The management of mucosal fenestration: a report of two cases

AIM

To report on the management of two patients with mucosal fenestration of root apices.

SUMMARY

Two cases of mucosal fenestration of root apices were treated by a combination of nonsurgical root canal treatment and surgery. Root-end resection was performed to bring the root apices within the alveolus before root-end filling and packing of the bony defects with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft. The areas were then covered with connective tissue grafts taken from the hard palate before repositioning the mucogingival flap. At 1 year follow-up, the mucosal fenestrations were completely healed by soft tissue graft coverage, and radiographs revealed bony healing.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

* Connective tissue grafts can be used to manage mucosal fenestration. * Periradicular surgery and connective tissue grafts can be used in combination.

Possible involvement of brain tumour stem cells in the emergence of a fast-growing malignant meningioma after surgical resection and radiotherapy of high-grade astrocytoma: case report and preliminary laboratory investigation

The case of a 62-year old man diagnosed with radiation-induced meningioma (RIM) after treatment for astrocytoma with an unusually short latency period of 7 months is reported. The patient first presented with a 2-month history of memory decline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tumour in the left parieto-temporal lobe. Gross total resection was performed and the tumour was confirmed to be an astrocytoma. The patient received cranial radiotherapy 2 weeks later, however 7 months after radiation treatment the patient presented with headache and vomiting. MRI showed massive meningeal enhancement in the left frontal lobe, which progressively enlarged. The patient's clinical condition deteriorated and a second craniotomy was performed with complete removal of the secondary tumour, which was shown to be a malignant meningioma. Immunohistochemical staining identified CD133-positive cells in both tumours. A rare fraction of brain tumour stem cells (BTSC) was isolated from the primary astrocytoma using a serum-free culture system, suggesting that BTSC may have been involved in the rapid emergence of RIM after resection and radiation of the primary astrocytoma.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway contributes to the control of behavioral excitement

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway mediates neuronal plasticity in the CNS. The mood stabilizers lithium and valproate activate the ERK pathway in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and potentiate ERK pathway-mediated neurite growth, neuronal survival and hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we examined the role of the ERK pathway in behavioral plasticity related to facets of bipolar disorder. Mice with ERK1 ablation acquired reduced phosphorylation of RSK1, an ERK substrate, in prefrontal cortex and striatum, but not in hippocampus or cerebellum, indicating the ablation-induced brain region-specific ERK signaling deficits. ERK1 ablation produced a behavioral excitement profile similar to that induced by psychostimulants. The profile is characterized by hyperactivity, enhanced goal-directed activity and increased pleasure-related activity with potential harmful consequence. ERK1-ablated mice were hyperactive in multiple tests and resistant to behavioral despair in the forced swim test. These mice displayed more home-cage voluntary wheel running activities, rearings in a large arena and open-arm visits in an elevated plus maze. Treatments with valproate and olanzapine, but not lithium reduced baseline activities in ERK1-ablated mice. All three treatments attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in ablated mice. These data indicate a profound involvement of ERK1 signaling in behavioral excitement and in the behavioral action of antimanic agents. The extent to which ERK pathway perturbation contributes to the susceptibility, mood switch mechanism(s) and symptom pathophysiology of bipolar disorder requires further investigation. Whether there is a shared mechanism through which mood stabilizers produce their clinical actions on mood, thought and behavioral symptoms of mania also requires further investigation.

Composite microspheres induce the sustained release and the control of the initial release of water soluble drugs

Although epidural analgesia may provide adequate pain relief and minimize systemic side effects, long-term, even permanent placement of epidural catheter for chronic or cancer-related pain management carries a potential risk of both superficial and deep infection. The development of antibiotics microspheres that could be dwelled in epidural drug-delivery devices is likely to achieve a significant advance allowing antibiotics given by the intradiscal route to control catheter-related infections. In the present study, the composite microspheres composed of double-walled microcapsules and PLGA were constructed for encapsulating water-soluble antibiotics, cefazolin. The results show that these microspheres could efficiently control the initial release of drug, which was only 3.0% at 2 h. Cefazolin encapsulated in the composite microspheres released gradually nearly in a constant rate in the first 16 days, and still maintained a relative fast rate in the next 14 days, indicating that composite microspheres could improve the incomplete release of entrapped drugs.

