A method of detecting the expression level of miRNA markers in a biological sample obtained from a mammal is provided. The method incudes the steps of i) detecting the expression level of one or more miRNA markers selected from the group of miR-199a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-340-5p, let-7b-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p and miR-103a-3p, in the biological sample; ii) detecting the expression level of at least one miRNA reference marker selected from miR-148b-3p and miR-30e-5p in the biological sample; and iii) normalizing the expression level of the miRNA marker(s) against the expression level of the miRNA reference marker in the sample and in a control. The method is useful for the diagnosis of endometriosis, monitoring of patient response to treatment, and assessment of disease progression and/or severity.

The present invention relates to a method of assessing the wound healing potency of a mesenchymal stem cell population. In addition, the present invention concerns a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for producing a stem cell population under cGMP conditions and a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for producing a stem cell population for subsequent pharmaceutical administration. Further, the present invention relates to a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for generating a master cell bank and to a method of identifying a tissue suitable as starting material for producing a mesenchymal stem cell population for pharmaceutical use.

The invention relates to a mass-spectrometric method to determine microbial resistances to antibiotics, in which the microbes are cultured in a medium comprising an antibiotic, and a mass spectrum of the microbes is acquired after they have been cultured. The method is characterized by the fact that any microbial growth taking place during the culture is mass-spectrometrically determined with the aid of a reference substance, which is added in a dosed amount and is co-measured in the mass spectrum, wherein a growth in microbes indicates the resistance to the antibiotic.

Aqueous calibration or quality control reagents that include urea are disclosed; the reagents may further include at least one amino acid-containing composition to provide pH stability thereto. Methods of production and use thereof are also disclosed.

A method for screening substances for their ability to reduce malodours from emanations from an animal, said method comprising determining the effect of said substances on the C-S lyase activity of bacteria that emit volatile sulphuric compounds (VSCs), by contacting a test substance with a sample comprising said bacteria or a supernatant obtainable from a culture of said bacteria in the presence of a substrate for a C-S lyase, detecting the levels of thiol production from said bacteria, and comparing the results with those obtained from similar bacteria in the absence of said substance.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of assisting diagnosis of the health condition of a subject by correcting variation in an amount of a collected disease marker, which is caused by variation in the skin barrier function of the subject, and acquiring information reflecting the health condition of the subject accurately, and to solve the problem, the present invention provides a method of assisting diagnosis of a disease in a subject using a disease marker and a reference marker, the method including: applying, to a skin surface of the subject, a sheet capable of generating an attractive force due to electrostatic interaction between the sheet and each of the disease and reference markers; detaching the sheet from the skin surface; measuring the amount of each of the disease and reference markers that are attached to the sheet; and acquiring information on the disease in the subject based on a value obtained by correcting the measured amount of the disease marker with the measured amount of the reference marker, wherein the reference marker is annexin A2.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices and kits suitable for high throughput screenings of extracellular pyridine nucleotide levels, such as NAD.sup.+ levels which are suitable for monitoring pyridine nucleotide induced slowdown of not only pathogenesis of multiple systemic diseases but also aging. In particular, assaying methods quantifying extracellular pyridine nucleotide(s), such as NAD.sup.+, in the low micromolar to the low nanomolar range in a sample that may have been subjected to long term storage are disclosed using a two-step enzymatic cycling reaction employing an oxidoreductase such as alcohol dehydrogenase. A modified revised simulated body fluid is also disclosed that is employed as a standard matrix to optimise enzymatic activity, linearity and/or sensitivity of the methods, devices and kits.

A linearity standard includes a plurality of calibration solutions, each calibration solution having a different level of a reactant having a known response in a test strip and meter combination, and an electronic storage medium for storing calibration instructions and known responses for each solution of the plurality of calibration solutions.

The present disclosure relates to the field of cancer biomarkers and treatments, and more particularly to methods of predicting susceptibility to cancer treatments, in particular treatments with Axl inhibitors. Also disclosed are products, such as kits, having utility in performing the disclosed methods.

Methods for determining protein and/or peptide concentration or molecular parameter, such as the extinction coefficient, and uses thereof.