Abstract: The present invention concerns a polypeptide which is composed of the amino acids 1207±10 to 1488±10 of a hepatitis C virus and of less than 20 foreign amino acids and the use of this polypeptide as an antigen in an immunological test.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and a device which enables an integrated amplification and detection of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention concerns a new immunoregulatory protein LST-1, nucleic acid sequences coding for this protein, a process for the isolation of this protein, as well as its use for the production of a therapeutic agent. The DNA and protein sequences are shown in SEQ ID NO; 1 to 4.

Abstract: In the course of therapy following an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT) in which lymphocytes were removed from the transplant, donor lymphocytes are introduced after a delay to reconstitute immunity in the patient. According to the invention, these donor lymphocytes are transduced with a detectable cell surface marker and a suicide gene prior to introducing them into the patient. Introduction of these transduced lymphocytes after allo-BMT, serves to treat or prevent complications from the BMT, including disease relapse, reactivation of viral infection and Graft versus Host disease.

Abstract: In order to analyze a medical sample while avoiding error contributions due to hemolysis, prior to the main reaction for a component present in the sample, a pre-reaction is produced and measured by which the degree of hemolysis in the sample is determined and the result of the sample to be determined that is subsequently obtained is corrected by this error contribution using the relationship (correlation) that has been found between the degree of hemolysis and the error contribution.

Abstract: A method is presented for regenerating oligodendrocytes in diseases such as multiple sclerosis by administering human &bgr; nerve growth factor (NGF-&bgr;) by bolus injection. Treatment comprises 1-10 bolus injections in a dose of 0.05 to 5.0 &mgr;g/kg body at an interval of 1 to 21 days.

Abstract: The use of a circular vector DNA to produce a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of mammals or humans by gene therapy wherein the vector DNA contains a selection marker gene and a DNA sequence that is heterologous for the vector which causes a modulation, correction or activation of the expression of an endogenous gene or the expression of a gene introduced into the cells of the mammal or the human by the vector DNA which is characterized in that the vector nucleic acid a) is amplified under selection pressure and cleaved in such a way that the selection marker gene and the heterologous DNA are present on separate DNA fragments, b) the DNA fragment which contains the heterologous DNA or both fragments are recircularized to form vectors, c) the DNA fragments are separated before or after the recircularization d) the recircularized DNA fragment which contains the heterologous DNA is isolated and e) the recircularized DNA fragment obtained in this manner is used to produce the pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: Process for the production of a functional immunoglobulin or functional derivative or fragment thereof with an improved stability in a eukaryotic or prokaryotic organism by transformation with an expression vector which contains a recombinant gene which codes for the said immunoglobulin derivative or fragment which is characterized in that a modified gene is used which contains at least one codon which is substituted compared to the unmodified gene and codes for a more frequent amino acid. In this way it is also possible to produce active antibodies free of disulfide bridges. In a modification of the process it is possible to selectively destabilize antibodies.

Abstract: A hypodermic injection system allows for the generation of a high pressure liquid jet capable of passing through the skin. The system uses two regions, the first region being flexible or squeezable and the second region having at least one exiting orifice through which the liquid jet can be expelled. The flexible region can be deformed by a pressure change in the surrounding container generated by an activatable gas generator that generates pressure within the first region that causes the liquid to be expelled.

Abstract: Improved process of compound of formula III in which A denotes CH═CH or S W denotes O X denotes S, O or NR2 in which the residue R2 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl, Y denotes CH or N R denotes naphthyl, thienyl or phenyl which is optionally monosubstituted or disubstituted with C1-C3 alkyl, CF3, C1-C3 alkoxy, F, Cl or bromine, R1 denotes hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl and n denotes 1-3 by reducing a compound of the general formula IV, in which A, W, X, Y, R, R1 and n have the meanings stated above with activated aluminium in a protic solvent, as well as new compounds of formula III and pharmaceutical preparations containing these compounds.

Abstract: A method of isolating a biological material by a) providing a biological material which is bound to a porous matrix (C11), and b) compressing the matrix under conditions where the biological material is released from the surface of the matrix into an elution liquid. brings about the advantage that the emission of aerosols into the environment is greatly reduced. It is also possible to obtain highly concentrated and minute amounts of solution. The method is also easy to automate.

Abstract: Magnetic glass particles are prepared containing a magnetic core coated with a glass layer having a substantially pore-free glass surface. The particles are used for separating biological material such as nucleic acids. A preferred process of preparing the particles is by forming a mixture of magnetic cores with a sol formed from an alcohol and a metal alkoxide, spray-drying the mixture to coat the cores with a layer of gelled sol, and heating the coated cores to obtain the magnetic glass particles. Preferably, the particles have an average particle size of less than 100 &mgr;m and any pores of the glass surface have a diameter of less than 10 nm. The magnetic core may be a composite material containing a mica core and magnetite particles immobilized on the mica core, and the glass layer may contain boron oxide. Magnetic core materials include magnetite (Fe3O4) and Fe2O3.

Abstract: DNA molecule comprising a structural gene which codes for a bacterial protein with the enzymatic activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (3-HBDH), a recombinant DNA containing the DNA molecule, microorganisms transformed accordingly, a process for obtaining 3-HBDH by culturing a suitable transformed microorganism as well as a method for the determination of ketone bodies in the presence of the enzyme. A structural gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is preferred.

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: An apparatus for sedimentation comprising: a cuvette holder configured to receive a cuvette containing a sample liquid containing particle; and a centrifuge having a horizontal shaft which is coupled to the cuvette holder such that the cuvette holder can assume a plurality of rotational positions about the horizontal shaft and configured such that the cuvette holder is substantially horizontal when the cuvette holder is in a lowermost position relative to the horizontal shaft.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the amplification of nucleic acids using a reagent which prevents reactivation of degradation enzymes. This enables a simpler prevention of contaminations.

Abstract: Method for the automated, microscope-aided examination of tissue samples or samples of body fluids with the aid of neural networks. In a first method of examination the sample is firstly classified according to its type and subsequently a digitalized image is divided into connected segments which are examined by one or several neural networks. The sample is classified as pathological if cell types are present which do not belong to the type of sample or if structural cell or tissue changes are present. In a second method of examination the digitalized image is again segmented and the segments are examined for the presence of a cell object. This is followed by an examination whether the cell object is an individual cell or a cell complex. In a third step of the analysis it is determined whether the found cell object is located on one of the image borders. If this is the case then a further image is recorded in which the found cell objects are completely included.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings indicated in the specification. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of metalloproteases of the M2, M3 family and the astacin subfamily of M12 and M13.

Abstract: A process is provided for inhibiting serine proteases in a sample. The process involves adding to the sample a compound such as cresol or 3-hydroxypyridine and then adding to the sample a sulfonic acid derivative or a fluorophosphonate, to derivative the serine proteases. The compounds such as cresol or 3-hydroxypyridine avoid nonspecific derivatization of proteins other than the serine proteases.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for the storage and transport of sample material on absorbent material which is characterized in that the system contains no test reagents and it additionally includes a closable container containing a medium that can absorb moisture such as a desiccant in addition to the absorbent material for absorbing a liquid sample. Furthermore the system according to the invention can contain an agent to stabilize the sample material and optionally further auxiliary substances.