MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their targeted mRNAs. MiRNAs are involved in critical biologic processes, including development, cell differentiation, proliferation and the pathogenesis of disease. This review focuses on recent researches on the detection techniques of miRNA including micorarray technique, Northern blot, real-time quantitative PCR, detection technique of miRNA function and so on.
Blotting, Northern ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Biochip analytical technology shows high throughput property for multi-samples measurement, so can reduce the required amount of samples and time used for determination. The technology quickly developed in recent years and has been applied in medical diagnosis and other analytical areas including gene chip, protein chip, lab-on-a-chip, tissue microarray, cell microarray, carbohydrate microarray and so on. This paper overviewed the current development of biochip technology, and explored the perspective of its application.
Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods

Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Environmental Pollutants ; analysis ; Microchip Analytical Procedures

Animals ; Humans ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Pathology ; Periodicals as Topic ; RNA Interference

This paper introduces the new research achievement and progress of electro-physiology in olfaction and gustation. Classical implements such as patch-clamp or glass pipette are not appropriate in the dynamic detection of cellular signal transportation. In view of this, we have analyzed the feasibilities and challenges of olfactory or gustatory cell-based biosensors such as field effect transistor (FET) and light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Finally we present the research work carried our in out lab and a future prospective on the development in this field.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; methods ; Humans ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods ; Smell ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

This paper deals with the manufacturing state of the art of biochip, and introduces a new method--laser microtechnology, including its developing procedure, characteristics and function in biochip production.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Computer-Aided Design ; Equipment Design ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Lasers ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods ; Micromanipulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of gene BRG1 in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma, and the relationship between gene BRG1 expression and the clinicopathological features of prostate carcinoma.

METHODSGene BRG1 expression was evaluated in 37 cases of human prostate carcinoma, 13 human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 14 human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by using immunohistochemistry (EnVision method) and tissue microarray.

RESULTSThe positive rates of BRG1 protein were 81.08% (30/37), 38.46% (5/13) and 14.28% (2/14) in prostate carcinoma, PIN and BPH, respectively, significantly higher in the first group than in the latter two (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in BRG1 gene expression either between PIN and BPH (P > 0.05) or between the groups of the moderate differentiation (the Gleason histologic grading: 5-7) and the lower one (the Gleason histologic grading: 8-10) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBRG1 may play an important role in the development of prostate carcinoma. Tissue microarray technology, with the advantages of high throughput, conciseness, rapidity, high efficiency, low cost, and nice reproducibility, has significant practical value and broad application prospects in pathology.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; DNA Helicases ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo develop an early and accurate detection method for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on detection of tumor-associated serum markers using a multiplex quantitative antibody array.

METHODSThe double-antibody sandwich principle was used to establish an antibody array composed of eight cancer-related serum markers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Serum samples from 160 cases of clinically diagnosed HCC and from 58 cases of liver cirrhosis (LC; controls) were obtained to test the array. Sixty percent of the samples were randomly selected for use as the training set (HCC, n = 96; LC, n = 36), and the remaining 40% was used as the test set (HCC, n = 64; LC, n = 22). The SPSS statistical software was used to perform logistic regression analysis and to create a diagnostic model.

RESULTSWhen used with the training set, the model had sensitivity of 93.3%, specificity of 83.3%, and accuracy of 90.9%. When used with the test set, the model had sensitivity of 89.0%, specificity of 77.3%, and accuracy of 86.0%. The traditional serum AFP value (cut-off value of 20 ng/mL) showed 70.0% diagnostic sensitivity, 59.0% specificity, and 64.0% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONThe newly developed multiplex quantitative antibody detection system has high sensitivity and specificity. The diagnostic model with AFP and seven other cancer-related factors was superior to the traditional AFP only approach for early diagnosis of liver cancer, indicating its potential clinical value.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; immunology

An automatic inspection system for biochip's print quality is presented in this paper. It consists of an automatic mechanical control, a CCD sensor for getting the image of PET boart, and the special computer software for image processing and recognition. Experimental results indicate that this system is capable of providing a precise and effective realtime inspection for biochips' print quality.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Quality Control ; Software

Cells consistently face stressful conditions, which cause them to modulate a variety of intracellular processes and adapt to these environmental changes via regulation of gene expression. Hyperosmotic and oxidative stresses are significant stressors that induce cellular damage, and finally cell death. In this study, oligonucleotide microarrays were employed to investigate mRNA level changes in cells exposed to hyperosmotic or oxidative conditions. In addition, since heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is one of the most inducible stress proteins and plays pivotal role to protect cells against stressful condition, we performed microarray analysis in HSP70 overexpressing cells to identify the genes expressed in a HSP70 dependent manner. Under hyperosmotic or oxidative stress conditions, a variety of genes showed altered expression. Down regulation of protein phosphatase1 beta (PP1 beta) and sphingosine 1 phosphate phosphatase 1 (SPPase1) was detected in both stress conditions. Microarray analysis of HSP70 overexpressing cells demonstrated that diverse mRNA species depend on the level of cellular HSP70. Genes encoding lysyl oxidase, thrombospondin 1, and procollagen displayed altered expression in all tested conditions. The results of this study will be useful to construct networks of stress response genes.
Cell Death ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Expression* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Microarray Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidative Stress* ; Procollagen ; Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase ; RNA, Messenger ; Sphingosine ; Thrombospondin 1