Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for treating or curing clinical complications mediated by endotoxin, including sepsis. The compositions contain components suitable for detoxifying endotoxin rendering it less deleterious to mammals such as humans, in particular to patients with reduced host-defence resistance. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for stimulating bone formation, e.g. for mending broken bone or for prophylaxis or therapy of metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteomalacia and pharmaceutical compositions for decreasing or inhibiting undesired bone formation. The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are directed at modulating phosphatase activity in vivo.

Abstract: The invention relates to the coat proteins VP1 and VP2 of the human parvovirus B19 and virus-like particles consisting of VP2 or of VP1 and VP2. The invention further comprises genetic information in the form of recombinant expression vectors which contain the genes coding for said proteins, and organisms which through genetic manipulation using such vectors have acquired the ability to produce such proteins and/or particles. The invention further comprises uses of such proteins and virus-like particles for diagnostics or vaccination.

Abstract: For manufacturing a catheter tubing (50), a container (1, 21) provided with a passage (15, 35, 36), a mandrel (7) sealing off that passage (15, 35, 36) when inserted into said passage and a solution (14) containing a dissolved plastic in the container (1, 21) up to a level above the passage (15, 35, 36) are provided. Repeatedly, the mandrel (7) is inserted into the passage and at least a section of the mandrel (7) is passed through the passage (15, 35, 36) and the solution (14) in an upward direction. When sufficient plastic material has adhered to the mandrel (7), the catheter tubing (50) is removed from the mandrel (7). Thus, catheters having thin, smooth walls of a uniform thickness can be manufactured without expensive machinery and tools. A system for carrying out the method and particular catheters obtainable by that method are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable polymer composition comprising a first polymer and a second polymer, which second polymer is not compatible with the first polymer, and an amount of a copolymer comprising at least one block of a polyalkadiene and at least one block of random poly(aromatic vinyl-acrylonitrile), and in which the ratio of the block copolymer to the total polymer composition is between 1:500 and 1:50. Besides, the invention relates to the use of the above block copolymer as compatibilizer and/or as modifier for the mechanical properties of polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one polyalkadiene block which may or may not be hydrogenated and at least one random (aromatic vinyl compound-co-maleic anhydride) block. Besides, the invention relates to a stable polymer composition comprising a continuous phase formed by a first polymer and a phase dispersed therein of a second polymer, which second polymer is not compatible with the first polymer, and an amount of the block copolymer according to the invention, the ratio of the block copolymer to the second polymer ranging between 1:50 and 1:5. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the block copolymers according to the invention as compatibilizer and/or as modifier for the mechanical properties of polymer compositions.

Abstract: Device for introduction into a human or animal body, especially into an artery, specifically to be positioned in an aneurysmal sac in an artery between the wall of the artery and the wall of an endoprosthesis, comprising at least a pressure sensor and a transponder for wireless transmitting data available from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the relative abundance of individual species or lower phylogenetic subgroups of microorganisms in a mixed population of several microorganisms comprising the steps of: 1) providing a set of labeled in situ hybridization cluster oligonucleotide probes; 2) hybridization of said probes with a sample of the mixed population, and 3) quantitative analysis of the number of labeled microorganisms. Further it relates to a method for analyzing dynamics in relative abundance of individual microorganisms in a mixed population.

Abstract: The present invention provides genes encoding extremely thermostable variants of neutral proteases, as well as, vectors and cells comprising these genes and proteases produced through these genes, vectors and/or cells. In particular variants of the neutral proteases of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus thermoproteolyticus (thermolysine) and sequences and cells coding therefor are provided.

Abstract: Plants are provided with improved resistance against pathogenic fungi. They are genetically transformed with one or more polynucleotides which essentially comprise one or more genes encoding plant chitinases and .beta.-1,3-glucanases. Preferred are the intracellular forms of the said hydrolytic enzymes, especially preferred are those forms which are targeted to the apoplastic space of the plant by virtue of the modification of the genes encoding the said enzymes. Particularly preferred are plants exhibiting a relative overexpression of at least one gene encoding a chitinase and one gene encoding a .beta.-1,3-glucanase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-line detection method comprising the on-line coupling of a fractionation and a biochemical detection technique, which method comprises the addition of a controlled amount of an affinity molecule to the effluent of the fractionation step to react with analytes in the effluent, the subsequent addition of a controlled amount of a detectable ligand capable of binding to the affinity molecule, and detection of the affinity molecule/detectable ligand complex.

