Abstract: A method for the determination of the amount of cholesterol in a sample is provided. The method typically provides a breakdown of the HDL and LDL cholesterol contents of the sample.

Abstract: The LSAMP gene can be used for cardiovascular disease risk assessment, in particular Left Main Disease. The genetic risk attributable to LSAMP adds to known cardiovascular disease risk factors. Assessment of risk attributable to LSAMP permits early initiation of preventive and therapeutic strategies. Given the pronounced clinical risk associated with Left Main Disease, such risk assessment should significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for assessing risk of Coronary Vascular Disease (CVD). Specifically, it relates to utilizing risk assessment from both Lipoprotein Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in combination. In addition the invention relates to a method for assessing risk of Coronary Vascular Disease (CVD) in a patient with low to normal Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL) levels utilizing both LDL and Lipoprotein Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2). Moreover, the invention relates to the use of risk associated with Lp-PLA2, CRP and LDL in combination and specific ranges thereof to predict Coronary Vascular Disease.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry fluorescence biosensor strip for rapid detection of a target analyte present in bodily fluids. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip comprises a sample receptacle and a dry detection membrane. The sample receptacle receives a sample of one of the bodily fluids. The dry detection membrane detects presence of the target analyte in the received sample based on fluorescence induced on the dry detection membrane. Fluorescent signals are emitted from the dry detection membrane on induction of fluorescence. A fluorometer quantifies measurable properties of the target analyte based on the emitted fluorescent signals. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip may further comprise a filtration membrane for filtering the received sample. The filtered sample migrates from the filtration membrane to the dry detection membrane. The dry detection membrane may then detect presence of the target analyte in the filtered sample.

Abstract: Skin cholesterol is measured by applying an adhesive tape onto a selected area of the skin to adhere the tape to the selected skin area and stripping the tape off the selected skin area to obtain a sample representative of the outer stratum corneum layer of the skin, the sample adhering to the tape so as to have exposed skin constituents. The sample is assayed using a detector reagent that specifically binds to cholesterol and in addition has an indicator component that allows quantitation of the amount of cholesterol present in the exposed skin constituents.

Abstract: Surfactants are provided which are particularly useful for carrying out cholesterol and triglyceride tests. These surfactants have particularly fast kinetics of response to cholesterol, cholesterol ester and triglyceride in all lipoprotein particles. Cholesterol or triglyceride sensors incorporating these surfactants therefore provide reliable measurements of the total cholesterol or triglyceride content of a sample in a short period of time. Also provided are a sensor comprising the subject surfactants for determining the amount of triglyceride and/or cholesterol in a sample, as well as methods for determining the amount of cholesterol and/or triglyceride in a sample, the method comprising: contacting the sample with a surfactant as defined above; and determining the amount of cholesterol and/or triglyceride present.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively determining cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein in a sample, which comprises: reacting a sample with i) cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or ii) cholesterol esterase, an oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in an aqueous medium comprising i) nonionic surfactant, polyanion and albumin or ii) a combination of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkylamine or polyoxyethylene alkenylamine and a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether sulfate and an anionic bile acid derivative, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or a reduced coenzyme; and a reagent used therefor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for measuring biomedical data. The method of measuring biomedical data using a biochemical reaction includes determining reaction termination time at which the biochemical reaction has been stabilized based on an average variation in a predetermined period in an early stage of measurement, and obtaining a final measured value by adding a correction value to a value measured at the determined reaction termination time.

Abstract: Disclosed are a test strip and a method for measuring medical data. The test strip comprises an upper cover having one or more application holes; a lower support having one or more detected parts at positions corresponding to detecting units of the measuring apparatus; an erythrocyte and LDL cholesterol-filtering layer designed to filter off both of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol from an applied blood sample by agglutinating erythrocytes and precipitating LDL cholesterol; and a reaction layer in which the blood sample free of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol is reacted with an reagent, the filtering layer and the reaction layer being stacked between the lower support and the upper cover. Structured to filter off erythrocytes and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from a blood sample in a single layer, the test strip of the present invention can be made to be slim and allows a low volume of blood to be analyzed.

Abstract: An assay device and method for determining the concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-associated cholesterol (LDL-C) in a body-fluid sample, such as a blood sample is described.

