BACKGROUND:Cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis suggests that tumorous clones are maintained by a rare fraction of cells with stem cell proprieties. Several kinds of CSCs of solid tumor have been isolated in recent years. However, there have been fewer studies on the objective existence of bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and on the methods to effectively isolate and identify BCSCs. OBJECTIVE:To investigate possibilities of BCSC existence and of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) used as a surface marker of BCSC. DESIGN:A control observation experiment. SETTING:Tianjin Institute of Urinary Surgery & Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. MATERIALS:This study was performed at the Room for Tumor Immunity of Tianjin Institute of Urinary Surgery (key laboratory for State "211 Project") from March 2006 to July 2007. Nine specimens of human bladder were obtained from patients who received treatment in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. These specimens corresponded to the diagnostic criteria of low malignant potential papillary urothelial neoplasm and low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. Additionally, 40 samples of human low malignant bladder transitional cell carcinomas (BTCC) and 10 samples of normal urothelium that were used for immunohistochemistry were obtained from the patients who received treatment in the Department of Urinary Surgery, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Written informed consent for the specimen providing was obtained from the patients, and the protocol was approved by the hospital’s Ethics Committee. METHODS:The genes that were differentially expressed between normal urothelium and BTCC were identified through a DNA array assay to preliminarily determine the existence of BTCC. Overpressed stem cell related genes, Bmi-1 and EZH2, were verified by immunohistochemistry. A total of 27 potential surface markers of BCSCs were assayed to determine the location of positive cells. EMA- subsets were obtained through an immunomagnetic bead cell sorting system to analyze their abilities for colony forming, self-renewal and extensive proliferation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Normal urothelium and BTCC gene expression difference, Bmi-1 and EZH2 protein expression difference between low malignant BTCC and normal urothelium; and experimental results of colony forming. RESULTS:A total of 268 genes (including Bmi-1 and EZH2) that were differentially expressed between normal urothelium and low malignant BTCC were identified through a DNA array assay. The Bmi-1 and EZH2 had been found overexpressed in the low malignant BTCC. Except for EMA, above-mentioned 26 out of 27 potential surface markers were null for isolating BCSCs. EMA- subsets were located in the basal layer and suprabasal epithelial layers of both normal and tumorous urothelium (potential location of BCSCs). EMA- subsets possesed the abilities for colony forming, self-renewal and extensive proliferation. CONCLUSION:The experiment confirms the existence of BCSCs. EMA- might be a surface marker of BCSCs.

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on use of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) for cartilage tissue engineering owing to their ability to differentiate into chondrocytes, which is mainly induced by growth factors (GFs). In general, GFs for chondrogenic induction come from the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. To date, the most commonly used GFs for chondrogenes is TGF-beta1/3. However, the response of hADSCs to GFs may differ significantly from that of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs). It has been reported that bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) treatment induced TGF-beta receptor-I expression of hADSCs. It seems that these two cell populations varied strongly in their potency to undergo chondrogenesis in the same medium conditions. Here, we provide a concise review on various GFs used in chondrogenic differentiation of hADSCs in vitro.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; Cartilage ; Cell Differentiation ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Chondrogenesis ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; TGF-beta Superfamily Proteins ; Tissue Engineering

Accidents, Occupational ; Asphyxia ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans

The liver is a primary target organ of colorectal cancer metastases. Surgical resection is pres-ently the only approach that offers patients a substantial chance of cure. Five-year survival ranges 25% -39%. But by the time of diagnosis, only 10% -25% of patients were considered eligible for surgical directed thera-pies. New therapeutic modalities such as ablation, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chem-otherapy and targeted therapy present promise for the future treatment of unresectable liver metastases. These treatments and progress in surgical therapy are reviewed in this article.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the efficacy and safety of alprostadil combined with tanshinone ⅡA in the treatment of pa-tients with early chronic kidney disease(ECKD). METHODS:138 ECKD patients were randomly divided into group A,group B and group C,46 cases in each group. On the basis of conventional treatment,group A received 40 mg TanshinoneⅡA sodium sulfonate in-jection,adding into 250 ml 0.9% Sodium chloride solution,ivgtt,qd+10 μg Alprostadil injection,adding into 100 ml 0.9% Sodium chloride solution,ivgtt,qd;group B received the same dose with Alprostadil injection;group C received the same dose with Tanshi-noneⅡA sodium sulfonate injection. All patients were treated for 14 d. Clinical efficacy,laboratory indexes [24 h urine protein,serum creatinine(SCr),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),uric acid(UA)] in 3 groups before and af-ter treatment were observed,and the incidence of adverse reactions was compared. RESULTS:The total effective rate in group A was 97.83%,which was significantly higher than group B(80.43%)and group C(76.09%),the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Before treatment,there were no significant differences in 24 h urine protein,SCr,TC,TG,BUN and UA among 3 groups (P>0.05);after treatment,all above-mentioned indexes significantly reduced,and group A was lower than group B and group C,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reac-tions among group A(10.87%),group B(6.52%)and group C(8.70%)(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Alprostadil combined with tanshinoneⅡA shows good efficacy in the treatment of ECKD,it can improve renal function in patients with good safety.

Long non-coding RNAs(LncRNAs) refer to such a kind of RNAs which possess none or very few open reading frames,thus could only encode none or little protein.Recent studies suggest that LncRNAs tissue-specially expressed in several human cancers,and might play a key role in the diagnosis and prognostic of these malignant neoplasms.

Malunion is one of common complications after distal radius fractures.It is indicated that malunion plays an important role in fracture recovery in many studies.This article sums up the research data,from aspects of both biomechanical analysis and follows-up of clinical cases,of domestic and foreign scholars in recent years,and reviews the influences of malunion on wrist joint functional outcome.

The treatment concept for pancreatic cancer is being transferred from “surgery first”to MDT model.The postoperative adjuvant treatment of pancreatic cancer can significantly improve the prognosis of patients and has become the standardized diagnostic and treatment practice;the value and significance of neoadjuvant therapy remains unclear.Limited clinical studies of “borderline resectable”pancreatic cancer have shown that neoadjuvant therapy can improve the R0 resection rate and improve the prognosis of patients,and it is recommended for clinical application.But the significance of neoadjuvant therapy in “resectable”pancreatic cancer is still controversial.There is a lack of consensus on indications,cycles,and regimens.It is necessary to carry out a series of prospective control studies to objectively evaluate the value of neoadjuvant therapy in improving the prognosis of “resectable”pancreatic cancer.

In modern warfare,ethical problems correlated to combat stress reaction contain three aspects: the perplexities of reactor's role orientation,the issues of the PIE pattern treatment,and the defects of the broken-discipline reaction.In order to cope with these problems,medical officers and battle commandants should insist on the scientific principle,the permissible principle and the commonweal principle.

We studied the serological reaction between various antigenic components from Cysticercus cellulosae and IgG antibodies in sera of cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients and normal humans by ELISA and EITB. In serological tests by ELISA, we recognized cross reaction of Cysticercus antigenic components with IgG antibodies in heterologous sera such as sparganosis and hydatidosis patients or normal humans. The crude antigenic components of Cysticercus showed lower ELISA sensitivity in homologous sera from cysticercosis patients than heterologous sera from hydatidosis patients. A total of 31 polypeptide bands with 260 KDa-22 KDa molecular weights were detected by SDS-PAGE, and 11 of them showed strong intensity. Total 22 components of them were recognized by IgG antibodies in cysticercosis patients sera. However, 12 of them were recognized also by normal human sera, 11 were by sparganosis sera, and 21 were by hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic components of 104 KDa, 82 KDa, 72 KDa, 59 KDa and 34 KDa molecular weights were nonspecific ones, which cross-reacted with sera of either cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients or normal humans.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra erinacei ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; sparganum ; immunology ; antigen