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AIM: To evaluate the imaging characteristics of dense automatic real time B-scan optical coherence tomography angiography(DART-OCTA)in macular-involved branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO)and the diagnostic value of capillary perfusion imaging in the macular area.METHODS: From June 2020 to December 2020, there were 51 cases of 51 eyes with BRVO diagnosed in Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University. Imaging characteristics of the BRVO macular area were observed by fluorescein angiography(FA), optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and DART-OCTA examination, respectively. According to the retinal capillary perfusion status, the included patients were divided into capillary and non-imaging groups, comparing the results of capillary perfusion imaging in the BRVO macular area among the three examination methods.Furthermore, quantitative analysis of capillary perfusion density in the lesion involved area and the lesion non-involved area was performed in DART-OCTA images. RESULTS: Patients with 51 eyes were included in this study, FA identified 10 eyes of capillary perfusion imaging, OCTA identified 14 eyes of capillary perfusion imaging, DART-OCTA identified 34 eyes of the capillary perfusion imaging.Comparison of the three test methods for capillary perfusion imaging findings in the BRVO macular area showed that DART-OCTA was more sensitive compared to FA and OCTA for capillary perfusion imaging in the ischemic area. In DART-OCTA examination, retinal capillary blood flow density was lower in the lesion-involved areas in both the capillary perfusion imaging group and the non-imaging groups(0.65±0.20/mm vs 1.16±0.31/mm,0.41±0.16/mm vs 1.06±0.38/mm, all P<0.0001).CONCLUSION: DART-OCTA can provide clearer tomographic imaging of retinal capillary perfusion. And the imaging with its observation of BRVO involving the macular area is least affected by macular hemorrhage and it is an important complementary method for BRVO patients with significant retinal hemorrhage.
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The tumor contains abundant new vessels, which are unevenly distributed, irregular, and branch-disordered. Angiopoietin (Ang) and tyrosine kinase receptor Tie mediate stable maturation of angiogenesis. Ang1 mainly plays a role in promoting vascular stabilization, and Ang2 is highly expressed in vessels, which makes the structure and function of vessels abnormal. Leaked vessels provide opportunities for invasion and metastasis of circulating tumor cells. Targeting the Ang/Tie axis to correct the abnormal state of vessels and promote its normalization, combined with chemotherapy drugs or immunotherapy, play a synergistic effect against tumors. This article summarizes the role of Ang/Tie axis in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, and it aims to provide new ideas and strategies for clinical treatment of tumors.
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OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the characteristics of lumbar spine-pelvic structure in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and its significance in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis(DLS).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 45 patients with simple degenerative L-segment lumbar spondylolisthesis (spondylolisthesis group) admitted from April 2015 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, which were compared with 50 healthy people with complete physical examination data in the same period(control group). Statistical analysis of the lumbar spine-pelvic structure parameters of the subjects through imaging data was performed to analyze the characteristics of the spine-pelvis of DLS patients. The degenerative characteristicsof intervertebral disc and articular process joint were observed in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Use Spearson to analyze the correlation between observation items.@*RESULTS@#The facet joint angle, lumbar lordosis angle (LL), pelvic incidence angle(PI), pelvic tilt angle (PT), sacral slope angle (SS) in spondylolisthesis group of L-segment were (36.5±11.2)°, (44.2±7.3)°, (66.5±11.6)°, ( 22.2±10.0)°, (33.4±11.3)°, respectively, while in control group were (44.4±8.2)°, (36.7±8.5)°, (55.4± 13.2)°, (14.4±7.0)°, (42.3±13.1)°. PI, LL, PT of spondylolisthesis group were obviously larger than that of control group (< 0.05), the facet joint angle and SS of spondylolisthesis group were smaller than that of control group(<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that PI value was related to the PT and SS in two group. The degree of degeneration of intervertebral disc was related to the degree of spondylolisthesis. The degree of degeneration of L-S intervertebral disc and L facet jointin spondylolisthesis group was more serious (P <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Lumbar spinal pelvic structure of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis has undergone significant changes. Lumbar lordosis and pelvic dumping phenomenon in the mechanism of lumbar degeneration plays an important role. Lumbar facet joint degeneration and lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration are mutually promoted, and lumbar spondylolisthesis aggravates intervertebral disc and facet joint degeneration.
