BACKGROUNDMounting evidence suggests that tumors are histologically heterogeneous and are maintained by a small population of tumor cells termed cancer stem cells. CD133 has been identified as a candidate marker of cancer stem cells in laryngeal carcinoma. This study aimed to analyze the chemoresistance of CD133(+) cancer stem cells.

METHODSThe response of Hep-2 cells to different chemotherapeutic agents was investigated and the expression of CD133 was studied. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis was used to identify CD133, and the CD133(+) subset of cells was separated and analyzed in colony formation assays, cell invasion assays, chemotherapy resistance studies, and analyzed for the expression of the drug resistance gene ABCG2.

RESULTSAbout 1% - 2% of Hep-2 cells were CD133(+) cells, and the CD133(+) proportion was enriched by chemotherapy. CD133(+) cancer stem cells exhibited higher potential for clonogenicity and invasion, and were more resistant to chemotherapy. This resistance was correlated with higher expression of ABCG2.

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggested that CD133(+) cancer stem cells are more resistant to chemotherapy. The expression of ABCG2 could be partially responsible for this. Targeting this small population of CD133(+) cancer stem cells could be a strategy to develop more effective treatments for laryngeal carcinoma.

AC133 Antigen ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 2 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lung ; pathology ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the biological properties of human dental pulp cells (HDPC) by cloning and analysis of genes differentially expressed in HDPC in comparison with human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).

METHODSHDPC and HGF were cultured and identified by immunocytochemistry. HPDC and HGF subtractive cDNA library was established by PCR-based modified subtractive hybridization, genes differentially expressed by HPDC were cloned, sequenced and compared to find homogeneous sequence in GenBank by BLAST.

RESULTSCloning and sequencing analysis indicate 12 genes differentially expressed were obtained, in which two were unknown genes. Among the 10 known genes, 4 were related to signal transduction, 2 were related to trans-membrane transportation (both cell membrane and nuclear membrane), and 2 were related to RNA splicing mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONThe biological properties of HPDC are determined by the differential expression of some genes and the growth and differentiation of HPDC are associated to the dynamic protein synthesis and secretion activities of the cell.

Cloning, Molecular ; Cloning, Organism ; Dental Pulp ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Library ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence and risk factors on HIV infection among injection drug users (IDU) in Dehong prefecture area of Yunnan province.

METHODSAn epidemiological cohort of HIV-negative IDU had been developed and followed since October, 2004. HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months.

RESULTSBy the end of 2008, 760 HIV-negative IDU had been recruited and followed for a total of 1153.6 person-years. 47 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 4.07/100 person-years during the follow-up period. The HIV incidence was 4.45/100 person-years during 2004 - 2006, 4.50/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.54/100 person-years in 2008. Both the behavior of drug injection and the HIV incidence among the cohort had substantially decreased during the follow-up period. Multiple regression analysis using Cox proportional hazard model indicated that people with Jing-po ethnicity (Hazard ratio, HR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.06 - 6.19) and other minorities except for Dai (HR = 3.26, 95%CI: 0.89 - 11.96) were at higher risk for HIV infection than the people with Han ethnicity. People injecting drugs with (HR = 2.27, 95%CI: 0.98 - 5.25) or without (HR = 5.27, 95%CI: 2.25 - 12.34) needle sharing were at higher risk for HIV infection than those reporting having no drug injection behavior during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONBoth the behavior of drug injection and the HIV incidence among former IDU in Dehong prefecture area of Yunnan province had been decreasing during the four years. However, needle sharing remained the most important risk factor for HIV new infection among IDUs. IDUs with different ethnicities seemed to have different risks towards HIV infection.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Needle Sharing ; Risk Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method for finding more HIV/AIDS.

METHODSIn September 2009, newly reported HIV-infected individuals from May to August, 2009 in Dehong prefecture were asked to participate in a survey which requested demographic characteristics, history of high-risk behaviors and contact information of individuals with whom they had high risky contacts. People with risky contacts with HIV-infected cases (index cases) were also approached to participate in this survey and HIV testing was provided.