The role of cooperativity with Src in oncogenic transformation mediated by non-small cell lung cancer-associated EGF receptor mutants

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-associated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutants are constitutively active and induce ligand-independent transformation in non-malignant cell lines. We investigated the possibility that the ability of mutant EGFRs to transform cells reflects a constitutive cooperativity with Src using a system in which the overexpression of mutant, but not wild-type, EGFR induced anchorage-independent cell growth. Src was constitutively activated and showed enhanced interaction with mutant EGFRs, suggesting that constitutive EGFR-Src cooperativity may contribute to mutant EGFR-mediated oncogenesis. Indeed, the mutant EGFR-mediated cell transformation was inhibited by Src- as well as EGFR-directed inhibitors. Importantly, a tyrosine to phenylalanine mutation of the major Src phosphorylation site on EGFR, Y845, reduced the constitutive phosphorylation of NSCLC-EGFR mutants, as well as that of STAT3, Akt, Erk and Src, and reduced the mutant EGFR-Src association as well as proliferation, migration and anchorage-independent growth. Reduced anchorage-independent growth and migration were also observed when dominant-negative-Src was expressed in mutant EGFR-expressing cells. Overall, our findings show that mutant EGFR-Src interaction and cooperativity play critical roles in constitutive engagement of the downstream signaling pathways that allow NSCLC-associated EGFR mutants to mediate oncogenesis, and support the rationale to target Src-dependent signaling pathways in mutant EGFR-mediated malignancies.

The role of cooperativity with Src in oncogenic transformation mediated by non-small cell lung cancer-associated EGF receptor mutants

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-associated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutants are constitutively active and induce ligand-independent transformation in nonmalignant cell lines. We investigated the possibility that the ability of mutant EGFRs to transform cells reflects a constitutive cooperativity with Src using a system in which the overexpression of mutant but not wild-type EGFR induced anchorage-independent cell growth. Src was constitutively activated and showed enhanced interaction with mutant EGFRs, suggesting that constitutive EGFR-Src cooperativity may contribute to mutant EGFR-mediated oncogenesis. Indeed, the mutant EGFR-mediated cell transformation was inhibited by Src- as well as EGFR-directed inhibitors. Importantly, a tyrosine to phenylalanine mutation of the major Src phosphorylation site on EGFR, Y845, reduced the constitutive phosphorylation of NSCLC EGFR mutants as well as of STAT3, Akt, Erk and Src, and reduced the mutant EGFR-Src association as well as proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth. Reduced anchorage-independent growth and migration were also observed when DN-Src was expressed in mutant EGFR-expressing cells. Overall, our findings demonstrate that mutant EGFR-Src interaction and cooperativity play critical roles in constitutive engagement of the downstream signaling pathways that allow NSCLC-associated EGFR mutants to mediate oncogenesis, and support the rationale to target Src-dependent signaling pathways in mutant EGFR-mediated malignancies.

Nonlinear spectral imaging of human hypertrophic scar based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation

BACKGROUND

A noninvasive method using microscopy and spectroscopy for analysing the morphology of collagen and elastin and their biochemical variations in skin tissue will enable better understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertrophic scars and facilitate improved clinical management and treatment of this disease.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain simultaneously microscopic images and spectra of collagen and elastin fibres in ex vivo skin tissues (normal skin and hypertrophic scar) using a nonlinear spectral imaging method, and to compare the morphological structure and spectral characteristics of collagen and elastin fibres in hypertrophic scar tissues with those of normal skin, to determine whether this approach has potential for in vivo assessment of the pathophysiology of human hypertrophic scars and for monitoring treatment responses as well as for tracking the process of development of hypertrophic scars in clinic.

