Recently, stem cell like side population (SP) cells have been found in many normal organizations and malig?nant tumors, which have the proficiency of differentiation and self-renewal. These cells play an important role in cancer stem cell research, though they occupy a low proportion in total cells. Here, we reviewed the foundation of SP cells, and their rela?tionship with stem cells, and the clinical application in the future.

As one of the serious complications of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy( DR) has become a main eye disease which causes blindness. The occurrence and development of DR is related to many factors. The pathogenesis is complicated, and the mechanism has not been clear. Early data suggest that the occurrence and development of DR has relations with many factors such as blood sugar level, diabetes duration and the environment. Among the factors, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress is the important mechanisms of DR and has become research focus in recent years. Consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction within cells include elevation of the rate of reactive oxygen species( ROS) production due to damage of electron transport chain proteins, mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) damage, and loss of metabolic capacity. Clear understanding on the mechanism of mitochondrial functional change under high sugar level and oxidative stress response in the occurrence and development of DR is of great significance on prevention and cure of DR. ln this article, the development of mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative stress of DR is reviewed.

Objective:To investigate the existence of side population cells with the potency of stem cells in human gallbladder carcinoma cell line GBC-SD and the differences in ABCG2,Oct-4 and CD34 expression among SP cells,non-SP cells and GBC-SD cells.Methods:SP and non-SP cells were sorted from GBC-SD cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS).The expression of ABCG2,Oct-4 and CD34 in SP cells,non-SP cells,and GBC-SD cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),Western blot,flow cytometry(FCM)and immunofluorescence chemistry.Results:SP cells with stem cell potency were isolated from GBC-SD cells with a proportion of(0.64±0.08)%.The metastatic ability of SP cells was obviously higher than that of non-SP cells and GBC-SD cells(P<0.05).The expression of ABCG2 was significantly higher in SP cells than in non-SP cells and GBC-SD cells[(89.56±3.86)%vs.(1.32±0.49)%and(12.37±1.61)%,P=0.001].The expression of Oct-4 in these cells was(94.87±1.40)%,(88.16±2.34)%and(90.17±1.61)%,respectively(P>0.05).CD34 was neady absent in these cells on protein level[(1.78±0.51)%vs.(0.63±0.21)%and(0.96±0.381)%,P>0.05)],but it was highly expressed in non-SP cells and GBC-SD cells and absent in SP cells off mRNA leve;.Conclusion:SP calls which hava the potency of stem cells,exist in human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cell line and have the phenotype of ABCG2+Oct-4+CD34-.

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are conservative molecules associated with groups of pathogens or their products. These molecules are recognized by relevant receptors. PAMPs induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines through the signal cascade. The role of PAMPs in the initiation and development of periodontitis is recently attracting attention. PAMPs induce the expression of inflammatory mediators after they are recognized in the periodontium. This process damages the periodontal soft tissue and osseous tissue, thus resulting in periodontitis. The results of this study will provide an excellent resolution for the treatment of periodontitis by blocking the pathogenic pathway of PAMPs.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules ; Periodontitis ; Periodontium

Objective To explore the influences of age and duration of status convulsion (SC) on hippocampal neuron apoptosis by observing the dynamic change of neuron apoptosis in rats with different age when SC terminates. Methods Seizures were induced in infant rats (IRs) and adult rats (ARs) injected with lithium and pilocarpine intraperitoneally. Rats were sacrificed at 6 time points (3, 6, 12 hours and 1, 3, 7 days) after 30 minutes of SC, or 2 time points (3 hours and 1 day ) after 3 hours of SC respectively. The location and type of apoptotic cells were assessed by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) of brain sections in situ. The proportion of apoptotic cells was quantified by Annexin-Ⅴ-FITC apoptosis detecting method and analysed by flow cytometer. Results (1) SC induced neuronal apoptosis and necrosis mainly in the CA_1 and CA_3 regions of hippocampus. (2) As compared to the time point before SC, the proportion of apoptotic cells in IRs and ARs hippocampus was increased obviously at 3 hours point after 30 minutes of SC (IRs 0.55%?0.21%, ARs 0.53%?0.06%), and with a maximal induction at 12 hours in IRs (0.67%?0.18%) and 1 day in ARs (0.98%?0.38%). The apoptotic process continued at least for 3—7 days. (3) In IRs, the proportion of apoptotic cells was lower than in ARs at different time points after 30 minutes of SC, except 3 hours point. There was a significant difference between the two age groups at 1 day and 7 days after SC respectively. The age-related difference was more obvious after 3 hours SC. Conclusions (1) Severe seizure induces neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus. (2) Age and duration of SC might be the important factors in influencing the neuronal apoptosis. The neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus after SC would have a positive correlation with age and duration of SC.

