Disclosed are methods for identifying a pregnant female who is susceptible to spontaneous preterm delivery. In particular, disclosed are methods for identifying a pregnant female who is susceptible to spontaneous preterm delivery based on ratios of steroids in samples obtained from the pregnant female.

Disclosed are methods for identifying a pregnant female who is susceptible to spontaneous preterm delivery. In particular, disclosed are methods for identifying a pregnant female who is susceptible to spontaneous preterm delivery based on ratios of steroids in samples obtained from the pregnant female. Further, the methods can include treating the pregnant female identified susceptible to spontaneous preterm delivery.

Disclosed herein are methods, kits, tests, and systems for detecting, predicting, monitoring, or ruling out preeclampsia in pregnant women. Also provided herein are novel diagnostic markers, methods of data analysis, assay formats, and kits employing such markers to improve one or more characteristics of a test for identifying or ruling out preeclampsia based on biomarkers from patient samples.

A method for preparing a nanohybrid used for ratiometric fluorescence and ratiometric electrochemical sensing simultaneously is provided. Surface-aminated (—NH.sub.2) SiO.sub.2 nanospheres encapsulating an electroactive material A or B are prepared and conjugated with surface-carboxylated (—COOH) carbon dots (CDs) or gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) to prepare a conjugate, and the conjugate is conjugated with a DNA aptamer terminated with —NH.sub.2. Ions or biomolecules are added to two types of DNA-conjugate dispersions, and ratiometric florescence sensing is realized by fitting the linear relationship between ratiometric fluorescent peak intensity IcDs/IAuNcs and a specific ion concentration or a specific biomolecule concentration. A-SiO.sub.2@CDs-DNA is attached to the surface of a gold electrode based on a DNA terminal —SH and Au-S bonding; B-SiP.sub.2@AuNCs-DNA and ions or biomolecules are added, and ratiometric electrochemical sensing is realized by fitting the linear relationship between the specific ion concentration or the specific biomolecule concentration and the ratiometric current peak intensity IB/IA

A method for preparing a nanohybrid used for ratiometric fluorescence and ratiometric electrochemical sensing simultaneously is provided. Surface-aminated (—NH.sub.2) SiO.sub.2 nanospheres encapsulating an electroactive material A or B are prepared and conjugated with surface-carboxylated (—COOH) carbon dots (CDs) or gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) to prepare a conjugate, and the conjugate is conjugated with a DNA aptamer terminated with —NH.sub.2. Ions or biomolecules are added to two types of DNA-conjugate dispersions, and ratiometric florescence sensing is realized by fitting the linear relationship between ratiometric fluorescent peak intensity I.sub.CDs/I.sub.AuNCs and a specific ion concentration or a specific biomolecule concentration. A-SiO.sub.2@CDs-DNA is attached to the surface of a gold electrode based on a DNA terminal —SH and Au—S bonding; B—SiO.sub.2@AuNCs-DNA and ions or biomolecules are added, and ratiometric electrochemical sensing is realized by fitting the linear relationship between the specific ion concentration or the specific biomolecule concentration and the ratiometric current peak intensity I.sub.B/I.sub.A.

The present disclosure relates to the use of genes whose expression or protein changes specifically to hepatocellular carcinoma as biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, in which the biomarkers of the present disclosure, HMMR, NXPH4, PITX1, THBS4, and UBE2T, since they change their expression specifically to hepatocellular carcinoma, may be used as hepatocellular carcinoma-specific markers, and furthermore, these biomarkers may be used independently or in combination with AFP, or may be independently combined to make a more specific and accurate diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

A system for providing colorimetric and ratiometric comparison and quantification for medical test results, comprising a testing device including an alignment target and including a plurality of immunoassay test strips, the plurality of immunoassay test strips each including a test line and a control line, and a colorimetry device configured to operate with a mobile device, the mobile device including a camera and a software application stored thereon, wherein the software application provides executable instructions to detect color properties of a color of the test line and a color of a control line of at least one of the plurality of immunoassay test strips, determine a risk value for each of at least one disease risks tested using the biologic sample, wherein the risk value is a rating determined from the color properties of the color of the test line, and provide medical test results based on the risk value.

Provided is a method for identifying and treating a pregnancy devoid of uterine fetal or embryonic tissue in a subject by determining a concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in a specimen evacuated from the uterus of the subject; comparing the concentration of AFP to a reference value; wherein when the AFP concentration in the specimen evacuated from the uterus is below that of a reference value, absence of uterine fetal or embryonic tissue is indicated. Also provided is a method for identifying and treating a presence of fetal or embryonic tissue in a location of a subject other than the uterus by determining a concentration of AFP in a non-uterine specimen obtained from the subject; comparing the concentration of AFP in the specimen to a reference value; wherein when the AFP concentration in the specimen is above that of a reference value, presence of fetal or embryonic tissue is indicated.

Described herein are methods, compositions, kits, and systems for detecting free and bound PlGF, and using detection of such species to distinguish between pregnant women with or without preeclampsia or related conditions.

Disclosed are assays, protocols and reagents to facilitate clinical management of pregnancy with improved pre- and post-natal health outcomes for fetuses developing in an environment of placental insufficiency.