METHODS

Ex vivo human skin specimens obtained from six patients aged from 10 to 50 years old who were undergoing skin plastic surgery were examined. Five patients had hypertrophic scar lesions and one patient had no scar lesion before we obtained his skin specimen. A total of 30 tissue section samples of 30 mum thickness were analysed by the use of a nonlinear spectral imaging system consisting of a femtosecond excitation light source, a high-throughput scanning inverted microscope, and a spectral imaging detection system. The high-contrast and high-resolution second harmonic generation (SHG) images of collagen and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) images of elastin fibres in hypertrophic scar tissues and normal skin were acquired using the extracting channel tool of the system. The emission spectra were analysed using the image-guided spectral analysis method. The depth-dependent decay constant of the SHG signal and the image texture characteristics of hypertrophic scar tissue and normal skin were used to quantitatively assess the amount, distribution and orientation of their collagen and elastin components.

RESULTS

Our experiments and data analyses demonstrated apparent differences between hypertrophic scar tissue and normal skin in terms of their morphological structure and the spectral characteristics of collagen and elastin fibres. These differences can potentially be used to distinguish hypertrophic scar tissues from normal skin and to evaluate treatment responses.

CONCLUSIONS

All the measurements were performed in backscattering geometry and demonstrated that nonlinear spectral imaging has the ability to differentiate hypertrophic scar tissue from normal skin based on noninvasive SHG imaging, and TPEF imaging revealed the microstructure and spectral features of collagen and elastin fibres. With the advances in spectral imaging apparatus miniaturization, we have good reason to believe that this approach can become a valuable tool for the in vivo pathophysiology study of human skin hypertrophic scars and for assessing the treatment responses of this disfiguring disease in clinic. It can also be used to track the development of hypertrophic scars and to study wound healing processes in a noninvasive fashion without biopsy, fixation, sectioning and the use of exogenous dyes or stains.

Long-term potentiation of the responses to parallel fiber stimulation in mouse cerebellar cortex in vivo

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell (PF-PC) synapses in the cerebellum has been suggested to underlie aspects of motor learning. Previous in vitro studies have primarily used low frequency PF stimulation conditioning paradigms to generate either presynaptic PF-PC LTP (4-8 Hz) or postsynaptic PF-PC LTP (1 Hz). Little is known about the conditions that evoke PF-PC LTP in vivo. High frequency stimulation in vivo increases PC responsiveness to peripheral stimuli; however, neither the site of action nor the signaling pathways involved have been examined. Using flavoprotein autofluorescence optical imaging in the FVB mouse in vivo, this report describes that a conditioning stimulation consisting of a high frequency burst of PF stimulation (100 Hz, 15 pulse trains every 3 s for 5 min) evokes a long-term increase in the response to PF stimulation. Following the conditioning stimulation, the response to PF stimulation increases over 20 min to approximately 130% above baseline and this potentiation persists for at least 2 h. Field potential recordings of the responses to PF stimulation show that the postsynaptic component is potentiated but the presynaptic, parallel fiber volley is not. Paired-pulse facilitation does not change after the conditioning stimulation, suggesting the potentiation occurs postsynaptically. Blocking non-NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartic acid) ionotropic glutamate receptors with DNQX (6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione disodium salt, 50 muM, bath application) during the conditioning stimulation has no effect on the long-term increase in fluorescence. However, blocking subtype I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGLuR(1)) with LY367385 (200 muM) during the conditioning stimulation abolishes the long-term increase in fluorescence. Blocking GABAergic neurotransmission is not required to evoke this long-term potentiation. Blocking GABA(A) receptors reduces but does not eliminate the long-term potentiation. Therefore, this study demonstrates that high frequency PF stimulation generates long-term potentiation of PF-PC synapses in vivo. This novel form of LTP is generated primarily postsynaptically and is mediated by mGluR(1) receptors.

