A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and...A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and monitoring of the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza A virus. In this study, we report the design and characterization of a novel set of primers to be used in a qRT-PCR assay for detecting the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus. The newly designed primers target three regions that are highly conserved among the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the pandemic HlN1/2009 viruses and are different from those targeted by the WHO-recommended primers. The qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers are highly specific, and as specific as the WHO-recommended primers for detecting pandemic H1N1/2009 viruses and other influenza viruses including influenza B viruses and influenza A viruses of human, swine, and raccoon dog origin. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers appeared to be at least 10-fold more sensitive than those with the WHO-recommended primers as the detection limits of the assays with our primers and the WHO-recommended primers were 2.5 and 25 copies of target RNA per reaction, respectively. When tested with 83 clinical samples, 32 were detected to be positive using the qRT-PCR assays with our designed primers, while only 25 were positive by the assays with the WHO-recommended primers. These results suggest that the qRT-PCR system with the newly designed primers represent a highly sensitive assay for diagnosis of the pandemic HIN1/2009 virus infection.展开更多
Cellular fibronectin (cFn) is a type of bioactive non-collagen glycoprotein regarded as the main substance used to maintain periodontal attachment. The content of cFn in some specific sites can reflect the progress ...Cellular fibronectin (cFn) is a type of bioactive non-collagen glycoprotein regarded as the main substance used to maintain periodontal attachment. The content of cFn in some specific sites can reflect the progress of periodontitis or peri-implantitis. This study aims to evaluate the expression of cFn messenger RNA (mRNA) in tissues of adult periodontitis and peri-implantitis by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to determine its clinical significance. A total of 30 patients were divided into three groups of 10: healthy, adult periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Periodontal tissue biopsies (1 mmx I mmx I mm) from each patient were frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was extracted from these tissues, and the content, purity and integrity were detected. Specific primers were designed according to the sequence, and the mRNA expression levels of cellular fibronectin were detected by real-time PCR. The purity and integrity of the extracted total RNA were both high, and the specificity of amplified genes was very high with no other pollution. The mRNA expression of cFn in the adult periodontitis group (1.526+0.441) was lower than that in the healthy group (3.253+0.736). However, the mRNA expression of cFn in the peri-implantitis group (3.965+0.537) was significantly higher than that in the healthy group. The difference revealed that although both processes were destructive inflammatory reactions in the periodontium, the pathomechanisms were different and the variation started from the transcription level of the cFn gene.展开更多
AIM: To design, optimize and validate a rapid,internally controlled real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) test for herpes simplex virus(HSV) in the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.· M...AIM: To design, optimize and validate a rapid,internally controlled real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) test for herpes simplex virus(HSV) in the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.· METHODS: Tears alone or together with corneal epithelium scrapings from 30 patients(30 eyes)suspected of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis were tested for HSV DNA by RT-PCR. The samples were collected during the first visit and then on the subsequent 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 d. The symptoms of the patients were scored before treatment to determine the correlation between HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores.·RESULTS: The positive rate(46.4%) in the corneal epithelium group before the therapy was significantly higher than that(13.3%) in the tears group(P =0.006).There were 13 positive HSV patients before the therapy,the concentration of HSV DNA in corneal epithelium scrapings group was significantly higher than that in the tears group(paired t-test, P =0.0397). Multilevel mixedeffects model analysis showed that the difference between the corneal epithelium scrapings group and the tears group was statistically significant(P =0.0049). The Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores before the treatment(r =0.844, P〈 0.0001).· CONCLUSION: RT-PCR appears to be a powerful molecular tool for the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.展开更多
AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the spec...AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.展开更多
AIM: To develop a real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to genotype rotavirus(G and P) in Alberta from January 2012 to June 2013. METHODS: We developed and validated a different approa...AIM: To develop a real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to genotype rotavirus(G and P) in Alberta from January 2012 to June 2013. METHODS: We developed and validated a different approach to perform rotavirus G and P genotyping using a two-step SYBR green RT-PCR(rt-g PCR) by selecting genotype-specific primers of published conventional RT nested PCR(cn RT-PCR) assay and optimizing the amplification conditions. c DNA was first synthesized from total RNA with Super Script? Ⅱ reverse transcriptase kit followed by amplication step using monoplex SYBR green real-time PCR. After the PCR reaction, melting curve analysis was used to determine specific genotype. Sixteen samples previously genotyped using cn RT-PCR were tested using the new assay and the genotyping results were compared as sensitivity analysis. Assay specificity was evaluated by testing other gastroenteritis viruses with the new assay. The amplicon size of each available genotype was determined by gelelectrophoresis and DNA sequences were obtained using Sanger-sequencing method. After validation and optimization, the new assay was used to genotype 122 pediatric clinical stool samples previously tested positive for rotavirus using electron microscopy between January2012 and June 2013.RESULTS: The new rt-g PCR assay was validated and optimized. The assay detected G1 to G4, G9, G12 and P[4] and P[8] that were available as positive controls in our laboratory. A single and clear peak of melting curve was generated for each of specific G and P genotypes with a Tm ranging from 80 ℃ to 82 ℃. The sensitivity of rt-g PCR was comparable to cn RT-PCR with 100% correlation of the 16 samples with known G and P genotypes. No cross reaction was found with other gastroenteritis viruses. Using the new rt-g PCR assay, genotypes were obtained for 121 of the 122 pediatric clinical samples tested positive for rotavirus: G1P[8](42.6%), G2P[4](4.9%), G3P[8](10.7%), G9P[8](10.7%), G9P[4](6.6%), G12P[8](23.0%), and unknown GP[8](0.8%). For the first time, G12 rotavirus strains were found in Alberta and G12 was the second most common genotype during the study period. Gel electrophoresis of all the genotypes showed expected amplicon size for each genotype. The sequence data of the two G12 samples along with other genotypes were blasted in NCBI BLAST or analyzed with Rota C Genotyping tool(http://rotac.regatools.be/). All genotyping results were confirmed to be correct.CONCLUSION: rt-g PCR is a useful tool for the genotyping and characterization of rotavirus. Monitoring of rotavirus genotypes is important for the identification of emerging strains and ongoing evaluation of rotavirus vaccination programs.展开更多
Background The diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised patients is still challenging today due to the absence of an in vitro culture system and the low diagnostic accuracy of microscopic exami...Background The diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised patients is still challenging today due to the absence of an in vitro culture system and the low diagnostic accuracy of microscopic examinations. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of PCP. Methods We searched Web of Knowledge and Medline from 1990 to May 2010 for studies reporting diagnostic accuracy data regarding the use of real-time PCR in the diagnosis of PCP in immunocompromised patients. Results Ten individual studies were included. Overall, the sensitivity of real-time PCR was 97% (95% CI: 93%-99%); the specificity was 94% (95% CI: 90%-96%). The area under the HSROC curve (95% CO for real-time PCR was 0.99 (0.97-0.99). In a subgroup analysis regarding studies involving HIV patients among the study population, the sensitivity and specificity were 97% (95% CI: 93%-99%) and 93% (95% CI: 89%-96%), respectively. Regarding studies using Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples only: sensitivity =98% (95% CI: 94%-99%); specificity =93% (95% CI: 89%- 96%), respectively. Regarding studies using microscopy as a reference standard: sensitivity =97% (95% CI: 92%-99%); specificity =93% (95% CI: 88%-96%). However, high between-study statistical heterogeneity was observed in all analyses. Conclusions Real-time PCR has a good diagnostic accuracy and may provide a useful adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of PCP in immunocompromised patients. Further studies are needed in order to identify any differences in the diagnostic performance of real-time PCR in HIV and non-HIV immunocompromised patients.展开更多
Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant clinical problem among immunosuppressed renal transplant patients. Quantitative PCR assays have become the most common methods in the determination of CMV infec...Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant clinical problem among immunosuppressed renal transplant patients. Quantitative PCR assays have become the most common methods in the determination of CMV infections in transplant patients. This study was to determine the relationship between CMV infection and the acute rejection of the transplanted kidney. Methods Plasma samples from 77 renal transplant patients that were pre-transplant negative for CMV infection were tested using reaD-time quantitative PCR and CMV gene-specific primers. The detected viral loads were retrospectively compared with the acute rejection rate and the chronic or mild rejection rates of the renal transplant. Results CMV-DNA was detected in 29 of 77 recipients, yielding a positive rate of detection of 37.7% for this procedure. Twelve of the 21 recipients (57.1%) who suffered acute rejection had positive CMV-DNA. Among the 56 recipients suffered from chronic or mild rejection, 17 (30.4%) had positive CMV-DNA plasma. Moreover, of the 29 recipients who had detectable CMV-DNA after transplant, 12 (41.4%) suffered from acute rejection; of the 48 recipients with undetectable CMV-DNA, only nine (18.8%) developed acute rejection. Post-transplant patients with acute rejection had a higher rate (57.1% vs. 30.4%, P=0.03) of post-transplant CMV infection than those with chronic or mild rejection. Conclusion CMV infection is a risk factor of acute renal transplant rejection and CMV infection should be prevented and treated in renal transplant recipients.展开更多
Background Enamel demineralization occurs frequently during orthodontic treatment. In this study, we evaluated the changes of the density of mutans streptococcus (MS) in plaque after bracket bonding and using fluori...Background Enamel demineralization occurs frequently during orthodontic treatment. In this study, we evaluated the changes of the density of mutans streptococcus (MS) in plaque after bracket bonding and using fluoride adhesive on maxillary incisors by real time fluorescence-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-FQ PCR).Methods The study was designed as a self-paired test. Brackets were bonded with fluoride adhesive on the left side, while non-fluoride adhesive on the right side for each patient. Plaque samples were taken from the surfaces around the brackets of four maxillary incisors before brackets bonding and after the bonding 4 weeks later. The amount of MS was measured by RT-FQ PCR. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using the SPSS 11.5 version and the alpha level was set at 0. 05 ( 2-tailed).Results The amount of MS in plaque increased significantly after bracket bonding ( P 〈 0.01 ), whereas no significant differences were observed among four maxillary incisors both before and after brackets bonding (P 〉 0. 05 ), and among the incisors using and not using fluoride adhesive ( P 〉 0. 05 ).Conclusions The increase of the density of MS in plaque after bracket bonding is one of the etiological factors for enamel demineralization in orthodontic patients. The result of this study did not support what we observed clinically that the incidence of enamel demineralization for lateral incisors was higher than that for central incisors. Using fluoride adhesive for bonding did not affect the amount of MS in plaque in our study. Further study is needed.展开更多
AIM:To investigate three isoforms of survivin in colorectal adenocarcinomas.METHODS:We used the LightCycler Technology(Roche),along with a common forward primer and reverse primers specific for the splice variants and...AIM:To investigate three isoforms of survivin in colorectal adenocarcinomas.METHODS:We used the LightCycler Technology(Roche),along with a common forward primer and reverse primers specific for the splice variants and two common hybridization probes labeled with fluorescein and LightCycler-Red fluorophore(LC-Red 640).Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was performed on cDNAs from 52 tumor specimens from colorectal cancer patients and 10 unrelated normal colorectal tissues.In the patients group,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and CA19-9 tumor markers were also measured immunochemically.RESULTS:Wild type survivin mRNA isoform was expressed in 48%of the 52 tumor samples,survivin-2b in 38%and survivin-ΔΕx3 in 29%,while no expression was found in normal tissues.The mRNA expression of wild type survivin presented a significant correlation with the expression of the ratio of survivin-2b,survivin-ΔΕx3,survivin-2b/wild type survivin and survivin-ΔΕx3/wild type survivin(P<0.001).The mRNA expression of wildsurvivin and survivin-ΔΕx3 was related with tumor size and invasion(P=0.006 and P<0.005,respectively).A significant difference was found between survivin-2b and morphologic cancer type.Also,the ratio of survivin-ΔEx3/ wild-survivin was significantly associated with prognosis.No association was observed between the three isoforms and grade,metastasis,Dukes stage and gender.The three isoforms were not correlated with CEA and CA19-9.CONCLUSION:Survivin isoforms may play a role in cell apoptosis and their quantification could provide information about clinical management of patients suffering from colorectal cancer.展开更多
