A Novel Capillary Electrophoresis-Based High-Throughput Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction System for the Simultaneous Detection of Nine Pathogens in Swine.

Here we aimed to develop a capillary electrophoresis-based high-throughput multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for the simultaneous detection of nine pathogens in swine. Nine pairs of specific primers and a set of universal primers were designed; the multiplex PCR was established. The specificity and cross-reactivity of this assay were examined, and the detection limit was determined using serial 10-fold dilutions of plasmids containing the target sequences. The assay was further tested using 144 clinical samples. We found that the nine specific amplification peaks were observed, and the assay had a high degree of specificity, without nonspecific amplification. The simultaneous detection limit for the nine viruses reached 10000 copies µL-1 when all of the premixed viral targets were present. Seventy-seven of the clinical samples tested positive for at least one of the viruses; the principal viral infections in the clinical samples were porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. This approach has much potential for further development of high-throughput detection tools for the diagnosis of diseases in animals.

Energy Balance-related Behaviors Are Related to Cardiometabolic Parameters and Predict Adiposity in 8-14-year-old Overweight Chinese Children One Year Later.

To identify target energy balance-related behaviors (ERBs), baseline data from 141 overweight or obese schoolchildren (aged 8-14 years old) was used to predict adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage] one year later. The ERBs included a modified Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet score (DASH score), leisure-time physical activity (PA, days/week), and leisure screen time (minutes/day). Several cardiometabolic variables were measured in the fasting state, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). BMI and fat percentage were measured using a BIA body composition analyzer (MC-980MA, TANITA, Tanita Co., Guangzhou, China). Partial correlation coefficients (partial r) and multiple linear regression models were used to predict BMI and fat percentage one year later. Our sample consisted of 114 boys and 83 girls with a mean BMI of 24.7±3.7 kg/m2 and fat percentage of 34.2%±8.3% at baseline. BMI, fat percentage, and certain cardiometabolic variables were negatively associated with DASH score and leisure-time PA (all P<0.05), but positively associated with leisure screen time (all P<0.05) at baseline. Statistically significant predictors of BMI and fat percentage one year later were baseline BMI (partial r=0.85), fat percentage (partial r=0.69), eating out (times/week, partial r=0.18), and DASH Score (partial r=-0.18). Overall, childhood obesity prevention interventions should target reductions in ERBs.