Abstract: Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of a cancer cell in an individual are provided. Methods and compositions for identifying a tumor-specific signature in an individual having cancer are also provided. Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of an infectious agent in an individual and/or for identifying an infectious agent-specific signature in an infected individual are provided. Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of a disease in an individual are also provided. Methods and compositions for identifying a disease-specific signature in an individual having the disease are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and compositions useful for treating thyroid cancer. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the steps of (a) treating DNA isolated from a sample collected from the patient using bisulfate; (b) measuring the DNA methylation level of the promoter region of the RASAL1 gene from the bisulfate-treated DNA using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), wherein the MSP creates a methylation and unmethylation band; (c) normalizing the measured DNA methylation level using an internal reference gene; (d) calculating the percentage of allelic methylation using the formula [M/(M+U]×100%, wherein M and U represent the density of the methylation and unmethylation band; and (e) predicting an increased risk of thyroid cancer in the subject if the percentage of allelic methylation is at least 40%.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester. Abnormal gene expression due to, for example, oxidative stress can be treated, improved, and/or prevented, and diseases caused by the abnormal gene expression can be treated, improved, and/or prevented. A gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester are provided and are useful for treating, improving, and/or preventing the symptom caused by the abnormal gene expression, that is, excessive expression or suppression of expression.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the medical use of compositions comprising a mineral salt and a sulfonic acid for prevention and/or treatment of one or more mucosal diseases, disorders, or conditions or one or more dermal diseases, disorders, or conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medium for producing glucosamine, including 25-500 g/L molasses, 0.01-100 g/L soybean hydrolysate or 0.25-100 g/L corn steep liquor, 0.1-2 g/L MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1-0.5 g/L Al(NO3)3, and 1-5 mL/L methanol. The invention also relates to a method for producing glucosamine, including providing microorganism being able to produce glucosamine, and fermenting the microorganism in the medium mentioned above.

Abstract: The present invention claims a novel process for the production and purification of microbial collagenase (Microbial Collagenase EC 3.4.24.3) produced by the non-pathogenic aerobic bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus chemovar. iophagus (NCIMB Number: 11038, synonym LMG 3418, hereinafter called Vibrio alginolyticus), which said process provides high production levels of collagenase with a stable, reproducible, cheap fermentation process. The collagenase produced from Vibrio alginolyticus according to the process described herein also presents a specific activity superior to that of other microbial collagenases, is stable in aqueous solution, and can be frozen without significant damage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an aqueous cosmetic composition that includes at least one effect pigment is present up to about 0.02 wt %, an emulsion of at least one oil and at least one surfactant, and at least one active selected to provide one or more benefits, including, but not limited to brightening/whitening, improvement of skin tone, blemish control or reduction, reduction of redness, anti-aging, and hydration, in an aqueous solvent. The composition may include a thickener and a preservative. Methods include forming the composition and applying the composition to the skin to provide an instant “glowing” or “brightening” effect.

Abstract: A cell-penetrating peptide has remarkably excellent cell penetration efficiency, and is capable of penetrating 100% into all cells within 1 hour even in an environment including serum or sera, as well as a stable structure. Therefore, it is possible to move a cargo into the cell while maintaining the function of the cargo without damaging the same.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits for detecting viral nucleic acids. Targets that can be detected in accordance with the invention include HBV and/or HIV-1 and/or HCV nucleic acids. Particularly described are oligonucleotides that are useful as hybridization probes and amplification primers that facilitate detection of very low levels of HBV nucleic acids.

Abstract: This invention intends to develop many DNA markers for a plant of the genus Fragaria and identify everbearing lines with high precision by using the many DNA markers. The marker associated with everbearing properties in a plant of the genus Fragaria comprises a continuous nucleic acid region sandwiched between the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 in the chromosome of the plant of the genus Fragaria.

