Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for determining a tumor. The method for determining a tumor comprises: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a subject tissue or cell with bisulfite (the subject tissue or cell is derived from a patient who is affected by a tumor and is determined as (i) having MSI-H of the tumor in MSI examination and/or no or reduced expression of MLH1 in the tumor in immunohistochemical examination, and (ii) having no mutation in MLH1 in genetic examination); 2) amplifying, by PCR, DNA comprising a portion or the whole of MLH1 promoter region from the bisulfite-treated DNA; 3) subjecting the PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography to obtain a detection signal; 4) determining whether or not the peak of the detection signal is a peak indicating highly methylated DNA; and 5) determining the tumor as a tumor derived from a patient without Lynch syndrome when the peak is determined as a peak indicating highly methylated DNA.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a rapid, convenient, and highly accurate method for determining the prognosis of cancer. The present invention provides a method for determining a tissue having renal cell carcinoma, comprising: (1) subjecting sample DNA to ion exchange chromatography, wherein the sample DNA is obtained by treating target genomic DNA prepared from a renal tissue of a subject with bisulfite, followed by PCR amplification; (2) calculating a derivative value of a detection signal of the chromatography; and (3) determining the renal tissue as being a tissue having renal cell carcinoma having poor prognosis when the derivative value calculated in the step (2) has two or more maximums.

Abstract: A mechanism for collecting a trace of a biological sample to be used for a biological sample analysis, and for preparing a diluted solution of the sample. A container for specimen preparation includes: a biological sample collecting device; and a container for sample dilution. The biological sample collecting device includes: a capillary tube having openings formed at both ends thereof; and a support member for supporting the capillary tube. The container for sample dilution includes: an opening; and a swirl flow generating member formed on an inner wall of the container for sample dilution. The capillary tube of the biological sample collecting device is arranged inside the container for sample dilution by the support member.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for determining a tumor. The method for determining a tumor comprises: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a subject tissue or cell with bisulfite (the subject tissue or cell is derived from a patient who is affected by a tumor and is determined as (i) having MSI-H of the tumor in MSI examination and/or no or reduced expression of MLH1 in the tumor in immunohistochemical examination, and (ii) having no mutation in MLH1 in genetic examination); 2) amplifying, by PCR, DNA comprising a portion or the whole of MLH1 promoter region from the bisulfite-treated DNA; 3) subjecting the PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography to obtain a detection signal; 4) determining whether or not the peak of the detection signal is a peak indicating highly methylated DNA; and 5) determining the tumor as a tumor derived from a patient without Lynch syndrome when the peak is determined as a peak indicating highly methylated DNA.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a rapid, convenient, and highly accurate method for determining the prognosis of cancer. The present invention provides a method for determining the prognosis of a renal cell carcinoma patient, comprising: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a renal tissue of a subject with bisulfite; (2) amplifying the bisulfite-treated DNA by PCR; (3) subjecting the obtained PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography; (4) obtaining the retention time of a detection signal obtained by the chromatography; and (5) determining the renal cell carcinoma of the subject as having poor prognosis when the result of the step (4) is shorter than a retention time serving as a reference.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a rapid, convenient, and highly accurate method for determining the prognosis of cancer. The present invention provides a method for determining the prognosis of a renal cell carcinoma patient, comprising: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a renal tissue of a subject with bisulfite; (2) amplifying the bisulfite-treated DNA by PCR; (3) subjecting the obtained PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography; (4) obtaining the retention time of a detection signal obtained by the chromatography; and (5) determining the renal cell carcinoma of the subject as having poor prognosis when the result of the step (4) is shorter than a retention time serving as a reference.

Abstract: Provided are a reagent supply method and device capable of using up a reagent in a container without a remnant to the extent possible, and supplying the reagent to an analysis device without mixing air bubbles even when the remaining amount of the reagent is extremely small. The reagent supply device includes: at least one reagent container including: a container body for storing a liquid reagent; and a reagent supply port arranged on the container body; and a support member for supporting the at least one reagent container so that the reagent supply port is positioned on a lower side of the container body. The reagent supply port is sealed by a plug including at least one nozzle penetration portion. The at least one nozzle penetration portion is formed of a material having a Shore hardness of from A5° to A90°.

Abstract: Provided is a chromatography column stored in a storage container. The storage container for the column includes: a container body for storing the chromatography column; and a cover threadedly engaging with the container body. A groove for threaded engagement with the cover is formed in an inner wall of the container body. Sealing members are arranged on an inner bottom surface of the container body and a lower surface of the cover, respectively. When the container body and the cover are threadedly engaged with each other, the cover enters the container body to cause the sealing members on the inner bottom surface of the container body and the lower surface of the cover to press both a lower surface and an upper surface of the column, to thereby fix the column inside the container body and seal a fluid passage hole of the column.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a rapid, convenient, and highly accurate method for determining the prognosis of cancer. The present invention provides a method for determining the prognosis of a renal cell carcinoma patient, comprising: (1) treating genomic DNA prepared from a renal tissue of a subject with bisulfite; (2) amplifying the bisulfite-treated DNA by PCR; (3) subjecting the obtained PCR amplification product to ion exchange chromatography; (4) obtaining the retention time of a detection signal obtained by the chromatography; and (5) determining the renal cell carcinoma of the subject as having poor prognosis when the result of the step (4) is shorter than a retention time serving as a reference.

Abstract: Provided is a chromatography column stored in a storage container. The storage container for the column includes: a container body for storing the chromatography column; and a cover threadedly engaging with the container body. A groove for threaded engagement with the cover is formed in an inner wall of the container body. Sealing members are arranged on an inner bottom surface of the container body and a lower surface of the cover, respectively. When the container body and the cover are threadedly engaged with each other, the cover enters the container body to cause the sealing members on the inner bottom surface of the container body and the lower surface of the cover to press both a lower surface and an upper surface of the column, to thereby fix the column inside the container body and seal a fluid passage hole of the column.

Abstract: Provided are a reagent supply method and device capable of using up a reagent in a container without a remnant to the extent possible, and supplying the reagent to an analysis device without mixing air bubbles even when the remaining amount of the reagent is extremely small. The reagent supply device includes: at least one reagent container including: a container body for storing a liquid reagent; and a reagent supply port arranged on the container body; and a support member for supporting the at least one reagent container so that the reagent supply port is positioned on a lower side of the container body. The reagent supply port is sealed by a plug including at least one nozzle penetration portion. The at least one nozzle penetration portion is formed of a material having a Shore hardness of from A5° to A90°.

Abstract: A mechanism for collecting a trace of a biological sample to be used for a biological sample analysis, and for preparing a diluted solution of the sample. A container for specimen preparation includes: a biological sample collecting device; and a container for sample dilution. The biological sample collecting device includes: a capillary tube having openings formed at both ends thereof; and a support member for supporting the capillary tube. The container for sample dilution includes: an opening; and a swirl flow generating member formed on an inner wall of the container for sample dilution. The capillary tube of the biological sample collecting device is arranged inside the container for sample dilution by the support member.