Missed opportunities for screening congenital syphilis early during pregnancy: A case report and brief literature review.

Congenital syphilis is a significant public health problem. Pregnant women infected with Treponema pallidum present with various clinical manifestations, mainly including skin or visceral manifestations. The extensive clinical manifestations of infection mimic those of many other diseases during pregnancy, which may lead to delayed diagnosis and serious consequences.

A Novel PCR Method for Detecting ACE Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphisms and its Clinical Application.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a major role in blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular homeostasis. The wide distribution and multifunctional properties of ACE suggest it's involvement in various pathophysiological conditions.

Results: In this study, a novel visual detection method for ACE I/D polymorphisms was designed by integrating direct PCR without the need for DNA extraction using gold magnetic nanoparticles (GMNPs)-based lateral flow assay (LFA) biosensor.

Anti-Hypertensive Action of Fenofibrate via UCP2 Upregulation Mediated by PPAR Activation in Baroreflex Afferent Pathway.

Fenofibrate, an agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), lowers blood pressure, but whether this action is mediated via baroreflex afferents has not been elucidated. In this study, the distribution of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ was assessed in the nodose ganglion (NG) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Hypertension induced by drinking high fructose (HFD) was reduced, along with complete restoration of impaired baroreceptor sensitivity, by chronic treatment with fenofibrate.

Treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy with an in-house Phosphorus-32 source: Initial clinical observations.

The objective of the present study was to observe the therapeutic effect of radiation delivered via a P source on Graves' ophthalmopathy. AP solution was injected into a 10-ml vacuum flask held inside a lead container. A window was cut in the lead, generating a treatment beam.

Sensitive genotyping of mutations in the EGFR gene from NSCLC patients using PCR-GoldMag lateral flow device.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations predict better outcomes with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most common activating mutations include in-frame deletion in exon 19 and L858R substitution in exon 21, which account for >90% of all EGFR mutations in NSCLC. In this study, a PCR-GoldMag lateral flow assay (PCR-GoldMag LFA) was developed for the visual detection of delE746-A750 and L858R of EGFR mutations.

[Immunoprotective effect of combined pneumococcal endopeptidase O and pneumococcal surface adhesin A vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection].

Objective: To investigate the prokaryotic expression of proteins pneumococcal endopeptidase O (PepO) and pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) in Streptococcus pneumoniae and their immunoprotective effect as vaccine candidate proteins.

Methods: Specific primers of target gene fragments were designed, and then PCR amplification was performed to establish recombinant plasmids pET28a(+)-pepO and pET28a(+)-psaA, which were transformed into host cells, Escherichia coli BL21 and DE3, respectively, to induce expression. Highly purified target proteins PepO and PsaA were obtained after purification.

(18)F-fluoromisonidazole PET reveals spatial and temporal heterogeneity of hypoxia in mouse models of human non-small-cell lung cancer.

Aim: To noninvasively observe dynamic changes in tumor hypoxia in mouse models of human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using (18)F-fluoromisonidazole PET.

Materials & Methods: Nude mice with NSCLC H460 and A549 subcutaneous xenografts were coinjected intravenously with (18)F-fluoromisonidazole and the hypoxia marker pimonidazole, and observed by serial PET scans. After sacrifice, the tumor distribution of (18)F-fluoromisonidazole and pimonidazole was compared by digital autoradiography and microscopy, respectively.

Polymorphisms and phenotypic analysis of cytochrome P450 2D6 in the Tibetan population.

The cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme (CYP2D6) metabolizes about 25% of prescribed drugs in the endoplasmic reticulum, and genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6 can greatly affect its activity and lead to differences among individuals in drug efficacy and adverse drug reactions. To investigate genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6 among Tibetan Chinese, we directly sequenced the whole gene in 96 unrelated, healthy Tibetans from The Tibet Autonomous Region of China and screened for genetic variants in the promoter, exons, introns, and 3'UTR. We detected fifty-one genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6, and 16 of them are novel.

[Amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide measurements under various detection conditions in patients with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To find the potential interference factors for the detection of NT-proBNP and BNP in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods: EP15-A2 issued by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) was employed to compare the precision and accuracy of commercial NT-proBNP and BNP analyzer electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system Cobas E601 and chemiluminescence system ADVIA Centaur. Moreover, NT-proBNP and BNP were detected in different time interval and in different interfered sampling conditions (haematolysis, choloplania, lipemia).

A novel approach for transferring oleic acid capped iron oxide nanoparticles to water phase.

