A simple and effective method to enrich endogenous DNA from mammalian faeces.

Utilization of faeces has long been a popular approach for genetic and ecological studies of wildlife. However, the success of molecular marker genotyping and genome resequencing is often unpredictable due to insufficient enrichment of endogenous DNA in the total faecal DNA that is dominated by bacterial DNA. Here, we report a simple and cheap method named PEERS to predominantly lyse animal cells over bacteria by using sodium dodecyl sulphate so as to discharge endogenous DNA into liquid phase before bacterial DNA. By brief centrifugation, total DNA with enriched endogenous fraction can be extracted from the supernatant using routine methods. Our assessments showed that the endogenous DNA extracted by PEERS was significantly enriched for various types of faeces from different species, preservation time and conditions. It significantly improves the genotyping correctness and efficiency of genome resequencing with the total additional cost of $ 0.1 and a short incubation step to treat a faecal sample. We also provide methods to assess the enrichment efficiency of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and models to predict the usability of faecal DNA for genotyping of short tandem repeat, single-nucleotide polymorphism and whole-genome resequencing.

Combined PLT and NE to predict the prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common tumors in women. Neutrophils (NEs) and platelets (PLTs) are components of cells in circulating blood. NEs are one of the components of white blood cells (WBCs), accounting for the vast majority of WBCs, recognized as one of the indicators of inflammation. PLTs are associated with thrombosis and inflammation. Both of them play an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. According to pre-radiotherapy PLT and NE media levels, we divided the patients into three groups: PLT and NE both high levels group, single high level group and both low group. By using COX regression models and nomogram, a prognostic model for patients was established. Both high levels of pre-radiotherapy PLT and NE group or high levels of post-radiotherapy PLT and NE group were correlated with worst overall survival (OS) compared with the other two groups. PLT and NE were correlated with outcomes of the patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Prognostic Values of LDH and CRP in Cervical Cancer.

PURPOSE: Cervical cancer is one of the deadliest tumors among women in China. C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme ubiquitously expressed in cells, both play important roles in tumor growth and metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on pre-radiotherapy LDH and CRP median levels, we divided patients into four groups: high LDH and CRP group, high LDH group, high CRP group, and low LDH and CRP group. Then, based on pre-/post-radiotherapy LDH and CRP ratios, we divided patients into four groups: high LDH and CRP ratio group, high LDH ratio group, high CRP ratio group, and low LDH and CRP ratio group. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were constructed to show overall survival (OS). A multivariate Cox regression model was employed to identify the independent risk factors. RESULTS: High pre-radiotherapy LDH and CRP levels and increased pre-/post-radiotherapy LDH and CRP ratios were correlated with worst OS compared with the other three groups. CONCLUSION: LDH and CRP were correlated with outcomes in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

UV-Visible Photodetector Based on I-type Heterostructure of ZnO-QDs/Monolayer MoS2.

Monolayer MoS2 has shown excellent photoresponse properties, but its promising applications in high-sensitivity photodetection suffer from the atomic-thickness-limited adsorption and band gap-limited spectral selectivity. Here we have carried out investigations on MoS2 monolayer-based photodetectors with and without decoration of ZnO quantum dots (ZnO-QDs) for comparison. Compared with monolayer MoS2 photodetectors, the monolayer ZnO-QDs/MoS2 hybrid device exhibits faster response speed (1.5 s and 1.1 s, respectively), extended broadband photoresponse range (deep UV-visible), and enhanced photoresponse in visible spectrum, such as higher responsivity over 0.084 A/W and larger detectivity of 1.05 × 1011 Jones, which results from considerable injection of carries from ZnO-QDs to MoS2 due to the formation of I-type heterostructure existing in the contact interface of them.

[Optimization of intra-vascular stent designs].

The finite element method introduced in this paper is used to simulate the expanded stents shapes and the whole expansion process of the stents with different designs, in order to calculate their radial displacements and deformation stress levels, thus to get the optimization of stent structural designs.