Abstract: Small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) molecules, which e.g. are purified and/or isolated, as an active in a medicament, which siRNA molecules are inhibitory RNA molecules that through RNA interference (RNAi) reduce or prevent expression of the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). The siRNA molecules can be administered as a medicament to a patient suffering from an impaired liver function or from liver damage for the treatment of a functionally impaired liver, for delaying a deterioration of liver function and/or for prevention of liver failure, especially in patients who suffer from a critical impairment of damage to the liver, e.g. for delaying the complete failure of liver function.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for analysis of the status of kidney function in a sample of body fluid obtained from a patient who has not been diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI, also referred to as acute kidney failure) or in a sample of body fluid obtained from a patient who has been diagnosed with AKI, which analysis is suitable for evaluating the prospects for long-term survival, which method for analysis comprises or consists of determining the concentration of the microRNA-210

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, preferably Argyrin A, for the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer, as well as the derivatization of said macrocycles.

Abstract: The invention provides an analytical method for the determination of the susceptibility of a human patient suffering from breast cancer to anti-cancer treatment by providing an analytical method for determining the genetic predisposition of a patient in respect of susceptibility, e.g. responsiveness, to anti-cancer treatment, especially treatment using at least one chemotherapeutical agent and/or at least one anti-hormonal agent on the basis of analysis of a genetic marker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a knee joint prosthesis having a tibial component and a femoral component. The tibial component includes a fixation portion fixed to an upper end of a prepared tibia and a ceramic bearing portion presenting articulation surface(s). The femoral component is fixed to a lower end of a prepared femur and comprises a ceramic body portion presenting articulation surface(s). The respective articulation surfaces of the tibial and femoral components are configured for essentially congruent engagement over a full range of movement of the prosthesis, and the bearing portion of the tibial component is adapted for movement relative to the fixation portion. Also disclosed is an apparatus and a method for finishing articulation surfaces of ceramic components of a knee joint prosthesis, including the steps of combining the ceramic bearing portion and the ceramic body portion, and imparting relative movement to the bearing portion and/or the body portion.

Abstract: There is provided a carrier substrate for nonspecific immobilization of living bacterial and/or eukaryotic cells, especially of animal cells, which can be present as single cells, cell agglomerates or tissue sections. The surface of the carrier substrate is provided at least sectionally with a layer having or consisting of oligonucleic acids, preferably having ribonucleic acids covalently coupled to the carrier substrate, e.g. RNA, preferably single-stranded or double-stranded DNA.

Abstract: A method of generating model data representing a body section of a biological organism, like e.g., a head or part thereof, a joint, or soft tissue, includes the steps of providing object data representing a first portion of the body section, providing standard data representing a complete standard body section, and subjecting the standard data to a registration process, wherein the model data to be generated are created by adapting the standard data to the object data, said model data representing the first portion of the body section and a second portion of the body section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid device for humans with impaired hearing, who have an at least partially functional cochlea and a functional nervous signalling pathway from the cochlea via the auditory nerve to the brain. The hearing aid device contains a receiver, a transducer of the sound or other acoustic signals into electrical current serving as a signal representing a sound, a pulsed irradiation source connected to the transducer for receiving the electrical current and for generating modulated pulsed irradiation in dependence from the electrical current, and preferably one or more optical fibres optically coupled to the exit of the pulsed irradiation source, wherein the optical path for conduction of irradiation within the device ends directly opposite a functional element of the natural vibration transduction pathway, e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides a combination of reagents as a test kit containing a detection conjugate having a binding portion and a reagent for deactivating of the fluorochrome portion by interaction with the linker. The binding portion especially is an antibody portion. The detection conjugate has a fluorochrome portion connected to the antibody portion, and a linker connected to the fluorochrome portion, wherein the linker comprises an oligonucleotide. The fluorochrome portion can be deactivated by hydrolysis of the linker or by specific hybridization of a quencher having an oligonucleotide to the linker.

Abstract: A method for the determination of the state of the immune system, e.g. the state of activity and activation, respectively, of the immune system, using the determination of presence of a blood or peripheral mononuclear cell or plasma marker. The marker can be determined directly, e.g. by determination of its titre using a specific antibody against the marker, or indirectly, e.g. by the determination of the mRNA encoding the marker. Further, the invention relates to the use of the protein corresponding to the marker analysed in the analytical method, as a medicament, especially for influencing, e.g. for activating the immune system, more specifically for activating the cytotoxicity of NK cells as well as for activating the cytotoxicity and the proliferation of T-cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for insertion of a flexible implant into a body section of an implant recipient, the apparatus comprising an elongate guiding section having a longitudinal axis and an inner volume for removably receiving the implant, an elongate first receiving member connected at its first end to a first actuator arranged for moving the first receiving member within the guiding section in parallel to the axis of the guiding section, a first control device for controlling the actuation of the first actuator, wherein first receiving member at its second end opposite its first end carries a gripping unit for releasably gripping a proximal end of the implant, a second actuator for controlling the configuration of the implant, and a second control device for controlling the actuation of the second actuator.

