Using Robinson-Foulds supertrees in divide-and-conquer phylogeny estimation.

One of the Grand Challenges in Science is the construction of the Tree of Life, an evolutionary tree containing several million species, spanning all life on earth. However, the construction of the Tree of Life is enormously computationally challenging, as all the current most accurate methods are either heuristics for NP-hard optimization problems or Bayesian MCMC methods that sample from tree space. One of the most promising approaches for improving scalability and accuracy for phylogeny estimation uses divide-and-conquer: a set of species is divided into overlapping subsets, trees are constructed on the subsets, and then merged together using a "supertree method".

A knowledge-based approach for automatic quantification of epileptiform activity in children with electrical status epilepticus during sleep.

Objective: Electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES), as electroencephalographic disturbances, is characterized by strong activation of epileptiform activity in the electroencephalogram during sleep. Quantitative descriptors of such epileptiform activity can support the diagnose and the prognosis of children with ESES. To quantify the epileptiform activity of ESES, a knowledge-based approach to mimic the clinical decision-making process is proposed.

DNA microarray technology for simultaneous detection and species identification of seven human herpes viruses.

The aim of the study was to develop a multiplex PCR-based DNA microarray technology for simultaneous detection and species identification of seven human herpes viruses, namely herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6A, HHV-6B), and to apply this technology to accurate diagnosis of herpesvirus-associated diseases. Primers and oligonucleotide probes were designed and synthesized based on the highly conserved regions of the DNA polymerase gene in human herpes viruses. DNA microarrays were made by printing the oligonucleotide probes onto special glass slides.

[Screening for phenylketonuria in 726,998 neonates in Zhejiang Province].

Objective: To analyze the results of screening for neonatal phenylketonuria (PKU) in Zhejiang Province.

Methods: The screening for neonatal PKU was conducted among 726,998 newborns in Zhejiang Province. Heel prick blood specimens were collected around 72 h after birth with 6 intakes of high protein milk and the specimens were dried on S and S903 filter papers.

[Determination of six major human herpes viruses in cerebrospinal fluid and blood of children with consensus primers].

Objective: To identify 6 major human herpesviruses with consensus primers and to explore its clinical application.

Methods: Based on the highly-homogeneous regions of DNA polymerase gene in human herpesviruses,Two pairs of primer were synthesized. One pair was designed to amplify herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus; and another was used to amplify varicella-zoster virus or human herpesvirus 6.

[Detection of four human herpesviruses DNA and virus-specific IgM antibody in blood specimens of infants].

Objective: To establish a restriction endonuclease pattern which could detect and differentiate four major human herpesviruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequence analysis.

Methods: A pair of primer, which was designed according to sequences in well-conserved regions of the DNA polymerase gene in human herpesviruses, was designed to amplify herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSVI/II), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Sequences of the primers are as follows: P(1) (5'-CGACTTTGCCAGCCTGACC-3') and P(2) (5'-AGTCCGTGTCCCCGTAGATG-3').

[Antibiotics-resistance pattern and genetic type of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children in Hangzhou].

Objective: To investigate the antibiotics-resistance type and molecular epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children in Hangzhou.

Methods: The sensitivities of 323 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae to 9 antibiotics were determined in vitro by Kirby-Bauer diffuse methods, and MICs of penicillin and cefotaxime were determined by E-test methods.

Results: Among all 323 strains isolated from children during the period from August 2001 to July 2002, 136 strains (42.

[Molecular diagnosis of the specific DNA patterns of 16S-23S rRNA gene of bacteria].

Objective: To establish the specific 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer regions pattern in different bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequences analysis.

Methods: A pair of primers were selected from highly conserved sequences adjacent to the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. Bacterial DNA of sixty-one strains of standard bacteria and corresponding clinical isolates representative of 20 genera and 27 species was amplified by PCR, and further studied by RFLP, DNA cloning and sequences analysis.

[Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor at acute inflammatory injury of the brain].

Objective: To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and immunoreactivity in experimental acute inflammatory brain injury.

Methods: Ten rats were inoculated with pneumococcus to establish the model of bacterial inflammatory brain injury and other 6 rats were used as normal controls. At 24 h after inoculating, the expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

[Analysis of TSH screening results of 42,979 newborns in Zhejiang Province].

Objective: Document the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in Zhejiang Province, by neonatal screening of TSH.

Methods: DELFIA neonatal TSH kit was applied for the quantitative determination of thyrotropin in blood specimens dried on filter paper.

Result: Among the 42 979 newborns, 112 had elevated hTSH concentration in blood.

Establishment and analysis of specific DNA patterns in 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer regions for differentiating different bacteria.

Objective: To establish the specific 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer regions in different bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequences analysis.

Methods: A pair of primers were selected from highly conserved sequences adjacent to the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. Bacterial DNA from sixty-one strains of standard bacteria and corresponding clinical isolates representative of 20 genera and 26 species was amplified by PCR, and further analyzed by RFLP, DNA cloning and sequences analysis.