A new kind of silane coupling agent, N-(β-aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, was used for DNA direct attachment on the surfaces of glass supports, then the immobilized DNA was hybridized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled probe, and detected by using enhanced chemiluminescent method. In comparison with 7-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, the detection limits (S/N) of DNA were 10 pg and 75 pg respectively. Several experimental conditions of DNA attaching to glass supports were investigated, and the system of hybridization of nucleic acid on the surfaces of glass supports was developed.

An eukaryotic expressing vector that expresses CH50, a recombinant polypeptide of human fibronectin, in mice was constructed, and its chemotactic and anti-tumor function byin vivo gene transfection was investigated. The plasmid was constructed by recombination techniques. The cDNA fragment coding CH50 polypeptide from a prokaryotic expressing vector of CH50 was ligated with 5′-terminal noncoding region and coding region of signal peptide of mouse IFN-7 cDNA at 5′ side and 3′-terminal noncoden region of human FN cDNA at 3′ side. The recombinant cDNA was inserted into plasmid pREP8. The resulted expressing plasmid was designated as pCH503. The macrophages transfected with pCH503in vivo and culturedin vitro could produce CH50. The expressed product was identified by heparin-affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE. By counting and Giemsa-staining of coeliac cells and histotomy and staining of muscle tissue, the chemotaxis on immune cells was observed after transfection of pCH503 either in peritoneal cavity or in muscle. The inhibition of gene transfection of pCH503 on melanoma was observed in mice. The number of melanoma nodes in mice was reduced by 50%–60% after coeliac transfection with pCH503. The pCH503, an eukaryotic expressing vector of CH50, can expressin vivo in mice. The transfection of pCH503in vivo has the chemotaxis on immune cells and can inhibit the formation of tumor nodes, suggesting that plasmid pCH503 is potentially useful in combined treatment of tumor.

The immunosuppressive model of mice was made by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. The effect of CH50, a recombinant polypeptide of human fibronectin, on macrophages of mice was observed. The results showed that continuous intraperitoneal injection of CH50 could prevent the reduction of the number of monocytes in periphery blood and abdominal cavity by chemotherapeutic agents, enhance the metabolic activity and cytotoxicity of macrophages and augment the proliferation of splenocytes. The results suggested that CH50 is a product which could be used to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy of tumors.

To explore the inhibitory effects of anti-CD4 human/murine chimeric antibodies on lymphocyte proliferation, CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis induced by anti-CD4 antibodies was examined. Annexin-V-FITC and PI double stain method was employed to qualitatively and quantitatively determined CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis induced by anti-CD4 antibodies. Our results showed that anti-CD4 chimeric antibodies could specifically induce CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis. The ability of anti-CD4 chimeric antibodies to induce CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis was related with the presence of monocytes. It is concluded that the further cross-linking of anti-CD4 antibodies is important for inducing CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis.

Intracellular recording method of electrophysiology was used to study the effect of microin jection of coriaria lactone (CL) into hippocampus on membrane potential of hippocampal neurons in rats. The membrane potential in 34 neurons of 12 rats were recorded. The results showed that CL induced depolarization of all of 34 neurons examined. Among the 34 neurons, 15 had paroxysmal depolarization accompanied by spike discharge in cluster and spike discharge in cluster ceased when membrane was hyperpolarized, 7 showed continuous depolarization accompanied by continuous spike discharge and 12 had only depolarizing response. The results suggest that injection of CL into hippocampus may lead to an increase of excitability of local neurons accompanied by different patterns of epileptioform discharge.

To investigate the effects of L-Tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) on neuron apoptosis during acute cerebral ischemiareperfusion of rats and explore the effects of heat shock protein (HSP) on neuron apoptosis, Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; normal group, ischemia-reperfusion group and treatment group. The condition of neuron apoptosis, the survival state of neuron, pathological changes under an electron microscope and the number of HSP70 positive cells were measured in all groups. Results showed that the apoptosis neuron number was increased obviously at the 24th h during reperfusion and was further increased at the 48th h, the 72th h. While the number of survival neurons was decreased gradually with the prolongation of reperfusion time. Treatment with L-THP could decrease the apoptosis neuron number but increase the survival neuron number and the HSP70 positive cell number. Our study suggested that L-THP could decrease apoptosis and necrosis of neuron, up-regulate the expression of HSP70 and protect the cerebral ischemic injury.

