Urinary DNA Methylation Test for Bladder Cancer Diagnosis.

Importance: An accurate noninvasive biomarker test is needed for the early diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a urinary DNA methylation test (PENK methylation) and compare its diagnostic accuracy with that of the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) test or urine cytology test.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this prospective multicenter study at 10 sites in the Republic of Korea, individuals 40 years and older with hematuria undergoing cystoscopy within 3 months between March 11, 2022, and May 30, 2024, participated.

Comparing sputum, nasopharyngeal swabs, and combined samples for respiratory bacterial detection using multiplex PCR.

Unlabelled: Respiratory tract infections are major global health issues that require rapid and accurate diagnostic methods. Multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) is commonly used for pathogen detection in respiratory samples. However, the optimal specimen selection for detecting bacterial pathogens is not well-explored.

Evaluation of a Commercial Multiplex Real-Time PCR with Melting Curve Analysis for the Detection of Complex and Five Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Species.

Background: Accurate and timely diagnosis of mycobacterial infections, including complex (MTBC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), is crucial for effective disease management.

Methods: This study evaluated the performance of the NeoPlex TB/NTM-5 Detection Kit (NeoPlex assay, Seongnam, Republic of Korea), a multiplex real-time PCR assay that incorporates melting curve analysis, compared with the line-probe assay (LPA). The NeoPlex assay could simultaneously detect and differentiate MTBC from five other NTM species: , , , , and .

Assessing seepage sources of a tailings dump and fractionation of Mo and Zn isotopes.

Tracing the sources of each contaminant and its geochemical reactions requires a variety of geochemical tools. In this study, chemical compositions and isotopic ratios of O-H, Mo, and Zn were utilized to identify the sources and geochemical reactions of water, As, Mo, and Zn in the seepage from a mine tailings dump. The distinct chemical compositions observed between the seepage and monitoring well, along with the O-H isotopic ratios, suggested that the seepage originated from creek water rather than nearby groundwater, which was supported by a large seasonal variation of δMo in both the seepage and creek.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Breath Tests to Detect Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious infection and one of the world's leading causes of death from a single infectious agent. Currently, TB diagnosis can be established via mycobacterial cultures, Acid Fast Bacilli smear and molecular studies. In the ever-evolving landscape of medical advancements, breath tests have shown considerable promise.