Metabolomics efficiently discriminates monozygotic twins in peripheral blood.

Monozygotic (MZ) twins cannot be distinguished using conventional forensic STR typing because they present identical STR genotypings. However, MZ twins do not always live in the same environment and often have different dietary and other lifestyle habits. Metabolic profiles are deyermined by individual characteristics and are also influenced by the environment in which they live. Therefore, they are potential markers capable of identifying MZ twins. Moreover, the production of proteins varies from organism to organism and is influenced by both the physiological state of the body and the external environment. Hence, we used metabolomics and proteomics to identify metabolites and proteins in peripheral blood to discriminate MZ twins. We identified 1749 known metabolites and 622 proteins in proteomic analysis. The metabolic profiles of four pairs of MZ twins revealed minor differences in intra-MZ twins and major differences in inter-MZ twins. Each pair of MZ twins exhibited distinct characteristics, and four metabolites-methyl picolinate, acesulfame, paraxanthine, and phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid-were observed in all four MZ twin pairs. These four differential exogenous metabolites conincidently show that the different external environments and life styles can be well distinguished by metabolites, considering that twins do not all have the same eating habits and living environments. Moreover, MZ twins showed different protein profiles in serum but not in whole blood. Thus, our results indicate that differential metabolites provide potential biomarkers for the personal identification of MZ twins in forensic medicine.

Simple and field-adapted species identification of biological specimens combining multiplex multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification, lateral flow dipsticks, and universal primers for initial rapid screening without standard PCR laboratory.

Species identification of biological specimens can provide the valuable clues and accelerate the speed of prosecution material processing for forensic investigation, especially when the case scene is inaccessible and the physical evidence is cumbersome. Thus, establishing a rapid, simple, and field-adapted species identification method is crucial for forensic scientists, particularly as first-line technology at the crime scene for initial rapid screening. In this study, we established a new field-adapted species identification method by combining multiplex multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification (MIRA), lateral flow dipstick (LFD) system, and universal primers. Universal primers targeting COX I and COX II genes were used in multiplex MIRA-LFD system for seven species identification, and a dedicated MIRA-LFD system primer targeting CYT B gene was used to detect the human material. DNA extraction was performed by collecting DNA directly from the centrifuged supernatant. Our study found that the entire amplification process took only 15 min at 37 °C and the results of LFDs could be visually observed after 10 min. The detection sensitivity of human material could reach 10 pg, which is equivalent to the detection of single cell. Different common animal samples mixed at the ratio of 1 ng:1 ng, 10 ng:1 ng, and 1 ng:10 ng could be detected successfully. Furthermore, the damaged and degraded samples could also be detected. Therefore, the convenient, feasible, and rapid approach for species identification is suitable for popularization as first-line technology at the crime scene for initial rapid screening and provides a great convenient for forensic application.

[Comparison of effects between China made sirolimus-eluting stents and bare stents for treating patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes between China made sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and bare metal stents (BMS) implantation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Consecutive patients with AMI underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly divided into SES group (n = 87) and BMS group (n = 86). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE including death, reinfarction, in-stent thrombosis, restenosis rate, target vessel revascularization) up to 6 months post PCI were assessed. RESULTS: Postprocedure vessel patency, enzymatic release, cardiac function, and the incidence of short-term MACE were similar between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Two in-stent thrombosis was diagnosed in the SES group and bare stents group respectively (2.4% vs. 2.3%, P > 0.05). At 6 months, In-stent restenosis rate (4.5% vs. 40.0%, P < 0.01) and the in-segment restenosis rate (6.8% vs. 44.9%, P < 0.01) as well as MACE (8.0% vs. 24.4%, P < 0.01), which is mainly due to a marked reduction in the risk of target vessel revascularization (3.4% vs. 11.6%, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in SES group compared to BMS group. CONCLUSION: The China made SES were not associated with an increased risk of in-stent thrombosis but significantly reduced restenosis rate and MACE at 6 months post primary angioplasty in patients with AMI.