The effects of the novel GH-releasing hexapeptide, Hexarelin, on the secretion of GH in cultured human pituitary somatotrophinomas was further investigated. Hexarelin (20 nmol / L) strongly stimulated GH secretion, which could be reduced by phloretin, but not by RP-cAMPS, an inhibitor of protein kinase A(PKA). (Ac-Tyrl,D-Arg2)-GRF(l-29)-NH₂ failed to block the effects of Hexarelin but completely abolished the stimulation of GH secretion exerted by GHRH. When added alone to somatotrophinoma cell cultures, Hexarelin had no effect on cAMP levels, but it potentiated the stimulatory effects of GHRH. These results demonstrated that Hexarelin could directly stimulate GH secretion by human pituitary somatotrophs PKC-dependently, which might be contributed to the activation of the PI transduction system. In addition, Hexarelin could interact with GHRH on the adenylyl cyclase system.

To study the effects of arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) on the in vitro growth of human bladder cancer cells and the mechanisms. The growth inhibition rates of human bladder cancer cell line BIU87 by various concentrations of As₂O₃ were detected by using MTT method. Cell apoptosis was detected by in situ terminally labeled transferase technique and bcl-2 gene expression of BIU-87 cells was observed by SABC immunohistochemical method. The results showed that As₂O₃ could inhibit the growth of BIU-87 effectively in a dose-dependent manner. After drug’s action, the apoptotic bladder cancer cells were obviously increased, which depended on the prolongation of the action time and Bcl-2 expression of BIU-87 cells was decreased significantly. It was suggested that As₂O₃ could significantly inhibit the growth of bladder human cancer cells. Inducing cell apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of bcl-2 gene might be one of its action mechanisms.

In order to investigate the effect of capsaicin (CAP) on the urinary bladder function, anin vivo whole bladder study was undertaken in 25 adult healthy Wistar rats. CAP of various concentrations was instilled into the urinary bladder, and intravesical pressure, detrusor contraction and micturition status were recorded; then the trigone of the bladder was cut off and prepared for peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical investigation. The changes on the distribution of Substance P (SP) in control and experimental groups were compared. The results showed that the intravesical application of CAP caused a significant change in the urinary bladder function. At a low concentration of CAP there was a slight increase of maximal detrusor pressure, but at a high concentration of CAP the maximal intravesical pressure was significantly decreased and associated with urinary retention and urinary incontinence. PAP sustaining had shown a depletion of SP in CAP-treated urinary bladder in rats, and this depletion was more significant at high concentrations of CAP. Because this depletion could block C-fiber transmission, detrusor function entered, from primary excitation phase, a late inhibitory phase. This suggests that a local application of CAP into urinary bladder could be used in the treatment of neurogenic bladder (detrusor hyperreflexia) to relieve frequency, urgency, incontinence and improve renal function.

To explore the effects of ligustrazine on hematopoietic reconstitution and its mechanism after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the allogenic BMT mice were given intra-abdominal injection of 2 mg ligustrazine twice a day. On the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 28th day after BMT, peripheral blood cells and bone marrow nuclear cells (BMNC) were counted, and the histological features were evaluated. On the 7th, 14th, 21st day after BMT, CXCR4 expression on the BMNC was assayed. The results showed that peripheral blood cell counts and BMNC counts in ligustrazine-treated group on the 7th, 14th, 28th day were higher than those in BMT group (P > 0. 01 orP >0. 05). The percentage of hematopoietic tissue volume, fat tissue hyperplasia and congestion and dilation degree of microvessel in ligustrazine-treated group on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day was higher than those in BMT group. The CXCR4 expression levels in ligustrazine-treated group were higher than in BMT group (P>0.01 orP>0.05) on the 7th and 14th day, and were lower than in BMT group on the 21st day (P>0.01). It is concluded that the ligustrazine can accelerate hematopoietic reconstruction, enhance growth of hematopoietic tissues and promote the repair of microvessels. The CXCR4 expression levels on BMNC may be responsible for the effect of ligustrazine.

