Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for the separation of a serum or plasma, which comprises a cyclopentadiene oligomer, can be used for separating a serum or plasma by utilizing the difference in specific gravity among blood components, and enables to provide a serum or plasma having no oily component floating therein after centrifugal separation. The composition comprises a trimellitic acid ester and/or a pyromellitate ester and a cyclopentadiene oligomer. Alternatively, the composition comprises an aromatic esterified compound and a cyclopentadiene oligomer as the main ingredients and additionally comprises an inorganic micropowder and an organic gelling agent as thixotropy-imparting agents, wherein the organic gelling agent is contained in an amount of less than 0.06 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the cyclopentadiene oligomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and methods for hypothermic collection of whole blood, and components thereof, which can extend the holding time of blood beyond the current useable limit. Additionally, blood can be drawn directly into a hypothermic preservation solution without the addition of standard anticoagulants. This is enabled by providing sustained cellular viability under hypothermic conditions using a nutrient matrix devoid of animal proteins and containing energy substrates, free-radical scavengers, and impermeants that is ionically balanced for storage of biologic materials at low temperatures to prevent cellular stress-induced apoptosis.

Abstract: An oxygen depletion device. The device has a cartridge; a plurality of hollow fibers extending within the cartridge from an entrance to an exit thereof; an amount of an oxygen scavenger packed within the cartridge and contiguous to and in between the plurality of hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells. There is another embodiment of an oxygen depletion device and method for removing oxygen from red blood cells.

Abstract: Methods (300), devices, and systems of processing blood are described. The method (300) comprises the steps of: obtaining (312) blood from a patient coupled to a single blood processing device to form a closed loop between the patient and the blood processing device; collecting (314) bulk mononuclear blood cells from the blood by leukapheresis implemented using the blood processing device in the closed loop; and enriching (316) concurrently target cells separated from non-target cells in the bulk mononuclear blood cells using the blood processing device in the closed loop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing the automatic fluorescence pattern recognition in immunodiagnosis. In this method, in addition to or together with the fluorescence dye, one or more other indicator dyes for the identification of relevant structures are incubated before an image is taken with a camera.

Abstract: A method for detecting human or animal blood traces on a surface is described. The method is fundamentally based on the reaction of luminol and includes the preliminary operation of atomizing an inorganic powder suspension, such as titania, silica, alumina, hydroxyapatite, or the like, onto the surface to be investigated, after which a composition of luminol, a peroxidic oxidizing agent and an alkaline agent in an amount providing a pH within the range of 10 to 14, is atomized on the surface. A kit for carrying out the detection method of the invention is also described.

Abstract: A method for classifying particles according to one or more particle characteristics. The method includes operating multiple flow cytometer units to form separate fluid streams that each contain a mixture of particles and to classify particles in the mixtures by interrogating the streams with beams of electromagnetic radiation. A common processor receives and processes information from the units and sends a control signal in real time to adjust the unit's operation as a function of the information received by the common processor.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein relate to various polymers. Some of the polymer embodiments are heparin binding polymers. Some embodiments of the heparin binding polymers can be employed to bind to heparin for methods such as separating, purifying, removing, and/or isolating heparin and heparin like molecules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing enhanced blood serum with concentrated growth factors and/or prophylactically and therapeutically active proteins. An autologous blood product is obtained from a donor and then incubated into a containment device (sterile container) that includes a source of cells or tissue (for example, autologous, allogeneic, or xenographic tissue, or combinations thereof). The cells from the injected fluid (autologous blood product) interact/incubate with the source of cells or tissue inside the containment device, to produce a serum that is loaded with autologous proteins, growth factors, and cytokines. The autologous blood product may be a fluid and/or composition that includes blood, whole blood, autologous conditioned plasma, platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, bone marrow aspirate, bone marrow concentrate and stem cells, among others, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention discloses an immunosuppressive cell-capturing material comprising a molded body that includes: a readily hydrolyzable condensation polymer having an amino group; a poorly hydrolyzable polymer coating the readily hydrolyzable condensation polymer; and a ligand-conjugated poorly hydrolyzable polymer coating the poorly hydrolyzable polymer, wherein the ligand is at least one selected from the group consisting of a NH2 group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, a polyamine residue, a basic cyclic polypeptide residue, an aminoglycosidic compound residue, chloroquine, primaquine, mefloquine, imiquimod, and nystatin, and wherein the content of the amino group in the molded body is 150 ?mol/g or less. The invention also discloses an immunosuppressive cell-capturing column filled with the capturing material.

