Various embodiments are described herein related to an assay, method and apparatus for performing an RNA Disruption Assay (RDA) for cellular RNA optionally in response to a cytotoxic treatment such as chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. The method comprises obtaining at least one electropherogram dataset corresponding to a unique biological sample comprising the cellular RNA at a time point, optionally during or after the treatment; determining values for features from at least two shifted regions of the at least one electropherogram dataset, the shifting being due to the treatment; and optionally determining an RDA score based on a combination of the values of the features.

The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method, for identifying CD56+ NK cells, comprising analyzing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene region for mevalonate (diphospho) decarboxylase (MVD), wherein a demethylation or lack of methylation of said gene region is indicative for a CD56+ NK cell, when compared to a non-CD56+ NK cell. The analyses according to the invention can identify CD56+ NK cells on an epigenetic level and distinguish them from all other cells in complex samples, such as, for example, other blood or immune cells. The present invention furthermore provides an improved method for quantifying CD56+ NK cells, in particular in complex samples. The method can be performed without a step of purifying and/or enriching cells, preferably in whole blood and/or non-trypsinized tissue.

Personalized medicine involves the use of a patient's molecular markers to guide treatment regimens for the patient. The scientific literature provides multiple examples of correlations between drug treatment efficacy and the presence or absence of molecular markers in a patient sample. Methods are provided herein that permit efficient dissemination of scientific findings regarding treatment efficacy and molecular markers found in patient tumors to health care providers.

Provided herein are methods of identifying genomic region(s) predictive of an outcome of treatment with a cell therapy and/or of a phenotype of function of the cells. In some embodiments, the methods include epigenetic and/or epigenomic analyses of the cells in connection with methods for preparing engineered cells for cell therapy and/or predicting response to a cell therapy, e.g., engineered cells for cell therapy. In some embodiments, the methods include steps to assess, characterize and analyze changes or modifications in an epigenetic property of gene region or regions, such as chromatin accessibility, nucleosome occupancy, histone modification, spatial chromosomal conformation, transcription factor occupancy and/or DNA methylation. In some embodiments, the epigenetic and/or epigenomic analysis includes determining the epigenetic properties of a cell, e.g., an engineered cell for cell therapy.

The present invention relates to a biomarker composition for predicting the prognosis of brain diseases caused by microplastic exposure and a use thereof, wherein it was confirmed that polyethylene microspheres (PS) in a mouse animal model orally administered with the PS penetrate brain tissue to change the level of gene expression inside the brain tissue, thereby causing brain diseases, and thus the present invention is intended to provide: a biomarker composition for predicting the prognosis of brain diseases caused by microplastic exposure, the biomarker composition using a gene in which the expression level in an individual suspected of exposure to PS is identified; and a method for predicting the prognosis of brain diseases using the biomarker composition.

The invention relates to the fields of developmental toxicity. In particular, it relates to novel reporter cell types that may be used in in vitro methods to determine the effect of an agent on mammalian embryonic development.

This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations associated with endometriosis. For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess risk of, or susceptibility of developing or diagnosing endometriosis.

In some examples, a system for detecting inhibition of a biological assay includes a detection device configured to amplify and detect a target nucleic acid. The detection device is configured to receive a sample comprising a matrix and a quantity of the target nucleic acid and to amplify the target nucleic acid within the sample over a nucleic acid amplification cycle. The detection device is configured to capture a data set including measurements of the nucleic acid collected during the amplification cycle. The system further includes a computing device configured to receive the data set and to apply a machine-learning system to the data set to detect inhibited biological assays that tested negative for the target nucleic acid due to matrix inhibition.

An assay method is provided for determining the status of the health of a tissue within the body of a subject, wherein the tissue comprises an abundance of at least a first target protein, wherein assay comprises analysis of a liquid biopsy sample obtained from the subject, and wherein the liquid biopsy sample comprises at least a first cell free mRNA (cf-mRNA) that encodes the at least a first target protein. The assays and methods are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of liver health in a subject. In particular, methods and systems are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); cirrhosis; liver disease; hepatitis; and liver cancer.

Processes are provided for establishing a virtual physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model in a population comprised of a plurality of individual subjects that has been or may be exposed to a xenobiotic molecule. The processes are derived from the identification of an abundance of a protein that is involved in absorption; distribution; localization; biotransformation; and excretion of the xenobiotic molecule from a liquid biopsy of corresponding cell free RNA. Personalised PBPK models for precision dosing, as well as methods of treatment are also provided.