Subject(s)
Humans , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration , Lumbar Vertebrae , Lumbosacral Region , Pelvis , Retrospective Studies , SpondylolisthesisABSTRACT
Cholinergic receptor activation and intracellular current injection lead to the persistent activity (PA), which may be involved in inducing neural plasticity. Our previous study showed that PA is closely related to the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in pyramidal neurons of mouse primary auditory cortex (AI). However, the subtypes of mAChRs involved in PA remain unclear. Thus, using whole-cell patch-clamp recording and pharmacological methods, we investigated the role of different mAChR subtypes in inducing PA in AI layer V pyramidal neurons of young mice. The results showed that activation of mAChRs with intracellular depolarizing current induced PA in layer V pyramidal neurons. Blockade of M1, M2 or M3 subtypes prevented the PA, whereas M4 receptor antagonists did not affect the production of PA. The results suggest that the PA may be induced through a mechanism involving M1, M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors, but not M4 subtype.
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The auditory system has the ability to adjust its structure and function as the environment changes, which is called auditory plasticity. In the auditory system, inferior colliculus (IC) is an important relay station, which accepts the ascending inputs from dorsal nuclei of lateral lemniscus (DNLL). The present study was aimed to investigate the role of the DNLL in the formation of the plasticity of IC neurons. Here, we used extracellular single unit recording and electrical stimulation to investigate the plasticity of IC neurons in Kunming mice. The results showed that after the cessation of 30-minute electrical stimulation on contralateral DNLL, 95% of the inhibited IC neurons and 86% of the facilitated IC neurons showed plastic changes. Moreover, 1 h after the contralateral DNLL stimulation was stopped, the plastic changes in 74% of the inhibited IC neurons vanished, but still were maintained in 26% of the inhibited IC neurons. These results suggest that the contralateral DNLL ascending input can induce plastic changes of IC neurons, and this kind of effect can be maintained for a certain period of time, which is beneficial to enhance the sound intensity sensitivity of IC neurons.
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Sperm DNA damage is recognized as an important biomarker of male infertility. To investigate this, sperm DNA damage was assessed by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test in semen and motile spermatozoa harvested by combined density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim-up in 161 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Semen analysis and sperm DNA damage results were compared between couples who did or did not achieve pregnancy. The sperm DNA damage level was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05) and was negatively correlated with IVF outcomes. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that it was an independent predictor for achieving clinical pregnancy. The effects of different levels of sperm DNA damage on IVF outcomes were also compared. There were significant differences in day 3 embryo quality, blastocyst formation rate, and implantation and pregnancy rates (P < 0.05), but not in the basic fertilization rate between the two groups. Thus, sperm DNA damage as measured by the SCD appears useful for predicting the clinical pregnancy rate following IVF.
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This study was purposed to investigate the conditions for improving human-mouse xenograft and the erythroid differentiation of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the xenotransplant model. The engraftments of different mouse strains (NOD/SCID or NOD/SCID/IL2rγ(null)), schemes of irradiation (single-time or 2-times radiation; Co(60)γ-ray or X-ray) and strategies of CB CD34(+) cells ex vivo culture time and lentivirus infection were compared. The results showed that at 4 weeks after transplantation, the ratio of hCD45 positive cells in bone marrow of NOD/SCID/IL2rγ(null) mice increased to (51.4 ± 13.9)%, and erythroid precursor could be detected. All of the mice receiving X-ray irradiation for 2 times (a dose of 1 Gy, then the second of 1.5 Gy, with an interval of 15 min) survived. Fresh isolated CB CD34(+) cells were cultured and infected with lentivirus for 72 h and then transplanted into receptor mouse. After 4 weeks, higher engraftment [hCD45 (51.4 ± 13.9)%] and better erythroid development [hCD71(+) GPA(+) (5.98 ± 3.46)%] were observed. It is concluded that NOD/SCID/IL2rγ(null) mice receiving X-ray irradiation for 2 times and were injected with fresh isolated CB CD34(+) cells cultured and infected with lentivirus ex vivo within 72 h show a better xenograft and erythroid development.