Abstract: A method of testing for an analyte in an individual comprises providing colour information obtained from a digital image of a coloured reagent on an analyte test strip, the coloured reagent having been generated in accordance with analyte in a test sample, converting the colour information from the image into an analyte level, recording the analyte level in association with user-specific information (e.g. a QR code), repeating the above steps to obtain two or more records of analyte levels for the same user at different times and using the records to monitor personal health or to predict the likely development of a disease or condition or to diagnose a disease or condition or to monitor a treatment regime associated with variation in analyte levels in saliva.

Abstract: An example embodiment is an apparatus for measuring antioxidant presence comprising a solid media, and a reagent carried by the media, the reagent reactive with at least one antioxidant to cause changes in light that is incident upon the reagent while carried by the solid media.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a compound capable of reducing the uric acid level in a mammal for the prevention and/or the treatment of IL-I? driven lung pathology, particularly to treat lung inflammation such as chronic fibrosis, COPD and interstitial fibrosis and other IL-1? driven lung pathologies including those of autoimmune origin. Preferred compounds capable of reducing the uric acid level are selected from the group consisting of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as allopurinol, recombinant enzyme uricase and uricosuric compound capable of enhancing uric acid excretion, such as probenecid. The invention further relates to a method for identifying in vitro whether a patient presents an IL-1? driven lung pathology or is at risk to develop an IL-1? driven lung pathology, or for the screening of a compound for treating an IL-1? driven lung pathology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing improved hydrogen peroxide assays, as well as droplet actuators for conducting such assays. The droplet actuators of the invention may be used to conduct droplet-based hydrogen peroxide assays. They may also be associated with detectors for analyzing the results of the hydrogen peroxide assays of the invention. They may be provided as components of systems which control droplet operations and/or detection for conducting the hydrogen peroxide assays. Measurement by the detector may be used to quantify the presence of an analyte in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preventing the progression of joint damage in a subject having hyper-uricemia and who has gout thereof by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one xanthine oxidoreductase inhibiting compound or salt thereof. Moreover, the present invention also relates to methods of preventing joint damage in a subject having hyperuricemia and who has gout by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one xanthine oxidoreductase inhibiting compound or salt thereof.

Abstract: An example embodiment is an apparatus for measuring antioxidant presence comprising a solid media, and a reagent carried by the media, the reagent reactive with at least one antioxidant to cause changes in light that is incident upon the reagent while carried by the solid media.

Abstract: Methods of treating a wound, an ulcer and/or a burn responsive to inhibition of xanthine oxidoreductase to thereby reduce uric acid in an animal are provided wherein the methods include topical administration of a therapeutic agent effective for treatment of the wound, the ulcer and/or the burn wherein the therapeutic agent inhibits xanthine oxidoreductase to thereby reduce uric acid in the wound, ulcer and/or burn. Also provided are methods and kits for determining the severity of a wound, a burn and/or an ulcer including the step of detecting one or more of (i) a level of uric acid; (ii) a level of one or more uric acid precursors; and (iii) a presence, or absence of or level of xanthine oxidoreductase.

Abstract: A method of determining the concentration of a test fluid sample using a paper-based microfluidic system having a plurality of hydrophilic testing zones, including: a) depositing said test fluid sample on at least one said testing zone; b) depositing a plurality of standard fluid samples or reactives of differing known concentrations on other said testing zones; c) introducing an indicator solution to each said test zone to thereby react with the deposited fluid sample and result in a colour intensity change which is a function of the fluid sample concentration; and d) comparing the differences in colour intensity between the test fluid sample and the standard fluid samples or reactives to thereby determine the concentration of said test fluid sample.

Abstract: A field effect transistor including a gate insulation portion, an organic semiconductor portion, a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein when a voltage is applied to the gate at 70° C. for 5.0±0.1 hours so that the field strength in the gate insulation portion would be 100±5 MV/m, the change in the threshold voltage is within 5 V. The organic semiconductor portion has a high driving stability, of which the change in characteristics by driving is thereby small.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a compound capable of reducing the uric acid level in a mammal for the prevention and/or the treatment of IL-1? driven lung pathology, particularly to treat lung inflammation such as chronic fibrosis, COPD and interstitial fibrosis and other IL-1? driven lung pathologies including those of autoimmune origin. Preferred compounds capable of reducing the uric acid level are selected from the group consisting of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as allopurinol, recombinant enzyme uricase and uricosuric compound capable of enhancing uric acid excretion, such as probenecid. The invention further relates to a method for identifying in vitro whether a patient presents an IL-1? driven lung pathology or is at risk to develop an IL-1? driven lung pathology, or for the screening of a compound for treating an IL-1? driven lung pathology.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for acquiring an infrared spectrum of a sample having or suspected to have an amide I band, an amide II band, an amide III band, an amide A band, an OH stretching region or a combination thereof. A representative method includes providing a sample; providing an internal reflecting element (IRE) with a functionalized tip; contacting the sample with the IRE to form a sample-IRE interface; directing a beam of infrared (IR) radiation through the IRE under conditions such that the IR radiation interacts with the sample-IRE interface once; recording a reflectance profile over a range of preselected frequencies, whereby an infrared spectrum of the of a sample having or suspected of having an amide I band, an amide II band, an amide III band, an amide A band, an OH stretching region or a combination thereof, disposed in an aqueous solution is acquired.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby the concentration of a blood substitute, such as cross-linked hemoglobin, in a serum or plasma specimen is rapidly and accurately identified and quantified. The method further takes the measured concentration of the blood substitute and uses it to correct for its effect, if any, on a measured analyte concentration, e.g., serum/plasma total protein. Further, the method allows for the determination of the concentration of true hemoglobin in the presence of blood substitutes. The method is carried out in respect of samples contained in a primary or secondary labelled tube, or a pipette tip used to dispense serum or plasma in a blood analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interference-eliminating membrane for use in detecting uric acid in a sample, comprising a compound for inhibiting or shading uric acid interfering substances, or derivatives thereof, and a carrier having an absorption property and permeability for the sample; and a process for preparing the interference-eliminating membrane. The present invention also provides a test strip for use in detecting uric acid in a sample, comprising a reagent reaction layer or optional interference-eliminating membranes and/or support layers; and a kit comprising the test strip of the invention.

