BACKGROUND:The differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a hot research. Whether brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) can induce the differentiation of NSCs into neurons has not been detailed studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of different concentrations of BDNF on the differentiation of NSCs from adult rat hippocampus into neurons in the medium with epidermal growth factor. DESIGN:A controlled study. SETTING:Department of Human Anatomy, China Medical University. MATERIALS:The experiment was performed at the Neurotomia Laboratory of China Medical University in August 2007. NSCs isolated from hippocampus of adult SD rats were inoculated in a serum-free medium. Three clean adult SD rats (200-250 g each) were provided by Laboratory Animal Department of China Medical University. Dispositions to the rats were consistent with ethical standards of animals. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and BDNF were bought from R&D Company. METHODS:①NSCs obtained from rat hippocampus were cultured in the serum-free medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), EGF and B27. ②Single cell clone was obtained via limited dilution for the fourth passage of cells. Identification of NSCs for the passage of cells from monoclonal spheres was performed by Nestin immunocytochemistry. Neurons and astroglial cells were identified by immunocytochemistry for neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) a week after differentiation. ③Differentiation for the monoclonal spheres was done to appraisal the proportion of neurons. NSCs were divided for several groups containing 0 μg/L, 50 μg/L, 100 μg/L, 150 μg/L, and 200 μg/L groups according to the doses of BDNF. EGF was added in the media of each group. Immunocytochemistry for NSE was done a week later to count the positive cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Proportion of neurons differentiated from NSCs.RESULTS:①NSCs immunocytochemical staining showed that Nestin was positive in monoclonal spheres, and NSE and GFAP were positive in differentiated cells. ②The proportion of differentiation from NSCs into neurons was significantly higher in groups treated with 50 μg/L and 100 μg/L BDNF compared to other groups（t=2.502-5.025, P < 0.05）, but there was no significant difference between 50 μg/L and 100 μg/L BDNF groups（P > 0.05）. Moreover, no significant difference was detected among 0 μg/L, 150 μg/L and 200 μg/L BDNF groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION:The optimal concentration of BDNF is 50 μg/L for differentiation from NSCs into neurons while the concentration of EGF is 20 μg/L.

Objective:To study the chemical constituents in Blumea aromatica ( Wall. ) DC. Methods:The compounds were iso-lated by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and TLC. The structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. Results:Ten compounds were obtained and elucidated as oleic acid (1), linoleic acid (2), quercetin (3), luteolin (4), naringenin (5), hesperetin (6), gallic acid (7), β-sitosterol (8), daucosterol (9) and hesperidin (10). Conclu-sion:Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10 are isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective:To investigate the volatile constituents in Folium isatidis. Methods:The volatile constituents from Folium isatidis were analyzed by head-space solid micro-extraction coupled with GC-MS for the first time. Results: Thirty-five compounds (89. 95%) were identified from the volatile constituents in Folium isatidis. The main volatile constituents of Folium isatidis were 6, 10, 14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (6. 32%), nonanal (5. 99%), phenethyl isothiocyanate (5. 79%) and palmitic acid (5. 62%). Conclusion:Palmitic acid and benzyl alcohol may be the main effective constituents in Folium isatidis.

Since the biological characteristics of esophageal gastric junction (EGJ) cancer are different from those of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer, the choice of initial treatment is particularly important. This article introduces a case of locally advanced EGJ can-cer with single metastasis factor treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy in the Beijing Cancer Hospital. Through the multidisci-plinary team, we aim to achieve a better prognosis for this patient and propose new treatment practices for EGJ cancer.

AIM:To investigate the effect of Notch-1 knockdown on the growth of dihydroartemisinin-inhibited human osteosarcoma cell line U-2OS.METHODS:U-2OS cells treated with different concentrations of dihydroartemisinin (5, 10, 15 and 20μmol/L) were collected.The expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1 at mRNA and protein levels was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.U-2OS cells were transfected with Notch-1 siRNA for 24 h and incubated with dihydroartemisinin for another 24 h.The cell apoptotic rate , protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1, and the migration ability were measured by MTT assay , Western blotting and Transwell experiment , respectively.RESULTS:Dihydroartemisinin (5, 10, 15 and 20 μmol/L) decreased the expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1 at mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner .Down-regulation of Notch-1 significantly en-hanced the effect of dihydroartemisinin on the cell apoptosis , the protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1, and mi-gration ability ( P<0.05 ) .CONCLUSION: Notch-1 pathway is involved in the process of dihydroartemisinin-inhibited U-2OS cell growth.Knockdown of Notch-1 augments the inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin on U-2OS cell viability.

