The present application relates to: a composition for diagnosing a Helicobacter pylori-associated disease, the composition comprising a preparation for measuring the expression amount of a gene whose expression is increased or decreased by Helicobacter pylori infection; and a use thereof.

A method of detecting a bacterium of the genus Helicobacter, which includes i) inserting an absorbent swab into the stomach of a subject; and ii) absorbing gastric mucus into the absorbent swab of Step i) and separating the absorbent swab from the subject is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit for detecting a bacterium of the genus Helicobacter, which includes an absorbent swab for absorbing gastric mucus. The method and kit, employing an absorbent swab, improves sensitivity or positive predictive value of a urease test method for detecting a bacterium of the genus Helicobacter, such as Helicobacter pylori, may significantly increase and avoids a side effect such as bleeding which may occur during tissue collection of conventional method.

A diagnostic apparatus for analysing a sample to diagnose disease, the apparatus comprising: a separating element for separating gas derived from the sample into component parts; a sensor arrangement coupled to the separating element such that a component part of the gas is directed towards the sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement being configured to detect compounds which may be indicative of disease; and a processing element coupled to an output of the sensor arrangement, the processing element being configured to process a signal output by the sensor arrangement to provide a diagnosis.

A microorganism identification method includes steps of: obtaining a mass spectrum through mass spectrometry of a sample including microorganisms; reading, from the mass spectrum, a mass-to-charge ratio m/z of a peak associated with a marker protein; and identifying which bacterial species of the genus Campylobacter are included in the microorganisms in the sample based on the mass-to-charge ratio m/z. The microorganism identification method is further characterized in that at least one of the following 18 marker proteins is used as the marker protein, S10, L23, S19, L22, L16, L29, S17, L14, L24, S14, L18, L15, L36, S13, S11 (Me), L32, and L7/L12.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for enhancing a sensitivity of a current endotoxin measuring reagent employing a recombinant protein to the endotoxin of Helicobacter pylori. The present invention provides a method for enhancing the sensitivity of an endotoxin measuring reagent to the endotoxin of Helicobacter pylori, the endotoxin measuring reagent containing a recombinant protein of horseshoe crab factor C, the method including increasing a content of the recombinant protein of factor C at the time of endotoxin measurement to an amount that is sufficient for enhancing the sensitivity.

Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and/or distinguishing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease. The methods and systems can utilize the detection of anti-CdtB antibodies and/or anti-vinculin antibodies to detect IBS, distinguish IBS from IBD and/or celiac disease. Further described are methods for selecting a therapy to treat IBS, IBD or celiac disease.

Devices and methods for the detection of analytes are disclosed. Devices and methods for detecting food-borne pathogens are disclosed.

A diagnostic apparatus for analysing a sample to diagnose disease, the apparatus comprising: a separating element for separating gas derived from the sample into component parts; a sensor arrangement coupled to the separating element such that a component part of the gas is directed towards the sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement being configured to detect compounds which may be indicative of disease; and a processing element coupled to an output of the sensor arrangement, the processing element being configured to process a signal output by the sensor arrangement to provide a diagnosis.

Described herein are methods and systems for distinguishing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease. The methods and systems can utilize the detection of anti-vinculin antibodies and anti-CdtB antibodies to distinguish IBS from IBD and celiac disease. Further described are methods for selecting a therapy to treat IBS, IBD or celiac disease.

The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R.sup.1SO.sub.3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group.); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N.sup.+R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R.sup.2-R.sup.5 are each independently a straight-chain C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group, or an aryl group substituted with at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group.); wherein the agent is capable of suppressing immune reaction inhibitory action caused by a body fluid in an immunoassay sample.