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Antigens, CD34 , Bone Marrow Cells , Cell Biology , Cells, Cultured , Erythrocytes , Cell Biology , Erythropoiesis , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Methods , Mice, Inbred NOD , Mice, SCID , Transplantation, HeterologousABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This work aimed to investigate the carbon-, nitrogen-, iodine-containing disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation and pollution situation in different treatment processes and pipe water of a water plant in Jiangsu province China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>12 water samples were collected from raw water, different time points after the addition of chlorine, finished water and pipe water in July, 2011. Trihalomethanes (THM(4)), haloacetic acids (HAA(6)), haloacetonitriles (HAN(s)), chloropicrin (CPs), haloketones (HK(s)), iodoform (IF) and iodoacetic acid (IAA) were detected by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) after liquid-liquid extraction. Nitrosamines (NAms) were detected by gas chromatography with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) after solid-phase extraction. The concentration of DBPs was represented as the mean of duplicate samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most DBPs were found in water treatment processes except dibromochloromethane (0.61 µg/L), chloroform (1.64 µg/L) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (3.06 ng/L), which were detected in raw water. Pre-chlorination formed HAA(6) (5.01 µg/L), HKs (0.66 µg/L), HANs (0.57 µg/L) and NAms (98.09 ng/L). Chlorination and post-chlorination led to a dramatic increase in the levels of THM(4), HAA(6) (70.31 and 43.71 µg/L, respectively), while Nams didn't increase. In finished water, bromodichloromethane (34.12 µg/L) had the highest concentration among THM(4) (70.31 µg/L), and so was trichloroacetic acid (13.45 µg/L) among HAA(6) (43.71 µg/L). Levels of HANs, HKs, and CPs were 14.96, 2.32, 0.96 µg/L, respectively. Levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosodipropylamine were 21.22, 69.43 ng/L, respectively. IAA, IF and other six NAms including N-nitrosomethylethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, N-nitrosomorpholine, N-nitrosopiperidine and N-nitrosodibutylamine were not detected in all water samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Levels of DBPs in this water plant are relative high.and measures should be taken to control DBPs.</p>
Subject(s)
Carbon , China , Chromatography, Gas , Methods , Disinfectants , Disinfection , Methods , Environmental Monitoring , Methods , Iodine , Nitrogen , Plants , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Water SupplyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess thyroid disruption induced by sodium pentachlorophenol (PCP) using Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommended TG 407 method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 30 specific pathogen free (SPF) SD adult male and female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, and treated with water, 0.33 and 30 mg x kg(-1)x d(-1) of PCP-Na by oral gavage for consecutive 28 days, respectively. After final treatment, histological changes of thyroid were observed by hematoxylin-eosin stain, and the levels of thyroid hormones (total thyroxine (TT(4)), free thyroxine (FT(4)), total triiodothyronine (TT(3)), and free triiodothyronine (FT(3))) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The expression levels of thyroid receptors (TRalpha and TRbeta) mRNA and deiodinases (DioI, DioII and DioIII) mRNA in liver were analyzed by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In high dose group, liver weight coefficient of male and female rats were (4.82 +/- 0.42)% and (4.99 +/- 0.17)%, increased by 36.2% (t = 7.338, P < 0.01) and 41.8% (t = 8.955, P < 0.01), compared to control group ((3.54 +/- 0.14)%, (3.52 +/- 0.19)%), respectively, while the significant changes of kidney or thyroid weight were not observed. In high dose group, the levels of TT(4) and FT(4) in serum of male rats were (64.95 +/- 7.16) nmol/L and (8.16 +/- 2.29) pmol/L, and decreased by 26.6% (t = -3.999, P < 0.01) and 42.3% (t = -4.112, P < 0.01) compared to control group ((88.48 +/- 6.99) nmol/L, (14.13 +/- 1.68) pmol/L). In the same group, FT(4) in serum of female rats was (4.94 +/- 0.89) pmol/L, decreased by 55.5% (t = -3.380, P = 0.012) compared to control group ((11.10 +/- 3.40) pmol/L) and TT(3) and FT(3) in serum of female rats were (1.92 +/- 0.24) nmol/L and (3.05 +/- 0.79) pmol/L, increased by 74.5% (t = 5.263, P < 0.01) and 55.6% (t = 3.495, P < 0.01) compared to control group ((1.10 +/- 0.23) nmol/L, (1.96 +/- 0.32) pmol/L), respectively. PCP-Na didn't affect the expression levels of TRalpha, TRbeta, DioIII mRNA in high dose group, while DioII expression of male rats (0.209 +/- 0.017) down-regulated by 79.2% (t = -5.426, P < 0.01) compared to control group (1.006 +/- 0.137), and DioI expression of female rats (1.844 +/- 0.189) up-regulated by 66.6% (t = 4.359, P < 0.01) compared to control group (1.005 +/- 0.083), indicating DioI and DioII poss different sensitivity to adverse effects induced by PCP-Na between male and female rats. The histopathological results showed that PCP-Na could give rise to hyperplasia of the follicular epithelium cells, and the depletion of colloid. There were no significant changes in serum THs levels and expression of TRalpha, TRbeta, DioI-IIImRNA in low dose group. However, sporadic lymphocytic infiltration, follicles amplification in part and slightly increased in thickness of follicular cells were observed in this group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCP is a kind of thyroid disrupting chemical.