Abstract: A measuring instrument (A) includes a pressurizing mechanism (C) which moves at least one of a measuring article (S) and a connector (4) toward and into pressing contact with the other when the measuring article (S) is placed at a measuring position (P). This prevents improper connection between the connector (4) and the measuring article (S) caused by wear of the connector (4).

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 continously 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: A lancing unit (U1) includes a lancing member (2), an auxiliary part (3) which is separate from the lancing member (2), and a supporter (1) detachably supporting these. Preferably, the lancing unit (U1) further includes a cap (29) which covers a needle (21) of the lancing member (2) and which is detachable from the lancing member (2), and the lancing member (2) is supported by the supporter (1) via the cap (29).

Abstract: This invention relates to an analyzing device (1) including a rotating body (3) for transferring a target analyte (4). The analyzing device (1) holds the target analyte (4) on the rotating body (3) by applying a negative pressure on the target analyte (4) and transfers the target analyte (4) in circumferential directions D3-D4 of the rotating body (3). The rotating body (3) preferably includes an inner space (30) for negative pressure application, a plurality of positioning portions (31A) for placing and holding the target analyte (4), and through-holes (33) for connecting the positioning portions (31A) and the inner space (30). The inner space (30) is preferably provided with a blockade member (7) for selectively opening or closing the through-holes (33) by rotating relative to the rotating body (3).

Abstract: An analytical instrument (A1) includes a capillary (3) defined by causing a first member (1) to cover an opening of a groove (30) of a second member (2). For bonding the first member (1) and the second member (2), the first member (1) is provided with a bonding surface (11a) made of self-adherent elastomer. Therefore, the bonding of the first member (1) and the second member (2) is facilitated, whereby sealing performance around the groove (30) is improved.

Abstract: In a method for concentration and purification method of nucleic acids using electrophoresis, cationic surfactant is added to a sample containing nucleic acids so as to adjust electric charge of impurities in the sample, and then the sample is placed in an electric field for electrophoresis so as to concentrate and purify the nucleic acids. The cationic surfactant (4) adsorbs substance other than the nucleic acids so as to adjust the electric charge of the substance, and the adsorption of the cationic surfactant (4) is adjusted by the added amount of nonionic surfactant (3). Alternatively, nucleic acids are contacted with a separation medium (108), and then recovered by a filter (104) whose cross sectional area is decreased in the direction of migration.

Abstract: A liquid exchange method of exchanging liquids present around a magnetic substance is provided. The method serves to prevent a remaining liquid from transferring to a next step and a loss of the magnetic substance. Even when the liquid exchange method is applied to an autoanalyzer, the device structure will not be complicated. A vessel 11 in which a liquid 16 containing a magnetic substance 15, a vessel 12 containing a liquid 17, a magnetic substance move-mediating member 13 and also a magnet 18 are prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of pretreating a sample containing a glycated amine as an analyte, thereby enabling highly reliable measurement of a glycated amine. A glycated amino acid in the sample is degraded by causing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FAOD) to act thereon, and thereafter, a FAOD further is caused to act on the glycated amine as the analyte in the sample to cause a redox reaction. The amount of the glycated amine is determined by measuring the redox reaction. The substrate specificity of the FAOD caused to act on the glycated amino acid may be either the same as or different from that of the FAOD caused to act on the glycated amine. When using the same FAOD, a FAOD is caused to act on the glycated amino acid to degrade it, and thereafter, the sample is treated with a protease to inactivate the FAOD and also to degrade the glycated amine.

Abstract: A data communication adaptor (1) is provided which includes a data inputting unit (63) for inputting data from a first information processing apparatus (3) and a data outputting unit (64) for outputting data to a second information processing apparatus (2). The data communication adaptor (1) further includes a memory (65) for storing a plurality of pieces of data which are inputted through the data inputting unit (63) and include data-discriminating information for discrimination from other data pieces, while also including a selector (66) for selecting the data satisfying a particular condition from the plurality of data pieces stored in the memory (65) based on the data-discriminating information, a data processor (68) for processing the data selected by the selector (66) and a controller (69) for controlling outputting of data through the data outputting unit (64).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique of amplifying a target nucleic acid contained in a specimen, and further to a technique of analyzing the amplified target nucleic acid. The present invention provides a nucleic acid amplification container (3) to be installed in a nucleic acid analyzing apparatus when used. The nucleic acid amplification container (3) includes a container main body (30) having a reactor (34) where the target nucleic acid and an amplification reagent are to be reacted, and a cap (31) that covers an upper opening of the reactor (34) and can be completely separated from the container main body (30).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing erroneous color development of N-(carboxymethylaminocarbonyl)-4,4?-bis(dimethylamino)diphenylamine sodium salt as a color-developing substrate, thereby improving the accuracy of measurement utilizing a redox reaction performed using the color-developing substrate. A tetrazolium compound, sodium azide, and the color-developing substrate are added to a sample in the presence of a surfactant. A reaction between an oxidizing substance derived from an analyte in the sample and the color-developing substrate, which develops color by oxidation, is caused by an oxidoreductase. By measuring the color developed, the amount of the oxidizing substance is determined. The concentrations of the respective components in the reaction solution are set so that 0.01 to 1 mmol of the tetrazolium compound, 0.003 to 0.5 mmol of the sodium azide, and 0.006 to 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique of measuring a protein based on a degree of coloring in a liquid sample mixed with a protein measurement indicator. In the present invention, information reflecting creatinine concentration in the liquid sample is obtained, and then an influence quantity caused by creatinine to the protein concentration measurement is eliminated based on the information.

