Oct4 gene,a member of POU transcription factor family,is expressed in embryonic stem(ES) cells and embryonic carcinoma(EC) cells,but not in cells of differentiated tissues.It plays a critical role in maintaining pluripotent and self-renewing state of embryonic stem cells.The molecular structure,function,regulation passageway and the relationship with tumors of Oct4 gene have been briefly reviewed.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is centrally involved in the control of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and cell cycle regulation. Recent studies have found that the mTOR pathway is complicated and the dysregulation of mTOR pathway is recognized to be associated with lots of tumors. Several inhibitors of mTOR could inhibit oncogene transformation, growth and angiogenesis of tumors. So far, four inhibitors of mTOR have been tested in clinical trials, and some have been accessed to phase Ⅱ or Ⅲ trial. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the regulators that govern mTOR pathway activity, and highlight clinical results obtained with the first generation of mTOR inhibitors to reach the oncology clinics.

Through analyzing the ethical status quo in reproductive medicine treatment unit, this article dis-cussed the social ethical issues brought by ART technology development related to the reproductive medical treat-ment unit. Then it put forward the measures to solve those ethical problems: strengthening the ethical principles and ethical committee construction, sharing data information, fully informed consent, and suggestions to improving ethics education.

Objective To evaluate the expression and function of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its substrate kinase P70S6K in mTOR/P70S6K signal pathway in cervical carcinogenesis. Methods The expression of mTOR and P70S6K in normal cervix uteri or cervical cancer was detected by the immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods. Results Compared to those in normal cervix uteri, both mRNA and protein of mTOR/P70S6K in cervical carcinomas were significantly increased (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between mTOR gene and P70S6K gene expression in cervical cancer (r=0.746, P<0.001). Conclusion High expression of mTOR and P7OS6K may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of cervical cancer.

Objective To investigate the expression of NANOG gene in cervical cancer and its effect on the development of the cancer. Methods By using immunohistochemistry, NANOG expression levels were demonstrated in normal cervical tissues, cervical cancer in situ and cervical cancer tissues. Tumor sphere cells from cervical cancer tissue and their differentiated cells were injected into nude mice to observe the tumor growth. Results When compared with that of the normal cervical tissue, significantly higher NANOG protein expression level was found in cervical cancer and cervical cancer in situ (P<0.05). Tumor spheres were formed from the non-serum culture of cervical cancer tissue and the spheres could differentiate into epithelial-like cells. The sphere cells of cervical cancer caused tumor formation in nude mice. Conclusion The results suggest that cancer stem cells are present in cervical cancer and NANOG may play a crucial role in the development of cervical cancer.

Objective To investigate the expression of KLF4 in cervical carcinoma and its significance. Methods Immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray were used to examine the expression of KLF4 in 39 cases of carcinoma, 30 cases of normal cervical epithelial tissues and 28 cases of cervical cancer in situ. Results Moderate to strong nuclear staining for KLF4 was found in normal tissues and cervical cancer in situ. Interestingly, KLF4 expression was lost in 16 (P<0.05) of 39 carcinoma cases. However, KLF4 expression was not associated with clinicopathologic parameters, including tumor stage and differentiation. Conclusion Our observations indicate that KLF4 may function as a tumor suppressor in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.

Objective To study the expression of Oct4 gene, an embryonic stem cell marker, in cervical carcinoma cell lines and tissues for the purpose of finding the relationship between this gene and cervical cancer. Methods The expression of Oct4 in normal cervical tissues and cervical carcinoma tissue and cell lines was detected by the immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results ① The expression of Oct4 mRNA in cervical carcinomas (73.3%, 22/30) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in normal cervical tissues (25%, 3/12); ② The rate of Oct4 protein expression in cervical cancer (53.7%, 22/41) was higher (P<0.01) than that in normal cervical tissues (7.7%, 1/13); ③ Oct4 protein was expressed in cervical carcinoma cell lines and primary tumorspheres. ④ The expression of Oct4 in tumorspheres was down-regulated during cell differentiation. Conclusion Our results imply that Oct4 may be one of the cervical cancer stem cell markers, but this still needs further research data to support.

Objective To investigate the effect of leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5 )on the proliferation and drug resistance of HeLa cells and its possible mechanism.Methods LGR5 expression was interfered using shRNA,and LGR5 knockdown HeLa cells were constructed.The effect of LGR5 on the proliferation and drug resistance of HeLa cell was evaluated by cell count,clone formation and MTT;the expressions of LGR5 and β-catenin in HeLa cells were detected by Western blot method.Results LGR5 knockdown HeLa cell line was successfully constructed;the cell growth rate and clone formation rate in shLGR5 group were markedly decreased compared to those in shCon group (P<0 .01 ).Drug resistance of HeLa to cisplatin differed significantly between shLGR5 group and shCon group (P<0.01 ).Moreover,the LGR5 knockdown inhibited the expression ofβ-catenin in HeLa cells.Conclusion LGR5 plays an important role in cell proliferation and drug resistance of HeLa cells,and its mechanism is related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression of CD147 and its significance in human cervical carcinoma. Methods Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect CD147 expression in cervical cancer or normal cervix uteri tissues. Results CD147 protein was expressed in all of cervical carcinomas (41/41, 100.0%) and most of normal cervix uteri tissues (11/12, 91.7%). CD147 with different molecular weights were present in cervical tissues. The percentage of CD147-positive cells and the expressional level of CD147 were higher in cervical carcinomas than in normal cervix (P<0.05). Conclusion CD147 might be recognized as a marker of cell proliferation. High expression of CD147 in cervical carcinomas suggests that it might be a potential target for cervical carcinoma therapy.

BACKGROUND:Hemiarthroplasty is a proven method for reconstruction of the hip joint function, especialy for the elderly patients who cannot tolerate the total hip arthroplasty. However, for the patients with osteoporosis, there are stil more controversial in clinical practice about using cemented or cementless femoral prosthesis for hemiarthroplasty. OBJECTIVE: To observe the repair effect of cemented or cementless femoral prosthesis when were used for hemiarthroplasty in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS:The clinical data from 105 patients treated with hemiarthroplasty were retrospectively analyzed. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in these patients using the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry before surgery.Patients were divided into bone cement group (n=56) and cementless group (n=49) depending on different types of femoral stem prosthesis. The difference of efficacy between cemented or cementless femoral prosthesis when were used for hemiarthroplasty in patients with osteoporosis was analyzed by comparing the operative time, volume of drainage, post-operative Harris scores of hip joint function and radiographic assessment (prosthesis subsidence, osteolysis, severe stress shielding, heterotopic ossification) during the folow-up after the replacement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the process of hemiarthroplasty in patients with osteoporosis, the operative time in the cement group was significantly longer than that in the cementless group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the postoperative volume of drainage between these two groups (P > 0.05). At the 1, 3, 6 and 12 of folow-up after replacement, there were no significant differences in the Harris score of hip joint function, total effective rate and radiographic assessment between these two groups (P> 0.05). These results suggest that in the process of hemiarthroplasty in patients with osteoporosis, the clinical efficacy of cementless femoral prosthesis is similar to the cement femoral prosthesis, therefore two prostheses can al be selected; however, the operative time of the cement femoral prosthesis is longer than the cementless femoral prosthesis, so we can give priority to the cementless femoral prosthesis for patients with osteoporosis who can’t tolerate a long operative time because of the poor basic condition.