Objective To establish induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in patients with azoospermia by non-integrated approach. Methods Using the commercially available serum-free medium (TeSR?2) and embryonic stem cell culture medium (Stem Adhere? Defined Matrix) to define the culture system, the iPSCs were established by using non-integrated Sendai virus infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of azoospermia patients. The immunofluorescence, karyotype analysis, embryoid body differentiation and teratoma formation were used to identify pluripotency, karyotype and differentiation ability of iPSCs. Results The established iPSCs showed the characteristics of human embryonic stem cells. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), SRY-related-box protein-2 (SOX2), stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) and tumor rejection antigen-1-60 (TRA-1-60) were positive for the expression of stem cell pluripotency markers. Karyotype analysis showed that they had normal karyotype. In addition, embryoid body and teratoma tests showed that the iPSCs had the ability to differentiate into three germ layers in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion The induction of pluripotent stem cell line is successfully constructed by non-integrated approach in azoospermia patients.

Objective:To extract the common factors for evaluating the teaching effect of the integrated curriculum of basic medicine in China, and to analyze and explain the practical significance of these common factors.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted among undergraduates of 15 medical colleges in China to evaluate the teaching effect of integrated curriculum of basic medicine, and exploratory factor analysis was conducted for screening and classification. SPSS 22.0 was used to conduct factor analysis.Results:The four major common factors evaluating the teaching effect of integrated curriculum were the effectiveness of teaching process, the rationality of teaching organization, the education of teaching content, and the innovation of teaching methods.Conclusion:The integrated curriculum reform of basic medicine should pay great attention to the simultaneous development of basic theory learning and practical ability training, the effective connection between theoretical teaching and experimental teaching, the educational role in comprehensive quality cultivation of students, and the flexible application of various teaching means and methods.

Toutongling Capsule is a Chinese herbal preparation developing from an ancient formula processed by modern technology. Previous clinical studies have shown that Toutongling Capsule exerts a good effect on vascular headache, tonic headache and traumatic headache. To further explore its pharmacological mechanism, the effect of Toutongling Capsule on cerebral vessels and blood viscosity in experimental dogs was observed. The results showed that Toutongling Capsule can decrease cerebral vascular resistance obviously and increase cerebral blood flow, with a good dose-effect relationship. As compared with Yangjiao Granule, Toutongling Capsule possesses a similar effect on blood viscosity but stronger effect on dilatation of cerebral vessels and increase of cerebral blood flow. Both Toutongling Capsule and Yangjiao Granule have no effect on blood pressure and ECG.

Objective To study the association of vitamin D receptor(VDR) gene BsmI polymorphism and the genetic susceptibility of vitamin D deficiency rickets in infants and to explore a new way of diagnosis and treat-ment. Methods Case-control study was adopted. 56 infants confirmed with rickets (case group) and 76 cases of normal infants (control group) were chosen as the subjects. PCR-RFLP was applied to examine VDR gene BsmI site polymorphism. The frequencies of the VDR genotype and allele were compared between the two groups. Results Frequencies of BB,Bb and bb genotypes were 3.6% (2/56),21.4% (12/56) and 75.0% (42/56) in the rickets group,and 1.3% (1/76),18.4% (14/76) and 80.3% (61/76) in the control group respectively(χ20.521,P> 0.05),frequencies of B,b alleles were 14.3% (16/112),85.7% (96/112) in the rickets group and 10.5% (16/152),89.5% (134/152) in the control group respectively(χ20.783,P>0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that VDR gene polymorphism Bsml had not higher risk of vitamin D deficiency rickets in Infants. Conclusion VDR gene polymorphism BsmI doesn't appear to pose risk on infants in developing vitamin D deficien-cy rickets.

