Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical apparatus, in particular a navigation probe for localizing and treating lesions in a brain, comprising: a body member (10) having an anterior end (20), a posterior end (30) and at least one groove (60, 62) extending for a particular length in a longitudinal direction of the body member (10) between said anterior end (20) and said posterior end (30); a saddle (70) adapted to securely hold a medical device, the saddle (70) being placed on said body member (10) and having at least one grip (74, 75, 76) that extends into said at least one groove (60, 62) so as to mount the saddle (70) on the body member (10) moveable in said longitudinal direction; and a means for maneuvering said body member (10).

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a method for a specific, versatile and sensitive detection of IFN-/virus-induced genes, a method for quantifying IFN potency and activity in a pharmaceutical preparation or biological sample, a method for distinguishing between IFN- and viral induction, and/or for distinguishing between different viruses, and a method for the quantification of virus activity. Also, the invention provides the necessary molecular tools like expression active response constructs, suitable cell lines, an array to perform the method and a kit.

Abstract: A spinal fixation device is provided, comprising a body member having a first side and an opposite second side, and an elongate flexible strap having a first section and a second section. The first section of the strap is attached or attachable to attachment means of the body member arranged at a first location thereof. The second section of the strap is sized and shaped to pass through a passageway arranged at a second location of the body member. The strap has a series of teeth and the passageway of the body member has a latch configured for engaging one of the teeth. The teeth and the latch are configured to allow a movement of the second section of the strap through the passageway in a tightening direction from the first side to the second side of the body member, and to prevent a movement of the second section in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescent proteins, in particular green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), with increased activity in cells, and thus increased signal strength. A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of peptides for increasing the expression and/or stability of a protein in a cell.

Abstract: A spinal fixation device is provided, comprising a body member having a first side and an opposite second side, and an elongate flexible strap having a first section and a second section. The first section of the strap is attached or attachable to attachment means of the body member arranged at a first location thereof. The second section of the strap is sized and shaped to pass through a passageway arranged at a second location of the body member. The strap has a series of teeth and the passageway of the body member has a latch configured for engaging one of the teeth. The teeth and the latch are configured to allow a movement of the second section of the strap through the passageway in a tightening direction from the first side to the second side of the body member, and to prevent a movement of the second section in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of hybrid short 3? untranslated (3?UTR) regions which are composed of two regions, one region from an 3? untranslated region of a stable eukaryotic mRNA, and another region from the downstream end of an 3? untranslated region of another eukaryotic mRNA that contains a polyadenylation (polyA) signal. The use of such hybrid regions allows for an efficient protein expression when used in conjunction with circular or linear expression DNA molecules. The present invention provides a recombinant DNA that is composed of a promoter, a protein coding region, and the hybrid 3?UTR in a continuous and directional orientation. The efficient expression systems of the invention are suitable for the economical and efficient production of therapeutic proteins and for use with both transient and stable expression systems.

Abstract: A sleeve for enforcing the end of a hollow organ so that it can be connected with a further end of a hollow organ, the sleeve comprising a cylindrical shape and being configured to be pushed over the end of the hollow organ and for turning-over the end of the hollow organ projecting from the sleeve around an end of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has an adjustable diameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the expression of a protein in cells, preferably in eukaryotic cells, by reducing the number of RNase L cleavage sites in the coding and/or non-coding region of the nucleic acid sequence of said protein. Furthermore, it relates to nucleic acid sequences exhibiting a reduced number of RNase L cleavage sites as well as to the proteins translated from such sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescent proteins, in particular green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), with increased activity in cells, and thus increased signal strength. A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of peptides for increasing the expression and/or stability of a protein in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a (first) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear RNA interference constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source polynucleotide comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification of a DNA source comprising a promoter using a reverse primer comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest. The present invention furthermore relates to a (second) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear gene constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source expression polynucleotide comprising a promoter sequence and the DNA sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification using the DNA sequence as a template.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescent proteins, in particular green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), with increased activity in cells, and thus increased signal strength. A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of peptides for increasing the expression and/or stability of a protein in a cell.

Abstract: The disclosure relates, in part, to methods of using pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS) to protect against the neurotoxicity of the ?-amyloid peptide A?1-42. The disclosure also provides methods of using pegnanolone sulfate for treating neurologic disease or dysfunction. The disclosure further provides of using pegnanolone sulfate methods for stimulating or promoting growth of a neuronal cell.

Abstract: Some aspects of this invention are based, at least in part, on the discoveries (i) pluripotent stem cell populations can be obtained from olfactory mucosa, (ii) that various regions of the olfactory mucosa contain pluripotent stem cells, (iii) that cells from these olfactory mucosa derived stem cell populations can be maintained in cultures containing EGF and/or bFGF, (iv) that cells from these olfactory mucosa derived stem cell populations are able to form neurospheres, and/or (v) that cells from these olfactory mucosa derived stem cell populations can differentiate into various lineages, including mesenchymal and neuronal lineages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a (first) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear RNA interference constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source polynucleotide comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification of a DNA source comprising a promoter using a reverse primer comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest. The present invention furthermore relates to a (second) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear gene constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source expression polynucleotide comprising a promoter sequence and the DNA sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification using the DNA sequence as a template.

Abstract: The invention elates to a device (20) for connecting hollow organs (24, 25), which device comprises various elements that are held by holding devices. Said holding devices can be laterally displaced on a slide rail (21), rotated or detached and put on and their position can be secured if required. The traverse (31) is used as a stop for the axial alignment of the holding devices. The two holding devices (22, 23) carry clamping devices for retaining and, if required, clamping off the hollow organ ends (24, 25). The holding devices (26, 27) carry fittings (10, 11). The two hollow organ ends (24, 25) to be connected are pushed through the fittings to such an extent as to project over the fitting ends by a defined extent. The ends of the hollow organs are then turned up by the ends of the fittings using two turn-up devices (28, 29). The holding device (30) in the center holds an additional fitting (14) into which the two fittings (10, 11) are inserted with the turned-up hollow organ ends and secured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene discovery system and gene expression systems specific for genes encoding ARE-containing mRNAs. In one aspect, the present invention relates to computational methods of selecting coding sequences of ARE-genes from databases using a one or more ARE search sequences. The ARE search sequences are from 10 to 80 nucleotides in length and comprise a sequence which is encompassed by one of the following two sequences: (a) WU/T(AU/TU/TU/TA)TWWW, SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein none or one of the nucleotides outside of the parenthesis is replaced by a different nucleotide, and wherein W represents A, U, or T; and (b) U/T(AU/TU/T/U/T)n, SEQ ID NO. 2 wherein n indicates that the search sequence comprises from 3 to 12 of the tetrameric sequences contained within the parenthesis. The method comprises extracting from the databases, those nucleic acids whose protein coding sequences are upstream and contiguous with a 3? untranslated region (UTR) that comprises one of the ARE search sequences.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for synthesizing Iodine-124 and also a class of radiopharmaceutical which, by virtue of an Iodine-124 label, can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The method comprises an innovative technique for preparing an irradiation target, irradiating the prepared target, and finally collecting Iodine-124 created by the irradiation. The method of this invention provides Iodine-124 in sufficient yields and radionuclidic purity that can be used with positron emission tomography. The invention further relates to the use of Iodine-124 in a chemical form incorporated into organic and inorganic radiopharmaceuticals.