Cancer stem cells (CSC) have been defined as an unique subpopulation in tumors that possess the ability to initiate tumor growth and sustain tumor self-renewal. The tumor stem cell model proposes that tumor stem cells are the origin of most tumors. Accompanying with further extension in the investigation of cancer stem cells, the effects of niche that serves as'their microenvironment in tissue on the functions of cancer stem cells attract more and more attention, which plays important roles in maintaining the characteristics of cancer stem cells. It is essential to understand how cancer stem cells interact with their microenvironment. Although the evidence has been provided to support the existence of CSCs in various solid tumors, the identity of gastric CSCs has not been reported. In this review, we will examine gastric cancer stem cell niches and their impact on stem cell biology. The research on gastric cancer stem cell will provide new approaches for improved understanding of gastric cancer biology and gastric cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE:To observe therapeutic efficacy of citalopram in the treatment of post-stroke depression. METHODS:126 post-stroke depression patient were selected and randomly divided into observation group and control group with 63 cases in each group. Control group was given routine treatment of nervous system drugs;observation group was given citalopram,20 mg, qd,after breakfast,on the basis of control group.They were given relevant medicine for consecutive 2 months. The mental status, the levels of plasma substance P (SP),plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone releasing hormone (CRH) plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY),rehabilitation compliance were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment. RESULTS:After treatment,HAMD and NIHSS score of observation group were decreased obviously,and lower than control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05);MMSE score of observation group increased significantly,and higher than control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). After treatment,SP and CRH levels of observation group were decreased significantly,and lower than control group;NPY level increased significantly and higher than control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). After treatment,complete com-pliance of observation group (71.43%) was obviously higher than that of control group (49.21%),with statistical significance (P<0.05). The maximum effect of observation group was significantly better than that of control group,with statistical signifi-cance(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Citalopram in the treatment of post-stroke depression can significantly improve the patients' de-pression,nervous function and rehabilitation compliance of patient,showing significant therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To study the change and clinical value of SP‐D ,CCL18 and CC16 in serum and in exhaled breath con‐densate in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .Methods Sixty two cases of COPD patients admitted in our hospital from 2010 January to 2013 December were selected as the research object .All the 62 patients were divided into group A(32 patients with COPD in acute exacerbation) and group B(30 patients with COPD in remission stage) in accordance with the severity of COPD .Thirty six cases of health people were selected as the control group .Statistical subjects SP‐D ,CCL18 ,CC16 content in se‐rum and in exhaled breath condensate ,and the relations between the various indexes and age ,smoking ,pulmonary function and BMI were analyzed .Results The exhaled breath condensate SP‐D ,CCL18 content in group A was significantly higher than that of B group and the control group (P<0 .05) ,and the SP‐D ,CCL18 in group B was higher than that in control group (P<0 .05) .The se‐rum SP‐D ,CCL18 ,CC16 content in group A was significantly higher than that of B group and the control group (P<0 .05) ,and the SP‐D ,CCL18 ,CC16 in group B was higher than that in control group (P< 0 .05) .Serum SP‐D ,CCL18 levels were significantly higher than those in the exhaled breath condensate (P< 0 .01) .Exhaled breath condensate SP‐D was positively associated with smoking age (r=0 .298 ,P<0 .05) ,and FEV1% pred ,FEV1/FVC (% ) showed a negative correlation (r= -0 .318 ,-0 .402 ,P<0 .05);the serum levels of SP‐D was positively associated with tobacco (r=0 .297 ,P<0 .05) ,and FEV1% pred ,FEV1/FVC (% ) were negative correlated (r= -0 .278 ,-0 .298 ,P<0 .05);serum CC16 and FEV1% pred ,FEV1/FVC (% ) were negatively corre‐lated (r= -0 .358 ,-0 .382 ,P<0 .05);Exhale breath condensate SP‐D ,condensate CCL18 ,SP‐D ,CCL18 serum ,serum CC16 were are positively correlated in each two (P<0 .05);and there was no significant correlation between other indexes and age ,smoking , pulmonary function and BMI etc .Conclusion Exhaled breath condensate ,serum SP‐D ,serum CCL18 ,exhaled breath condensate , exhaled breath condensate ,serum CC16 are closely related to acute exacerbation of COPD ,and monitoring the indicators can be judgment of the degree and prognosis of COPD .

