In order to search for a more reliable method of sorting fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) and DNA from maternal peripheral blood and to identify origin of NRBCs and DNA, NRBCs were isolated from peripheral blood of 88 pregnant women by density gradient centrifugation and fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) respectively. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect normal male SRY gene from blood plasma DNA of 65 pregnant women. The results revealed that fetal NRBCs were found in 14 of 27 maternal samples by density gradient centrifugation. The number of cells was from 1 to 10. Using FACS, CD71+ cells were identified among all 61 samples. The frequency was (0.35±0.25)×10−2; The detectable rate of the SRY gene of blood plasma DNA from 46 women carrying male fetuses was 65.22% (30/46). Non-detectable rate for 19 women carrying female fetuses was 94.74% (18/19). It was concluded that the methods of sorting fetal NRBSs and DNA have already made great progress. The methods for fetal NRBCs and plasma DNA from maternal peripheral blood to diagnose genetic diseases seem to be the best methods of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis.
To evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of combined use of p16-expressing adenovirus and chemotherapeutic agents CDDP or As2O3 on human bladder cancer cell line EJ, the human bladder cancer cell line EJ were transfected with adenovirus-mediated p16 gene (Ad-p16), with administration of cisplatin (CDDP) or arsenic trioxide (As2O3). The cell growth, morphological changes, cell cycle, apoptosis and molecular changes were measured using cell counting, reverse microscopy, flow cytometry, cloning formation, immunocytochemical assays andin vivo therapy experiments to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of such combined regimen. Ad-p16 transfer and CDDP or As2O3 administration to EJ cells could exert substantially stronger therapeutic effects than the single agent treatment. Especially inin vivo experiments, combined administration of p16 and CDDP or As2O3 induced almost tumor diminish compared to the partial tumor diminish induced by single agent. Moreover, delivery of Ad-p16, or administration of minimal-dose CDDP or As2O3 or combined regimen could induce massive apoptosis of EJ cell. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that administration of CDDP or As2O3 remarkably arrested EJ cell in G1 prior to apoptotic cell death. When treated with combined regimen, cells were arrested in G1 to a greater extent prior to apoptotic cell death. It is concluded that after introduction into EJ cell, Ad-p16 shows enhanced therapeutic efficacy for EJ cell when used in combination with CDDP or As2O3.
The effects of estradiol and tamoxifen on the proliferation of estrogen receptor positive cells and the relationship between the tamoxifen tolerance and cell origin were investigated. The tissues of human endometrium and breast cancer were randomly selected following dissection for primary cell culture. After the breast cancer cells and endometrial cells were treated with 1×10−8 mol/L estradiol and/or 1×10−6 tamoxifen,3H-labelled thymine nucleotide was used to trace the kinetics of cell proliferation. There was no significant difference in the inhibition on the human endometrial cells between tamoxifen-treated group (6.3%) and control group (6.4%), but tamoxifen could significantly inhibit the proliferation of the human breast cancer cells (45.84%) as compared with control group (52.72%). Moreover, tamoxifen could significantly stimulate the proliferation of tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells (9.64%) as compared with control group (6.32%). Estradiol could significantly stimulate the proliferation of all the three kinds of cells as compared with control group. The combined use of estradiol and tamoxifen could inhibit the proliferation of the endometrial cells and breast cancer cells as compared with estradiol used alone, but on the tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells, they could more significantly stimulate the proliferation than E2. It was concluded that E2 could stimulate the proliferation of these three kinds of cells. However, the inhibitive effects of tamoxifen on the proliferation of these cells were dependent on the estradiol.
The cardioprotective effects of melatonin on recovery of rat donor hearts after 12 h of preservation were investigated. Wistar rats weighing 200 to 250 g (n=24) were randomly divided into 3 groups. In the non-storage group (n=8), donor hearts were not stored. In the melatonin group (n=8), donor hearts were stored in 4°C St. Thomas solution with melatonin (0.1 mmol/L). In the control group (n=8), donor hearts were stored in 4°C St. Thomas solution only. The coronary flow (CF), cardiac function, coronary vasodilatory response, creatine kinase (CK) and high energy phosphate levels were measured after the hearts had been preserved for 12 h. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructural changes after 12 h of preservation. The recovery of cardiac function and coronary vasodilatory response were significantly improved in the melatonin group (P<0.01). CK release decreased greatly in the melatonin group (P<0.01). High energy phosphate levels were significantly better preserved in the melatonin group (P<0.01). Histological findings were much better in the melatonin group than in the control group. These results suggest that melatonin has cardioprotective effects on the recovery of rat donor hearts after 12 h of preservation.