Lifestyle and Social Factors Exacerbated on the Prevalence of Mood Disorders and Functional Dyspepsia Among Neonatal Nurses in China.

Background: Nursing is a high-stress occupation that can have an impact on mental health, particularly for neonatal nurses. Job-related stress factors and work-related behaviors have played a critical role in nurses' mental health. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of mood disorders and the impact of social factors, lifestyle on mood disorders among neonatal nurses.

[Application of Ion Torrent PGM™ System in Detection of Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of detecting of Y-STR of fetal DNA in maternal plasma using Ion Torrent PGM™ System.

Methods: A total of 16 fetal DNA samples from maternal plasmas (8 cases from 38 weeks gestational age and 8 ones from 12 weeks) were prepared and a multiplex assay with 7 STR loci (DYS390, DYS391, DYS393, DYS438, DYS437, DYS456, DYS635) was designed for multiplex-PCR amplification. Using Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the results of Y-STR sequences and capillary electrophoresis were obtained and compared.

Fixation stability dictates the differentiation pathway of periosteal progenitor cells in fracture repair.

This study compared fracture repair stabilized by intramedullary pin (IMP) or external fixation (EF) in GFP reporter mice. A modified IMP was used as control while EF utilized six needles inserted transversely through the tibia and into a segment of a syringe barrel. X-rays taken at days 0, 14, and 35 showed that IMP resulted in significant three-dimensional deformity with a large callus while EF showed minimal deformity and callus formation.

[AS-PCR assay for 20 mtDNA SNP typing and haplotype frequency].

Objective: To develop a multiplex allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) assay with three-color fluorescence labeling for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNP typing.

Methods: Based on the principle of AS-PCR, the primer sets were designed for 20 SNP located on the coding region of mtDNA and divided into 2 groups labeled with FAM and HEX fluorescence, respectively. A primer set included two forward (reverse) allelic specific primers with different sizes and a generic reverse (forward) primer.

[Determination of the biological attribute of evidence at the scene using reverse transcription PCR and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of biological method to identify the biological attribute of samples at crime scene.

Methods: Thirty samples of ten blood stains, ten saliva stains and ten semen stains were selected, and all the samples were processed by the routine method and biomolecular method, respectively. Both RNA and DNA were isolated using DNA-RNA co-extraction technology and the mRNA was converted into cDNA using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

[Research status and prospects of DNA test on difficult specimens].

This paper reviews the advances of DNA detection on three types of difficult biological specimens including degraded samples, trace evidences and mixed samples. The source of different samples, processing methods and announcements were analyzed. New methods such as mitochondrial test system, changing the original experimental conditions, low-volume PCR amplification and new technologies such as whole genome amplification techniques, laser capture micro-dissection, and mini-STR technology in recent years are introduced.

New cell separation technique for the isolation and analysis of cells from biological mixtures in forensic caseworks.

Aim: To isolate mucosal cells of the perpetrator in a sexual assault case from a complex mixture of his mucosal cells and the victim's skin by micromanipulation prior to genomic analysis.

Methods: To capture and analyze mucosal cells we used the micromanipulation with on-chip low volume polymerase chain reaction (LV-PCR). Consensus DNA profiles were generated from 5 replicate experiments.

Risk of birth defects increased in multiple births.

Background: Previous studies inconsistently suggest that there may be an association between birth defects and multiple births.

Methods: Data were obtained from Zhejiang Hospital-Based Birth Defects Surveillance System during 2007 to 2009. There was a total of 545,018 pregnancies, including 537,593 singleton pregnancies, and 7425 multiple pregnancies (14,606 twins and 366 triplets).

Dietary carotenoids and risk of breast cancer in Chinese women.

There has been considerable interest in the role of carotenoids in the chemoprevention of cancer. However, the protective effect of carotenoids on breast cancer has been inconclusive. To investigate whether intake of lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin is inversely associated with breast cancer risk, a case-control study was conducted in China during 2004-2005.

Green tea and the prevention of breast cancer: a case-control study in Southeast China.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Tea has anticarcinogenic effects against breast cancer in experimental studies. However, epidemiologic evidence that tea protects against breast cancer has been inconsistent.