Abstract: Arginine mimetic peptides according to Formula I of this application have a stimulating effect on bone formation and are useful for the treatment of bone metabolic disorders.

Abstract: The invention concerns storage-stable lyophilized pharmaceutical preparations of biomolecules wherein the biomolecules are selected from the group comprising proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and carbohydrates and additionally contain one or several basic D or L-amino acids in addition to one or several aminodicarboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids or dicarboxylic acids or physiologically compatible salts thereof. The auxiliary substances are present in the lyophilisate in a completely or partially amorphous form.

Abstract: Method for monitoring insulin medication in which blood sugar values are determined before and after a meal. The difference between these measured values is plotted against a quotient calculated from the bread units ingested during the meal and the insulin units used to compensate for these bread units. Displaying many such points on a graph provides criteria for improving the insulin medication.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for cleaning pipette needles or stirrers, the device comprising a trough which holds cleaning fluid and whose lower region has a fluid duct for filling and/or emptying purposes and whose upper region has at least one feed pipe which leads into at least one nozzle directed into the trough interior. Advantageously, the device has a cylindrical trough and an insert with nozzles which is screwed into the trough. The invention further concerns a method of cleaning pipette needles or stirrers, the material to be washed being introduced into the trough interior and sprayed with a washing fluid. The device can also be used to flush the interior of a pipette needle.

Abstract: Device for withdrawing Blood for Diagnostic Purposes. A lancet holder (8) for holding a lancet (7) and a lancet drive (12) having a loadable elastic drive spring (15) are provided within an elongated housing (2). The relaxing motion of the drive spring (15) is converted into a puncturing motion, after release of a locking device, to move the lancet (7), held by the lancet holder (8), at high speed in the puncturing direction until its tip exists out of an exit opening (5) of the housing (2). An improved handling and simultaneous minimization of pain is achieved by providing a two-sided rotary/translatory transmission (25) in the housing (2), wherein a) the input side (24) of the rotary/translatory transmission (25) transforms the motion of a loading button (17), protruding out of the rear end (16) of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention concerns muteins of avidin and streptavidin with a reduced binding affinity for biotin as well as their use as interference elimination reagents in methods for the determination of an analyte e.g. in diagnostic tests such as for example immunoassays and nucleic acid hybridization assays. In addition the invention concerns the use of muteins of avidin and streptavidin as systems capable of regeneration for binding biotin e.g. for the analysis of biotinylated molecules, for examining receptor ligand interactions as well as for the affinity purification of biotinylated molecules.

Abstract: A stabilized reagent for the photometric enzymatic determination of creatine kinase (CK) in biological sample material by forming ATP from creatine phosphate and ADP and detecting the ATP formed, containing an organic or inorganic sulphur compound preferably in a submolar amount relative to the added CK activator. A corresponding reagent in a liquid form is stable at 2 to 8° C. for up to 12 months without significant loss of function.

Abstract: Blood lancet for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes. It has a housing with an outlet opening for the tip of a lancet, and a lancet drive with a drive rotor driven in a sense of rotation by a drive spring. The drive rotor converts the relaxation movement of the drive spring to a pricking movement, moving the lancet with high speed in pricking direction, until the tip protrudes from the outlet opening. The drive rotor has a pressure surface directed radially outwardly and running around the rotation axis with varying center distance. The pressure surface has a vertex with maximum center distance, and a propelling section, following the vertex against the sense of rotation and having a center distance decreasing against the sense of rotation. The drive spring effects a pressure on the propelling section of the pressure surface, thus driving the drive rotor in sense of rotation, whereas the drive rotor is coupled to the lancet holder.