Schistosomiasis is a kind of zoonosis with serious hazard,which is popular in many countries and regions in the world. One of the efforts for schistosomiasis prevent and control is developing new drugs and vaccines,and knowing the tran?scription regulation mechanism and the function of transcription factors will help us find the targets of new drugs and vaccines as soon as possible. This article reviews the progress of Schistosoma transcription factors and research methods.

The correct pairing of disulfide bonds maintains the correct folding mode and high-level structure formation of peptides and protein drugs, which is crucial for the quality control of products. In order to ensure that the disulfide bonds are correctly paired, disulfide bond analysis is an essential part of peptides and protein drug characterization. Mass spectrometry can be used to analyze disulfide bonds. However, insulin and its analogues have two pairs of disulfide bonds without restriction enzyme cutting site. Conventional collision-induced dissociation (CID) and high-energy induced cleavage (HCD) cannot accurately locate the complex disulfide bond. In our study, three methods were used to localize the complex disulfide, including enzyme digestion combined with key peptide fragment in source decay (ISD) fragmentation method, enzyme digestion combined with partial reduction alkylation method, intact protein source ISD and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) cleavage method, The applicability of insulin aspart, insulin lispro and insulin glargine were also investigated. This study provides a new way for the quality control of disulfide bonding mode of insulin and its analogues, and also provides a reference for the disulfide bond localization of peptides or proteins containing this complex disulfide bond.

Objective To study the changes of expression of mucin1 (MUC1) and protooncogene proteins C-myc (C-myc) gene in elderly papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods The expression levels of MUC1 and C-myc were examined by immunohistochemical methods in 58 sample of thyroid carcinoma,35 nodular goiter and in 30 normal thyroid tissue.Results The detective rate of MUC1 in 58 specimens of thyroid carcinoma was 77.6％ (45/58),while 90.0％ (9/10) in those with infiltration and 88.2 ％ (15/17) in those with metastasis.The detective rate of C-myc in 58 specimens of thyroid carcinoma was 81.0 ％ (47/58),and 100.0 ％ (17/17) in those with metastasis.Conclusions The differences in MUC1 or C myc expression and in thyroid carcinoma infiltration and lymph node metastasia between benign versus malignant thyroid tumor are statistically significant.

Objective To investigate expression levels of epithelial mucin 1 (MUC1) and epitbelial mucin15(MUC15) in elderly patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and assess the role of MUC1 and MUC15 in the pathogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinoma.Methods Protein expression of MUC1 and MUC15 was detected by immunohistochemistry in 10 samples from normal thyroid tissue adjacent to thyroid adenoma,57 samples from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC),and 14 samples from PTC in neck lymph node metastasis.Results Expression rates of MUC1 in normal thyroid tissues,thyroid papillary carcinoma,and lymph node metastatic carcinoma were 40.0％,75.4％,64.3,respectively,and the rates for MUC15 were 0,73.7％,71.4％,respectively.The positive expression rate of MUC1 was higher in PTC tissues than in normal thyroid tissues (x2 =5.10,P=0.02) and,compared with normal thyroid tissues,the positive expression rate of MUC15 increased in PTC tissues and lymph node metastatic carcinoma (x2 =12.25 and 19.75,both P＜0.05)MUC15 protein expression was higher in micro-PTC (less than or equal to 1 cm in diameter) than in carcinoma larger than 1 cm in diameter (90.9％ vs.62.9,x2 =5.48,P=0.02).MUC15 expression was higher in PTC without lymph node metastasis than in PTC with lymph node metastasis (83.8％vs.55.0％,x2 =5.55,P=0.02).MUC1 expression was positively correlated with MUC15 expression in thyroid papillary carcinoma (r=0.35,P=0.01).Conclusions MUC1 and MUC15 may have synergistic effects in the initiation and progression of PTC.MUC15 may play a role in regulating tumorigenesis of thyroid papillary carcinoma in early stages and can potentially serve as a supplementary marker in the screening of micro-thyroid papillary carcinoma.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD).Methods Eight patients with PPNAD from 2001 to 2009 in PUMC Hospital were reviewed,their clinical data were collected.Results PPNAD often occurred in adolescents.62.5% of patients with PPNAD were complicated with Carney complex(CNC).In addition to general features of Cushing's syndrome,amenorrhea and growth retardation in stature were very frequent in clinical manifestations of PPNAD.Plasma ACTH was undetectable,circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol was disappeared,glucocorticoid excretion was increased paradoxically during the dexamethasone suppression test in 50% patients with PPNAD.Adrenal imaging from 75% patients revealed normal-sized adrenal glands or suspectable micronodular changes.Adrenal pathologic analysis revealed numerous brown cortical nodules containing lipofuscin pigmentation.Unilateral adrenalectomy may relieve symptoms of Cushing's syndrome,but plasma ACTH and circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol were difficult to recovere.Hypercorticoidism might re-occure after unilateral adrenalectomy.Conclusion PPNAD should be bewared in ACTH independent Cushing's syndrome patients without apparent adrenal mass,and CNC should be screened and followed up.