Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cancer marker for evaluating the onset, the preclinical stage, the clinical stage, or the prognosis of a cancer in a subject, and an evaluation method using the same. A cancer marker containing at least one miRNA selected from hsa-miR-92 and hsa-miR-494 is used as a marker for cancers excluding breast cancer. A method for evaluating the possibility of cancers excluding breast cancer includes the step of detecting the expression level of a cancer marker in a biological sample collected from a subject. In this method, the cancer marker contains at least one miRNA selected from hsa-miR-92 and hsa-miR-494.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer capable of avoiding carry-over between samples, and a sample dispensing method, are provided. To that end, an automatic analyzer (1) for performing analysis of both assay menu with a high carry-over avoiding level and assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level, includes: a first sample dispensing apparatus (6) loaded with a disposable tip (60a) for sample dispensing for assay menu with a high carry-over avoiding level, and for subdividing and dispensing a sample for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level; an aliquot container (9) for subdividing and containing a sample for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level, subdivided and dispensed by the first sample dispensing apparatus (6); and a second sample dispensing apparatus (5) loaded with a reusable probe (50), for sample dispensing for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cancer marker for evaluating the onset, the preclinical stage, the clinical stage, or the prognosis of a cancer in a subject, and an evaluation method using the same. A cancer marker containing at least one miRNA selected from hsa-miR-92 and hsa-miR-494 is used as a marker for cancers excluding breast cancer. A method for evaluating the possibility of cancers excluding breast cancer includes the step of detecting the expression level of a cancer marker in a biological sample collected from a subject. In this method, the cancer marker contains at least one miRNA selected from hsa-miR-92 and hsa-miR-494.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a marker, a test method, and a test kit which can detect the onset of breast cancer that cannot be detected by palpation or mammography examination or breast cancer in an early stage (clinical stage 0), which are simple, and which have high reliability. A marker associated with breast cancer of an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by being a micro-RNA that is found in serum or plasma. More specifically, the marker contains at least a micro-RNA that is present in the serum or the plasma at a significantly reduced level after the onset of breast cancer, or during or after an early stage (during or after clinical stage 0) of breast cancer compared with that before the onset of breast cancer or before the early stage (before clinical stage 0) of breast cancer.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus for measuring an object substance in a specimen includes a reaction portion for causing the substance and a reagent commensurate thereto to react on each other, a detecting portion for detecting a signal or reaction condition from the reagent for measuring the object substance, and a cleaning portion for removing the substance of the specimen or unreacted substance in the reagent or cleaning the reacted liquids which have completed the reaction. The reaction, detecting and cleaning portions are independently arranged in a single frame provided in the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a transfer portion for transferring reaction vessels in succession between the reaction, detecting and cleaning portions. With this arrangement, the automatic analyzing apparatus achieves the high speed analyzing treatment and compact construction of the apparatus.

Abstract: A transfer unit for transferring members such as reaction vessels having an upper end opening or dispensing tips or the like includes at least one arm pivotally movable about a shaft and a holder mounted on the arm for detachably supporting the member to be transferred. The holder is provided with a rod portion having a distal end adapted to be fitted in the upper end opening of the member to be transferred, a rod holding portion slidably and elastically supporting the rod portion and a guide portion surrounding the rod portion thereabout and sliding along the axis of the rod portion to release the fitting of the member from the distal end of the rod portion. The guide portion is formed with at least two elongated apertures extending in parallel with the axis of the rod portion, and the rod portion is provided with protrusions fixed thereto and extending through the elongated apertures to regulate the movement of the guide portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for selecting siRNAs, antisense polynucleotides, and other hybridizing polynucleotides. In particular, the invention relates to methods for selecting siRNAs, antisense polynucleotides, and other hybridizing polynucleotides that have moderate or low off-target activity.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus for measuring an object substance in a specimen includes a reaction portion for causing the substance and a reagent commensurate thereto to react on each other, a detecting portion for detecting a signal or reaction condition from the reagent for measuring the object substance, and a cleaning portion for removing the substance of the specimen or unreacted substance in the reagent or cleaning the reacted liquids which have completed the reaction. The reaction, detecting and cleaning portions are independently arranged in a single frame provided in the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a transfer portion for transferring reaction vessels in succession between the reaction, detecting and cleaning portions. With this arrangement, the automatic analyzing apparatus achieves the high speed analyzing treatment and compact construction of the apparatus.

Abstract: A transfer unit for transferring members such as reaction vessels having an upper end opening or dispensing tips or the like includes at least one arm pivotally movable about a shaft and a holder mounted on the arm for detachably supporting the member to be transferred. The holder is provided with a rod portion having a distal end adapted to be fitted in the upper end opening of the member to be transferred, a rod holding portion slidably and elastically supporting the rod portion and a guide portion surrounding the rod portion thereabout and sliding along the axis of the rod portion to release the fitting of the member from the distal end of the rod portion. The guide portion is formed with at least two elongated apertures extending in parallel with the axis of the rod portion, and the rod portion is provided with protrusions fixed thereto and extending through the elongated apertures to regulate the movement of the guide portion.

Abstract: A turntable type liquid reagent-mixing device to be used in an automatically analyzing apparatus for the detection of a substance to be measured with using a liquid reagent containing fine particles, including (1) a turntable adapted for placing thereon a plurality of containers which contain liquid reagent to be mixed, (2) a turntable rotating mechanism adapted for rotating said turntable to rotate the containers around a rotary center of the turntable, and (3) a container-rotating mechanism for rotating the containers themselves around their own respective rotary centers at their respectively placed locations on the turntable, wherein while the containers are rotated around the rotary center of the turntable, and the containers themselves are rotated around their own respective rotary centers at places where the containers are placed, thereby uniformly dispersing the fine particles contained in the liquid reagent.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for using successively joined carbon electrodes (that are not coated with a metal) shaped with a projection at one end and a socket at the other end. In order for the user to know the existing length of the electrode performing the gouging this electrode is marked with a notch, ink or material which changes its color at elevated temperatures at 80 mm, 60 mm, and 40 mm.

Abstract: A carbon rod assembly is disclosed which includes a first carbon rod piece having a projection at one end thereof and a second carbon rod piece having a socket hole at one end thereof. External and internal screw threads of 1/2 to 3 turns are formed on the projection and socket hole respectively, so that the first and second carbon rod pieces are firmly connected by inserting the projection into the socket hole and thereafter rotating the carbon rod pieces relative to each other.

Abstract: A carbon rod assembly is disclosed which includes a first carbon rod piece having a projection at one end thereof and a second carbon rod piece having a socket hole at one end thereof. External and internal screw threads of 1/2 to 3 turns are formed on the projection and socket hole respectively, so that the first and second carbon rod pieces are firmly connected by inserting the projection into the socket hole and thereafter rotating the carbon rod pieces relative to each other.

Abstract: A locking device for the scanning mechanism of a laser scriber of the type having a stationary laser head comprises an actuator operable in association with the table drive mechanism and a presser element operable under the action of the actuator to move one of the scanning tables against the guide structure provided for the table to prevent oscillatory or other displacement of the table in its guided direction during the scanning movement of the other table. As a result, a practically true straight line of scan is obtained, thereby eliminating the danger of the laser beam incising the work sheet beyond a definite range of allowance.