Abstract: A device for identifying infection by the malaria parasite includes a microfluidic device having an inlet and an outlet and a diagnostic channel interposed between the inlet and the outlet. The diagnostic channel includes a contact surface and a sample pump configured to pump a RBC-containing sample into the inlet. The contact surface may be at least one of hydrophilic and roughened. Malaria infected RBCs (miRBCs) interact with the contact surface and become immobilized thereon whereas non-infected RBCs continue to flow downstream in the diagnostic channel.

Abstract: Methods of identifying subjects having, or at risk of developing, diabetes, obesity, and/or hypertension are disclosed, as well as methods of identifying biomarkers for diabetes, obesity, and/or hypertension, and biomarkers identified by such methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising desiccated biologics comprising a cell, protein, virus, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, or lipid, or any combination thereof, along with at least one membrane penetrable sugar, and at least one membrane impenetrable sugar, wherein the moisture content is from 5% to 95%, and to methods of preparing the same, and to methods of treating animals using the same.

Abstract: Compressible and concentrated suspensions containing gas-filled microbubbles, uses thereof for delivering gas into a subject in need thereof, and systems for delivering the compressible suspensions. The gas-filled microbubbles each comprise a gas core surrounded by a lipid membrane, which includes (a) one or more lipids, such as 1,2-disteroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) or dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and (b) one or more stabilizing detergents, such as poloxamer 188, Pluronic F108, Pluronic F127, polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether, cholesterol, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and sodium deoxycholate (NaDoc).

Abstract: A method of cryopreserving sperm cells which may include cooling the quantity of sperm cells to a holding temperature, maintaining the sperm cells substantially at the holding temperature for a period, and supercooling the sperm cells by cooling the sperm cells at a first cooling rate to a temperature that approaches a critical temperature zone at which ice crystal formation and changes in osmotic pressure damage sperm cells and then cooling the sperm at a second cooling rate faster than said first cooling rate through said critical temperature zone.

Abstract: The invention discloses a multi-layer cell freezing vial and method of ohtention thereof. The method of obtention is a cell freezing and thawing process that avoids the need of incorporating new fresh medium to the thawed cells for the dilution of the cryoprotective agent. This is achieved by the previous freezing of an extra layer of culture medium in addition to the frozen ceil solution containing said cryoprotective agent. At the time of thawing, the culture medium and the cell solution mix themselves, turning the concentration of said cryoprotective agent to a non-toxic dilution and achieving the effective exclusion of said cryoprotective agent from the living cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of localizing biofunctional moieties (F) to surfaces and synthetic constructs of the general structure F-S-S? for use in such methods. F is the biofunctional moiety, S is a spacer covalently linking F to S?, and S? is sterol. In particular, the invention relates to the preparation of biofunctional surfaces and surface modified biological structures including cells (kodecytes), enveloped viruses (kodevirions) and liposomes or virosomes (kodesomes).

Abstract: The present invention is a method of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood including the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The fibrin lysis reagent is preferably composed of plasminogen and streptokinase frozen in coincident relation until the fibrin lysis reagent is needed whereby streptokinase enzymatically reacts with plasminogen to form plasmin upon thawing. The plasminogen is suspended in an aqueous salt solution prior to freezing including NaCl and Na3PO4.

