Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cancer cells in the tumor,which possess the exclusive ability to proliferate indefmitely and multiple differentiation.These tumor cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of malignant proliferation,drug resistance,metastasis and recurrence.Majority of ocular malignancies have the properties of high recurrence,metastasis and poor prognosis.Recently,CSCs was found to exist in the ocular malignancies,also might be involved in the tumor initiation and progression.This article reviews the research progress on CSCs in ocular malignancy.

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of endogenous single -stranded non-coding RNA, which regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by combining with the target mRNA and play a vital role in biological and pathological processes including the growth of organism , metabolic regulation, disease prediction and intervention.Thus miRNA detection is of considerable significance in disease diagnosis and the research of miRNA function.Because of the restriction factors about miRNA itself such as short sequence, low abundance and highly homologous , traditional methods for miRNA detection cannot meet the current demands due to the limitations like unsatisfactory sensitivity and complicated operation .This review summarizes the newly development about signal amplification -based methods for miRNA, including the advantages and limitations of all kinds of novel methods , and highlights the future trends as well.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated that both insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the effect on biological characteristics of human dental papilla mesenchymal cells (hDPMCs) still remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To research the effect of IGF-Ⅰ and bFGF on the proliferation and differentiation of hDPMCs.METHODS: hDPMCs were isolated and cultured in DMEM/F12 culture media containing 1% or 10% fetal bovine serum. The fourth-passaged hDPMCs were incubated in culture media containing 0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/L bFGF and 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/L IGF-Ⅰ(0 μg/L as control group), respectively. At 96 hours after culture, proliferative activity was measured with MTT assay. The corresponding growth factor culture media were used in 10 μg/L bFGF group, 100 μg/L IGF-Ⅰgroup, bFGF + IGF-Ⅰ group, and control group, respectively. At days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after culture, the proliferative activity was detected using MTT assay, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured using modified enzyme kinetics method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the 0-100 μg/L mass concentration scope, both bFGF and IGF-Ⅰcould accelerate proliferation of hDPMCs, and the proliferation ability of bFGF was superior to that of IGF-Ⅰ; moreover, the combination of bFGF and IGF-Ⅰcaused a synergetic action to proliferation of hDPMCs. The maximal valid concentration of bFGF was 10 μg/L, and the maximal action concentration of IGF-Ⅰwas 100 μg/L. At 0-7 days, the effect of bFGF on the ALP activity of hDPMCs was not obvious, but the effect of IGF-Ⅰon ALP activity of hDPMCs became greater with the time passing; furthermore, the combination of bFGF and IGF-Ⅰcould generate a synergetic action on increasing the ALP activity.

To study the effects of the extract of fungal elicitor, AgNO3, MeJA and yeast on the growth and content of secondary metabolites of adventitious roots in Tripterygium wilfordii. The above elicitors were supplemented to the medium, the growth and the content of secondary metabolites were measured. When the medium was supplemented with the elicitor Glomerella cingulata or Collectotrichum gloeosporioides, the content of triptolide was increased by 2.24 and 1.93-fold, the alkaloids content was increased by 2.02 and 2.07-fold, respectively. The optimal concentration of G. cingulata was 50 μg/mL for accumulation of triptolide, alkaloids and for the growth of adventitious roots. AgNO3 inhibited the growth of adventitious roots and the accumulation of the alkaloids, whereas it (at 25 μmol/L) increased the accumulation of triptolide by 1.71-fold compared to the control. The growth of adventitious roots, the contents of triptolide and alkaloids were increased 1.04, 1.64 and 2.12-folds, respectively when MeJA was at 50 μmol/L. When the concentration of yeast reached 2 g/L, the content of triptolide increased 1.48-folds. This research demonstrated that supplementation of AgNO3 and yeast enhanced the biosynthesis of triptolide in adventitious roots and the synergism of G. cingulata and MeJA could promote the biosynthesis of both triptolide and alkaloids.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; Colletotrichum ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Epoxy Compounds ; metabolism ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Phyllachorales ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Secondary Metabolism ; Tripterygium ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

Objective: To study the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) during human tooth germ development.Method: bFGF expression was exmined with immmunohistochemical technique in bud stage,cap stage and bell stage of human tooth germ from aborted embryo of 7,8,10 and 14 weeks.Results: At the bud stage of human tooth development, bFGF was expressed in most dental epithelium cells,and few condensed mesenchymal cells.At the cap stage ,bFGF was weakly expressed.At the bell stage,bFGF was strongly expressed in the inner enamel epithelium layer and dental papillary cells near inner enamel epithelia,weakly in the stellate reticulum.Conclusion:During human tooth development,bFGF plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of dental epithelium.