The mechanisms of curcumin inhibiting the proliferation of HL-60 cells were investigated. Acute myeloid leukemic cell line HL-60 was studied by using cell culture, NBT reduction, SABC method measuring BrdU incorporation rate, FCM measuring DNA contents and TUNEL method determining apoptotic cell percentage. Curcumin inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. When the HL-60 cells were treated with 25 μmol/L curcumin for 48 h, the inhibitory rate was 60.71%±1.20%. The study on BrdU incorporation rate and the distribution of DNA content and NBT reduction indicated that curcumin arrested the cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle at first, then in G0/G1 phase, the whole cell cycle progression was slowed down and DNA synthesis activities was halted. The arrested cells went to apoptosis instead of differentiation. The comparative study indicated that the ability of curcumin regulating the cell cycle of HL-60 cells was stronger than As₂O₃ and the acting points of curcumin were not completely consistent with those of VP-16. It was suggested that curcumin was able to regulate, to some extent, the G1/S and G2/M transmit checkpoints and disturb the HL-60 cell cycle to induce apoptosis.

To study the protective effects of radix astragali against anoxic damages to in vitro cultured neurons in rats, NaCN was used to develop a hypoxic model of in vitro cultured neurons from newborn rat cerebral cortex. The cellular morphology, A value (cell survival number) and effluxes of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and K⁺ from cells were measured in the radix astragali group and the control group respectively. After 48 h of anoxia, A value was decreased from 0.325±0. 031 before anoxia to 0.145±0.011, the effluxes of LDH and K⁺ were increased from 65.80±2.90 U/L and 5. 23±0.11mmol/L before anoxia to 148. 80±8.40 U/L and 7.31±0.18 mmol/L., respectively. It was found that in the anoxic circumstance in the Radix astragali group, the mophological changes were mild, the effluxes of LDH and K⁺ were decreased and A value increased as compared with those in the control group. It was suggested that Radix astragali could protect the cultured rat neurons against anoxic damages in the anoxic circumstance.

The rearrangement of Bcl-1 gene (Bcl-1/IgH rearrangement) and expression of cyclin D1 in multiple myeloma (MM) precursor cells were studied and the role of cyclin D1 in the pathogenesis of MM was investigated. The BCL-1 rearrangement and cyclin Dl protein expression in 15 cases of MM were detected. By using hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the genomic DNA from fresh peripheral blood and bone marrow was amplified and the expression of cyclin D1 in the smears was detected by using immunohistochemical method. Ten volunteer with normal bone marrow served as control group. The results showed Bcl-1 rearrangement was detectable in 3/15 (20%) MM pa- and cyclin D, expression in 4/15 (27 %) MM patients. Bcl-1 rearrangement and cyclin Dl protein expression were also detected in MM precursor cells. No overexpression of cyclin Dl or the rearrangement of the Bcl-1 gene was found in the 10 volunteers. It was concluded that Bcl-1 rearrangement and cyclin Dl protein overexpression were detected in MM precursor cells, speculating that overexpression of cyclin Dl protein may play an initial (critical) role in the pathogenesis of MM.

To study the differences in homing potential between bone marrow cells and umbilical blood cells, CD34 positive cells were obtained from bone marrow (BM) and umbilical blood (UB) by the direct cell separation with domestic immunomagnetic beads. The expression of the two adhesion molecules CDlla/CD18 and CD44 were examined. After separation, CD34 positive cells accounted for 51%–82% of the harvested cells and dye-resistance rate was 82%–88%. The expression of CD1WCD18 and CD44 on the surfaces of UB cells was 49.6%±10.2% and 37.7%±10.3% respectively. On BM cells they were 50.2%±6.2% and 34%±13.3% respectively. There were no significant differences in the expression of these two molecules. It was concluded that the cell separation method with domestic immunomagnetic beads was effective and the stem cells from UB could serve as an alternative source for transplantation.

The changes of platelet fibrinogen in patients with obscure cutaneous mucosal bleeding and their relation with disease were evaluated. By using flow cytometry and Western blot, the platelet binding site of fibrinogen and the expression of platelet fibrinogen in 8 cases of obscure bleeding were detected. The results showed that platelet surface binding sites of fibrinogen were 65.38±3.62 in the resting state and 65.25±5.78 after activated by adenosine diphosphate, showing no significant difference as compared with control group (P>0.05). The expression of platelet fibrinogen was obviously decreased in 4 patients and increased in one case as compared with control group. It was concluded that the binding sites of fibrinogen on the platelet surface were normal in the patients with idiopathic bleeding platelet disorder. The abnormal of platelet fibrinogen might be one of hemorrhagic reasons in partial patients.

