Abstract: The invention tackles the problem of improving the production process for contact lenses further, so that the production costs for contact lenses can be reduced further and the production capacities can be increased. To this end, provision is made for the two mould halves, which together form the mould for producing a contact lens, to be fixed to each other and/or detachably connected to each other by means of individual half-mould guide. In conjunction with a cyclic production process, a high degree of automation can be achieved in this way.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of 2 amino-nicotinamide derivatives of formula I wherein n is from 1 up to and including 6; W is O or S; R1 and R3 represent independently of each other hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower acyl; R2 represents a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a mono- or bicyclic heteroaryl group comprising one or more ring nitrogen atoms and 0, 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently from each other selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur, which groups in each case are unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted; R and R′ are independently of each other hydrogen or lower alkyl; X represents an aryl group, or a mono- or bicyclic heteroaryl group comprising one or more ring nitrogen atoms and 0, 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently from each other selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur, which groups in each case are unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted; or a N-oxide, a possible tautomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such a

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface characteristics of a polymeric hydrogel, and a polymer article formed therefrom, without causing substantial swelling or distortion or the hydrogel. A preferred method includes photoinitating of the surface of the article with a benzophenone and grafting a macromer having a number-average molecular weight greater than 1000 in the presence of UV irradiation. The preferred article is a siloxane-containing hydrogel, especially a soft contact lens.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composite material, especially a biomedical device, e.g. an ophthalmic device, preferably a contact lens, with one or more wettable surfaces capable of holding a continous layer of aqueous fluid thereon which composite material comprises a bulk material and a hydrophilic coating characterized in that the hydrophilic coating consists of a carbohydrate attached covalently to reactive groups at the surface of the bulk material, either directly or via functional groups of an oligofunctional compound, said oligofunctional compound in turn having functional groups being capable of reacting with said reactive groups at the surface of the bulk material and with the carbohydrate, wherein said reactive groups are either inherently (a priori) present in the bulk material or wherein said reactive groups have been attached to the surface of the bulk material by a plasma surface preparation, as well as to a process of manufacture of such a composite material.

Abstract: The invention concerns liposomal preparations comprising as the active agent a compound of formula I in free base form or in acid addition salt form. It also concerns a method of preparation of such liposomal preparations by encapsulating a compound of formula I with an appropriate liposome forming material, a corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of systemic, topical and pulmonal fungal infections.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for purifying a cyclosporin, e.g. cyclosporin A, or a macrolide, to a high degree of purity on a large scale. In another aspect this invention provides a bulk quantity of cyclosporin A with an impurity level of less than about 0.7%, e.g. about 0.5%, and compositions thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of the general formula wherein R1 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl or unsubstituted or mono- to penta-substituted phenyl, whereby the substituents are selected from the group comprising C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, cyano and nitro, whereby if the number of substituents is greater than 1, the substituents may be identical or different; R2 is hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, (C1-C6-alkylene)phenyl, pyridyl, COOR6, CONR7R8COR6, allyl or CH2—O—R6; R3 is C1-C6-alkyl; R4 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted benzyl or unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl, whereby each of the substituents, independently of each other, is selected from the group comprising C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, cyano, hydroxy, amino and nitro, whereby if the number of substituents is greater than 1, the substituents may be identical or different; R6 is C1-C6

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cloned genes which code for uncoupling proteins controlling thermogenesis in human skeletal muscle and heart. A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the said genes for correcting dysfunctions of thermogenesis in human skeletal muscle and heart. The present invention makes it possible to exploit novel therapeutic (or preventive) methods for disorders such as obesity or cachexia. As a result of the identification and isolation of the genes coding for UCP3L and UCP3S, it is, in effect, possible to develop medicaments which act on the basis of a correction, by gene therapy or by antisense oligonucleotides relating to the sequence of the gene in question or to one of its fragments, of a lack or an excess of UCP3.

Abstract: The invention discloses certain N-(substituted glycyl)-pyrrolidines, pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds as an active ingredient thereof, and the use of said compounds in inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-IV.

