穴位注射配合普通针刺治疗脊髓损伤60例

目的 观察穴位注射配合普通针刺疗法对脊髓损伤患者运动和感觉功能的影响。方法 将60例脊髓损伤患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组30例。对照组采用普通针刺治疗,治疗组加用穴位注射疗法。治疗前后分别采用美国脊髓损伤委员会(American Spine Injury Association, ASIA)脊髓残存分级标准评定两组脊髓功能,观察并比较两组患者的轻触觉、针刺觉和运动评分。结果 治疗后两组ASIA残存分级均较治疗前显著改善（P<0.05）,治疗后两组轻触觉、针刺觉、运动评分均较治疗前显著升高（P<0.01）,治疗组在升高轻触觉、针刺觉、运动评分方面显著优于对照组（P<0.05,或P<0.01）。结论 穴位注射配合普通针刺能有效改善脊髓损伤患者的运动、感觉功能。     

Mitochondrial DNA study in the Shuar ethnic group from Ecuador

This study presents mitochondrial data from 55 unrelated individuals from two Ecuadorian Shuar communities: Kumbatza and Yukateis. Maternal linage was determined by analyzing the two mtDNA hypervariable regions: HRVI and HRVII. It was shown that the Shuar population exhibited the haplogroup B. This demonstrates that Shuar group is a conserved population with no mixing with the European and African diaspora populations.     

DNA Purification Cell Lysis and Wash Step Modifications for Low-Template DNA Sample Processing,

As DNA technology becomes increasingly sensitive, forensic laboratories are receiving more low-template DNA samples. These samples, already low in DNA content, become even more challenging to process as the available DNA becomes further reduced during the extraction step. In this study, two extraction modifications were tested to determine if the cause of DNA loss could be identified and mitigated. A double lysis technique was used to test for DNA loss in the sample collection substrate, and lysate eluates were re-extracted to determine DNA loss from inefficient binding to the silica column. Both modifications showed DNA was lost at these steps. However, resulting STR profiles from these samples had fewer peaks and lower peak heights when compared to samples processed with no extraction modifications. Overall, the potential benefits of adding these extraction modifications for low-template DNA sample processing are not enough to justify the risk associated with additional manipulation.     

DNA Barcoding in Forensic Entomology – Establishing a DNA Reference Library of Potentially Forensic Relevant Arthropod Species,

Throughout the years, DNA barcoding has gained in importance in forensic entomology as it leads to fast and reliable species determination. High‐quality results, however, can only be achieved with a comprehensive DNA barcode reference database at hand. In collaboration with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, we have initiated at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology the establishment of a reference library containing arthropods of potential forensic relevance to be used for DNA barcoding applications. CO1‐5P’ DNA barcode sequences of hundreds of arthropods were obtained via DNA extraction, PCR and Sanger Sequencing, leading to the establishment of a database containing 502 high‐quality sequences which provide coverage for 88 arthropod species. Furthermore, we demonstrate an application example of this library using it as a backbone to a high throughput sequencing analysis of arthropod bulk samples collected from human corpses, which enabled the identification of 31 different arthropod Barcode Index Numbers.     

Understanding the behavior of stutter through the sequencing of STR alleles

This work explores the influence of several variables on stutter formation across sequenced autosomal STR loci (simple, compound, and complex motifs) and different alleles within each locus. The variables are sequence variations within the repeating motifs and flanking region [1,2]; longest uninterrupted stretch (LUS) [3]; parental allele length [3]; and base pair content and length value of each repeating motif from which the stutter has generated [3,4]. Over six hundred unrelated individuals from different populations were amplified with the prototype PowerSeq 46GY System and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Raw FASTQ files were analyzed with STRait Razor v3 [5]. Stutter ratio was calculated for motifs that exhibited stutter using the ratio of the observed coverage of the stutter sequence at (N-1) position to the observed coverage of the allelic sequence. Understanding the behavior (abundance, reproducibility, sequence context) of non-allelic artifacts will help in establishing probabilistic models for the prediction of stutter rate and interpretation of sequence-based STR profiles.     

