Abstract: An apparatus and method for mineralising demineralised and hypo-mineralised biological material such as tooth or bone. The apparatus has a probe electrode for receiving a mineralisation agent and a counter electrode. It is also provided with a controller to control the electrical signal provided to the probe such that the extent of mineralisation of the biological material is controlled by modulating or changing the electrical signal provided by the probe based upon the measured output of the circuit formed from the probe, counter electrode and biological material. The electrical output provides a measure of the extent of mineralisation of the biological material which is compared with data from a reference technique which gives 3D structural information on an area of interest in the biological material.

Abstract: An element for transmitting pushing and pulling forces as well as torque having a straight configuration and a bent configuration comprises a base plate, an end plate and bellows arranged between the base plate and the end plate. The base plate and the end plate are connected with a connecting element. A plurality of washers is arranged within the bellows, the washers having a tronconical shape at at least one of their major surfaces. The washers are in mutual contact with each other or with the base plate or the end plate respectively, both in the straight configuration and the bent configuration, such that element can transmit pushing and pulling forces both in the straight configuration and the bent configuration without substantially changing the length of the element.

Abstract: A medical instrument including a shaft rotating device for rotating a shaft of a medical instrument about its longitudinal axis relative to a handle of the medical instrument The shaft rotating device includes a operating element arranged at a proximal portion of the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable relative to the handle against frictional forces. The shaft rotating device includes a coil spring arrangement having a surface and being in frictional contact with a surface of a counterpart for keeping the shaft and the handle rotationally stationary with respect to each other and movable against frictional forces. The operating element is operatively connected with the coil spring arrangement such that torque applied to the operating element decreases the frictional forces, while the shaft and coil spring arrangement are operatively connected such that torque applied to a distal portion of the shaft increases the frictional forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, with two jaw parts arranged at a distal end of a shaft, at least one of the jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other one of the jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping the object between the jaw parts and a release state for releasing the object, and with a latching mechanism comprising at least one latching element, wherein the latching element has an elongated opening to accommodate a connection pin for connecting the at least one pivotable jaw part with the latching element, and wherein the elongated opening is divided in several sections along its length by periodical projections, such that the at least one pivotable jaw part pivots stepwise from one stable latched position to another stable latched position.

Abstract: A medical instrument with a shank consisting of pivotable jaw parts and a handle, the two jaw parts of the tool are pivotable relative to each other independently via the handle and each of the pivotable jaw parts is actuated via a separate drive. One drive is designed as a grip part mounted pivotably on the handle and is connected to one jaw part via a first push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank, and the other drive is an adjusting wheel rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shank and is connected to the other jaw part of the tool via a second push/pull element mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the shank. The push/pull element is designed as a push/pull rod, and the push/pull element which is coupled to the adjusting wheel is designed as a push/pull tube coaxially surrounding the push/pull rod.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (10) comprises a pair of one dimensional transducer modules (1, 2) arranged in-line but set apart from each other in a shallow “V” shape. This allows a wide gap for needle manipulation while maintaining the ability to compute a good acoustic image of the target area (4) on an ultrasound scan engine. The ultrasound image is a product of data from both the arrays. The probe (10) is shaped to allow ergonomic manipulation possibilities for the anaesthetist. The probe can be held in a ‘pencil-type’ grip anywhere on the main body, or by pushing directly on the back of arrays. The shape of the probe, means it sits in position better on a patient than a conventional probe.

Abstract: The invention relates to morpholino-derivatives according to Formula (I) or stereoisomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvate thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, m and n are as defined in the specification. The compounds are antagonists, reverse agonists or agonists of G-protein coupled receptors, such as dopamine D4 and 5HT1a. The inventions also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods involving the compounds and compositions. The compounds and compositions of the invention may in particular be used in the treatment of diseases and disorders, such as neurological and neurodegenerative diseases; or as lead compounds for the design and selection of further therapeutic compounds.

Abstract: It is described the influence of the presence of mutations in the TP53 gene in association with high levels of the enzyme prolyl isomerase Pin1 and a molecular signature of 10 genes expression correlated with the expression of Pin1 and p53 for the prognosis of breast tumors. The association between overexpression of Pin1 and the presence of protein p53 mutants induces transcriptional programs which promote tumor aggressiveness and in a cohort of patients the overexpression of Pin1 has proved to influence the prognostic value of the presence of mutations in the gene TP53. The assessment of the expression of Pin1 in the presence of mutations of the gene TP53, together with the detection of the expression of the genes forming the molecular signature can therefore be used for the prognosis of breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention uses nonlinear crystal waveguides to provide a continuous wave and picoseconds pulse laser systems that gives an order-of-magnitude increase in IR-to-visible conversion efficiency and also provide an order-of-magnitude increase of wavelength range for SHG conversion. The idea of enabling such broad tunability is based on the utilization of a significant difference in the effective refractive indices of the high order and low order modes in the waveguide. This feature enables the difference between the effective refractive indices of the fundamental and second-harmonic waves to be shifted to match the period of poling in a very broad wavelength range.

