Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase, Survivin, DD3 and PCGEM1 messenger RNA in archival prostate carcinoma tissue.

Introduction: The wide spectrum of biological behavior displayed by prostate cancer (PCa) warrants investigation of potential PCa-specific biomarkers that could identify more aggressive tumor types and therefore provide prognostic value. Upregulation of expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), Survivin, DD3 and PCGEM1 mRNAs in PCa lesions has recently been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of detection of over-expression of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa.

A prospective evaluation of the diagnostic and potential prognostic utility of urinary human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in patients with bladder cancer.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression has been considered a surrogate marker for telomerase activity based on its parallel detection in urological malignancies, including transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of urine hTERT mRNA marker and urine cytology in the detection of bladder cancer. The multiplex hTERT/GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was employed to assess hTERT mRNA expression in urine sediments from 43 patients with clinically apparent TCC undergoing transurethral resection.

Comparison of human telomerase reverse transcriptase messenger RNA and telomerase activity as urine markers for diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.

Background: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been identified as the catalytic subunit of telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex known to be required for cellular immortality and oncogenesis. Although human telomerase activity (hTA) is considered as a general marker for malignancy based on its presence in most malignant tumors including bladder cancer, its detection in urine is affected by many factors. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical utility of detecting urine hTERT messenger RNA (mRNA) by multiplex hTERT/GAPDH RT-PCR and urine hTA by telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Molecular characterization and LD(50) identify virulent isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from adult sepsis.

Staphylococcus epidermidis plays an important role in infections of patients with implanted prosthetic devices. The exact clinical significance of recovered S. epidermidis from clinical specimens is difficult to assess, as they are inhabitants of the normal skin.

Differentiation of Lactobacillus Species by Molecular Typing.

A total of 64 type, reference, clinical, health food, and stock isolates of microaerophilic Lactobacillus species were examined by restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Of particular interest were members of six of the eight species most commonly recovered from the vaginas of healthy premenopausal women, namely, Lactobacillus jensenii, L. casei, L.