Analysis of Salivary Bacterial Community by Direct PCR and High Resolution Melting Curve and Its Forensic Applications.

Objectives: To develop a rapid test for salivary bacterial community based on direct PCR (dPCR) and high resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis, to evaluate its application value in forensic medicine.

Methods: The salivary bacteria were collected by centrifugation and then resuspended in Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer, and directly used as the template for amplification and HRM curve analysis (dPCR-HRM) of the 16S rDNA V4 region. The genotype confidence percentage (GCP) of the HRM profiles compared with the reference profile was calculated.

[One-step methylation variable position analysis technology in single-tube].

Objective: To develop the single-tube one-step methylation variable position (MVP) analysis technology-single-tube post-digestion PCR-melting curve analysis (PDP-MCA).

Methods: Based on differentially methylated region (DMR) reported previously as the model, a set of primers with different melting temperatures of products in the two sides of MVP were designed. By using the FastDigest methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme (MSRE), DNA digestion, multiplex amplification, MCA detection and MCA profiles were performed in a single reaction tube.

6r, a novel oxadiazole analogue of ethacrynic acid, exhibits antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo by induction of cell apoptosis and S-phase arrest.

This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of 5-[2,3-Dichloro-4-(2-methylene-1-oxobutyl) phenoxymethyl]-3-methyl-1,2,4- oxadiazole (6r), a novel ethacrynic acid (EA) derivative. The in vitro effect of 6r on cell proliferation of human colon, leukemia, prostate, lung, breast, ovarian and cervical tumor cell lines was assessed using MTT assay and the in vivo effect was determined with an SW620 xenografts nude mice model. The effect of 6r on expressions of GST P1-1 and apoptosis-related proteins were measured by western blotting and the effect on cell apoptosis was analysed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining as well as by cell surface staining of annexin V/propidium iodide.

[Advances in identification of semen stains].

Stain identification has long been a task in forensic biology. The identification of semen stain, one of the most common human stains, can provide crucial information for crime scene reconstruction and forensic investigation. Traditional detection of semen stain depends largely on the microscopic identification of spermatozoa, enzyme activity-based methods or antigen-antibody reactions.

[Applications of Alu family in forensic DNA analysis].

Alu family is the primate specific short interspersed repetitive elements (SINEs). Its abundance and diversity distribution in genome, high methylation level and polymorphic for insertion make them ideally suitable as tools in forensic applications. The application of A4 lu sequence in forensic genomics, include DNA quantitation, race determination, species and gender identification, personal identification, paternity testing and whole-genome amplification.

XRCC1 codon 280 and ERCC2 codon 751 polymorphisms and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Numerous candidate genes have been proposed as susceptibility factors for the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). XRCC1 (X-ray cross-complementing group 1) codon 280 and ERCC2 (excision repair cross complementing group 2) codon 751 polymorphisms were studied in ESCC in a Chinese population. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of XRCC1 codon 280 His and ERCC2 codon 751 Gln polymorphisms and ESCC.

[The application of PCR-SSCP in forensic mtDNA typing].

Objective: To study the application of PCR-SSCP in forensic mtDNA typing.

Methods: Primers flanking the mtDNA HV-I and HV-II regions were designed. By PCR-SSCP techniques, 70 family trios and 140 unrelated Wuhan Han individuals were investigated and analyzed.

[Applications of DNA methylation markers in forensic medicine].

DNA methylation is a post-replication modification that is predominantly found in cytosines of the dinucleotide sequence CpG. Epigenetic information is stored in the distribution of the modified base 5-methylcytosine. DNA methylation profiles represent a more chemically and biologically stable source of molecular diagnostic information than RNA or most proteins.

[A simple and rapid modified--new method for SNP typing by fragment length discrepant allele specific PCR].

Objective: To establish a new method for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing based on allele specific PCR: fragment length discrepant allele specific PCR (FLDAS-PCR), and study the influence on specific extension by introducing a mismatch at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base of allele specific primers.

Methods: For SNP loci rs759117 and rs760887, two allele specific forward primers, with different length and a mismatch introduced at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base, and a public reverse primer were designed for SNP typing. The genotyping of SNP was determined by the two allele specific fragments different in size after polyacrylamide gel and silver staining.

Caffeoyl naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives as HIV integrase inhibitors.

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme for retroviral replication and a rational target for the design of anti-AIDS drugs. In the present study, we have designed, synthesized and tested a series of caffeoyl naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives as HIV integrase inhibitors. Among these compounds, we found that HIV integrase inhibitory activities of compounds III-3 and III-4 were more potent than L-chicoric acid (IC(50)=11.