We evaluated the efficacy of noninvasive fetal Rhesus D (RHD) genotyping from maternal plasma in a highly admixed population. Fifty-five blood samples from RhD-negative pregnant women from Brazil were processed for extraction of cell-free plasma DNA. Real-time PCR was performed to amplify segments of exons 5 and 7 from the RHD gene, as well as for detection of the SRY gene to confirm the presen...

BACKGROUND Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a preneoplastic condition in which normal esophageal squamous epithelium (SQ) is replaced by specialized intestinal metaplasia. It is the presumed precursor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) as well as the strongest risk factor for this cancer. Unfortunately, many patients with BE go undiagnosed under the current BE screening guidelines. The development ...

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) constitutes a type of carcinoma encountered frequently in Southern China, among Eskimos of the Arctic region, and to a lesser extent in Southeast Asia. Because EBV DNA present in plasma or serum of NPC patients has proven to represent a promising noninvasive tumor marker, the present study was designed to determine the incidence of serum/plasma EBV DNA by nested PCR ...

Noninvasive samples have proved useful in genotyping studies of free-ranging mammals. However, potential genotyping errors associated with such samples dictate the need for validation studies. This pilot study demonstrates the use of dolphin faeces in multilocus microsatellite genotyping studies. An empirical approach to calculating the rate of genotyping error was applied to data from matched ...

Noninvasive validation of cigarette smoking behavior is necessary for large population studies, especially with adolescents, where peer pressures can compromise self-report. Saliva and urine samples provide biological material for confirmation of recent nicotine intake by analysis for cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine. However, detection of infrequent use of cigarettes can be missed in...

A remote detection system based on optical emission spectrometry of laser-induced plasmas has been developed to record spectra in the visible region from samples placed at remote distances from the excitation source. Unlike from fiber-optic-based systems, light collection is performed remotely as well. Laboratory-scale experiments have shown the possibility of performing real-time analysis of s...

BACKGROUND A national multimedia campaign was launched in January 2010, to increase the proportion of young people tested for chlamydia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the campaign on the coverage and positivity within the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NSCP) in England. METHOD An interrupted time series of anonymised NCSP testing reports for England for a 27 month period...

In recent years, the analysis of exhaled breath condensate samples has been given great weight as a noninvasive methodology of studying physiology and lung diseases. The present study describes a device for measuring exhaled breath condensate that is affordable, easily constructed, portable and suitable for use in the field, as well as allowing the collection of simultaneous samples. The result...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to report the experience of noninvasive prenatal DNA testing using massively parallel sequencing in an accredited clinical laboratory. METHODS Laboratory information was examined for blood samples received for testing between February and November 2012 for chromosome 21 (Chr21), Chr18, and Chr13. Monosomy X (MX) testing was available from July 2012 for cysti...

Purpose: There is a quest for novel noninvasive diagnosticmarkers for the detection of breast cancer. The goal of this study is to identify circulating microRNA (miRNA) signatures using a cohort of Asian Chinese patients with breast cancer, and to compare miRNA profiles between tumor and serum samples. Experimental Design: miRNA from paired breast cancer tumors, normal tissue, and serum samples...