The invention provides an enzymatic method for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in the plasma portion of a blood derived sample, containing a first and a second component, where said second component interferes with the measurement of said first component. The method includes: i) diluting the sample with a reagent mixture; ii) substantially removing blood cells; iii) using a reagent which serves to temporarily prevent reaction of the second component, to generate a blocked second component; iv) causing the selective reaction of a constituent of each analyte to directly or indirectly generate detectable reaction products, where one of the analytes is the first component; v) monitoring the detectable reaction product or products; vi) relating an amount of the detectable product or products and/or a rate of formation of the detectable product or products to the concentration of each analyte, where the concentration of at least the first component is related to a corresponding detectable reaction product by means of estimating an un-measurable (fictive) endpoint. Step iii) may be carried out at any stage up to and including step iv) but before steps v) or vi). The reagent of step iii) may be applied to the sample separately or may be included in a reagent mixture during steps i) or iv). A corresponding kit is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for modulating a subject's cholesterol levels and/or treating disorders related to high cholesterol.

The present invention provides a co-culture system and method for assessing cellular cholesterol (Choi) efflux and uptake in vitro. The co-culture system mimics in vivo Choi efflux and uptake in the context of mammalian physiology. The methods and systems provided can be used in some embodiments to evaluate the effect of a pharmacological agent on cellular Choi efflux and uptake or for diagnostic purposes.

The present invention provides a co-culture system and method for assessing cellular cholesterol (Choi) efflux and uptake in vitro. The co-culture system mimics in vivo Choi efflux and uptake in the context of mammalian physiology. The methods and systems provided can be used in some embodiments to evaluate the effect of a pharmacological agent on cellular Choi efflux and uptake or for diagnostic purposes.

Disclosed are a method and a reagent for quantifying HDL3 in a test sample without requiring laborious operations. The method for quantifying cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 comprises reacting a test sample with one or more surfactants which react specifically with high-density lipoprotein 3, and quantifying cholesterol. When one surfactant is used, the surfactant is one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ethers having an HLB of 12.5 to 15. When two or more surfactants are used, at least one of the surfactants is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ethers, and the two or more surfactants are combined so as to provide the total HLB of 12.5 to 15 of the combined surfactants.

Disclosed are a method and a reagent for quantifying HDL3 in a test sample without requiring laborious operations. The method for quantifying cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 comprises reacting a test sample with one or more surfactants which react specifically with high-density lipoprotein 3, and quantifying cholesterol. When one surfactant is used, the surfactant is one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ethers having an HLB of 12.5 to 15. When two or more surfactants are used, at least one of the surfactants is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ethers, and the two or more surfactants are combined so as to provide the total HLB of 12.5 to 15 of the combined surfactants.

Disclosed is a method for measuring lipoprotein's uptake ability, comprising: preparing lipoprotein incorporating labeled sterol by mixing lipoprotein in a sample with the labeled sterol, in a presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a compound comprising a hydrocarbon chain having at least one carbon-carbon unsaturated bond (excluding a sterol); and a saturated aliphatic compound having no phosphodiester bond; and measuring an ability to uptake the labeled sterol, based on a label of the labeled sterol incorporated into the lipoprotein.

Disclosed is a method for quantifying HDL2 cholesterol in a test sample without requiring laborious operations. The method for quantifying cholesterol comprises allowing phospholipase to act on HDL to quantify cholesterol. Also disclosed is a method comprising: a first step of transferring cholesterols other than high-density lipoproteins in a test sample to the outside of the reaction system; and a second step of quantifying high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol among the high-density lipoproteins remaining in the reaction system; wherein, by performing the second step by the above method, high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol in the test sample can be quantified.

Disclosed is a method for quantifying HDL2 cholesterol in a test sample without requiring laborious operations. The method for quantifying cholesterol comprises allowing phospholipase to act on HDL to quantify cholesterol. Also disclosed is a method comprising: a first step of transferring cholesterols other than high-density lipoproteins in a test sample to the outside of the reaction system; and a second step of quantifying high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol among the high-density lipoproteins remaining in the reaction system; wherein, by performing the second step by the above method, high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol in the test sample can be quantified.

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for rapid and easy-to-use in sample thermal cycling or temperature changes for the facilitation of reactions such as but not limited to PCR.