Evaluation of normal morphology, DNA fragmentation, and hyaluronic acid binding ability of human spermatozoa after using four different commercial media for density gradient centrifugation / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Density gradient centrifugation (DGC) is frequently used to isolate high-motility fractions of spermatozoa. We compared the efficacy of four DGC media in terms of the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, DNA fragmentation level, and hyaluronic acid (HA) binding ability. METHODS: Thirty men with a total motile spermatozoa count >80 million participated. Semen samples were divided into four aliquots, which were processed using PureSperm, PureCeption, Sidney, and SpermGrad media, respectively. The DNA fragmentation level was measured using the Halosperm assay kit and HA binding ability was measured using the HBA assay kit. RESULTS: The mean percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was significantly enhanced after DGC using all four media (10.3%, 9.9%, 9.8%, and 10.7%, respectively; p0.05). HA binding ability did not change after DGC using any of the four media. CONCLUSION: The four media were equally effective for obtaining a sperm fraction with highly motile, morphologically normal sperm. PureSperm, PureCeption, and SpermGrad media were equally effective for acquiring a sperm fraction with less DNA fragmentation.

Isolation,culture and identification of bi-directional differentiation potential liver stem cells in fetal mice / 重庆医学

Objective To optimize the method of isolating ,culturing and screening fetal mouse liver stem cells in vitro ,and to identify the potential of bi‐directional differentiation .Methods The fetal liver stem cells of mouse were isolated by the density gra‐dient centrifugation and cell difference adherence method ,the proliferation of stem cells was determined by cell plate cloning tech‐nique and MTT method;stem cells were induced for differentiation by adding DMSO and HGF .Results The isolated stem cells showed adherence within 24 h ,which were orbicular‐ovate ,closely packed ,activated within 1~2 weeks ;the positive rates of CD133 , CD49f and EPCAM were (97 .95 ± 1 .21)% ,(92 .71 ± 3 .49)% and (50 .73 ± 3 .45)% respectively ;AFP and CK19 proteins were expressed;red glycogen granules were seen by PAS after induced differentiation;ALB and HNF‐4αwere expressed .Conclusion Fe‐tal hepatic stem cells are successfully isolated by the density gradient centrifugation combined with difference adherence method ,and the isolated cells have strong stemness and proliferation ability ,as well as the ability of bi‐directional differentiation towards hepato‐cytes and bile duct epithelial cells .

Efficient isolation of sperm with high DNA integrity and stable chromatin packaging by a combination of density-gradient centrifugation and magnetic-activated cell sorting / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to investigate the correlations of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) with semen parameters and apoptosis, and to investigate the effects of density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) on reducing the proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency. METHODS: Semen analysis and a sperm DNA fragmentation assay were performed to assess the correlations between semen parameters and the DFI in 458 semen samples. Sperm with progressive motility or non-apoptosis were isolated by DGC or MACS, respectively, in 29 normozoospermic semen samples. The effects of DGC or MACS alone and of DGC and MACS combined on reducing the amount of sperm in the sample with DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency were investigated. RESULTS: The sperm DFI showed a significant correlation (r=–0.347, p<0.001) with sperm motility and morphology (r=–0.114, p<0.05) but not with other semen parameters. The DFI (11.5%±2.0%) of semen samples was significantly reduced by DGC (8.1%±4.1%) or MACS alone (7.4%±3.9%) (p<0.05). The DFI was significantly further reduced by a combination of DGC and MACS (4.1%±1.3%, p<0.05). Moreover, the combination of DGC and MACS (1.6%±1.1%, p<0.05) significantly reduced the protamine deficiency rate of semen samples compared to DGC (4.4%±3.2%) or MACS alone (3.4%±2.2%). CONCLUSION: The combination of DGC and MACS may be an effective method to isolate high-quality sperm with progressive motility, non-apoptosis, high DNA integrity, and low protamine deficiency in clinical use.