Abstract: A method of determining intracellular levels of water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates are prepared from an individual and analyzed by HPLC, either directly or after extraction with organic solvents to extract fat-soluble antioxidants. The levels of antioxidants are compared to normal levels as an indication of the overall oxidative health of the individual.

Abstract: A sample presentation device, with a surface-bound complex including at least one molecule which chemically modifies a biomolecule, is prepared and exposed to a biomolecule. The molecular weights of the chemically modified biomolecule is then determined by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Techniques for the detection of disease of the central nervous system, pacularly of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or "mad cow disease", scrapie and related states, are provided based upon the detection of a factor present in the urine of affected animals or humans. That factor is defined in terms of elution data from an ion exchange column and by electrochemical characteristics.

Abstract: A method for assessing or determining alcohol consumption rates including using a blood specimen from a human subject to develop an individual blood constituent panel; comparing the individual panel with a reference blood constituent panel to provide categories corresponding to rates of alcohol consumption; and identifying the category of consumption rate. The methods of the invention can be varied through modification of one of several statistical models used therewith to preferentially weigh the analysis and identify one consumption category over another. Multi-variate and similar such statistical techniques correlate comparisons of individual/subject blood and reference panel constituents with recognized consumptions rates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents and processes for the preparation of diagnostics which use a chromogenic redox detection system and whose chromogenic redox detection system essentially remains unaffected by interference from reducing. compounds in the sample material.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in biological fluids or an aqueous solution which involves contacting the solution with an oxidation-reduction indicator and a transition metal complex. The transition metal complex is either a creatinine coordinated with iron or a guanidine coordinated with iron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents and processes for the preparation of diagnostics which use a chromogenic redox detection system and whose chromogenic redox detection system essentially remains unaffected by interference from reducing compounds in the sample material.

Abstract: The method of distributing biological material suspended in a liquid sample comprises the steps of directing the liquid sample into a centrifuge sample chamber along a tortuous path of vertically spaced surfaces in the chamber, each of the surfaces being in communication with a discharge opening from the chamber to one surface of the microscope slide, continuing to direct the sample into the chamber until some of the biological material is deposited on portions of at least one of the surfaces and centrifuging the sample chamber whereby the biological material on each of the surfaces of the chamber passes through the discharge opening on the one surface of the slide.

Abstract: The present method for evaluating the extent of a lithogenesis process intensity and for determining the composition of lithogenic urate salts in urolithiasis resides in adding an aqueous protein solution to a urine sample in a ratio of 9:1, 7:1 or 5:1, respectively; applying the mixture thus-prepared as a drop onto a smooth surface for drying for at least 24 hours; determining the nature of crystallization of urate salts in the marginal zone of the urine sample, the presence of separate, singly occurring crystals, conglomerates of crystals and a complete crystallization of this marginal zone being indicative, respectively, of a weak, moderate or a highly pronounced extent of a lithogenesis process intensity; the composition of crystalline formations is determined, while, simultaneously, establishing the constitution of urate salts in the central zone of that same urine sample, followed by carrying out a comparative analysis to said two compositions to determine the composition of lithogenic urate salts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to use of an imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule composed of a lysine and an arginine residue crosslinked with a pentose sugar for assessing the biological age of a tissue.

Abstract: A cytology chamber comprises a sample holding portion, a funnel through which the fluid sample is directed into the holding portion of the chamber, a generally flat, solid flange member defining an upright support surface and having an opening through the flange member in communication with the holding portion, and baffle plates in the holding portion define a tortuous path of flow for collecting at least some of the sediment in the fluid prior to reaching the bottom of the holding portion.

Abstract: N-sulfoalkylaniline derivatives in which at least one sulfoalkyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms is attached to the nitrogen atom which are useful as dyestuff forming substances, a composition for determining the presence of peroxides using such compounds and the process for determination of peroxides using such compounds.