Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and kits for diagnosing a postoperative pulmonary infection in a patient who underwent surgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a postoperative pulmonary infection in a patient who underwent surgery, comprising a step consisting of measuring the concentration of endocan in a blood sample obtained from said patient, at a time point comprised between 3 h and 30 h after surgery.

Abstract: A TRPM8 related peptide fragment, comprising amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID No: 1-18 is provided. Furthermore, application of TRPM8 protein, TRPM8 related peptide fragment and their antibodies in preparing diagnostic reagent for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CP/CPPS) is provided. By detecting level of TRPM8 protein molecule, TRPM8 related peptide fragment and their antibodies, the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CP/CPPS) is effectively diagnosed, and the present invention is capable of effectively making a distinction between CP/CPPS and other diseases of prostate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring the prostaglandin E main urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM), in which a mixture solution of a urine sample treated with alkali can directly be subjected to an antigen-antibody reaction system in an immunoassay of PGE-MUM, without neutralization and dilution followed by dispensation. The method of measuring PGE-MUM includes the steps of: a) mixing a urine sample with an alkaline aqueous solution, and b) subjecting the mixture solution resulting from a) to an immunoassay using a bicyclo PGE-MUM-immobilized or anti-bicyclo PGE-MUM antibody-immobilized solid phase to measure PGE-MUM in the urine sample, wherein the immunoassay is performed in a weakly-acidic basal buffer solution in the presence of a second pH buffering agent which exerts a buffering effect in the basic range and is different from the pH buffering agent contained in the basal buffer solution, and in the presence of a cationic surfactant.

Abstract: In general, the present invention relates to the field of (bio-)medicine and in particular to various metabolic diseases. Specifically, the invention provides means and methods for diagnosing, monitoring and predicting the risk for developing metabolic diseases. The invention uses exosomes as biomarkers for the aforementioned purposes. Moreover, an antibody of the present invention capable of specifically recognizing tissue-specific exosomes is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices for rapid assessment of the severity of injury not due to a natural disease based upon measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treatment of volume-dependent Acute Kidney Injury (vAKI) and ischemic Acute Kidney Injury (iAKI), as well as methods for diagnosing vAKI and iAKI. The methods are based on determining the levels of PAPPA2, NGAL, KRT20, or TACSTD2 protein in a sample from a patient, such as a urine sample. The present invention also provides a device and a diagnostics kit for determining whether a sample from a subject contains PAPPA2, NGAL, KRT20, or TACSTD2 protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and compositions to rapidly detect analytes, including small analytes, using a lateral flow device. Described herein is such a lateral flow device that can detect and quantify vitamin D in a whole blood, serum, or plasma sample by employing a sandwich-based immunoassay.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to using magnetic particles and alternating magnet fields to separate a target analyte from a sample. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve contacting a sample with magnetic particles including first moieties specific for a target analyte, thereby forming target/particle complexes in the sample, flowing the sample through a channel including second moieties attached to at least one surface of the channel, applying alternating magnetic fields to the flowing sample to result in target/particle complexes being brought into proximity of the surface to bind the second moieties and unbound particles remaining free in the sample, binding the target/particle complexes to the second moieties, and washing away unbound particles and unbound analytes of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to autoantibodies against 14-3-3 proteins or circulating immune complexes thereof and the detection of such for the diagnosis and prognosis of an arthritic condition.

Abstract: A method for preparing an upconversion-luminescence flexible hybrid membrane for visual detection of tumor markers is provided. Metal ion doped black phosphorus quantum dots (M-BPQDs) are prepared by adopting ultrasonic and solvothermal processes; mesoporous SiO2 grows on the surfaces of the M-BPQDs and amination modification is performed; the M-BPQDs are connected with carboxylated single-stranded DNA1; receptor molecules enter pores; single-stranded DNA2 aptamers and the DNA1 are combined due to base complementation to encapsulate receptors in the pores; and an M-BPQDs probe is prepared. DNA1 terminal-SH and a composite membrane are formed by assembling polymethyl methacrylate-polyimide-gold nanoparticles in a layer-by-layer manner bound by Au—S bonds, and the membrane and the probe are connected to construct the flexible hybrid membrane. The new flexible hybrid membrane is simple and inexpensive to prepare and is highly sensitive.