Detection of the covalently closed circular DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of hepatitis B patients and its clinical significance / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To analyze the correlation between covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients and serum HBV DNA,hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg),hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and liver histology of hepatitis B patients,and to explore the clinical significance of HBV cccDNA detection in PBMC.Methods One hundred and eight patients with chronic HBV infection were involved in this study.PBMC were extracted using density gradient centrifugation.HBV cccDNA in PBMC and serum HBV DNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.HBsAg and HBeAg were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.Liver biopsy was conducted in 59 out of the 108 patients.Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables.Correlation analysis was used to compare quantitative variables.Nonparametric test was used to compare the non-normal distribution parameters.Results In the overall population,HBV cccDNA in PBMC was positive in 59 patients (54.6％).Eleven of the 15 patients with liver failure were found to be HBV cccDNA positive,which was significantly higher than that in the acute hepatitis B group (only 2 of the 8 patients were HBV cccDNA positive; x2 =4.960,P＜0.05).One hundred and eight patients were categorized into three groups according to their serum HBV DNA levels,with group A:＞5 lg copy/mL,group B:3-5 lg copy/mL and group C:＜3 lg copy/mL.The proportions of HBV cccDNA positivity in PBMC in three groups were 76.1％ (51/67),5/18 and 13.0％ (3/23),respectively.Comparing with patients with lower HBV DNA (group B and C),the proportion of HBV cccDNA positivity was higher in patients with higher HBV DNA (group A; x2=14.751,P＜0.05 and x2 =28.384,P＜0.05,resepectively).The HBV cccDNA quantitation in PBMC was positively correlated with the serum HBV DNA level and HBsAg quantification (r=0.554,P＜0.05 and r=0.497,P＜0.05,respectively).The proportion of HBV cccDNA positivity in PBMC of patients with liver histology ≥G2 and/or ≥S2 was significantly higher than that in patients with liver histology ＜ G2/S2 (x2 =9.159,P＜0.05).Conclusions HBV cccDNA exists in PBMC of hepatitis B patients.The HBV cccDNA quantitation in PBMC is positively correlated with the serum level of HBV DNA and HBsAg quantification,and is also associated with liver histology injury.

In vitro susceptibilities of 5 antifungal agents against 52 strains of Penicillium marneffei / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To investigate in vitro activities of 5 fungal agents(amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole)against Penicillium marneffei,providing references for clinical treatment.Methods E-test was used to test the in vitro susceptibilities of 5 antifungal agents (amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole)against yeast form and mycelial form of 52 Penicillium marneffei strains isolated from our hospital.Results The 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations(MIC90)of amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole against yeast form of Penicillium marneffei were 0.250,0.160,24.000,4.000,0.006 mg/L,the minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)ranges were 0.004-0.500,0.002-0.016,1.000-256.000,0.002-32.000 and 0.002-0.008 mg/L,respectively;the MIG90 of the 5 agents against mycelial form of Penicil lium marneffei were 1.500,0.125,256.000,24.000 and 0.012 mg/L,respectively;the MIC ranges were 0.064-4.000,0-006-0.940,1-000-256.000,0.125-32.000 and 0.002-0.064 mg/L respectively.Five antifungal agents had different susceptibility patterns against both forms of Penicillium marneffei.And itroconazole was the most susceptible one,ketoconazole follows as the second.There was significant difference between the MICs of the same agent against yeast form of Penicillium marneffei and mycelial form of Penicillium marneffei.Conclusion In vitro antifungal agents suscepbibility tests of Penicillium marneffei can provide important references information for clinical treatment.

Dissociation and purifying of the retinal pigment epithelial cells by gradient centrifugation / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of dissociation of the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells by ficoll hypaque gradient centrifugation. Methods The primary human RPE cells and subcultured human RPE cells were dissociated with ficoll gradient centrifugation solution (d= 1.077 g/ml) and the same divided cells as the control were dissociated with routine normal culture medium centrifugation. The Trypan blue (0.4%) rejection staining was used, and the mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled rabbit anti-mouse IgG were utilized for indirect immunoreactivity for the test of human cytokeratin (CK) in active RPE cells cytoplasm. Flow cytometry assay was used to analyzed the percentages of CK positive staining RPE cells. simultaneously, the cells configuration, growth condition, the rate of clone formation, and the purifying result were observed under the fluorescent and confocal microscope. Results The survival rate and positive rate of CK of RPE cells in experimental group were higher than those in the control ( P