Molecular pathogen profiling of COVID-19 coinfections.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence, pathogen spectrum, clinical characteristics, and prognosis-related factors of other respiratory pathogens in COVID-19-infected patients, and to explore the application of molecular detection methods in the epidemiological investigation of multiple pathogen infections.

Methods: Respiratory samples and clinical data from 384 patients with outpatient and inpatient respiratory infections were collected and analyzed. Multiplex PCR and capillary electrophoresis were conducted to detect the distribution characteristics of 26 pathogen species, comprising 13 viruses, 13 bacteria.

Biomarkers for distinguishing tuberculous pleural effusion from non-tuberculosis effusion: a retrospective study.

Background: Pleural effusion (PE) is a common clinical feature that presents a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the biomarkers, ratios, and multiple indicators in serum and Pleural effusion for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from non-tuberculosis effusion (non-TPE).

Methods: The participants, who were divided into two groups: TPE and non-TPE (MPE and PPE), from Ningbo First Hospital, were incorporated in this study.

Detection of DNA copy number alterations by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Objectives: Copy number alterations (CNAs) are frequently found in malignant tissues. Different approaches have been used for CNA detection. However, it is not easy to detect a large panel of CNA targets in heterogenous tumors.

Simultaneous quantification of SMN1 and SMN2 copy numbers by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for spinal muscular atrophy genetic testing.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by defects in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Homozygous deletion of the SMN1 gene accounts for 95% of all affected SMA patients. A highly homologous gene survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) compensates weakly with the loss of SMN1 and its copy number correlates with disease severity.

Androgen plays an important role in regulating the synthesis of pheromone in the scent gland of muskrat.

The scent (musk) gland is an organ unique to muskrats and other scent-secreting animals, and the pheromones (musk) synthesized and secreted by the scent gland play a role in chemical communication among scent-secreting animals. The musk gland is synchronized with testicular developmental changes; however, little is known regarding androgen secretion from the testis and how this regulates pheromone synthesis and the secretion of scent. To investigate the effect of androgens on the synthesis of pheromones in the musk gland, we established a muskrat castration model by surgical removal of the testis, and analyzed the histomorphology, hormone concentration, gene expression, and changes in the chemical composition of the musk gland in castration and control groups by histomorphological analysis, Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS).

Study of compositions of musks in different types secreted by forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii).

Musk is a secretion of the forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii). Normal musk is a brown solid secretion with a light fragrance. In this study, abnormal types of musk, namely, white and black musks, were discovered during the musk collection process.

A Closed-Tube Nested Quantitative PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Intron 22 Inversions in the Factor VIII Gene.

Background: An inversion of intron 22 in the Factor VIII gene (Inv22) is the causative mutation for 45% of severe hemophilia A cases. Available methods for molecular diagnosis of Inv22 are generally tedious and not ideal for routine clinical use.

Methods: We report here a new method using a single closed-tube nested quantitative PCR (CN-qPCR) for rapid detection of Inv22.