Objective To compare the prevalences of metabolic syndrome(MS)diagnosed with 4 diagnostic criteria by the World Health Organization(WHO,1999),the Inrernational Diabetes Federation(IDF,2005),the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection,Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults(NCEP ATPⅢ,2001)and the Chinese Medical Association Diabetes Branch(CDS)respectively. Methods The interrelated parameters were measured in 1399 patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.All the patients were divided into 2 groups:elderly group(259 cases)and non-elderly group(1140 cases),and the different prevalences diagnosed by 4 diagnostic criteria in 2 groups were compared. Results The MS prevalence was 68.0%,47.9%,46.7%and 54.8%in elderly group by WH0,CDS,IDF and NCEP ATPⅢ respectively.The consistent rate was 76.1% between WHO and CDS,and 70.3%between IDF and CDS,and 81.9% between NCEP ATPⅢ and CDS. Conclusions The WHO definition may be more suitable for MS diagnosis in elderly patients with newly-diagnosed type 2diabetes mellitus.

Objective To explore different features and influencing factors of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin Ale (HbAlc) levels in subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes and prediabetes of natural history of type 2 diabetes. Methods All subjects were classified by OGTT into four groups: (1) normal glucose test (NGT), 31 subjects at age of (48. 4±15. 3) yrs (29-75 years old); (2) impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 33 subjects at age of (50. 8±9. 8) yrs (38-72years old) ; (3) impaired glucose tolerance test (IGT), 34 subjects at age of (54. 5±11.4) yrs (33-74years old), (4) T2DM, 117 subjects at age of (54.3 ± 14.1) yrs (29-75 years old). Glucose metabolism was evaluated by results of OGTT and HbAlc levels. The insulin secretion function and insulin resistance (IR) were evaluated by HOMA-β, △I30/△G330, area under curve of insulin (AUCINS)and HOMA-IR respectively. Results (1) Significant changes of HbAlc values among groups were as following order: T2DM(7. 41%)>IGT(5. 85%)>NGT(5.21%) (P<0. 01). HOMA-β value in T2DM, IGT and IFG decreased by 53. 1% (P<0. 01), 29.3% (P<0. 01) and 23.4% (P<0. 05)respectively as compared with NGT group. HOMA-IR value in diabetes group was 1.66-fold of NGT (P<0.01), 1. 29-fold of IFG (P<0.001) and 1.44-fold of IGT (P<0.05). (2) Only 3 h blood glucose concentration (BG) in 75 g OGTT was independently and positively correlated with HbAlc level (r=0. 71, P<0. 01). △I30/△G330 ratio was independently and negatively correlated with both 1 h and 2 h BG of OGTT (P<0.01). AUCins was positively correlated with only 3 h BG of OGTT (P<0.01). HOMA-β was independently and negatively correlated with all OGTT results except 2 h BG(P<0.01). HOMA-IR was an independently and negatively correlative factor of all OGTT results (P<0. 01 or P<0. 05). TG level was independently and positively correlated to only fasting BG (P<0. 05), and waist circumference value had an independent and positive relationship with only 1/2h BG (P<0. 01). Independently correlative factors of OGTT changes included △I30/△G330, AUCINS,HOMA-β, HOMA-IR and circumference values. Only 3 h BG was probably an independent contributor to HbAlc variation. Conclusions There are obvious HbAlc differences among T2DM,IGT and NGT patients. When HbAlc values are over 8%, no significant changes of glucose and insulin levels at 75 g glucose load test are found among subjects.

