Abstract: A novel cell culture method for inducing differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell into trophoblast and an automatic culture apparatus therefor includes: a first step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell in a presence of a ROCK inhibitor during a first time period; a second step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell, which has been subjected to the first step, without the ROCK inhibitor during a second time period following the first time period; and a step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell, which has been subjected to the second step, in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor during a third time period following the second time period, in which the pluripotent stem cell is cultured in a state of being adhered to a cell culture substrate including a planar mesh through the first to third time periods.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide novel cell culture substrates, cell culture vessels, and methods for cell culture. A cell culture substrate having a planar mesh structure, the substrate being coated with a polymer, is provided. Cells are cultured in a cell culture vessel having this substrate.

Abstract: Provided are an evaluator including an analysis unit that evaluates a differentiation level of a cultured cell on the basis of a content of a component in a culture supernatant of the cultured cell, and an automatic cell culture system including the evaluator and an automatic culture device.

Abstract: A novel cell culture method for inducing differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell into trophoblast and an automatic culture apparatus therefor includes: a first step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell in a presence of a ROCK inhibitor during a first time period; a second step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell, which has been subjected to the first step, without the ROCK inhibitor during a second time period following the first time period; and a step of culturing the pluripotent stem cell, which has been subjected to the second step, in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor during a third time period following the second time period, in which the pluripotent stem cell is cultured in a state of being adhered to a cell culture substrate including a planar mesh through the first to third time periods.

Abstract: A liquid delivery device includes a first and second container for a first and second liquid; a third container for receiving a first and second liquid; a fourth container into which a first and second liquid are discharged; a fifth container for a third liquid; a first liquid delivery tube for delivering a first liquid; a second liquid delivery tube for delivering a second liquid; a third liquid delivery tube connected to the first and second liquid delivery tube; a first liquid delivery pump on the third liquid delivery tube; a fourth liquid delivery tube for discharging a first liquid contained in the third container and delivering a third liquid to the third container; a fifth liquid delivery tube connected to the fourth liquid delivery tube; a sixth liquid delivery tube connected to the fourth liquid delivery tube; and a second liquid delivery pump on the fourth liquid delivery tube.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a cell culture monitoring device capable of monitoring the number of cells during culture and a cell culture system. The cell culture monitoring device for monitoring proliferation of cells includes: a detection unit configured to detect particles of exosomes in culture supernatant; and an analysis unit configured to calculate the number of cells based on an obtained detection result. The cell culture system includes the cell culture monitoring device and an automatic culture device.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide novel cell culture substrates, cell culture vessels, and methods for cell culture. A cell culture substrate having a planar mesh structure, the substrate being coated with a polymer, is provided. Cells are cultured in a cell culture vessel having this substrate.

Abstract: A liquid delivery device includes a first and second container for a first and second liquid; a third container for receiving a first and second liquid; a fourth container into which a first and second liquid are discharged; a fifth container for a third liquid; a first liquid delivery tube for delivering a first liquid; a second liquid delivery tube for delivering a second liquid; a third liquid delivery tube connected to the first and second liquid delivery tube; a first liquid delivery pump on the third liquid delivery tube; a fourth liquid delivery tube for discharging a first liquid contained in the third container and delivering a third liquid to the third container; a fifth liquid delivery tube connected to the fourth liquid delivery tube; a sixth liquid delivery tube connected to the fourth liquid delivery tube; and a second liquid delivery pump on the fourth liquid delivery tube.

Abstract: It is intended to evaluate an ischemic heart disease with high accuracy by convenient operation. The method for evaluating an ischemic heart disease according to the present invention comprises the steps of: assaying complement factor H and/or complement factor D in a sample derived from the blood of a test subject; and comparing the concentration of the complement factor H and/or the concentration of the complement factor D assayed in the preceding step with a reference value(s), wherein it is determined that the seriousness of the ischemic heart disease is high when the concentration falls below the reference value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a means for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions by identifying a protein (marker protein) group, the expression level of which varies according to the progression of the atherosclerotic lesion, and using the proteins. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions, comprising the steps of detecting a marker protein exhibiting an expression pattern (expression variation) characteristic at a specific disease stage of atherosclerotic lesions in a subject, and evaluating the atherosclerotic lesions in the subject based on the detection result.

