Concise Review: Differentiation of Human Adult Stem Cells Into Hepatocyte-like Cells In vitro.

Adult stem cells (ASCs) are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues, which are the powerful sources for cell therapy and tissue engineering. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), and peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) are the common ASCs, and many studies indicated that ASCs isolated from various adult tissues could be induced to hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. However, the isolation, culture protocols, characterization of ASCs and hepatocyte-like cells are different.

Oxymatrine liposome attenuates hepatic fibrosis via targeting hepatic stellate cells.

Aim: To investigate the potential mechanism of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-labeled liposome loading oxymatrine (OM) therapy in CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Methods: We constructed a rat model of CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis and treated the rats with different formulations of OM. To evaluate the antifibrotic effect of OM, we detected levels of alkaline phosphatase, hepatic histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson staining) and fibrosis-related gene expression of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 as well as type I procollagen via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The identification of miR-375 as a potential biomarker in distal gastric adenocarcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and play an important role in carcinogenesis. Herein, we characterized the global expression of miRNA in distal gastric adenocarcinomas and determined if circulating miRNAs could be used as biomarkers for distal gastric adenocarcinoma. We used a microarray screening system to detect dysregulated miRNAs in distal gastric adenocarcinoma tissues.

Integrin alphavbeta6 promotes tumor tolerance in colorectal cancer.

Tumor immune tolerance plays a critical role in tumor cell survival; the establishment of tumor immune tolerance is incompletely understood yet. Integrin alphavbeta6 (avb6) is involved in tumor growth and metastasis. This study aimed to observe the effect of avb6 on the development of tumor tolerance in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Foxp3+IL-17+ T cells promote development of cancer-initiating cells in colorectal cancer.

The pathogenesis of CRC remains to be further understood. This study was designed to elucidate the role of Foxp3+IL-17+ T cells in the pathogenesis of CRC. Surgically removed CRC tissue was collected from 12 patients with CRC.

Immunoglobulin kappa and immunoglobulin lambda are required for expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-xL in human colorectal cancer tissue.

Objective: Aberrant expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) by cancer cells has been documented in a number of malignant tumors but its biological significance is unclear. Cancer cells overexpress anti-apoptotic molecules such as Bcl-xL. The present study aimed to examine the role of expression of Ig light-chain Igk and Iglambda in maintaining the high levels of Bcl-xL in colorectal cancer cells.

Present status and perspectives of stem cell-based therapies for gastrointestinal diseases.

In recent years the interest in stem cell-based therapies for gastrointestinal injury has been increasing continuously. From the clinical point of view, transplantation of bone marrow derived stem cells may represent an alternative therapy for gastrointestinal injury, such as radioactive injury, inflammatory bowel disease, and other refractory gastrointestinal tract injury. There were several reports indicated that bone marrow derived stem cells located in the injured gastrointestinal tract and contributed to its regeneration by differentiating into functional epithelia cells or infusing with the gastrointestinal stem cells.

[Clinical analysis of 38 elderly patients with early double primary cancers].

Objective: To study the clinical features and proper treatment of 38 elderly patients with early double primary cancers.

Methods: Thirty-eight elderly patients with early double primary cancers treated from January 1980 to March 2003 were retrospectively reviewed for involved organs, treatment and prognosis.

Results: Digestive tract was the most frequently involved, followed by urogenital system and lung.

A clinicopathological analysis of 22 cases of multiple malignant tumors.

To get a better understanding of the location, pathophysiology, etiology and prognosis of multiple malignant tumors (MPMT), we evaluated the medical records of 22 patients with MPMT. Our results suggested that radiotherapy and chemotherapy might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MPMT and follow-up is important in detecting a secondary primary malignant tumor (PMT) at an early stage. Surgical removal of tumors is the first-choice therapy for MPMT.