Abstract: The current invention provides methods, as well as compositions useful in such methods, involving application of energy to a tissue of interest to generate a liquefied sample comprising tissue constituents so as to provide for rapid tissue sampling, as well as qualitative and/or quantitative detection of analytes that may be part of tissue constituents (e.g., several types of biomolecules, drugs, and microbes). Determination of tissue composition can be used in a variety of applications, including diagnosis or prognosis of local as well as systemic diseases, evaluating bioavailability of therapeutics in different tissues following drug administration, forensic detection of drugs-of-abuse, evaluating changes in the tissue microenvironment following exposure to a harmful agent, and various other applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a reagent and a kit for the simple and accurate measurement of HDL cholesterol. The method for the measurement of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein in a sample comprises reacting the sample with i) cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or ii) cholesterol esterase, oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in an aqueous medium comprising a specific nitrogen-containing surfactant having the structure of amine or ammonium salt and a polyanion, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme.

Abstract: Provided is a method of stabilizing a reagent that allows simultaneous quantification of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol by a single measurement by suppressing spontaneous color development thereof. A method of quantification for cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in a biological sample by the single measurement comprises a first step of treating lipoproteins other than low density lipoprotein in the biological sample to generate hydrogen peroxide and a second step of converting the hydrogen peroxide obtained in the first step to a quinone dye and treating remaining low density lipoprotein and converting generated hydrogen peroxide to the quinone dye, where the quinone dye is not formed in the first step, and cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol are quantified from the amount of the quinone dye formed in the second step by the single measurement.

Abstract: A method for fractional measurement of small, dense LDL, which is adaptable for an autoanalyzer, and a reagent for measurement, are provided, making it possible to conduct rapid and convenient analysis with good sensitivity without pretreatment of a specimen. The method for quantitatively determining small, dense LDL cholesterol in a sample comprises the steps of: (1) eliminating cholesterol in LDL other than small, dense LDL in the presence of phospholipase; and (2) quantitatively determining cholesterol in lipoproteins remaining in step (1) above.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a body fluid, which is able to selectively measure low density lipoprotein cholesterol in a body fluid without using a low density lipoprotein cholesterol-selective surfactant having a risk of generating endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The present invention provides a method for measuring low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a body fluid, which comprises measuring low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by using (a) cholesterol esterase and (b) cholesterol oxidase or cholesterol dehydrogenase, in the presence of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer and a polyglyceryl ether.

Abstract: A method for developing a culture medium using genome information and in silico analysis. In one implementation, the method involves developing a minimal synthetic medium, including the steps of constructing a metabolic network using genome information of prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell, selecting components of the minimal synthetic medium removing any one among external metabolites from the constructed metabolic network and conducting metabolic flux analysis using in silico simulation, and determining a final culture medium by actual culture.

Abstract: There are provided a method and reagent for measuring cholesterol in remnant-like lipoprotein in a sample with high sensitivity by more simple operation. The method for measuring cholesterol in remnant-like lipoprotein uses a cholesterol esterase, in which the activity ratio of a lipoprotein lipase to a cholesterol esterase (lipoprotein lipase activity/cholesterol esterase activity) is from 12 to 7000 in a method for measuring cholesterol in the lipoprotein by measuring hydrogen peroxide or a reduced coenzyme obtained by allowing the cholesterol esterase and a cholesterol oxidase or a cholesterol dehydrogenase to act on a test sample containing a lipoprotein.

Abstract: An assay device and method for measuring the concentration of HDL-associated cholesterol in a blood-fluid sample are described. The assay design prevents interference by reagents used for such removal with the HDL quantification reaction or with other assays carried out on the same sample. If desired, removal of non-HDL lipoproteins and assay of HDL cholesterol can be carried out without interruption of the assay.

Abstract: An assay device and method for measuring the concentration of LDL-associated cholesterol in a blood-fluid sample are described. The method employs selective precipitation of VLDL and chylomicrons and immunoseparation of HDL from a blood fluid sample. The assay device allows the assay to be performed entirely in a flow strip format.