Abstract: The discriminating capability of hybridization assays is increased by a combination of labelled primers which produce amplificates of one strand of a nucleic acid with a capture probe which is complementary to the same strand of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention concerns a DNA coding a eukaryotic highly active alkaline phosphatase with a specific activity of more than 3000 U/mg. The invention also concerns a process for the production of a DNA according to the invention, a vector containing the DNA according to the invention and a cell line containing this vector. Furthermore the invention concerns a recombinant highly active alkaline phosphatase with a specific activity of more than 3000 U/mg which is coded by the DNA according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing erythropoietin which is free of foreign animal proteins except for the proteins of the host cell, wherein DNA coding for EPO is expressed in a eukaryotic host cell and the host cell is cultured in a medium free of natural mammalian proteins. The erythropoietin is chromatographically purified using dye affinity chromatography, chromatography on hydroxyapatite, reversed phase chromatography, and anion exchange chromatography. The resulting preparation contains less than 100 ppm of proteins derived from the host cell, and less than 10 pg of host cell DNA per 83 &mgr;g erythropoietin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a test element and a method for determining the ratio of glycated to non-glycated haemoglobin in a sample, for example, in a blood sample that is provided as a fresh sample, a dried sample or a haemolysed sample. The test element can include different zones for receiving the sample, serving as a depot for reagents such as non-immobilized signal-generating molecules or haemolysis reagents, separating reagents from the sample, and detecting heamoglobin. The zones are provided on a porous matrix and in fluid contact with each other. The method uses the test element and determines the ratio of glycated to non-glycated haemoglobin in a sample, by contacting the sample with an excess of signal generating molecules to bind to the glycated haemoglobin. The non-bound signal generating molecules are separated from the sample, and the amount or concentration of haemoglobin and/or glycated haemoglobin bound signal generating molecules are determined.

Abstract: Method for synthesizing or sequencing a nucleic acid molecule in a thermocycling reaction which initially comprises a nucleic acid molecule, a first primer, a second primer, a reaction buffer, a first thermostable enzyme e.g. a DNA polymerase, (optionally) a thermostable pyrophosphatase, deoxynucleotides or derivatives thereof and in case of a sequencing method a dideoxynucleotide or a derivative thereof and which is characterized in that the thermocycling reaction additionally contains a second thermostable enzyme e.g. a DNA polymerase which, in comparison to the said first thermostable enzyme, exhibits a different enzymatic activity as e.g. has a reduced ability to incorporate dideoxynucleotides as well as the use of the said method. At least one polymerase is initially inhibited whereby the inhibiting agent loses inhibitory ability at cycles of the thermocycling reaction.

Abstract: A process for selecting human cells for the production of human proteins by endogenous gene activation allows human proteins to be produced in economically feasible quantities and in a form suitable for producing a pharmaceutical composition. Also disclosed is a process for producing human proteins in a cell line identified in this matter.

Abstract: The invention relates to human cells which are capable, on the basis of an activation of the endogenous human EPO gene, of producing EPO in a sufficient amount and purity to make possible a cost-effective production of human EPO as a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of such human EPO-producing cells, DNA constructs for the activation of the endogenous EPO inhuman cells, and a method for the large technical production of EPO in human cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns muteins of avidin and streptavidin with a reduced binding affinity for biotin as well as their use as interference elimination reagents in methods for the determination of an analyte e.g. in diagnostic tests such as for example immunoassays and nucleic acid hybridization assays. In addition the invention concerns the use of muteins of avidin and streptavidin as systems capable of regeneration for binding biotin e.g. for the analysis of biotinylated molecules, for examining receptor ligand interactions as well as for the affinity purification of biotinylated molecules.

Abstract: Subject of the present invention are compounds of general formula (I), wherein A is oxygen or sulfur; X is oxygen or sulfur, R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or an alkyl group with from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkylsulphinyl, alkylsulphonyl, hydroxyalkyl, napthtyl, phenyl group which can be unsubsituted or substituted; or R is a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, which can be optionally benzocondensed, the pure steroisomers or mixtures thereof as well as salts thereof with pharmaceutically acceptable acids or bases, for the use as medicaments, in particular as antitumor agents.

Abstract: The invention concerns pharmaceutical forms of administration that are in the form of pellets which contain a retarding agent in which the release rate of the active substance is not delayed or is substantially identical compared to corresponding pellets that contain no retarding agent. The release rate of these rapidly disintegrating pellets is at least about 90% within a time period of 30 minutes. In addition the present invention also concerns processes for the production these pellets.

Abstract: The invention concerns a moisture-impermeable, tightly sealable storage container for use with a plurality of test elements. The storage container includes a housing sized to hold the test elements, a guide element, a spacer positioned between the guide element and a first test element to be withdrawn, and a transport mechanism for the test elements, the transport mechanism being positioned in the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical combination preparation comprising 2,000-7,000 U of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) and 5-20 mg of an Fe(III) complex, wherein the rhEPO and the Fe(III) complex may be present in separate administration forms or in an integrated administration form.