Abstract: For the genus-specific or/and species-specific detection of bacteria in a sample liquid, bacterial RNA is hybridized with a primer which is complementary to a genus-specific or species-specific region of the RNA of particular bacteria or to a highly conserved region of the RNA of bacteria in general, but which is not complementary at its 3′ end to the RNA of bacteria of another genus or species, the primer is elongated in the presence of a suitable polymerase and the four deoxyribonucleotides, if desired, with a concurrent or subsequent labelling of the elongation product and an elongation product formed is hybridized with a genus-specific or species-specific oligonucleotide after denaturation and the hybridization is detected by means of the oligonucleotide label.

Abstract: Method for 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 DNA polymerase, (optionally) a thermostable pyrophosphatase, deoxynucleotides or derivatives thereof and a dideoxynucleotide or a derivative thereof and which is characterized in that the thermocycling reaction additionally contains a second thermostable DNA polymerase which, in comparison to the said first thermostable DNA polymerase, has a reduced ability to incorporate dideoxynucleotides as well as the use of the said method.

Abstract: New electron transfer moiety labeled nucleic acid analogue probes are provided that can be used in methods for determining nucleic acids in a sample. The new probes can be prepared using novel monomer subunits in a chemical synthesis route. The nucleic acids can be determined by binding the probe molecules to the nucleic acid and inducing electron transfer within the complex formed. The occurrence of the electron transfer is determined as a measure of the nucleic acid.

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: A process is described for applying spatially defined reagent areas to a solid phase which is characterized in that a liquid containing an adsorptive binding reagent is contacted with spatially defined areas of a solid phase which comprises an essentially continuous metal or metal oxide surface for an adequate time period to enable the formation of adsorptive bonds between the binding reagent and the solid phase.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the detection of telomerase activity wherein (a) a sample to be tested is provided, (b) a first primer suitable as a telomerase substrate and nucleoside triphosphates are added and the reaction mixture is incubated under conditions under which a primer extension by the telomerase can take place, (c) an amplification of the extension product produced by the telomerase is carried out, (d) the amplification product produced in step (c) is immobilized on a solid phase and (e) the immobilized amplification product is detected qualitatively or/and quantitatively. Furthermore the invention concerns a suitable reagent kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The invention concerns compounds which have a chromophore and a group capable of binding to streptavidin or/and avidin and which are suitable for binding to molecules containing an aldehyde, ketone, hemiacetal or/and hemiketal group. In addition the invention concerns conjugates formed from these compounds as well as a method for the detection or isolation of carbohydrates or glycan receptors by means of such conjugates.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of detecting a substance to be analyzed in a sample by contacting the sample with a probe which contains nucleobases and two or more non-nucleosidic marker-promoting groups in conditions in which the substance to be analyzed binds indirectly or directly to the probe. The method enables the binding product to be detected. The probe is preferably branched.

Abstract: The invention concerns human monoclonal antibodies of the IgG isotype against human pancreatic islet cells which can be obtained by immortalizing human lymphocytes of prediabetics or diabetics, treating the culture supernatant of the immortalized cells with a conjugate of antibodies against human Fc &ggr; and a label, subsequently treating with human immunoglobulin, incubating with immobilized human pancreatic islet cells identifying an immortalized human cell culture which produces an antibody against pancreatic islet cells via determination of the label bound to the immobilized islet cells, isolating a human immortalized cell which produces this antibody, propagating this immortalized cell and isolating the monoclonal antibody produced by these cells. The invention also concerns a process for the isolation of an islet cell antigen to which such antibodies bind as well as a method for the determination of antibodies against an islet cell antigen of the pancreas.

Abstract: The subject matter of the application is a method for the separation of non-HDL lipoproteins from biological fluids in a carrier through which liquids can flow. The carrier contains a precipitating agent for non-high density lipoproteins (non-HDLs).

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system having a time counter and a data processing unit (DPU) having a time standard. The test results produced by the analysis system along with the associated time values of the time counter are transferred to the DPU and processed therein. The associated time values of the time counter are then compared with the time values of the time standard to determine the absolute time values of the associated time values.

Abstract: The invention relates to derivatives of hepatitis C virus amino acid sequences. These derivatives can be used to screen samples, such as blood, to determine if antibodies to hepatitis C virus are present.

Abstract: Cutting device for skin for obtaining small blood samples from human or animal tissue in an almost pain-free manner. A blade (13) is made to oscillate by an oscillator (14, 32) and is lowered into the tissue and again retracted at a relatively slow speed. In a first embodiment, the blade oscillates essentially parallel to the cutting edge of the blade and the tissue surface. In a second embodiment, the blade oscillates essentially perpendicular to the tissue surface. An advantage of the device of the invention is the reduced pain during pricking.

Abstract: The present invention provides desazapurine-nucleoside derivatives of the general formula: wherein X is a nitrogen atom or a methine radical, W is a nitrogen atom or a C—R4 radical, R1, R2, R3 and R4, which can be the same or different, are hydrogen or halogen atoms, hydroxyl or mercapto groups, lower alkyl, lower alkylthio, lower alkoxy, aralkyl, aralkoxy or aryloxy radicals or amino groups optionally substituted once or twice, R5 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, R6 and R7 are each hydrogen atoms or one of them is a halogen atom or a cyano or azido group or an amino group optionally substituted once or twice, whereby one of R6 and R7 can also be a hydroxyl group when X is a methine radical and, in addition, R5 and R7 can together also represent a further valency bond between C-2′ and C-3′ and Y is a hydrogen atom or a mono-, di- or tri-phosphate group.

Abstract: The invention involves methods for determining analytes, and reagents for use in these methods. The methods and reagents use one or both of a polyvinyl/pyrolidone with a molecular weight of at least 360,000, and a polyethylene glycol with molecular weight of at least 40,000. The assays are carried out nephelometrically, or turbidometrically. The reagents include at least one antibody which binds the analyte. The hook effect is reduced or avoided in the practice of the invention.

Abstract: A process for the production of analytical devices is provided in accordance with the present invention. Analytical devices include analytical test elements with a capillary-active zone for examining liquid samples. In the process a carrier layer is prepared, a spacer layer is laminated onto the carrier layer, a contour is punched, cut or stamped through the spacer layer laminated onto the carrier layer which determines the shape of the capillary-active zone, those parts of the spacer layer which are not required to form the capillary-active zone are removed from the carrier layer and a cover layer is applied to the spacer layer to result in a capillary-active zone. The process according to the invention is preferably suitable for manufacturing analytical devices from tape material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a determination of a polymorphism or less of heterozygosity, by assaying a sample with one or both of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. These oligonucleotides facilitate identification of polymorphisms and lack of heterozygosity at chromosomal location 5p15-q21. This region contains a tumor suppressor gene.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the determination of an analyte in a sample containing free haemoglobin in which the determination is carried out by an optical measurement and the value measured for the analyte concentration is mathematically corrected. This method is in particular suitable for determining the parameters total protein, iron and albumin in a medical sample e.g. in a serum or plasma sample. The correction of the measured value for the analyte concentration is achieved by the steps (a) measuring the blank value of the sample to be analysed, (b) measuring the blank value of a haemoglobin-free reference sample, (c) measuring the uncorrected value for the analyte concentration and (d) correcting the value obtained in step (c) by correlation with the values obtained in step (a) and (b) in order to obtain the corrected value for the analyte concentration.

Abstract: A nucleic acid which can be used to express a polypeptide with interleukin-16 activity in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell, wherein in the region coding for the said polypeptide the said nucleic acid a)corresponds to the DNA sequence of nucleotides 54-1175 from SEQ ID NO:1 or to its complementary strand, b) hybridizes with the DNA of nucleotide sequence 54-785 from SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions, c) hybridizes with the DNA of nucleotide sequence 786-1175 from SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions and at the 5′ end begins with nucleotides 756-785 from SEQ ID NO:1 or a part thereof which codes for part of the sequence of amino acids 235-244 from SEQ ID NO:1 or d) it is a nucleic acid sequence which would hybridize under stringent conditions with the nucleic acid sequences defined by a) or b) without the degeneracy of the genetic code, codes for proteins with improved interleukin-16 activity.

Abstract: Osteoblast-specific mitogens and drugs containing such compounds can be used for treating metabolic bone diseases. These compounds include lysophosphatidylic acid derivatives selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula: wherein R1=alkenyl or alkynyl having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms; n=0-12; X=oxygen or NH; the compounds (all-cis-5,8,11,14)-eicosatetraenoic acid 2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropyl ester; cis-9, cis-12-octadecadienoic acid 2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropyl ester; (all-cis-9,12,15)-octadecatrienoic acid 2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropyl ester; cis-9-octadecenoic acid 2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropyl ester; and erucic acid 2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropylester being excluded, and the physiologically tolerable salts, esters, optically active forms, and racemates of said compounds, and derivatives of said compounds, salts, esters, optically active forms and racemates which can be metabolized in vivo to yield the corresponding compound of formula (I).