Abstract: The invention provides novel &bgr;-peptides comprising 2 or more different &bgr;-amino acid residues, preferably compounds of formula I wherein the R residues, X and n are as defined. Compounds of the invention having as few as 5 or 6 &bgr;-amino acid residues exhibit stable structures in solution and the compounds generally exhibit good resistance to proteolytic degradation. The compounds of the invention provide a valuable new source of structural diversity for synthesis of biologically active compounds, e.g. for pharmaceutical uses.

Abstract: Disclosed as endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors are the compounds of the formula wherein the variables have the meanings as defined hereinbefore.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing a high contrast image of features of an optical component. In the system of the present invention, light is focused through the optical component prior to reaching the detector of an image sensing means. In addition, a novel cuvette is provided for holding and locating an optical component in position during inspection. The cuvette comprises a bottom portion having a concave curved inner surface for utilizing the force of gravity to hold an optical component in place.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for treating allergies that include either BSW17 mimotope peptides or antibodies raised against BSW17 mimotope peptides. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of allergies which involve administration of BSW17 mimotope peptides or the administration of antibodies raised against BSW17 mimotope peptides.

Abstract: A method of inducing blood vessel formation in an animal by administering to the animal a polynucleotide encoding a sphingosine kinase, or an analogue, fragment, or derivative thereof. The polynucleotide may be contained in an appropriate expression vector, such as a viral vector. The delivery of sphingosine kinase through administration of an expression vector which expresses sphingosine kinase provides for the formation of larger blood vessels containing a well defined structure that is supported by mural cells such as pericytes and smooth muscle cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for treatment of diabetes, obesity and diabetic-related conditions. The methods include gene therapy based administration of a therapeutically effective amount of vectors encoding the following: glucokinase regulatory protein alone or co-administered with glucokinase or with metabolism modifying proteins; glucokinase co-administered with metabolism modifying proteins; or glucokinase regulatory protein co-administered with glucokinase in combination with metabolism modifying proteins, to a diabetic patient. Wherein the metabolism modifying proteins include UCP2, UCP3, PPAR&agr;, OB-Rb, GLP-1 and GLP-1 analogs (administered via vector or directly as a peptide). Preferred examples of GLP-1 analogs include GLP-1-Gly8, Extendin-4 and the “Black Widow” chimeric GLP-1 analog. Additionally, PPAR&agr; ligands and DPP-IV inhibitors may be co-administered with the above.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically-acceptable and -cleavable esters thereof and acid addition salts thereof, wherein the symbols are as defined are MAP kinase inhibitors, useful pharmaceutically for treating TNF&agr; and IL-1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diseases of bone metabolism, e.g. osteoporosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein r is from 0 to 2; n is from 0 to 2; m is from 0 to 4; A, B, D and E are each independently of the others N or CH, with the proviso that not more than two of those radicals are N; G is lower alkylene, —CH2—O—, —CH2—S—, —CH2—NH—, oxa (—O—), thia (—S—) or imino (—NH—), or is lower alkylene substituted by acyloxy or by hydroxy; Q is lower alkyl, especially methyl; R is H or lower alkyl; X is imino, oxa or thia; Y is lower alkyl or, especially, aryl, heteroaryl or unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl; and Z is amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, halogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, hydroxy, etherified or esterified hydroxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, esterified carboxy, alkanoyl, carbamoyl, N-mono- or N,N-di-substituted carbamoyl, amidino, guanidino, mercapto, sulfo, phenylthio, phenyl-lower alkylthio, alkylphenylthio, phenylsulfinyl, phenyl-lowe

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of 2-amino-2-[2-(4-C2-20-alkyl-phenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diols.

Abstract: A mixture comprising a poly-ene macrolide and an antioxidant. Preferably, the poly-ene macrolide is rapamycin and the antioxidant is 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol. The presence of the antioxidant improves the stability of the poly-ene macrolide to oxidation.