Abstract: In a blood pump for assisting cardiac output, including a housing with a housing inlet and a housing outlet, wherein the housing forms a first pump housing and a second pump housing, a rotor which is mounted in the housing and is rotatable about an axis, wherein the rotor comprises a first pump stage with a first impeller arranged in the first pump housing and a second pump stage with a second impeller arranged in the second pump housing, wherein the first and the second pump stages are each formed as radial or diagonal pumps and through which the blood to be pumped from the housing inlet to the housing outlet can flow in succession, the first pump housing and the second pump housing are connected via a channel which runs radially outside a middle section of the housing arranged between the first and the second pump housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preserving urinary cells, the method comprising the step of contacting a urine sample obtained from a patient with a buffer substance suitable to create and/or maintain a pH value in the range of 6 to 8, particularly approx. 7, within said urine sample, and a formaldehyde releasing compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer program for automatic shape quantification of an optic nerve head from three-dimensional image data (1) acquired with optical coherence tomography, comprising the steps of: a) Providing (100) three-dimensional image data (1) of the retina, the image data comprising at least a portion of the optic nerve head, wherein the image data comprises pixels with associated pixel values; b) In the three-dimensional image data (1) identifying (200, 300) anatomic portions of the optic nerve head, the anatomic portions comprising a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) portion (3) and an inner limiting membrane (ILM) portion (2); c) Determining an RPE polygon mesh (30) for a lower boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium portion (3), wherein the RPE polygon mesh (30) extends along the lower boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium portion (3); d) Determining an ILM polygon mesh (20) for the inner limiting membrane portion (2), wherein the ILM polygon mesh (20) extends alon

Abstract: Retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) with intraretinal layer segmentation is increasingly used not only in ophthalmology but also for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Signal quality influences segmentation results, and high-quality OCT images are needed for accurate segmentation and quantification of subtle intraretinal layer changes. Among others, OCT image quality depends on the ability to focus, patient compliance and operator skills. Current criteria, for OCT quality define acceptable image quality, but depend on manual rating by experienced graders and are time consuming and subjective. In this paper, we propose and validate a standardized, grader-independent, real-time feedback system for automatic quality assessment of retinal OCT images. We defined image quality criteria for scan centering, signal quality and image completeness based on published quality criteria and typical artifacts identified by experienced graders when inspecting OCT images.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides for techniques and approaches for the generation of autologous mutant neoantigen-specific, TCR-engineered T cells used for adoptive transfer in treatment of cancer patients. Also provided are surrogate cancer cells, which is a personalized cell system that can be used for vaccination and TCR discovery in cancer patients.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a system for determining a cortical bone, comprising: an ultrasound transducer which is configured to transmit an ultrasound wave to a region of interest, and to receive a backscattered ultrasound wave which is backscattered from the region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises a cortical bone; and an evaluation unit which is configured to determine at least one of a pore size, a bone thickness, and a speed of sound in the cortical bone by evaluating the backscattered ultrasound wave. Further, a method for determining a cortical bone is provided. A computer program product which, when executed by a processor, executes the method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of imaging phantoms and their use in computed tomography (CT) and radiotherapy (RT). In particular, the present disclosure provides novel ink compositions conferring radiation absorbing properties mimicking biological tissue to imaging phantoms. Thus, these novel ink compositions are particularly useful for creating tissue equivalent imaging phantoms, which allow realistically simulating biological tissue over the whole range of photon energies relevant for applications in CT and RT. Accordingly, the present disclosure also provides novel imaging phantoms exhibiting radiation absorbing properties mimicking real biological tissue. The present disclosure further relates to methods of generating imaging phantoms built up of layers making use of the novel ink compositions disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computation based method for determining an individual cardiac metabolic profile in a subject and related materials, devices and mathematical model usage. The present invention therefore relates to a computation-based method for determining an individual metabolic cardiac profile of a subject comprising provision of a heart tissue sample from said subject, quantifying proteins in said sample from said subject, and applying information about quantities of said proteins to a mathematical model. In some embodiments, individual cardiac parameters and/or the metabolites of the subject are additionally introduced into the mathematical model, wherein individual cardiac parameters are determined for a plurality of cardiac workloads, including rest, stress or cardiac pacing.

Abstract: The invention is based on antigen binding proteins (ABPs) such as T-cell receptors (TCR) expressed on T-cells, which have a specificity to bind to MIC presented Rac2 and Rac1 derived neo-epitopes. Hence, such MHC presented peptides are derived from mutated versions of Rac1 and Rac2, such as preferably RAC2P29L and/or RAC1P29S. Provided are isolated ABPs as well as genetic constructs expressing the ABPs, recombinant host cells harboring the ABP of the invention and methods for producing such ABPs and host cells. Moreover, provided are medical applications involving the TCR of the invention, for example in context of an adoptive T-cell therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for assessing a level of T cell activation by one or more antigens or for assessing functional avidity of T cells for one or more antigens, the methods comprising providing a cell population comprising T cells, contacting said cell population with one or more antigens in vitro, and determining a level of a T-cell receptor (TCR) complex and/or component thereof in a sub-set of T cells of said cell population.

