Detection and quantitation of HPV gene expression using real-time PCR.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are known to be etiological agents of cervical cancer and have been found in 99.7% of women with high-grade (HG) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) precancer. Testing of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) has been proposed as a way of improving cervical screening, especially for women with low-grade (LG) Papanicolaou (Pap) smears.

The TGF-beta 1 gene codon 10 polymorphism contributes to the genetic predisposition to nephropathy in Type 1 diabetes.

Aims: We hypothesize that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional growth factor which plays a key role in the development of tissue fibrosis, may be involved in the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy. Our aim was to examine three polymorphisms within the TGF-beta 1 gene, in codons 10, 25 and 263, for association with nephropathy in Type 1 diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a large case-control study using cases with Type 1 diabetes and clinical nephropathy.

Cost-effective strategies in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy.

A significant subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus are predisposed to developing diabetic nephropathy and it is in this subgroup that other diabetes- related complications, and in particular greatly increased cardiovascular disease risk, are concentrated. The high personal, social and financial costs of managing end-stage renal failure and the other complications associated with diabetic nephropathy make a powerful case for screening and effective intervention programmes to prevent the condition or retard its progression. As major breakthroughs in finding genetic susceptibility factors remain elusive, screening efforts continue to be based on microalbuminuria testing, despite increasing recognition of its limitations as a positive predictor of nephropathy.

Nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and diabetic nephropathy.

Aims/hypothesis: Susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy in subjects with Type 1 diabetes is mainly genetically determined. Excess cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes is overwhelmingly concentrated in patients with nephropathy. Endothelial dysfunction is a feature of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking, all of which are associated with diabetic nephropathy.