Burkholderia glumae causing seedling rot and grain rot of rice was listed as a plant quarantine disease of China in 2007. It's quite necessary to set up effective detection methods for the pathogen to manage further ...Burkholderia glumae causing seedling rot and grain rot of rice was listed as a plant quarantine disease of China in 2007. It's quite necessary to set up effective detection methods for the pathogen to manage further dispersal of this disease. The present study combined the real-time PCR method with classical PCR to increase the detecting efficiency, and to develop an accurate, rapid and sensitive method to detect the pathogen in the seed quarantine for effective management of the disease. The results showed that all the tested strains of B. glumae produced about 139 bp specific fragments by the real-time PCR and the general PCR methods, while others showed negative PCR result. The bacteria could be detected at the concentrations of 1×10^4 CFU/mL by general PCR method and at the concentrations below 100 CFU/mL by real-time fluorescence PCR method. B. glumae could be detected when the inoculated and healthy seeds were mixed with a proportion of 1:100.展开更多
基金supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China (No.2011CB504800)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31100128 and 81030031)+3 种基金National Mega Project on Major Drug Development (2009ZX09103-678)National Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program of Chinathe Technology R & D Program of Jiangsu Province, China (BG20077035 and BG2008662)NIH (RO1-AI041927,RO1-AI050468, RO1-DE014145, and RO1-DE014842)
文摘A quantitative real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay with specific primers recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has been widely used successfully for detection and monitoring of the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza A virus. In this study, we report the design and characterization of a novel set of primers to be used in a qRT-PCR assay for detecting the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus. The newly designed primers target three regions that are highly conserved among the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the pandemic HlN1/2009 viruses and are different from those targeted by the WHO-recommended primers. The qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers are highly specific, and as specific as the WHO-recommended primers for detecting pandemic H1N1/2009 viruses and other influenza viruses including influenza B viruses and influenza A viruses of human, swine, and raccoon dog origin. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR assays with the newly designed primers appeared to be at least 10-fold more sensitive than those with the WHO-recommended primers as the detection limits of the assays with our primers and the WHO-recommended primers were 2.5 and 25 copies of target RNA per reaction, respectively. When tested with 83 clinical samples, 32 were detected to be positive using the qRT-PCR assays with our designed primers, while only 25 were positive by the assays with the WHO-recommended primers. These results suggest that the qRT-PCR system with the newly designed primers represent a highly sensitive assay for diagnosis of the pandemic HIN1/2009 virus infection.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation(Project No.81070868/H1409)the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases,Sichuan University.
文摘Cellular fibronectin (cFn) is a type of bioactive non-collagen glycoprotein regarded as the main substance used to maintain periodontal attachment. The content of cFn in some specific sites can reflect the progress of periodontitis or peri-implantitis. This study aims to evaluate the expression of cFn messenger RNA (mRNA) in tissues of adult periodontitis and peri-implantitis by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to determine its clinical significance. A total of 30 patients were divided into three groups of 10: healthy, adult periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Periodontal tissue biopsies (1 mmx I mmx I mm) from each patient were frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was extracted from these tissues, and the content, purity and integrity were detected. Specific primers were designed according to the sequence, and the mRNA expression levels of cellular fibronectin were detected by real-time PCR. The purity and integrity of the extracted total RNA were both high, and the specificity of amplified genes was very high with no other pollution. The mRNA expression of cFn in the adult periodontitis group (1.526+0.441) was lower than that in the healthy group (3.253+0.736). However, the mRNA expression of cFn in the peri-implantitis group (3.965+0.537) was significantly higher than that in the healthy group. The difference revealed that although both processes were destructive inflammatory reactions in the periodontium, the pathomechanisms were different and the variation started from the transcription level of the cFn gene.