Abstract: A holding device for medical purposes having a carrier arm on whose distal end a medical instrument can be secured and having at least one joint for positioning the carrier arm and/or the medical instrument, where the joint can be converted between the position that releases the joint and the position that blocks the joint. The holding device provides simple operation, reliable positionability, and can be cleaned well. The joint comprises at least two joint members that enter into active connection with one another by mutually engaging catching elements, where the catching elements are positioned essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier arm and are pre-tensed with respect to one another by a spring element, and that in the joint at least one hydraulically or pneumatically spreadable expansion element is positioned by which the joint can be converted into the position that releases the joint.

Abstract: A mode locked semiconductor disk laser with an output beam having an ultra-short pulse length which provides the incident beam to a non linear microscope. The wavelength of the beam is at or near the action cross section maximum absorption wavelength for creating two photon excited fluorescence of a fluorescent biological marker in a sample. Semiconductor disk lasers combine excellent beam quality and output power, stability while maintaining simplicity and easiness of operation. In addition, these types of lasers are ideally suited for mass production as they are built in wafer-scale technology enabling a high level of integration. Importantly this non expensive, turn-key, compact laser system could be used as a platform to develop portable non-linear bio-imaging devices for clinical studies, facilitating its wide-spread adoption in “real-life” applications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a series of genes and/or proteins associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and provides polynucleotides and/or polypeptides for use in the treatment and/or prevention of cSCC. The invention further relates to methods of diagnosing cSCC and provides oligonucleotides/polypeptide probes and primers.

Abstract: An immunoassay for screening a sample to detect the presence of ?-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is disclosed. Antibodies specific for BMAA are disclosed. Antibodies that bind to BMAA on immunoblots are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits to detect the presence of BMAA in a sample by contacting the sample with an antibody that binds to BMAA, and detecting the antibody bound to the sample, are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits for screening for the presence of BMAA in a subject by analyzing a tissue sample obtained from the subject to detect the present of BMAA in the tissue sample, where the presence of BMAA in the tissue sample indicates exposure of the subject to an environmental source of BMAA, are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits for detecting an environmental source of BMAA, by screening an environmental sample to detect the presence of BMAA in the sample, wherein the presence of a detectable amount of BMAA in the sample indicates the sample is an environmental source of BMAA, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the production of an influenza virus, and in particular influenza vaccine seeds, or a vaccine directed against an influenza virus, characterized in that the production is carried out in the presence of an inhibitor of the interaction between the Mdm2 protein and the p53 protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating cell senescence and cell proliferation using isoforms of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. The methods and compositions of the invention find use in inhibiting cancer cell growth or in generating populations of cells for tissue regeneration through the modulation of cell senescence and proliferation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agents capable of binding sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-9 (Siglec-9) and their use in the treatment of cell proliferation and differentiation disorders. Furthermore, the present invention provides associated pharmaceutical formulations and methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating cell senescence and cell proliferation using isoforms of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. The methods and compositions of the invention find use in inhibiting cancer cell growth or in generating populations of cells for tissue regeneration through the modulation of cell senescence and proliferation.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound according to formula (I): wherein: X is O or S; Y is O or S; each Ar and Ar? is independently a mono-, bi- or tricyclic aryl or heteroaryl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halo, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, alkoxy, alkylthio, cyano, thio, ester, acyl and amido; each R2 is independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, alkoxy, alkylthio, cyano and thio; and R1 is as defined herein, or a physiologically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, amide or other physiologically functional derivative thereof.

Abstract: An optical system (31) with an input optical source (33) for projecting an input beam along an optical axis and an optical element (37, 43) which creates a cone refracted beam (41) from the input beam (35) then reconstructs the input beam (49). The optical element may comprise a first cone refractive element (37) which creates a cone refracted beam and reconstructs the beam using a reconstructing optical element (43) to apply a phase shift to the cone refracted beam. The optical system may be used to form a laser or a gain medium for a laser.

Abstract: A process for the production of an aqueous dispersion of metal nano particles comprising palladium is provided. The process comprises the admixture of a water soluble organic polymer, a palladium salt and a first reducing agent to an aqueous liquid. The first reducing agent is a metal-containing polymer which has reducing properties or a saccharide which has reducing properties. The nano particles can include a second metal. The dispersions can be used as catalysts for electroless plating, to produce heterogeneous catalysts and in the production of anti-microbial devices and compositions.