Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the fertility of spermatozoa, said method comprising determining the total content of Vimentin variant 3 (Vim3) per spermatozoon and/or the spatial localization of the Vim3 in the spermatozoa, wherein a decreased amount of total content and/or decreased amount of (or even missing) accumulation of Vim3 in the mid piece of the spermatozoa indicates decreased fertility. Further, the present invention refers to a dipstick usable for this method. Moreover, the present invention relates to further methods and uses in the context of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a column comprising a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dimer molecule, a method for preparing such a column, a VEGF dimer molecule, an expression vector and a recombinant host cell encoding for a VEGF dimer, as well as uses and methods related thereto.

Abstract: Methods, kits, and active ingredients for diagnosing or treating arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, or for selection of subjects for therapy. The methods for diagnosing arthritis involve the detection of an autoantibody, which is associated with arthritis, or excluding the presence of an autoantibody against collagen II. The methods for diagnosing a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, involve the detection of an autoantibody against thrombospondin-4 or COMP. The kits contain a detection agent for an autoantibody and can be used for diagnosing arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system. The active ingredient can be used for treating or preventing autoimmune-associated arthritis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of a benign oncocytoma and a method to differentiate a benign oncocytoma from malignant renal cell carcinoma, a kit for use in these methods, as well as antibody relating thereto, a hybridoma cell capable of producing the same as well as the uses relating thereto.

Abstract: 6-[18F]Fluoro-2-alkoxynicotinoyl substituted Lys-C(O)-Glu derivatives were identified as efficient imaging probes for PSMA expressing tissues in comparison to other known PSMA specific ligands like [18F]DCFPyL, [68Ga]HBED-CC-PSMA, [18F]PSMA-1007 and [Al18F]HBED-CC-PSMA. Unexpectedly, the 6-[18F]fluoro-2-alkoxy and 6-[18F]fluoro-4-alkoxy substituted analogs showed significant differences in accumulation in PSMA expressing prostate tumor cells. Whereas the 2-alkoxy derivative showed cellular uptake values higher than [18F]DCFPyL, the cellular uptake of the corresponding 4-alkoxy substituted derivative was significantly lower. Furthermore, in vivo PET studies with 2-alkoxy-substituted probes demonstrated excellent visualization of PSMA positive ganglia with extremely high target to background ratio. In contrast, the 4-alkoxy substituted derivatives showed less favorable biodistribution with significantly lower uptake in PSMA positive tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the number or percentage of pluripotent stem cells or of enriching differentiating or differentiated cells in a cell population comprising pluripotent stem cells and differentiating cells or differentiated cells derived from the pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising the step of contacting the cell population with a compound according to the general formula (1).

Abstract: A method of culturing Haematococcus species for manufacturing of astaxanthin comprising the steps of: providing a substrate, arranging the Haematococcus species on the surface of the substrate, exposing the Haematococcus species arranged on the substrate to high light intensities from the beginning of a culturing process and avoiding a two-step culturing process of the Haematococcus species with a first step which is an initial culturing taking place by exposure of the Haematococcus species to low light energy followed by a second step of subsequent culturing of the Haematococcus species by exposure of the Haematococcus species to higher light energy than applied in the first step to induce astaxanthin formation, and optionally—harvesting the cultured Haematococcus species and/or—isolating astaxanthin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting malignant kidney cancer in an individual, said method conducted in vitro comprising the steps of providing a body fluid sample, in particular a urine sample, obtained from the individual, and determining one or more biomarker levels selected from the group consisting of the Mxi-2 level, the Vim3 level, the MAPKp38 level and the Atg7 level in the sample. Further, the present invention refers to a kit and a dipstick for use in such method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing arthritis, comprising the detection of an autoantibody, which is associated with arthritis, to a method for diagnosing a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, comprising the detection of an autoantibody against thrombospondin-4 or COMP, to a method for diagnosing arthritis, comprising excluding the presence of an autoantibody against collagen II, to a kit for diagnosing arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, comprising a detection agent for an autoantibody, to the use of the kit for diagnosing arthritis or a degenerative disease of the skeletal system, to an active ingredient for use for treatment or preventing autoimmune-associated arthritis and to the diagnostic method for selection of subjects for therapy.