Objective To observe the incidence and awareness of dyslipidemia in newly diagnosed elderly type 2 diabetic patients,and to determine the efficacy and safety of simvastatin and Xuezhikang in the treatment of dyslipidemia.Methods Totally 255 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients aged 60 to 75 years in CDCPS research were included and the incidence of dyslipidemia were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into 3 groups:the group 1 was given simvastatin (20 mg/d); the group 2 was given Xuezhikang (0.6～ 1.2 g/d); the group 3 was given no lipid-lowering drugs.All the three groups were given lifestyle intervention and blood pressure and blood sugar control.All patients were followed up monthly and TG,TC,LDL-C,BUN,ALT and creatinine were examined at 7th,14th,and 20th months.Results The incidence of dyslipidemia and the rate of awareness in the study cohort was 62％ and 55.7％.Hypertriglyceridemia was the most common type of dyslipidemia (29％).Among 88 patients with dyslipidemia,25 (28.4％) patients had been treated with lipid-lowering drugs before our study,in whom,8(32％) patients had normal serum lipid levels and only 3 (12％)patients reached to the control standards.20 months after the treatment,the decrement scales of TG,TC and LDL-C were 1.8％,10.5 ％ and 20 ％ respectively in group 1;5.5 ％,15.0％ and 15.7％ respectively in group 2;2.7％,8.7％ and 4.5％ respectively in group 3.The long-term lifestyle intervention and blood pressure and blood sugar control reduced serum lipid to some degree.In the patients with dyslipidemia,lipid-lowering drugs had a better effect on serum lipid reduction than did the lifestyle intervention (P=0.0047,0.0433).There was no significant difference between simvastatin and Xuezhikang.The function changes of liver and kidney had no difference before and after drug intervention (P＞0.05).Conclusions Serum lipid should be monitored and early medicine intervention should be taken in newly diagnosed elderly type 2 diabetic patients.Medicine intervention has a better effect on serum lipid reduction than lifestyle intervention,and there are no significant differences in efficacy and safety between simvastatin and Xuezhikang.

Objective: To prepare anti-VSIG4 monoclonal antibodies and characterize their biological functions.Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with transfected cell line (L929/VSIG4L) as immunogen.The spleen B cells of the mice were fused with SP2/0 and hybridoma cells were screened with transfected cell line (L929/VSIG4) by FCM.After acquisition of the hybridomas secreting anti-VSIG4 mAb,their biological activities were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence,Western blot,competitive inhibition test,and MTT assay.Results:Two stable hybridomas,9A7 and 9D5 were obtained,which could continuously secrete specific anti-VSIG4 monoclonal antibodies.The following biological activity studies showed that these monoclonal antibodies could recognize the natural VSIG4 expressed on the macrophages and several cancer cell lines,such as Jurkat,THP-1 and H446.Furthermore,they could block the inhibitory effects of VSIG4 on proliferation of T cells in vitro.Conclusion: Two hybridomas secreting anti-VSIG4 monoclonal antibodies have been established.These monoclonal antibodies provide useful tools for further studying VSIG4's biological function and its unknown receptor.

Objective To analyze the initial treatment strategies, blood glucose control and reaching standard status of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the middle-aged and elderly. Methods The 771 patients diagnosed with T2DM newly or within one year, aged 50-70 years, selected from Chinese Diabetes Complication Prevention Study (CDCPS) were enrolled in this study. The correlations of initial treatment strategies with blood glucose control (target value of glycated hemoglobin was less than 7.0%) and reaching standard status were analyzed retrospectively. Based on the same lifestyle intervention, the therapy was further divided into group A (without medication), group B (single oral hypoglycemic agent), group C (combined oral hypoglycemic agents), group D (treatment including insulin). Results Although receiving the different treatments, the 771 patients had a similar mean glycated hemoglobin level, from 7.2% to 7.7%, among the four kinds of intervention before entering the study. The increased intensity and complexity after therapy adjustment along with the increased glycated hemoglobin level was observed at baseline. The corresponding relationships between medication and HbA1c were as follow: without medication-6.1%, single oral hypoglycemic agent-7.2%, combined oral hypoglycemic agents-7.7%, treatment including insulin-9.2%. After 20 months of follow-up, the mean fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin were 6.6 mmol/L and 6.2%, separately. According to the target glycated hemoglobin level of less than 7.0%, all four-kinds of therapies had high achievement rates, which were all above 80% except that was 63.2% in group D. Sulphonylurea and biguanide as initial single oral hypoglycemic agent therapy had the similar effectiveness on glucose control and target glycated hemoglobin achievement. Conclusions According to the levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin, multiple individual therapies should be enacted at the beginning of treatment. The strategy mainly based on sulphanylurea and biguanide is proved to be persistently effective in newly-diagnosed middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients in China.