Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for identifying respective cover slip regions of respective cover slips having respective tissue sections on a specimen slide, which has multiple optical identifiers. The apparatus includes a planar light source, an image acquisition unit, a holding unit for positioning the specimen slide between the planar light source and the image acquisition unit, a slit diaphragm, which has multiple opening slits, reversibly positionable between the planar light source and the specimen slide, and an illumination unit, which is designed to illuminate that surface of the specimen slide which faces toward the image acquisition unit. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a monitoring unit which is designed, on the basis of a completely illuminated transmitted light image, an incident light image, and a partially darkened transmitted light image, to assign respective tissue sections to respective optical identifiers.

Abstract: An incubation device has multiple rocking platforms with each platform pivotally mounted about a respective axis. Each rocking platform has a respective receiving device for mechanically reversibly receiving a respective incubation channel. The device also has a common drive unit for common respective rocking movements of each platform from a zero position through with a specific angle range as a result of movement of the drive unit. Each rocking platform is coupled to the drive unit via a respective coupling mechanism, and each coupling mechanism elastically and resiliently couples the respective rocking platform to the drive unit, such that when the rocking platform is restrained, despite continuation of the drive movement, the rocking platform remains motionless in a fixed position. After release of the restraint on the rocking platform, the rocking platform resumes the rocking movement with the specific angle range.

Abstract: A method is useful for automated detection of antibodies in a liquid biological sample with an antigen chip having antigen spots which are applied thereon and which have an identical, common dye. The antigen spots form respective antigen spot sets which form corresponding respective, regular antigen spot patterns. Furthermore, reference spots comprising the identical dye are applied, and form a reference spot set which forms a regular reference pattern. The reference pattern differs with respect to its regularity from the antigen spot patterns. Through a first image information item which represents a color of the reference spots and of the antigen spots due to the identical, first dye and through a second image information item which represents a potential color of the antigen spots due to a second dye after an incubation, binding of antibodies of the biological sample to respective antigen types is then determined by image processing.

Abstract: A method is useful for automated detection of antibodies in a liquid biological sample with an antigen chip having antigen spots which are applied thereon and which have an identical, common dye. The antigen spots form respective antigen spot sets which form corresponding respective, regular antigen spot patterns. Furthermore, reference spots comprising the identical dye are applied, and form a reference spot set which forms a regular reference pattern. The reference pattern differs with respect to its regularity from the antigen spot patterns. Through a first image information item which represents a color of the reference spots and of the antigen spots due to the identical, first dye and through a second image information item which represents a potential color of the antigen spots due to a second dye after an incubation, binding of antibodies of the biological sample to respective antigen types is then determined by image processing.

Abstract: A device for incubating an immunoblot strip (6) includes at least one incubation channel (1) into which an elongate immunoblot strip (6) having at least one biological material on its front is inserted with its back facing a channel base (2). An agitating means (7), with which the immunoblot strip (6) is agitatable around a transverse axis (8) of the strip (6) at least at times during incubation via an agitating device (7). For handling and/or grouping incubation channels (1) with immunoblot strips (6) inserted, a rack (3) for taking up at least two incubation channels (1) is provided. The rack (3) is in operative connection with said agitating means (7) via load transmission points.

Abstract: A cover (1), and a building wall (2) with the cover (1), has at least two plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) with top (front) and rear sides (4, 5) arranged at least largely in parallel to the building wall (2). The plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are fastened at spaced locations to the building wall (2) by one or more support element (8). Narrow side (end) surfaces (6) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged obliquely between the front and rear sides (4, 5) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b). The two plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged in relation to one another such that the oblique narrow side surfaces (6) of the plate-shaped structural components (3a, 3b) are arranged plane-parallel and overlap each other in an overlapping area (9) in at least some sections.

Abstract: An incubation device has multiple rocking platforms with each platform pivotally mounted about a respective axis. Each rocking platform has a respective receiving device for mechanically reversibly receiving a respective incubation channel. The device also has a common drive unit for common respective rocking movements of each platform from a zero position through with a specific angle range as a result of movement of the drive unit. Each rocking platform is coupled to the drive unit via a respective coupling mechanism, and each coupling mechanism elastically and resiliently couples the respective rocking platform to the drive unit, such that when the rocking platform is restrained, despite continuation of the drive movement, the rocking platform remains motionless in a fixed position. After release of the restraint on the rocking platform, the rocking platform resumes the rocking movement with the specific angle range.

Abstract: Polypeptides including Neurochondrin and autoantibodies binding to polypeptides including Neurochondrin are provided. Methods for diagnosing or treating diseases associated with neurological symptoms or cancers are also provided. The methods of diagnosis may include detecting an autoantibody binding to Neurochondrin in a sample from a patient. The methods of treatment may include administering a polypeptide comprising Neurochondrin to a patient.

