Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant solid tumor of the digestive system with extremely poor treatment prognosis. Although its incidence rate is low， its mortality rate is extremely high. In recent years， the number of diagnosed cases worldwide has continued to rise， making pancreatic cancer the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Currently， clinical treatment primarily relies on operation and chemotherapy to suppress tumors. However， these approaches face challenges such as suboptimal efficacy， high postoperative recurrence rates， and severe adverse reactions. Therefore， identifying safe and effective treatment modalities remains a pressing challenge for the medical community. In recent years， research on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） interventions for pancreatic cancer has increased significantly. Multiple studies have shown that single-herb TCM， TCM formulas， and their derived single compounds can regulate the levels of tumor cell signaling pathways through multiple action targets. They inhibit the development and progression of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation， promoting cell apoptosis， inhibiting tumor angiogenesis， reducing cancer cell invasion and migration capabilities， regulating the cell cycle， and modulating the tumor microenvironment. Additionally， TCM has the advantages of significantly enhancing the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and causing fewer adverse reactions. However， the specific action mechanisms by which TCM intervenes in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. Further extensive research is still needed to validate the role of regulating classical signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， Wnt/β-catenin， nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）， notch， and hedgehog in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Therefore， this paper reviewed Chinese and international studies on TCM intervention in pancreatic cancer through relevant signaling pathways in recent years， summarized the potential action mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of pancreatic cancer， and provided references for related research in the future.

Objective To fabricate a foldable microplate for single cell culture and establish finite element model of the folding microplate, so as to calculate traction force of single cells during contraction in three-dimensional (3D) state.Methods The folding angle of the microplate casued by cell traction force was calculated. Then the relation between bending moment and folding angle as well as the relation between traction force and bending moment were derived by using finite element simulation, so as to realize the characterization of traction force for singel cell in 3D state.Results The folding angles of the microplate with HSF and MC3T3-E1 cells in 3D state were 73°-173° and 49°-138°, respectively. The single cell traction forces of HSF and MC3T3-E1 cells were 55-210 nN and 52-161 nN, respectively.Conclusions The proposed method for measuring traction force of single cells in 3D state by fabricating the foldable microplate for single cell culture will provide some references for further development of calculating traction forces in 3D cell adhesion, spreading and migration.

BACKGROUND:Cel co-culture can maximize the simulation ofin vivomicroenvironment. Cel scratch test and interleukin-1β can destroy the balance between matrix metaloproteinases (MMPs) and matrix metaloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs), resulting in extracelular matrix degradation of the articular cartilage, functional disorders of chondrocytes and articular cartilage degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of interleukin-1β on migration, MMP and TIMP expression of chondrocytes co-cultured with osteoblast supernatantin vitro. METHODS:There were three groups: chondrocyte monoculture group, osteoblast+chondrocyte group (co-culture group), osteoblast+chondrocyte+interleukin-1β group (interleukin-1β group). Cel scratch test was conducted to observe the migration of chondrocytes within 24 hours. Semi-quantitative PCR test was used to detect the changes in expressions of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, TIMP-9 in chondrocytes within 24 hours. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the monoculture group, cel migration rate of the other two groups were increased significantly (P< 0.01). Compared with the monoculture group, the gene expressions of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were increased significantly in the coculture group (P < 0. 05); the gene expressions of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9 were increased significantly in the interleukin-1β group (P< 0. 01). Compared with monoculture group, the gene expression of TIMP-1 was increased significantly (P < 0. 01), but the gene expressions of TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 were declined significantly (P < 0. 05) in the other two groups. These findings indicate that co-culture of chondrocytes with osteoblasts can promote chondrocytes migration, enhance gene expression of chondrocytes MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9 and regulate gene expression of TIMPs family. Interleukin-1β inhibitsthe migration of chondrocytes co-cultured with osteoblasts and gene expression of TIMPs family.