Abstract: A method for culturing hepatocytes, wherein hepatocytes embedded in an extracellular matrix is placed on a gas-permeable membrane and the hepatocytes are cultured while being supplied with oxygen from the gas-permeable membrane side. By this, the polarity in the hepatocytes can be induced and a bile canaliculus can be formed in a short period of time. Further, the formed polarity can be maintained for a longer period.

Abstract: A marker useful in diagnosing surgical site infections is provided. In the method of the present invention for detecting surgical site infections, sCD14-ST in a sample is measured.

Abstract: Disclosed is an analysis method comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a substance to be analyzed with at least a specific partner which exhibits a selective interaction with the substance, converting a soluble substance to an insoluble substance by an insolubilization reaction, in correlation with the amount of the substance to be analyzed contained in a sample, and depositing the insoluble substance on a sensing part, and (b) electrically analyzing the insoluble substance deposited on the sensing part, wherein at least one of steps (a) and (b) is carried out under flow conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring the presence and/or the amount of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in a sample, which method is characterized by comprising the step of treating the sample in advance with an acidic solution, and a kit of measuring the presence and/or an amount of GLP-1 in a sample, the kit containing (a) the acidic solution, (b) an antibody specific to GLP-1, and (c) an instruction manual.

Abstract: Provided is a non-specific reaction inhibitor for achieving the accurate detection and quantitation of a trace component (a target substance) contained in a sample, in an immunoassay, by simply and effectively inhibiting a non-specific reaction associated with the measurement. The non-specific reaction inhibitor comprises a substance of the formula I: wherein R1 and R2 together form a double bond between carbons, to which they are respectively bonded directly, or R1 is a hydrogen atom and R2 is a group formed by removing H from an SH-group-containing compound, B is a support, and L is a spacer arm portion.

Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: In a known method of measuring a target substance, comprising: providing a sample solution containing the target substance, a first reaction solution, and a second reaction solution; sequentially aspirating the sample solution and the first reaction solution, using a measuring apparatus equipped with a dispensing unit, into the dispensing unit; discharging them at a time from the dispensing unit, to bring them into contact with the second reaction solution, and to form a complex of the target substance and a first partner which is contained in at least one of the first reaction solution or the second reaction solution and reacts specifically with the target substance; and analyzing the resulting complex, an improved method capable of inhibiting a reaction which adversely affects measurement results is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for immunologically measuring cardiac troponin in a biological sample, in which the formation of an immunological complex of cardiac troponin with an antibody specifically binding thereto is performed in the presence of a divalent cation at 4 mmol/L or more; and a kit for measuring cardiac troponin, comprising an antibody specifically binding to cardiac troponin, and a buffer containing a divalent cation at a high concentration. According to the method or the kit, a stable and highly-accurate measured value can be obtained without being affected by interfering substances in a specimen regardless of the type of specimen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prediction method for the prognosis of sepsis comprising measuring an sCD14-ST level in a sample. sCD14-ST, to be measured in the present invention, is a marker superior to procalcitonin, known as a marker to predict the prognosis in sepsis patients.

Abstract: A method of determining a kind of a sample, in a method for analyzing a substance by the steps of supplying the sample to be analyzed to a reaction system by a supplying means comprising a transparent region composed of a transparent material, reacting a reagent for detecting the substance with the sample in the reaction system, and analyzing a signal derived from a product obtained by the reaction, characterized by irradiating the transparent region with light in the supplying step, and analyzing an optical intensity of the light.

Abstract: In the present invention, a cardiomyocyte cluster is disposed on a transparent substrate, and the quality of the cardiomyocytes is evaluated from the response of the cells to a forced pulsation stimulus applied to the cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocyte cluster is disposed on the transparent substrate, and is exposed to the flow of a liquid containing an agent in a manner so that the agent acts on the cells, which configure a network. The extent of cardiac toxicity resulting from the agent is evaluated from measuring the fluctuations obtained from a comparison of adjacent cardiomyocytes of the network.

