A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction is disclosed. The method includes directing RF energy to an internal portion of a meibomian gland, selectively targeting an obstruction within a duct of the meibomian gland with the applied RF energy to melt, loosen, or soften the obstruction, and expressing the obstruction from the duct of the meibomian gland. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one RF electrode configured to direct RF energy to an internal portion of a meibomian gland located in an eyelid of an eye, the at least one RF electrode further configured to selectively target an obstruction within a duct of the meibomian gland with the applied RF energy to melt, loosen, or soften the obstruction. The apparatus also comprises at least one expressor configured to express the obstruction from the duct of the meibomian gland.

An automated dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method of detecting and quanta N-nitrosamines in an aqueous sample. The method includes (a) extracting an aqueous solution containing the N-nitrosamines by mixing an extraction solvent and a dispersive solvent with the aqueous solution, such that the N-nitrosamines, or a portion thereof, re-distribute from the aqueous solution to the extraction solvent, (b) permitting the resulting mixture in (a) to form a two-phase mixture containing an aqueous phase comprising containing the aqueous solution with reduced amounts of the N-nitrosamines and an organic phase containing the extraction solvent with the N-nitrosamines extracted from the aqueous solution, (c) injecting the organic phase, or a portion thereof, into an injection port of a gas chromatograph coupled with at least one mass spectrometer, and (d) analyzing the N-nitrosamines by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect and quantify the concentration of the N-nitrosamines in the aqueous solution.

The present invention is directed to a pre-coated substrate, such as a slide, that is useful for immobilizing a sample. The invention is further provides methods of preparing such pre-coated substrates and methods of analyzing biological samples immobilized on such pre-coated substrate. The substrate is coated with a polycationic polymeric coating material specifically selected such that that coated substrate exhibits increased stability and prolonged shelf-life. Preferred polymeric coating materials include allylic or vinylic polymers having cationic groups thereon and having no more than a small percentage of peptidic monomeric linkages, particularly polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA).

AIE-active chemosensors, according to the present teachings, exhibit UV-vis absorption change and become non-luminescent upon protonation. Upon deprotonation, the chemosensors revert to their original absorption and emission. This deprotonation process can be triggered in the presence of amines, and specifically, biogenic amines. The chemosensors can detect amine species, e.g., biogenic amines produced during food fermentation, quickly and with high sensitivity. Further, due to the AIE nature of the compounds, the chemosensors can be loaded onto a physical support and sealed inside a food package to monitor food spoilage.

The present disclosure relates to a novel probe compound, i.e., 1-(ortho-benzophenylaminoalkyl)-phenylboronic acid, or its derivative for a fluorescence and/or circular dichroism (CD) sensor for amine compounds containing aminoalcohols. Also, the present disclosure relates to a simultaneous fluorescence and CD analysis method of of amine compounds containing aminoalcohols using the novel probe compound to obtain concentration and optical purity of the amine compounds.

A method for the in situ derivatization of at least one biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof in an isolated aqueous sample includes the steps of: (i) contacting the sample with a propionic anhydride/acetonitrile solution in the presence of a phosphate buffer having a pH in the range of 7.0 to 9.0 and allowing the conversion of amine and/or hydroxyl moieties of the biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof to form a propionyl derivative of the biogenic amine; followed by (ii) adding to the reaction mixture obtained in step (i) a carbodiimide compound and an electrophilic amine-containing compound, and allowing the carbodiimide-mediated derivatization of carboxylic acid moieties of the biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof.

The present invention is directed to a pre-coated substrate, such as a slide, that is useful for immobilizing a sample. The invention is further provides methods of preparing such pre-coated substrates and methods of analyzing biological samples immobilized on such pre-coated substrate. The substrate is coated with a polycationic polymeric coating material specifically selected such that that coated substrate exhibits increased stability and prolonged shelf-life. Preferred polymeric coating materials include allylic or vinylic polymers having cationic groups thereon and having no more than a small percentage of peptidic monomeric linkages, particularly polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA).

A method for the in situ derivatization of at least one biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof in an isolated aqueous sample includes the steps of: (i) contacting the sample with a propionic anhydride/acetonitrile solution in the presence of a phosphate buffer having a pH in the range of 7.0 to 9.0 and allowing the conversion of amine and/or hydroxyl moieties of the biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof to form a propionyl derivative of the biogenic amine; followed by (ii) adding to the reaction mixture obtained in step (i) a carbodiimide compound and an electrophilic amine-containing compound, and allowing the carbodiimide-mediated derivatization of carboxylic acid moieties of the biogenic amine, precursor, or metabolite thereof.

A detection device for detecting analytes in liquid specimen is provided. The detection device comprises: a specimen chamber for collecting or storing a liquid specimen; a detecting chamber for containing a detecting element; and a through hole for transferring the liquid specimen between the specimen chamber and the detecting chamber. The through hole can be opened or self-sealed. The sealing or opening of the through hole controls whether or not the liquid specimen in the specimen chamber enters the detecting chamber via the through hole. Furthermore, a detection method is provided.

The invention relates to an activated form of procaine, and the use of the activated procaine, or salts or solvates thereof, to label amine-containing compounds. In some embodiments, the amine-containing compound is an N-glycan.