Abstract: A method of culturing human or mammalian mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) or osteoblastic cells to form corresponding cell aggregates evenly distributed in the culturing medium having a reduced content of cells with fibroblast morphology comprises contacting MSC or OC with a water-soluble cellulose derivative over a period of from 1 day to one or two weeks. Also disclosed are a corresponding aggregates, a culture medium and a pharmaceutical composition, and uses of the aggregate, the culturing medium and the composition.

Abstract: A method measures the efficacy of a stain/tissue combination for histological tissue image data comprising a set of pixels. The measures of efficacy comprise a statistical measure of clustering performance of the different stain/tissue combinations in the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane, and a representative density of the stain/tissue combinations in the density maps. The method captures histological tissue image data using a light absorbent stain; transforms the histological tissue image data to optical density data; projects the optical density data to the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane; identifies at least one reference color using a statistical technique; inverts the reference color to form a color mixing matrix; derives a density map; derives a statistical measure for the clustering performance of the different stain/tissue combinations in the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane; and finds a representative density of the stain/tissue combinations in the density maps.

Abstract: A method measures the efficacy of a stain/tissue combination for histological tissue image data comprising a set of pixels. The measures of efficacy comprise a statistical measure of clustering performance of the different stain/tissue combinations in the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane, and a representative density of the stain/tissue combinations in the density maps. The method captures histological tissue image data using a light absorbent stain; transforms the histological tissue image data to optical density data; projects the optical density data to the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane; identifies at least one reference color using a statistical technique; inverts the reference color to form a color mixing matrix; derives a density map; derives a statistical measure for the clustering performance of the different stain/tissue combinations in the Maxwellian Chromaticity plane; and finds a representative density of the stain/tissue combinations in the density maps.

Abstract: The method according to the invention generates a color decomposition of histological tissue image data into density maps, where each density map corresponds to the portion of the original image data that contains one stain/tissue combination. After a microscope captures histological tissue image data from a tissue sample that has been stained with at least one stain, the said stain or stains being light absorbent, the method derives from the histological tissue image data a color mixing matrix with the columns of the matrix being color reference vectors. From this mixing matrix the method derives a density map, when the mixing matrix is well-conditioned, by applying a pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data, and when the mixing matrix is medially-conditioned, by applying a piece-wise pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data. The method according to the invention also generates stain/tissue combination efficacy measures.

Abstract: The method according to the invention generates a color decomposition of histological tissue image data into density maps, where each density map corresponds to the portion of the original image data that contains one stain/tissue combination. After a microscope captures histological tissue image data from a tissue sample that has been stained with at least one stain, the said stain or stains being light absorbent, the method derives from the histological tissue image data a color mixing matrix with the columns of the matrix being color reference vectors. From this mixing matrix the method derives a density map, when the mixing matrix is well-conditioned, by applying a pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data, and when the mixing matrix is medially-conditioned, by applying a piece-wise pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data. The method according to the invention also generates stain/tissue combination efficacy measures.

Abstract: A method of culturing human or mammalian mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) or osteoblastic cells to form corresponding cell aggregates evenly distributed in the culturing medium having a reduced content of cells with fibroblast morphology comprises contacting MSC or OC with a water-soluble cellulose derivative over a period of from 1 day to one or two weeks. Also disclosed are a corresponding aggregates, a culture medium and a pharmaceutical composition, and uses of the aggregate, the culturing medium and the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a biological material for examination with a microscope, comprising the steps of: applying a UV laser light absorbing transparent film onto a surface of the biological material for smoothing out irregularities on the surface of the biological material in order to improve visual characteristics of the biological material; and cutting the biological material together with the UV laser light absorbing transparent film with a UV laser, thereby preparing the biological material for examination.

Abstract: In order to separate a biological material (2), for example a section of tissue, for the preparation of an examination with a microscope, it is proposed that the biological material (2), which is present on an object carrier (1) is provided with a film (3) from a transparent preparation, mixture and/or pure substance dissolved in a solvent, which solidifies with progressive evaporation of the solvent or reacts so that through the film (3) from the preparation, mixture and/or pure substance irregularities in the surface of the biological material (2) are smoothed out and thus the visual examination characteristics of the compound are improved. In this way, the examination material can be better observed and examined with a microscope.

Abstract: Device for stimulating venous return in the lower limbs including a frame (1) intended to rest with a supporting surface against a foundation such as a floor, a bed head, a wall etc. The device is distinguished in that a foot plate (4) is arranged to tilt on frame (1) from an starting position that is angled in relation to the floor and thus frame (1) around an axle (5), that foot plate (4) is provided with a leaf spring (9) acting between a section (7) of the frame and the underside of foot plate (4), that the section (7) has such a form that when foot plate (4) pivots from the said starting position, leaf spring (9), by being progressively tensioned by the interaction of the frame with the section of the spring, increases the resistance against the pivoting of foot plate.

Abstract: A method for stimulating pancreatic cells to synthesize and/or excrete insulin comprises contacting insulin-producing cells, in particular their aqueous suspension, with a water-soluble cellulose derivative, in particular selected from alkylated, hydroxyalkylated, and alkylated-hydroxyalkylated cellulose or a mixture thereof. A medium for the culture of pancreatic &bgr;-cells contains an effective cell-stimulating amount of a cellulose derivative. It can be used to stimulate pancreatic &bgr;-cells to produce and/or excrete insulin. An apparatus for such stimulation comprises a container holding a solution of a cellulose derivative in an aqueous culture medium. Stimulation of pancreatic &bgr;-cells by a cellulose derivative is useful in the management of diabetes. Further preservative or therapeutic methods using the aqueous cellulose derivatives are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a standardized method of handling tissue samples taken with the aid of a sampling instrument and also to other biologic matter, such as, for example, intact portions of a living organism such as a heart, finger and the like. The invention is characterized in that the tissue sample or other biologic matter is transferred to an isosmotic, atoxic, pyrogen-free, semi-viscous, sterile, freezable liquid whose density corresponds approximately to the density of the sample or other biologic matter. The means for carrying out the method is characterized by a plastic tube filled with the aforesaid liquid.

Abstract: A blood vessel prosthesis, comprising a tubular element of an inert, completely or partially non-resorbable material having no adverse tissue reaction. To the inside of the tubular element an interior wall construction of a resorbable material with no adverse tissue reaction is fixed, which wall construction has such a structure that passage of blood cells, such as erythrocytes and thrombocytes, into or through the same is permitted.