Urinary cell-free DNA as a potential tumor marker for bladder cancer.

The objective was to assess the possibility of measuring urine creatinine (UCr)-adjusted urinary cell-free (ucf) DNA concentration as a noninvasive screening tool for bladder cancer. Using PicoGreen-based detection, the ucf-DNA/UCr concentration was quantified in urine supernatant specimens from 46 bladder cancer patients and 98 controls and compared to 400-bp real-time PCR-based detection, which detected the amplification of 400-bp beta-actin (named 400-bp ucf-DNA/UCr). The mean concentrations for both PicoGreen and 400-bp ucf-DNA (ng/mL)/UCr (mg/dL) were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients than in controls: 15.28 vs 6.68 (p<0.001, t-test) and 14.98 vs 1.07 (p<0.001), respectively. Among different stages and grades, no significant difference was found between these two methods. The areas under the ROC curves of PicoGreen and 400-bp ucf-DNA/UCr were 0.571 (95% confidence interval, 0.451-0.692) and 0.805 (95% confidence interval, 0.713-0.896), respectively. In 400-bp ucf-DNA/UCr, the best sensitivity and specificity were 86.1% and 72.0% at the cutoff value of 0.0645. These data indicated that 400-bp ucf-DNA/UCr is more reliable for bladder cancer detection than PicoGreen. In conclusion, our results suggest that ucf-DNA/UCr can be used as a potential tumor marker for bladder cancer, especially for detecting longer DNA fragments.

Tape stripping and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment increase the molecular weight cutoff of polyethylene glycol penetration across murine skin.

Prior studies in hairless mice have demonstrated that acute barrier disruption by acetone treatment increases the molecular weight (MW) cutoff of polyethylene glycol (PEG) penetration through the skin. The objective of the present study was to further investigate the dependence of permeability on MW with different forms of barrier disruption. A series of PEGs ranging in MW from near 300 to over 1000 Da were used to study the effects of tape stripping and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment on the MW permeability profiles of mouse skin in vitro. The 12-h percutaneous penetration of all the PEG 300, 600, and 1000 oligomers generally increased as a function of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of the skin, either tape-stripped or SDS-treated. In addition, the total penetration of PEG oligomers across control skin, and skin tape-stripped and SDS-treated to different degrees of barrier disruption progressively decreased with increasing MW. There were no significant differences in the percutaneous penetration of the PEG oligomers between skin tape-stripped and SDS-treated to the same degree of barrier disruption. The penetration enhancement relative to control skin was more prominent with larger molecules. The MW cutoff for skin penetration increased with the degree of barrier disruption irrespective of the treatment applied, and was 986 Da (tape stripping) and 766 Da (SDS treatment) at TEWL levels in the range 10-20 g/m(2) per h in comparison with 414 Da for control skin. In accordance with previous findings in acetone-treated mouse skin, the results strongly suggest that, irrespective of the form of barrier disruption applied, not only higher amounts but also more varieties of chemicals (larger molecules) may penetrate skin with a compromised barrier than normal skin.

Computerized image analysis of smooth muscle fibers in normal Chinese men and impotence patients.

Smooth muscle fibers are considered very important in penile erection and relaxation. The reduction of intracavernosus smooth muscle fibers can provoke impotence. The percentage of smooth muscle fibers in corpus cavernosum specimens was studied quantitatively in normal men and impotence patients by means of computerized image analysis. The percentage of smooth muscle fibers in the specimens of 14 normal men, ranged from 41% to 61% (average 50%) and in 12 impotence patients, it was 22% to 46% (average 31%). A decrease of smooth muscle fibers and an increase of collagen fibers were noted in impotence patients.

[Flow cytometric analysis of the garlic oil effect on DNA content of cancer cell cycle].

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a new technique developed in the recent decade. This technique may measure DNA content of 5000 cells per second and trace the dynamic changes in cell proliferation cycle and offer a hint for designing clinical treatment protocol, monitor prognosis and elucidate the mechanisms of antitumor drugs. The authors previous studies showed significant effect of garlic oil on prolongation of life expectancy and inhibition of tumor growth in mice. Using FCM the authors analysed the effect of garlic oil on cell cycle in S180 tumor cells, 2-6 hrs after single administration or multiple administration the cell number in S phase rapidly decreased, in G1 phase increased. This suggests garlic oil may blockade cells to progress from G1 phase to S phase and result in accumulation of cells in G1 phase and directly inhibit the synthesis of DNA and the cell cycle. Theoretical basis for clinical application was offered and some aspects of antitumor mechanism of garlic oil were elucidated.