Abstract: This invention relates to predicting a subjects responsiveness to biologic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. The invention provides a method for predicting responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a biological sample; (b) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a first marker or an expression product thereof, wherein the first marker is at the HLA DRB1 gene; (c) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a second marker, or an expression product thereof, wherein the second marker is at the CD226 gene; (d) correlating the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the first marker and the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the second marker; to the predicted responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the subject.

Abstract: According to the invention there is a microfluidic chip 1 that includes at least two layers 10 forming a stack of layers, each layer of which has at least one flow channel 14; a bore 16 extending through the layers and communicating with a plurality of flow channels; and a valve 20, which has a shaft 22 with a recess 222 in a side of the shaft for fluid to flow through. The shaft is rotatably mounted in the bore, and has a first position in which the recess is aligned with each of at least two flow channels of the plurality of flow channels thereby providing a flow path between the at least two flow channels, and a second position in which the recess is unaligned with at least one of the at least two flow channels the flow path between the at least two flow channels thereby being closed.

Abstract: According to the invention there is a microfluidic chip 1 that includes at least two layers 10 forming a stack of layers, each layer of which has at least one flow channel 14; a bore 16 extending through the layers and communicating with a plurality of flow channels; and a valve 20, which has a shaft 22 with a recess 222 in a side of the shaft for fluid to flow through. The shaft is rotatably mounted in the bore, and has a first position in which the recess is aligned with each of at least two flow channels of the plurality of flow channels thereby providing a flow path between said at least two flow channels, and a second position in which the recess is unaligned with at least one of said at least two flow channels the flow path between said at least two flow channels thereby being closed.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which can be used to predict the risk of cancer in particular breast cancer. The method comprises: (i) isolating a biological sample from a patient; and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene comprised within the sequence identified herein as SEQ ID No. (1), wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.