文摘AIM: To design, optimize and validate a rapid,internally controlled real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) test for herpes simplex virus(HSV) in the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.· METHODS: Tears alone or together with corneal epithelium scrapings from 30 patients(30 eyes)suspected of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis were tested for HSV DNA by RT-PCR. The samples were collected during the first visit and then on the subsequent 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 d. The symptoms of the patients were scored before treatment to determine the correlation between HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores.·RESULTS: The positive rate(46.4%) in the corneal epithelium group before the therapy was significantly higher than that(13.3%) in the tears group(P =0.006).There were 13 positive HSV patients before the therapy,the concentration of HSV DNA in corneal epithelium scrapings group was significantly higher than that in the tears group(paired t-test, P =0.0397). Multilevel mixedeffects model analysis showed that the difference between the corneal epithelium scrapings group and the tears group was statistically significant(P =0.0049). The Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the HSV concentration in the corneal epithelium scrapings and clinical scores before the treatment(r =0.844, P〈 0.0001).· CONCLUSION: RT-PCR appears to be a powerful molecular tool for the diagnosis of necrotizing herpes stromal keratitis.
基金Supported by The General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81271789the Major State Basic Research Development Program,No.2013CB127204
文摘AIM:To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method to detect and quantify Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) from stool specimens.METHODS:Primers and a probe for real-time PCR were designed based on the specific DNA sequence of the hipO gene in C.jejuni.The specificity of the primers and probe were tested against a set of Campylobacter spp.and other enteric pathogens.The optimal PCR conditions were determined by testing a series of conditions with standard a C.jejuni template.The detection limits were obtained using purified DNA from bacterial culture and extracted DNA from the stool specimen.Two hundred and forty-two specimens were analyzed for the presence of C.jejuni by direct bacterial culture and real-time PCR.RESULTS:The optimal PCR system was determined using reference DNA templates,1 × uracil-DNA glycosylase,3.5 mmol/L MgCl 2,1.25 U platinum Taq polymerase,0.4 mmol/L PCR nucleotide mix,0.48 μmol/L of each primer,0.2 μmol/L of probe and 2 μL of DNA template in a final volume of 25 μL.The PCR reaction was carried as follows:95 ℃ for 4 min,followed by 45 cycles of 10 s at 95 ℃ and 30 s at 59 ℃.The detection limit was 4.3 CFU/mL using purified DNA from bacterial culture and 10 3 CFU/g using DNA from stool specimens.Twenty(8.3%,20/242) C.jejuni strains were isolated from bacterial culture,while 41(16.9%,41/242) samples were found to be positive by realtime PCR.DNA sequencing of the PCR product indicated the presence of C.jejuni in the specimen.One mixed infection of C.jejuni and Salmonella was detected in one specimen and the PCR test for this specimen was positive.CONCLUSION:The sensitivity of detection of C.jejuni from stool specimens was much higher using this PCR assay than using the direct culture method.