Using specialty and university as two statistical units,the author analyzes specialty categories,specialty composition,and the number of the disciplines established by seven independent medical universities,and indicates that in those surveyed medical universities,there is a sweeping trend of specialty diversity and generalization of non-medical specialties that most of them however have no relation with medical science and pharmacy.The author also displays negative effects of the generalization of non-medical specialties,especially on the development of medical universities,and comes up with some corresponding strategies to improve specialty setup.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of insulin degludec (IDeg) with those of insulin glargine (IGlar) in insulin-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods This was a 26-week,randomized,open-label,parallel-group,treat-to-target trial in 560 Chinese subjects with T2DM (men/women:274/263,mean age 56 years,mean diabetes duration 7 years) inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs).Subjects were randomized 2:1 to once-daily IDeg (373 subjects) or IGlar(187 subjects),both in combination with metformin.The primary endpoint was changes from baseline in glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) after 26 weeks.Results Mean HbA1c decreased from 8.2％ in both groups to 6.9％ in IDeg and 7.0％ in IGlar,respectively.Estimated treatment difference (ETD) of IDegIGlar in change from baseline was-0.10％ points (95％ CI-0.25-0.05).The proportion of subjects achieving HbA1c ＜ 7.0％ was 56.3％ and 49.7％ with IDeg and IGlar,respectively [estimated odds ratio of IDeg/IGlar:1.26 (95 ％ CI 0.88-1.82)].Numerically lower rateof overall confirmed hypoglycaemia and statistically significantly lower nocturnal confirmed hypoglycemia were associated with IDeg compared with IGlar,respectively [estimated rateratio of IDeg/IGlar 0.69 (95％ CI 0.46-1.03),and 0.43 (95％ CI 0.19-0.97)].No differences in other safety parameters were found between the two groups.Conclusions IDeg was non-inferior to IGlar in terms of glycaemic control,and was associated with a statistically significantly lower rate of nocturnal confirmed hypoglycaemia.IDeg is considered to be suitable for initiating insulin therapy in Chinese T2DM patients on OADs requiring intensified treatment.Clinical trail registration Clinicaltrials.gov,NCT01849289.

Exosomes are cell-derived nanovesicles with diameters from 30 to 150 nm, released upon fusion of multivesicular bodies with the cell surface. They can transport nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids for intercellular communication and activate signaling pathways in target cells. In cancers, exosomes may participate in growth and metastasis of tumors by regulating the immune response, blocking the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and promoting angiogenesis. They are also involved in the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Exosomes in liquid biopsies can be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis of cancers. Because of their amphipathic structure, exosomes are natural drug delivery vehicles for cancer therapy.

Gangliosides are a class of important glycosphingolipids containing sialic acid that are widely distributed on the outer surface of cells and are abundantly distributed in brain tissue. Disialoganglioside with three glycosyl groups (GD3) and disialoganglioside with two glycosyl groups (GD2) are markedly increased in pathological conditions such as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. GD3 and GD2 were found to play important roles in cancers by mediating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, angiogenesis and in preventing immunosuppression of tumors. GD3 synthase (GD3S) is the regulatory enzyme of GD3 and GD2 synthesis, and is important in tumorigenesis and the development of cancers. The study of GD3S as a drug target may be of great significance for the discovery of new drugs for cancer treatment. This review will describe the gangliosides and their roles in physiological and pathological conditions; the roles of GD3 and GD2 in cancers; the expression, functions and mechanisms of GD3S, and its potential as a drug target in cancers.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary tumor in the central nervous system, accounting for 12%-15% of all brain tumors. 3--Acetyl-11-keto--boswellic acid (AKBA), one of the most active ingredients of gum resin from Birdw., was reported to inhibit the growth of glioblastoma cells and subcutaneous glioblastoma. However, whether AKBA has antitumor effects on orthotopic glioblastoma and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. An orthotopic mouse model was used to evaluate the anti-glioblastoma effects of AKBA. The effects of AKBA on tumor growth were evaluated using MRI. The effects on the alteration of metabolic landscape were detected by MALDI-MSI. The underlying mechanisms of autophagy reducing by AKBA treatment were determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Transmission electron microscope was used to check morphology of cells treated by AKBA. Our results showed that AKBA (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the growth of orthotopic U87-MG gliomas. Results from MALDI-MSI showed that AKBA improved the metabolic profile of mice with glioblastoma, while immunoblot assays revealed that AKBA suppressed the expression of ATG5, p62, LC3B, p-ERK/ERK, and P53, and increased the ratio of p-mTOR/mTOR. Taken together, these results suggested that the antitumor effects of AKBA were related to the normalization of aberrant metabolism in the glioblastoma and the inhibition of autophagy. AKBA could be a promising chemotherapy drug for glioblastoma.