The processive kinetics of gene conversion in bacteria.

Gene conversion, non-reciprocal transfer from one homologous sequence to another, is a major force in evolutionary dynamics, promoting co-evolution in gene families and maintaining similarities between repeated genes. However, the properties of the transfer - where it initiates, how far it proceeds and how the resulting conversion tracts are affected by mismatch repair - are not well understood. Here, we use the duplicate tuf genes in Salmonella as a quantitatively tractable model system for gene conversion.

Uneven distribution of human papillomavirus 16 in cervical carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in older females: A retrospective database study.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 is the dominant cofactor in cervical cancer development. The present report investigated the age-specific prevalence of HPV16 in cervical carcinoma (CIS) in females attending organised cervical cancer screening. A retrospective observational study was performed based on individual data from two databases.

Primary high-risk HPV screening for cervical cancer in post-menopausal women.

Objective: The present study was conducted to examine the value of screening for high-risk HPV in post-menopausal women.

Methods: A cohort of post-menopausal women (n=2113), age range 55-76 years, from Uppsala County, Sweden, were offered testing for both high-risk HPV and a Pap smear in the gynaecological screening during 2008-2010. For the HPV test the cervical smear sample was applied to a filter paper matrix, an indicating FTA elute card and HPV typing performed using a real-time PCR assay.

Type-specific detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in self-sampled cervicovaginal cells applied to FTA elute cartridge.

Background: Most procedures for self-sampling of cervical cells are based on liquid-based media for transportation and storage. An alternative is to use a solid support, such as dry filter paper media.

Objectives: To evaluate if self-sampling of cervicovaginal fluid using a cytobrush (Viba-brush; Rovers Medical Devices B.

KRAS analysis in colorectal carcinoma: analytical aspects of Pyrosequencing and allele-specific PCR in clinical practice.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy is now approved for treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinomas (CRC) in patients with tumors lacking KRAS mutations. Several procedures to detect KRAS mutations have been developed. However, the analytical sensitivity and specificity of these assays on routine clinical samples are not yet fully characterised.

Quantitative evaluation of p16(INK4a) promoter methylation using pyrosequencing in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The p16(INK4a) tumor suppressor gene can be inactivated by a variety of events including promoter hypermethylation. In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), p16(INK4a) methylation has been associated with advanced disease stage and higher IPI. The prognostic impact of p16(INK4a) methylation in DLBCL remains unclear; however, it has been suggested to correlate with inferior outcome.

Use of FTA card for dry collection, transportation and storage of cervical cell specimen to detect high-risk HPV.

Background: The FTA elute micro card, which enable the collection, transport, and archiving of DNA could be an attractive alternative to a liquid based collection system for detection of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Objectives: To develop a method based on the FTA elute micro card for dry collection of cervical epithelial cell samples, suitable for subsequent PCR-based HPV testing.

Study Design: The method was evaluated by a comparison of the DNA collected by cytobrush and the regular FTA elute micro card from 50 cervical cell samples.

TP53 mutations predict for poor survival in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal center subtype.

Presence of TP53 mutations has been associated with poor prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although this has remained controversial. The TP53 codon 72 polymorphism has shown negative impact on cancer survival, but this has not been analyzed in DLBCL. Furthermore, the MDM2 SNP309 has been associated with earlier age of onset in DLBCL.

Adipose tissue inflammation and increased ceramide content characterize subjects with high liver fat content independent of obesity.

Objective: We sought to determine whether adipose tissue is inflamed in individuals with increased liver fat (LFAT) independently of obesity.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 20 nondiabetic, healthy, obese women were divided into normal and high LFAT groups based on their median LFAT level (2.3 +/- 0.

Expression of genes encoding for drug metabolising cytochrome P450 enzymes and P-glycoprotein in the rat small intestine; comparison to the liver.

The level of expression of genes encoding for nine major xenobiotic metabolising Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was determined in three different regions of the small intestine of male and female Sprague Dawley rats and the expression was compared with that in the liver. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR method, using the total RNA from the tissues, was established for the determination of the level of gene expression. Four of the CYP genes: the CYP2B1, CYP2C6, CYP2C11 and CYP2D1 and the Pgp were expressed at as high levels in the small intestine as in the liver.