Evaluation of the MagNA Pure LC used with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit.

BACKGROUND: The current manual sample processing method recommended for use with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit (TRUGENE HBV; Bayer HealthCare LLC, Tarrytown, NY) is labor-intensive and may be prone to specimen cross-contamination. Recent evaluations of the MagNA Pure LC (MP; Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, IN) suggest that it is suitable for automated, contamination-free extraction and purification of viral nucleic acids from large-volume (1.0 mL) serum or plasma specimens. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the MP Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit--Large Volume (Roche Applied Science) in conjunction with TRUGENE HBV to establish the analytical sensitivity (threshold titer) of the assay, in HBV DNA International Units (IU)/mL, for obtaining consistent, interpretable sequence data from TRUGENE HBV. STUDY DESIGN: HBV analytical standards, prepared as 10 replicates (1.0 mL each) at each of the following concentrations: 200, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL, were processed by MP and analyzed by TRUGENE HBV according to manufacturer's instructions. Performance of TRUGENE HBV used in conjunction with MP sample processing was evaluated further using 22 clinical serum specimens containing low titers of HBV DNA. RESULTS: All replicates of HBV analytical standards at 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL yielded interpretable TRUGENE HBV sequences, whereas interpretable sequences were obtained in 90% (9 of 10) of the replicates at 200 IU/mL. TRUGENE HBV sequences were interpretable in 86% (19 of 22) of the clinical specimens studied. CONCLUSIONS: MP sample processing is efficient and suitable for use with TRUGENE HBV. When combined with MP sample processing, TRUGENE HBV yielded interpretable sequences from HBV analytical standards and clinical serum specimens with HBV DNA titers of > or =200 IU/mL.     

Sonographische Messung der Fruchtwassermenge

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Comparative evaluation of the VERSANT HCV RNA 3.0, QUANTIPLEX HCV RNA 2.0, and COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR version 2.0 Assays for quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA in serum

A comparison of quantitative results expressed in hepatitis C virus (HCV) international units per milliliter, obtained from the VERSANT HCV RNA 3.0 (bDNA-3.0) assay, the QUANTIPLEX HCV RNA 2.0 (bDNA-2.0) assay, and the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR version 2.0 (HCM-2.0) test was performed. A total of 168 patient specimens submitted to the Mayo Clinic Molecular Microbiology Laboratory for HCV quantification or HCV genotyping were studied. Of the specimens tested, 97, 88, and 79% yielded quantitative results within the dynamic range of the bDNA-3.0, bDNA-2.0, and HCM-2.0 assays, respectively. Overall, there was substantial agreement between the results generated by all three assays. A total of 15 out of 29 (52%) of the specimens determined to contain viral loads of <31,746 IU/ml by the bDNA-3.0 assay were categorized as containing viral loads within the range of 31,746 to 500,000 IU/ml by the bDNA-2.0 assay. Although substantial agreement was noted between the results generated by the bDNA-2.0 and bDNA-3.0 assays, a bias toward higher viral titer by the bDNA-2.0 assay was noted (P = 0.001). Likewise, although substantial agreement was noted between the results generated by the HCM-2.0 and bDNA-3.0 assays, a bias toward higher viral titer by the bDNA-3.0 assay was noted (P < or = 0.001). The discrepancy between the HCM-2.0 and bDNA-3.0 results was more pronounced when viral loads were >500,000 IU/ml and resulted in statistically significant differences (P < or = 0.001) in determining whether viral loads were above or below 800,000 IU/ml of HCV RNA, the proposed threshold value for tailoring the duration of combination therapy. The expression of quantitative values in HCV international units per milliliter was a strength of both the bDNA-3.0 and HCM-2.0 assays.     

High-throughput SNP allele-frequency determination in pooled DNA samples by kinetic PCR

We have developed an accurate, yet inexpensive and high-throughput, method for determining the allele frequency of biallelic polymorphisms in pools of DNA samples. The assay combines kinetic (real-time quantitative) PCR with allele-specific amplification and requires no post-PCR processing. The relative amounts of each allele in a sample are quantified. This is performed by dividing equal aliquots of the pooled DNA between two separate PCR reactions, each of which contains a primer pair specific to one or the other allelic SNP variant. For pools with equal amounts of the two alleles, the two amplifications should reach a detectable level of fluorescence at the same cycle number. For pools that contain unequal ratios of the two alleles, the difference in cycle number between the two amplification reactions can be used to calculate the relative allele amounts. We demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the assay on samples with known predetermined SNP allele frequencies from 5% to 95%, including pools of both human and mouse DNAs using eight different SNPs altogether. The accuracy of measuring known allele frequencies is very high, with the strength of correlation between measured and known frequencies having an r(2) = 0.997. The loss of sensitivity as a result of measurement error is typically minimal, compared with that due to sampling error alone, for population samples up to 1000. We believe that by providing a means for SNP genotyping up to thousands of samples simultaneously, inexpensively, and reproducibly, this method is a powerful strategy for detecting meaningful polymorphic differences in candidate gene association studies and genome-wide linkage disequilibrium scans.     

Morbidität und Letalität der hyperthermen intraperitonealen Chemoperfusion

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (PIC) is a treatment option for peritoneal surface malignancy. Despite the survival benefits, this treatment was previously associated with a high morbidity and mortality rates, and the perception of the poor perioperative outcomes associated with this regimen remains. Careful patient selection with an optimal level of postoperative care must be advocated to avoid undesirable complications of this treatment. However, for this treatment to be accepted as standard of care, teams undertaking this treatment strategy must aim to minimize morbidity and mortality by learning from the experience of established centers and using the “global learning curve”. The HIPEC Registry and accreditation of centers will improve the quality of the treatment.     

Technische Prinzipien der Narbenhernienchirurgie

Many publications are available on the best surgical techniques and treatment of incisional hernias with reports of experiences and randomized clinical studies at the two extremes of the evidence scale. The ultimate proof of the best operative technique has, however, not yet been achieved. In practically no other field of surgery are the variability and the resulting potential aims of surgery so great. The aim of surgery is to provide patients with the optimal recommendation out of a catalogue of possibilities from a holistic perspective. This article describes the surgical techniques using meshes for strengthening (in combination with an anatomical reconstruction) and for replacement of the abdominal wall (with bridging of the defect).