Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the identification of gene sets that are differentially expressed in PBMCs of patients diagnosed with a pre-diabetic disease state and overt type II diabetes. 3 gene and 10 gene signatures are shown to accurately predict a diabetic disease state in a patient. The application also described kits for the rapid diagnosis of diabetic disease states in patients at a point of care facility.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods comprising two or more proteins in which at least one of the proteins has been altered to reduce their mutual recognition and binding. Such compositions are useful as reference, calibrators or controls in methods and assays for determining the amount of one or more of the proteins that may be present in a sample of interest or in confirming the presence of one or more of the proteins in the sample. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods comprising altered placental growth factor-1 (PlGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and methods for determining the amount or confirming the presence of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF-1 in a sample of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods comprising two or more proteins in which at least one of the proteins has been altered to reduce their mutual recognition and binding. Such compositions are useful as reference, calibrators or controls in methods and assays for determining the amount of one or more of the proteins that may be present in a sample of interest or in confirming the presence of one or more of the proteins in the sample. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods comprising altered placental growth factor-1 (PlGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and methods for determining the amount or confirming the presence of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF-1 in a sample of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods comprising two or more proteins in which at least one of the proteins has been altered to reduce their mutual recognition and binding. Such compositions are useful as reference, calibrators or controls in methods and assays for determining the amount of one or more of the proteins that may be present in a sample of interest or in confirming the presence of one or more of the proteins in the sample. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods comprising altered placental growth factor-1 (PlGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and methods for determining the amount or confirming the presence of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF-1 in a sample of interest.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the identification of gene sets that are differentially expressed in PBMCs of patients diagnosed with a pre-diabetic disease state and overt type II diabetes. 3 gene and 10 gene signatures are shown to accurately predict a diabetic disease state in a patient. The application also described kits for the rapid diagnosis of diabetic disease states in patients at a point of care facility.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods comprising two or more proteins in which at least one of the proteins has been altered to reduce their mutual recognition and binding. Such compositions are useful as reference, calibrators or controls in methods and assays for determining the amount of one or more of the proteins that may be present in a sample of interest or in confirming the presence of one or more of the proteins in the sample. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods comprising altered placental growth factor-1 (PlGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and methods for determining the amount or confirming the presence of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF-1 in a sample of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are improved methods for amplifying nucleic acids. The methods encompass a method for increasing the specificity of amplification of a target nucleic acid in an amplification reaction, where the reaction reagents include one or more oligonucleotide amplification primers specific to the target nucleic acid, a target nucleic acid, a nucleic acid polymerase, and one or more magnesium salts, by preparing a primer/carrier mixture comprising one or more oligonucleotide amplification primers and carrier nucleic acid, and contacting the primer/carrier admixture with target nucleic acid, one or more magnesium salts, and nucleic acid polymerase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for amplifying and detecting a target nucleic acid. The method comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing the target nucleic acid with a thermostable DNA polymerase and two primers that are substantially complementary to the target nucleic acid, under conditions such that the target nucleic acid is amplified. The amplified target nucleic acids are then denatured to form single stranded nucleic acids. Following amplification, the sample is subject to a pre-detection incubation step. The sample is incubated for between 1 second and 30 minutes at between 95° C. and 120° C. to inactivate said polymerization agent. Finally, the presence or absence of the amplified target nucleic acids is determined. Preferably, amplification, incubation and detection are carried out in a closed reaction vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for concentrating bacteria from a viscous biological sample. The methods involve adding to the sample a water-soluble, density-lowering agent having a density of 0.7 to 0.9 g/ml and a boiling point greater than 50.degree. C. The invention also relates to methods for concentrating bacteria and free bacterial nucleic acids from a biological sample that involve mixing with the sample a density-lowering agent and a monovalent salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and test kits for the amplification and detection of nucleic acids from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and/or type 2. The methods use multiple primer sets to amplify all subtypes of HIV-1, including group M and group O isolates, and all subtypes of HIV-2.

Abstract: Multiple target nucleic acids are amplified using polymerase chain reaction in the presence of a nonionic, polymeric volume exclusion agent. The amplification efficiency of low copy target nucleic acids is increased in the presence of the volume exclusion agent even though reduced primer levels are used. In this manner, amplification efficiency of a given target nucleic acid can be more readily manipulated.

Abstract: Nucleic acids can be amplified and detected using a very rapid polymerase chain reaction procedure in which two different nucleic acid sequences are present. This method allows one to preferentially modulate (for example, suppress) the degree of amplification of one or more nucleic acid sequences relative to other nucleic acid sequences. This modulation is achieved by exploiting differences in the relative primer melt temperatures, or by using certain ratios of primers. Each PCR cycle is very fast, that is less than about 90 seconds. This method is particularly useful for amplification and detection of DNA associated with infectious agents that may be present in a specimen in very small quantities compared to other nontargeted nucleic acids.

Abstract: Nucleic acids can be made available for amplification or other treatment after lysis by contacting the lysate with polyethyleneimine to form a precipitate with the nucleic acids. The nucleic acids are then released from the precipitate by contact with a strong base, and the released nucleic acids are kept in solution with an anionic phosphate ester surfactant. This method for preparing specimen samples is simple and quite rapid.

Abstract: Nucleic acids can be made available for amplification or other treatment after lysis by contacting the lysate with specific weakly basic polymers to form a precipitate with the nucleic acids at acidic pH. After removing non-precipitated materials, the pH is then made basic, thereby releasing the nucleic acids from the polymer. This method for preparing specimen samples is simple and quite rapid, and the released nucleic acids can be further treated in hybridization assays or amplification procedures. The weakly basic polymers are water-soluble and cationic at acidic pH, but neutral in charge at basic pH.

Abstract: A method for amplification and detection of a low copy target nucleic acid includes coamplification of a high copy target nucleic acid. After a number of conventional amplification cycles which include a denaturation step, several cycles are carried out during which the denatured products are renatured for a brief period of time. This intermediate step in later cycles of the amplification process reduces the effective concentration of the high copy target nucleic acid available for amplification in later cycles, thereby making more DNA polymerase available for amplification of the low copy target nucleic acid.