Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biomaterials, more particularly to the field of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) based nano- and microfibers. The present invention provides a novel method for producing ready-to-use poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) based nano/microfibers, wherein the method comprises electrospinning of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) homopolymers or copolymers generated by anionic polymerization of alkyl cyanoacrylate monomers or oligomers and characterized by a specific polydispersity index. Accordingly, the present invention also provides novel ready-to-use nano/microfibers obtainable by the method as well as uses thereof, including (therapeutic) biomedical applications such as wound healing, drug delivery and tissue regeneration and engineering.

Abstract: The current invention relates to an effector moiety capable of inducing an intracellular effect when present inside a mammalian cell, the effector moiety comprising a payload conjugated with at least one saponin. The invention also relates to an antibody-drug conjugate comprising the effector moiety according to the invention, or a ligand-drug conjugate comprising the effector moiety of the invention, the effector moiety comprising covalently coupled saponin. The invention also relates to a therapeutic combination comprising: (a) the effector moiety of the invention, comprising at least one saponin, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; and (b) an antibody-drug conjugate or a ligand-drug conjugate, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

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 present invention provides methods and compositions for promoting regeneration of a tissue, methods for preventing or reducing inflammation of a tissue, methods for preventing or reducing fibrosis of a tissue, methods for increasing a mass of a tissue, methods for increasing a level of oxygen available to a tissue, methods for increasing a rate of metabolic waste removal from a tissue, methods for increasing blood perfusion to a tissue, and methods of treating severe muscle tissue damage in a subject in need thereof by contacting the tissue with a composition that is suitable for applying cyclic mechanical compression to the tissue.

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: The invention relates to a method for determining T cell mediated immunity towards a CRISPR associated protein by contacting said cell preparation obtained from a patient with a CRISPR associated protein or a peptide mix that represents its amino acid sequence, or a cell manipulated to contain a CRISPR protein polypeptide to provide activated T cells. Subsequently, one or more subpopulations of said activated T cells are marked by specific ligand and counted, and a ratio (TREG/TEFF) of activated regulatory T cells to activated effector T cells is used to assess the immune status of the patient with respect to the CRISPR associated protein. The invention further relates to a method for generating a CRISPR associated protein specific Treg population and its use in therapy.

Abstract: Described herein is the use of a uromodulin polypeptide in prevention or therapy of vascular calcification or a disease caused by, or related to, vascular calcification, particularly vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease, in diabetes, in aging and in atherosclerosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer program for segmentation of optical coherence tomography images of the retina comprising the steps of: a) Acquiring image data comprising a portion of the vitreous and a portion of the retina recorded with optical coherence tomography, wherein the portion of the retina comprises at least a portion of the optical nerve head, wherein the image data comprises pixels with associated pixel values; b) Providing a contour with a predefined initial shape and an initial position on the image data; c) Adjusting the shape and/or the position of the contour on the image data such that the adjusted contour separates the image data in a first region comprising the vitreous and a region comprising the retina, wherein the shape and position of the contour is adjusted with an optimization method, d) wherein the optimization method minimizes a contour-associated energy that depends on the contour shape, the contour position and the image data, wherein the contour-associated ener

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hemodialysis membrane for the treatment of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, especially in chronic hemodialysis patients. The present disclosure further relates to methods of treating vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, wherein the hemodialysis membrane is characterized in that it comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and in that it has a MWRO of between 15 and 20 kD and a MWCO of between 170-320 kD or that the hemodialysis membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and has a MWRO of between 8.5 kD and 14.0 kD and a MWCO of between 55 kD and 130 kD.

Abstract: A method diagnoses a SARS-CoV-2 infection and includes detecting the presence or absence of an antibody to SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably IgA class antibody, in a sample from a subject. A method differentially diagnoses a coronavirus infection. An antibody to SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably IgA class antibody, is used for diagnosing a SARS-CoV-2 infection or for the differential diagnosis of a coronavirus infection, preferably for distinguishing between a SARS-CoV-2, MERS and NL63, 229E, OC43 and HKU1 infection. A kit includes a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant thereof, preferably coated to a diagnostically useful carrier and one or more of the following reagents: an antibody to SEQ ID NO: 1, a washing buffer, a means for detecting the presence of an antibody, preferably IgA class antibody, preferably a secondary antibody binding specifically to IgA class antibodies, preferably comprising a detectable label, and a dilution buffer.

Abstract: The present invention provides delivery vectors for transferring a nucleic acid sequence to a cell in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. The present invention provides methods of delivering a nucleic acid sequence to a cell and methods of treating focal epilepsies.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods assessing nucleic acids encoding a dermatophyte extracellular serine/threonine-rich protein (ESTRP gene) in identifying and preferably differentiating between dermatophytes. The invention relates further to corresponding detection kits, in addition to isolated probes and oligonucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to antigen recognizing constructs against tumor specific proteasome splicing variants. The invention in particular provides novel T cell receptor (TCR) based molecules which are selective and specific for tumor cells carrying antigenic epitopes generated by proteasome peptide splicing of tumor specific antigens. The TCRs of the invention, and antigen binding fragments derived therefrom, are of use for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of proliferative diseases, preferably for the treatment of cancer. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding the antigen recognizing constructs of the invention, vectors comprising these nucleic acids, recombinant cells expressing the antigen recognizing constructs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist that exhibits greater induction of NFAT signaling compared to ?-MSH for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a medical condition associated with MC4R deficiency in a subject having an MC4R deficiency associated with impaired Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method for identifying FoxP3-positive regulatory T cells, preferably CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells of a mammal, comprising analysing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the gene foxp3 or an orthologous or paralogous gene thereof, and the use of DNA-methylation analysis of the gene of the transcription factor FoxP3 for a detection and quality assurance and control of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit for performing the above methods as well as respective uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound for use in a method for treating a musculoskeletal injury, wherein the compound is a regulator of the pro-inflammatory response and particularly being capable of upregulating regulatory T cells and/or M2-macrophages; and/or being capable of downregulating the biological activity of effector CD8+ cells, and further comprising the dosage regimen administering an initial dose of said compound to a patient not before 24 hours after said musculoskeletal injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 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. The invention further relates to a system for predicting the probability of having or developing a non-fusion.

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 present invention relates to a method for diagnosis of delayed bone fracture healing, comprising determining the frequency of a subpopulation of CD8+ cells selected from a first group comprised of CD8+CD57+, CD8+CD28? and CD8+CD28?/CD57+, in a sample obtained from a subject. The present invention further relates to a system and a kit of parts for prediction and resulting options for preventing of delayed bone fracture healing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phosphate adsorbent on the basis of maghemite or maghemite/magnetite comprising (i) an iron oxide core comprising a crystal structure of inverse spinel iron oxide, (ii) a coating selected from monomeric carbohydrates, in particular monosaccharides or disaccharides, alditols, or mixtures thereof, and/or (iii) a pharmaceutical excipient selected from polymeric carbohydrates, wherein the phosphate adsorbent has the form of nanoparticles with a particle size of the iron oxide core (i) of less than 20 nm. The present invention further relates to a method for the production of a phosphate adsorbent on the basis of maghemite or maghemite/magnetite, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the phosphate adsorbent, and to medical uses thereof, especially for the prevention and/or treatment of hyperphosphatemia.