Family reunification through DNA analysis of survivors of the greatest natural disaster in Colombia in Armero-tolima (1985)

On November 13, 1985 at 9:20 p.m., the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted (A Glacier Snowy Volcano 17457 fts above sea level). The lahar, melting ice and landslide devastated the town of Armero located 45 kilometers away in a matter of minutes, in the Tolima department of Colombia. More than 25,000 people died or were reported missing. This tragedy is the largest natural disaster to date in Colombia. The Armando Armero Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that brings together survivors of this tragedy. This NGO is making efforts to reunite families in association with Servicios Médicos Yunis Turbay y Cia. Different strategies are used to search and find matches in our database, including documents and records, autosomic STR, Y chromosome STR and mtDNA analysis. Thus far, four families have been reunited in this process.     

DNA on the inside door handles of entrance doors

DNA from door handles on entry doors could provide a clue as to who last left the scene. However, after years of extensive research on DNA transfer and persistence it can be considered common knowledge that general claims like "the last who touched leaves the most DNA" do not hold true. But who's DNA do we find on door handles that are usually used several times per day by the inhabitants? To assess this question, we sampled inside door handles from real-life burglaries and at the same time collected reference samples from all the inhabitants, to determine if we can detect any (major) profiles from non-inhabitants. We also searched to evaluate how often we detect DNA from the person who last touched the door handle as a (major) contributor. Only small amounts of DNA were recovered from the handles, originating most often, but not always, from inhabitants or even the last inhabitant touching the handle.     

A multifaceted,multijurisdictional, multiagency,and multidisciplinary approach to investigating unidentified and missing persons cases in Australia

Currently, there are approximately 750 unidentified human remains and 2500 long-term missing persons in Australia. The Australian Federal Police National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons (Program) is using a multifaceted, multijurisdictional, multiagency, and multidisciplinary approach in a dedicated effort to identify these unknown deceased persons, scientifically link them to known missing persons, and provide answers to their families. The nationally coordinated Program provides its police, forensic, and coronial stakeholders with a suite of contemporary forensic technologies, databases, and experts to forensically examine the skeletonised remains and recover post-mortem data for comparison to the available ante-mortem data for each missing person. Through a number of physical and virtual public outreach activities, families with missing relatives have been encouraged to provide vital ante-mortem forensic information, records, and samples to aid the identification process. To date, this unique Program has assisted to resolve a number of unidentified and missing persons cases from both historical and contemporary contexts, using a combination of genetic and non-genetic techniques, and local and national databases. The centralisation of Program capabilities, expertise, and resources to conduct this type of unique and challenging casework is proving to be the most effective and efficient way to generate investigative leads, identify human remains, and resolve long-term missing persons cases in Australia.     

DNA-based identification of big cats and traditional Chinese medicine artifacts in the Czech Republic

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of ongoing research on and the development of identification tools for big cats (Panthera tigris, Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, …). The set of tools includes a species-specific RTPCR quantitation system (nuclear and mitochondrial), STR multiplexes, a rapid system for big cat species determination, and a database solution.     

Experimental long-distance haplotyping of OCA2-HERC2 variants

The regulatory HERC2 SNP, rs12913832, is strongly associated with blue and brown eye colour. However, eye colour in heterozygous rs12913832 individuals is observed to vary greatly. Missense mutations in OCA2, such as rs1800407 and rs74653330, are associated with lighter eye colour in some but not all heterozygous rs12913832 individuals. Determining the physical linkage of these variants might help to further explain eye colour variation. So far, experimental haplotyping of these variants has been challenging because the genomic distance between them (∼ 135 kb) exceeds the fragment lengths produced by commonly used DNA isolation kits. The aim for this study was to explore novel methods for long distance haplotyping to assess associations between OCA2-HERC2 haplotypes and eye colour. DNA was isolated from frozen blood samples collected from Norwegians that are known to be heterozygous for both HERC2 rs12913832 and OCA2 SNPs, either rs1800407 (n = 23) or rs74653330 (n = 17), using the newly commercially available Monarch® HMW (heigh molecular weight) DNA Extraction Kit (New England BioLabs_inc). We successfully isolated DNA fragments up to 210 kb, which were long enough to haplotype OCA2-HERC2 loci by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Three haplotypes were observed in the study population: rs12913832:A-rs1800407:T in 22/23 individuals, rs12913832:A-rs1800407:C in 1/23 individuals and rs12913832:A-rs74653330:T in 16/16 individuals. As expected, all individuals with the rs12913832:A-rs74653330:T haplotype had intermediate to blue eye colour. However, the rs12913832:A-rs1800407:T haplotype was observed in both blue and brown-eyed individuals, suggesting more research is needed.