T lymphocyte subsets in the liver were detected by Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) assay in 22 patients with advanced schistosomiasis (AS) and 5 cases of AS accompanied with hepatitis B. T lymphocytes in the liver of AS patients were distributed in the peripheral layer of egg granuloma or the area near eggs in non-granuloma. No infiltrative T lymphocytes were observed in area with extensive fibrosis. There was infiltration of many T cells in the portal tract, piecemeal and focal necrosis area as well as in hepatic sinus in AS patients accompanied with hepatitis B. CD8⁺ T cells: sup pressor/cytotoxic T cells, T_B,/T_c) in the liver were predominant in the two groups. In AS patients, marked hepatic fibrosis, a small number of T cell infiltration and slight hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis were observed. However, obvious hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis were seen in AS patients accompanied with hepatitis B, and 3 cases of them developed active liver cirrhosis. The results indicated immune response was weak in the liver in AS patients and T, cells might be predominant in the subset of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes. Cellular immune response was relatively strong in AS patients accompanied with hepatitis B and the infiltrative CD8⁺ T lymphocytes might be mainly T^c cells.

Incidence of occurrence of atrial fibrillation (Af) after implantation of VVI was examined and the possible mechanism was explored. Eighty cases of atriouentricular block (AVB) and 74 cases of sick sinus syhdrome (SSS) were studied and followed up for 1–14 years after implantation of VVI. The endpoint was the occurrence of permanent Af. The results showed that the incidence of Af among the 154 patients was 14.3% (22/154). And the incidence was 2.5% among patients with AVB (2/80), and 27% among patients with SSS (20/74). Significant significance was found between patients with AVB and those with SSS (P>0.01). Among the patients with SSS, the incidence was 33.3% (9/27) in type I, 38.1% (8/21) in type I and 11.5% (3/26) in type I. Significant differences were revealed among patients with I, I and I type SSSP > 0.05). It is concluded that retrograde conduction of pure ventricular pacing may play the chief role of occurrence of Af.

To probe into the genetic background and immunopathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), HLA-DRBl gene polymorphism in 68 patients with DCM and 175 normal control subjects were analyzed by using the polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primer (PCR/SSP) techniques. It was found that the frequencies of HLA-DRBl * 15 and HLA-DRBl * 03 alleles were significantly lower in DCM patients than those in normal controls (14.71% vs 29.71% and 4.41% vs 15.43%, respectively), the relative risks (RR) in the DCM patients being 0.41 and 0.25, respectively, allP>0.05. However, the frequencies of HLA-DRBl 11 and HLA-DRB1* 12 alleles were significantly higher in the DCM patients than in controls (29.4% vs 12.00% and 36. 76% vs 12. 57%, respectively) with the RR in the DCM patients being 3.06 and 4.04, respectively, allP>0. 01. These findings further demonstrated that-immunogenetics might play a predominant pathogenetic role in partial DCM patients.

Interleukin-2 and its receptor are of importance in regulating immunity responses. The changes of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) during heart valve (s) replacement operation and effects of aprotinin on them were observed. Twenty patients undergoing heart valve(s) replacement were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=10) and aprotinin group (n=10). In aprotinin group, 1 000 000 KIU aprotinin was given by vein injection and then 2 000 000 KIU was given as a bolus in prime. Blood samples were collected before CPB, right after CPB and on the 1st, 3rd and 7th postoperative day (POD) for serum IL-2 and sIL-2R determination. Results showed that after CPB, IL-2 was reduced and sIL-2R increased. Meanwhile, serum IL-2R was lower in aprotinin group than that of control. It is concluded that the immunity depression after CPB is associated with low level of IL-2 and high level of sIL-2R and aprotinin can ameliorate the situation.

In order to observe the expression and cellular localization of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA in bone tissue, ovaria of the rats were excised to develop osteoporosis model. The expression of IL-6 mRNA in bone tissues was detected by using dot blot hybridization assay and the cells producing IL-6 identified and localized by using in situ hybridization respectively. The results showed that the expression of IL-6 mRNA was significantly increased in the ovariectomized rats as compared with that in normal control rats and strong IL-6 mRNA hybridization signals were detected in lining cells, osteoblasts and osteocytes. It was suggested that loss of ovarian function induced in vivo osteoblast lineage increased IL-6 mRNA expression. IL-6 might play important roles in the development of bone loss following ovariectomy.

