Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assessing heart failure in vitro comprising the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker IGFBP-7, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for IGFBP-7 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of IGFBP-7 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising IGFBP-7 and a kit for measuring IGFBP-7.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method for performing a bisulfite reaction to determine methylation positions in a nucleic acid, i.e. methylated and non-methylated cytosines, whereby the nucleic acid is incubated in a solution comprising the nucleic acid for a time period of 1.5 to 3.5 hours at a temperature between 70 and 90° C., whereby the concentration of bisulfite in the solution is between 3 M and 6.25 M and whereby the pH value of the solution is between 5.0 and 6.0 whereby the nucleic acid, i.e. the cytosine bases in the nucleic acid, are deaminated. Then the solution comprising the deaminated nucleic acid is desulfonated and preferably desalted. The application is further related to a solution comprising bisulfite with a certain pH and uses thereof as well as a kit comprising the solution.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method for performing a bisulfite reaction to determine methylation positions in a nucleic acid, i.e. methylated and non-methylated cytosines, whereby the nucleic acid is incubated in a solution comprising the nucleic acid for a time period of 1.5 to 3.5 hours at a temperature between 70 and 90° C., whereby the concentration of bisulfite in the solution is between 3 M and 6.25 M and whereby the pH value of the solution is between 5.0 and 6.0 whereby the nucleic acid, i.e. the cytosine bases in the nucleic acid, are deaminated. Then the solution comprising the deaminated nucleic acid is desulfonated and preferably desalted. The application is further related to a solution comprising bisulfite with a certain pH and uses thereof as well as a kit comprising the solution.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for isolating and purifying nucleic acids from a sample and a device that is suitable therefore.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method for performing a bisulfite reaction to determine methylation positions in a nucleic acid, i.e. methylated and non-methylated cytosines, whereby the nucleic acid is bound to a solid phase during the deamination and/or desulfonation step of the bisulfite reaction. The solid phase is preferably a material comprising glass or silica, more preferably a glass fleece, glass membrane or a magnetic glass particle. Further, the use of a solid phase for binding a nucleic acid during the deamination and/or desulfonation step of the bisulfite reaction is disclosed and a kit containing a bisulfite reagent and a solid phase.