Abstract: By moving a control member 3 in a predetermined direction from a wait position, a lancing device A can perform a lancet retreat operation for retreating a lancet holder 2 to locate a lancet 9 at a predetermined retreated position and a lancet detachment operation for pushing out the lancet 9 forward of the lancet holder 2 after a lancing operation. The control member 3 returns to the wait position by action of a return member 7 both after the lancet retreat operation and after the lancet detachment operation. Thus, the lancing device A is convenient.

Abstract: A measuring reagent is provided that allows the amounts of insoluble carrier particles and monoclonal antibodies to be reduced, can improve measurement sensitivity with respect to an object to be measured in a low concentration range, allows the object to be measured in a wide concentration range, and is used for a turbidimetric immunoassay applicable to a sample analysis tool such as a test piece. The measuring reagent includes two types of insoluble carrier particle groups that are different in mean particle size from each other. The insoluble carrier particles contained in one insoluble carrier particle group support polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies, and the insoluble carrier particles contained in the other insoluble carrier particle group support at least one of the polyclonal antibodies and the monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: An expression inhibitor of a nuclear transcription factor AP-1 is provided that is excellent in safety and activity of inhibiting the expression of a nuclear transcription factor AP-1. The AP-1 expression inhibitor of the present invention is characterized by containing chamaemeloside. In the present invention, chamaemeloside may be contained as an extract of Roman chamomile or German chamomile. The chamaemeloside is contained in Roman chamomile or German chamomile. Conventionally, Roman chamomile and German chamomile have been used as cosmetic materials and herb teas and have no problems in safety. An extract of Roman chamomile or German chamomile and chamaemeloside inhibit the expression of the AP-1 at the gene level (see FIG. 2) and therefore are excellent in an inhibition effect as compared to a conventional inhibitor that inhibits binding of the AP-1 to DNA.

Abstract: The present invention aims to enable highly reliable measurement of a glycated amine. A fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FAOD) is added to a sample to remove a non-analyte glycated amine that is present in the sample and different from an analyte glycated amine. Thereafter, a protease is added to the sample to degrade the analyte glycated amine, and the degradation product of the analyte glycated amine reacts with the FAOD that has already been added to the sample. By measuring this redox reaction, the amount of the analyte glycated amine can be measured.

Abstract: A sensor cartridge (1) for use on a sensor feeder includes a cartridge body (10) and a mold (12). The cartridge body (10) has an upper surface (10a), a front (10c) extending continuously from the upper surface, and a plurality of sensor-holding slots (11). Each of the sensor-holding slots (11) includes a first opening formed in the upper surface (10a) and a second opening formed in the front (10c) and communicating with the first opening. The mold (12) closes the first opening and second openings in case sensors are charged in the sensor-holding slots (11).

Abstract: In order to provide a high-performance electrophoresis chip and an electrophoresis unit having the same that can restrain the diffusion of sample at an intersection between the electrophoresis groove and the sample introduction groove and prevent decrease in contrast and decrease in resolution, an electrophoresis chip is provided with a sample introduction groove, an electrophoresis groove, and a through hole. The sample introduction groove, the electrophoresis groove, and the through hole are formed on different substrates. In the electrophoresis chip, by combining the substrates, the sample introduction groove and the electrophoresis groove are located in different planes.

Abstract: A method of detecting a mutation is provided that uses Tm analysis and is excellent in detection sensitivity. A detection probe consisting of a polynucleotide complementary to a sequence to be detected containing a detection site that has been mutated and an inhibitory polynucleotide complementary to a sequence not to be detected containing the detection site that is unmutated are added to a sample containing a DNA to be detected in which the detection site has been mutated and a DNA not to be detected in which the detection site is unmutated, so that the detection probe is hybridized with the DNA. Then while the hybridization product between the DNA and the detection probe is heated, a signal variation associated with an increase in temperature is measured, then the signal variation is analyzed, and thereby a Tm value is determined, based on which the presence of the mutation is determined.

Abstract: In a medical device that measures a condition of a living body, a first recess is formed on the exterior (first and second surfaces) of its casing. An anti-slip member is attached to the inside of the first recess. Moreover, another recess (second recess) is provided inside the first recess. The second recess is formed such that an end of the second recess protrudes from the anti-slip member when the anti-slip member is attached to the inside of the first recess. In the case where a display screen that displays a measurement result is provided on the casing, it is preferable that the first and second surfaces are adjacent to a third surface on which the display screen is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical instrument (1) which includes a flow path (5) for moving a sample containing blood cells, an introduction port (50) for introducing the sample into the flow path (5), a reagent portion (51) arranged in the flow path (5), and an electron detection medium (52) for obtaining information necessary for analyzing an analysis target component contained in the sample in relation with an amount of electrons transferred. The reagent portion (51) contains an electron mediator for supplying an electron taken from the analysis target component in the sample to the electron detection medium (52), and at least part of the reagent portion is positioned adjacent to the introduction port (50).

Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample includes the step of irradiating a reaction portion of a sample BL and a reagent 40 in a reaction cell 34A of an analysis tool with light to obtain data D0 indicating optical characteristics of this portion. The method further includes the steps of irradiating a cell 34B which is not provided with a regent 40 with light in a state in which the sample BL is supplied to the cell to obtain reference data D1 indicating optical characteristics of this portion, irradiating a basis portion 34C of the analysis tool, which is a portion having a substantially same sectional structure as a portion formed with the reference cell 34B except the absence of a cell, with light to obtain reference data D2 indicating optical characteristics of this portion, and obtaining data D3 indicating optical characteristics of the sample BL before reaction with the reagent 40 based on the reference data D1 and D2.

Abstract: An hole-opening implement (5 or 50) for opening a hole in a soft material (2) has a first cutting part and a second cutting part. To pierce the soft material with the hole-opening implement, both cutting parts advances in the soft material while cutting the soft material. Such a state that the second cutting part remains in the soft material just after the first cutting part is passed through the soft material is assured so that a cut piece as bound to the soft material can remain after the opening. The first cutting part is formed at a tip of the hole-opening implement, and the second cutting part is disposed behind the first cutting part in the piercing direction of the hole-opening implement. Otherwise, the hole-opening implement may be constructed so that the first cutting part is sharp in section and the second cutting part is formed so as to have lower cutting force than the first cutting part.

Abstract: A mutant glucose dehydrogenase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 including substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of one or more amino acid residues other than the amino acid residue at the 365th position and having glucose dehydrogenase activity, wherein an amino acid residue at a position corresponding to the 365th position of the amino acid sequence is replaced with another amino acid residue, and the mutant glucose dehydrogenase shows an improved substrate specificity to glucose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool (1) comprising a substrate (10), a capillary (13) which is formed on the substrate (10) and into which a sample liquid is to be loaded by movement of the sample liquid in the capillary. The substrate (10) is provided with a liquid movement preventer for preventing the sample liquid loaded into the capillary (13) from moving further. Preferably, the liquid movement preventer includes a stepped portion (18B) projecting from the substrate or a recess provided at the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cartridge 1 including a plurality of analyzing tools 3 arranged lined in a plane direction and a case 2 for accommodating the plurality of analyzing tools 3, and being configured to take out the analyzing tool 3 one at a time from the case 2. The plurality of analyzing tools 3 further include engagement means 32, 33 for restricting the analyzing tools 3 adjacent to each other in the plane direction and allowing removable attachment in a thickness direction D1, D2 of the analyzing tool 3. The present invention further relates to an analyzer and an analyzing system for analyzing a sample using the cartridge 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzyme electrode including: a carbon particle; a metal particle held on the carbon particle, the metal particle having a catalytic activity against a redox reaction; a redox enzyme. The enzyme electrode of the present invention further includes a high-resistance particle enhancing an electrical resistance, the high-resistance particle being chemically stable. The high-resistance particle contains an inorganic substance, for example. The inorganic substance is aluminum oxide or smectite, for example.

Abstract: A new method of diagnosing postprandial hyperglycemia by indirectly measuring a blood glucose level is provided. Postprandial hyperglycemia is detected by measuring a glycation degree of lysine in hemoglobin, in which a side chain amino group of lysine is glycated (GHbLys %). Measurement of GHbLys % can be performed by cleaving hemoglobin by protease, treating a glycated part of a lysine residue in the obtained cleavage product of hemoglobin with fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and measuring a redox reaction between the glycated part and fructosyl amino acid oxidase.

Abstract: A process for analyzing a sample by a capillary electrophoresis method is provided that allows the apparatus to be reduced in size, allows a high analytical precision to be obtained, and can be carried out easily. The analytical process of the present invention is a process for analyzing a sample by a capillary electrophoresis method. The analytical process includes preparing a capillary tube to be used for the capillary electrophoresis method, and performing electrophoretic separation of a complex of a sample and an anionic group-containing compound that are bonded together, in the capillary tube, wherein the capillary tube includes an anionic layer that is formed of the anionic group-containing compound and that is coated on the inner wall of the capillary tube, and the anionic layer is fixed to the inner wall of the capillary tube by a covalent bond.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for analyzing a sample by utilizing a double integration circuit (11) for outputting a physical quantity related to the output from an analytical tool (2). In the present invention, the time interval from when the output from the analytical tool (2) is inputted into the double integration circuit (11) till when the physical quantity is started to be outputted from the double integration circuit (11) differs before and after the supply of the sample to the analytical tool (2) is confirmed.

Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis analysis apparatus is provided for analyzing samples by a capillary electrophoresis method that allows for rapid and highly accurate separation and detection.