Overestimation of Albumin Measured by Bromocresol Green vs Bromocresol Purple Method: Influence of Acute-Phase Globulins.

Background: Usually serum albumin is measured with dye-binding assay as bromocresol green (BCG) and bromocresol purple (BCP) methods. The aim of this paper was to examine the differences in albumin measurements between the Advia2400 BCG method (AlbBCG), Dimension RxL BCP (AlbBCP) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).

Methods: Albumin concentrations from 165 serum samples were analysed using AlbBCG, AlbBCP and CZE.

Usefulness of cell-free plasma DNA, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as markers of infection in febrile patients.

Background: Circulating nucleic acids were discovered more than 60 y ago. With the recent developments in the study of circulating nucleic acids, its application in the diagnostic field has increased. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of the quantification of cell-free plasma DNA (CF-DNA) concentration in the diagnosis of infections in febrile patients and as a prognostic marker in septic patients.

Cell-free DNA as a noninvasive acute rejection marker in renal transplantation.

Background: Acute rejection (AR) is a key conditioning factor for long-term graft function and survival in renal transplantation patients. The standard care with creatinine measurements and biopsy upon allograft dysfunction implies that AR is usually detected at advanced stages. Rapid noninvasive biomarkers of rejection are needed to improve the management of these patients.

Elevated transrenal DNA (cell-free urine DNA) in patients with urinary tract infection compared to healthy controls.

Objective: To study whether levels of transrenal DNA (Tr-DNA) are influenced by the presence of urinary tract infections (UTI).

Methods: Tr-DNA concentrations were measured in 124 donors and 55 patients with UTI. Two methods for DNA extraction were compared.

Increase in and clearance of cell-free plasma DNA in hemodialysis quantified by real-time PCR.

Background: Recently cell-free plasma DNA has been described as a marker of apoptosis during hemodialysis (HD), but little is known about how different dialysis membranes may contribute to this process or whether pre-HD levels are restored afterwards. Here we evaluate the influence of the dialysis membrane on cell-free plasma DNA levels and investigate the clearance of plasma circulating DNA after HD.

Methods: Cell-free plasma DNA was measured using a real-time quantitative PCR for the beta-globin gene.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the PARKIN gene and Parkinson's disease.

Mutations in the PARKIN gene have been identified in families with recessively inherited Parkinson disease (PD). Common DNA-polymorphisms at the PARKIN gene could contribute to the risk for PD in the general population. Here we searched for DNA-polymorphisms in the PARKIN promoter.