A small transistor type sensor capable of detecting a specific compound such as oxytocin is provided. The transistor type sensor includes a detection electrode that detects a compound by capturing the compound, and a field effect transistor that has a gate electrode connected to the detection electrode, wherein a surface of the detection electrode is provided with a film of a molecularly imprinted polymer having a space to which the compound is allowed to bond.

The application is about a method for diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a human subject, comprising providing a device comprising a reagent for determining the concentration of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in a biological sample from the subject; and measuring the concentration of AVP in the sample using the device. Disclosed is also a method for diagnosing ASD, comprising providing a first device comprising a reagent for determining a concentration of AVP and a second device comprising a reagent for determining a concentration of one or more analytes selected from arginine vasopressin receptor 1a and oxytocin receptor, to determine the concentrations of AVP and of the one or more analytes. Disclosed is also a method of predicting severity of ASD in a male human subject, comprising providing a device for determining the concentration of AVP in cerebrospinal fluid, said device comprising a reagent for determining presence or absence of AVP; and measuring the concentration of AVP in a biological sample from the subject using the device. Disclosed is also a method of predicting likelihood of an ASD in a human subject, comprising providing a device for determining the concentration of AVP in cerebrospinal fluid, said device comprising a reagent for determining presence or absence of AVP; and measuring the concentration of AVP in cerebrospinal fluid using the device.

Method of obtaining and/or verifying a binder to prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1) or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin (SEQ ID NO. 2), comprising at least one of the steps of: a) generating the binder using a developer comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 6 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); b) determining whether the binder is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence of at least 4 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); c) selecting and optionally isolating the binder from a plurality of binders which is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); d) carrying out binding assays with the binder in order to determine the ex vivo stability of prepro-Vasopressin or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin, in a biological sample; e) carrying out binding assays with the binder and another binder for comparison purposes in order to determine the concentration of prepro-Vasopressin or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin, in a biological sample; wherein the C-terminal part consists of amino acids 138 to 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1), in order to obtain a binder or a mixture of binders capable of binding to an epitope contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to amino acids 138 to 163 but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1).

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple purifying method, measuring method, and kit. The present invention is an oxytocin purifying method including treating a sample with an acid or a salt thereof, and treating the sample treated with the acid or the salt thereof with a hydrophobic carrier, and related to the purifying method, measuring method including the purifying method, and kit, in which the acid or the salt thereof is at least one or more acids or salts thereof selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydrogensulfate, potassium hydrogensulfate, lithium hydrogensulfate, ammonium sulfate, and a mixture thereof, and the hydrophobic carrier is a hydrophobic carrier having at least one or more functional groups on the surface, selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene glycol group, and a phenyl group.

The invention relates to a method for risk stratification for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in particular acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and angina pectoris (AP), wherein provasopressin (proAVP) or fragments and partial peptides thereof, in particular copeptin or neurophysin II, is determined by an in vitro diagnosis.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple purifying method, measuring method, and kit. The present invention is an oxytocin purifying method including treating a sample with an acid or a salt thereof, and treating the sample treated with the acid or the salt thereof with a hydrophobic carrier, and related to the purifying method, measuring method including the purifying method, and kit, in which the acid or the salt thereof is at least one or more acids or salts thereof selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydrogensulfate, potassium hydrogensulfate, lithium hydrogensulfate, ammonium sulfate, and a mixture thereof, and the hydrophobic carrier is a hydrophobic carrier having at least one or more functional groups on the surface, selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene glycol group, and a phenyl group.

Method of obtaining and/or verifying a binder to prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1) or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin (SEQ ID NO. 2), comprising at least one of the steps of: a) generating the binder using a developer comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 6 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); b) determining whether the binder is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence of at least 4 amino acids in length contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); c) selecting and optionally isolating the binder from a plurality of binders which is capable of binding to an amino acid sequence contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal part but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1); d) carrying out binding assays with the binder in order to determine the ex vivo stability of prepro-Vasopressin or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin, in a biological sample; e) carrying out binding assays with the binder and another binder for comparison purposes in order to determine the concentration of prepro-Vasopressin or fragments thereof of at least 6 amino acids in length, including Copeptin, in a biological sample; wherein the C-terminal part consists of amino acids 138 to 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1), in order to obtain a binder or a mixture of binders capable of binding to an epitope contained in an amino acid sequence corresponding to amino acids 138 to 163 but lacking amino acid 164 of prepro-Vasopressin (SEQ ID NO. 1).

Subject of the present invention are assays and in vitro methods for the prediction of the risk of a subject for contracting metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes mellitus and for diagnosing metabolic syndrome, comprising determining the level of arginine vasopressin pro-hormone or fragments thereof in a sample of a subject.