Abstract: A method of processing animal sperm cells that includes: collecting sperm cells from a male animal; sorting the sperm cells to obtain a quantity of sperm cells having a desired characteristic, the quantity of sorted sperm cells being contained in a first volume of fluid having a first concentration of sperm cells; and subjecting the sperm cells to concentration steps in which the concentration of the sperm cells is increased to a second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: Lysis/resealing process for preparing erythrocytes which contain an active ingredient (e.g. aspariginase or inositol hexaphosphate), the process comprising the following steps: (1) placing a globular concentrate in suspension in an isotonic solution having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65%, with refrigeration at from +1 to +8° C., (2) measuring the osmotic fragility based on a sample of erythrocytes from that same globular concentrate, preferably on a sample of the suspension obtained in step (1), (3) lysis and internalization procedure of the active ingredient, inside the same chamber, at a temperature which is constantly maintained at from +1 to +8° C., comprising allowing the erythrocyte suspension having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65% and a hypotonic lysis solution which is refrigerated at from +1 to +8° C.

Abstract: A method and system for arresting objects in an array of chambers including, applying a solution to at least one chamber in an array of chambers, in a manner that does not connect two chambers, such that at least one object in the solution is arrested in said at least one chamber, the chambers having a volume of 0.5 microliters-3 microliters.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.

Abstract: In particular, a disposable cartridge is disclosed that is suitable for use with a clinical or diagnostic point-of-care device and capable of performing diagnostic and analytical functions including filtering samples such as plasma from whole blood and running assays and collecting measurements of analytes or biomarkers.

Abstract: Generally, compositions and methods for handling processed sperm populations including samples that are freshly collected, transported as fresh samples, as well as samples that are frozen and thawed, those sorted into one or more subpopulations, and those that are otherwise processed or handled that impose trauma on the sperm cell. Such trauma can reduce the motility, fertility, viability and overall integrity of the sperm and reduce the sperm's ability to fertilize an egg, grow into a healthy embryo and produce a healthy offspring. The novel compounds described can be added to the sperm cell sample to reduce the traumatic effects of physical stress during mild as well as extensive sperm cell processing, methods of using the compounds in standard sperm processing procedures, the end products made from these methods including sperm and embryos, as well as methods of using those end products in assisted reproductive biology techniques in animals.

Abstract: A droplet interference system for sorting cells and a method for the same. The droplet interference system including a droplet generating system for producing a droplet which hits a fluid stream causing a selected segment of the fluid stream, and the cells contained therein, to be separated from the fluid stream.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing an antigen-presenting platelet. Also provided herein are methods of eliciting an immune response in a subject using the antigen-presenting platelets described herein. Also provided are methods of screening for an immune response elicited by an antigen-presenting platelet. Further provided are isolated populations of platelets that present a selected antigen produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention concern compositions that induce and/or improve an immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods of making and using compositions that include epitopes of the HCV E2 structural protein involved in promoting or inhibiting neutralization of HCV are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatuses and methods for isolating or recovering a subset of blood cells such as leukocytes and/or circulating tumor cells from blood samples by filtration without changing the intracellular concentration of a therapeutic agent such as an anticancer drug. Contrary to the art, the apparatuses and methods of the present invention advantageously provide cell lysates from recovered cells such as leukocytes and/or circulating tumor cells without substantial dilution of a therapeutic agent such as an anticancer drug.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a separation system and a separation material for efficiently separating white blood cells or mononuclear cells from a biological fluid containing blood cell components. White blood cells or mononuclear cells can be efficiently separated by contacting a biological fluid containing blood cell components with a separation material having an average fiber diameter of at least 2.0 ?m but not more than 6.0 ?m and an air permeability coefficient M of at least 6.2 but not more than 35 to capture white blood cells on the separation material, and recovering the captured white blood cells or mononuclear cells using a detachment solution.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating blood monocytes to produce functional antigen presenting dendritic cells. An extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood is treated to separate the blood into a plasma component containing proteins, a platelet component and a buffy coat component. A plastic treatment device is provided having plastic channels that allow transmittance of light to the interior of the plastic device and a light source that produces light of a wave length selected to activate the photoactivatable agent. The plasma component containing proteins is first pumped through the plastic treatment device, followed by the platelet component and finally the buffy coat component. The resulting treated cells may be incubated or reinfused directly to the subject.

