Analysis of cellular DNA content by flow and laser scanning cytometry.

This chapter covers several aspects of methodology of DNA content analysis in individual cells that is most commonly used for assessment of DNA ploidy and for enumeration of cells in particular phases of the cell cycle. Briefly presented are general principles of instrumentation and cell analysis by flow- and laser scanning- cytometry. Described are major methods designed to stain DNA with fluorochromes in live cells, in detergent-permeabilized cells, in cells fixed prior to DNA staining as well as in nuclei of cells isolated from paraffin-embedded tissues.

Chinese herbal mixture PC SPES in treatment of prostate cancer (review).

The Chinese herbal preparation denoted PC SPES, a mixture consisting of extracts from eight herbs, is being used with increasing frequency by prostate cancer patients worldwide. Evidence has emerged that PC SPES is an effective modality that alleviates some symptoms in advanced prostate cancer in a significant proportion of patients including the cases that failed conventional therapy. This evidence as well as published data that show the effects of PC SPES in suppressing growth of prostate cancer in animal model studies, is reviewed together with the available data on the possible side effects of PC SPES.