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 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.

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 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.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex polygenic inheritance disease, caused by the accumulative effect of multiple genes and some environmental factors. Insulin resistance is the pathophysiologic foundation of MS. From the viewpoint of TCM, phlegm is the basic pathological factor of MS. In different periods and different symptoms of the disease, phlegm can be found during the whole disease course. Genes as an important component of the innate factors, play an important role in the formation of phlegm syndrome. Researches on correlation between susceptibility genes and phlegm syndrome in MS are important to enrich the connotation of phlegm syndrome and improve the level of diagnosis and treatment for this disease.

Retinoblastoma (RB) therapy has evolved over decades.In the 1970s, enucleation was important for improving life prognosis.In the 1980s, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) was popular.In the 1990s, systemic intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) was introduced and currently remains prevalent worldwide for intraocular RB control as well as prevention of systemic metastasis.However, RB seeds in vitreous and subretinal space are still the major obstacles for successful treatments.Advanced ophthalmic imaging technology promotes thorough and detailed description and observation of RB seeds.In the 2000s, interests in periocular chemotherapy (POC), intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) and intravitreous chemotherapy (IVitC) have been explored to overcome the low drug concentration around the seeds and to reduce the systemic side effects.This leads us into a new era of target local chemotherapy of RB.How to make the treatment decision based on biological behavior of RB seeds is a major task for us now.

Objective To investigate the effects of acupuncture on morphology and apoptosis related gene expression of lacrimal gland in dry eye model rabbit,and explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture on dry eye.Methods Eighteen healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups:blank group,model group,acupuncture group,6 rabbits in each group.Blank group did not accept any treatment.Model group and acupuncture group were treated with subcutaneous injections of scopolamine hydrobromide,4 times a day with the dose of 2.0 mg · kg-1,when the acupuncture group was also treated with acupuncture,once a day for fourteen days.Three groups were examined Schirmer Ⅰ test (S Ⅰt) at different stages,and morphological changes of lacrimal gland under light and electron microscope were observed.The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the protein levels of apoptosis related gene in lacrimal gland of all rabbits.Results Between the acupuncture group and model group,the S Ⅰt was significantly different on day 4,7,14 (all P ＜ 0.05).At the same time,compared with that before experiment,S Ⅰt had no significant difference on day 14 in acupuncture group (P ＞ 0.05).Optical and electron microscope showed the lacrimal gland epithelial cells of acupuncture group closely arranged with abundant cytoplasm,closed to that of the blank group.Meanwhile,the number of lacrimal epithelium cells with Bax,Fas and FasL positive expression was significantly less than that in the model group (all P ＜ 0.05).But when it compared with blank group,there was no significant difference of Bax/Bcl-2 and Fas/FasL positive expression in acupuncture group (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can restrain the apoptosis and gland atrophy of lacrimal gland tissue of dry eye rabbit,and promote metabolism,thereby increase the tear secretion.

Bibliometrical method was used in this article to analyze the publications in a hospital from 2004 to 2013.Results show that the number of publications increased during 8 years,and the quality has been improved consistently.However,the rate of clinician participation in research and the present of core authors were still on the lower side.Besides,the age structure of core authors is steady and lack of growth.Based on this analysis,we summarized the past experience and explored the strategies of research management.

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.