Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of differentiated respiratory epithelial cells comprising: (a) providing a cell population comprising or consisting of precursor cells of respiratory epithelial cells; (b) culturing the cell population of (a) in culture medium to which keratinocyte growth factor has been added; wherein the cultured cell population is supplemented with a glucocorticoid, a cAMP analog and a cAMP elevating agent and wherein said supplementation is either simultaneously with the addition of keratinocyte growth factor in step (b) or prior or subsequently to the addition of keratinocyte growth factor in step (b), thereby differentiating said precursor cells into respiratory epithelial cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component (10) by a generative manufacturing process, wherein the component is entirely or partially produced from a liquid raw material (12), characterised in that the component is entirely or partially produced from a liquid raw material (12) that can solidify when heated, the raw material is discharged in liquid form into a manufacturing zone (1) and heated and hence solidified by a computer-controlled, targeted light spot, in that the point of incidence of a light beam (8) from a light beam source is continuously and/or gradually modified relative to the manufacturing zone (1).

Abstract: The invention is related to a medical device for conducting a medical examination and/or intervention within a human or animal body the medical device (1) comprising an elongate body (2) which is designed for introduction into an orifice (15) of the human or animal body the elongate body (2) comprising a distal end (3), which is on the front side of the elongate body during introduction into the orifice (15), of the human or animal body and a proximal end (4) on the opposite side, wherein the elongate body is a hollow body comprising a reception chamber (8) in its interior, which reception chamber (8) is arranged for reception of a human finger (9), characterized in that one or more guiding elements (5, 21) for guiding a medical examination and/or intervention component (6) are located on or in the elongate body and at least one image gathering device (7), which is arranged for gathering of images in front of the distal end (3) of the elongate body (2), is arranged on or in the elongate body (2).

Abstract: The method for preparing a tissue construct for medical purposes uses endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) which have not been passaged multiple times and have a content of EOEC (early outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells) and LOEC (late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells). These cells and fibroblasts and/or muscle cells, viz. myoblasts, myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells or the progenitors thereof, are, in the form of living cells, seeded onto a matrix or introduced into a matrix in order to yield the tissue construct following further treatment steps. The matrix is preferably a protein preparation, more particularly a fibrinogen preparation. Both the cells and the fibrinogen preparation can be obtained from a single blood sample from a patient. Apart from the preparation of bypass materials, prosthetic vascular graft, tissue patches, conduits and the like, the EOEC-containing EPC culture or suspension is suitable as means for cell transplantation.

Abstract: A method of processing model data representing a body section with bilateral symmetry of a biological organism is proposed that comprises the steps of providing object imaging data representing the body section having one or more defect portions; calculating a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the body section based on mathematical analysis of the object imaging data; and determining a mirror plane based on the calculated longitudinal and lateral axes. Said mirror plane allows for reconstructing the one or more defect portions by mirroring one or more corresponding portions having no defects at the mirror plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in vitro methods for producing Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharides which have a defined length. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one capsule polymerase, at least one donor carbohydrate and at least one acceptor carbohydrate, wherein the ratio of donor carbohydrate to acceptor carbohydrate is a ratio from 10:1 to 400:1. Moreover, the present invention provides truncated versions of the capsule polymerases of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A and X. Also provided herein are pharmaceuticals, in particular vaccines, comprising the synthetic capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis which have a defined length. Furthermore, the invention provides for methods for the production of said vaccines.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions that find use in facilitating a diagnosis of inflammatory liver disease in a subject. The methods and compositions generally involve detection of eotaxin-3 (E3) levels, either alone or with levels of eotaxin-1 (E1), and optionally, with levels of CCL22 and, further optionally, with levels of IL15. These levels can be used to facilitate a diagnosis of a liver disease of at least one of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and/or to facilitate a differential diagnosis between AIH, PBC, and PSC. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure also find use in facilitating treatment decisions for a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of particular macrocycles that are inhibitors of the proteasomic degradation of p27, in particular argyrin and derivatives thereof, for a treatment in a variety of conditions, such as the induction of immunotolerance, autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections, and proliferative diseases, such as cancers.

Abstract: The present invention refers to inhibitors of microRNAs, particularly of microRNAs miR-212 and/or miR-132 for use in medicine, particularly in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cardiac disorders, e.g. cardiac hypertrophy-associated or autophagic disorders, and further refers to isolated nucleic acid molecules, particularly microRNAs miR-212 and/or miR-132 and related sequences, for use in medicine, particularly human medicine, more particularly in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disorders involving cardiac atrophy and/or dysfunctional autophagy, e.g. cardiac cachexia.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compounds derived from the anaesthetic propofol that are useful as analgesics and methods of using the same. The compounds act as co-activators of strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors and may have greater activity at those glycine receptors than at GABAA.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a three-dimensional tissue by cultivating eucaryotic cells by introducing the cells into a matrix and cultivating the cells within the matrix in a cell culture medium within a cell culture vessel under controlled dissolved oxygen conditions of the cell culture medium. The matrix contains a support containing an optical oxygen sensor, which is an oxygen-sensitive dye, which upon irradiation with an excitation wavelength changes its emission characteristics in dependence on the dissolved oxygen concentration in the surrounding medium, including a dye phosphorescing upon irradiation of an excitation wavelength, which phosphorescence is quenched by dissolved oxygen.

