Abstract: In invention relates to a method for the isolation of RNA from tissue pretreated with formaldehyde comprising homogenizing the sample in the presence of a guanidinium salt in aqueous solution, and incubating the sample in the presence of 0.1 M to 5 M ammonium salt at a temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. The heat treatment in the presence of an ammonium salts demodifies RNA by reverting methylol groups which are formed in the presence of formaldehyde between amino groups in nucleobases of RNA and in basic amino acids, and by cleavage of methylene bridges between amino groups in nucleobases of RNA and basic amino acids, to provide high RNA recoveries and consistently high quality of RNA for further reaction, e.g. for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or microarray analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel tricyclic nucleosides and oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom. Incorporation of one or more of the tricyclic nucleosides into an oligomeric compound is expected to enhance one or more properties of the oligomeric compound. Such oligomeric compounds can also be included in double stranded compositions. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein are expected to hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to Method for detecting a phantom, comprising the steps of: arranging a phantom (20) with respect to an object, the phantom (20) comprising a plurality of first calibration fiducials (Mi1, Mi2, Mi3) in a first plane, acquiring at least one image of said object by means of an x-ray apparatus (3), such that the image contains projections of the object as well as projections (IMi1, IMi2, IMi3) of at least three first calibration fiducials (Mi1, Mi2, Mi3), detecting the projections (IMi1, IMi2, IMi3) of the at least three first calibration fiducials (Mi1, Mi2, Mi3) in said at least one image, and establishing a correspondence between the 2D image coordinates (lx, ly) of said projections (IMi1, IMi2, IMi3) of the at least three first calibration fiducials (Mi1, Mi2, Mi3) and the 3D coordinates (x, y, z) of said at least three first calibration fiducials (Mi1, Mi2, Mi3) in a local coordinate system of the phantom (20) for computing the projection matrix (P) or at least an element of the projec

Abstract: The invention relates inhibiting nucleic acids directed at mammalian homologues of the Drosophila fwe gene (Flower) and to antibodies against the respective proteins, and their use in diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer.

Abstract: Positron emission tomography, possibly in combination with computed tomography, allows in addition to medical diagnostic imaging the quantitative determination of various parameters. Quantitative measurements using tomographs exhibit a severe and unavoidable dependency on the imaging properties of the respective tomograph, which makes quantitative assessment of the results difficult. This relates particularly to multicentric medical studies, which obligatorily require quantitative comparability of the data measured by the participating centers. The methods claimed herein include the definition of a virtual tomograph with defined imaging properties. The claimed methods also cover determination of the imaging properties of different tomographs on the basis of suitable reference measurements and possibly by using a calibration phantom.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the identification and initial characterization of CctA, a novel, secreted toxin of Clostridium chauvoei that represents the major cytotoxic activity of C. chauvoei. This toxin confers C. chauvoei its characteristic strong hemolytic activity towards erythrocytes of various species, since anti-CctA antibodies fully neutralize hemolysis by C. chauvoei on standard blood-agar medium or in cell-free supernatants of liquid cultures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new heterocyclic compounds as modulators of sphingolipid signaling and uses thereof of as pharmaceutically active agents, suitable for treating proliferative, degenerative, infectious, and other diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of CD89 activating molecules, in particular Fc alpha comprising molecules, and more particularly, IgA, for inducing apoptosis in neutrophils. Anti-CD89 antibodies can alternatively be used. The CD89 activation is beneficial in the treatment of various disorders associated with increases in neutrophils, such as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory disorders, NETosis, or cystic fibrosis.

Abstract: A suction and irrigation device for medical use comprises a valve body with an irrigation passage and a suction passage. At least one irrigation pipe and at least one suction pipe are connectable to the irrigation passage and the suction passage by connections at a proximal side of the valve body. A suction/irrigation tube is connectable to the irrigation passage and the suction passage at a distal side of the valve body by at least one further connection. A valve assembly is provided within the valve body, which in a first position opens the suction passage and closes the irrigation passage and in a second position closes the suction passage and opens the irrigation passage. The device comprises at least one push element which interacts with at least one movable element of the valve assembly, whereas the movable element is movable by mechanical force acted upon the push element such, that the push element activates the valve assembly from one position to the other position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of prokaryotic sphingosine-1-phosphate lyases (S1PL) and S1PLs that lack a transmembrane domain or of a nucleic acid encoding such an S1PL in the prevention or treatment of a disease condition associated with elevated levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and for which S1P elevation is directly or indirectly causative. In addition, the invention relates to a new product in the form of S1PL lacking the N-terminal loop domain.

Abstract: Provided are tricyclo-DNA (tc-DNA) AON and methods employing tc-DNA AON for modifying splicing events that occur during pre-mRNA processing. Tricyclo-DNA (tc-DNA) AON are described that may be used to facilitate exon skipping or to mask intronic silencer sequences and/or terminal stem-loop sequences during pre-mRNA processing and to target RNase-mediated destruction of processed mRNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for providing a gaseous substance for the analysis of chemical elements or compounds. In one embodiment, a starting substance is continuously admixed with a reagent substance. This results in a gaseous reaction product which contains information about the elements of the starting substance, and a residual substance. The gaseous reaction product is separated from the residual substance and removed for analysis. One application is the isotopic analysis of oxygen or hydrogen from water.

Abstract: SRIF peptide antagonists, which are selective for SSTR2 in contrast to the other cloned SRIF receptors and which bind with high affinity to the cloned human receptor SSTR2 but do not activate the receptor, have many useful functions. Because they do not bind with significant affinity to SSTR1, SSTR3, SSTR4 or SSTR5, their administration avoids potential undesirable side effects. Because they block the receptor function, they can be used therapeutically to block certain physiological effects which SSTR2 mediates. By incorporating radioiodine or the like in these SSTR2-selective SRIF antagonists, a labeled compound useful in drug-screening methods is provided. Alternatively, for use in therapy, highly radioactive moieties can be N-terminally coupled, complexed or chelated thereto.

Abstract: In invention relates to a method for the isolation of RNA from tissue pretreated with formaldehyde comprising homogenizing the sample in the presence of a guanidinium salt in aqueous solution, and incubating the sample in the presence of 0.1 M to 5 M ammonium salt at a temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. The heat treatment in the presence of an ammonium salts demodifies RNA by reverting methylol groups which are formed in the presence of formaldehyde between amino groups in nucleobases of RNA and in basic amino acids, and by cleavage of methylene bridges between amino groups in nucleobases of RNA and basic amino acids, to provide high RNA recoveries and consistently high quality of RNA for further reaction, e.g. for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or microarray analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new cardioplegic solution to arrest and protect the heart muscle during surgery. The cardioplegic solution according to the invention offers several significant advantages as compared to standard available solutions, and contains magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, potassium chloride, procaine hydrochloride and xylitol.

Abstract: A protein toxin named Aeromonas salmonicida exoenzyme T (AexT), which belongs to the family of ADP-ribosylating toxins, is disclosed as is a novel Calcium (or other cation concentration) dependent promoter of A. salmonicida. Also disclosed are diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic techniques, including the preparation of bacterin vaccines based on AexT for inducing immunity against A. salmonicida infections.

Abstract: Disclosed is a newly identified and characterized type III secretion system in Aeromonas salmonicida. The invention also encompasses the use of components of the novel secretion system in immunoprotection against A. salmonicida infection, as well as other diagnostic and therapeutic uses thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling administration of a respiratory depressant drug or mixture of drugs to a spontaneously breathing patient comprises a drug delivery unit (3), being adapted for indexed or continuous and automatic titration of a respiratory depressant drug or mixture of such drugs to said patient (1), and a control apparatus (6), receiving measurement signals (20) relative to the respiratory state of said patient (1) and issuing control signals (27) to said drug delivery unit (3), wherein the control apparatus is adapted to keep said measurement signals relative to the respiratory state to a predetermined condition and thereby providing adequate sedation and/or analgesia to said patient.

Abstract: The invention is about the preparation of novel highly transparent zeolite-doped polymer and zeolites monolayers. External coating of the zeolite crystals by covalently linked functionalized alkoxysilane derivatives allows for an efficient dispersion of the nano zeolite particles into an organic liquid monomer; the following co-polymerisation process leads to a hard, insoluble and transparent material containing said zeolites. Optical properties such as colour, refractive index, Abbe number or photochromism can be fine tuned by simply changing zeolite loading, while transparency is maintained.

Abstract: Disclosed is an array for modifying a wavefront of an optical beam (3) having a beam axis (15). Said array comprises an influencing unit (1) which can be introduced into the beam path of the optical beam (3) and a heat source (12) that generates a thermal pattern and acts upon the influencing unit (1). The influencing unit (1) is provided with at least one planar cooling plate (7a, 7b) that extends transversal to the optical axis (15) of the incident beam (3) and a fluid layer or gel layer (9) which has a two-dimensional expansion, is disposed on the cooling plate with a basal surface, and absorbs the heat of the heat source. The two-dimensional expansion is large enough to receive approximately the entire cross section of the beam.