Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; methods ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; virology

Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) is a technique based on allele-specific primers, which can be used to analyze single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effectively including the transition, transversion and insertion/deletion polymorphism and has been exploited in the study of diseases research, molecular diagnosis, and forensic biological evidence. The article systematically reviews the principle, the detection methods, improvement of AS-PCR, and its research updates in the fields of autosome, Y chromosome and mitochondrial SNP, as well as its application in forensic science.
Alleles ; DNA Primers ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Human violent behavior is a complex behavior which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. There is a trend in investigating the mechanism of violent behavior by using the genetic methods. This article reviews several candidate genes and advances in epigenetics which are associated with violent behavior. The prospects and significance of violent behavior research from the view of gene polymorphism and epigenetics are also discussed.
Aggression ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Forensic Genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Violence

OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between HBV genotypes and the efficacy of antiviral therapies.

METHODSHBV genotypes of 90 hepatitis B e antigen positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were determined by PCR sandwich hybridization-ELISA technique. Forty-one patients with CHB were treated with lamivudine (100 mg/day) for 48 weeks and 49 patients with CHB were given alpha-interferon (3 MU/QOD) therapy for 48 weeks. The serological, biochemical and virological symbols were measured before, during and after treatment for all the patients.

RESULTSOf the 90 patients, genotype B HBV was found in 16 and C in 74. There was no difference in the rate of response to lamivudine treatment between patients with genotype B or C HBV (33.3% vs. 20.0%) after 48 weeks treatment with lamivudine in the 41 patients. Of the 49 HBeAg positive CHB patients treated with alpha-interferon for 48 weeks, in HBV genotype B and C patients the rates of normalization of ALT were 60.0% and 20.5%; the rate of HBeAg turning to negativity was 50.0% and 17.9%; and the rate of HBV DNA undetectability was 50.0% and 17.9%. The rate of response to the interferon treatment was significantly higher in patients with HBV genotype B compared to those with genotype C.

CONCLUSIONSOur study shows that there is no influence on the lamivudine treatment effects for the HBV genotype B and C CHB patients, but the alpha-interferon treatment for HBV genotype B CHB patients is more effective than that for the genotype C ones.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Young Adult

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Carcinoma in Situ ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cervix Uteri ; pathology ; virology ; Cytological Techniques ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Grading ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; virology

Objective To detect the resistance index and esterase activity of each generation of DDVP-resistant Culex mosquitoes and analyze the relationship between insecticide resistance and esterase. Methods WHO bioassay and micro-plate measurement were used for the detection. Results The resistance index increased to 12.17 after 43 generations' insecticide selection compared to 1.00 as sensitive isolate. The nonspecific esterase(NSE) activity of the mosquitoes became strengthened with the extension of the generations, and the individual frequency of those with OD values no less than 0.9 increased gradually, consistent basically to the bioassay. The AChE average inhibition rate decreased with the extended generation and increased resistance, and the individual frequency of those with inhibition rate less than 30% became strengthened with the extension of generations, showing a positive correlation. Conclusion The activity of NSE and AChE shows a correlation with DDVP resistance.

The paper is to report the establishment of an HPLC specific chromatogram of Glycyrrhiza in Sini decoctions and the influence of combination on the specific chromatogram. The RP-HPLC method was used with a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm), and acetonitrile-0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (gradient elution) as mobile phase. Flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was set at 232 nm. The temperature of column was 30 degrees C. The method is stable and reliable with a good reproducibility, it can be used to determine the specific chromatogram of Glycyrrhiza in Sini Decoctions. Twenty peaks were selected as specific peaks in Sini Decoction with liquiritin peak as the reference peak. Six of them were from Glycyrrhiza and the other 6 peaks were from both Glycyrrhiza and Ganjiangfuzi Decoction. The areas of specific peaks of Sini Decoctions were smaller than those in the chromatogram of Glycyrrhiza. The specific chromatogram of Glycyrrhiza in Sini Decoctions is markedly influenced by Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli and Rhizoma Zingiberis. The areas of the specific peaks in Sini Decoctions were reduced obviously. The method is stable and reliable with a good reproducibility, it can be used to determine the specific chromatogram of Glycyrrhiza in Sini Decoctions.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic trend of specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV in serum collected at various periods among employees in Guangzhou Xinyuan animal market.

