Abstract: Many disorders, especially neoplastic disorders such as cancer and polyps, are the result of hyperproliferative cells or of cells with differentiation disorders. For these types of disorders early detection is of pivotal importance and reliable and early biomarkers for common types of cancers such as colorectal cancer are still not available. Thus, there is a need for new markers and for methods for identifying such new markers. The invention provides peptides and proteins and derivatives thereof originating from transcription intermediary factor-1 beta (TIF1-beta) suitable as markers and therapeutics for disorders such as cancer, preferably colorectal cancerous or related disorders such as polyps.

Abstract: Novel peptides and the quantitative methods for the determination thereof in body fluids of patients suffering from progredient chronic dementia, in relation to the concentration of said peptides in a control group. The peptides derive from a protein precursor having the corresponding gene, are processed in a specific manner, and are optionally post-translationally modified, especially phosphorylised. An increase in the concentrations of these peptides or the corresponding non-processed protein indicates progredient chronic dementia. Also disclosed are methods of using the peptides for controlling the course of progredient chronic dementia and for the prognosis of progredient chronic dementia, especially for complementing or replacing mini-mental scores, and for developing therapeutic agents to combat progredient chronic dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to defined peptides and the quantitative determination thereof in body fluids of patients suffering from progredient chronic dementia, in relation to the concentration of said peptides in a control group. The inventive peptides come from a protein precursor having the corresponding gene, are processed in a specific manner, and are optionally post-translationally modified, especially phosphorylized. An increase in the concentrations of these peptides or the corresponding non-processed protein indicates progredient chronic dementia. Progredient chronic dementia is detected by identifying the peptides and/or the protein individually or in combinations. The invention also relates to the use of said peptides for controlling the course of progredient chronic dementia and for the prognosis of progredient chronic dementia, especially for complementing or replacing mini-mental scores, and for developing therapeutic agents to combat progredient chronic dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting progressive, chronic dementia diseases or a predisposition to such diseases or method for the prognosis of such diseases. For this purpose, the concentration of particular peptides in body fluids or other samples from the patient is measured in a method which can be carried out in a laboratory. The invention further relates to peptides which have been found for determining the presence and/or the grade of the progressive, chronic dementia disease. The invention additionally relates to detection reagents such as antibodies and nucleic acids and the like for detecting said peptides or the corresponding nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to defined peptide and the quantiative determination thereof in the body fluids of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease in relation to the concentration thereof in a control group of patients who are healthy or suffer from other dementia diseases. The inventive peptides originate from the C3f fragment of the complement C3 protein precursor with the corresponding gene and are modified in a specific manner and are optionally post-translationally or chemically modified. Modification occurs with respect to the concentrations of said peptides in patients in a manner which is specific to each peptide when compared with the control group. A specific and significant modification of the concentration of said peptides in relation to the concentration thereof in healthy persons indicates a differentiation with respect to Alzheimer's disease. The invention also relates to the use of said peptides as a progress control, and in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to defined peptides and the quantitative determination thereof in body fluids of patients suffering from progredient chronic dementia, in relation to the concentration of said peptides in a control group. The inventive peptides come from a protein precursor having the corresponding gene, are processed in a specific manner, and are optionally post-translationally modified, especially phosphorylised. An increase in the concentrations of these peptides or the corresponding non-processed protein indicates progredient chronic dementia. Progredient chronic dementia is detected by identifying the peptides and/or the protein individually or in combinations. The invention also relates to the use of said peptides for controlling the course of progredient chronic dementia and for the prognosis of progredient chronic dementia, especially for complementing or replacing mini-mental scores, and for developing therapeutic agents to combat progredient chronic dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to defined peptides and the quantitative determination thereof in biological samples from patient's suffering from Alzheimer's disease, in relation to the concentration thereof in a control group. The invention also relates to the use of said peptides for therapeutic purposes. The inventive peptides come from a protein precursor having the corresponding gene and are processed in a specific manner and modified in a post-translation manner. Changes in the concentrations of said peptides indicate Alzheimer's disease, and the direction of the change in concentration is specifie for each peptide. Alzheimer's disease is detected by identifying the peptides individually or in groups. The invention can also be used to control the course of Alzheimer's disease, for the prognosis thereof and for the development of therapeutic agents to combat the same.

Abstract: Contact pieces for vacuum switchgear comprise a base material with additives of readily vaporizable components to produce a sufficiently conductive switch path in the switch-off process. It is desired to have an overvoltage-free switching behavior for the vacuum switchgear. The additives are concentrated in a firmly adhering layer covering the switching surface of the contact piece. Such contact pieces can be manufactured in particular by direct fusing of the additives on the surface, by fusing a separate application of the additives in powder form, in granulate form or as foil or sheet on the surface or alternatively by vapor deposition of the additives on the switching surface of a given contact piece body of base material. Advantageously, a CuCr contact piece base material is used.

Abstract: An electrical contact construction for air-blast circuit breakers, particularly blast-piston or "puffer" type breakers, which subject the arc drawn during current interruption to a compressed-gas blast as well as a magnetic-force effect which lengthens the arc. To increase the interruption capacity of such breakers, and particularly to improve arc behavior during the interruption process, a tubular member is disposed within the interior spaces of the tubular contacts of such a breaker in which the switching gases flow. The member has an inner surface which is conically shaped and is matched to the contour of openings provided in nozzle members disposed at the end faces of the tubular contacts to improve gas flow.