To investigate the content and dynamics of nitric oxide (-NO) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute head injury and to clarify the relationship of NO with clinical features and intracranial pressure (ICP) as well as outcomes, 38 adults with acute head injury were studied. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) obtained at admission and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 3 months after injury was assessed.ICP was surveyed via intraventricular catheter and lumbar puncture and CSF samples were obtained simultaneously. NO was determined with Griess reagents. Results showed that NO peak content in the head injury group was significantly higher than that of the control group. During dynamic research, no peak content of mildly injured cases and severely injured ones appeared in different time windows respectively. The peak value of NO was distinctly higher in the severe group than in the mild group. NO peak value of the raised ICP group was remarkably higher than that of the normal ICP group. The peak value of NO was considerately higher in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group. When the content of NO was, over 6. 5 μmol/L., the rate of poor outcome was increased. There existed a correlation between NO and GCS, ICP and GOS. It is concluded that the content of NO was increased in patients with acute head injury and the changes of NO had different time windows in severely injured patients and mildly injured ones. The more sever the injury, the higher the NO content; and the more serious the secondary brain injury and brain edema, the worse the outcomes. When NO is combined with GCS, GOS and ICP, it increases the accuracy of judgement to the degree of head injury and outcome.

The effects of the intraoperative autologous blood donation and tepid temperature car diopulmonary bypass (CPB) on blood system were investigated. Twenty-four patients with rheumatic heart valve diseases scheduled for open heart surgery were selected and divided randomly into group A (intraoperative autologous blood donation and tepid temperature, nasopharyngeal temperature was at 32–34°C during CPB) and group B (control, nasopharyngeal temperature was at 25–28°C during CPB). The plasmatic concentrations of GMP-140 and D-Dimer and the plasmatic activities of 6-keto-PGF_1α and AT-I were measured by using ELISA or substrate luminescence techniques before operation, at the end of CPB, after discontinuation of CPB and postoperatively. Red blood cell count, platelet count, hematocrit, the amount of blood drainage and the amount of blood transfusion needed were measured or recorded postoperatively. The results showed the plasmatic concentrations of GMP-140 and D-Dimer in group A were significantly less (P<0.05) than those in group B during and after operation. The activity of 6-keto-PGF_1α in group A was higher (P<0.05) than that in group B during and after operation. The AT-I activity in group A was less (P<0.05) during CPB but higher 30 min after discontinuation of CPB than that in group B. The amount of postoperative blood loss (283±166 versus 722±194 ml,P<0.01) and amount of blood transfusion (816±126 versus 1443±678 ml,P<0.01) in group A were significantly less than those in group B, respectively. The red blood cell count, platelet count and hematocrit in group A were significantly higher than those in group B after operation. The results suggests intraoperative autologous blood donation and tepid temperature have a good protection on blood system and can reduce postoperative non-surgical bleeding.

To evaluate displaying ability of virtual endoscopy and its clinical application in comparison with fiberoptic nasal endoscopy, 11 patients (22 nasal cavities) were examined by virtual endoscopy after axial spiral CT scanning was performed. Virtual endoscopy was performed by Explorer software package in a computer workstation. 9 patients (18 nasal cavities) underwent fiberoptic endoscopy. Results showed virtual endoscopy could clearly demonstrate the anatomical structures in nasal cavity, septal deviation, nasal meatus narrowing and obstruction, turbinate hyperplasia, and pathological masses larger than 3 mm in diameter. However, the “false adhesions” may appear with virtual endoscopy. The main limitation of virtual endoscopy was inability to evaluate mucosa and lack of histological diagnosis. Virtual endoscopy is a new and non-invasive method for demonstrating anatomical structures and diseases in nasal cavity. Its displaying ability is comparable with fiberoptic nasal endoscopy. It can serve as a supplementary method of fiberoptic nasal endoscopy.

To investigate the methodology and evaluate the clinical value of surface mode on three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) in static anatomical structures, 62 patients with various diseases were studied. The equipment used here was Voluson 530D 3DUS imaging system and 3D volume transducer with frequency being 3.0—5.0 MHz. The 3DUS rendering method was surface mode. The results showed that: 1) Surface mode of 3DUS could demonstrate clearly the anatomical characteristics of the region-of-interest (ROD and the inner wall of lesions or organs that contained fluid. The anatomic details, such as location, size, shape, and number of the ROI, could be visualized intuitively; 2) The outer anatomic features (e.g. contour, edge, configuration, etc.) of some organs or lesions surrounded by fluid could be displayed clearly. It could be concluded that surface mode on 3DUS could provide more diagnostic information than two-dimensional ultrasonography (2DUS) in some cases and could served as a beneficial supplement to 2DUS in clinical practice.

