Development of an improved PCR-ICT hybrid assay for direct detection of Legionellae and Legionella pneumophila from cooling tower water specimens.

A novelly improved polymerase chian reaction and immunochromatography test (PCR-ICT) hybrid assay comprising traditional multiplex-nested PCR and ICT, (a lateral-flow device) was developed for direct detection of Legionella bacteria from environmental cooling tower samples. The partial 16S rDNA (specific for Legionella spp.) and dnaJ (specific for Legionella pneumophila) genes from Legionella chromosome were first specifically amplified by multiplex-nested PCR, respectively, followed by detection using ICT strip. Reading of results was based on presence or absence of the two test lines on the strips. Presence of test line 1 indicated existence of Legionella spp. specific 16S rDNA and identified Legionella spp. Presence of test line 2 further indicated existence of dnaJ and thus specifically identified L. pneumophila. In contrast, for non-Legionellae bacteria no test line formation was observed. Results of direct detection of Legionella bacteria and L. pneumophila from water tower specimens by this assay showed 100% sensitivity, and 96.6% and 100% specificity, respectively compared with traditional culture, biochemical and serological identification methods. The PCR-ICT hybrid assay does not require sophisticated equipment and was proved to be practically useful in rapid and direct Legionellae detection from environmental water samples.

A study of electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction.

This study was designed to investigate the electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction. Ten obese including overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI > 26) and 30 healthy (non-overweight) people were recruited from Chung Yuan Christian University. The obese subjects were instructed to follow a weight reduction program that included diet control, exercise and oral intake of Prozac. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductances in 24 meridians of the obese group was statistically different from that of the healthy group (p < 0.05); (2) the average coefficient of variation of electrical conductance in the obese after weight reduction was significantly decreased than before the weight reduction program (p < 0.05); (3) the BMI and the electrical conductance of meridian was correlated in the obese (r = -0.77, p < 0.001) as well as in the healthy group (r = -0.92, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that electrical conductance of meridians can be a parameter to monitor weight, especially for obese people.