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Liver , Metabolism , Pathology , Organ Size , Pentachlorophenol , Toxicity , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Hormones , Blood , Thyroxine , Blood , Triiodothyronine , BloodABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To modify and optimize gas chromatographic conditions, qualitative and quantitative method on the base of the actual national standard detection method for drinking water on testing iodide with gas chromatography, and detect iodide in drinking water of Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Iodobutane derivative was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, then two capillary columns coupled to electron capture detector were made by qualitative and quantitative analysis. Finally, 100 ml water samples were collected respectively from raw water and finished water of three plants in which water sources were Yangtse river, Huangpu river, and inner river respectively and detected by this developed method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of mass spectrometry showed that iodide would form iodobutane which could generate 1-iodo-2-butanone and 3-iodo-2-butanone isomers by derivatization. The data of qualitative analysis by two capillary columns revealed that iodobutane was separated completely and the total time of chromatogram separation was 19.33 min.3-iodo-2-butanone with the high response value was selected to quantitatively analyse. The linear range was 1 - 100 µg/L, and the coefficient of determination (r(2)) was 0.9997. The limit of detection was 13 ng/L. Recoveries were between 97.68% and 104.37%, and relative standard deviations were between 2.14% and 4.41%. The results of iodide detected by this method in raw water and finished water in three plants in Shanghai showed that the ranking of iodide's concentration in raw water was Huangpu river (15.14 µg/L) > inner river (6.97 µg/L) > Yangtse river (3.55 µg/L). The level of iodide in finished water of plant 1 (3.55 µg/L and 5.92 µg/L for raw and finished water respectively) and 3 (6.97 µg/L and 9.62 µg/L for raw and finished water respectively) increased slightly except for plant 2 (15.14 µg/L and 1.81 µg/L for raw and finished water respectively). The relative standard deviations of all water samples measured in duplicate were less than 9.73%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The improved method possesses higher degree of sensitivity and accuracy of qualitative and quantitative analysis than actual national standard detection method, and it is fit for trace analysis of iodide in water.</p>
Subject(s)
China , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Iodides , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Water SupplyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the pollutant levels of regulated disinfection by-products trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in raw water from the Huangpu River, the Yangtze River and different treatment processes and finished water, and to explore the changes tendency in transmission and distribution pipeline network.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 65 ml water samples with two replicates were collected from different raw water, corresponding treatment processes, finished water and six national surveillance points in main network of transmission and distribution, water source for A water plant and B, C water plant was the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River, respectively. Regulated THMs and HAAs above water samples were detected by gas chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total trihalomethanes (THM(4)) concentration in different treatment processes of A water plant was ND-9.64 µg/L, dichlorobromomethane was the highest (6.43 µg/L). The THM(4) concentration in B and C water plant was ND to 38.06 µg/L, dibromochloromethane (12.24 µg/L) and bromoform (14.07 µg/L) were the highest in the B and the C water plant respectively. In addition to trichloroacetic acid in A water plant from the raw water, the other HAAs came from different treatment processes. The total haloacetic acids (HAA(6)) concentration of different treated processes in A water plant was 3.21 - 22.97 µg/L, mobromoacetic acid (10.40 µg/L) was the highest. Dibromoacetic acid was the highest both in B (8.25 µg/L) and C (8.84 µg/L) water plant, HAA(6) concentration was ND to 27.18 µg/L. The highest and the lowest concentration of THM(4) were found from the main distribution network of C and A water plant respectively, but the concentration of HAA(6) in the main water pipes network of A water plant was the highest, and the lowest in C water plant. The THMs concentration was 21.11 - 31.18 µg/L in C water plant and 6.72 - 8.51 µg/L in A water plant. The concentration of HAA(6) was 25.02 - 37.31 µg/L in A water plant and 18.69 - 23.32 µg/L in C water plant. The highest concentrations of brominated disinfection by-products in B and C water plant were 54.57 µg/L and 45.38 µg/L respectively, those were higher than A water plant (18.98 µg/L), and higher than the chlorinated disinfection by-products in B and C water plants (30.23 µg/L and 30.60 µg/L).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The THM(4) concentrations of finished water treated from Huangpu River was lower than finished water from the Yangtze River, while the HAAs concentrations in finish water from Huangpu River was higher than the two water plants of Yangtze River. The fluctuations of THMs and HAAs concentration in distribution network were low during transmission and distribution process.</p>
