DNA microarray has become an essential medical genetic diagnostic tool for its high-throughput, miniaturization and automation. The design and selection of oligonucleotide probes are critical for preparing gene chips with high quality. Several sets of probe design software have been developed and are available to perform this work now. Every set of the software aims to different target sequences and shows different advantages and limitations. In this article, the research and development of these sets of software are reviewed in line with three main criteria, including specificity, sensitivity and melting temperature (Tm). In addition, based on the experimental results from literatures, these sets of software are classified according to their applications. This review will be helpful for users to choose an appropriate probe-design software. It will also reduce the costs of microarrays, improve the application efficiency of microarrays, and promote both the research and development (R&D) and commercialization of high-performance probe design software.
Base Sequence ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Software ; Software Design

Objective To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway in the protective effect of remifentanil or ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods One hundred and forty-four male SD rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly assigned into 6 group ( n =24 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,remifentanil group (group R),IPC group,SB203580 (a specific p38MAPK inhibitor) + remifentanil group (group SB + R),and SB + IPC group.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 20％ urethane 1 mg/kg.Partial liver ischemia was produced by clamping the hepatic pedicle supplying left lobe and middle lobe for 30 min,followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group R,remifentanil was infused intravenously at 2μg· kg- 1 · min- 1 starting from 30 min before ischemia until the end of reperfusion.In IPC group,the rats were subjected to 3 episodes of 5 min ischemia at 5 min intervals before I/R.SB203580 0.2 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 5 min before remifentanil infusion or IPC in groups SB + R and SB + IPC,and the equal volume of normal saline was given in the other groups.Six rats in each group were selected at 30,60,90 and 120 min of reperfusion and venous blood samples were taken from inferior vena cava for measurement of serum ALT and AST activities and concentrations of TNF-a and 1L-1β.The rats were then sacrificed and liver tissues were taken for microscopic examination and determination of phosphor-p38MAPK expression by Western blot.Results Compared with group S,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased at each time point (P ＜ 0.05) and pathological injury was aggravated in group I/R.Compared with group I/R,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-a and IL-lβ were significantly decreased and phosphor-p38MAPK expression was up-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion in groups R and IPC ( P ＜ 0.05).The serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased,phosphor-p38MAPK expression was down-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion ( P ＜ 0.05),and pathological injury was aggravated in group SB + R compared with group R,and in group SB + IPC compared with group IPC.Conclusion Activation of p38MAPK pathway and inhibition of inflammatory response may be involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil or IPC reduces the hepatic I/R injury in rats.

Objective To explore the value of color doppler ultrasound in infants with hypothyroidism between 0 to 3 years old before and after treatment .Methods The normal infants ,whose thyroids were examined by two‐dimensional ultrasound and were used by color doppler ultrasound ,were used as control group .The clinically diagnosed infants with transient hyperthyroidism or permanent hyperthyroidism were used as experimental group .The thyroids were examined by multiple ultrasonography before and after the treatment respectively in different periods .The measured values of thyroids were compared each other .Results In in‐fants with transient hyperthyroidism ,the major ultrasonographic findings were atrophy of thyroids before the treatment .Most of these thyroids enlarged ,and a small part of them recovered after the treatment .In infants with permanent hyperthyroidism ,the pri‐mary finding was thyroid agenesis ,and followed by atrophied before the treatment .The thyroid agenesis exist in most cases and few cases recover with normal values after the treatment .Conclusion Color doppler ultrasound can indirectly reflect the thyroid devel‐opment situation in infants .Combined with the advantages of non traumatic and high repeatability ,it can be used as an important auxiliary examination method for clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism in infants .

