Objective: To determine the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathways in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells. Methods: The viability of MGC803 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis of MGC803 cells was observed by AO/EB fluorescence microscopy and detected by flow cytometry with PI staining. Expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38 (pp38) MAPK were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: EGCG induced apoptosis of MGC803 cells and apparently increased the activity of pp38MAPK in MGC803 cells. However, after interference with pp38MAPK inhibitor, the inhibitory effect of EGCG on MGC803 cells was significantly weakened. The apoptotic rate of the cells and the activity of pp38MAPK also decreased dramatically. Conclusions: EGCG can induce apoptosis of MGC803 cells. The effects could be markedly suppressed by pp38MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. EGCG induces apoptosis of MGC803 cells partly by activating p38 MAPK.

BACKGROUND: Bioabsorbable biomaterials are of crucial importance in tissue engineering applications, and various factors affect their degradation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the degradation characteristics of concentrated growth factor (CGF) clot and CGF membrane in simulated body fluid (SBF) and simulated saliva fluid (SSF). METHODS: Fifteen volunteers were selected, and human blood samples were collected for the preparation of CGF clot or CGF membrane. All specimens from each subject were averagely divided into four groups: group A, CGF clot in SBF; group B, CGF clot in SSF; group C, CGF membrane in SBF; group D, CGF membrane in SSF. The specimens were subjected to the immersion test. The average daily rate of degradation of each group was calculated after the samples were thoroughly degraded, and weight loss ratio per unit time was also determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The mean degradation time in groups A-D were (14.0±0.7), (9.7±0.9), (9.9±1.2) and (7.2±0.7) days, respectively. (2) By comparing CGF membrane with CGF clot in the same simulated fluid, the average daily degradation rate of CGF clot (groups A, B) was statistically significantly lower than counterparts of CGF membrane (groups C, D) (P < 0.05). By comparison between SBF and SSF, the average daily degradation rate in the SBF (groups A, B) was significantly lower than counterparts in the SSF (groups C, D) (P <0.05). Overall, the degradation rate of CGF membrane is higher than that of CGF clot under the same degradation environment; for CGF membrane or CGF clot, the degradation rate in SSF is higher than that in SBF.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors for M4/M5subtypes in chil-dren with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of M4/M5subtypes in Shanghai Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University,from January 2009 to December 2014 was carried out.The long-term efficacy,prognosis and relapse factors were analyzed.Results The clinical data of 46 ca-ses were collected,among which 38 cases were treated with more than 2 courses,including 22 male,16 female,19 cases M4and 19 cases M5.The median age was 5 years.5-year overall survival(OS)rate and 5-year event-free survival (EFS)rate were(57.7 ± 9.3)% and(47.2 ± 8.9)%,and 5-year EFS of M4and M5were(52.4 ± 12.7)% and (45.4 ± 11. 9)%. Compared with the international risk stratification:5-year EFS rate of favorable-risk, intermediate-risk and poor-risk were(77.2 ± 12.4)%,(49.5 ± 14.9)% and(25.0 ± 19.8)%(χ2=6.305,P=0.043).Single factor analysis showed that extramedullary infiltration(χ2=4.828,P=0.028),Chromosome karyotype (χ2=10.178,P=0.017),the eighth day assessment(χ2=5.382,P=0.020)and course of treatment(χ2=4.771, P=0.029)were prognostic factors;multivariate analysis showed extramedullary infiltration(HR =5.323,95%CI:1.620-17.490,P=0.006)and less-than-6 courses of treatment(HR=6.186,95%CI:1.726-22.176,P=0.005)were the independent risk factors of affecting survival.Conclusions (1)Strengthening treatment and ade-quate courses of treatment are the critical to improve the overall curative effect in children with M4/M5subtypes.(2) Extramedullary infiltration was the risk factor for survival and recurrence in M4/M5subtypes.(3)It is suggested that the children who have the initial symptoms and molecular biology with poor prognostic factors choose hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as early as possible.