Abstract: In the method for producing at least one therapeutically effective protein or a protein mixture in a container, the container is filled with a body fluid and gold particles and incubated, and in this process the therapeutically effective protein is formed in the body fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of blood coagulation. Novel oxazolidinone derivatives of the general formula (I) processes for their preparation and their use as medicinally active compounds for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of disorders are described.

Abstract: Methods for improving the functionality and/or fertility of sperm, for example, by enhancing motility and extending the lifespan of sperm in the female reproductive tract, by adding PEG to the surface of the sperm are provided. Such methods may be used in artificial insemination to reduce the number of sperm needed for insemination and to improve conception rates.

Abstract: A method for washing platelets includes introducing anticoagulant into a platelet product container, drawing re-anticoagulated platelet product from the platelet product container, and introducing it into a centrifuge bowl. The centrifuge bowl separates the platelets from the supernatant in which they are suspended. The method then washes the platelets by introducing wash solution into the centrifuge bowl. As the wash solution is introduced into the bowl, it displaces the supernatant from the bowl and into a waste container. The method then introduces platelet additive solution into the centrifuge bowl, which displaces the wash solution from the centrifuge bowl and into the waste container and further wash the platelets. The method then repeatedly accelerates and decelerates the centrifuge bowl to resuspend the platelets in the platelet additive solution.

Abstract: A sperm cell process system providing to generate sperm cell insemination samples having controlled sperm cell fertility characteristics of sperm cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the handling of processed sperm including samples that are freshly collected, those transported as fresh samples, samples that are frozen and thawed, those sorted into one or more subpopulations, and those that are otherwise processed or handled that impose trauma on the cell. Trauma can reduce the motility, fertility, viability and overall integrity of the sperm and reduce the ability to fertilize, produce an embryo and a healthy offspring. The present invention relates to novel compounds that can be added to the sperm cell sample to reduce the traumatic effects of physical stress during mild as well as extensive sperm cell processing, methods of using the compounds in standard sperm processing procedures, the end products made from these methods including sperm and embryos, as well as methods of using those end products in assisted reproductive biology techniques in animals.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel methods for modulating inflammatory and/or immune responses. Such methods utilize compositions comprising extraembryonic cells (herein referred to as EE cells) including but not limited to extraembryonic HLA-G positive cells (herein referred to as EHP cells) and amnion-derived multipotent progenitor cells (herein referred to as AMP cells); compositions comprising expanded EE cell populations, and/or cell lysates and/or conditioned media derived therefrom, alone or in combination with each other and/or in combination with various extracellular matrices and/or devices and/or other suitable active agents.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of making a cell-containing product having a uniform amount of cells therein. The method comprises pooling red blood cells from a plurality of blood units, and inactivating any pathogen contained therein. A storage solution added to the cellular component results in a cell-containing product that is essentially pathogen and white blood cell free and has an extended shelf life of about 42 to about 100 days. The cell-containing product is further divided into units which comprise a uniform dose of RBCs per unit.

Abstract: A method for detecting or monitoring the presence of protein fragments, cleaved at novel cleaving sites near the N-terminal part of the collagen IX alpha 1 chain, close to the C-terminal part of the NC4 domain, and at the COL3 domain close to the NC3 domain. Neoepitope antibodies against the neoepitopes were created by the cleavages and an epitope in the cleaved N-terminal part of the NC4 domain unique to collagen IX. A diagnostic kit and antibodies useful in carrying out such methods are also presented.

Abstract: Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The barrier rapidly hardens forming a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.