Abstract: Polypeptides including Neurochondrin and autoantibodies binding to polypeptides including Neurochondrin are provided. Methods for diagnosing or treating diseases associated with neurological symptoms or cancers are also provided. The methods of diagnosis may include detecting an autoantibody binding to Neurochondrin in a sample from a patient. The methods of treatment may include administering a polypeptide comprising Neurochondrin to a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for microscopically examining patient samples consisting of tissue or cells. Especially in the field of tumor diagnostics, typically the entire samples or selected sections thereof that are of special interest for test purposes are initially placed on substrate supports one by one or in groups. Said substrate supports are then placed individually or together with other substrate supports in holders in which the substrate supports are subjected to a defined sequence of process steps. According to the invention, the substrate supports that contain the patient samples are securely immobilized in the holders and can be rearranged differently for subsequent laboratory operations. For each laboratory operation, the patient samples thus form combined groups that are processed in parallel or are moved jointly.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit as well as a method for the examination of a human patient sample for the presence of neuromyelitis optica-specific antibodies are described, for which an initial substrate is incubated with human sample material, and said incubated initial substrate is examined using indirect immunofluorescence, whether neuromyelitis optica-specific antibodies have at least partially bound to said initial substrate. The solution described is characterized in that as said initial substrate, an aquaporin-4-containing native substrate is used as well as that said neuromyelitis optica-specific antibodies at least partially bound to said aquaporin-4-containing initial substrate are reacted with components of the complement system and the reaction of said complement system is detected by way of an indicator reaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for performing immunological, histochemical and cytochemical, molecular biological, enzymological, clinical-chemical and other analyzes, wherein the device comprises an object holder having one or more elongate adhesive surfaces and a reagent holder having one or several channels. The object holder is detachably connectable to the reagent holder in such a manner that the elongate adhesive surfaces each face one of the channels and, when reaction partners bound to a solid phase are disposed on the elongate adhesive surfaces and reactants dissolved in liquid are present in the channels, the reaction partners and the reactants are in contact. Means are provided for preventing the liquid from passing from one channel into an adjacent channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to proteins derived from OspC from bacteria of the genus Borrelia, in particular a protein which comprises a first OspC polypeptide, wherein the first OspC polypeptide is linked to a second OspC polypeptide via a disulphide bridge. The disclosure also relates to a method for the detection of antibodies against OspC and a method for the detection of a Borrelia infection, wherein a protein according to the disclosure is employed, and also to a diagnostic kit and a vaccine against Borrelia.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to proteins derived from OspC from bacteria of the genus Borrelia, in particular a protein which comprises a first OspC polypeptide, wherein the first OspC polypeptide is linked to a second OspC polypeptide via a disulphide bridge. The disclosure also relates to a method for the detection of antibodies against OspC and a method for the detection of a Borrelia infection, wherein a protein according to the disclosure is employed, and also to a diagnostic kit and a vaccine against Borrelia.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to proteins derived from OspC from bacteria of the genus Borrelia, in particular a protein which comprises a first OspC polypeptide, wherein the first OspC polypeptide is linked to a second OspC polypeptide via a disulphide bridge. The disclosure also relates to a method for the detection of antibodies against OspC and a method for the detection of a Borrelia infection, wherein a protein according to the disclosure is employed, and also to a diagnostic kit and a vaccine against Borrelia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion peptides that are derived from components of gliadin, to a method and reagents for the serological diagnosis of celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis by way of assaying antibodies that are directed against modified gliadin. The invention also relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating said diseases by specific immunoabsorption of these antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion peptides that are derived from components of gliadin, to a method and reagents for the serological diagnosis of celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis by way of assaying antibodies that are directed against modified gliadin. The invention also relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating said diseases by specific immunoabsorption of these antibodies.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to proteins derived from OspC from bacteria of the genus Borrelia, in particular a protein which comprises a first OspC polypeptide, wherein the first OspC polypeptide is linked to a second OspC polypeptide via a disulphide bridge. The disclosure also relates to a method for the detection of antibodies against OspC and a method for the detection of a Borrelia infection, wherein a protein according to the disclosure is employed, and also to a diagnostic kit and a vaccine against Borrelia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for performing immunological, histochemical and cytochemical, molecular biological, enzymological, clinical-chemical and other analyses, wherein the device comprises an object holder having one or more elongate adhesive surfaces and a reagent holder having one or several channels. The object holder is detachably connectable to the reagent holder in such a manner that the elongate adhesive surfaces each face one of the channels and, when reaction partners bound to a solid phase are disposed on the elongate adhesive surfaces and reactants dissolved in liquid are present in the channels, the reaction partners and the reactants are in contact. Means are provided for preventing the liquid from passing from one channel into an adjacent channel.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for decreasing blood glucose levels in an animal or for preventing or delaying the onset of a rise in blood glucose levels in an animal, comprising administering to the animal an antisense inhibitor of PTP1B expression in combination with at least one glucose-lowering drug. The present invention is also directed to compositions and methods for improving insulin sensitivity in an animal or for preventing or delaying the onset of insulin resistance in an animal. Also provided are compositions and methods for treating or preventing a metabolic condition in an animal. The metabolic condition may be, e.g., diabetes or obesity.