Enhancing Testing Laboratory Engagement in Plant DNA Barcoding through a Routine Workflow-A Case Study on Chinese Materia Medica (CMM).

Introduction of DNA standards into Pharmacopoeia in different parts of the world enables identification of herbal materials in a complementary manner. However, little has been discussed about the quality requirements for a testing laboratory to implement DNA barcoding methods for herbal materials, which has limited the test method to be developed as a routine service. To encourage the engagement of testing laboratory in application of DNA barcode, a practical workflow including the components of analytical run and the corresponding quality control plan was suggested and employed to address a real-life challenge faced by the differentiation of plant-derived Chinese Materia Medica (CMM), Herba Potentillae Chinensis (Wei ling Cai), Herba Potentillae Discoloris (Fan Bai Cai), Radix Pulsatillae (Bai Tou Weng), and Radix Arnebiae (Zi Cao), which share similar morphological characteristics and multiple species involved.

MicroRNA profiling study reveals miR-150 in association with metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in pathogenesis of human cancers. Several miRNAs have been shown to involve in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) pathogenesis through alteration of gene networks. A global view of the miRNA expression profile of clinical specimens would be the best way to screen out the possible miRNA candidates that may be involved in disease pathogenesis.

Simultaneous detection of precore/basal core promoter mutations in hepatitis B virus using arrayed primer extension.

Background: Hepatitis B is a major disease that causes serious public health problems worldwide. The loss of HBeAg expression due to point mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the precore/basal core promoter region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with hepatocellular cirrhosis and carcinoma. Simultaneous screening for these mutations is strongly advocated for monitoring disease development in HBV-infected patients.

Involvement of protein kinase C and E2F-5 in euxanthone-induced neurite differentiation of neuroblastoma.

Euxanthone, a neuritogenic agent isolated from the medicinal herb Polygala caudata, has been shown to induce morphological differentiation and neurite outgrowth in murine neuroblastoma Neuro 2a cells (BU-1 subclone). In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of euxanthone-induced neurite outgrowth, a proteomic approach was employed. In the present study, two dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry were performed to investigate the alterations in protein expression profile of euxanthone-treated BU-1 cells.