Exacerbations of asthma is major causes of morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. Over the decade, studies using new molecular diagnostic techniques have established that respiratory viruses are a major cause of exacerbations of asthma. The most prevalent viruses detected during exacerbations are the rhinovirus. Despite the burden of disease associated with exacerbations, little is known about the mechanisms of virus-induced exacerbations of airway diseases. Exacerbations are associated with increased airway inflammation in patients with asthma, but many questions remain unanswered regarding the key inflammatory cells and mediators involved. Identifying the key inflammatory mediators involved in exacerbations holds the promise of developing diagnostic and prognostic markers of exacerbation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent change in our understanding of the clinical manifestations of rhinovirus infection than occurred as a result of the improved diagnostic sensitivity provided by the multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and serotypes.
Asthma ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Rhinovirus

Fasciola eggs were collected from stool of a woman aged 21 years old in Nghe An province. Miracidium were obtained from these eggs after 20 days culture in the laboratory. A portion of the mitochondrial-encoded nad1 gene from these miracidiums were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and comparatively aligned with the known corresponding sequences of Fasciola gigantica taken from cattle in Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Ninh Binh and international strains (from Korea, Japan and Indonesia). The results showed high similar co-efficient of nucleotide 98-99% and amino acid 95-99%, but lower rate than that of Fasciola hepatica (Australian and American) (90-92%). However, it is suggested that the Vietnamese F.gigantica have had the genetic signs hybridized with F.hepatica
Women ; diagnosis ; Ovum ; Fasciola ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

By molecular identification and using mitochondrial genetic markers, the results showed that different forms of lung fluke in Vietnam, including adult fluke from human, dogs, cats and Potamicus sp. rock crab, have been identified as Paragonimus heteotremus. Molecular-based analysis on 390 nucleotides of the cytochrome oxidase gene revealed that Paragonimus heterotremus of Vietnam from all forms showed high identity to the Chinese and Thai strains. (99.0 -99.2% nucleotide and 97-100% amino acid). Phylogenetic analysis uniquely placed the Vietnamese Paragonimus sp to the group of P.heterotremus of Chinese and Thai origin. Thus, P.heterotremus is offically identified from most of the natural and experimental hosts in Vietnam
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Paragonimus ; Genome, Mitochondrial

Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; standards ; Quality Control

Hematologic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

High-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and-or BCL6 rearrangements, also called double-hit lymphoma, is an aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma that carries both MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 translocations. This can present as a diagnostic challenge since clinical characteristics, morphology and immunophenotype are not accurate indicators of underlying genetic aberrations in this type of lymphoma. We report a case of a 25-year-old male who presented with a one-year history of cough, gradually increasing abdominal girth and jaundice. Definitive diagnosis was made post-mortem with additional ancillary studies using immunohistochemistry staining and fluorescent in-situ hybridization studies.
Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

In recent years, molecular diagnostics has been the most promising branch of
Humans ; Microfluidics ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/instrumentation* ; Pathology, Molecular/instrumentation*

Spectacular advances in molecular genetics have enabled the molecular characterisation of many genetic disorders. The clinical applications include: (i) identification of pre-symptomatic and symptomatic affected individuals (monogenic diseases), allowing for early treatment and prevention of complications, (ii) carrier testing for genetic counselling, (iii) pharmacogenetic testing to guide medical treatment, and (iv) susceptibility testing (in polygenic diseases) to determine the risk of developing future disease. Using the model of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), direct mutational analysis can be applied to: (i) confirm the diagnosis when hormone assays have been equivocal, which would allow for early treatment and prevention of adrenal crisis, (ii) prenatal diagnosis and prenatal treatment in affected females to prevent or reduce prenatal virilisation, (iii) heterozygote carrier identification for genetic counselling, (iv) novel therapeutic applications to optimise treatment, including adjusting the steroid dose based on consistent genotype-phenotype correlations, so as to reduce the incidence of growth-inhibiting effects of steroid excess. However, molecular analysis can occasionally be complicated by multiple mutations on one allele, which may potentially affect genotype-phenotype correlations. Hence, molecular genetic analysis of CAH may eventually be adopted as a second tier confirmation of the disease, but is unlikely to replace the current first tier screening assays of precursor steroid metabolites proximal to the enzyme deficiency.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

Humans ; Child ; Communicable Diseases/therapy* ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Genetic Testing

Development of in vivo animal imaging instrumentations and methods contributes to the early diagnosis of cancer. Of variable imaging modalities, in vivo optical imaging such as bioluminescence and fluorescence is one of the best methods to measure molecular change of cancer cells. High sensitivity and relatively low cost of optical method gives benefits to apply for translational research in the field of cancer. Nano-probes to label and detect early cancer cells have been developed by nano-chemists and molecular imaging researchers. Quantum dots made from fluorescent semi-conductors show good advantages in term of imaging probes; high quantum yields, large molar extinction coefficients, size-dependent tunable emission and high photostability. To detect a gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, newly developed endoscopes have been used. Among them, near infrared fluorescence endoscope and confocal endomicroscope are good candidates for clinical application. In animal studies, successful results to detect cancer in gastrointestinal tract have been obtained. Prospect of nanoparticles as optical imaging moiety is promising to detect GI cancers if their toxicity is minimized. Future fluorescence confocal endoscope with safe cancer targeting nanoparticles will be useful for the detection and treatment of GI cancers.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Fluorescent Dyes/*diagnostic use ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Nanoparticles/*diagnostic use