With the advent of the cancer stem cell hypothesis,the field of cancer research has experienced a revolution in how we think of and approach cancer. The discovery of "tumor-initiating cell" has offered an explanation for several long-standing conundrums on why tumors behave the way they do to treatment. Despite the great amount of research that has been done in order to understand the molecular aspects of tumors,the prognosis of tumors remains dismal. The slow progress in extending the survival of patients with malignant tumors is very likely due to poor understanding of the cell of origin in these tumors.This review article discusses the progress in our understanding of tumor-initiating cell as the cell of origin in cancers. We review the different proposed mechanisms of how tumor-initiating cell may originate,the molecular mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression, and finally the clinical implications of this research.

[ Abstract] Vitamin D is a steroid derivative. It has the effect of regulating calcium -phosphorus metabolism. With the development of medicine, the effects of vitamin D in other respects, such as regulation of blood pressure, blood glucose, nerve protection, and immunity have received more and more attention. A lot of research show s that the level of vitamin D is closely associated w ith the onset and outcome of ischemic stroke. In addition, some researchers explored the relationship betw een vitamin D and stroke from the genetic perspective. How ever, the existing research results are not consistent. The link betw een vitamin D and ischemic stroke is not clear. This article review s the correlation studies of the relationship among vitamin D and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism, the onset of ischemic stroke, outcomes and risk factors in recent years.

BACKGROUND:Aging, lack of estrogen and few activities may lead to the decrease of resting energy expenditure in menopause women so as to induce the body composition changes, which can result in disease, such as obesity and fracture. OBJECTIVE:To explore the change of body composition and resting metabolic rate among premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS:2 312 women who came to outpatient clinic were recruited, including 1 310 premenopausal women, 790 perimenopausal women and 212 postmenopausal women. Body composition and resting energy expenditure were measured in each woman. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Body fat percentage of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women was significantly higher than that of pre-menopausal women. (2) There was no significant difference in resting metabolic rate among the three groups. When adjusted body weight, the resting energy expenditure per kilogram was significantly lower in perimenopausal women than in premenopausal women. (3) Bone mineral density, femoral neck strength, lower limb maximal strength, and leg muscle distribution coefficient were significantly lower in postmenopausal women than in perimenopausal and premenopausal women (P < 0.05). (4) Weight and leg muscle distribution coefficient were positively correlated with the resting energy expenditure per kilogram, and height, body mass index, body fat percentage were negatively correlated with the resting energy expenditure per kilogram. These findings indicate that the body composition can change in women after menopause, such as body fat increasing, muscle content decreasing, and bone mass loss. There is a certain relationship between the change in body composition and resting energy expenditure.

Objective To investigate the relationship between osteoprotegerin ( OPG ) gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke etiological subtypes, as well as the extent and distribution of cerebral atherosclerosis ( AS) lesions.Methods Patients with ischemic stroke included 285 cases of large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 91 cases of small-artery occlusion (SAO) and 42 cases of purely AS, and 165 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.The LAA group was respectively divided into 3 subgroups according to the number and the distribution of stenostic vessels.Genotyping of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs;rs2073617, rs3134069, and rs3102735) in the promoter region of the OPG gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.Results Regarding the three SNPs of OPG gene, the frequence of genotype CC/CT and the prevalence of allele C of rs3102735 were higher in the LAA group contrasting with the control group ( 24.04% vs 14.85%, 44.21% vs 27.88%,χ2 =10.758, 11.804, P =0.001,0.024).However, comparisons of other frequences of genotypes or alleles did not reveal any significant differences among the LAA group, the SAO group, the AS group and the control group, as well as among different subgroups of LAA group.Haplotype analysis revealed that the frequencies of haplotype C-C-T in LAA group and SAO group were significantly lower ( 0.023, 0.017 vs 0.068,χ2 =10.399, 5.841,P=0.001, 0.016), while that of haplotype T-A-C was significantly higher in SAO group(0.043 vs 0.016,χ2 =4.708, P=0.030) compared with controls.Conclusions Our findings indicate that OPG gene polymorphisms might be associated with increased susceptibility to LAA ischemic stroke.But we fail to show association of OPG gene with the extent and distribution of AS.

Objective To observe the influence of p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) on the growth of human brain glioma cell lines U251 (p53 mutant) and SHG-44 (p53 wild type),and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Construct the adenovirus PUMA (Ad-PUMA) and vector of adenovirus (AdDsRed) which were respectively transfected into glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44.Cells proliferation rates were measured with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8).The apoptotic ratios were detected by flow cytometry.The expression of PUMA and apoptosis associated proteins (bcl-2,Bax) were determined with Western blot analysis.Caspase-3,Caspase-8,Caspase-9 activity were measured by Caspase activity assay kit.Results Compared with vector group and blank control group,Ad-PUMA transfected group showed strong cell proliferating inhibition effects [the inhibition rates were (50.89±4.73) ％ and (44.45±5.33) ％ respectively,P ＜0.05] and pro-apoptotic effects [apoptotic rates were (44.89±5.08) ％ and (31.67±7.32) ％,P ＜ 0.05] in different p53 glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44.Western blot analysis showed that PUMA protein expression increased after Ad-PUMA transfection,accompanied by the reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 and the increased expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax.The activity of Caspase testing results showed that the Caspase-3,Caspase-9 activity increased significantly,while the Caspase-8 activity changed little.Conclusion No matter how p53 phenotype,PUMA can inhibit glioma proliferation,promote apoptosis,and its mechanism may be through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways,upregulation of Bax and inhibition of bcl-2 expression,which activated Caspase-9.Ad-PUMA is expected to become a new target for gene therapy of gliomas.

