The terahertz laboratory medicine (THz-LabMed) is an intergrated cross-frontier field which involves multi-disciplinary including medicine,biology,biomedical engineering,physics,optics,computer science,information and materials.Using THz technologies for label-free detection and analysis of biomedical macromolecules,cell and tissues,the THz-LabMed is also the core components of terahertz biomedine (THz-BioMed) which focuses on the biomedical application of THz technologies.THz label-free detection is being paid more and more attention because of its unique advantages worldwide and becomes a hot spot for the application of THz wave technology and methods in life science.Application of THz technology in biomedicine involves many fields globally,including disease diagnosis,recognition of protein status,label-free DNA sequencing,mechanism for absorption differences of biological tissue to THz wave,and radiation influence on biological samples and biological process.THz-LabMed is the global synchronized research in THz-BioMed field in China.It is important to seize the opportunities to develop new disciplines of laboratory medicine.

Objective To explore the presence of common genetic alterations in retinoblastoma and to localize the altered genomic regions. Methods Genetic instability of chromosome 19, 20, 21, 22 and X of 15 microdissected retinoblastoma tumors were analyzed by the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI). Results Among the 15 patients with retinoblastoma, genome instability [LOH and(or) MSI] at one or more loci on the 5 chromosomes in 10 (67%), in which the loss of a single allele was more frequent in chromosomes 19 (33%) and 20 (27%) than in the other 3 chromosomes. High-frequency LOH between D19S902 and D19S571 suggested gene loci in the 19q13 region might be associated with tumor development in retina. According to the result of MSI, MSI occured at least in one subset of retinoblastoma. Conclusions Our results provide first evidence of LOH in chromosomes 19 and 20 in retinoblastoma and further support the presence of genome instability in retinoblastoma that may play an important role in the tumorigenesis or progression of retinoblastoma.

Objective To map the complete methylation status of the hMLH1 promoter in sporadic colorectal carcinoma and analyze the relationship between MVPs (methylation variable positions) of hMLH1 promoter and the expression of hMLH1. Methods Methylation status of hMLH1 promoter was measured by bisulfite sequencing. hMLH1 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Out of the 30 sporadic colorectal carcinoma specimens, the hypermethylation of CGIs (CpG islands) 1 was in 6 and that of CGIs 2 in 4. The hMLH1 protein was detected in 15 specimens. Chi square test showed the methylation of CGIs 1 was closely related to loss of hMLH1 protein expression (P0.05). Conclusion In CGIs 1, CpG positions from 1 to 28 are the critical region that could influence the expression of hMLH1.

Objective To develop a new type of piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance DNA sensor based on lambda exonuclease to detect Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and optimize the main detection conditions. Methods After the DNA was extracted from the stain of S. aureus and the target fragment was amplified with self-designed universal primers, the PCR products were treated with Lambda exonuclease and visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide followed by a gel documentation system analysis. Then the products with or without exonuclease digestion were added into our piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance DNA sensor for hybridization. The temperature and time of hybridization were optimized respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of our detection system were evaluated. Results The optimal temperature for hybridization was 35℃ and the optimal time was 60 min. The sensitivity of the lambda exonuclease based DNA sensor was better than that of common DNA sensor. The lowest detection limit of this new type quartz crystal microbalance system was 1.0?104 CFU/ml. Conclusion The lambda exonuclease based quartz crystal microbalance system we designed has the advantages of high efficiency in hybridization, easy to operate, and good response performance. Thus it can be applied to detect S. aureus infections.

OBJECTIVE To search a method for identifying Clostridium perfringens and genotyping their toxin for gene diagnosis by multiplex PCR.METHODS The mutiplex PCR was developed with three sets of primers(designed) based on the sequences of three C.perfringens toxin genes(CP?,CP? and CPE) published in GenBank to identify C.perfringens and genotype their three toxin genes.RESULTS Three expected(sequences) were (obtained) successfully by multiplex PCR and identified by electrophoresis.CONCLUSIONS The(specific) sequences of C.perfringens could be amplified and their three genes of toxins could be identified by this multiplex PCR(system).Such method should be helpful for developing gene diagnosis well.

OBJECTIVE To study the main bacteria and their drug-resistance of postoperative infections after liver transplantation.METHODS The distribution and drug-resistance profile of 156 strains of bacterial isolates from(various) specimens in 68 liver transplantation inpatients were retrospectively analyzed last year.RESULTS The(incidence) of infections after liver transplantation was 67.6 %.The major bacteria were Klebsilla pneumoniae((17.3%)),Staphylococcus aureus(14.1%),Candida albicans(11.0%),and Pseudomonas aeruginosa((11.0%)).The bacteria had the character of multidrug-resistance and high drug-resistance.The most effective(antibiotics) to Gram-negatives and Gram-positives were still the carbopenems and glycopeptide.CONCLUSIONS(Infection) is a major complication after liver transplantation.Prevention,early diagnosis and treatment of the(infection) are very important.

OBJECTIVE To develop the strategies for preventing nosocomial infection in the department of(laboratory).METHODS The current situation in nosocomial infection management in department of laboratory was analyzed.RESULTS There were some problems in training knowledge of nosocomial infection,preparing(equipment) and supplies for prevention,implementing prevention measures,and cultivating good work habit.(CONCLUSIONS) It is very important to strengthen nosocomial infection management for preventing efficiently(nosocomial) infection in the department of laboratory.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is an important and key cytoplasmic enzyme in the metabolism of thiopurine drugs,whose activity can directly determine the amount of thiopurine drugs metabolized to cytotoxic 6-thioguanine nucleotides and consequently influence clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions of thiopurine drugs.In order to deepen knowledge and role of genetic polymorphism of tpmt in the individualized thiopurine drug treatment,this present review mainly covered the following three frequently concerned aspects,including i) whether or not to determine the activity of TPMT priot to treatment of thiopurine drugs;ii) to genotype or to phenotype;iii) how to choose genotype methods.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the standard of non-invasive diagnosis of Down′s syndrome between the different PCR machines. METHODS Two kinds of PCR machines were used respectively to amplify the homologous genes-the human liver-like phosphofructokinase gene (PFKL) and the human muscle-like phosphofructokinase gene (PFKM). RESULTS The best annealing temperature of the two PCR machines were 64 ℃ and 60 ℃,and only in this reaction conditions PFKL′s and PFKM′s electrophoresis strips had the same optical density value. CONCLUSIONS This approach has proven that the conditions of amplified the PFKL and PFKM are different between the two kinds of PCR machines.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the reasons of nosocomial infection in laboratory departments, and then advance corresponding measures to overcome them. METHODS The current situations in laboratory department between domestic large scale hospitals and overseas hospitals were compared, especially paying attentions to those parts involving in management system and precautionary measures. RESULTS There were a lot of shortcomings existed in the supervision of nosocomial infections in laboratory departments; many measures should be taken to increase the management level. CONCLUSIONS To reform and improve the system of nosocomial infection control and prevention, and establish an effective and systematic alerting and prevention system will benefit all kinds of the hospitals.