BACKGROUND:Epidermal stem cells as special stem cells of the skin not only plays an important role in maintaining the metabolism of skin, but also is closely related to wound repair, which are the basis for the occurrence and repair of skin and its appendages. Now, epidermal stem cells have been paid great attention on the research of gene therapy and celltherapy with its specific biological advantages. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the research status on features and clinical application of epidermal stem cells. METHODS:A computer-based online retrieval of CNKI, PubMed database and Google scholar was performed for searching papers about clinical application of epidermal stem cells using the keywords of“epidermal stem cells, stem cells division, stem cells culture, clinical application”in Chinese and English. Older theoretical perspectives and repetitive research were excluded. Finally, only 41 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Epidermal stem cells have the great potential of proliferation and multi-directional differentiation, and have important significances for large-area skin defects (burn and trauma), skin tissue engineering, and gene therapy. There are stil many problems that need to be solved, such as how to screen surface markers special for epidermal stem cells and how to induce skin differentiation of epidermal stem cells.

Objective To investigate distribution of integrain ?1 in human oocytes and embryos before and after maturation/fertilization,dring the first and second meiosis,in morulae and blastocyst stage. Methods Human oocytes and embryos were stained by anti-integrin ?1 (PharMingen 09351D) and FITC-labeled second antibody (PharMingen 110094D),and observed by confocal microscope. Results Integrin ?1 concentrated in the nuclear area in matured oocytes,zygotes and 2-cell stage embryo,indicating that integrin ?1 might involve in mitosis.Dislike mouse,there was no distribution of integrin ?1 on the well-accepted sperm binding area on the oocytes,indicating that integrin ?1 might not involve in the binding and fusion of human sperm to human oocytes.Conclusion It was first postulated that integrin ?1 might actively involve in the pronuclear fusion process in human in vitro fertilized oocytes.The marker of ectotrophoblasts,polarized distribution of integrin ?1, appeared at the morulae stage.The stronger expression in ectotrophoblasts around the inner cell mass might indicate some specific function of the ectotrophoblasts near the ICM.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the oncologic safety and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in early and advanced rectal cancers.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 186 cases with rectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic radical resection from June 2009 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively, including 48 early rectal cancer (stage 0-I) and 138 advanced cancer (stage II-III). Thirty-seven cases with early rectal cancer and 275 with advanced cancer undergoing open radical surgery were selected as control group. Surgical safety, oncologic safety and short-term outcomes were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAs for either early or advanced rectal cancer, there were no significant differences in the number of harvested lymph nodes, length of distal resection margin, complication morbidity, rate of local recurrence, distant metastasis, and 3-year survival rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). Although the operation time was longer in laparoscopic group, the laparoscopic group presented less intra-operative blood loss, faster recovery of bowel function, and shorter postoperative hospital stay (all P<0.05). As for advanced rectal cancer, laparoscopic radical surgery tended to achieve less lymph nodes dissected (mean, 13.5 vs. 15.0) and develop more anastomotic leakage (8.0% vs. 5.5%) compared to open surgery, although neither reached statistical significance (P=0.112, P=0.221). Moreover, the conversion rate in patients with advanced rectal cancer was significantly higher than that in those with early cancer (10.9% vs 2.1%, P=0.048).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic surgery can obtain the same oncologic and surgical safety for early rectal cancer as compared to open surgery. However, due to higher conversion rate, potential risk of decreased number of harvested lymph nodes and increased anastomotic leakage, laparoscopic surgery for advanced rectal cancer should be carried out prudently, especially in some hospitals with less laparoscopic experience.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Staging ; Operative Time ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Safety ; Survival Rate

Objective To study the characteristics and clinical significance of the coronary plaques in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods A total of 91 patients undergoing coronary artery angiography (CAG) were selected and divided into two groups according to with or without BPH,56 cases in BPH group,46 cases in control group.The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of 102 lesions area were analyzed by intravascular ultrosound (IVUS),including external elastic membrane-cross-sectional area (EEM-CSA),minimal lumen area (MLA),plaques area (PA),plaques burden (PB),reference external elastic membrane-cross-sectional area (REEM-CSA),reference minimal lumen area (RMAL),reference plaques area (RPA) and reference plaques burden (RPB).Results IVUS showed a higher rate of area stenosis than did the CAG [(58.2± 7.1)％ vs.(55.9 ± 5.2)％,P＜0.01].BPH group had more soft plaques,eccentric plaques,positive remodeling and less calcified than did the control group (P＜0.05).The MLA and RMAL of BPH group were smaller than those of control group:MAL [(5.61±0.96) mm2 vs.(6.06±0.75) mm2,P＜0.05],RMAL[(9.26±1.05) mm2 vs.(10.02±1.10) mm2,P＜0.05]； while the EEM-CSA,PA,PB,RPA,RPB were larger than those of control group:EEM-CSA[(14.51±1.10)mm2 vs.(13.37±1.02)mm2],PA[(8.90±1.24) mm2 vs.(7.31±1.04) mm2],PB[(61.26±6.53)％ vs.(54.53±5.69)％],RPA[(4.26±1.15) mm2 vs.(3.73±1.33) mm2],RPB [(31.30±8.37) ％ vs.(26.81±8.75) ％,P＜0.05].Conclusions IVUS has a higher value on evaluation of mild to moderate coronary artery stenosis.Evidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with BPH needs further excludeing coronary heart disease.

