BACKGROUND:The immature disc nucleus pulposus is composed of notochordal cels, but there is no notochordal cel in the mature human intervertebral disc, in which the notochordal cels are replaced by chondrocyte-like cels. It is very important to comprehend the disappearance of the notochordal cels; however, it is stil unknown at present. OBJECTIVE: To elaborate the feasibility of notochordal cels to maintain the proliferation and phenotype of chondrocyte-like cels and to induce the cartilage-like differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels. METHODS: The first author used the computer to retrieve PubMed and Wanfang databases using the key words of “notochord cels; nucleus pulposus cels; identify” in English and Chinese, respectively. Totaly 9 896 relevant articles published from January 1999 to August 2015 were retrieved. Repetitive studies were excluded, and finaly 36 articles were in accordance with the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Now, the main functions of notochordal cels are to promote synthesis of extracelular matrix in the nucleus pulposus, induce directional differentiation of mesenchymal cels into nucleus pulposus cels or act as “seed cels” to form the nucleus pulposus cels. The presence and disappearance of notochordal cels is related to intervertebral disc degeneration. Cel apoptosis is involved in static compressionviadeath receptor signals, and then leads to intervertebral disc degeneration. fas ligand can mediate the reduction of notochordal cels, and hypoxia-inducible factor can induce spinal cord injury thereby triggering cel death and complete disappearance of nucleus pulposus. The measurement and verification of immune makers of notochordal cels, CK-8, CK-18 and galectin-3, can benefit to the identification and isolation of notochordal cels, and thereby help the studies on cel growth and differentiation, function and its mechanism of apoptosis.

Background and purpose:About 80%patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor are oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). OSCC is one of the most common cancers in the world with less than 50%survival rate over 5 years. This experiment aimed to explore the effect of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) on apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cell. Methods:RNA interference (RNAi) vector pLKO.1-shSTC2 was constructed and transfected into KB cells. Cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were then assessed by CCK8, APC Annexin V/7-AAD and lfow cytometry. Differences of migration and invasion between KB scr and KB STC2i were examined by cell scratch and transwell tests. Finally, this study detected the apoptosis-associated proteins and metastasis-associated proteins by Western blot. Results:STC2 down-regulation plasmid was constructed and transfected into KB cells. CCK8 prolifera-tion assay revealed that the STC2 down-regulation inhibited KB cells proliferation. By treating with cisplatin, this study found that STC2 silence could facilitate cell apoptosis signiifcantly. With the knock down of STC2 gene, the expressions of Bcl-2, Caveolin-1 andβ-catenin were decreased but the expression of bax was obviously increased. Conclusion:These data suggest that STC2 may be involved in the apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC KB cells. Simultaneously, it can signiifcantly weaken the sensitivity of KB cells to chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin.

Objective To observe the effects of irbesartan and amlodipine on insulin sensitivity in obese hypertensive patients. Methods 157 moderate hypertensive patients were divided into two greups,which received irbesartan or amlodipine for 16 weeks. The changes of blood pressure,heart rate and weight were observed. Insulin re-sistance was computed using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results There was no difference in antihypertensive efficacy between the two groups(P>0.05). After 16 weeks of treatment ,the insulin resistance index decreased by 8.7±2.4 vs 6.1±2.6 (P<0.01) and body mass index decreased(28.1±3.8) kg/m2 vs (27.2± 3.2 ) kg/m2 (P<0.05 ) and mean heart rate raised by (73.1 ±10.0 ) kg/m2 vs ( 79.1±11.4) kg/m2 ( P < 0.01 ) in irbesartan group while no such changes were found in amlodipine treated group. Conclusions In obese hypertensive patients,irbsartan and amlodipine exert similar antihypertensive effect, but irbesartan may help to improve some obe-sity-related metabolize disorder,so the obese hypertensive patients may benefit more from irbsartan than from amlo-dipine.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is one of the most serious complications associated with thyroid cancer surgery. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) in preventing recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy during thyroid cancer surgery, analyze and elaborate the theory, operation standard, application, benefits and disadvantage based on clinical practice.

