[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To cultivate stem-like spheres from SW620 cell line in the specific serum-free medium and evaluate the features of the cancer stem cells, and to investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA) and eicosapen-taenoic acid ( EPA) on the growth of SW620 stem cell-like cells.METHODS: Human colon cancer stem cell-like cells ( CSCLC) were obtained from SW620 spheres cultured in serum-free medium.These cells were tested for the expression of SSEA-1 and TRA-1-81 by immunofluorescence staining.The mRNA expression of Sox-2 and Oct-4 was detected by real-time PCR.The efficiency of colony formation on a soft agar gel and tumor formation in the nude mice was compared between SW620 adherent cells and CSCLC.The inhibitory effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C on both types of cells were measured by MTS assay.MTS assay, Annexin V/PI staining and trypan blue staining were used to determine the effects of DHA and EPA on both types of cells.MTS assay was also used to analyze the combined effect of DHA or EPA with chemotherapeutic drugs on SW620 CSCLC.RESULTS:SW620 cells formed spheres in serum-free culture.The cells from spheres highly expressed SSEA-1 and TRA-1-81, transiently expressed Sox-2 and Oct-4 genes and were more resistant to 5-FU and mitomycin C treatments.These cells exhibited a greater ability in clone formation and tumorigenicity, indica-ting that these cells carried stem cell-like features, hence were considered SW620-derived CSCLC.DHA and/or EPA sup-pressed SW620 CSCLC by inhibiting cell growth, inducing cell apoptosis and sensitizing them to chemotherapeutic drugs. CONCLUSION:The cells with stem cell-like features, such as high efficiency in clonogenicity, tumorigenicity and resist-ance to chemotherapeutic drugs, can be obtained from SW620 spheres cultured in serum-free condition.DHA and EPA in-duce apoptosis in SW620-derived CSCLC and sensitize them to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Pedicle screw fixation is widely applied to spinal surgery owing to its advantages of maitaining the stability of spine,promoting the bone graft fusing and so on. Remarkably implantation accu-racy is not only closely related to ultimate fixation,but also can affect the incidence and the severity of complications. Consequently,to improve screw implantation accuracy is one of the goals that spinal sur-geons always pursue. In recent years,newly-developed techniques have been preliminarily used in clinic. An overview on the progresses of these techniques in China and overseas is presented here.

PURPOSE: Various inflammation-based prognostic biomarkers such as the platelet to lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, are related to poor survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of the aspartate aminotransferase to neutrophil ratio index (ANRI) in ICC after hepatic resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 184 patients with ICC after hepatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The cut-off value of ANRI was determined by a receiver operating characteristic curve. Preoperative ANRI and clinicopathological variables were analyzed. The predictive value of preoperative ANRI for prognosis of ICC was identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off value of ANRI was 6.7. ANRI was associated with tumor size, tumor recurrence, white blood cell, neutrophil count, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase. Univariate analysis showed that ANRI, sex, tumor number, tumor size, tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, resection margin, clinical TNM stage, neutrophil count, and carcinoembryonic antigen were markedly correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with ICC. Multivariable analyses revealed that ANRI, a tumor size > 6 cm, poor tumor differentiation, and an R1 resection margin were independent prognostic factors for both OS and DFS. Additionally, preoperative ANRI also had a significant value to predict prognosis in various subgroups of ICC, including serum hepatitis B surface antigen‒negative and preoperative elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 patients. CONCLUSION: Preoperative declined ANRI is a noninvasive, simple, and effective predictor of poor prognosis in patients with ICC after hepatectomy.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases* ; Aspartic Acid* ; Biomarkers ; Blood Platelets ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Hepatectomy* ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutrophils* ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve