Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptidic inhibitors of signal transmission from G?s- to G?i-coupled receptor cascades and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific compounds which may be obtained from Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Edelweiss). A preferred compound is leoligin (=(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl(2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat]). Corresponding means and methods in respect of medical uses of the compounds are described. The present invention also provides a medical device comprising, containing or having been contacted with the compound. The compounds provided herein may particularly be used in the treatment of hyperplastic diseases, in particular intimal hyperplasia, e.g. stenosis, restenosis, atherosclerosis and the like. Also envisaged herein is the use of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as leukemia, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro or ex vivo method for increasing the immunoreactivity of cells of the immune system, which were contacted with an antigen, said method comprising the reduction or inhibition of the Cbl-b function of said cells, thereby increasing the immunoreactivity of the cells towards the antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific compounds which may be obtained from Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Edelweiss). A preferred compound is leoligin (=(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) -2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl(2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat]). Corresponding means and methods in respect of medical uses of the compounds are described. The present invention also provides a medical device comprising, containing or having been contacted with the compound. The compounds provided herein may particularly be used in the treatment of hyperplastic diseases, in particular intimal hyperplasia, e.g. stenosis, restenosis, atherosclerosis and the like. Also envisaged herein is the use of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as leukemia, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic energy store (1) having a first (2) and a second fluid reservoir (6), the fluid levels (4, 12) of which extend at different heights, which are connected to one another via a turbine/pump arrangement (10) and during the operation of which a fluid (3) can be moved to and fro between the first (2) and second fluid reservoir (6) and energy can be converted in the process. The second fluid reservoir (6) is configured as a container which is arranged within the fluid (3) in the first fluid reservoir (2), wherein, during operation, the fluid level (12) in the second fluid reservoir (6) can be changed in such a way that, as a result, the immersion depth (h1) of said second fluid reservoir (6) in the first fluid reservoir (2) can Ere changed owing to buoyancy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining or predicting the progression of chronic kidney disease in a subject suspected of having chronic kidney disease, comprising determining the expression levels of at least one marker selected from (a) FGF23; and (b) adiponectin in a biological sample. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or adiponectin for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the detection of chronic kidney disease or the progression of chronic kidney diseases in a subject suspected to suffer from said disease. In particular, the present invention also provides for use of FGF23 and/or of adiponectin as an in vitro marker for the presence, absence or progression of a chronic kidney disease and kits comprising a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or a specific detection molecule for adiponectin for use in the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monolithic organic copolymer prepared by copolymerization of at least one monomer of the group consisting of styrene, (C1-C3)alkylstyrene, (meth)acrylic acid and esters thereof with a crosslinker in the presence of a macroporogen and a microporogen, wherein a) the sum of said at least one monomer of the group and the crosslinker is 10-20%, preferably 10-15%, by volume of the reaction mixture, with the rest being essentially macroporogen and microporogen, and the degree of said copolymerization is at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 99%, or b) the sum of said at least one monomer of the group and the crosslinker is 30-50%, preferably 35-45%, by volume of the reaction mixture, with the rest being essentially macroporogen and microporogen, and the degree of said copolymerization is in the range of 25-60%, preferably 35-50%.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for trapping charged particles and performing controlled interactions between them are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and RF electrodes and dedicated DC electrodes arranged on the substrate and configured to generate a trapping potential for trapping the charged particles above the substrate. The RF and dedicated DC electrodes include at least one RF trapping electrode configured to be driven with an RF voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, an array of two or more trapping site DC electrodes configured to be biased with a DC voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, and a first individually drivable RF control electrode arranged between a first pair out of the two or more trapping site DC electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for stimulating angiogenesis and/or the treatment or prevention of hypovascularity and/or the prevention and/or treatment of an angiogenic disorder/disease, whereby the composition comprises specific compounds which may be obtained from Leontopodium alpinum Cass, (Edelweiss). These compounds relate to lignan compounds as shown in herein disclosed formula I. A preferred compound in this context is leologin—IUPAC name [(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetxahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl (2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat], and even more particularly 5-methoxy-leoligin (IUPAC name: [(25,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl-(2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat) and derivatives thereof. Corresponding means and methods in respect of medical uses of these compounds are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical device comprising a pair of specifically designed plate-like diffractive optical elements successively arranged in parallel to each other. Placing the two diffractive optical elements in succession and in parallel to each other in a certain distance, the combination optically corresponds to a single diffractive optical element, and it can perform similar tasks, acting as a lens, an axicon, a phase shifter, or a spiral phase plate. If one of the diffractive optical elements is rotated with respect to the other around a common central axis, the property of the optical device, like the focal length, the refractive power, helical index, or phase shift changes continuously.

