The present disclosure relates to synthetic controls useful, e.g., for immunohistochemistry (IHC), as well as kits and methods of manufacture and use related thereto. In some embodiments, the synthetic controls include a solid antigen/carrier protein gel comprising a purified antigen (e.g., at a known quantity) and a carrier protein such as an albumin protein (e.g., a serum albumin protein), an egg white protein or mixture of egg white proteins, gelatin, or poly-lysine. In some embodiments, the purified antigen is cross-linked to the carrier protein in the solid antigen/carrier protein gel.

A method for predicting the degree of weight loss attainable by applying one or more dietary interventions to a subject. The method includes determining the level of one or more biomarkers in one or more samples obtained from the subject, and the biomarkers are selected from fructosamine and factor VTT.

Method for detecting a urinary tract infection (UTI) in a subject comprising determining levels of one or more biomarkers selected from MMP8, HNE, Cystatin C, MMP9, HSA, IL-8, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), fibrinogen, RBP4, active MMP9 and MMP2, NGAL, Desmosine, MPO and CRP in a urine sample obtained from the subject. The determined levels may then be compared with a threshold level, wherein increased levels of at least one of the biomarkers in the urine sample relative to the threshold level is indicative of the presence of a urinary tract infection. Methods for monitoring a UTI and monitoring treatment of a UTI are also provided as are companion systems or test kits.

The present invention is comprised in the field of glycobiology. In particular, it relates to a method for separating, in biological samples, the fraction bound to or associated with sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and the applications thereof in biomedicine, such as for identifying the profile of glycoproteins or the profile of lipids bound to or associated with sulfated GAGs, detecting an alteration in the pattern of glycosylation by sulfated GAGs, identifying biomarkers for the diagnosis, for the prognosis, for monitoring the progression of a disease or of the effect of a therapy, or for identifying compounds suitable for the treatment of a disease. The invention also relates to methods for diagnosing mucopolysaccharidosis and for diagnosing and determining the prognosis of a kidney disease.

Nanoparticles and microspheres are provided for delivering an anticancer agent or other active agents to a subject. The nanoparticles and the microspheres are formed from a core that is encased by a coating or shell that includes a somatostatin-albumin fusion protein or analogue thereof. The somatostatin-albumin fusion protein includes at least one albumin (or an analog thereof) moiety, at least one somatostatin moiety (e.g. SST-14, SST-28), and at least one spacer connecting albumin to albumin, somatostatin to somatostatin and/or albumin to somatostatin moieties.

This disclosure provides methods, systems, and compositions of matter for studying solvent accessibility and three-dimensional structure of biological molecules. A plasma can be used to generate marker radicals, which can interact with a biological molecule and mark the solvent-accessible portions of the biological molecule.

An in vitro method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes determining the content of mercaptoalbumin (HMA) in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and comparing the content determined with the content of HMA in CSF in healthy subjects. If the HMA content is less than that of the healthy subjects, it is indicative of AD.

The present invention provides a method, wherein the method classifies a subject as suffering from dry eye, the method consisting of: a. obtaining demographic data, consisting of the age and gender of the subject; b. obtaining a tear sample from the patient, and determining the level of human serum albumin; c. from the determined level of human serum albumin, assigning a score for the determined amount of human serum albumin; and d. from the assigned score, calculating a cutoff probability score, according to the following equation:

[00001]$\frac{\exp \left(-0.6491-1.1142*\mathrm{Albumin}\right)}{1+\exp \left(-0.6491-1.1142*\mathrm{Albumin}\right)}$

wherein the subject has dry eye, if the calculated cutoff probability score is from 50% to 60%.

Determining the relative binding capacity of albumin (A), and amount of functional albumin, involves at least two measurement solutions of a test and reference sample. The measurement solutions contain an albumin-binding marker M. The marker in the measurement solution of the test and reference samples exceeds the presumed available albumin binding capacity. The test sample contains a defined amount of albumin of unknown binding capacity. The reference sample contains the same defined amount of albumin having a reference binding capacity. The measurement solutions are incubated under conditions that allow M:A complexes to form. The M:A complexes are removed. The presence or amount of unbound marker M in the solutions is detected after M:A complex removal by a test strip that allows determination of the unbound marker. The relative binding capacity of albumin in the test sample based on the presence or detected amounts of unbound marker is determined.

An object of the present invention is to provide a blood analysis method in which a high level of repeatability and reproducibility is achieved with respect to measurement values in a blood sample of 50 L or less, and a blood test kit which is used for the blood analysis method. According to the present invention, a blood analysis method including a step of diluting a collected blood sample with a diluent solution; a step of determining a dilution factor by using a normal value of a normal component which is homeostatically present in the blood; and a step of analyzing a concentration of a target component in the blood sample, in which a volume of the blood sample is 50 L or less, a dilution factor of blood plasma components in the blood sample is 14 or higher, and the diluent solution is a diluent solution which does not contain the normal component which is homeostatically present in the blood, is provided.