Abstract: The invention provides a cochlea stimulator for implantation comprising optical fibers of which are coupled to an irradiation source that is controlled by a modulator to generate irradiation specific for a pre-determined range of sound-frequencies. The cochlea stimulator effects a frequency-specific activation of the organ of Corti needed for speech perception especially in noisy environment and more complex sounds. For imparting excitation signals which are generated by modulated pulsed laser irradiation conducted within an optical fiber in order to elicit nervous signals in residual functional organ of Corti sections, the auditory prosthesis preferably contains optical fibers which are dimensioned to terminate in end sections within the cochlea at different sites or sections of the organ of Corti. e.g. having different lengths for locating their end sections at different internal parts of the cochlea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound which inhibits the activity of MKK4 as a medicament for the treatment of a patient suffering from an impaired liver function, to the use of a compound as a medicament for the treatment of liver failure, including acute/fulminant or chronic liver failure and/or for increasing the regeneration of liver tissue in a patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions that find use in facilitating a diagnosis of inflammatory liver disease in a subject. The methods and compositions generally involve detection of eotaxin-3 (E3) levels, either alone or with levels of eotaxin-1 (E1), and optionally, with levels of CCL22 and, further optionally, with levels of IL15. These levels can be used to facilitate a diagnosis of a liver disease of at least one of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and/or to facilitate a differential diagnosis between AIH, PBC, and PSC. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure also find use in facilitating treatment decisions for a subject.

Abstract: Epidermal lipoxygenase obtained from axolotl is utilized in pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions. The compositions have use in wound healing, bone healing or conditioning of injured tissue, e.g. in wound dressings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a subject being susceptible to a cardiac intervention based on the determination of GDF-15 in a sample of a subject in need of a cardiac intervention. Moreover, the present invention pertains to a method for predicting the risk of mortality or a further acute cardiovascular event for a subject suffering from a cardiovascular complication based on the determination of GDF-15 and a natriuretic peptide and/or a cardiac troponin in a sample the said subject. Also encompassed by the present invention are devices and kits for carrying out the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates in a first aspect to a method of coating surfaces of substrates with a lattice-like structure. In particular, the present invention relates to an in vitro method of coating surfaces by binding of epsin or a fragment thereof on the surface and, thereafter, binding of a compound forming the lattice like structure, in particular, binding of the clathrin heavy chain, to the epsin bound on the surface, thus, obtaining a coated substrate having a lattice like structure on the surface. In another aspect, the present invention relates to an in vitro method of producing nanometer-sized liposomes having a clathrin structure on its surface. In addition, substrates, like elements or devices, with coated surfaces having a lattice-like structure on the surface are provided obtainable by a method according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical device (100) designed to be inserted into a stump or a hollow organ (40) of a person or animal in order to prepare a circular anastomosis, wherein the device (100) is designed without a stapling unit for producing a surgical stapled scam, wherein the device (100) has an instrument shaft (120) having a handle section (121, 300) and, at the end of time instrument shaft (120) away from the handle section (121, 300), a head section (130) that is or can be coupled to the instrument shaft (120) by means of a detachable coupling (113), wherein the handle section (121, 300) is designed for a user to hold the device (100), wherein the head section (130) has at least one first molded body (109) and a counter-pressure plate (111) of a surgical circular stapling device (160) connected to the first molded body (109), wherein the surgical device has fu least one first molded body (109) and one second molded body (108) between the handle section and the counter-pressure plate, the second

Abstract: The method for preparing a tissue construct for medical purposes uses endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) which have not been passaged multiple times and have a content of EOEC (early outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells) and LOEC (late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells). These cells and fibroblasts and/or muscle cells, viz. myoblasts, myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells or the progenitors thereof, are, in the form of living cells, seeded onto a matrix or introduced into a matrix in order to yield the tissue construct following further treatment steps. The matrix is preferably a protein preparation, more particularly a fibrinogen preparation. Both the cells and the fibrinogen preparation can be obtained from a single blood sample from a patient. Apart from the preparation of bypass materials, prosthetic vascular graft, tissue patches, conduits and the like, the EOEC-containing EPC culture or suspension is suitable as means for cell transplantation.