Abstract: The present invention is provides isolated riboswitches with FRET pairs for distinguishing changes in regulatory interactions controlled by the expression platform domain found in riboswitches. The invention further provides methods of using those riboswitches to detect structural changes in the expression platform domain and to identify potential antibiotics.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for trapping charged particles and performing controlled interactions between them are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and RF electrodes and dedicated DC electrodes arranged on the substrate and configured to generate a trapping potential for trapping the charged particles above the substrate. The RF and dedicated DC electrodes include at least one RF trapping electrode configured to be driven with an RF voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, an array of two or more trapping site DC electrodes configured to be biased with a DC voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, and a first individually drivable RF control electrode arranged between a first pair out of the two or more trapping site DC electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination or prediction of the progression of chronic kidney disease in a subject suspected to suffer from chronic kidney disease, said method comprising the step of determining the expression levels of at least one marker selected from (a) FGF23; and (b) adiponectin in a biological sample. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or use of a specific detection molecule for adiponectin for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the detection of chronic kidney disease or the progression of chronic kidney diseases in a subject suspected to suffer from said disease. In particular, the present invention also provides for use of FGF23 and/or of adiponectin as an in vitro marker for the presence, absence or progression of a chronic kidney disease and kits comprising a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or a specific detection molecule for adiponectin for use in the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agonists/activators of NR2F6 (nuclear orphan receptor receptor Ear2) for the treatment of a disease related to an augmented immune response. Furthermore, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said agonists/activators of NR2F6 and a pharmaceutical carrier are comprised. In a further aspect, the present invention provides for a method for identifying immunosuppressants comprising contacting a cell, tissue or a non-human animal comprising a reporter construct for NR2F6-activation with a candidate molecule, measuring the reporter signal and selecting a candidate molecule which alters the reporter signal. Furthermore, the present invention relates to non-human transgenic animals or cells or tissue derived therefrom useful in the provided methods for identifying immunosuppressants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonists/inhibitors of NR2F6 (nuclear orphan receptor receptor Ear2) for the treatment of a disease related to an insufficient immune response. Furthermore, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said antagonists/inhibitors of NR2F6 and a pharmaceutical carrier are comprised. In a further aspect, the present invention provides for a method for identifying immunoaugmenting agents comprising contacting a cell, tissue or a non-human animal comprising a reporter construct for NR2F6-inhibition with a candidate molecule, measuring the reporter signal and selecting a candidate molecule which alters the reporter signal. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the non-human transgenic animals or cells or tissue derived therefrom useful in the provided methods for identifying immunoaugmenting agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmacologically or cosmetically acceptable salt or derivative thereof, wherein R1 to R5 are selected from the groups R1 representing -alkyl, -vinyl, —CHOH—CH2OH, R2 representing H, —OH, —Oalkyl, —Oacyl, saccharide groups, modified saccharide groups (e.g. malonylated), R3 representing —H, —OH, —Oalkyl, —Oacyl, modified —Oacyl (e.g. malonylated), saccharide groups, modified saccharide groups (e.g. malonylated), R4, R5 representing —COOH, -carbonic esters, for use as drug, antioxidant, food supplement. The invention also relates to a method for producing the compound of formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific compounds which may be obtained from Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Edelweiss). A preferred compound is leoligin (=(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl(2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat]). Corresponding means and methods in respect of medical uses of the compounds are described. The present invention also provides a medical device comprising, containing or having been contacted with the compound. The compounds provided herein may particularly be used in the treatment of hyperplastic diseases, in particular intimal hyperplasia, e.g. stenosis, restenosis, atherosclerosis and the like. Also envisaged herein is the use of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as leukemia, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a complement activating construct comprising a complement factor H-derived short consensus repeat (fH-derived SCR) and a binding molecule which specifically recognizes a pathogen. More specifically, the fH-derived SCR is selected from the group consisting of SCR7, SCR9, SCR13, SCR18-20 and artificial SCR (aSCR). Furthermore, an in vivo method for screening complement-based approaches for the treatment of the prevention, treatment or amelioration of an infection with a pathogen or a pathological condition associated with an infection with a pathogen is described.

Abstract: A method for treating ammonium-containing waste water by means of a single sludge system in an SBR reactor, in which ammonium is converted to nitrite in a first reaction and ammonium and nitrite are converted into molecular nitrogen in a second reaction carried out in parallel, the oxygen concentration in the reactor being maintained at a low level. A robust process is achieved by providing that the pH-value of the system is controlled and kept at a target value by controlled intermittent aeration, the fluctuation range of the pH-value amounting to 0.05 at most, and preferably 0.02 at most, and the O2-concentration being kept between 0.2 mg/l and 0.4 mg/l, and preferably between 0.25 mg/l and 0.35 mg/l.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro or ex vivo method for increasing the immunoreactivity of cells of the immune system, which were contacted with an antigen, said method comprising the reduction or inhibition of the Cbl-b function of said cells, thereby increasing the immunoreactivity of the cells towards the antigen.