Objective To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS) in human brain gliomas cell(SHG-44) apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibitor MG-132. Methods Human glioma cells were passage cultured. Glioma cells were treated by MG-132 with varying concentration(5, 10, 15 and 50 μmol/L) for 24 h. Compared with cells prior to the treatment (control group), cell viability was detected by MTT assay and the expression of ERS associated proteins GRP78 and apoptosis associated proteins Caspsse-12 was examined by PCR and Western-blotting. Results After MG-132 treatment for 24 h, SHG-44 cell viability was decreased significantly (39 %) (P <0.05), and continued to show a significant decline with the increasing concentration of MG-132 (P <0.05). RT-PCR results showed that the expression of ERS associated proteins GRP78 in SHG-44 cells were significantly increased after 5, 10, 15 and 50 μmol/L MG-132 treatment, and the expression of Caspase-12 was significantly increased after 5 μmol/L MG-132 treatment, slightly increased after 10 and 15 μmol/L treatment compared with that after 5 μmol/L treatment and reached the peak after 50 μmol/L treatment. Western-blotting results of GRP78 in SHG-44 cells were same as results of RT-PCR. Conclusion ERS may be involved in the apoptosis of gliomas cells induced by proteasome inhibitor MG-132.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the microorganisms on the hands of nurses who are doing the intravenous infusion.METHODS Sampled the hands of nurses during the procedure of intravenous infusion randomly,and then sampled after monitoring the nurses washing their hands by the six steps hand-cleaning technique.Then cultured the samples and did the identification of bacteria.The distribution of microorganism on nurses' hands was analyzed.RESULTS During the procedure of intravenous infusion,before and after the intervention the microorganisms on the nurses' hands had evident difference and with the statistic meanings.CONCLUSIONS The handwashing compliance among nurses before working in our hospital is poor,and the hand hygiene status during the nursing procedure needs to be improved.

Objective To explore differences of drug resistance of temozolomide(TMZ) on different CD133 immune prototype of glioma cells and study on the changes of their sensitivity to TMZ through increased PUMA. Methods CD133+-U87MG cells sorted by CD133 magnetic beads were cultured in serum-free stem cell medium respectively. The cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus, Ad-PUMA, diluted in cell culture medium with or without TMZ intervention.The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay and 50 ％ inhibition concentration of TMZ was calculated. Apoptosis rates of CD133+-U87MG cells were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM) before and after intervention of exogenous PUMA and TMZ.Results The TMZ IC50 values of CD133+glioma cells were higher than that of CD133- glioma cells. There were significant differences in apoptosis rate between CD133+ glioma cell and CD133- glioma cell (all P＜0.05).Conclusion AdPUMA joint TMZ can promote glioma stem cells apoptosis, thus improve the sensitivity to chemotherapy of glioma.

Objective To explore the measures and methods to cope with the early stage epidemic struck of H7N9 avian influenza,as the head nurses of the department of infectious diseases.Methods The main work focus of the head nurses of the department of infectious diseases were analyzed during the early stage of H7N9 epidemic struck systematically by reference to the domestic literatures.Results At the early stage of H7N9 epidemic struck,the main work focus of the head nurses of the department of infectious diseases was to draw up every emergency plans,prepare necessary protective medical supplies,train medical staff,and be ready to the preview and triage.Conclusions The head nurses of the department of infectious diseases should pay close attention to the progress of H7N9 epidemic struck,and get ready for all related work in order to ensure smooth treatment during early stage of the epidemic struck.

Objective To explore the value of endothelial dysfunction assessment in predicating major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods A prospective cohort study included 136 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients from Jan 1,2009 to Dec 31,2011 was conducted.Endothelial function was assessed by flowmediated dilation (FMD) of brachial artery.Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival rate.The survival difference between the two groups was compared by the log-rank test.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine the independent risk factors of MACCE.Results In the follow-up period,18 patients in low FMD (FMD≤2.7％) group occurred MACCE,and 13 patients in high FMD (FMD ＞ 2.7％) group occurred MACCE.Compared with high FMD group,MACCE-free survival rate in the low FMD group had a significantly decreased (x2=4.190,P=0.041).Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that higher level of total cholesterol,lower FMD,longer PD time and higher levels of hs-CRP were all independent predictors of MACCE.Conclusion Reduced brachial artery FMD is an independent risk factor of MACCE,and the application of FMD contributes to the risk stratification of cardiac and cerebrovascular disease in PD patients.