To study the changes of cytokines in peritoneal fluids of patients with endometriosis and their effects on reproductive activity, levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in peritoneal fluids and peritoneal macrophages’ culture supernatant were studied by using enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) in 14 infertile patients with endometriosis (EMT group) and 11 infertile women with normal pelvis (control group). The effects of peritoneal fluids in patients with endometriosisin vitro on sperm motility and development of 2-cell mouse embryos were also studied. The results showed that the levels of TNF and IL-6 in peritoneal fluids and peritoneal macrophages’ supernatant in EMT group were elevated significantly as compared with those in the control group (P <0. 01). The percent of sperm straight line movement and total sperm motility were decreased significantly in EMT group (P<0.01). The percent of 2-cell mouse embryos developing to 16-cells was 32.5% in EMT group, while 47.6% in control group after 48 h co-culture with peritoneal fluid (P <0.01). It is likely that the elevation of peritoneal fluid cytokines in patients with endometriosis may play a role in infertility associated with endometriosis.

To further study the mechanism of maternal-fetal immune tolerance, the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) on the surfaces of human cytotrophoblasts in normal pregnancy was detected by using immunohistochemical method. High precise color-image measure system for immuno-histo-chemistry was used to quantitatively analyze the expression of FasL. The results showed that FasL were expressed on the surfaces of placental cytotrophoblasts throughout normal pregnancy. The variance among the first, second and term pregnant stages was also detected. It was suggested that the expression of FasL on the surfaces of placental cytotrophoblasts might play an important role both in the maintenance of pregnancy and in the normal development of fetus. The maternal specific T cell apoptosis induced by Fas/FasL is one of the significant mechanisms of maternal-fetal immune tolerance.

To find a simple, effective method of isolating fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood for prenatal diagnosis, 45 women were studied with their gestation being 6–14 weeks and age 21–30 years. The fetal cells were isolated from maternal blood by using discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Some of the isolated cells were made smear and counted under the microscope; others were used for predicting fetal sex by PCR amplification of Y chromosome specific DYZ1 gene. The major cells in the upper separation interface were lymphocytes and monocytes, with occasionally seen nucleated red blood cells (NRBC); while those in the middle separation interface were neutrocytes, with NRBC scattering. The ratio of NRBC/nucleated cells was 1. 98±0.28×10⁻⁵. There was no significant difference between the first and second trimester (P>0.05). The amount of isolated fetal cells was sufficient for prenatal genetic diagnosis. Male pregnancy was correctly predicted in 10 out of 13 cases. It is concluded that the method of discontinuous density gradient centrifugation was of considerable importance in the development of non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis.

To investigate tumor angiogenesis in benign, borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors and its relation with the pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma, polycolonal antibody directed against human von Willebrand factor (factor VIII) was used to measure the microvessel density (MVD) in 66 cases (11 benign, 10 borderline, and 45 malignant) of epithelial ovarian tumors by using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the mean MVD in epithelial ovarian cancer (31.7±11.2, 400X) was higher than in benign and borderline tumors (16.7±6.3, 20.7±8.8 respectively,P<0.05). There was no difference in MVDs among those in different tumor grades (P>0.05). But there was significant difference in MVDs among those in different tumor stages (P<0.05). MVD in stage III –IV cancer was higher than that in stage I–II (P<0.05). It is concluded that the tumor angiogenesis is an early event in ovarian tumorgenesis. The increased tumor micovessel might be responsible for tumor development.

The activated protein C-resistance (APC-R) method based on APTT was used in 40 non-pregnant multiparas (control group) and 55 patients with abortion of unknown origin (experimental group) in order to explore the relationship between APC-R and recurrent abortion. A significant difference in APC-R-positive rate was found (P<0.01) between control group and experimental group, with the rate being 5% in the controls and 25.5% in the experimental group. And the APC-R-positive rates in the patients with only twice abortions and the patients over-3-time abortions were 22.6 % and 29.2%, respectively (P>0.05). The APC-R-positive rate, which was 37.9% in the patients of late abortion, was much higher than that in the patients of early abortion. It is concluded that APC-R has something to do with recurrent abortion, and is closely related to late abortion, but bears no obvious relationship with times of abortions.