Abstract: Methods are provided for more accurately assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in individuals or populations, using a bimodal analysis including cholesterol-based CVD risk markers together with serum triglyceride levels. Preferably, if a CVD marker (e.g., the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL) yields high risk factors, these factors may be adjusted in inverse relationship to serum triglyceride concentrations. If for example a given marker gives initial risk factors substantially equivalent to relative risk factors of about 1.5 or above, then the initial risk factors can be decreased if serum triglyceride levels are high, or increased if serum triglyceride levels are low. The invention is particularly useful for accurately assigning relative risk of mortality in the life insurance industry, and in decisions about prescribing or withholding medications.

Abstract: A method of measuring a lipid in a specific lipoprotein characterized by using a polycyclic polyoxyalkylene derivative at least in the step of determining the specificity of the measurement of the target lipid.

Abstract: An LDL cholesterol measurement method that can be used with a test piece is provided. The LDL cholesterol measurement method for measuring LDL cholesterol in a sample has (A) a step of providing a total-cholesterol measurement portion and a non-LDL cholesterol measurement portion for measuring non-LDL cholesterol, which is cholesterol other than LDL cholesterol; (B) a step of measuring the total cholesterol in the sample in the total-cholesterol measurement portion; (C) a step of measuring the non-LDL cholesterol in the sample in the non-LDL cholesterol measurement portion; and (D) a step of obtaining the LDL cholesterol level in the sample by subtracting the non-LDL cholesterol value measured in the step (C) from the total-cholesterol value measured in the step (B).

Abstract: The invention concerns a marker for low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS-related diseases and/or low-grade inflammation-related diseases such as cardiovasculardisease, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes. More particularly it concerns the measurement of the concentration of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in human biological fluids (sputum, cystic fluid, ascites, serum, plasma, urine) as a tool of diagnosing and/or prognosticating low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome and the risk of development of the related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: A method for surface modification of single walled carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a detergent solution, adding a plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes into the detergent solution, performing a first sonication to disperse the single walled carbon nanotubes in the detergent solution, and performing a second sonication after the first sonication to make detergent encased single walled carbon nanotubes. At least one of the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes is at least partially wrapped by one or more detergent molecules to make it a detergent encased single walled carbon nanotube. In one embodiment, the detergent comprises SDS, PSS or a combination of them.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to estimate the concentration of a target substance (e.g. Cholesterol or CRP) in the plasma component of awhole blood sample without the need to separate the red blood cells from the plasma prior to testing, thereby simplfying the design and construction of the test device. The invention achieves this by measuring the analyte under investigation in a time dependent (bio-/immuno-) chemical reaction and measuring separately, a marker substance (e.g haemoglobin) for the estimation of red blood cell volume, using a non-time-dependent alteration in physical property of the reaction mixture (in this instance, transmission) attributed to inherent filter effects on sample addition. These non-time- dependent changes are not part of the reaction chemistry, and are resolved from the time dependent alteration in physical property caused by the assay chemistry by continuous measurement and mathematical modelling.

Abstract: A method of measuring a lipid in a specific lipoprotein characterized by using a polycyclic polyoxyalkylene derivative at least in the step of determining the specificity of the measurement of the target lipid.

Abstract: A method for determination of sdLDL-C, which comprises the steps of: (i) in a reaction solution containing a surfactant which preferentially inhibits the reaction of sdLDL-C with enzymes for cholesterol measurement such as cholesterol ester hydrolase, allowing the enzymes for cholesterol measurement to act on a sample to eliminate HDL-C, VLDL-C, CM-C and LgLDL-C in the sample; (ii) adding a reagent which causes the reaction of sdLDL-C remaining in the reaction solution after the above step (i) to form hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme; and (iii) determining the sdLDL-C concentration in the sample from the measurement value in (ii) and a previously prepared calibration curve.

Abstract: A reagent for fractional measurement of small, dense LDLs without pretreatment of a specimen, which is adaptable to a rapid and convenient autoanalyzer, is provided. A method for quantitatively determining cholesterol in small, dense LDLs in a sample is further provided, comprising: a first step of eliminating lipoproteins other than small, dense LDLs in a sample in the presence of cholesterol esterase and 0.05 g/L to 1.0 g/L of a surfactant that acts on the lipoproteins other than small, dense LDLs; and a second step of quantitatively determining cholesterol in small, dense LDLs that remain after the first step.