Abstract: Provided is a method for rapidly and easily detecting a mutated nucleic acid, which is contained in a small amount in a nucleic acid sample together with wild-type nucleic acids, with high specificity and high sensitivity. In the method of the present invention, amplification of a detection region comprising a target site by a nucleic acid amplification method is inhibited, by the steps of allowing a nucleic acid having a target site to coexist with a clamp probe comprising a photo-crosslinking nucleic acid and having a sequence complementary to the target site, and photo-crosslinking the nucleic acid having the target site with the clamp probe by photo-irradiation.

Abstract: As a result of collecting blood from pancreatic cancer patients, esophageal cancer patients, and stomach cancer patients, and conducting mass spectrometry on N-linked sugar chains in the plasmas, sugar chains whose abundances are significantly different from those of healthy subjects have been successfully identified from the blood samples of the cancer patients.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of detecting the presence or absence of a single nucleotide polymorphism of a gene, for prediction of the risk of developing drug-induced lung injury, or for improving a therapeutic method, and a kit for carrying out the detection method. The detection method is characterized by comparing an ABCB1 gene in a biological sample with a wild-type ABCB1 gene to detect the presence or absence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the ABCB1 gene in the biological sample, in particular, by determining the nucleotide at position 3751 of the CDS of the ABCB1 gene. The kit comprises an oligonucleotide probe which specifically binds to a single nucleotide polymorphism in an ABCB1 gene under selective binding conditions, or an oligonucleotide primer which amplifies a nucleic acid sequence comprising a single nucleotide polymorphism in an ABCB1 gene.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in measuring a component to be measured contained in a sample includes a diluting well for diluting a predetermined amount of the sample to a desired dilution, and a reaction well in which the component to be measured contained in the sample and a substance specifically reacting therewith are allowed to react. A diluting solution is filled in the diluting well in a predetermined amount to provide the desired dilution based on a type of the component to be measured when the predetermined amount of the sample is dispensed in the diluting well by a uniform operation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for automatic measurement used in an automatic measuring device, capable of automatically performing measurement including heat treatment of a sample, and a measuring device using the cartridge. The present invention relates to a cartridge for use in measuring a component to be measured contained in a sample, comprising: at least a heat-treatment well for performing heat treatment of the sample; and a reaction well for reacting the component to be measured in the sample with a material specifically reacting therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides an examination method for determining the contraction or the activity of diseases related to immune system and/or joint system, comprising measuring the expression level of miRNA in a blood-derived or joint-derived fluid sample. The present invention is an examination method for determining the activity of diseases related to immune system and/or joint system, comprising: preparing blood-derived fluid samples collected over time, measuring the expression levels of at least an miRNA selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 5 in the fluid samples, and comparing the expression levels between different sampling times.

Abstract: Provided are an antibody capable of specifically and accurately measuring digested products of stabilized fibrin (D-dimer), and a method and a reagent for measuring D-dimer using the antibody. The antibody specifically reacts with D-dimer, which is plasmin-digested products of stabilized fibrin, but does not react with fibrinogen or plasmin-digested products of fibrinogen, which include fragment X, fragment Y, fragment D1, and fragment E3, and does not react with dissociation products of DD/E monomer, which include fragment DD, fragment E1, and fragment E2.

Abstract: Various highly sensitive detection methods, particularly improved PNA-LNA-PCR clamp methods, are provided as methods for detecting the presence or absence of a mutated gene contained in a gene pool rapidly, in a simple manner, with high accuracy, and with high sensitivity. As a step before the main step for detection, a pre-amplification step comprising allowing (1) a clamp primer consisting of PNA which hybridizes with all or part of a target site having a sequence of a wild-type gene or a sequence complementary to the wild-type gene, (2) a primer capable of amplifying a region comprising a target site having a sequence of the mutated gene, and (3) the gene pool to coexist in a reaction solution for gene amplification, and selectively amplifying the region comprising a target site of the mutated gene by a gene amplification method.

Abstract: A detection method and a detection kit for rapidly and specifically diagnosing Mycoplasma pneumoniae and/or Mycoplasma genitalium infections are provided. The DnaK of Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Mycoplasma genitalium is used as an indicator.