Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for observing skin tissue in which x-ray microCT is used. Adnexae such as sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles can be identified in skin tissue by using acetone as a pretreatment solution and staining using an iodine-containing solution as a staining solution.

Abstract: A cryopreservation composition generally includes a cryoprotective agent and a laser absorber that includes a metal. Rewarming a cryopreserved specimen that includes the cryopreservation composition includes subjecting the cryopreserved specimen to a laser pulse effective to heat the laser absorber sufficiently to thaw the cryopreserved biospecimen.

Abstract: An assay system is provided of great sensitivity and portability where the presence of a specific target in a sample, as well as its concentration (qualification and quantification) is detected by reason of a potential or voltage in a closed circuit, built up a redox reaction. The reaction is produced by binding a capture moiety to an enzymatic redox reaction partner, allowing the capture moiety to bind to any target in the sample, and washing any such bound target. The bound target, if not immobilized, may be immobilized through use of a second capture moiety. Substrate for the enzyme is then added. The action of the enzyme upon the substrate frees electrons, creating a potential across an anode and cathode which may be separated by a membrane.

Abstract: Methods, devices and kit for analyzing a sample comprising 1,5-anhydroglucitol and a first analyte via one or more chemiluminescent reactions. Certain embodiments include measuring a first light response resulting from a first chemiluminescent reaction and measuring a second light response resulting from a second chemiluminescent reaction. Certain embodiments also include comparing the first light response to the second light response to determine a ratio of 1,5-anhydroglucitol and the first analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing salts of butyric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, derivatives of said organic acids and mixtures thereof, comprising at least the successive steps of: •i) culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source, during a sufficient time to obtain a fermentation broth comprising the organic acid(s); •ii) pre-treating said fermentation broth comprising at least clarification of the fermentation broth and separation of organic acids by evaporation of the clarified fermentation broth and then condensation of the volatile fraction containing organic acids (CVAF); •v) adding inorganic bases to said CVAF •vii) eliminating the remaining water of the CVAF, and recovering the organic acid salts.

Abstract: A process for making and using a tissue preservation gel. The gel is comprised of water, reticulated acrylic acid, water soluble short-chain paraben, isopropyl alcohol and either triethanolamine or propylene glycol. To use the gel, a tissue to be preserved is first bathed in hypertonic sodium chloride, then soaked in a wash in multiple increasing concentrations of isopropyl alcohol and then preserved indefinitely in the tissue preservation gel.

Abstract: A method including placing a biological sample taken from a body into a chamber; adding a composition including an acetal solvent to the chamber; and fixating the biological sample. A method including placing a tissue from a body into a chamber; and contacting the tissue with a composition including an acetal solvent as a fixating process.

Abstract: The method of growing a biopolymer material employs incubation of a growth media comprised of nutritive substrate and a fungus in containers that are placed in a closed incubation chamber with air flows passed over each container while the chamber is maintained with a predetermined environment of humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The air flows may be directed parallel or perpendicularly to the surfaces of the growth media.

Abstract: Reagents, assays, methods, kits, devices, and systems for rapid measurement of cholesterol and cholesterol sub-fractions from a blood sample are provided. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol can be measured in a single assay using kinetic measurements, under conditions in which cholesterol sub-species are converted to a detectable product at distinct rates. The detectable product is measured at different times after assay initiation. A lipase, cholesterol esterase, cholesterol oxidase and a peroxidase may be used together to produce colored product in amounts directly proportional to the quantity of cholesterol converted. Methods for calculating very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by further including triglyceride measurements are disclosed.

Abstract: The stiffness and topology of ultra-small circular DNAs and DNA/peptide hybrids are exploited to create a transducer of enzyme activity with low error rates. The modularity and flexibility of the concept are illustrated by demonstrating various transducers that respond to either specific restriction endonucleases or to specific proteases. In all cases the output is a DNA oligo signal that, as we show, can readily be converted directly to an optical readout, or can serve as input for further processing, for example, using DNA logic or amplification. By exploiting the DNA hairpin (or stem-loop) structure and the phenomenon of strand displacement, an enzyme signal is converted into a DNA signal, in the manner of a transducer. This is valuable because a DNA signal can be readily amplified, combined, and processed as information.

Abstract: Drug formulations and methods for removing, reducing, or preventing the formation of fatty acid particles in drug formulations are provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, systems, and compositions for Lp-PLA2 detection assays that employ amounts of detergent to liberate all or nearly all of the Lp-PLA2 molecules from associated lipoprotein particles. In this regard, the true Lp-PLA2 concentration can be detected in a sample, which correlates better with known Lp-PLA2 activity assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of sulfocysteine and derivatives thereof as cell culture additives to reduce the trisulfide levels in proteins produced in cell culture.

Abstract: Provided is a method of avoiding the influence of a coexisting substance in the measurement of HbA1c % for a whole blood sample by an enzymatic method. Specifically, provided is a method of measuring a ratio of a hemoglobin A1c concentration to a hemoglobin concentration in a sample by an enzymatic method, the method including: a first step of optically measuring the hemoglobin concentration; and a second step of optically measuring the hemoglobin A1c concentration, wherein, when HbA1c % is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin A1c concentration measured in the second step by the hemoglobin concentration measured in the first step, the hemoglobin concentration serving as a denominator, which is measured at a first wavelength, is corrected using a result measured at a second wavelength.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell binding composition comprising a shear thinning gel wherein the shear thinning gel having attached to it one or more cell selective binding agents, or the shear thinning gel having dispersed therein a plurality of gel beads, the gel beads having attached to them one or more cell selective binding agents. Methods of enriching cells using the compositions and using the cells to treat injury or disease are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the culture of photosynthetic organisms selected from among microalgae, cyanobacteria and macroalgae using a continuous or discontinuous CO2 source.

Abstract: There is described a method of promoting the attachment, survival and/or proliferation of a stem cell in culture, the method comprising culturing a stem cell on a positively-charged support surface. There are also provided a cell composition prepared according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising as antifungal active agent at least 2·1010 CFU of lactobacilli and a sulfur-containing compound for use as a first-line treatment for candidiasis and for recurrent candidiasis.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for evaluating a tissue sample that has been removed from a subject. Movement of fluid through the tissue sample is monitored by measuring time of flight of acoustic waves passed through the tissue sample. A system for performing the method can include a transmitter that outputs the energy and a receiver configured to detect the transmitted energy. Using the disclosed method and system, an optimized protocol for ensuring adequate distribution of the fluid throughout a variety of tissue types and/or sample sizes can be developed and utilized.

Abstract: A Disease Severity Index (DSI) is provided for assessment of chronic liver disease in a patient using non-invasive liver function test results. A DSI was derived from non-invasive liver function test results based on hepatic blood flow. The DSI is used in methods for prediction of clinical outcomes, prediction of response to antiviral treatment, and assessment of progression of chronic liver diseases. Non-invasive methods to diagnose three distinct categories of patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) are provided. The methods can be used to diagnose PSC patients as Slow Progressors, Moderate Progressors and Rapid Progressors.