Abstract: A system for determining a composition of radionuclides in, for instance, a mineral-containing material by detecting gamma and/or X-ray radiation emitted by the nuclides is disclosed. To that end, the system has a detector unit which supplies an electrical signal containing information about the intensity and energy of the emitted radiation and a signal processing system by which these electrical signals are further processed for determine the composition mentioned. The signal processing system further has an A/D converter to which the electrical signals are applied and a first computer unit which further processes signals supplied by the A/D converter for the purpose of determining the composition mentioned.

Abstract: Method of modifying DNA by subjecting the DNA to a mutation-inducing treatment. The method includes the steps of bringing the DNA to be mutated and a gene encoding a mutation-inducing non-DNA polymerase protein together in cells, growing the cells in the presence of a stress factor, and selecting the mutant cells which have developed a desirable trait in the presence of the stress factor.

Abstract: There is provided a method for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus, by contacting the fungus, or causing the fungus to be contacted with a composition including an effective amount of a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. There is also provided a composition for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus. The composition includes a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The composition also includes .beta.-1,3-glucanase in an amount sufficient to enhance the effectiveness of the composition in inhibiting the growth or germination of the fungus.

Abstract: Method of isolating exonic gene segments of a eukaryotic gene by preparing a loaded exon trapping vector, bringing the loaded exon trapping vector in an environment in which transcription of DNA to RNA and RNA processing can occur, isolating processed RNA which includes exonic gene segments of the eukaryotic gene and, optionally, preparing a DNA copy of the isolated processed RNA. The loaded exon trapping vector comprises a large-insert DNA vector containing a segmented donor gene construct and, inserted in or close to said segmented donor gene construct, a target DNA fragment of at least 10 kb of eukaryotic genomic DNA. Use of vectors containing large genomic inserts allows to isolate exonic gene segments present in the correct transcriptional orientation as a complete set, without need for reordering individually isolated exons and verifying their continuity from isolated cDNAs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a two-dimensional heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy method for the measurement of solid state NMR samples. The nuclear spins are decoupled in the evolution interval by means of a FSLG-RF pulse sequence irradiated in the proton frequency band. Since this sequence may be very short compared to the ones hitherto used, and it is not necessary to irradiate simultaneously radio frequency in the area of the S-nuclei, the method is suitable in particular for high rotational velocities of the sample and high magnetic fields, where it effects a considerable improvement of the resolution.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding a crucifer ACC synthase polypeptide; a promoter functional in immature plant tissues which is capable of ethylene induction; and methods of using such promoters to express recombinant proteins or RNA and to regulate ethylene-inducible events of a plant, e.g., fruit ripening or senescence, especially during early stages of plant development.

Abstract: Triantennary cluster glycoside, wherein each glycoside residue is attached to the branching point of the cluster by a spacer of a long, flexible, hydrophilic chain comprising at least 4 atoms in the chain. The glyciside spacer preferably comprises at least two hydrophilic groups. Use of the triantennary cluster glycoside in pharmaceutical preparations, for instance hypolipidemic medicines.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical preparations which are suitable for treating viral infections, including influenza and immunodeficiency diseases and which can also be used in vitro, to inhibit fusion of virus-infected cells with non-infected cells, which preparations contain modified proteins or polypeptides as active substance or substance contributing to the action or as carrier for other substances, which are also active, which modified proteins or polypeptides have acquired an additional net negative charge by derivatisation of their amino groups and/or other basic functional groups with aconitic acid which prevents protonation of basic amino acids and/or other basic functional groups or replaces basic amino acids and/or other basic functional groups by one or more functional groups having a negative charge, and to modified proteins and polypeptides themselves and their preparation and use.

Abstract: The invention relates to new compounds with the general formula I for use as a tool to introduce macromolecules into cells. The invention further relates to compositions for introducing macromolecules into cells, comprising vesicles formed by at least one compound in a solvent. The macromolecule can be incorporated in the vesicles and/or bound to the vesicles or another aggregate of the new compounds. In a preferred embodiment at least one targeting molecule, for instance a (labelled) antibody, may further be attached to the vesicles.

Abstract: Phospholipid- and cholesterol-free aqueous compositions for topical application to the skin contain a pharmaceutically active ingredient and a vector system of controlled and in-depth transport and release of the active ingredient through the skin. The vector system comprises at least one first non-ionic surfactant which forms vesicles upon dispersion in water and a lamellar phase upon concentrating the vesicles, and at least one second non-ionic hydrophilic surfactant. The ratios of the two non-ionic surfactants are such that the vector system comprises flexible vesicles.