文摘AIM: To develop a real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to genotype rotavirus(G and P) in Alberta from January 2012 to June 2013. METHODS: We developed and validated a different approach to perform rotavirus G and P genotyping using a two-step SYBR green RT-PCR(rt-g PCR) by selecting genotype-specific primers of published conventional RT nested PCR(cn RT-PCR) assay and optimizing the amplification conditions. c DNA was first synthesized from total RNA with Super Script? Ⅱ reverse transcriptase kit followed by amplication step using monoplex SYBR green real-time PCR. After the PCR reaction, melting curve analysis was used to determine specific genotype. Sixteen samples previously genotyped using cn RT-PCR were tested using the new assay and the genotyping results were compared as sensitivity analysis. Assay specificity was evaluated by testing other gastroenteritis viruses with the new assay. The amplicon size of each available genotype was determined by gelelectrophoresis and DNA sequences were obtained using Sanger-sequencing method. After validation and optimization, the new assay was used to genotype 122 pediatric clinical stool samples previously tested positive for rotavirus using electron microscopy between January2012 and June 2013.RESULTS: The new rt-g PCR assay was validated and optimized. The assay detected G1 to G4, G9, G12 and P[4] and P[8] that were available as positive controls in our laboratory. A single and clear peak of melting curve was generated for each of specific G and P genotypes with a Tm ranging from 80 ℃ to 82 ℃. The sensitivity of rt-g PCR was comparable to cn RT-PCR with 100% correlation of the 16 samples with known G and P genotypes. No cross reaction was found with other gastroenteritis viruses. Using the new rt-g PCR assay, genotypes were obtained for 121 of the 122 pediatric clinical samples tested positive for rotavirus: G1P[8](42.6%), G2P[4](4.9%), G3P[8](10.7%), G9P[8](10.7%), G9P[4](6.6%), G12P[8](23.0%), and unknown GP[8](0.8%). For the first time, G12 rotavirus strains were found in Alberta and G12 was the second most common genotype during the study period. Gel electrophoresis of all the genotypes showed expected amplicon size for each genotype. The sequence data of the two G12 samples along with other genotypes were blasted in NCBI BLAST or analyzed with Rota C Genotyping tool(http://rotac.regatools.be/). All genotyping results were confirmed to be correct.CONCLUSION: rt-g PCR is a useful tool for the genotyping and characterization of rotavirus. Monitoring of rotavirus genotypes is important for the identification of emerging strains and ongoing evaluation of rotavirus vaccination programs.
文摘Background The diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised patients is still challenging today due to the absence of an in vitro culture system and the low diagnostic accuracy of microscopic examinations. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of PCP. Methods We searched Web of Knowledge and Medline from 1990 to May 2010 for studies reporting diagnostic accuracy data regarding the use of real-time PCR in the diagnosis of PCP in immunocompromised patients. Results Ten individual studies were included. Overall, the sensitivity of real-time PCR was 97% (95% CI: 93%-99%); the specificity was 94% (95% CI: 90%-96%). The area under the HSROC curve (95% CO for real-time PCR was 0.99 (0.97-0.99). In a subgroup analysis regarding studies involving HIV patients among the study population, the sensitivity and specificity were 97% (95% CI: 93%-99%) and 93% (95% CI: 89%-96%), respectively. Regarding studies using Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples only: sensitivity =98% (95% CI: 94%-99%); specificity =93% (95% CI: 89%- 96%), respectively. Regarding studies using microscopy as a reference standard: sensitivity =97% (95% CI: 92%-99%); specificity =93% (95% CI: 88%-96%). However, high between-study statistical heterogeneity was observed in all analyses. Conclusions Real-time PCR has a good diagnostic accuracy and may provide a useful adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of PCP in immunocompromised patients. Further studies are needed in order to identify any differences in the diagnostic performance of real-time PCR in HIV and non-HIV immunocompromised patients.
基金This work was supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation of China (No. 81071431), and from the Municipal New Star of Science and Technology of Beijing (No. 2010B054).
文摘Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant clinical problem among immunosuppressed renal transplant patients. Quantitative PCR assays have become the most common methods in the determination of CMV infections in transplant patients. This study was to determine the relationship between CMV infection and the acute rejection of the transplanted kidney. Methods Plasma samples from 77 renal transplant patients that were pre-transplant negative for CMV infection were tested using reaD-time quantitative PCR and CMV gene-specific primers. The detected viral loads were retrospectively compared with the acute rejection rate and the chronic or mild rejection rates of the renal transplant. Results CMV-DNA was detected in 29 of 77 recipients, yielding a positive rate of detection of 37.7% for this procedure. Twelve of the 21 recipients (57.1%) who suffered acute rejection had positive CMV-DNA. Among the 56 recipients suffered from chronic or mild rejection, 17 (30.4%) had positive CMV-DNA plasma. Moreover, of the 29 recipients who had detectable CMV-DNA after transplant, 12 (41.4%) suffered from acute rejection; of the 48 recipients with undetectable CMV-DNA, only nine (18.8%) developed acute rejection. Post-transplant patients with acute rejection had a higher rate (57.1% vs. 30.4%, P=0.03) of post-transplant CMV infection than those with chronic or mild rejection. Conclusion CMV infection is a risk factor of acute renal transplant rejection and CMV infection should be prevented and treated in renal transplant recipients.
文摘Background Enamel demineralization occurs frequently during orthodontic treatment. In this study, we evaluated the changes of the density of mutans streptococcus (MS) in plaque after bracket bonding and using fluoride adhesive on maxillary incisors by real time fluorescence-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-FQ PCR).Methods The study was designed as a self-paired test. Brackets were bonded with fluoride adhesive on the left side, while non-fluoride adhesive on the right side for each patient. Plaque samples were taken from the surfaces around the brackets of four maxillary incisors before brackets bonding and after the bonding 4 weeks later. The amount of MS was measured by RT-FQ PCR. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using the SPSS 11.5 version and the alpha level was set at 0. 05 ( 2-tailed).Results The amount of MS in plaque increased significantly after bracket bonding ( P 〈 0.01 ), whereas no significant differences were observed among four maxillary incisors both before and after brackets bonding (P 〉 0. 05 ), and among the incisors using and not using fluoride adhesive ( P 〉 0. 05 ).Conclusions The increase of the density of MS in plaque after bracket bonding is one of the etiological factors for enamel demineralization in orthodontic patients. The result of this study did not support what we observed clinically that the incidence of enamel demineralization for lateral incisors was higher than that for central incisors. Using fluoride adhesive for bonding did not affect the amount of MS in plaque in our study. Further study is needed.
文摘AIM:To investigate three isoforms of survivin in colorectal adenocarcinomas.METHODS:We used the LightCycler Technology(Roche),along with a common forward primer and reverse primers specific for the splice variants and two common hybridization probes labeled with fluorescein and LightCycler-Red fluorophore(LC-Red 640).Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was performed on cDNAs from 52 tumor specimens from colorectal cancer patients and 10 unrelated normal colorectal tissues.In the patients group,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and CA19-9 tumor markers were also measured immunochemically.RESULTS:Wild type survivin mRNA isoform was expressed in 48%of the 52 tumor samples,survivin-2b in 38%and survivin-ΔΕx3 in 29%,while no expression was found in normal tissues.The mRNA expression of wild type survivin presented a significant correlation with the expression of the ratio of survivin-2b,survivin-ΔΕx3,survivin-2b/wild type survivin and survivin-ΔΕx3/wild type survivin(P<0.001).The mRNA expression of wildsurvivin and survivin-ΔΕx3 was related with tumor size and invasion(P=0.006 and P<0.005,respectively).A significant difference was found between survivin-2b and morphologic cancer type.Also,the ratio of survivin-ΔEx3/ wild-survivin was significantly associated with prognosis.No association was observed between the three isoforms and grade,metastasis,Dukes stage and gender.The three isoforms were not correlated with CEA and CA19-9.CONCLUSION:Survivin isoforms may play a role in cell apoptosis and their quantification could provide information about clinical management of patients suffering from colorectal cancer.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.30671397 and No.30871655)the Public Beneficial Research Project of Agricultural Ministry,China(Grant No.nyhyzx07-056)
文摘Burkholderia glumae causing seedling rot and grain rot of rice was listed as a plant quarantine disease of China in 2007. It's quite necessary to set up effective detection methods for the pathogen to manage further dispersal of this disease. The present study combined the real-time PCR method with classical PCR to increase the detecting efficiency, and to develop an accurate, rapid and sensitive method to detect the pathogen in the seed quarantine for effective management of the disease. The results showed that all the tested strains of B. glumae produced about 139 bp specific fragments by the real-time PCR and the general PCR methods, while others showed negative PCR result. The bacteria could be detected at the concentrations of 1×10^4 CFU/mL by general PCR method and at the concentrations below 100 CFU/mL by real-time fluorescence PCR method. B. glumae could be detected when the inoculated and healthy seeds were mixed with a proportion of 1:100.