Abstract: The invention provides for a novel cholesterol loaded insect cell membrane preparation having an increased cholesterol level as compared to physiological cholesterol levels of insect cell membranes or to control insect cell membrane preparations without cholesterol loading, wherein said cholesterol loaded membrane preparation comprises an ABC transporter protein having an increased substrate transport activity due to increased cholesterol level of the membrane. The invention also relates to reagent kits comprising the preparations of the invention. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing said preparations and methods for measuring any type of activity of the ABC transporters present in the cholesterol loaded membranes as well as studying or testing compounds and interaction of compounds and ABC transporters, in this assay systems. The invention also provides for a test system useful for testing whether ABC transporter proteins can be activated by cholesterol in an insect cell membrane.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent method for detection and diagnosis of familial combined hyperlipidemia. The present invention relates to a method for detection of familial combined hyperlipidemia, comprising measuring the concentration of small, dense LDL cholesterol in a sample collected from a subject.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods to diagnose and/or to make prognostic predictions and/or to monitor the efficacy of a therapy of a proliferative or conformational disease, or to establish the state of ageing in a subject. Kit for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a lipid profile for a sample solution. The method comprising: a first step of determining the concentration of total lipoprotein in a first aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis; a second step of determining the concentration of total cholesterol in a second aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis; and optionally a third step of determining the concentration of HDL in a third aliquot of the sample using fluorescence analysis. The concentrations of the total lipoprotein, and of total cholesterol may be used to calculate other lipid components and thereby generate a lipid profile. The invention also concerns apparatus that may be used to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a reagent and a kit for the simple and accurate measurement of HDL cholesterol. The method for the measurement of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein in a sample comprises reacting the sample with i) cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or ii) cholesterol esterase, oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in an aqueous medium comprising a specific nitrogen-containing surfactant having the structure of amine or ammonium salt and a polyanion, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel assays and the use of such assays for screening compounds that affect PGRMC1's and related homologue's ability to catalyze the incorporation of cholesterol into membranes. The present invention also provides for methods and compositions for affecting incorporation of cholesterol into membranes. The invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic kits for the methods described herein.

Abstract: As illustrated herein, cholesterol is oxidized when it is present in atherosclerotic plaques. This reaction generates cholesterol oxidation or ozonation products that can act as chemotactic attractants of macrophages, can promote differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and can increase expression of E-selectin and Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A). The present application is directed to methods of using such cholesterol ozonation products to identify agents that can be used to treat atherosclerosis and other inflammatory artery diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for testing a modified specimen such as a dried blood spot, plasma or serum specimen, for an analyte of interest, such as cholesterol. In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the level of the analyte of interest in the medium from which the modified specimen was obtained (e.g., from a patient's blood) is determined based on the level of an analyte in a solution formed from the modified specimen and on the level of at least one normalizing analyte. The analyte and normalizing analyte each may be an ion, compound, biochemical entity, or property of the specimen. Also disclosed are a fluid collector and a fluid collection device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for direct measurement of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. (HDL-C) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) based on a modified chemical precipitation method, wherein the improvements were made by optimizing the concentrations and proportions of potassium polyvinyl sulfate (PVSK) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether (PEGME) in such a way that the enzymatic reactions are completed before precipitation formations. The method in combination with certain surfactants showed good correlations with other direct methods used for HDL-C or LDL-C determinations.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating the expression, processing, post-translational modification, stability and/or activity of XBP-1 protein, or a protein in a signal transduction pathway involving XBP-1 to treat dyslipidemias and steatosis disorders. The present invention also pertains to methods for identifying compounds that modulate the expression, processing, post-translational modification, and/or activity of XBP-1 protein or a molecule in a signal transduction pathway involving XBP-1.