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of thymosin ɑ1 combined with arsenic trioxide in the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer (PLC).Methods A total of 59 patients with advanced PLC who were admitted to Jiangyan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 201 1 to July 2014 were divided into two groups:control group and combination therapy group.The two groups were given symptom-atic and supportive treatment to protect the liver.In addition,29 cases in the control group were treated with arsenic trioxide,while 30 cases in the combination therapy group were administrated with thymosin ɑ1 combined with arsenic trioxide.Comparison of continuous data be-tween the two groups was made by independent-samples t test,and comparison of categorical data was made by chi-square test.Results There was a significant difference in clinical benefit rate between the control group and the combination therapy group (37.9% vs 66.7%,χ2 =4.88,P<0.05).The combination therapy group had significantly higher improvement rate of the quality of life (63.3%vs 37.9%,χ2 =3.81,P<0.05)and the pain remission rate (76.7%vs 44.8%,χ2 =6.28,P<0.05)than the control group.The levels of alpha fetal protein,carcinoembryonic antigen,carbohydrate antigen 199,and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase decreased in both groups,and the combination therapy group had significantly higher decreases in these indices than the control group (P<0.05).The combination thera-py group had significantly increased percentages of CD3 +and CD4 +T cells and CD4 +/CD8 +ratio (P<0.05)and a significantly reduced percentage of CD8 +T cells (P<0.01)after treatment.However,there was no significant difference in toxic or side effects between the two groups.Conclusion For patients with advanced PLC,the combination of thymosin ɑ1 and arsenic trioxide can improve the quality of life and the immune function of patients,and no obvious toxic or side effects are found.So it holds promise for clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the value of uhrasonography in diagnosing the occult dorsal carpal ganglion. Methods Sixteen patients with chronic dorsal wrist pain received ultrasound examination. Eleven ofthem were treated with surgical therapy. And they were followed up for 1-8 months. Results The ultrasound characteristics of oecuh dorsal carpal ganglion were depicted as follows;①The dorsal cortical bone of scaphoid and lunate was continued and without damage. ② An oval anecho lesion with clear boundany, smooth ganglion wall, lateral shandowing and posterior enhancement could be detected in the dorsal part of scapholunate joint. ③Color Doppler flow imaging showed there was not obvious blood flow signals inside and around the ganglion. Conclusions Uhrasonography could be acted as a routine examination technique after the X-ray examintion in the diagnosis of the the occult dorsal carpal ganglion.

Objective To detect the genetic association between schizophrenia and rs1042724,rs384470 polymorphism at nucleotide of the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene. Methods Observed in a sample of 98 parent/offspring trios where the proband net the American Classification and diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders. The Forth Revised Edition, criteria for schizophrenia using transmission/disequilibrium test(TDT) analysis. The polymorphism of nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene was detected with PCR methods and SNP typing in all nucleus families. Results Using a family-based association design we obtained evidence of an association between schizophrenia and allele of the rs1042724 polymorphism in the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene(RR=1.31,2 (RR)=3.96,P＜0.05). Moreover the fact that transmission disequilibrium was observed when one affected offspring was selected at random from each family, suggesting that the results are due to association(McNemar 2 = 4.21,P＜0.05). There is no association between schizophrenia and rs1042724 polymorphism in the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene (McNemar 2 =2.34,P＞0.05). Conclusion It shows an association between schizophrenia and the rs1042724 polymorphism at nucleotide of the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene in Chinese.

