Publications by authors named "H Kratz"

Protein hydrolysis under acidic conditions can improve the product quality, nutrient availability, and cost efficiency, particularly when neutral or alkaline enzymes are ineffective. Six fungal aspartic endopeptidases (FAPs) were recombinantly expressed as active enzymes in , with peak activity between 30-50 °C and pH 3.0-4.

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Citrate-coated electrostatically stabilized very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (VSOPs) have been successfully tested as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) contrast agents and are promising tools for molecular imaging of atherosclerosis. Their repeated use in the background of pre-existing hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis has not yet been studied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of multiple intravenous injections of VSOPs in atherosclerotic mice.

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Purpose: To study whether the absence of laminar shear stress (LSS) enables the uptake of very small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (VSOP) in endothelial cells by altering the composition, size, and barrier function of the endothelial surface layer (ESL).

Methods And Results: A quantitative particle exclusion assay with living human umbilical endothelial cells using spinning disc confocal microscopy revealed that the dimension of the ESL was reduced in cells cultivated in the absence of LSS. By combining gene expression analysis, flow cytometry, high pressure freezing/freeze substitution immuno-transmission electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we investigated changes in ESL composition.

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Background: Low-dose computed tomography (lung cancer screening) can reduce lung cancer-specific mortality by 20-24%. Based on this evidence, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening for asymptomatic high-risk individuals. Despite this recommendation, utilization is low (3-20%).

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Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an imaging modality to quantitatively determine the three-dimensional distribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) administered as a tracer into a biological system. Magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) is the zero-dimensional MPI counterpart without spatial coding but with much higher sensitivity. Generally, MPS is employed to qualitatively evaluate the MPI capability of tracer systems from the measured specific harmonic spectra.

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