METHODSVolunteers from employees of the animal market were recruited and their serum specific antibody against SARS-CoV were determined by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTSPositive SARS-CoV specific IgG antibody was found 25.61% (n = 328), 13.03% (n = 238), 12.59% (n = 135), 5.04% (n = 139) and 9.43% (n = 53) among volunteers, which were sampled in May 2003, Dec. 2003, Jan. 2004, July 2004 and June 2005 respectively. No specific IgM antibody was found in all of those samples. Among 129 samples which were tested twice or more, 97 were all negative, 18 all positive, 13 changed from positive to negative but only one sample from negative to positive. When the volunteers were divided by the duration of their working experiences as short-term or long-term, those who had worked at animal market for less than or more then 6 months when being tested, the positive rate for long-term employees were relatively constant, however, all of the persons employed after January 2004, when the palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from the market, were tested negative.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of specific antibody against SARS-CoV in employees of the animal market were somehow related with the presence or absence of palm civet. No serum was tested positive for persons who were employed after palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from market. This data indicated that the SARS-CoV might have been from the palm civets and raccoon dog, and the animal market seemed to serve as one of the sources of infection.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; analysis ; Commerce ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Raccoon Dogs ; virology ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Viverridae ; virology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expressions of growth arrest-specific protein 7 (Gas7) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in arcuate nucleus (ARC) of rats with focal cerebral ischemia and explore the potential action mechanism of EA in treatment of focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: A total of 50 SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, named a normal group ( =12), a sham-operation group ( =12), a model group ( =14) and an EA group ( =12). In the model group and the EA group, the thread embolization method was adopted to duplicate the model of the right middle cerebral arterial embolism. In the sham-operation group, the skin of the neck was opened and sutured without any other intervention. In the EA group, EA was applied to "Baihui" (CV 20) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) on the left side, once a day, 30 min each time, consecutively for 21 days, while there was no any intervention in the normal group, the sham-operation group and the model group. Using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and Western blot method, the expressions of Gas7 and NFG of ARC on the ischemic side were determined. Using Nissle staining, the morphological changes in ARC neurons were observed. RESULTS: The results of Nissle staining showed that there was no significant change in the morphology of ARC neurons in the normal group and the sham-operation group. In the model group, the volume of neuron cells was atrophied obviously and the cells were arranged irregularly. In the EA group, the morphology of ARC neuron was similar to the normal group. The results of IHC and Western blot indicated that the expressions of immunoreactive neurons and protein of Gas7 and NGF in ARC of the rats in the model group were increased obviously as compared with the normal group and the sham-operation group and the expressions in the EA group were further enhanced as compared with the model group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION Gas7 and NGF may be participated in the compensatory process of partial protection of the body in the patients with focal cerebral ischemia. EA up-regulates the expressions of Gas7 and NGF in ARC, which may be one of the neuroprotective mechanisms of EA in treatment of cerebral ischemia.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To establish a species identification system based on DNA genetic markers for plant evidence. Methods Two hundred common plants in Shanghai were collected and identified by mor-phological characteristics. The primers of gene segments rbcL, matK, and ITS were designed and amplified. The PCR amplicon was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. After the sequencing, the universality and the identification capacity of the three markers were evaluated. Results The success rate of amplifi-cation was in order of rbcL (99.5％) >matK (92.5％) > ITS (86.0％). The identification capacity of the combination of rbcL and matK was better than that of rbcL or matK, by which most plant species could be identified to the genus or higher. ITS was not suitable to be a unique marker because of its unstable result, but it still could be a powerful supplement. The identification capacity of the combination of rbcL, matK and ITS was higher than that of rbcL and matK, by which most plant species could be identified to the genus or lower. Conclusion The identification system with the combination of rbcL, matK and ITS as markers has excellent universality for plant evidence, which can distinguish most plant species to the genus or lower.