological fluid or control.

Abstract: Storage container for test strips with a holder in which the test strips are contained and which is closed by a lid. The lid has an elastic seal on its inner side which, when the storage container is closed presses against a rim of the holder preventing an invasion of moisture into the storage container. Holder and lid are connected to one another by a hinge. When the storage container is closed, the seal is deformed and pushes the lid after release of a locking means such that the storage container is at least partially opened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method useful in separating non-high density lipoproteins, referred to as "non-HDLs", from biological fluids containing them. A porous carrier is provided which contains a non-HDL precipitating agent. One need only contact the sample of interest to the carrier for one minute or less, after which the precipitated non-HDL-s are no longer present in the sample being tested. The applications of the method include the ability to determine high density lipoproteins in the sample without interference from non-HDLs.

Abstract: Quantitative transmission spectroscopy where a sample liquid is applied onto a sample carrier having a net in such a manner that the liquid spreads across the meshes of the net. The liquid on the net is exposed to radiation essentially perpendicularly to the net, and the transmitted radiation is detected. The net accomplishes a dosing of the liquid in such a manner that identical meshes include identical quantities of liquid. For a given net, it is possible to derive the amount of liquid, which is located in a mesh and accessible to radiation, from a net constant. Knowing the amount of liquid detected by the radiation, it is possible to use the radiation absorption to calculate the concentration of one or several analytes contained in the sample liquid.

Abstract: Compounds of Formula I ##STR1## in which the variables are defined herein, processes for the production thereof as well as pharmaceutical agents containing these compounds for the treatment of diseases which are the result of thromboembolytic events.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target nucleic acid A is disclosed, comprising hybridizing the target nucleic acid A with a probe nucleic acid B which contains a sequence B1 which base pairs with a part of the target nucleic acid A and a sequence B2, cleaving the hybridized probe nucleic acid B to produce a cleavage product B' containing the sequence B2, hybridizing the cleavage product B' with a template nucleic acid C containing a sequence C2 which base pairs with a part of the cleavage product B' and a sequence C1 which does not hybridize with the sequence B1 of the probe nucleic acid B, extending the hybridized cleavage product B' with an extension sequence B3 which is template-specific to a part of the sequence C1, hybridizing a probe D with the extension product, wherein the probe D contains a sequence D1 which base pairs with the extension sequence B3 and a sequence D2, and detecting any of the various products formed throughout the method. Products for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an element for collecting, transporting and storing sample material to be analyzed containing absorptive matrix material. The element contains a first and a second layer of absorptive matrix material which are arranged side by side, next to, and touching one another on an inert support material in a contact enabling liquid transfer in such a manner that liquid can pass from the first into the second layer when the first layer is filled with liquid. The first layer can be completely separated from the second layer after applying and drying the sample material. Also disclosed is a system containing such an element and a closable envelope in which the element can be transported. In addition, the invention concerns a method for analyzing a liquid sample material in which the liquid sample material is applied to an element according to the invention, the first layer is separated from the second layer of absorptive matrix material for analysis and is subsequently eluted.

Abstract: The invention concerns parathormone (PTH) fragments including the amino acid range of the natural parathormone of +3 to +35 and their physiologically compatible derivatives, a process for the preparation of the fragments according to the solid phase and liquid phase synthesis from partly blocked amino acids contained in the fragments which are coupled with one another in the sequence which corresponds to the amino acid sequence in the fragments to be prepared and medicaments containing at least one of the fragments, especially with calcium-regulating action in the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for mixing a liquid with another liquid or a solid material by blowing a gas onto the surface of the liquid. The invention further relates to a system for implementing said method. Gas is blown onto the surface of the liquid from a distance which can be adjusted by determining the level of the liquid. A system of the invention, hence, comprises a device for blowing a gas onto the surface of a liquid and a device for detecting the level of a liquid.

Abstract: An enzyme selected from penicillin-G amidase, glutaryl-7-ACA acylase and D-amino acid oxidase is immobilized by covalent bonding on an aminofunctional organosiloxane polymer carrier to provide an immobilized enzyme having a specific volume activity of at least 100 U/g wet carrier. Preferably, the carrier has an average diameter or 0.01 to 3 mm and is essentially spherical. Covalent bonding is accomplished by activating amino groups on the carrier with a dialdehyde and reacting the activated groups with reactive groups on the enzyme. An amount of enzyme is immobilized to provide a weight ratio of enzyme to carrier of 1 to 300 mg protein per g wet carrier.

Abstract: For the determination of an immunologically detectable substance based on a heterogeneous immunoassay by use of a solid phase on which one of the immunologically active reaction components is bound, a reaction vessel is used as the solid phase on the inner surface of which streptavidin or avidin is bound in such an amount that 0.1 to 2.5 .mu.g are present per ml reaction volume.A suitable reaction vessel for this has optically transparent wall areas which face one another and has avidin or streptavidin coated walls which are at least partially within the inner wall region intended as a receptacle for liquid, wherein the inner space of the container intended as a receptacle for liquid and the respective streptavidin or avidin content of the coating are so matched that 0.1 to 2.5 .mu.g streptavidin or avidin are present per ml reaction volume.

Abstract: The invention concerns a melanoma-inhibiting protein, nucleic acid sequences coding for this protein, process for the isolation of this protein as well as its use for the production of a therapeutic agent.