Abstract: A reaction container in which to mix a first chemical compound with a second chemical compound has a main body and a lid member formed oppositely on a top face side of the main body; a flow channel on the top face of the main body; and a labeling agent solidification section at an intermediate section of the flow channel to remove a solvent in a solution of the second chemical compound and solidify the second chemical compound. First and second chemical compound supply sections and a mixture discharge section are formed on the upstream and downstream sides of the labeling agent solidification section, respectively. The reactor is provided with a liquid sending unit to supply the first and second chemical compounds and reciprocally send a solution of the first chemical compound to an upper part of the second chemical compound solidified at the solidification section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a means for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions by identifying a protein (marker protein) group, the expression level of which varies according to the progression of the atherosclerotic lesion, and using the proteins. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions, comprising the steps of detecting a marker protein exhibiting an expression pattern (expression variation) characteristic at a specific disease stage of atherosclerotic lesions in a subject, and evaluating the atherosclerotic lesions in the subject based on the detection result.

Abstract: A reaction container in which to mix a first chemical compound with a second chemical compound has a main body and a lid member formed oppositely on a top face side of the main body; a flow channel on the top face of the main body; and a labeling agent solidification section at an intermediate section of the flow channel to remove a solvent in a solution of the second chemical compound and solidify the second chemical compound. First and second chemical compound supply sections and a mixture discharge section are formed on the upstream and downstream sides of the labeling agent solidification section, respectively. The reactor is provided with a liquid sending unit to supply the first and second chemical compounds and reciprocally send a solution of the first chemical compound to an upper part of the second chemical compound solidified at the solidification section.

Abstract: Arteriosclerosis induces cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. A multi-marker (a group of protein markers) that assesses the accurate pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and enables the selection of an adequate treatment method for arteriosclerosis and prediction of the progression of arteriosclerosis, and an evaluation method for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of arteriosclerosis that uses said marker group as an indicator have been sought. The present invention relates to A method for evaluation of arteriosclerosis comprising the steps of (a) measuring the expression of von Willebrand factor and/or complement factor D in a sample derived from a subject, (b) measuring the expression of complement component C8 and/or vitamin K-dependent protein Z in the sample derived from the subject, and (c) evaluating arteriosclerosis in the subject on the basis of the results from (a) and (b).

Abstract: It is intended to evaluate an ischemic heart disease with high accuracy by convenient operation. The method for evaluating an ischemic heart disease according to the present invention comprises the steps of: assaying complement factor H and/or complement factor D in a sample derived from the blood of a test subject; and comparing the concentration of the complement factor H and/or the concentration of the complement factor D assayed in the preceding step with a reference value(s), wherein it is determined that the seriousness of the ischemic heart disease is high when the concentration falls below the reference value.

Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing or predicting atherosclerosis with the use of, as indicators, markers (factors) that allow early detection and progression prediction of the disease and a method for evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects. In one form, the present method includes detecting CD166 (ALCAM) level in a sample of a subject such as human. Another aspect of the present method includes evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects of a compound on atherosclerosis. A kit and an apparatus for carrying out such methods is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a means for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions by identifying a protein (marker protein) group, the expression level of which varies according to the progression of the atherosclerotic lesion, and using the proteins. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating atherosclerotic lesions, comprising the steps of detecting a marker protein exhibiting an expression pattern (expression variation) characteristic at a specific disease stage of atherosclerotic lesions in a subject, and evaluating the atherosclerotic lesions in the subject based on the detection result.

Abstract: Arteriosclerosis induces cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. A multi-marker (a group of protein markers) that assesses the accurate pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and enables the selection of an adequate treatment method for arteriosclerosis and prediction of the progression of arteriosclerosis, and an evaluation method for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of arteriosclerosis that uses said marker group as an indicator have been sought. The present invention relates to A method for evaluation of arteriosclerosis comprising the steps of (a) measuring the expression of von Willebrand factor and/or complement factor D in a sample derived from a subject, (b) measuring the expression of complement component C8 and/or vitamin K-dependent protein Z in the sample derived from the subject, and (c) evaluating arteriosclerosis in the subject on the basis of the results from (a) and (b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody displaying excellent specificity against heparan sulfate saccharide chains for the analysis of heparan sulfate saccharide chains specific to dentin. The invention also provides a method of evaluating reproductive dentin using the monoclonal antibody. The anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts against dentin-derived heparan sulfate and in particular the anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts strongly and specifically with uncalcified predentin regions. In the method of evaluating dentin, the antibody is reacted against an isolated dentin-derived sample and the reaction is used in order to evaluate the development of dentin.

Abstract: Since atherosclerosis induces cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction, a method for diagnosing or predicting atherosclerosis with the use of, as indicators, markers (factors) that allow early detection and progression prediction of the disease and a method for evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects have been awaited. This invention provides a method for diagnosing or predicting atherosclerosis which comprises detecting CD166 (ALCAM) level in a sample of a subject such as human, a method for evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects of a compound on atherosclerosis, and a kit and an apparatus for carrying out such methods.