Abstract: It is provided a method for gene repair in primary human muscle stem cells (satellite cells) in vitro comprising the following steps: providing a sample of an isolated muscle-fiber containing tissue sample collected from at least one patient with a monogenic muscle disease, wherein the monogenic muscle disease is caused by at least one mutation in at least one gene encoding for at least one muscle protein; isolating and cultivating primary stem cells from said muscle-fiber containing tissue sample, and correcting the at least one mutation in the at least one gene encoding for at least one muscle protein in the cultivated primary stem cells by targeted modification of the at least one mutation by gene editing using CRISPR/Cas-based tools.

Abstract: Peptides capable of binding to HLA-E and affecting immune cell activity are provided. Such peptides can selectively activate NKG2C+ immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells and/or can inhibit NKG2A+ cells to decrease or suppress immune cell responses. Methods of use of the peptides are also disclosed, for instance, for treating or inhibiting the development or progression of a multitude of illnesses and conditions, including autoimmune disease, infectious disease such as viral or bacterial infection, and proliferative disorders such as cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a modified T cell, or an isolated population of immune cells expressing a CXCR3 isoform selected from CXCR3A, CXCR3B, and CXCR3alt, and optionally, further expressing transgenes comprising an artificial T cell receptor, and/or a CXCR3 ligand, for use as a medicament. The invention also provides the methods to obtain said cells, or populations of cells from a plurality of immune cells derived from a human subject. The invention also relates to assessment of CXCR3 splice variants and its ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients, to enable patients to be stratified for their predicted response to a chemotherapy drug treatment, or clinical outcome.

Abstract: It is provided a system for magnetic stimulation of biological tissue, comprising at least two magnetic field generating devices for generating time-varying magnetic fields, wherein the magnetic field generating devices are to be arranged relative to the tissue in such a way that their time-varying magnetic fields at least partially overlap in the tissue; and at least one controlling arrangement for controlling the two magnetic field generating devices (D1-D4). The controlling arrangement is configured to control at least one of the two magnetic field generating devices in such a way that the time-varying magnetic field generated by the at least one device is phase modulated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample holder assembly (1) for microscopy comprising at least the following components: A first member (10) having a first opening (14) on a first side of the first member (10), and a circumferential wall portion (12) having an inward facing side (12-1) that faces toward the first volume (V1) and an outward facing side (12-2) opposite the inward facing side (12-1); A second member (20) having a first opening (24) at a first side of the second member (20), and a circumferential wall portion (22) having an inward facing side (22-1) facing toward the second volume (V2), wherein a shape of the outward facing side (12-2) of the wall portion (12) of the first member (10) is complementary to the inward facing side (22-1) of the wall portion (22) of the second member (20), such that the wall portion (12) of the first member (10) can be inserted in the second volume (V2), such that the first volume (V1) is at least partially comprised by the second volume (V2); A transparent membrane (30) ha

Abstract: The invention relates to a saponin derivative based on a saponin comprising a triterpene aglycone and a first saccharide chain and/or a second saccharide chain, and comprising: an aglycone core structure comprising an aldehyde group which has been derivatised; and/or the first saccharide chain wherein the first saccharide chain comprises a carboxyl group, which has been derivatised; and/or the second saccharide chain wherein the second saccharide chain comprises at least one acetoxy group which has been derivatised. The invention also relates to a first pharmaceutical composition comprising the saponin derivative of the invention.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for predicting the probability of having or developing a non-fusion, wherein said method comprises determining the frequency of a subpopulation of CD8+ T cells selected from CD8+CD57+, CD8+CD28? and CD8+CD57+CD28? in a sample obtained from a patient. Also provided herein is a system for predicting the probability of having or developing a non-fusion.

Abstract: A process is provided in which the resulting Fe-tCDTA contrast agent has a reduced osmolality. The process according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) preparing an aqueous solution of tCDTA and FeO(OH), tCDTA and FeO(OH) being present in a molar ratio of from 1:1 to 1:1.4; b) b.1) adjusting a pH of the aqueous solution to between pH 2.5 and pH 4.5 by adding a base, preferably meglumine, and separating the precipitate; or b.2) precipitating the Fe-tCDTA contrast agent from the aqueous solution by adding acetone, separating the precipitate, and preparing an aqueous solution from the precipitate; and c) adjusting a pH of the aqueous solution to between pH 6.5 and pH 8.0 by adding a base, preferably meglumine, and separating the precipitated FeO(OH).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer program for estimating shape parameters of an image data set (1) of a fovea (100), comprising the steps of: Acquiring an image data set (1) of a macula (50), comprising a foveal pit (101) and a foveal rim (102) at least partially, Estimating the center of the foveal pit (101) from the image data set (1), Estimating from the center of the foveal pit (101), radially extending height profiles (c) of the fovea (100), For each height profile (c), fitting a model-function to the height profile (c), Estimating for each height profile (c) a set of fit parameters from the fitted model-function, Determining from the sets of estimated fit parameters at least one shape parameter of the fovea (100), particularly of the foveal pit (101). Determining at least one shape feature of at least a part of the fovea.

Abstract: The invention concerns a medical device for at least periodical contact with diseased vessels such as a stent or a balloon catheter, for example, as well as a method for coating it with a defined solution. In accordance with the invention, a restenosis inhibitor is disposed on an outer surface in an active substance concentration of more than 4 ?g/mm2.