Abstract: The invention features methods and kits employing bromolysergide in therapies for the treatment of cluster headache disorders.

Abstract: The present invention uses the potency and efficacy of human glycoprotein-A repetitions predominant protein (GARP), the gene of which is located on chromosome 11q13-11q14 in the reprogramming of antigen-specific effector T-helper cells, which are CD4+, towards a regulatory pheno type of pre-determined suppressor activity. In contrast to the known regulatory protein Foxp3 that only induces an incomplete regulatory phenotype without suppressor function, GARP is more efficient in inducing suppressor activity. Further, the use of GARP in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions is provided, allowing the production of antigen-specific Treg-cells, having a predetermined suppressor activity for a specific antigen.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a genetic marker in a process for analysis of leukemia patients, especially for use in the prediction of the suitability of chemotherapy in a group of leukemia patients. Further, the invention relates to chemotherapeutical agents for use in the therapy of leukemia patients that have been diagnosed to be at least heterozygous for the relevant allele of the genetic marker.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of spider silk threads for the production of tissue implants for medical use. A scaffolding matrix is provided for implantation, which matrix is comprised of spider silk thread and/or segments of spider silk threads which are cross-linked. The cross-linked spider silk thread segments essentially maintain a three-dimensional shape into which it is formed by pressing between moulds. The three-dimensional shape obtainable by moulding is sufficiently stable to be used as an implant or for colonizing by mammalian cells while essentially maintaining the three-dimensional shape. In a further embodiment, the scaffolding matrix of cross-linked spider silk segments is at least partially covered by cells autologous or heterologous to the implant recipient. The matrix colonized with cells is obtainable by in vitro cultivation of isolated cells in suspension with the scaffolding matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides a cochlea stimulator for implantation comprising optical fibres 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 fibre in order to elicit nervous signals in residual functional organ of Corti sections, the auditory prosthesis preferably contains optical fibres 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 invention relates to a hearing aid device for humans with impaired hearing, who have an at least partially functional cochlea and a functional nervous signalling pathway from the cochlea via the auditory nerve to the brain. The hearing aid device contains a receiver, a transducer of the sound or other acoustic signals into electrical current serving as a signal representing a sound, a pulsed irradiation source connected to the transducer for receiving the electrical current and for generating modulated pulsed irradiation in dependence from the electrical current, and preferably one or more optical fibres optically coupled to the exit of the pulsed irradiation source, wherein the optical path for conduction of irradiation within the device ends directly opposite a functional element of the natural vibration transduction pathway, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for insertion of a flexible implant into a body section of an implant recipient, the apparatus comprising an elongate guiding section having a longitudinal axis and an inner volume for removably receiving the implant, an elongate first receiving member connected at its first end to a first actuator arranged for moving the first receiving member within the guiding section in parallel to the axis of the guiding section, a first control device for controlling the actuation of the first actuator, wherein first receiving member at its second end opposite its first end carries a gripping unit for releasably gripping a proximal end of the implant, a second actuator for controlling the configuration of the implant, and a second control device for controlling the actuation of the second actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an implant for medical purposes, to the implant obtainable by the process, and to the bioreactor used for the production of the implant. The implants of the invention can be used as implantable prostheses having essentially the functional characteristics of the following tissues: ligaments and tendons, bone and chondrogenic tissues, e.g. intervertebral discs, and combinations of bone tissue with cartilage tissue, e.g. sections of joints having the cartilaginous surface of a joint surface hacked by bone tissue. According to the invention, a porous matrix material is incubated under cell culture conditions with cells while the matrix is exposed to positive pressure on one side and negative pressure on another side for effective colonization of the matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the prediction of the risk potential and/or diagnosis of cancerous diseases or inflammatory intestinal diseases, whereby a DNA sample is tested for the presence of polymorphic UGT1A7 allele. A positive result for a mutation is a positive indication of a sensitivity to cancerous diseases. A prediction of sensitivity to an inflammatory intestinal disease can similarly be made. A PCR amplification of the exon 1, using the DNA sample with subsequent sequence analysis is carried out in the method and the determined sequence compared with that of the wild type and the polymorphic allele. The presence or lack of mutations is monitored by sequencing the corresponding cDNA using automated fluorescent dye sequencing. The test arrangement for requires genetic detection reagents, namely the required primer or cDNAs, on a stationary support in a pre-prepared arrangement or sequence for reading off the results. The recombinant UGT1A7 enzymes are also used for therapeutic purposes.