The present invention relates to an optical imaging system communicatively connected to a microwave energy producing source wherein the combination provides for increases in chemical reaction times and the ability to monitor the reactions in real time with sufficient resolution to view the location of intracellular components labeled with luminescent molecules as well as interaction with other biomolecules and responses to localized environmental variables in living cells and tissues during the application of a microwave field.

The present disclosure relates to a method for quantifying sugar appearing in a biological fluid of a subject, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a biological sample from a subject, who has ingested one or more sugars, over a period of 0 to 24 hours after the ingesting; and (b) measuring the amount of the one or more sugars in the biological sample with an organoborane compound coupled to a fluorophore. Disclosed are also assays and kits for performing the above methods.

The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.

Described herein are methods and compositions for the treatment of colon cancers.

The present teachings generally relate to fluorescent dyes, linkable forms of fluorescent dyes, energy transfer dyes, reagents labeled with fluorescent dyes and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to a device for interfacing nanofluidic and microfluidic components suitable for use in performing high throughput macromolecular analysis. Diffraction gradient lithography (DGL) is used to form a gradient interface between a microfluidic area and a nanofluidic area. The gradient interface area reduces the local entropic barrier to nanochannels formed in the nanofluidic area. In one embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of lateral spatial gradient structures for narrowing the cross section of a value from the micron to the nanometer length scale. In another embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of a vertical sloped gradient structure. Additionally, the gradient structure can provide both a lateral and vertical gradient.

The methods and systems of the present invention are useful in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in the prognosis of IBD progression and disease complications. With the present invention, it is possible to predict outcome of disease and patients who will have a particular risk of disease complications and/or progression to surgery.

The invention includes a method of identifying a human subject at-risk of developing SeSAME syndrome. The invention also includes a method of diagnosing a human subject afflicted with SeSAME syndrome. The invention further includes a method of identifying a therapeutic agent that modulates a given KCNJ10 mediated K.sup.+ current in a mammalian cell. The invention also includes a method of diagnosing a subject as a carrier of SeSAME syndrome.

To provide an anti-cancer agent sensitivity determination marker, which marker can determine whether or not the patient has a therapeutic response to the anti-cancer agent, and novel cancer therapeutic means employing the marker. The anti-cancer agent sensitivity determination marker, the anti-cancer agent including oxaliplatin or a salt thereof and fluorouracil or a salt thereof, contains one or more substances selected from among an amino-acid-metabolism-related substance, a nucleic-acid-metabolism-related substance, a substance in the pentose phosphate pathway, a substance in the glycolytic pathway, a substance in the TCA cycle, a polyamine-metabolism-related substance, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, 6-phosphogluconic acid, butyric acid, triethanolamine, 1-methylnicotinamide, NADH, NAD.sup.+, and a substance involved in the metabolism of any of these substances.

Described herein is a device including a nanotube disposed within a support material. The nanotube has one or more sidewall electrodes, two nanomembranes, and an enzyme. One of the nanomembrane is in direct contact with at least a portion of one sidewall electrode. The other nanomembrane form a nanochannel, nanopore, or a combination thereof, and can alter one or more of a molecular composition, a dimension, or a property thereof in response to electrical stimuli.