Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) DNA and/or fragments thereof in blood. The first method involves extracting DNA from a blood sample, preferably plasma, by amplifying the DNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or a ligase chain reaction (LCR) method, and detecting a target DNA sequence in the amplified DNA. The preferred target DNA sequence comprises a Mr26 or a 16S rRNA gene or fragments thereof specific to H. pylori. The second method involves extracting DNA from a blood sample, preferably serum, by hybridizing the extracted DNA with a radioisotope or fluorescence labeled H. pylori DNA probe.

Abstract: A composition including a polyalphaolefin and at least one alpha olefin monomer partitioning agent that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes the steps of contacting alpha olefin monomers with at least one catalyst in a reactant mixture to form a polyalphaolefin. The reactant mixture may include at least one alpha olefin partitioning agent or the at least one alpha olefin partitioning agent may be mixed with the polyalphaolefin after polymerization. The alpha olefin monomer partitioning agents are alpha olefin monomers that are solid at ambient temperatures. Preferably, the alpha olefin monomers are selected from the group consisting of C20-C60 alpha olefin monomers. A process for reducing drag in a conduit is also disclosed.