Abstract: There is described a method for producing polymeric 3-hydroxypropionamide (3HP amide), the method comprising: culturing an Acetobacter lovaniensis-bacterium in a growth medium containing phosphate and ammonium, wherein culturing of the bacterium produces polymeric 3HP amide. The polymeric 3HP amide may then be hydrolysed to 3HP amide or converted to other compounds of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for analyzing a protamine sample for the presence or amount of at least one nucleotidic impurity. The invention also provides a method for the quantitation of peptides in a sample of protamine comprising four major peptides and at least one related impurity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining sensitivity to a simultaneous inhibitor against poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and Tankyrase. According to the present invention, a colorectal treatment effect can be maximized by sorting patients having sensitivity to the simultaneous inhibitor against PARP and Tankyrase.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using the compositions to treat animal facilities. In particular, the composition comprises a metal sulfate, an inorganic acid having a pKa of less than 1, and one or more organic acids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bacterial counting method, comprising the following steps, S1: preparing a polyaniline/bacterial composite film on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode by electric polymerization; S2: drawing the standard curve of the polyaniline/bacterial composite film modified electrode; and S3: determining the bacterial concentration of the bacteria solution sample to be tested according to the standard curve obtained in step S2. The method does not require the cultivation of the bacteria in the implementation process, such that same takes a short time and is easy to operate; the method uses aniline as the main reagent, and the consumption of the solution to be tested is small, such that the testing cost is low and the equipment is simple; the method has the advantages of a good repeatability and a wide detection linear range; and the method is an easy to operate, short time-consuming, and low cost bacterial counting method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a use of methylation sites as a disease diagnosis marker, in particular relating to a use of methylation sites in a Y chromosome as a prostate cancer diagnosis marker. More particularly, the method and criterion for screening methylation sites in chromosomes associated with a disease are established in the present invention, and using prostate cancer as an example, six methylation sites in the Y chromosome associated with the prostate cancer diagnosis are screened out. Methylation sites in the Y chromosome screened can be used for early and rapid diagnosis of the disease as a prostate cancer diagnosis marker.

Abstract: A method for adjusting hardness of a stick-shaped base material including a lipid peptide compound. A method for adjusting hardness of a gelled solid base material for skin external application including a surfactant, water, and lipid peptide compound including compounds of formulae (1) or similar, wherein R1 is a C9-23 aliphatic group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or similar, and R3 is a —(CH2)n-X group, n is a number from 1 to 4, and X is amino group, the method including adding a pH adjuster to a solution in which the material is dissolved, or a solution including a surfactant, water, and lipid peptide compound including at least one of compounds of formulae (1) to (3) or pharmaceutically usable salts thereof, to adjust the pH of the solution to a weak acidic to neutral range, causing gelation of the solution to form a solid base material for skin external application.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing methyl lactate including the steps of: bringing an aqueous liquid comprising lactic acid, methanol, and at least 5 wt. % of a dissolved chloride salt selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and zinc chloride to reaction conditions, thereby obtaining methyl lactate, wherein an extractant is provided to the reaction mixture before, during, and/or after formation of methyl lactate; subjecting the reaction mixture to a liquid-liquid separation step wherein an organic phase comprising methyl lactate and extractant is separated from an aqueous phase comprising dissolved chloride salt. The extractant preferably includes one or more compounds selected from C5+ ketones and C3-C10 ethers, in particular C5-C8 ketones, more in particular methyl isobutyl ketone. It has been found that the process according to the invention makes it possible to manufacture methyl lactate efficiently and in high yield.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to elucidate a new causative gene of cancer, polynucleotide, and thereby provide a method for detecting the polynucleotide or a polypeptide that is encoded by the polynucleotide, as well as a primer set or a detection kit for such detection. The detection method detects a fusion gene of a part of an OCLN gene and a part of an ARHGAP26 gene, or a fusion protein encoded by such gene. The primer set includes a sense primer designed from a section encoding OCLN and an antisense primer designed from a section encoding ARHGAP26.

Abstract: Oligodendrogliomas are the second most common malignant brain tumor in adults. These tumors often contain a chromosomal abnormality involving a pericentromeric fusion of chromosomes 1 and 19, resulting in losses of the entire short arm of the former and the long arm of the latter. To identify the molecular genetic basis for this alteration, we performed exomic sequencing of seven anaplastic oligodendrogliomas with chromosome 1p and 19q losses. Among other changes, we found that that CIC (homolog of the Drosophila gene capicua) on chromosome 19q was somatically mutated in six of the seven cases and that FUBP1 (far upstream element (FUSE) binding protein) on chromosome 1p was somatically mutated in two of the seven cases. Examination of 27 additional oligodendrogliomas revealed 12 and 3 more tumors with mutations of CIC and FUBP1, respectively, 58% of which were predicted to result in truncations of the encoded proteins.