Abstract: The present invention relates to a phosphomimetic RAGE protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a native mammalian RAGE isoform or fragment thereof wherein at least one serine present in the cytoplasmatic tail of the mammalian RAGE isoform is replaced by a phosphomimetic structure. The invention further relates to a polynucleotide encoding phosphomimetic RAGE protein and a vector comprising the polynucleotide. Finally, the invention relates to a composition comprising carrier and an active pharmaceutical ingredient, selected from the RAGE protein the vector for use in the treatment or prevention of a disease in a patient, wherein the disease is preferably selected from a disease initiated by impaired DNA repair, a disease initiated by increased DNA damage or a disease initiated by increased senescence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide for use in a method of detecting the presence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and/or of diagnosing an HDV infection and/or of monitoring the treatment of an HDV infection. The present invention further relates to an in vitro method, an immunographic test device as well as a kit. In particular, the present invention relates to a point of care diagnostic for HDV infections.

Abstract: A force measuring plate having a planar regular arrangement of force measuring cells. A force measuring cell is formed in a hole in the force measuring plate, in which hole precisely one planar element which is secured by springs in a self-supporting fashion is arranged and is oriented so as to run parallel to the force measuring plate. Each spring is connected in a materially joined fashion at a first end to the edge of a hole and at a second end to the edge of a planar element. The force measuring plate, the springs and the planar elements are formed from the same material. Each planar element can be elastically deflected in three spatial directions under the effect of a force. There is a linear relationship between the deflection and the force. In addition, the invention relates to a device for determining forces in the piconewton to nanonewton ranges.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for testing ocular drug delivery is provided. The ocular drug delivery is characterized by a set of delivery parameters comprising at least one of drug type, drug concentration, drug amount, injection position, penetration depth. The method comprises: providing a model for the human eye, wherein the model comprises: a geometry equation defining a three-dimensional generalized limacon for the geometry of the vitreous body, geometry equations describing all components of the eye; and a set of equations defining a drug convection in the vitreous body; setting a target drug state in the vitreous body; using the model to perform at least one simulation of the ocular drug delivery with a given set of values for the set of delivery parameters, wherein the at least one simulation provides a simulated drug state in the vitreous body; comparing the target drug state and the simulated drug state.

