Background: The reduction of erythrocytes from cord blood is very need for long - term storage of C034 cells for transplantation. Reduced erythrocyte will reduces preservative blood volume, preservatives and freely HST when defrosting, so stem cells are better protected. Objectives: To study selection of the best centrifugal procedure to reduce maximal erythrocytes and lose minimal C034 cells from cord blood. Subjects and methods: 20 blood samples selected from 60 cord blood units was used for this study. The study was carried out through two steps. In the first step, the centrifugal speed was fixed and the centrifugal time was changed.In the second step, the centrifugal time was fixed, the centrifugal speed was changed. From collected results the best appropriate procedure to reduce erythrocytes from cord blood have been selected. Results: The procedure of gradient centrifuge with speed of 500g in 6 minutes isolated> 50% of erythrocytes, kept > 84% of CD34 cells and then centrifuge of 1000 g in 10 minutes reduced about 40% of volume of nuclear cell - suspension. Conclusion: The procedure can use for preparation of stem cell suspension from cord blood to storage in nitrogen liquid. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Erythrocytes/ pathology ; Fetal Blood/ chemistry ; drug effects ; immunology

We used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) for analyzing and identifying the active components of newborn calf serum (NCS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS). The results demonstrated significant differences in the components between NCS and FBS. FBS appeared to have more complex components than NCS, with mass to ratios (m/z) of the substances of 498, 273 and 448. These substances in FBS may be the main active components to support the proliferation and differentiation of cells.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; blood ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Serum ; chemistry

In the present study, we examined the relationship between average fish consumption, as well as the type of fish consumed and levels of mercury in the blood of pregnant women. We also performed follow-up studies to determine if blood mercury levels were decreased after counseling and prenatal education. To examine these potential relationships, pregnant women were divided into two groups: a study group was educated to restrict fish intake, whereas a control group did not receive any prenatal education regarding fish consumption. We measured blood mercury level and performed follow-up studies during the third trimester to examine any differences between the two groups. Out of the 63 pregnant women who participated in our study, we performed follow- up studies with 19 pregnant women from the study group and 12 pregnant women from control group. The average initial blood mercury level of both groups was 2.94 microgram/L, with a range of 0.14 to 10.75 microgram/L. Blood mercury level in the group who ate fish more than four times per month was significantly higher than that of the group who did not consume fish (p = 0.02). In follow-up studies, blood mercury levels were decreased in the study group but slightly increased in the control group (p = 0.014). The maternal blood mercury level in late pregnancy was positively correlated with mercury levels of cord blood (r = 0.58, p = 0.047), which was almost twice the level found in maternal blood. Pregnant women who consume a large amount of fish may have high blood mercury levels. Further, cord blood mercury levels were much higher than that of maternal blood. Because the level of fish intake appears to influence blood mercury level, preconceptual education might be necessary in order decrease fish consumption.
*Seafood ; Pregnancy/*blood ; Mercury/*blood ; Humans ; *Fishes/classification ; Fetal Blood/chemistry ; Female ; Diet ; Animals ; Adult

OBJECTIVEAtrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac hormone with many biological effects. Hypersecretion may lead to hyponatremia. This study examined the umbilical ANP levels in high risk neonates.

METHODSA total of 117 high risk neonates born between June, 2004 and June, 2005 were divided into Simple asphyxia and Normal score groups according to their Apgar's scores. The Simple asphyxia group was subdivided into Mild (n=20) and Severe asphyxia groups (n=17), and the Normal score group was subdivided into Infection (n=25) and Non-infection groups (n=55). Forty normal neonates were used as the Control group. The samples of umbilical cord blood were collected at delivery and the umbilical ANP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Meanwhile the sodium levels in the peripheral vein were measured.

RESULTSThe mean umbilical ANP levels in high risk neonates were significantly higher than those in the normal neonates. A more significant increase of the umbilical ANP level was observed in premature infants (1.46 +/- 0.39 ng/mL), and neonates with serious infection (1.16 +/- 0.35 ng/mL) and with severe asphyxia (2.12 +/- 0.46 ng/mL) compared with the normal neonates (0.62 +/- 0.33 ng/mL; P < 0.01). The serum sodium level was negatively correlated with the umbilical ANP level (r=-0.99, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe umbilical ANP levels increased significantly in the high risk neonates, suggesting high risk neonates are susceptible to hyponatremia.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Risk ; Sodium ; blood

OBJECTIVETo detect angiotensin II (ANG II) in the maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and at the maternal-fetal interface in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and explore the etiology of PIH and pathophysiologic mechanism of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of ANG II in the maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal and fetal placental tissues in 30 women with PIH and 30 with normal pregnancy, and the results were analyzed with independent-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSANG II level in the maternal placental tissue homogenate showed no significant difference between women with PIH and normal pregnant women (8.51+/- 4.01 vs 7.76+/-3.47 pg/ml, P>0.05), but women with PIH had significantly higher ANG II in the fetal placental tissue (11.82+/-3.92 vs 9.64+/-2.63 pg/ml, P<0.05). ANG II level was significantly higher in the maternal blood of women with PIH than in normal pregnant women (46.44+/-8.48 vs 32.43+/-5.87 pg/ml, P<0.001), but similar in the cord blood (68.83+/-8.68 vs 72.47+/-8.51 pg/ml; P>0.05). A positive correlation was indicated between the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels in women with PIH (r=0.7379, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONANG II in the fetal placental tissue is elevated, and the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels are positively correlated in women with PIH.