Burden of syphilis infections in Shenzhen, China: a preliminary estimation

Information on the prevalence and incidence of sexually transmitted infections is important for developing prevention and control strategies and allocating human and financial resources. However, there are no available estimates of such information for many areas in China. In this study, we used the existing data to make a preliminary estimation of syphilis infections in Shenzhen city, in south-eastern China. Data on prevalence rates of syphilis infections among different populations were obtained from the local HIV/sexually transmitted disease second-generation surveillance programme, and the sizes of different populations were estimated based on the most recently available figures. It was estimated that 83,760 (range 77,490–90,020) people are currently infected with syphilis, giving a prevalence of 0.71–0.82% (0.76% on average) in Shenzhen. Around 18% of these syphilis infections occur among men who have sex with men and another 15.8% and 8.7% occur among female sex workers and their clients, respectively. These estimates suggest that a combination of unprotected paid sex and sex between men may be sustaining the epidemic of syphilis in the study area. The preliminary estimates will assist the government in planning and improving its comprehensive intervention programmes for the future control and prevention of syphilis.

Retrospective analysis of thyroid nodules by clinical and pathological characteristics, and ultrasonographically detected calcification correlated to thyroid carcinoma in South China

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of thyroid nodules, as well as to evaluate the significance of ultrasonographically detected thyroid calcification in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas.

METHODS

Retrospective data were studied from 1,051 consecutive patients who underwent a thyroidectomy in the Provincial Hospital of Fujian Medical University in South China between January 2003 and July 2006 for nodular thyroid disease. Complete sonographical information before surgery was only collected from 758 of the 1,051 patients.

RESULTS

Among the 1,051 patients, benign lesions were found in 857 (81.54%) patients, of whom 612 (71.41%) were nodular goiter; malignant lesions were found in 194 (18.46%) patients, in whom benign thyroid lesions were also found in 85 (43.81%) patients. A total of 48 patients suffered from microcarcinomas, of whom 37 patients had benign lesions; these 37 accounted for 43.53 and 77.08%, respectively, of the 85 malignant cases with benign lesions and the 48 cases with microcarcinomas. In the 758 patients who underwent thyroid ultrasonography before surgery, intrathyroidal calcifications were apparent in 243 patients (32.06%). The incidence of calcification was significantly higher in patients with thyroid carcinoma (54.17%) than in those with benign lesions (26.87%; p < 0.005). Detection of calcification in thyroid lesions by ultrasound had a sensitivity of 32.38% and a specificity of 87.35%, with an OR of 3.31 (95% CI, 2.24-4.63), positive likelihood ratio of 2.56, negative likelihood ratio of 0.77 and a kappa value of 0.23.

CONCLUSION

Thyroid carcinoma, especially microcarcinoma, often coexists with benign thyroid disease. Calcification detected by thyroid ultrasound represents a risk factor for malignancy, but is of limited use as a sole marker of malignancy.

REG1A predicts recurrence in stage Ta/T1 bladder cancer

AIMS

Stage Ta/T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (Ta/T1 BC) has a marked tendency to recur. Regenerating protein 1 A (REG1A) has been reported to be expressed in human cancers, and it may be positively correlated with patient's prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of REG1A in Ta/T1 BC.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was done on 110 paraffin-embedded specimens of human Ta/T1 BC to detect the proteins REG1A, PCNA and MMP2. The relationships between REG1A expression and the clinical-pathological characteristics of Ta/T1 BC patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

Sixty-five out of 110 specimens were REG1A-positive. Grade and expression levels of MMP2 and REG1A were significantly correlated with the recurrence rate. REG1A expression (Hazard ratio: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.1-8.5; P=0.030) was an independent predictor of recurrence rate in multivariate Cox regression analysis. A significant association between REG1A expression and MMP2 expression (P=0.023) was also observed.

CONCLUSION

Expression of REG1A is an independent predictor of recurrence in Ta/T1 BC.

Enhanced relaxation and intermixing in Ge islands grown on pit-patterned Si(001) substrates

We compare elastic relaxation and Si-Ge distribution in epitaxial islands grown on both pit-patterned and flat Si(001) substrates. Anomalous x-ray diffraction yields that nucleation in the pits provides a higher relaxation. Using an innovative, model-free fitting procedure based on self-consistent solutions of the elastic problem, we provide compositional and elastic-energy maps. Islands grown on flat substrates exhibit stronger composition gradients and do not show a monotonic decrease of elastic energy with height. Both phenomena are explained using both thermodynamic and kinetic arguments.