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of HIT-antibodies in suspected HIT patients with heart diseases.Methods A single center study.We collected 242 blood samples of suspected HIT patients whose platelet count decreased after heparin application during July 1 st ,2012 to June 30th ,2016 in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital and detected the concentration of HIT antibodies , meanwhile the 4T′s score were calculated.Among the study objects , there are 206 patients received cardiac surgery , 28 received cardiac interventional therapy and 8 received drug therapy.And we divided them into HIT group (44, median age 57.5, 23 females ) and non-HIT group ( 198, median age 63.5, 87 females ) according to clinical diagnosis.Quantitative data was analyzed by independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test.Qualitative data was analyzed by Fisher′s exact test.We drew ROC curve according to the statistical analysis to determine the optimal threshold value of antibodies in diagnosis of HIT andsensitivity , specificity, negative likelihood ratio, positive likelihood ratio of the HIT antibody detection .Therefore, we can assess the value of HIT antibody detection in HIT clinical diagnosis and treatment .Moreover, we used the optimal threshold value of antibodies to testify the suspected HIT patients .Results The HIT antibody concentration of HIT group (44) and non-HIT group ( 198 ) are 3.2 ( 95% CI:1.8 -5.5 ) U/ml and 0.4 ( 95% CI:0.3 -0.4 ) U/ml, respectively.The concentration of HIT group is much higher than the non-HIT group(P<0.000).When the cut-off value of HIT-Ab is set at 0.9 U/ml, sensitivity and specificity are 93.2%and 91.9%, respectively. And negative likelihood ratio and positive likelihood ratio are 0.07 and 11.53, respectively.When the cut-off value of HIT-Ab is set at 0.6 U/ml, sensitivity and specificity are 100.0%and 73.7%.HIT-Ab and 4T′s score of ROC-AUC are 0.971 and 0.745, respectively.The diagnosis value of HIT-Ab in HIT is significantly higher than the 4T′s score ( P<0.000).Conclusions HIT antibody detection is a simple and effective auxiliary diagnostic method in HIT exclusion .And HIT antibody detection is more optimal than the 4T′s score in HIT diagnosis and treatment .

Objective To set up a living mice colonoscopy platform to establish an orthotopic model of colorectal cancer in mice under direct vision,and to observe its biological behavior such as metastasis.Methods Eighteen-week-old male C57/BL mice were anesthetized,and the intestinal lumen of the mice was examined by a self-developed living mice colonoscopy and Olympus URF-P5 ureteroscopy,respectively.The imaging effects of the two methods were compared.Human colon cancer HT-29 cells were injected into the colonic mucosa of BALB/c-nu mice under direct vision.The colonoscopy was performed on the 3rd,7th and 15th day after the injection to observe the tumor formation in the intestinal lumen.The mice were sacrificed when the body weight decreased significantly or cachexia appeared,and then the abdominal cavity was examined including the tumor formation and metastasis.Results The self-developed living mice colonoscopy platform can provide clear vision of enteric cavity,and no mice died in the colonoscopy examination.In vivo subcutaneous injection of HT-29 cells in mice was performed with a perforation rate of 15％,a mortality rate of 33.3％,a tumor formation rate of 62.5％,an abdominal metastasis rate of 60％,a liver metastasis rate of 25％,and an abdominal wall transfer rate of 25％.Conclusion The self-developed mice colonoscopy platform can be used for the study of colorectum in living mice.The imaging effect is no less than that of Olympus URF-P5 ureteroscopy.In addition,an orthotopic colorectal cancer model can be established by this platform combing with submucosal injection technology.

Objective:To explore the establishment and effect of short-term training path for prenatal ultrasound diagnosticians in primary hospitals.Methods:A total of 105 trainees from in total 5 batches of the "prenatal ultrasound screening training base" in Chongqing were selected as the research objects, and a combination of multiple teaching methods was used to carry out specialized training for primary prenatal ultrasound screening doctors before and after training. Theoretical examinations and practical operation assessments were performed, and after training, remote image quality control and continuous improvement methods were established for trainees to assess training effectiveness. SPSS 21.0 was used for t test, Wilcoxon test and chi-square test. Results:After training, the results of the theoretical examinations and practical operation examinations of the trainees were higher than those before the training ( P<0.05), and after the completion of the training, the number of trainees who returned to their original units to carry out prenatal ultrasound examination, the average number of prenatal ultrasound examinations per month and the number of referrals to higher prenatal diagnosis centers of each trainee increased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The establishment of short-term training path for prenatal ultrasound diagnosis can effectively improve the professional theoretical knowledge and practical operation level of prenatal ultrasound doctors in primary hospitals, and greatly solve the problem of technical promotion under the shortage of grassroots hospitals.