AIMTo design and synthesize compounds with insulin-sensitizing activity.

METHODSUsing association principle of drug design, ten title compounds were designed and synthesized on the basis of known compounds with insulin-sensitizing activity, and their insulin-sensitizing activity were evaluated on 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells.

RESULTSOne of the synthesized compounds showed strong insulin-sensitizing activity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThis compound may possess good sugar-lowering activity, and will be chosen for further hypoglycemic evaluation in vivo.

3T3-L1 Cells ; metabolism ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; Animals ; Drug Design ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the assistant effect of Scutellaria barbata extract (ESB) in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. METHODS: A mouse model of transplanted hepatoma H22 was used in this study to evaluate the synergic and attenuating effects of ESB in chemotherapy. Tumor inhibition rate, life span of mice and the toxicity of chemotherapy were observed. The body weight, tumor weight, thymus index and spleen index in H22-bearing mice were also measured. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was studied by observing phagocytization of peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: The increase of body weight in 5-FU plus ESB groups was higher than that in 5-FU group, and the side effects such as anorexia, abdominal distention and athrepsy were relieved. Compared with untreated group, prolonged lifetime in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group was improved. Life prolongation rates in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group were 61.46% and 23.59% respectively. High-dose ESB, 5-FU, 5-FU plus low-dose ESB and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB could inhibit the tumor growth, and the tumor inhibition rates were 36.98%, 42.26%, 52.45% and 65.28%, respectively. Thymus index and spleen index were increased significantly in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. White blood cell (WBC) count was decreased obviously in 5-FU group, while the count of WBC was increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was also increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. CONCLUSION: ESB can enhance the effect of chemotherapy, relieve the side effects and improve immune function of mice in chemotherapy. These results suggest that ESB, as a biochemical modulator to enhance the therapeutic effects, is useful in cancer chemotherapy.

Objective To explore the computed tomography (CT) features of gastric cancer invasion to the pancreas and significance in the assessment of resectability of primary lesions.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinical data of 31 gastric cancer patients who were admitted to the Peking University Cancer Hospital between February 2011 and August 2016 were collected.Of 31 patients receiving CT examinations,11 who were diagnosed with suspected pancreas invasion by preoperative CT examinations but operation confirmed no invasion were allocated into the pancreas negative (PN) group,11 who were confirmed as pancreas invasion and under vent radical gastrectomy of gastric cancer combined with pancreas resection were allocated into the pancreas invasion (PI) group,and 9 who were confirmed as pancreas invasion and had unresectable primary lesions were allocated into the pancreas invasion non-resected (PI-NR) group.Observation indicators:(1) morphologic type of contact surface between gastric cancer and pancreas;(2) comparison of CT findings among the 3 groups:primary lesion location,tunor thickness,Borrmann type,serosa pattern of gastric cancer,judging obvious region invaded by gastric cancer,contact or invasion site with pancreas,contact length between gastric cancer and pancreas,pattern,clarity and CT values of contact surface or peripancreas invaded and normal peripancreas;(3) treatment or follow-up situations.All the patients underwent radical resection and palliative resection for gastric cancer or non-operation according to results of exploration.Telephone interview was performed to detect the survival of patients up to February 2017.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (Qn),and comparisons among groups were done by the Kruskal-Wallis test.Comparison of count data were done by the Fisher exact probability.Results (1) Morphologic type of contact surface between gastric cancer and pancreas:there were 4 types according to results of CT examination.Type Ⅰ.pancreas contacted with gastric cancer and there was no change in the morphology and radian of contact surface.Type Ⅱ:pancreas contacted with gastric cancer and radian of contact surface became flattened or shallow depression.Type Ⅲ:contact surface showed a inserted sign or obvious depression.Type Ⅳ:pancreas didn't contact with gastric cancer and there was increased density in fat space between pancreas and gastric cancer,with a smudge sign or strip-and sheet-like opacity.Of 31 patients,type Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ were detected in 5,10,4 and 12 patients,respectively.(2) Comparison of CT findings among the 3 groups:nodular protrusion,spiculation and strip shape,clounding patch opacity of serosa panern of gastric cancer were detected in 1,6,4 patients in the PN group and 5,4,2 patients in the PⅠ group and 0,2,7 patients in the PI-NR group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference (X2=10.054,P＜0.05).Two,8 and 8 patients in the PN,PI and PI-NR groups had obvious tumor invasion located at a adjacent region between stomach and pancreas,with a statistically significant difference (X2 =11.259,P＜0.05).Contact or invasion site with pancreas located at head,body and tail of pancreas was detected in 6,5,0 patients in the PN group and 1,7,3 patients in the PI group and 5,4,0 patients in the PI-NR group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference (X2=8.390,P＜0.05).Type Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ of contact surface between gastric cancer and pancreas were detected in 5,6,0,0 patients in the PN group and 0,4,4,3 patients in the PI group and 0,0,0,9 patients in the PI-NR group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference (X2=29.291,P＜0.05).Number of patients with clear and ambiguous contact surface was 10,1 patients in the PN group and 0,11 patients in the PI group and 0,9 patients in the PI-NR group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference (X2 =26.227,P＜ 0.05).CT values of contact surface or peripancreas invaded were-46 HU (-57 HU,-20 HU) in the PN group and-34 HU (-41 HU,-25 HU) in the PI group and-10 HU (-15 HU,-10 HU) in the PI-NR group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference (Z=15.306,P＜0.05).CT values of normal peripancreas were-87 HU (-96 HU,-76 HU) in the PN group and-88HU (-70 HU,-1 HU) in the PI group and-83 HU (-98 HU,-74 HU) in the PI-NR group,respectively,with statistically significant differences in CT values between contact surface or peripancreas invaded and normal peripancreas among the 3 groups (Z=12.581,13.780,7.793,P＜0.05).(3) Treatment or followup situations:of 31 patients,22 underwent radical gastrectomy and 9 underwent simplex exploration or short surgery.All the 31 patients were followed up for 6.0-71.0 months,with a median time of 13.5 months.Postoperative 1-and 2-year survival rates were 82.6％ and 77.1％.Conclusions There are significant differences in pancreatic invasion and resectability between CT features of contact surface of gastric cancer and pancreas and tumor classification.CT features include that pancreas contacts with gastric cancer in the PN group,radian of contact surface becomes flattened and with a inserted sign in the PI group,and there are increased density in fat space between pancreas and gastric cancer and a smudge sign or strip-and sheet-like opacity in the PI-NR group.

