Influence of temperature, medium, and storage duration on Chlamydia trachomatis DNA detection by PCR.

We validated the use of stored samples for Chlamydia trachomatis research. C. trachomatis DNA was detected by real-time PCR in clinical (urine and self-taken vaginal swabs) and spiked samples using six different media, five different time points (up to 2 years), and four different temperature conditions.

C-reactive protein in peripheral arterial disease: relation to severity of the disease and to future cardiovascular events.

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has proven to be an independent marker of the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. In this prospective observational study, we wanted to assess the relationship between serum CRP and extent of disease transversely and longitudinally in time, as well as future cardiovascular complications in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Hypothesizing that CRP not only is a marker of but also actively participates in atherogenesis, we explored the possibility of CRP production by femoral atherosclerotic plaques.

Mouse cytomegalovirus antigenic immune stimulation is sufficient to aggravate atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice.

We have previously demonstrated that mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection aggravates atherosclerosis by stimulating the ongoing inflammatory process in the vascular wall. Here we investigated whether MCMV antigenic immune stimulation by UV-MCMV injection is sufficient to aggravate atherosclerosis. In addition we analyzed whether low viral doses are sufficient to stimulate atherosclerosis.

Serum C-reactive protein level is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm size and may be produced by aneurysmal tissue.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by extensive transmural inflammation and C-reactive protein (CRP) has emerged as an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we evaluated a possible association between serum CRP and aneurysm dimension in patients with asymptomatic AAA. Furthermore, the possibility of CRP production by aneurysmal tissue has been examined.