Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for constructing internal standards used in competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for determining the amount of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample. The method comprises the steps of a) digesting the cloned target nucleic acid sequence with a cohesive-end generating restriction endonuclease; b) filling the restriction endonuclease cohesive-ends of step a) by Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase; and c) blunt-end ligating the fragment of nucleic acid of step b) to form the internal standard. The internal standard nucleic acid sequence differs from the target nucleic acid sequence such that a restriction endonuclease recognition site is destroyed by adding sufficient contiguous bases to the target nucleic acid sequence such that the size difference between the target nucleic acid sequence and the internal standard nucleic acid sequence can be detected by gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: A series of ortheses for the treatment of scoliotic deformities are each adapted for obliquely applying dynamic derotational forces on the thorax and lumbar spine of the user in opposite directions combined with a kyphosing action on the thorax and a lordosing action on the lumbar spine. The orthoses are designed in order that the correcting forces can be applied on the user's trunk with various degree of mechanical force while allowing for complete or partial mobility of the trunk. The various orthoses can treat small, moderate and substantially severe deformities which are supple or rigid. A supple orthosis for small and supple curves comprises a thoracic garment encircling the upper thorax, short pants to provide a grip around the pelvic girdle and the upper thighs, and upper and lower semi-elastic straps having supple thoracic and lumbar pads, respectively, attached respectively to the garment and the pants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA amplification primer pair for the simultaneous amplification of multiple highly polymorphic genomic loci, which comprises R14B264/Q560mak (SEQ ID NO:1/SEQ ID NO:2). A method for the DNA fingerprinting identification of genetically related or unrelated individuals, which comprises the steps of: a) collecting genomic DNA sample of the individuals; b) performing DNA amplification of the DNA samples of step a) using the primer pair R14B264/Q560mak (SEQ ID NO:1/SEQ ID NO:2); and c) separating the amplified DNA segments of step b); whereby three markers of the genomic DNA of different size are amplified and serve as DNA fingerprinting of the individuals.