Highly sensitive and novel point-of-care system, aQcare Chlamydia TRF kit for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis by using europium (Eu) (III) chelated nanoparticles.

Background: The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the leading causes of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Since no simple and effective tool exists to diagnose C. trachomatis infections, we evaluated a novel point-of-care (POC) test, aQcare Chlamydia TRF kit, which uses europium-chelated nanoparticles and a time-resolved fluorescence reader.

Combination of multiplex reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification with an immunochromatographic strip for subtyping influenza A virus.

Considering the fatal human victims and economic loss by the annual epidemic influenza virus, the development of a rapid and convenient genetic analysis methodology is demanding for timely on-site pathogen detection. In this study, we utilized reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for multiplex target gene amplification, and the resultant amplicons were analyzed on the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) for subtyping influenza A virus. Through the optimized primer design, reaction temperature and time, and concentration of enzymes (Bst DNA polymerase and AMV reverse transcriptase) and dNTP, the HA (H1, H3, and H5 gene) and conserved M gene were amplified.

Integrated microdevice of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with colorimetric immunochromatographic detection for rapid gene expression analysis of influenza A H1N1 virus.

An integrated microdevice of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) reactor and an immunochromatographic strip was constructed for colorimetric detection of gene expression of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. An RT-PCR cocktail, which included Texas Red-labeled primers, dNTP including biotin-labeled dUTP, and RNA templates of influenza A H1N1 virus, was filled in the PCR chamber through the micropump, and the RT-PCR was performed to amplify the target H1 gene (102 bp). The resultant amplicons bearing biotin moieties and Texas Red haptens were subsequently eluted to the immunochromatographic strip, in which they were first conjugated with the gold nanoparticle labeled anti-hapten antibody in the conjugation pad, and then captured on the streptavidin coated test line through the biotin-streptavidin interaction.

Class II malocclusion treated by combining a lingual retractor and a palatal plate.

In this article, we describe the treatment of a woman, aged 25 years 8 months, with a Class II malocclusion, severe anterior protrusion, and a high mandibular plane angle. The treatment plan consisted of extracting both maxillary first premolars and mandibular second premolars. En-masse retraction of the 6 maxillary anterior teeth was performed with a lingual approach combining a C-lingual retractor and a C-palatal plate (C-plate).