Objective To observe the effects of complex prescription with the effects of replenishing Qi, activating blood and resolving phlegm on the levels of LN and PC-Ⅲ in BALF and the changes of lung tissue and figure in rat with pulmonary fibrosis. Method The rat model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by injecting pinyamycin, then the changes of the levels of LN and PC-Ⅲ in every group (TCM group, model group and control group) in 7, 28 days respectively were observed. Result There was obvious pulmonary fibrosis morphologic change. Lung quotient increased clearly, and the levels of LN and PC-Ⅲ in BALF increased obviously in 28 days (P

Objective To investigate the pathophysiological mechanism of proliferation and apoptosis in spermatogenic cell of idiopathic oligospermia. Methods Forty one patients with oligospermia were included in the trial.Testicular tissues,which were obtained with Tru Cut needle biopsy,were observed under light microscope.Expressions of p16 and PCNA,incidence of apoptosis in spermatogenic cells were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ 3′ DNA end labeling technique. Five testicular samples which were proved to be normal by examination served as controls. Results Proliferation index (21.6?13.1)% in testes of patients was lower than the normal controls (45.4?5.7)%, P

Objective:To understand the related factors of tic disorders(TD) and early intervention among schoolchildren.Methods:Using stratified-cluster random sampling techniques,4,020 children were selected from 61,836 schoolchildren in Daxing district of Beijing.Totally 4,020 children and their parents were asked to fill in a self-designed questionnaire covering both motor and vocal tics and general information.A three-stage procedure was used:screening,interview and clinical investigation.A total of 3,813 children were investigated successfully.The children who were reported with tic symptoms as well as those who were reported by their teachers or classmates were surveyed according to the TD criteria in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ).Eighty-six TD children were investigated respectively about the related factors of TD,and 86 healthy children matched in age,sex and grade were selected as controls.Telephone interview was carried out to find the doubtful TD cases in family members.Those people identified as having tics underwent a semistructured interview to determine whether they had TD according to DSM-Ⅳ criteria.Related risk factors of TD were investigated according to self-designed formulary medical history sheet. Results:Positive TD inheritance family history(7.0%),abdominal delivery style(36.0%),carbonate drink(10.5%),obesity(14.0%) and psychological stress were risk factors of TD(P<0.05).The multivariate analysis of variance indicated that inheritance family history,delivery style,dwelling environment,carbonate drink,parent-child relation,hobby,underachieve,self-care ability were closely related to the high incidence of TD (P<0.05).Conclusion:The occurrence of tic disorders may be related to multiple interacted factors.Early intervention is most important.

Stanniocalcin (STC) was ifrst found as a calcium- and phosphate-regulating hormone produced in bony ifsh by the corpuscles of Stannius. In mammals, the homolog STC-1 displays a relative high amino acid sequence identity (nearly 50%) with ifsh STC, and STC-2 has a lower identity (nearly 35%) with STC-1 and ifsh STC. Both STC-1 and STC-2 are expressed in a variety of tissues. The functions of STC have not been understood. But some ifndings have been reported on their cellular localization, gene structure, and expression in different physiological and pathological conditions, which will be clues in elucidating the functions of STC in mammals. Moreover, STC-1 and STC-2 are expressed in many tumor cell lines, suggesting other biological functions of STC in mammals other than mineral metabolism.

Objective To explore the effect of sustained performance on EEG approximate entropy (ApEn).Methods Fifty participants were divided into two groups according to whether they had undergone sustained performance .One day af-ter the sustained-performance group finished executing their task , the resting EEG of nine electrodes ( F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, C4, P3, Pz and P4) was acquired in two grups separately , and the ApEn of each electrode was calculated as well . Results The ApEn of F3 and Fz showed an evident decrease as well as randomness of spontaneous brain electrode activity in frontal lobes , especially in the left one .Conclusion The drop of ApEn and the asymmetry of frontal lobes might reflect participants′state of fatigue during sustained performance .