Abstract: A rapid diagnostic testing device for testing of a biological sample is provided. The device comprises a channeled construct, at least one lateral flow unit, and a cassette housing. The channeled construct is configured to receive a biological sample to form at least partially purified biological sample. The lateral flow unit is at least partially disposed in the cassette housing. The lateral flow unit comprises: a sample receiving zone, a conjugate zone and a detection zone. The sample receiving zone is operatively coupled to the channeled construct for receiving the partially purified biological sample comprising at least one analyte. The conjugate zone comprising a conjugate particle to bind the analyte is disposed adjacent to the first side of the sample receiving zone. The detection zone is disposed adjacent to the second side of the sample receiving zone and comprises at least one binding agent for detecting the analyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising an epitope within the macrophage scavenger receptor B-I, a method of using the same, a nucleic acid encoding the same and an antibody that binds to the epitope.

Abstract: Method of obtaining and/or verifying a binder to prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1) or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin (SEQ ID NO. 2), comprising at least one of the steps of: a) generating the binder using a developer comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 6 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); b) determining whether the binder is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence of at least 4 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); c) selecting and optionally isolating the binder from a plurality of binders which is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection device for safe and convenient immunoassay of an analyte containing pathogens.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing celiac disease in a subject are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting a sample of bodily fluid from the subject with an antigen comprising a recombinant or synthetic deamidated gliadin protein, wherein the deamidated gliadin protein comprises a hexamer of peptides each having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; and detecting an antibody from the sample that specifically binds to the antigen, thereby diagnosing celiac disease in the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for automated evaluation of incubated immunoblot strips (5). What is essential for such immunoblot strips (5) is that these have regions coated with antigens, which regions discolour under the formation of so-called bands (6) as soon as a binding occurs, in particular between the antigen and an antibody present in a patient sample. Within the scope of the described technical solution, a camera (2) is initially used to make recordings of the surface of an incubated immunoblot strip (5) and these recordings are transmitted in digitized form to an evaluation unit (1). Finally, the discolourings, which occurred in the form of bands (6), are detected and at least partly quantified in the evaluation unit (1), such that a diagnosis suggestion is generated taking into account the number of bands (6) and the colour strength thereof.

Abstract: A microfluidic Western blot method and system including a microfluidic western blot method for immunoassay of proteins, the method including introducing a sample including the proteins onto a chip; electrophoretically separating the proteins; binding the separated proteins to beads to form protein-attached beads, the beads being magnetic; flowing the protein-attached beads into a magnetic holding region; applying a magnetic field to the magnetic holding region to fix the protein-attached beads in place within the magnetic holding region; binding primary antibodies to target proteins on the protein-attached beads; binding secondary antibodies to the bound primary antibodies; and detecting the bound secondary antibodies.

Abstract: X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry has been used for detecting binding events and measuring binding selectivities between chemicals and receptors. XRF may also be used for estimating the therapeutic index of a chemical. For estimating the binding selectivities of a chemical versus chemical analogs, for measuring post translational modification of proteins, and for drug manufacturing.

Abstract: System and method embodiments for analyzing a test fluid to detect prior or present infestations of bed bugs are described. In an embodiment, the method may include receiving the test fluid on a test strip within the detection device. The test strip may include a reaction portion and a reagent portion containing an antibody or antigen-binding fragment that is conjugated to a colored particle. The test fluid may include bed bug antigen that reacts with the conjugated antibody. The detection device may include a first and a second optical sensor for monitoring a reaction and a background color intensity, respectively. Upon a predetermined time delay elapsing, the detection device determines whether bed bug antigen is present in the test fluid using the monitored color intensities and minimum and maximum color intensity thresholds associated with bed bugs. Then, the detection device outputs a result using a visual display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of estimating the number of urinary podocytes, including detecting podocalyxin in a urinary sediment sample liquid, and more specifically, to a method of estimating the number of urinary podocytes, including the following steps (1) to (3): (1) a step of preparing the urinary sediment sample liquid by separating urinary sediment from urine collected from a test subject and solubilizing podocalyxin in the urinary sediment; (2) a step of calculating a podocalyxin excretion amount in the urinary sediment sample liquid through detection of podocalyxin in the urinary sediment sample liquid; and (3) a step of calculating the number of urinary podocytes by dividing the podocalyxin excretion amount in the urinary sediment sample liquid by a podocalyxin amount per podocyte.