Objective To investigate the treatment effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) on unstable femoral intertrochanterie fractures in the elderly. Methods A retrospective stud- y was done on 65 patients with unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures, who were treated with PFNA from December 2005 to October 2006 and followed up for at least half a year. There were 22 males and 43 females, at age range of 67-97 (mean 78.5 years). All the operations were carried out within a week af- ter fractures. The data of operation time, operative blood loss, complications, bone healing time and hip function scores were recorded for evaluating treatment outcomes. Results All the patients were fol- lowed up for 6-18 months (average 10.5 months). The operation lasted for (29.6±7.5) minutes, with mean blood loss of (150.5±40.2) ml and bone healing time of (9.1±2.2) weeks. All patients ob- tained satisfactory treatment results, except for 3 patients with proximal thigh pain, 2 with pulmonary in- fection occurred and 1 with thrombs of lower limb vein. Harris post trauma hip function score was (88.5 ± 6.3) points. Conclusion PFNA is an effective way for femoral unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly, for it is characterized by short operation time, less blood loss and stable fixation.

OBJECTIVETo compare the perioperative, functional and oncologic outcomes of patients with prostate cancer receiving laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) using three-dimensional (3D) versus two-dimensional (2D) imaging systems.

METHODSFrom February, 2014 to January 2016, 72 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent LRP with 2D or 3D imaging systems performed by a single experienced surgeon. The baseline characteristics, perioperative data, and functional and oncologic outcomes of the patients were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThirty-six patients underwent 3D LRP and the other 36 patients underwent 2D LRP. Compared with 2D LRP group, 3D LRP group had a significantly shorter operative time (167 vs 218 min, P<0.001), a smaller volume of intraoperative blood loss (86.11 vs 177.78 mL, P<0.001) and a better early urinary continence outcome (88.89% vs 63.89%, P=0.026). No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of complications, potency outcome or biochemical recurrence-free rate.

CONCLUSIONCompared with 2D LRP, 3D LRP shortens the operative time, reduces intraoperative blood loss and is associated with a better early urinary continence outcome in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.