A novel and simple method was described to transfer oleic acid stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles from organic solutions to water. The oxidation of OA by sodium periodate in mixed solvents formed a carboxyl group or vicinal diol to make the hydrophobic groups to hydrophilic groups on the surface of the nanoparticles. The characterization of nanoparticles indicated that the phase transfer based on the oxidation of OA was successful performed without change in the size and shape of the iron oxide nanoparticles.

Cytotoxicity of Fe3O4/Au composite nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin combined with magnetic field.

GoldMag (Fe3O4/Au) nanoparticles have the advantages of both magnetic response in an external magnetic field and the immobilization of molecules on their surface in a single step. The cytotoxicities of GoldMag nanoparticles and GoldMag nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin (Dox-GoldMag) combined with an external magnetic field were tested in vitro on HepG2 malignant tumor cells. The results showed that cell viability remained above 92% when using GoldMag nanoparticles at a concentration as high as 2.

[Effect of ClpE depletion on the bacterial protein expression profiles of Streptococcus pneumoniae].

Objective: To investigate the effect of ClpE on the protein expression profiles of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Methods: clpE-deficient Streptococcus pneumoniae strain was constructed by long flanking homology-polymerase chain reaction (LFH-PCR) and identified by PCR and sequencing. The total bacterial proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and imaging analysis, and the differentially expressed protein spots were excised by dot-gel digestion with trypsin.

[Cloning the coding cDNA sequence of alpha1, beta2 and gamma2 subunit of GABA-A receptor in American king pigeon].

Aim: To clone and analyse the coding cDNA sequence of alpha1, beta2 and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor in American king Pigeon.

Methods: Withdrew total RNA from the American king pigeon brain, reverse transcribing general primers to acquire a gene set cDNA. Designing specific primers of three subunit mRNA of the GABAA receptor, by RT-PCR respectively expanded the conservative gene of al subunit, beta2 subunit and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor, and carried on clone, plastid identification and the sequence measurese of three genes.

[Preparation of hen egg yolk immunoglobulin and partial plasma high abundant protein depletion by prepared chicken immunoglobulin coupled on GoldMag carrier].

Aim: To prepare specific egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against HSA and IgG and to make HSA and IgG depletion research in human plasma by binding it to the surface of GoldMag.

Methods: Laying Roman hens immunized with different antigens, such as HSA, IgG and the mixtures of these proteins were used in the experiments. The best condition of isolating the IgY antibody was studied.

[Preparation of metal chelate affinity chromatographic medium and its application in the purification of 6 x histidine-tagged protein].

Using Sepharose CL-6B as support, 3-Chloro-1, 2-epoxypropane as activated agent, carboxymethylated aspartate (CM-Asp) as chelating ligand, A chelate affinity chromatographic medium based on Co2+, named Co-CM-Asp-Sepharose, was prepared and used to purify 6 x His-tagged fusion proteins. The amount of Co-CM-Asp-Sepharose reacted with 200 microL of lysate, the incubation time, wash condition and the imidazole concentration in the elution buffer were optimized. The purification results using Co-CM-Asp-Sepharose and Ni-NTA-Agarose (product of Qiagen) were compared.

[Separation and purification of Al13 by chemical precipitation and metathesis].

PACls with different concentrations were prepared by adding sodium carbonate powder into AlCl13 solution. Medium concentration and high Al13 content of PACl was chosen to carry out Al13 separation processes. The influences of SO4/Al molar ratio and the initial total Al concentration on the precipitation reactions of sulfate with different Al species were investigated.

Altered expression of the prion gene in rat astrocyte and neuron cultures treated with prion peptide 106-126.

Neuronal degeneration and astrogliosis are hallmarks of prion disease. Synthetic prion protein (PrP) peptide 106-126 (PrP106-126) can induce death of neurons and proliferation of astrocytes in vitro and this neurotoxic effect depends on the expression of cellular PrP (PrPC) and is hence believed to be PrP(C) -mediated. To further elucidate the involvement of PrPC in PrP106-126-induced neurotoxicity, we determined the expression of PrP mRNA in primary culture of rat cortical neuron cells, cerebellar granule cells, and astrocytes following treatment with 50 microM of PrP106-126 scrambled PrP106-126 by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Quantification of prion gene expression in brain and peripheral organs of golden hamster by real-time RT-PCR.

Determination of tissue-specific expression of cellular prion protein (PrPc) is essential for understanding its poorly explained role in organisms. Herein we report on quantification of PrP mRNA in golden hamsters, a popular experimental model for studying mechanisms of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), by real-time RT-PCR. Total RNA was isolated from four different regions of the brain and six peripheral organs of eight golden hamsters.