Evaluation of microbial fuel cell coupled with aeration chamber and bio-cathode for organic matter and nitrogen removal from synthetic domestic wastewater

For simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal via single stream, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) coupled with an aeration chamber and a bio-cathode was investigated. Without catalysts and any additional buffer, the MFC produced electricity continuously and the power density reached 1.3 W/m3 at a loading rate of 1.6 kg COD/m3 d. Simultaneously, the COD and the nitrate removal rate were 1.4 kg COD/m3 d and 67 g NO3-N/m3 d, respectively. When the hydraulic retention time was changed from 6 to 0.75 hours, the power density significantly increased from 0.2 to 10.8 W/m3 due to an increase of cathodic potential. When the aeration chamber was removed and the nitrate was injected into the cathode, the power density increased to 3.7 W/m3. At a high recirculation rate of 10 ml/min, the power density and the nitrate removal rate greatly increased to 34 W/m3 and 294 g NO3--N/m3 d, respectively.

The therapeutic effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on experimental arthritis is associated with CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been found to act as a potent anti-inflammatory factor through regulating the production of both anti- and pro-inflammatory mediators and promoting Th2-type responses. In this study, we used Chicken collagen II-induced experimental arthritis (CIA) model in Wistar rats to investigate the potential effects of VIP on rheumatoid arthritis. Our results showed that in vivo treatment of CIA-induced rats with VIP had great protective benefit at both clinical and histological levels. Disease suppression was associated with the inhibition of T cells proliferation, shifting of the immune response toward a Th2-type response and expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in the periphery, which inhibited autoreactive T cell activation/expansion. In conclusion, the study provides evidence that VIP had great protective effect on CIA through its inhibition actions on pathogenic T cells.

Which is more important in bioimaging SIMS experiments-The sample preparation or the nature of the projectile?

Sample preparation is central to acquiring meaningful molecule-specific images with SIMS, especially when submicron lateral resolution is involved. The issue is to maintain the distribution of target molecules while attempting to introduce biological cells or tissue into the high vacuum environment of the mass spectrometer. Here we compare freeze-drying, freeze-etching, freeze-fracture and trehalose vitrification as possible strategies for these experiments. The results show that the prospects for successful imaging experiments are greatly improved with all of these methods when using cluster ion bombardment, particularly C(60) (+) ions, not only due to increased sensitivity of this projectiles, but also since it removes contamination overlayers without insult to the underlying chemistry. The emergence of 3-dimensional imaging capabilities also suggests that sample preparation should not perturb the 3-dimensional morphology of the cell, a situation not generally possible during freeze-drying. Hence, sample preparation and projectile type are strongly coupled parameters for bioimaging with mass spectrometry.

Differentiation of sarcoidosis from tuberculosis using real-time PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

The clinical and pathological features of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis may mimic each other, and when the caseous necrosis is not seen in tuberculosis tissue, differentiation is not easy.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the ability of real-time PCR quantification and sets the quantitive value to differentiate sarcoidosis from TB.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of biopsy samples, from 104 patients with sarcoidosis, 31 patients with tuberculosis, and 55 controls with other respiratory diseases (26 with nonspecific lymphadenitis and 29 with emphysema bullae), were collected to amplify insertion sequence IS986 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) genome by real-time quantitative PCR. The diagnostic performance of qualitative and quantitative analysis of real-time quantitative PCR was assessed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

MTB DNA was detected in 20 of the 104 sarcoidosis samples and 7 of the 55 control samples, but was detected in all of the 31 tuberculosis samples. The numbers of MTB genomes were 0-4.71x10(3) copies per ml in sarcoidosis samples, 1.58x10(2)-5.43x10(7) copies per ml in tuberculosis samples and 0-1.02x10(3) copies per ml in controls with quantitative analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that MTB genome quantification had greater diagnostic performance than MTB genome qualitation in discriminating patients with sarcoidosis from those with tuberculosis (area under the ROC curves: 0.994 vs 0.904, P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of qualitative analysis were 100% and 80.8% respectively. At cutoff value of 1.14x10(3) copies per ml for MTB genome quantification, the sensitivity was 96.8% and specificity was 98.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The real time PCR quantification is a valuable test for differentiation between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, and the MTB genome copies number of 1.14x10(3) copies per ml should be preferred as quantitative cutoff value for the differentiation.