Abstract: A mutant glucose dehydrogenase having an improved substrate specificity to glucose, which is a protein comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 or an amino acid sequence having the substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of one or more amino acid residues excluding amino acid 365 in the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 and having a glucose dehydrogenase activity, the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid 365 being substituted by other amino acid residue.

Abstract: A method for stirring a liquid, comprising: sucking a part of a liquid from a liquid-containing container which opens at the top thereof; and discharging the sucked liquid into the container at a discharging position which is horizontally different from a sucking position where the liquid has been sucked, and an apparatus used for the method.

Abstract: In an immunoassay method using an antibody sensitization particle, the occurrence of false positives is prevented. The immunoassay method of the present invention is an immunoassay method for detecting or quantifying an analyte in a specimen by mixing an antibody sensitization particle obtained by sensitizing a particle with an antibody that reacts with the analyte in the specimen with the specimen, and measuring agglutination of the antibody sensitization particle by an antigen-antibody reaction, and the method includes pre-treating the specimen by using a cation exchange material in advance of the mixing step. As the cation exchange material, for example, a cation exchange material having a sulfonic acid group or a carboxyl group as a functional group can be used, and a form thereof is not limited particularly, and may be, for example, a cation exchange filter, a cation exchange column or the like.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a management device connected to a measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. The reagents that are used are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer of a medical institution that determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low. The host computer also corrects the measured data in view of a calibration curve and degradation based on the production lot information of the reagents stored in correspondence with the reagent ID number.

Abstract: The present invention relates to technology for constructing a reaction system including a test target, an oxidation-reduction enzyme, and an electron mediator, and measuring the concentration of the test target by an electrochemical process. A Ru compound is used as the electron mediator. The present invention provides a concentration test instrument including a substrate, first and second electrodes formed on the substrate, and a reagent layer formed as a solid. The reagent layer contains an oxidation-reduction enzyme and a Ru compound, and is constituted so as to dissolve and construct a liquid phase reaction system when a sample liquid is supplied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for measuring a glucose level by utilizing a reaction system containing an enzyme and an electron carrier. In accordance with the glucose level measuring method of the present invention, glucose dehydrogenase with cytochrome C attached thereto or glucose dehydrogenase derived from a microorganism belonging to a burkholderia genus is used as the enzyme, and a Ru compound is used as the electron carrier. The present invention further provides a glucose sensor in which glucose dehydrogenase with cytochrome C attached thereto or glucose dehydrogenase derived from derived from a microorganism belonging to a burkholderia genus is used as the enzyme, and a Ru compound is used as the electron carrier.

Abstract: A metabolic syndrome relieving agent that is free from a problem of side effects and can be taken for a long term is provided. Bergamottin is used as an agent for relieving a metabolic syndrome. Since bergamottin has functions of activating PPAR? and PPAR?, promoting the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes and inhibiting the generation of VLDLs in hepatic cells, it is possible to prevent or treat diseases such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity, visceral fat obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis and the like and thus prevent or treat the metabolic syndrome. Also, as understood from the fact that citrus fruits such as a grapefruit or the like containing bergamottin have been eaten for many years, they have no problems in terms of safety and have a low calorie content, and therefore, they can be taken for a long term.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-soluble dry food containing a plant-origin material as the main ingredient and water-soluble dietary fiber as an additive. The water-soluble dry food of the present invention further contains edible oil. Preferably, as the edible oil, use is made of olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil or rapeseed oil. Preferably, ashitaba is used as the plant-origin material, whereas indigestible dextrin is used as the water-soluble dietary fiber.