Abstract: A method includes determining a heart beat signal during acquisition of MR images obtained at a plurality of cardiac cycles; determining at least one physiological parameter of a heart obtained at the plurality of cardiac cycles; determining a model including, determining, in each of the cardiac cycles, a variable time interval of variable duration and at least one additional time interval based on the heart beat signal and the at least one physiological parameter, the at least one additional time interval having a lower variability in duration than the variable time interval; determining a duration of the variable time interval and a duration of the cardiac cycle for each of the cardiac cycles based on the heart beat signal and the at least one physiological parameter; and assigning the MR images to the different cardiac phases based on the variable time interval and each of the cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A method for adapting, per cardiac cycle, the parameters governing interpolation of varying and non-interpolation of fixed fractions of each individual cardiac cycle is provided. A time series of data values associated with a cardiac cycle is received, and the time series is scaled to a reference cardiac cycle, wherein the scaling includes applying a model to the time series to generate a scaled time series of data values associated with the first cardiac cycle. The model is trained using the scaled time series.

Abstract: A portable, battery powered apparatus (10) generates an electrical signal between electrodes (15a, 15b) to be applied to the skin of a patient for reduction or prevention of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea. The signal comprises electrical stimulation at a frequency of 1-100 Hz and the signal comprises a stimulation free period of at least 0.5 seconds every 20 seconds, avoiding muscle fatigue when used for long periods, e.g. overnight.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes measuring neural respiratory drive using a monitoring device (10), repeating the measurement either continuously or at regular time intervals, and comparing the measurements obtained in order to predict treatment failure and/clinical deterioration and/or re-admission. In embodiments of the invention, the neural respiratory drive is measured by obtaining a measure of the second intercostal space parasternal electromyogram. A monitoring device (10) includes a signal input (20), a processing unit (30), and a output unit (50), and is arranged to measure the neural respiratory drive, store the measured value and compare it to a previously measured value for the neural respiratory drive.

Abstract: An obstetric device has a head piece having a flexible peripheral rim and a floor spaced from the flexible peripheral rim defining a cavity. One or more support lugs extend upwardly from the floor of the cavity; and an air communication aperture is provided in the floor of the cavity. Typically the device is formed a distal end piece having an orientation mark; and a tube interconnecting the head piece and the distal end piece.

Abstract: A method of determining the stage (gestation) of a pregnancy—comprising the steps of quantifying the amount of the hormone hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample derived from a human female selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, and establishing the stage of pregnancy corresponding thereto. The disclosure also extends to a device adapted to detect the levels/amount of hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample, derived from a human female, selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, for establishing the stage of pregnancy.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for maintaining a patient in a position in which the patient's torso can be moved during surgery, for example by which the sternum can be closed after open chest surgery. The device comprises two contact members for contacting a respective scapula and support means for maintaining the contact members in a grip position in which, in use, each contact member imparts a force on the respective scapula to close the patient's sternum.

Abstract: An obstetric device has a head piece having a flexible peripheral rim and a floor spaced from the flexible peripheral rim defining a cavity. One or more support lugs extend upwardly from the floor of the cavity; and an air communication aperture is provided in the floor of the cavity. Typically the device is formed a distal end piece having an orientation mark; and a tube interconnecting the head piece and the distal end piece.

Abstract: A method for screening for variant peptides uses mass spectrometry (MS). A system and a kit may be used for performing the method. Proteins in a sample are digested to form a defined series of peptides. The defined series of peptides are ionized. The ionized species are subjected to collision induced dissociation. Species of known mass/charge ratio are detected to confirm the presence of the protein variant in the original sample.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for classifying a shockwave is described, particularly for use in an Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) system. The method for classifying a shockwave generated and directed towards a stone in an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment comprises receiving an acoustic signal at a passive unfocused acoustic sensor, determining whether at least one characteristic of the received acoustic emissions exceeds a respective pre-determined threshold value, and classifying the shockwave as effective or ineffective in dependence upon said determination. A method for predicting the outcome of an SWL treatment is also described.

Abstract: A method of determining the stage (gestation) of a pregnancy—comprising the steps of quantifying the amount of the hormone hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample derived from a human female selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, and establishing the stage of pregnancy corresponding thereto. The disclosure also extends to a device adapted to detect the levels/amount of hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample, derived from a human female, selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, for establishing the stage of pregnancy.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for maintaining a patient in a position in which the patient's torso can be moved during surgery, for example by which the sternum can be closed after open chest surgery. The device has two contact members for contacting a respective scapula and support structures for maintaining the contact members in a grip position. In use, each contact member imparts a force on the respective scapula to close the patient's sternum.

Abstract: A method for screening for variant peptides uses mass spectrometry (MS). A system and a kit may be used for performing the method. Proteins in a sample are digested to form a defined series of peptides. The defined series of peptides are ionized. The ionized species are subjected to collision induced dissociation. Species of known mass/charge ratio are detected to confirm the presence of the protein variant in the original sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aiding the diagnosis of a disorder in a subject, said method comprising; providing a sample from said subject wherein the sample comprises blood; assaying at least two characteristics of said sample, said characteristics selected from: the structural composition of a polypeptide comprised by said sample; a metabolite comprised by said sample; and a catalytic activity comprised by said sample, wherein each of said at least two characteristics is determined from a multiplexed analysis of the same sample. The invention also relates to certain compositions.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes measuring neural respiratory drive using a monitoring device (10), repeating the measurement either continuously or at regular time intervals, and comparing the measurements obtained in order to predict treatment failure and/clinical deterioration and/or re-admission. In embodiments of the invention, the neural respiratory drive is measured by obtaining a measure of the second intercostal space parasternal electromyogram. A monitoring device (10) includes a signal input (20), a processing unit (30), and a output unit (50), and is arranged to measure the neural respiratory drive, store the measured value and compare it to a previously measured value for the neural respiratory drive.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making a peptide standard for mass spectrometry said method comprising (a) identifying endopeptidase cleavage sites in a parent polypeptide sequence of interest; (b) selecting peptide sequences from said parent polypeptide which are defined by endopeptidase cleavage sites of step (a); (c) adding a C-terminal extension to each selected sequence; wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is C-terminal to its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises 1 to 6 amino acids, wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is N-terminal to its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises said recognition sequence, wherein if the endopeptidase cleavage site is within its recognition sequence then the C-terminal extension comprises the remainder of said recognition sequence C-terminal to the cleavage site; and (d) synthesizing a peptide having the extended amino acid sequence of step (c).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.

Abstract: The BAA antigen of Staphylococcus aureus was identified in a highly bacteremic MRSA strain that has enhanced in vitro binding to fibronectin and other extracellular matrix proteins compared with other endemic and related strains. BAA is a phage-encoded surface-expressed adhesin which binds fibronectin in vitro. It may be responsible for the enhanced catheter-related bacteremic phenotype of MRSA strains and is thus useful as a vaccine target to prevent MRSA bacteremia.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.

Abstract: A method of determining the stage (gestation) of a pregnancy—comprising the steps of quantifying the amount of the hormone hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample derived from a human female selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, and establishing the stage of pregnancy corresponding thereto. The disclosure also extends to a device adapted to detect the levels/amount of hPL or a fragment thereof in a body fluid sample, derived from a human female, selected from a blood, plasma, serum and/or urine sample, for establishing the stage of pregnancy.