Abstract: A method of a pretreatment of a sample for quantitating cholesterol characterized by, before measuring cholesterol contained in specific lipoproteins, treating the sample containing lipoproteins with an enzyme, the substrate of which is free cholesterol, optionally together with a reaction accelerator; a method for quantitating cholesterol in specific lipoproteins by using the above method; and a kit for quantitating cholesterol in specific lipoproteins to be used in the above quantification method. By using this quantification method, cholesterol in a specific fraction can be conveniently, accurately and efficiently quantitated fundamentally without resort to polyanion, etc. Thus, this method is appropriately usable in various automatic analyzers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for a simple and accurate measurement of triglycerides in low-density lipoprotein in a sample comprising performing the following steps sequentially: (i) a step of generating free glycerol by allowing lipoprotein lipase to act on a sample, in an aqueous medium comprising the sample and a specific surfactant such as polyoxyethylene polyoxyalkylene polycyclic phenyl ether; (ii) a step of removing free glycerol present in the reaction solution of the above step (i); (iii) a step of generating free glycerol by allowing lipoprotein lipase to act on the reaction solution from which free glycerol has been removed in step (ii), in the presence of a specific surfactant such as polyoxyethylene polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether; and (iv) a step of measuring free glycerol generated in step (iii), and a kit used for the method.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide the method for determining cholesterol in lipoprotein and reagent for determining cholesterol comprising the polymer, and the present invention relates to the reagent for determining cholesterol in lipoproteins such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and the determination method using the polymer comprising the following units as constituents: (iv) a polyethylene glycol segment represented by the general formula [1]: —(CH2CH2O)k—??[1] (wherein, k represents an integer of 10 to 250); (v) a monomer unit represented by the general formula [2]: (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-C3 alkyl group); and (vi) a monomer unit represented by the general formula [3]: [wherein, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-C3 alkyl group, and R3 represents a group represented by the general formula [4]: —COOR4??[4] (wherein, R4 represents an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group or a bornyl g

Abstract: Compositions and methods for raising the level of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI in a patient and for lowering the levels of VLDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in a patient, including compositions and methods which effect the expression of a gene, LIPG, which encodes a lipase enzyme that is a member of the triacylglycerol lipase family or which effect the enzymatic activity of the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test piece having a simple structure, by which HDL cholesterol can be measured easily using a small amount of specimen. A reagent layer (2) is formed on a support (1), and an enzyme reagent for measuring cholesterol, a first surfactant that makes a solubility of a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) higher than that of a lipoprotein other than the HDL, and a second surfactant that inhibits the lipoprotein other than the HDL from dissolving are contained in the reagent layer (2).

Abstract: A method for the determination of the amount of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins in a high density lipoprotein containing sample, said method comprising reacting the sample with a surfactant which selectively reacts with high density lipoproteins in the sample, said surfactant being selected from sucrose esters, and maltosides, and measuring the amount of cholesterol in the high density lipoproteins, for example using an electrochemical technique.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a method for simultaneously measuring cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol as test components in blood. Specifically, a method is used for simultaneously measuring cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in a biological sample, whereby cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in a biological sample are quantified with a single measurement.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting, suppressing, or treating a tendinous or musculoskeletal soft tissue injury. The invention further provides a method of ameliorating symptoms associated with a tendinous or musculoskeletal soft tissue injury. Additionally, the invention provides methods for evaluating the risk of developing a tendinous or musculoskeletal soft tissue injury.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions, medicaments, methods for treating individuals with high plasma lipid levels, and methods for screening drug candidates useful in, for example, the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Specifically, the invention relates to the discovery that MTP inhibition leads to increased accumulation in cellular free-cholesterol and is useful in the development of compositions, medicaments, methods of treatment and drug screening methods to treat high plasma lipid levels.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the determination of insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, and non-insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus based on oral glucose tolerance test data and lipid ratios from reference populations that define an insulin resistance index. The invention also provides methods for using the IR index to determine disease progression and to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic agents. The invention further provides an IR calculator for automating diagnosis, producing and storing patient medical records.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and use of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in the Niemann Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) gene. In particular, methods are provided for correlating NPC1L1 polymorphisms and haplo-types with the responsiveness of a pharmaceutically active compound administered to a human subject. The invention further relates to a method for estimating the responsiveness of a pharmaceutically active compound administered to a human subject which method comprises determining at least one polymorphism in the NPC1L1 gene. The methods are based on determining polymorphisms in the NPC1L1 gene and correlating the responsiveness of a pharmaceutically active compound in the human by reference to one or more polymorphism in NPC1L1.