Abstract: Method for the detection of a nucleic acid comprising the production of a plurality of amplificates of a section of this nucleic acid with the aid of two primers, one of which can bind to a binding sequence A of the nucleic acid and the other can bind to a binding sequence C? which is complementary to a sequence C which is located in the 3? direction from A and does not overlap with A, contacting the amplificates with a probe having a binding sequence D which can bind to a sequence B which is located between the sequences A and C or to the complement thereof, and detecting the formation of a hybrid of the amplificate and probe where the sequence located between the binding sequences A and C contains no nucleotides that do not belong to the binding sequence D of the probe or its complement D?.

Abstract: The invention concerns autoreactive peptides, peptide-MHC complexes, T cell subpopulations that react thereto as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid preparation with a content of below 1% protein, preferably below 0.1% protein, free of ethidium bromide, phenol, cesium chloride and detergents based on octyl phenol poly(ethylene glycol ether)n and with a content of below 1 EU/mg DNA of endotoxins. Said preparation is suitable as a drug particularly in gene therapy.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes including a lancet and a lancet drive having a loadable elastic drive spring provided within an elongated housing. A relaxing motion of the drive spring is converted into a puncturing motion to move the lancet at high speed in a puncturing direction until its tip exits out of an opening of the housing. The device includes a transmission in the housing that has an input side that transforms the motion of a loading element along a linear loading path into a rotational motion of a lancet drive rotor to load the lancet drive rotor by tensioning the drive spring. When the lancet drive is triggered, the output side of the transmission converts a rotational motion of the lancet drive rotor, driven by the drive spring, into the puncturing motion in a direction along the main axis.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the content of glycated protein in a sample on a matrix material, which is characterized in that the matrix material is impregnated with boric acid buffer with a pH which is larger or equal to 10.5 or a transition metal salt as well as an appropriate matrix material, an element for collecting, transporting and storing sample material to be analysed with such a matrix material and a system containing such an element and a sealable covering.

Abstract: The invention concerns autoreactive peptides, peptide-MHC complexes, T cell subpopulations that react thereto as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new nucleic acid sequences derived from the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region, between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, to be used for the specific detection and/or identification of Serratia species, in particular of Serratia marcescens, Serratia ficaria and/or Serratia fonticola, in a biological sample. The present invention relates also to a method for the specific detection and/or identification of Serratia species, in particular Serratia marcescens, Serratia ficaria and/or Serratia fonticola, using said new nucleic acid sequences derived from the ITS region. It relates also to nucleic acid primers to be used for the amplification of said spacer region of Serratia species in a sample.

Abstract: A purified thermostable enzyme is derived from the thermophilic archaebacterium Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The enzyme can be native or recombinant, is stable under PCR conditions and exhibits double strand specific exonuclease activity. It is a 3?–5? exonuclease and cleaves to produce 5?-mononucleotides. Thermostable exonucleases are useful in many recombinant DNA techniques, in combination with a thermostable DNA polymerase like Tag especially for nucleic acid amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Abstract: A purified thermostable enzyme is derived form the thermophilic archaebacterium Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The enzyme can be native or recombinant, is stable under PCR conditions and exhibits double strand specific exonuclease activity. It is a 3?-5? exonuclease and cleaves to produce 5?-mononucleotides. Thermostable exonucleases are useful in many recombinant DNA techniques, in combination with a thermostable DNA polymerase like Taq especially for nucleic acid amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Abstract: The invention concerns an element for the determination of an analyte in a liquid by means of a specific binding reaction of two bioaffine binding partners containing in or on material which enables liquid transport between the zones. The element comprises a sample application zone; a detection zone located downstream thereof that is devoid of binding reagents and is the last zone on the element that allows liquid transport; a zone containing immobilized analyte or analyte analogue between the sample application zone and the detection zone; and impregnated conjugate that can be detached by liquid located in the sample application zone or upstream or downstream thereof composed of a bioaffine binding partner capable of a specific binding reaction with the analyte to be determined and a detectable label.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a surface coating as well as the use of surface coatings to increase the surface tension of objects. The surface coating is obtained by depositing a layer of at least one element that can be oxidized with water or an alloy that can be oxidized with water. Subsequently, the deposited layer is subjected to boiling water or water vapor. The element is generally derived from the following group of elements: Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Cd, In, Sn, Sb.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for optimizing the gene expression in cells. A first aspect concerns a process for changing the expression of a nucleic acid sequence which is present endogenously in a eukaryotic cell by introduction of a heterologous expression control sequence into the genome of the cell by means of homologous recombination as well as site-specific recombinase-mediated excision of inserted foreign DNA and its replacement by further heterologous expression control sequences or/and amplification genes. In addition the invention concerns the introduction of one or several nucleic acid sequences to which an activator protein or an activator protein complex binds e.g. a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), into the genome of a eukaryotic cell by homologous recombination in order to change the expression of a target gene.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical test element for the determination of an analyte in a liquid containing an inert carrier, a detection element and a channel capable of capillary liquid transport which has a sample application opening at one end and a vent opening at the other end of the channel capable of capillary liquid transport, wherein the channel capable of capillary liquid transport is formed at least partially by the carrier and the detection element and extends in the direction of capillary transport from the sample application opening at least to the edge of the detection test element that is nearest to the vent opening and wherein a notch is located in one of the surfaces forming the channel capable of capillary liquid transport at the edge of the test element forming the sample application opening so that one side of the edge of the test element forming the sample application opening is at least partially discontinuous and the surface opposite to the notch is exposed.

