Tumor stem cells (TSCs) are a group of cells which have self-renewal and differentiation potential in tumor tissues.TSCs not only play an important role in the occurrence and development in tumors , but also are closely related to tumors′invasion,metastasis,heterogeneity and chemo-resistance.Further research of TSCs has become a hot spot .This review intends to explain the formation of TSCs ,the relationship between TSCs and the microenvironment , as well as the model of the TSC microenvironment .Signalling pathways and regulatory factors of TSCs are also discussed .

Almost all multicellular organisms have a symbiotic relationship with prokaryotes in nature.In humans,the interaction between host and microbial flora is particularly important in the gastrointestinal tract.Technical and conceptual advances have enabled us to establish its role in human health and disease.Studies have shown that disorder of gut microbiota may participate in the development of metabolic diseases,such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.This review opens up new ideas to find strategies for modifying gut microbiota to impact on the occurrence of metabolic diseases.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and advantages of transvaginal hysterectomy (TVH) for enlarged uterus without prolapse. Methods Six hundred and ninety-six patients underwent TVH for gynecological disorders from Sept, 1998 to Dec, 2002. Meanwhile, the method of operation, complications of surgery, operation time, estimated operative blood loss, postoperative recovery and hospital stay days were retrospectively analyzed. Results The operation was successful in 693 out of 696 cases (99.6%). The mean operative time was 49.3 minutes (11-125 minutes). The estimated blood loss was 69.7ml (15-450ml). Operative injuries were found in 3 patients (0.4%). Complications attributable to surgery were found in 6 cases (1%). The mean time of subsidence of fever was 1.2 days (0-5 days) and the time of passing flatus was 22.6 hours (8-32 hours). The average hospital stay was 5.3 days (4-15 days). Conclusion TVH can be performed safely for most of non-prolapsed large uterus. Because it has the advantages of less bleeding, short operating time, rapid recovery and less cost compared to TAH and LAVH, it is our opinion it should be the first option for enlarged uterus.

Objective To investigate the incubation period, degree of injury, distribition of pathological changes, and therapeutic effect of eye injury in “8?4” mustard gas poisoning accident. Methods The relationships among contact pattern, contact time and incubation period and degree of injury were analyzed, and the distribition of pathological changes and therapeutic effect were assessed. Results An incubation period was found in eye injury after the exposure to mustard gas. It varied with the mode of contact and the time of exposure to the gas. The conjunctiva was the main site of injury, follwed by the eyelid, and then the cornea and the iris. Conclusions The length of the incubation period varied with the degree of injury and contact time and mode. Thorough washout and medicinal intervention should be instituted as early as possible.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of treatment of leukoplakia vulvae with high-intensity focused ultrasound. Methods 65 patients with leukoplakia of the vulva were treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound. The patients were followed up after the treatment, and the symptoms including itch of the vulva, color change, the elasticity of the vulva lesions, and release of adhesions were observed and evaluated at the different times after treatment. Result All of the patients experienced relief in different degree (the ratio of effectiveness was 100%). Of them 28 patients were complete cured, 29 were distinctly improved, 8 were improved. In 5 patients there was a recrudescence with mild itch 2-3 months after treatment, but there was still a positive response to the second course of treatment. Conclusions High-intensity focused ultrasound is a highly effective instrument in the treatment of leukoplakia of the vulva. The treatment not only stops itch, but enables the color and elasticity of the vulva to recover as well.

Objective To establish a HPLC method for the determination of preservative in iron maltose syrup.Methods A Kromasil 100-5 C18 column was used with acetonitrile-sodium acetate buffer solution(40 ︰60) as the mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and 254 nm as the detection wavelength.The column temperature was set at 30 ℃.Results The calibration curve was linear within the range of 0.62 ~3.72 μg/mL for methyl parahydroxybenzoate, 0.18~1.07μg/mL for propyl parahydroxybenzoate, and the linear equation was Y=228494X-2512.5,Y=203351X-3471.4, respectively.The average recovery of methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate was 100.9%(RSD=1.5%),99.6%(RSD=0.5%), respectively.Conclusion The established method is simple, rapid and accurate, which could be used in the determination of preservative in iron maltose syrup.