Objective To investigate the association between intima-media thickness (IMT) and free fatty acids (FFA) in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods IMT, FFA and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 69 hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MS group) ,57 hypertensive patients without metabolic syndrome ( Non-MS group) ,and 50 healthy controls ( NC group). Results In the MS group,The BMI, serum levels of triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FPG) and FFA were ( 26.0 ± 2.1 ) kg/m2, (24.0 ±0.81 ) mmol/L and (5.64 ± 0.82) mmol/L respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the Non-MS group ( (24.9 ± 2.3 ) kg/m2, ( 1.93 ± 0. 55 ) mmol/L and ( 5.10 ± 1.08 ) mmol/L respectively ) and the NC group ( (23.6 ± 1.6), ( 1.49 ± 0.36) mmol/L and (4.70 ± 0.90) mmol/L respectively) ( F = 20.06, 30.96 and 15.17,P ＜0.05 or 0.01 ). FFA in the MS group ((562.11 ± 55.12)μmol/L) were significantly higher than that in the Non-MS group (402.65 ± 49.53 ) μmol/L) and the NC group ( ( 356.23 ± 45.93 ) μmol/L) ( F = 277.28, P ＜0. 01 ). IMT in the MS group, Non-MS group and NC group were (1. 10 ± 0. 13 )mm, (0. 82 ± 0. 12 )mm and (0.70 ± 0.11 ) mm, respectively, with significantly difference ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). In addition, the incidence of thickening was 28.99% (20/69), 17.54% ( 10/57 ) and 2.00% ( 1/50 ), respectively, with significantly difference ( P ＜0.01 ). Conclusions Serum level of FFA is associated with IMT in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND:Sustained-release carriers of insulin shaped as microspheres made of different biomaterials have become an issue of concern. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the carrier materials and methods to prepare sustained-release microspheres of insulin. METHODS:Wanfang and PubMed databases were retrieved by computer for articles related to sustained-release carriers of insulin published from 1997 to 2015. The search terms were“insulin, control ed-release carrier, biomaterials”in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Natural biodegradable polymer materials are preferred to prepare sustained-release microspheres of insulin, including gelatin, alginate, chitosan and its derivatives. These natural materials have good biocompatibility, degradability, film-forming and microsphere-forming abilities. Synthetic biodegradable polymer materials as carrier materials can promote drug stability and effective utilization, and realize targeted drug delivery. According to different physicochemical properties of materials, sustained-release carriers of insulin that meet different requirements can be prepared using emulsion-chemical crosslinking, spray drying and solvent evaporation methods. This review provides new insight into the development of stable drug carriers.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of mycobacterium bovis in combination with antituberculosis drugs for initially treated smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)in senile patients.METHODS:A total of 121 initially treated smear positive TB cases were assigned to receive 2HReZE/4HRe alone(control group,n=61)or in combination with Mycobacterium bovis(22.5 ?g,once in two weeks for 6 months started at the end of the second week,treatment group,n=60).RESULTS:At the end of the first and second month since treatment,the sputum negative conversion rates showed significant differences between the treatment group and the control group(63.9% and 86.9% respectively in treatment group vs.30.0% and 58.3%,respectively in control group)(P0.05).CONCLUSION:As compared with antituberculosis drugs alone,the concomitant use of mycobacterium bovis and antituberculosis drugs shortened the time for the sputum negative conversion,focal absorption on X-ray chest film and clinical symptom improvement in initially treated smear positive senile TB patients,and mycobacterium bovis is a satisfactory immunotherapeutic agent for TB and it can be used in combination with antituberculosis drugs for smear positive senile TB patients.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for government in making control policy for tourist' drugstores.METHODS:The basic information,training information and the outcome of the training of 243 employees working in tourist' drugstores in Zhangjiajie were investigated by questionnaire survey.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:The basic quality of employees working in tourist drugstores in Zhangjiajie is low,and they have a strong wish for training incited by "base pay plus royalty" and they believe that they can gain a lot benefits from the training.It is advisable to strengthen training among the employees involved in pharmacy,conduct the training after subdividing the employees' needs and work out teaching materials tailored to the characteristics of different people.