Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a viral-host junction sequence from a subject with a hepatocellular carcinoma caused by chronic infection of hepatitis B virus. The viral-host junction sequence has a length of less than 200 bps and comprises a hepatitis B viral genome sequence and a host genome sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimera nucleic acid obtained from circulatory system for monitoring tumor size. The nucleic acid comprises partial sequence derived from host genome and partial sequence derived from non-host genome. The partial sequence derived from host genome and the partial sequence derived from non-host genome form a chimera junction. The chimera junction is obtained from cell-free nucleic acids and is indicative of tumor size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimera nucleic acid obtained from circulatory system for monitoring tumor status. The nucleic acid comprises partial sequence derived from host genome and partial sequence derived from non-host genome. The partial sequence derived from host genome and the partial sequence derived from non-host genome form a chimera junction. The chimera junction is obtained from cell-free nucleic acids and is indicative of disease status.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

Abstract: By genotyping analysis in combination with Monte-Carlo estimation, a model for predicting an hepatitis B patient to response to interferon treatment is constructed. With this model, by selecting STR markers combination, the hepatitis B patients are divided into three groups comprising high response rate, ambiguous, and low response rate, respectively, and hence, predictions of treatment response for HBV patients, especially for interferon therapy, are obtained.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously genotyping and quantifying Hepatitis B Virus. Also disclosed are (1) a pair of primers containing, respectively, the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14, SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 14, or SEQ ID NOs: 20 and 6, each primer being 8-50 nucleotides in length; (2) a pair of probes, containing, respectively, the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 19, SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16, or SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22, each probe being 9-50 nucleotides in length; (3) a nucleic acid obtained from amplification of a Hepatitis B Virus nucleic acid template, containing the sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 15, 19, or 22, or its complementary sequence, the nucleic acid being 100-1,000 nucleotides in length.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously identifying a single nucleotide polymorphism in a target nucleic acid from a microorganism and quantifying the target nucleic acid.