Abstract: A method of separating blood by providing a horizontal substrate having a plurality of oxygen plasma-treated polypropylene pillars extending from the surface of a polypropylene film, depositing a whole blood sample on an upper surface of the substrate, collecting red blood cells on the upper surface of the pillars and permitting remaining components of said whole blood sample to flow downward and through the pillars.

Abstract: This document provides compositions and methods for cell separation. These reagents and techniques specifically agglutinate cells via surface antigen recognition and can be used to recover rare cell types in high yield.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating cells using magnetic force includes: a separation channel portion including ferromagnetic particles, and provided with a flow path through which a cell fluid containing a plurality of cells having at least one of diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties; and a magnetic field controller that generates a magnetic field within the flow path so that the cells in the cell fluid flow within the flow path and are separated by height by a magnetic field. Accordingly, there are provided an apparatus for separating cells using magnetic force and a cell separation method using the same, by which cells can be easily separated using magnetic force.

Abstract: The invention mainly relates to the mass spectrometric identification of pathogens in blood cultures from blood-stream infections (septicemia). The invention provides a method with which microbial pathogens can be separated in purified form from blood after a relatively brief cultivation in a blood culture flask, without any interfering human proteins or any residual fractions of blood particles such as erythrocytes and leukocytes, and can be directly identified by mass spectrometric measurement of their protein profiles. The method is based on the use of relatively strong tensides to destroy the blood particles by dissolving the weak cell membranes and most of the internal structures of the blood particles; in spite of the fact that tensides are regarded as strong ionization inhibitors in MALDI and other ionization processes required for mass spectrometric measurements.

Abstract: The disclosed methods use a multi-phase system to separate samples according to the density of an analyte of interest. The method uses a multi-phase system that comprises two or more phase-separated solutions and a phase component such as a surfactant or polymer. The density of the analyte of interest differs from the densities of the rest of the sample. The density of the analyte of interest is substantially the same as one or more phases. Thus, when the sample is introduced to the multi-phase system, the analyte of interest migrates to the phase having the same density as the analyte of interest, passing through one or more phases sequentially.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for treating blood, a set of a diagnostic kit comprising the same to detect an autoimmune disease, and a method of monitoring an autoimmune disease using the same. An autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis can be early diagnosed, and disease progression and a treatment response can be precisely predicted, using a technique of amplifying enzyme by stimulating blood obtained from patient.

Abstract: Endothelial cells are detected in a blood sample by enriching the endothelial cells from the blood sample followed by performing on the enriched endothelial cells an immunoassay capable of detecting antigens expressed by the endothelial cells. The immunoassay is capable of detecting antigen expressed from 300 endothelial cells per milliliter of blood. The method can be used for assaying mature circulating endothelial cells or circulating endothelial progenitor cells.

Abstract: The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase. The amount of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reaction is measured for determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Subpopulations of spore-like cells expressing specific cell surface and gene expression markers are provided. In one embodiment, the cells express at least one cell surface or gene expression marker selected from the group consisting of Oct4, nanog, Zfp296, cripto, Gdf3, UtF1, Ecat1, Esg1, Sox2, Pax6, nestin, SCA-1, CD29, CD34, CD90, B1 integrin, cKit, SP-C, CC10, SF1, DAX1, and SCG10. Also provided are methods for purifying a subpopulation of spore-like cells of interest from a population of spore-like cells, and methods for inducing differentiation of the isolated spore-like cells into cells of endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal origin. The spore-like cells can be used to generate cells originating from all three germ layers and can be used to treat a patient who has a deficiency of functional cells in any of a wide variety of tissues, including the retina, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, nervous system, or endocrine system.

Abstract: A free-flowing anti-coagulant powder composition, the anti-coagulant composition containing heparin and a bulking agent that is lyophilized or spray dried and ground into a powder. The powdered anti-coagulant composition can be dry filled into syringes and other blood collections systems for rapid dissolution and mixing with collected blood sample without agitation of the container. The formulation may also retain a portion of the initial moisture, which may improve the shelf life and stability of the composition.