Leishmania identification by PCR of Giemsa-stained lesion imprint slides stored for up to 36 years

This study examined the ability of PCR to amplify Leishmania DNA, stored on Giemsa-stained slides, from American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) patients. In total, 475 slides stored for up to 36 years were obtained from an outpatient clinic in a Brazilian ACL-endemic region, and Leishmania DNA was amplified from 395 (83.2%) of the DNA samples using primers specific for the minicircle kinetoplast DNA. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of these amplicons demonstrated that Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was the only species present in these samples. The results demonstrated that archived Giemsa-stained slides can provide a Leishmania DNA source for performing clinical and epidemiological studies of leishmaniasis.     

Development and evaluation of a new PCR assay for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa D genotype

This report describes a new PCR-based assay for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotype D in occupational saturation diving systems in the North Sea. This genotype has persisted in these systems for 11 years (1993-2003) and represents 18% of isolates from infections analysed during this period. The new PCR assay was based on sequences obtained after randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR analysis of a group of isolates related to diving that had been identified previously by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The primer set for the D genotype targets a gene that codes for a hypothetical class 4 protein in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome. A primer set able to detect P. aeruginosa at the species level was also designed, based on the 23S-5S rDNA spacer region. The two assays produced 382-bp and 192-bp amplicons, respectively. The PCR assay was evaluated by analysing 100 P. aeruginosa isolates related to diving, representing 28 PFGE genotypes, and 38 clinical and community P. aeruginosa isolates and strains from other species. The assay identified all of the genotype D isolates tested. Two additional diving-relevant genotypes (TP2 and TP27) were also identified, as well as three isolates of non-diving origin. It was concluded that the new PCR assay is a useful tool for early detection and prevention of infections with the D genotype.     

Co-localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, γ-aminobutyric acid and choline acetyltransferase in neocortical interneurons of the adult rat

Interneurons immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are integral elements of columnar organization patterns in the rat cerebral cortex. By application of the sensitive mirror technique, the co-localization of VIP with the classical inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was investigated in neocortical neurons. Furthermore, the frequency of co-localization of ChAT with GABA was determined. In a sample of 118 VIP-immunoreactive neurons, mostly from the primary somatosensory cortex, it was demonstrated that virtually all of them reveal immunoreactivity for GABA and, therefore, are to be GABAergic. Moreover, 34% of mostly bipolar, VIP-positive neurons contained ChAT and are, thus, supposedly cholinergic as well. Co-localization of VIP and ChAT varied according to cortical laminae. Finally, 88% of a total of 60 ChAT-immunoreactive neurons were also immunostained for GABA. It is concluded that almost all VIP-immunoreactive neurons and most of the cholinergic neurons in rat neocortex represent partly overlapping subpopulations of inhibitory interneurons utilizing GABA.     

X-Ray Study of the Cat Hindlimb During Treadmill Locomotion

With pulsed X-ray cinematography we have analysed the angular excursions of the distal hindlimb joints (proximal interphalangeal, PIP; metatarsophalangeal, MTP; ankle) in cats walking on a treadmill. These distal joints transmit the body weight and the dynamic forces onto the ground. We have included the knee and hip joints in the analysis to relate the angular excursions of the proximal and distal joints and to verify the data previously obtained with external markers on the kinematics of the proximal joints. At the beginning of the stance phase the PIP joints flexed rapidly, the MTP joints extended slowly and the ankle and knee yielded under body weight. Whereas the PIP joints maintained a rather constant angular position of −75° throughout the stance phase, extension continued in the MTP joints from −230° at touch-down to −270° at the end of the stance phase. Around 50 ms before lift-off the MTP joints flexed rapidly. Early (−30 ms) after lift-off this flexion changed into a slow extension. The PIP joints extended swiftly at the stance-swing transition and moderately at the end of the swing phase. During the middle part of the swing phase they flexed slowly. Small rotatory movements around the long axis of the foot took place in the last 100 ms of the swing phase. The results of this study on the distal joints are discussed in relation to the placing of the paw, to the translation of forward propulsion into a MTP movement and to the lifting of the paw (conventionally described as toe curling). They show a differentiated mechanical interaction between the different distal limb joints during these different phases, which must be known in detail to interpret the corresponding electromyographic data and to understand how the hip is moved forward over the MTP joints which serve as the final pivot during stance.     

白血病细胞p16基因突变分析

目的探讨ｐ１６基因突变在白血病发生中的作用及基因突变的机制。方法利用点突变检测仪、水平和垂直板电泳对ｐ１６基因的外显子１、外显子２的ＰＣＲ扩增产物作缺失和点突变分析。结果在白血病３５例临床标本中有２２例发生缺失突变，６例发生点突变，突变率约８０％。在２２例缺失突变病例中，有１０例为不完全缺失突变即有低于外显子５０９ｂｐ的扩增产物。结论ｐ１６基因含有“ＧＣ”ＤＮＡ重复顺序，易发生ＤＮＡ重组及易位和重排。在白血病发生中起重要作用     

石家庄地区汉族人群DIS80(pMCT118)位点VNTR基因频率分布调查

本文采用ＰＣＲ技术对石家庄地区２１６名无关个体ＤＩＳ８０（ｐＭＣＴ１１８）位点扩增片段长度多态性的等位基因频率进行调查。ＰＣＲ扩增产物采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分型及溴化乙锭染色，共检出７０种基因型，２５个等位基因，其中以１８、２４、３０三个等位基因频率最高。将本文结果与日本人群在ＤＩＳ８０（ｐＭＣＴ１１８）位点多态性结果进行比较，石家庄地区汉族人群ＤＩＳ８０（ｐＭＣＴ１１８）位点基因频率分布符合ＨａｒｄｙＷｅｉｎｂｅｒｇ平衡定律，该位点非父排除率为０．７１，个体识别率为０．９，杂合度为０．８５。     

PCR和ELISA法在检测HBV-DNA、HCV-RNA和结核分枝杆菌中的作用

目的:探讨PCR技术和ELISA法在检测HBV-DNA、HCV-RNA和结核分枝杆菌中的作用,以及与直接涂片法的对比结果.方法:分别用两法对临床确诊的感染病例和非感染者同时进行检测,并进行对比分析.结果:HBeAg阳性者HBV-DNA阳性,检出率为96.8%,HCV-RNA阳性检出率为19.4%.不同标本TB-DNA平均阳性检出率为39.98%.结论:PCR法灵敏度和特异度分别高于ELISA法和涂片查菌法.     

套式PCR检测细菌16SrRNA基因

目的　应用套式PCR建立快速检查方法来检测血液中是否含有细菌。方法　采用细菌 1 6SrRNA基因通用引物 ,通过套式PCR方法对细菌进行扩增 ,并对其灵敏度、特异性作一评价。结果　临床常见细菌扩增反应为阳性 ,其他病原微生物及人类基因组DNA为阴性。结论　本法具有敏感、快速、特异、准确的优点 ,是一种可靠的实验手段