Abstract: 6-[18F]Fluoro-2-alkoxynicotinoyl substituted Lys-C(O)-Glu derivatives were identified as efficient imaging probes for PSMA expressing tissues in comparison to other known PSMA specific ligands like [18F]DCFPyL, [68Ga]HBED-CC-PSMA, [18F]PSMA-1007 and [Al18F]HBED-CC-PSMA. Unexpectedly, the 6-[18F]fluoro-2-alkoxy and 6-[18F]fluoro-4-alkoxy substituted analogs showed significant differences in accumulation in PSMA expressing prostate tumor cells. Whereas the 2-alkoxy derivative showed cellular uptake values higher than [18F]DCFPyL, the cellular uptake of the corresponding 4-alkoxy substituted derivative was significantly lower. Furthermore, in vivo PET studies with 2-alkoxy-substituted probes demonstrated excellent visualization of PSMA positive ganglia with extremely high target to background ratio. In contrast, the 4-alkoxy substituted derivatives showed less favorable biodistribution with significantly lower uptake in PSMA positive tissues.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the treatment of diseases associated with a dysregulated immune response such as auto immune disorders, inflammatory diseases or pathological immune responses as adverse effects of medical treatments. In particular the invention provides a combined use of inhibitors of Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase (RIPK1) and inhibitors of Inhibitor of ?B (I?B) Kinase (IKK) in subjects suffering from such disorders. The invention provides such inhibitory compounds and their combinations for use in medical applications, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the number or percentage of pluripotent stem cells or of enriching differentiating or differentiated cells in a cell population comprising pluripotent stem cells and differentiating cells or differentiated cells derived from the pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising the step of contacting the cell population with a compound according to the general formula (1).

Abstract: Compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds are useful in the treatment of neoplastic diseases or proliferative disorders. The compounds are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions, which can be used in methods of treating neoplastic diseases or proliferative disorders The compounds are useful to treat cancers such as prostate, pancreatic, lung, skin, breast, bladder, colon, and blood cancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting a malignant tumor in an individual by means of determining the Vimentin variant 3 (Vim3) level in the individual's blood serum S and/or the accumulation of Vim3 polypeptide in cell nuclei. Furthermore, the present invention refers to an antineoplastic agent for use in a method for treating an individual bearing a malignant tumor, wherein said antineoplastic agent is a Vim3 inhibitor and/or wherein the malignant tumor is endothelin B receptor negative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the fertility of spermatozoa, said method comprising determining the total content of Vimentin variant 3 (Vim3) per spermatozoon and/or the spatial localization of the Vim3 in the spermatozoa, wherein a decreased amount of total content and/or decreased amount of (or even missing) accumulation of Vim3 in the mid piece of the spermatozoa indicates decreased fertility. Further, the present invention refers to a dipstick usable for this method. Moreover, the present invention relates to further methods and uses in the context of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical compounds that can in particular be used as structural mimetics of proline-rich peptides. The compounds of the present invention are capable of selectively inhibiting ena/VASP-EVH1-mediated protein-protein interactions. The invention further relates to the use of said compounds as pharmaceutical agents and to the use of the pharmaceutical agents to treat tumor diseases. The chemical compounds of the present invention can significantly inhibit the chemotaxis and motility of invasive tumor cells and can therefore be used in the treatment and/or prevention of tumor metastases.

Abstract: The invention relates to fire-extinguishing foams or concentrates, which include a carbohydrate containing silane surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fusion genes comprising NRG1 and a further fusion partner, like CD74. The present invention provides for the use of these fusion genes in diagnosis as well as in medical intervention in cancer.

Abstract: A receiving container for a detector which operates in an ultrahigh vacuum or in a protective gas atmosphere that consists of high-purity gas. The receiving container has a receiving portion which forms at least a portion of the receiving space for the detector, and a cover for hermetically sealing the receiving space. A first sealing surface is arranged at the receiving portion and a second sealing surface matching the first sealing surface is arranged at the cover. Between the sealing surfaces a gasket is arranged. A securing device presses the cover against the receiving portion to provide a defined contact pressure of the gasket.

Abstract: A method of culturing Haematococcus species for manufacturing of astaxanthin comprising the steps of: providing a substrate, arranging the Haematococcus species on the surface of the substrate, exposing the Haematococcus species arranged on the substrate to high light intensities from the beginning of a culturing process and avoiding a two-step culturing process of the Haematococcus species with a first step which is an initial culturing taking place by exposure of the Haematococcus species to low light energy followed by a second step of subsequent culturing of the Haematococcus species by exposure of the Haematococcus species to higher light energy than applied in the first step to induce astaxanthin formation, and optionally harvesting the cultured Haematococcus species and/or isolating astaxanthin.