Objective To evaluate the advantages and feasibility of transvaginal excision of ovarian tumor. Methods A series of 62 patients with ovarian benign tumors had the tumors excised transvaginally from Dec 2001 to Oct 2003. The indications of transvaginal surgery, the method of operation, the complications following the operation, the overall operation time, the estimated blood loss during operation, the postoperative complications, and hospital stay days were analyzed retrospectively. Results Transvaginal ovarian tumor excision was successfully completed with neither the aid of laparoscopy or shift to laparotomy. No intra-abdominal spillage of cystic contents occurred. The mean operation time was 39.4 minutes. The estimated blood loss was 37.5ml. No postoperative complications occurred. The mean length of a low fever was 1.3 days, and the time of recovery of bowel movement was 20.1 hours. The average hospital stay was 4.2 days. Conclusion For free benign ovarian tumors, the transvaginal route should be considered to minimize trauma. There would be no skin incision, and it could be carried out in patients who had relatively large ovarian tumors with no intra-abdominal spillage. There would be less blood loss, shorter operation time, shorter hospital stay and lower cost.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and advantages of the excision of uterine fibroids by vaginal myomectomy. Methods A series of 58 patients with uterine fibroids were managed with myomectomy from May 2001 to Dec 2003. Meanwhile, the indications of vaginal surgery, the methods of operation, the complications of surgery, the overall operating time, the estimated operative blood loss, the postoperative recovery and hospital stay were explored. Results Myomectomy were successfully completed vaginally without shifting laparotomy in 57 patients. The successful rate was 98 3%. The mean operative time was 48 16 minutes. The estimated blood loss was 70 58ml. The postoperative complication was occurred in one patient with uterine infection. The mean length of lower fever was 1 8 days and the bower movement was 1 3 days. The average hospital stay was 4 9 days. Conclusions For uterine fibroids, the vaginal myomectomy is a good choice when the indication of operation are managed properly. It can be used in patients who have numerous, relatively large, and intramural fibroids with micro invasive surgery, little interfering with abdominal organs, less blood loss, less operating time, less cost and less hospital stay in comparison with abdominal myomectomy or laparoscopic myomectomy

Objective To study the relationship between Tei index and the myocardial enzymes in newborns with myocardial damage due to asphyxia. Methods Forty-four newborns with mild asphyxia,27 newborns with severe asphyxia and 20 healthy newborns hospitalized in our hospital from January 2005 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study.The peak E and peak A and E/A ratio at mitral valve,the ejection fraction,isovolumetric contraction time,isovolumetric relaxation time and Tei index were measured by conventional echocardiography,and aspartate aminotransferase,creatine kinase,lactate dehydrogenase,hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphate kinase isoenzyme,and cardiac troponin T were tested also.One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results Tei index,isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time in the severe asphyxia newborns were 0.62±0.13,(47±7)ms and(52±8)ms,higher than those in the mild asphyxia newborns[0.51±0.14,(41±6)ms and(43±6)ms],those in the mild asphyxia newborns were higher than in the healthy newborns[0.39±0.12,(34±6)ms and (37±6)ms] (all P<0.01).Aspartate aminotransferase,lactate dehydrogenase,hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase,creatine kinase and its isoenzymes and cardiac troponin T in the severe asphyxia newborns were higher than in the mild asphyxia newborns and healthy group(P<0.01).Tei index,isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time were positively related to the myocardial enzymes.The positive relationships were more statistically significant in Tel index,creatine kinase,its isoenzymes and cardiac troponin T(r=0.762,0.821,0.778,P<0.01).Conclusions Combination of Tei index and myocardial enzymes can not only be applied to assess the cardiac function in newborns with myocardial damage due to asphyxia,but also to evaluate the degree of cardiac dysfunction accurately and dynamically.

Objective To explore the optimized scanning parameters of low-dose un-enhanced chest CT with sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE).Methods Eleven healthy adult domestic dogs underwent chest scanning of 120 kV,100 kV,80 kV,70 kV with a fixed tube current of 65 mA and halved tube current of 32 mA with a fixed tube voltage of 100 kV.The data were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP)and SAFIRE (strength grade 3)respectively to obtain ten groups of images.The regular dose (120 kV/65 mA ) combining with FBP reconstruction was as normal control group,and other groups as experimental groups.CT dose index (CTDI), dose length product (DLP),and effective dose (ED)at different dose were compared,and average CT value,noise,signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)and image quality score of ten groups of images were comparatively analyzed.Results No significant differences were found in average CT value for lung tissue,the superior vena cava,the aortic arch,and spinal muscles among ten groups (P >0.05),except adipose tissue (P <0.05).Compared to the control group,radiation dose of the 100 kV/65 mA-SAFIRE group decreased by 40.00%,noise of this group reduced,SNR and CNR increased,image quality score was slightly higher.Radiation dose of 80 kV/65 mA and 100 kV/32 mA groups,compared to the control group,decreased by 71.33% and 70.00% respectively ;image quality was slightly degraded but the subjective image quality scores were above 4 ,which on the latter group was slightly higher than that on the former.Image quality of 70 kV/65 mA group was reduced but could meet the requirements of diagnosis (image quality score >3),and the radiation dose of this group decreased by 81.33%.Conclusion Reconstructed with SAFRIE technology,the image quality of 100 kV/65 mA scanning of chest CT is similar to that of routinely reconstructed images in regular dose,while the image quality of 70 kV/65 mA scanning can not only meet the requirements of diagnosis but also obviously reduce radiation dose.