RESULTSA total of 342 HIV-infected individuals were newly reported and served as index cases from May to August, 2009. Among them, 47.1% (161/342) were transmitted by regular sexual partners. Through three-round surveys, 218 contacts were traced and among them, 84.9% (185/218) were traced by regular heterosexual partners. HIV positive rate of the tested was 34.7% (60/173) in the first-round tracing and 12.5% (1/8) in the second one. Among the 560 individuals (index cases and their high-risk contacts), the proportions of having regular heterosexual partners, non-regular and non-commercial sexual partners, commercial sexual heterosexual partners and men having sex men were 87.9% (492/560), 18.9% (106/560), 22.3% (125/560) and 0.3% (1/318), respectively, while the proportion of having never used condoms when having sex with the above four types sexual partners were 73.8% (363/492), 72.6% (77/106), 63.2% (79/125) and 0.0% (0/1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAs an epidemiological method for HIV/AIDS finding, contact tracing identified a large number of HIV infectors who were traced by newly reported HIV-infected individuals.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; methods ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the HIV incidence and risk factors among sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province.

METHODSA cohort of sero-negative spouses of the HIV patients had been developed and followed up since November, 2005. HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months.

RESULTSBy the end of June, 2008, 790 sero-negative spouses of HIV patients had been recruited, of whom 702 were followed-up for at least one time. During the total 1202.35 person-years, 31 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 2.58/100 person-years. The HIV incidence rates were 2.22/100 person-years in 2006, 2.95/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.74/100 person-years in 2008. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that those who resided in Yingjiang county [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.37, 95%CI: 1.48 - 12.90, P = 0.008], ever using drugs (HR = 3.49, 95%CI: 1.09 - 11.18, P = 0.035), or having an HIV-infected spouse who never exposed to antiretroviral treatment (HR = 3.60, 95%CI: 1.41 - 9.16, P = 0.007) were at higher risk for HIV infection.

CONCLUSIONSero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province had a relatively high incidence of HIV new infection during 2006-2008. More efforts should put on those people living in these areas, having a history of drug use or having an HIV-infected spouse who had never been exposed to antiretroviral treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV Seronegativity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Spouses ; Young Adult

Objective To study the HIV incidence and risk factors among sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province. Methods A cohort of sero-negative spouses of the HIV patients had been developed and followed up since November, 2005.HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months. Results By the end of June, 2008, 790 sero-negative spouses of HIV patients had been recruited, of whom 702 were followed-up for at least one time. During the total 1202.35 person-years, 31 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 2.58/100 preson-years. The HIV incidence rates were 2.22/100person-years in 2006, 2.95/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.74/100 person-years in 2008. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that those who resided in Yingjiang county [hazard ratio (HR) =4.37, 95% CI: 1.48-12.90, P=0.008] , ever using drugs (HR=3.49, 95% CI:1.09-11.18, P=0.035) , or having an HIV-infected spouse who never exposed to antiretroviraltreatment (HR=3.60, 95% CI: 1.41-9.16, P=0.007) were at higher risk for HIV infection.Conclusion Sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province had a relatively high incidence of HIV new infection during 2006-2008. More efforts should put on those people living in these areas, having a history of drug use or having an HIV-infected spouse who had never been exposed to antiretroviral treatment.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Humans ; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary ; Skin Neoplasms

Humans ; Kidney/pathology* ; Plasmacytoma/pathology*

Objective To trace and provide HIV-testing among those having contacts with HIV-infected individuals at various levels in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of such investigation as a supplemental strategy for HIV testing and control. Methods Newly reported HIV infections from August throughout October in Dehong prefecture, in 2008 were asked to provide contact information of persons whom they had high risk contacts with. Persons having had risk contacts with HIV-infected cases were hereof interviewed and their blood tested on the sero-status of HIV. Results A total of 335 HIV cases were newly reported during this three-month period. A total of 309 cases of them and 148 HIV infections identified thereafter from their risk contacts were under informed consent, to participate in this study. A total number of 3395 risk contacts were reported, of whom only 20.7% (704/3395) had 'contact information' and 51.3% (361/704) were successfully located and interviewed, including 117 previously confirmed HIV infections and 244 people with unknown HIV status. The majority of them (203 or 83.2% of 244) were then tested for HIV and 56(27.6% of 203) were tested positive for HIV. The proportion of having detailed contact information and the proportion of being traced or followed among reported risk contacts of HIV infections were 68.8% and 68.2% for spouses of HIV patients, respectively, which were much higher than those among commercial sex partners (1.2% and 16.7%), casual sex partners (37.3% and 22.3% ) and peers who sharing needles (34.1% and 56.4% ). Conclusion Newly reported HIV infections reported a large number of risk contacts and new HIV infections were identified among them. It was extremely difficult to trace commercial sex partners or casual sex partners on their HIV infection status. Nevertheless, tracing the risk contacts of newly reported HIV infections seemed to be helpful in identifying new HIV infections and in understanding the nature of transmission towards controlling the HIV epidemics.