Subject(s)
Chromatography, Gas , Environmental Monitoring , Methods , Rivers , Chemistry , Trihalomethanes , Chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Water Purification , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the solid phase extraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for qualitative and quantitative determination of several herbicides, fungicides and estrogens in drinking water.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Duplicate 1 L water samples were collected from various treatment processes of different water plants. Target pollutants were extracted by XAD-2 resin from water samples and were eluted by 30% acetone-methanol. GC/MS was employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of target pollutants.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The linear ranges of standard curves of 6 target compounds including atrazine, alachlor, 4-cumyphenol, thiabendazole, β-estradiol and ethylestradiol were 0.1 - 10 µg/ml and the R(2) values were 0.9915 - 0.9995. The detection limits, the recovery rates, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) were separately 0.01 - 0.40 µg/L, 74.0% - 112.0% and 2.3% - 14.8%. Atrazine (0.11 - 0.13 µg/L), 4-cumyphenol (0.20 - 0.35 µg/L), thiabendazole (0.92 - 1.46 µg/L), β-estradiol (1.02 - 1.32 µg/L) and ethylestradiol (0.96 - 1.66 µg/L)were all detected in raw water, post-coagulation water, post-sedimentation water and finished water using Huangpu River as water source. Alachlor was not detected in any water samples in Huangpu River. The 6 target compounds were not detected in any water samples from the water plants using Yangtse River as water source.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The methods with high sensitivity and satisfying selectivity are suitable to simultaneously qualitative and quantitative determination of target pollutants in drinking water. Concentrations of above-mentioned pollutants in drinking water coming from Huangpu River are obviously higher than in drinking water coming from Yangtze River. Thiabendazole, β-estradiol and ethylestradiol at the level of µg/L exist in drinking water coming from Huangpu River and more attention should be paid to surveillance of future.</p>
Subject(s)
China , Drinking Water , Environmental Monitoring , Methods , Estrogens , Fungicides, Industrial , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Herbicides , Solid Phase Extraction , Water Pollutants, ChemicalABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect recent HIV incidence of injection drug users (IDU) from a surveillance site of IDU in Guangxi and estimate HIV incidence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>787 Samples from a IDU surveillance sentinel site in Guangxi (2005 - 2007) were collected for ELISA and 168 were HIV-1 positive; then 168 HIV-1 positive samples were detected by BED capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) and 17 were positive.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 787 samples were tested and 168 were HIV-1 positive and 17 were BED-CEIA positive. The prevalence rates of the IDU surveillance sentinel site were 23.06% (92/399), 21.90% (46/210) and 16.85% (30/178), and the incidence rates were 7.41% (10/135), 6.94% (5/72) and 3.12% (2/64) respectively from 2005 to 2007.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence rate of HIV infections of IDU from a surveillance site of IDU in Guangxi appeared to decline slowly in recent years, and some might have been infected for long time.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , China , Epidemiology , Drug Users , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Methods , HIV Infections , Diagnosis , Epidemiology , Incidence , Sentinel SurveillanceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a simple, reliable and low cost approach for clinical detection of APC mutation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using SYBR Green I as the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product indicator, a DNA fragment of 270 bp targeting APC_1309 mutation (5 bp deletion) was amplified from the sample DNA. A short fragment (40/35 bp) was then amplified from the 270 bp PCR product, followed by melting curve analysis from 65 degrees C to 99 degrees C at 0.5 degrees C/step.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 18 paraffin-embedded tumor samples were analyzed, of which 7 were tested positive for the mutation and 11 were negative. No mutation was detected in any of the 20 normal peripheral blood samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Real-time PCR melting curve analysis can be used for routine APC mutation detection. The simple design, low cost and high reliability should allow similar applications to the analysis of a variety of other gene mutations.</p>