Spectroscopic signatures of novel oxygen-defect complexes in stoichiometrically controlled CdSe

Growth of single crystals of CdSe with oxygen, introduced by stoichiometric control to suppress the formation of native Se and Cd vacancies, generates oxygen centers replacing Cd (O Cd) rather than Se (O Se) as expected. This antisite substitution is unambiguously singled out by the host isotope fine structure of the nearest neighbor (NN) Se atoms in the localized vibrational modes (LVMs) of O Cd. When the stoichiometry control favors the formation of Cd vacancies, three infrared signatures gamma1, gamma2 and gamma3 appear ascribable to the LVMs of O Se in association with a Cd vacancy in the NN position as (O Se-V Cd) centers. Polarization measurements establish the monoclinic Cs symmetry for these centers. As a function of temperature, they display a remarkable two-step symmetry transformation, Cs-->C3v-->Td, due to the dynamic switching of the O Se-V Cd dangling bond.

The pathogenic role of interleukin-27 in autoimmune diabetes

Interleukin (IL)-27 is an IL-12-related cytokine that can promote both anti- and pro-inflammatory immune responses. This study investigated the potential role of IL-27 in autoimmune diabetes. We detected a high level of IL-27 in diabetic NOD mice. In addition, blockade of IL-27 significantly delayed the onset of diabetic splenocyte-transferred diabetes, while IL-27-treated diabetic splenocytes promoted the onset of the disease, compared with untreated controls. Furthermore, IL-27 up-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-17 and down-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, TGF-beta, and IL-10 secreted by diabetic splenocytes. These results demonstrate a pathogenic role of IL-27 in T cell-mediated autoimmune diabetes.

A rapid topographic mapping and eye alignment method using optical imaging in Macaque visual cortex

In optical imaging experiments, it is often advantageous to map the field of view and to converge the eyes without electrophysiological recording. This occurs when limited space precludes placement of an electrode or in chronic optical chambers in which one may not want to introduce an electrode each session or for determining eye position in studies of ocular disparity response in visual cortex of anesthetized animals. For these purposes, we have developed a spot imaging method that can be conducted rapidly and repeatedly throughout an experiment. Using small 0.2 degrees -0.5 degrees spots, the extent of the imaged field of view is mapped by imaging cortical response to single spots, placed at different positions (0.2 degrees steps) in either the horizontal or vertical axes. By shifting the relative positions of two spots, one presented to each eye, eye convergence can be assessed to within 0.1 degrees resolution. Once appropriate eye alignment is determined, stimuli for further optical imaging procedures (e.g. imaging random dot stimuli for study of disparity responses) can then be confidently placed. This procedure can be quickly repeated throughout the experiment to ensure maintained eye alignment.

A novel method of HPV genotyping using Hybrid Capture sample preparation method combined with GP5+/6+ PCR and multiplex detection on Luminex XMAP

A novel DNA detection assay comprising Hybrid Capture sample preparation, GP5+/6+ PCR with modifications and Luminex 100 detection was developed and applied to genotyping of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical samples. Target-specific sample preparation was performed using magnetic beads conjugated with Hybrid Capture (HC) antibody. DNA-RNA hybrids were formed between DNA target and RNA probes and captured on HC-beads. DNA on magnetic beads was amplified without elution using consensus GP5+/6+ PCR and then genotyped on Luminex beads using hybridization probes for the 17 high-risk HPV types 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 73, 82 and an internal control. This new sequence-specific Hybrid Capture sample preparation is fast, efficient and allows direct HPV genotyping by PCR. Compared to traditional non-sequence-specific sample preparation methods, HC sample preparation demonstrated slightly better detection of multiple HPV infections. The clinical utility of this method was demonstrated on cervical samples positive for HR HPV by the Hybrid Capture 2 (hc2) screening assay.