Proceeding from the requirements of teaching target for postgraduate students,the course of progress in pathophysiology was constructed and administrated.The course objective was defined which combined teaching knowledge with fostering students' ability together,especially the ability to think new ideas and to do scientific research.Aiming at this teaching target,the teaching contents which combined with the direction of scientific research of the department was growing together with scientific development,especially in new knowledge and new technique.Multiple teaching means and several mode of examine were adopted during the process of teaching practice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of examination of cervical HPV infection in women in early pregnancy and postpartum.

METHODSUsing flow-through hybridization and gene chip techniques, we examined 3 806 cervical specimens of pregnant and postpartum women of different ages with different cervical diseases. The women were grouped into different age groups by every 5 years for HPV DNA genotyping of the specimens, with another 4080 women without pregnancy serving as the control.

RESULTSOf the total of 7886 specimens, high-risk HPV infection was detected a the rate of 12.5%. In pregnancy, postpartum and nonpregnancy, the infection rate was 14.3%,, 10.5%, and 11.7%, respectively. In the 4 age groups, the infection rate was 16.9%, 12.1%, 13.8%, and 22.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe high-risk HPV infection rate in pregnancy differs significantly from that in nonpregnancy and postpartum. The infection rate also differs with age during pregnancy and postpartum. Examination of HPV infection during pregnancy is safe and feasible.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ASCT2 gene (glutamine transporter) knock-down by shRNA on biological behaviors of colorectal cancer cells.

METHODSshRNA was transfected into colorectal cancer cells Lovo and SW480 to knockdown ASCT2 mediated by Lipofectamine 2000. Reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot were used to examine the mRNA and protein expression of ASCT2. MTT and transwell assay were used to determine the proliferation and invasiveness of Lovo and SW480 cells. Radioactive-tracer was used to detect the uptake of glutamine.

RESULTSASCT2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly down-regulated by shRNA in Lovo and SW480 cells(P<0.01). MTT and transwell assays showed that ASCT2 knock-down could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Lovo and SW480 cells (A490) and decrease the number of invasive Lovo and SW480 cells from the membrane (both P<0.01). The number of membrane Lovo cells in shASCT group and control group was 46.3±5.9 and 197.7±9.1, respectively while the number of membrane SW480 cells in shASCT group and control group was 29.7±3.8 and 139.0±9.5, respectively. Radioactive-tracer showed that shASCT2 transfection could significantly reduce the uptake of glutamine, with an inhibition rate of 79.15% in Lovo and 67.22% in SW480 cells (both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSASCT2 plays an oncogenic role in colonic cancer, and its promotion mechanism may be associated with glutamine metabolism. ASCT2 may be a novel therapeutic target of colonic cancer.

Amino Acid Transport System ASC ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; methods ; Glutamine ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Oncogenes ; drug effects ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo compare the expression of pinopodes, the marker of endometrial receptivity, during the implantation window in Kunming mice stimulated with two different doses of raloxifene (RAL).

METHODSForty-eight 8-week-old female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12), namely saline group, clomiphene citrate (CC, 18 mg/kg) group, RAL (33 mg/kg) group and RAL (44 mg/kg group). In each group, the mice received intragastric administration of 1 mL of normal saline containing CC or RAL at the specified doses or saline only as indicated for ovulation induction, once daily for 2 days. The mice received then injection with 5 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and mated and on day 4.5 of gestation, the pregnant mice were sacrificed for examination of the uterus with scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSAbundant and well developed pinopodes were observed in the endometrium of the mice in the 2 RAL groups and in the saline control group. The mice in CC group showed obviously reduced endometrial pinopodes with poor development.

CONCLUSIONSRAL at two different doses does not obviously affect the expression of pinopodes in the uterine epithelium of mice, suggesting the safety of RAL at these two doses for ovulation induction without causing adverse effects on endometrial receptivity.

Objective:Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) was used in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) to investigate the mechanism of APS on the radiosensitivity of human nasopharyngeal narcinoma CNE-1 cells and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Method:Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of APS (0，6.25，12.5，25，50，100，200 g·L^-1) on CNE-1 cells. Colony formation assay was used to calculate the survival fraction (survival fraction, SF) of CNE-1 cells treated with 12.5 g·L^-1 APS combined with different radiation doses (0，2，4，6 Gy). The linear quadratic equation mathematical model (LQ) was used to draw the radiosensitivity curve according to SF value. Cell scratch and transwell chamber test were used to detect the migration and invasion ability of cells in each group. The apoptosis of cells in each group was detected by flow cytometry, Western blot was used to detect the expressions of EMT markers, apoptosis markers and protein kinase B/extracellular regulated protein kinases (Akt/ERK) pathway proteins in each group. Result:The results of colony formation assay and radiosensitivity curve showed that the combination of non-toxic dose of 12.5 g·L^-1 APS and radiation dose of 4 Gy could significantly increase the radiosensitivity of CNE-1 cells. Compared with blank group and IR group, APS combined with IR could significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of CNE-1 cells (P<0.05), and increase the rate of apoptosis (P<0.05). In addition, compared with the blank group and the IR group, APS combined with IR could significantly down-regulate the expressions of N-cadherin, p-Akt and p-ERK, and significantly up-regulate the expressions of E-cadherin, Bax and Caspase-3 (P<0.05). Conclusion:APS combined with IR can inhibit the migration and invasion of CNE-1 cells, and increase the apoptosis induced by radiotherapy, which may be related to the inhibition of EMT and Akt/ERK pathway.