Abstract: A procedure is described for the determination of triglyceride contained in low density lipoprotein with the measures that triglyceride-containing lipoprotein is reacted with a non-ionic surface-active agent which is synthesized from a block copolymer of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, and that a triglyceride determination method is carried out. The procedure is particularly suitable for the in-vitro diagnosis of vascular disorders, in particular in the detection of coronary heart disease.

Abstract: A needleless hypodermic injection system for injecting a liquid medication, which system comprises a disposable cartridge which contains a medication and which includes a propellant and an igniter, and a reusable application device which comprises a pressure chamber for receiving the medication cartridge, actuation means including an ignition system and means for ensuring reliability and safety of the system. The reusable application device comprises: (a) a housing including a fist housing section and a second housing section which are adapted to be assembled together by a screwing operation, the first housing section comprising a front part having an injection outlet and a chamber adapted to receive a the cartridge contains the medication to be injected and also contains a propellant and an igniter, and (b) means for selectively activating said igniter of said cartridge when predetermined conditions are fulfilled.

Abstract: System for processing samples, in particular samples containing nucleic acids comprising a multichamber arrangement the chambers of which are used to receive liquids and it also concerns a pipetting device for removing liquids from the chambers and/or dispensing liquid into the chambers, wherein the system has a contamination protection which can move relative to the multichamber arrangement and which prevents contamination of an adjacent second chamber with liquid from the first chamber during a pipetting operation in the first chamber, by preventing discharge of fluid droplets from the first chamber into the second chamber by at least partially covering the first chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermostable mutants of B-type DNA polymerases comprising a Y-GG/A amino acid motif between the N-terminal 3?-5?-exonuclease domain and the C-terminal polymerase domain whereas the tyrosine of the Y-GG/A amino acid motif is mutated and whereas these mutant DNA polymerases are suitable for PCR.

Abstract: A system for the extrapolation of a glucose concentration has a data input device for entering administered insulin doses and their times of administration, a data input device for entering the carbohydrates consumed or to be consumed, a unit for determining an actual glucose concentration at a point in time (ta) in a patient's bodily fluid, a memory unit, and an evaluation unit for evaluation of the data stored in the memory unit, and for the extrapolation of a glucose concentration at a point in time tp, whereby tp is after ta The extrapolation includes determining the portion (Iwirk) of insulin doses that become effective between ta and tp; determining the portion of consumed carbohydrate units KHwirk, that become effective between ta and tp; and determining an extrapolated glucose concentration Gp at the point in time tp with consideration for Iwirk and KHwirk.

Abstract: System for processing samples, in particular samples containing nucleic acids comprising a multichamber arrangement the chambers of which are used to receive liquids and it also concerns a pipetting device for removing liquids from the chambers and/or dispensing liquid into the chambers, wherein the system has a contamination protection which can move relative to the multichamber arrangement and which prevents contamination of an adjacent second chamber with liquid from the first chamber during a pipetting operation in the first chamber, by preventing discharge of fluid droplets from the first chamber into the second chamber by at least partially covering the first chamber.

Abstract: A procedure for the release and isolation of nucleic acids from biological compartments of a sample always uses an instrument that can hold one or more sample processsing vessels, maintain the sample processing vessels at a constant temperature, shake the sample processing vessels and separate magnetic particles by means of magnetic force. This system greatly simplifies the isolation of nucleic acids.