Angiotensin II ; blood ; isolation & purification ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; blood ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The effects of prenatal exposure to toxic elements on birth outcomes and child development have been an area of concern. This study aimed to assess the profile of prenatal exposure to toxic elements, arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), mercury (total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MHg), inorganic mercury (IHg)), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), and essential trace elements, copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), using the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta in the Tohoku Study of Child Development of Japan (N = 594-650). METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of these elements (except mercury). Levels of THg and MeHg were measured using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry and a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector, respectively. RESULTS: Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the maternal blood were 4.06 (2.68-6.81), 1.18 (0.74-1.79), 10.8 (8.65-13.5), 0.2 (0.06-0.40) and 0.2 (0.1-0.38) ng mL and 5.42 (3.89-7.59) ng g, respectively. Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the cord blood were 3.68 (2.58-5.25), 0.53 (0.10-1.25), 9.89 (8.02-12.5), 0.39 (0.06-0.92) and 0.2 (0.2-0.38) ng mL and 9.96 (7.05-13.8) ng g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS THg and Sb levels in the cord blood were twofold higher than those in the maternal blood. Cord blood to maternal blood ratios for As, Cd and Sb widely varied between individuals. To understand the effects of prenatal exposure, further research regarding the variations of placental transfer of elements is necessary.
Adult ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Japan ; Maternal Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metals ; blood ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Urban Health

Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Fetal Monitoring ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Reference Values ; Umbilical Arteries

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of umbilical cord brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level measurement for the evaluation of perinatal cardiac function in fetuses from pregnant women with abnormal blood glucose levels and the influence of abnormal blood glucose on fetal cardiac function.

METHODSTwenty-four mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (n=18) or gestational impaired glucose tolerance (n=6) (diabetic group) were classified into two subgroups according to blood glucose level before delivery: good (n=17) and poor (n=7) glucose control. They underwent fetal echocardiography in their late pregnant periods and fetal cardiac sizes and function were measured. Twenty-five normal pregnant mothers served as the control group. Umbilical cord blood BNP concentrations were measured at delivery.

RESULTSThe umbilical cord blood BNP concentrations in the diabetic group were significantly higher than in the control group(114.0+/-39.0 pg/mL vs 80.6+/-13.7 pg/mL; p<0.01). The poor glucose control subgroup demonstrated higher umbilical cord blood BNP concentrations than the good glucose control subgroup (142.1+/-44.1 pg/mL vs 102.4+/-31.2 pg/mL; p<0.01). No difference was found between the gestational diabetes mellitus and the impaired glucose tolerance groups. The BNP concentration was positively correlated to the thicknesses of fetal left ventricular walls and the peak velocities of mitral A wave (r=0.715, 0.491 respectively, p<0.05), and negatively correlated to the mitral E/A ratio (r=-0.507, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe fetuses of pregnant women with abnormal blood glucose levels have an increased BNP level in umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord BNP level is related to maternal blood glucose control and the changes in fetal cardiac function. It may reflex the latent impairments of fetal cardiac function. A good glucose control may decrease the impact of abnormal maternal blood glucose on fetal hearts.

Biomarkers ; Diabetes, Gestational ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Fetal Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Pregnancy

This study was intended to establish a method for preparation of purified and viral-inactivated placenta hemoglobin. The optimum preparative condition resulted in the up-grading of purity,recovery and so on. A quality control was also established for the purification of hemoglobin. Compared to present purification methods, this method is easy to operate, needs low investment and running cost, and has the advantage of simultaneous operation for purification and viral-inactivation. The resulted hemoglobin had high purity and recovery, and the physicochemical property measured up to that in international reports. So this method is suitable for preparing purified and viral-inactivated hemoglobin on an adequate scale, and is useful for further development of blood substitutes.
Blood Substitutes ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; virology ; Hemoglobins ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Virus Inactivation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), insulin (INS)and growth hormone (GH) in the cord blood of neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and to assess the effects of the endocrine environment on IUGR.

METHODSSixty-three newborn infants were selected, including 37 males and 26 females. According to birth weight, they were classified into IUGR group (n=33) and control group (normal birth weight, n=30). The levels of IGF-1, INS and GH in the cord blood were measured.

RESULTSUmbilical cord serum levels of IGF-1 and INS in the IUGR group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In contrast, umbilical cord serum GH levels in the IUGR group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Birth weight was positively correlated with umbilical cord serum IGF-1 levels (r=0.625, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with GH levels (r=-0.257, P<0.05). Gestational age was positively correlated with umbilical cord serum IGF-1 levels (r=0.271, P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that umbilical cord serum IGF-1 and INS levels were significant influential factors for birth weight.

CONCLUSIONSThe endocrine environment controls the growth and development of the fetus. The levels of IGF-1 and INS in the cord blood are associated with fetal weight. The low umbilical cord serum levels of IGF-1 may be one of the reasons for resulting in IUGR.

Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; blood ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Male ; Regression Analysis