The present invention is related to a method for evaluation of drug efficacy of a medicine having a therapeutic or preventive effect against a disease related to EL activity wherein phosphatidylinositol or lysophosphatidylinositol is used as an indicator. The present invention is also related to a method for screening an inhibitor of EL activity using phosphatidylinositol and a kit for use in the method.

The present invention is related to a method for evaluation of drug efficacy of a medicine having a therapeutic or preventive effect against a disease related to EL activity wherein phosphatidylinositol or lysophosphatidylinositol is used as an indicator. The present invention is also related to a method for screening an inhibitor of EL activity using phosphatidylinositol and a kit for use in the method.

Reagents, assays, methods, kits, devices, and systems for rapid measurement of cholesterol and cholesterol sub-fractions from a blood sample are provided. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol can be measured in a single assay using kinetic measurements, under conditions in which cholesterol sub-species are converted to a detectable product at distinct rates. The detectable product is measured at different times after assay initiation. A lipase, cholesterol esterase, cholesterol oxidase and a peroxidase may be used together to produce colored product in amounts directly proportional to the quantity of cholesterol converted. Methods for calculating very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by further including triglyceride measurements are disclosed. Assays may be performed in a single reaction mixture, allowing more accurate and precise cholesterol determinations, including ratios of cholesterol sub-fractions to total cholesterol, at less expense, than would be expected by performing several different assays in different reaction mixtures.

Provided is a process for producing a substrate solution for measuring lipase activity including, as a substrate for measuring lipase activity, 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid (6-methylresorufin) ester, wherein the production process does not necessitate cumbersome or special processing such that skill is required, or does not necessitate a special apparatus, instruments, or other items. This production process is a process for producing a substrate solution for measuring lipase activity, and is characterized by including the steps of (1) mixing the substrate for measuring lipase activity and a side-chain-type nonreactive polyether-modified-type modified silicone oil or a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene condensate to prepare a mixture, and (2) mixing all or a portion of the mixture of step (1) with water or an aqueous solution.

Provided is a compound having the structure:

(SIG)-(SI-MOD).sub.m

where SIG is a signaling molecule, SI is a self-immolative structure bound to SIG such that SIG has a reduced signal relative to the signal of SIG without SI, MOD is a moiety bound to SI that is subject to modification by an activator, and m is an integer from 1 to about 10. When MOD is modified by an activator, SI is destabilized and self-cleaved from SIG such that SIG generates an increased signal. Also provided are methods of determining whether a sample, such as a cell, comprises an activator, such as a nitroreducase, using the compound. Further provided are methods of determining whether a mammalian cell is hypoxic using the compound where nitroreductase is the activator. A method of detecting a microorganism that comprises a nitroreductase using the compound where nitroreductase is the activator is also provided.

Detection, monitoring and treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using a hybrid immunoassay to both Lp-PLA2 and ApoA1. Described herein are assays and method of performing them useful for the detection of AMI. Also described are methods of monitoring a patient at risk for, or suffering from, AMI. Also described herein are methods and assays for treating patient having or at risk of suffering from AMI.

A device and method for determining the presence or absence, or the level of, sPLA2 activity in a fluid sample. The device includes an absorbent matrix that defines a flow path for a fluid sample, a first region of the absorbent matrix for applying a fluid sample, where one of the components selected from a bioactive sPLA2 substrate and a label is dried onto or within the first region of the absorbent matrix, a second region of the absorbent matrix downstream of, and in fluid communication with, the first region for detecting an aggregated reaction product, where the other component not present in the first region is dried onto or within the second region of the absorbent matrix.

Provided herein are a series of fluorescently labeled phosphonate and phosphate compounds such as can be used for affinity probes to detect certain enzymes including lipases. Also provided are methods of making and using such compounds.

Disclosed herein is a ventilator system and method, for alveolar micro-circulation enhancement using pulse cycle harmonized ventilation pressure modulation of a patient. The system includes a sensor unit, a controller unit and a supply unit. The sensor unit is configured to sense a set of physiological parameters to determine one or more cardiovascular activities of the patient. The controller unit is communicatively coupled to the sensor unit, and is configured to determine a dynamic pattern of an oxygenated air supply for the patient based on the sensed cardiovascular activity. The supply unit is communicatively coupled to the controller unit and is configured to supply the determined pressure wave to create a dynamic alteration in the air flow pattern of the ventilated air to the patient in response to the cardiovascular activity. Some embodiments of the system also represent the system as an air flow controlling apparatus, capable be coupled to any ventilator system internally or externally to control the flow of air in the dynamic pattern.

Provided is a compound comprising the structure:
(SIG)-(SI-MOD).sub.m. In this compound, SIG is a signaling molecule, SI is a self-immolative structure bound to SIG such that SIG has a reduced signal relative to the signal of SIG without SI, MOD is a moiety bound to SI that is subject to modification by an activator, and m is an integer from 1 to about 10. With this compound, when MOD is modified by an activator, SI is destabilized and self-cleaved from SIG such that SIG generates an increased signal. Also provided is a method of determining whether a sample comprises an activator, using the above-described compound. Additionally provided is a method of determining whether a cell comprises a nitroreductase using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator. Further provided is a method of determining whether a mammalian cell is hypoxic using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator. A method of detecting a microorganism that comprises a nitroreductase, using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator, is also provided. Also provided is a method of identifying nitroreductase in a sample, using the above-described compound where nitroreductase is the activator.