Heterogeneity of O blood group in India: Peeping through the window of molecular biology

Comparative efficiency of differential diagnostic methods for the identification of BRAF V600E gene mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (Review)

V-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) encodes a serine-threonine kinase. The V600E point mutation in the BRAF gene is the most common mutation, predominantly occurring in melanoma, and colorectal, thyroid and non-small cell lung cancer. Particularly in the context of thyroid cancer research, it is routinely employed as a molecular biomarker to assist in diagnosing and predicting the prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and to formulate targeted therapeutic strategies. Currently, several methods are utilized in clinical settings to detect BRAF V600E mutations in patients with PTC. However, the sensitivity and specificity of various detection techniques vary significantly, resulting in diverse detection outcomes. The present review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the methods currently employed in medical practice, with the aim of guiding clinicians and researchers in selecting the most suitable detection approach for its high sensitivity, reproducibility and potential to develop targeted therapeutic regimens for patients with BRAF gene mutation-associated PTC.

Sensitivity and applications of the PCR Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism method

PCR Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism is a method used to identify and detect mutations and is now well known for its many applications on living beings. This paper will discuss the experimental details, limitations and sensitivity of the PCR Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism method in relation to all existing literature available to us until today. Genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism conditions (concentration of polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis, dissociation treatment of double- stranded DNA) and comparison with PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism are presented. Since its discovery in 1989, there have been many variations, innovations, and modifications of the method, which makes it very easy, safe, fast and for this reason widely applied in clinical diagnostic, forensic medicine, biochemical, veterinary, microbiological, food and environmental laboratories. One of the possible applications of the method is the diagnosis and identification of mutations in new strains of coronaviruses, because science needs more tools to tackle the problem of this pandemic. The PCR Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism method can be applied in many cases provided that control samples are available and the required conditions of the method are achieved.