Abstract: A body fluid leakage detection aqueous composition, for use e.g. in intraoperative pancreatic fluid leakage detection. The composition comprises a gelling agent, increasing the viscosity of the composition, and buffering species, the composition thereby being buffered. The gelling agent is cross-linked ?-glucan microspheres. Further, the composition comprises a pH-indicator. The pH of the composition is at least 0.1 pH units lower, or higher, than a pKa of the pH-indicator.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a recombinant porcine adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector comprising a peptide-modified porcine AAV serotype 1 (AAVpol) capsid in gene therapy of muscle and/or central nervous system (CNS) disorders, in particular neuromuscular diseases such as genetic neuromuscular diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleotide comprising a Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) binding site sequence and a reverse complement of said NFAT binding site sequence separated by a spacer sequence, to said polynucleotide for use in treating and/or preventing disease, and to viral particles, compositions, and uses related thereto. The present invention further relates to a polynucleotide comprising a Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) binding site sequence and a reverse complement of said NFAT binding site sequence for use in treating and/or preventing an NFAT-mediated disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions with isolated and treated whole blood cells or Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) as well as such pharmaceutical compositions for use in the prevention and/or treatment of organ or cell graft rejection in a human graft recipient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a binding polypeptide specifically binding to an epitope comprised in an amino acid sequence corresponding to amino acids 250 to 300 of the norovirus genotype II.10 capsid polypeptide, and to a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further relates to a composition comprising the binding polypeptide according to the present invention and a carrier, and to the binding polypeptide or the composition comprising the same use in diagnosis and/or for use in medicine. Further more, the present invention relates to kits, devices, vaccines, methods, and uses related to the binding polypeptide of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (aAPCs) comprising artificial Antigen Presenting Molecules (aAPMs) and, in particular, comprising dimers of the aAPMs as well as to methods for producing aAPCs. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the aAPCs and to vectors encoding the aAPMs of the aAPCs. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for use in assays for determining an antigen-specific T cell response or a plurality of antigen-specific T cell responses and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an osteotropic bone replacement material from a starting material which substantially has portlandite, calcium oxide, aragonite; calcite and/or apatite. The starting material is introduced into an autoclave with a strontium, fluorine and/or gallium source, wherein when using a starting material which substantially has portlandite, calcium oxide, aragonite; calcite a phosphate source is introduced. In addition, H2O is added into the autoclave as part of a solvent and the pH value in the autoclave is set to a range above 7. Afterwards, the closed and filled autoclave is heated for at least 1 hour and then cooled. The osteotropic bone replacement material thus developed is subsequently cleaned from residues of the phosphorus, strontium, fluorine and/or gallium source. Furthermore, the invention relates to an osteotropic bone replacement material which substantially consists of apatite and in which strontium ions are incorporated into the crystal lattice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for color visualization and separation of a natural and medical image comprising pixels defined by color pixel vector a=[a1a2, a3] in a Cartesian color space (e.g. RGB), where the color pixel vector is represented by a pure quaternion q=+a1i+a2j+a3k with i,j, k satisfying: i2=j2=k2=ijk=?1, ij=?ji=k,jk=?kj=i, ki=?ik=j and the image is decomposed into q+ and q using the orthogonal 2D planes split concept according to: (formula (I)) wherein/and g are pure unit quaternions or f and g describe interactively determined or computed colors (s1, s2). The method allows not only visualizing and separating certain colors in a digital image in a rapid fashion, but also permits a flexible definition pertinent to the kind of colors that can be visualized or separated by defining the corresponding decompositions by means of pure unit quaternions/and g. Colors s1, s2 can be defined manually or computed automatically from the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for conjugating/attaching target molecules such as proteins to a label and/or carrier. Specifically, the present invention provides a complex comprising a metal cation coordinating (i) nitrate as a metal cation ligand and (ii) a metal cation chelating domain comprising a chelating ligand and a label and/or carrier. This complex can be used for attaching a label and/or a carrier to a target molecule, preferably a protein. The attachment of the label or carrier via the complex of the invention involves the replacement of the metal cation ligand with a coordinating group of the target molecule so that a product complex with the target molecule as primary ligand in the coordination sphere of the metal cation is formed. Accordingly, the present invention also provides for uses and methods involving the attachment of a label and/or carrier to a target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for conjugating/attaching target molecules such as proteins to a label and/or carrier. Specifically, the present invention provides a complex comprising a metal cation coordinating (i) a metal cation ligand being a carbonate selected from CO32? and HCO3— and (ii) a metal cation chelating domain comprising a chelating ligand and a label and/or carrier. This complex can be used for attaching a label and/or a carrier to a target molecule, preferably a protein. The attachment of the label or carrier via the complex of the invention involves the replacement of the metal cation ligand with a coordinating group of the target molecule so that a product complex with the target molecule as primary ligand in the coordination sphere of the metal cation is formed. Accordingly, the present invention also provides for uses and methods involving the attachment of a label and/or carrier to a target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having a chemical structure comprising: A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of formula (I): (A)-x1-(B)-x2-(C), wherein (A) is at least one motif specifically binding to cell membranes of neoplastic cells; (B) at least one chelator moiety of radiometals; (C) a dye moiety; x1 is a spacer covalently connecting (A) and (B); x2 is a spacer or a chemical single bond connecting (B) and (C); wherein (C) has the formula wherein R1 to R4, R9, a, b, Y and X1 to X4 have the meaning as indicated in the claims and description. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said compounds as well as a method for detecting neoplastic cells in a sample in vitro with the aid of the compounds or composition.

Abstract: A layer having individual elements made of an elastic material, with the length thereof exceeding the diameter thereof, which are secured on a carrier at a distance to one another, wherein the elements can be moved towards and away from one another, the elements can contact when moving towards one another, the outer surfaces of the elements provided with a surface modification, and the surface modification containing substances that can form reversible, non-covalent bonds. Also, a method for producing the layer, and the use of the layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclic NTCP targeting peptides which are preS-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one cyclic peptide. The present invention further relates to medical uses of said cyclic peptides and the pharmaceutical compositions, such as in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition, and/or in the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection. The present invention further relates to methods of diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition and/or the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection.

Abstract: Described is a parvovirus formulation which comprises (a) at least 1×109 pfu/ml of parvovirus H1 (H-1PV) or a related rodent parvovirus such as LuIII, Mouse minute virus (MMV), Mouse parvovirus (MPV), Rat minute virus (RMV), Rat parvovirus or Rat virus (RV) and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier containing 40-50% Iodixanol (w/v), 0.7-0.9 mmol CaCl2×2 H2O, 50-60 mmol NaCl, 0.9-1.2 mmol KCl, 0.7-0.95 mg/ml Tromethamine and 0.05-0.15 mg/ml Edetate calcium disodium. A preferred use is the therapy of a brain tumour by intratumoral injection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Abhydrolase containing domain 5 (ABHD5) and N-terminal fragments of HDAC4 (HDAC4-NT) and variants of the aforementioned peptides for the treatment and prevention of heart failure. The present invention further provides vectors for the cardiomyocyte-specific expression of said peptides and a test system comprising ABHD5 for the identification of novel compounds which are useful for the treatment of heart failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound decreasing the concentration of 2-hydroxy-glutarate (2HG) in a subject for use in treating, preventing, and/or preventing progression of cardiac remodeling, in particular cardiomyopathy and/or heart failure and to viral particles, compositions, uses and methods related thereto.