Targeting Colorectal Cancer Stem-Like Cells with Anti-CD133 Antibody-Conjugated SN-38 Nanoparticles.

Cancer stem-like cells play a key role in tumor development, and these cells are relevant to the failure of conventional chemotherapy. To achieve favorable therapy for colorectal cancer, PEG-PCL-based nanoparticles, which possess good biological compatibility, were fabricated as nanocarriers for the topoisomerase inhibitor, SN-38. For cancer stem cell therapy, CD133 (prominin-1) is a theoretical cancer stem-like cell (CSLC) marker for colorectal cancer and is a proposed therapeutic target.

Autophagy promotes resistance to photodynamic therapy-induced apoptosis selectively in colorectal cancer stem-like cells.

Recent studies have indicated that cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) exhibit a high resistance to current therapeutic strategies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), leading to the recurrence and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). In cancer, autophagy acts as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. However, the role of autophagy in the resistance of CSCs to PDT has not been reported.

Cultural competency training requirements in graduate medical education.

Background: Cultural competency is an important skill that prepares physicians to care for patients from diverse backgrounds.

Objective: We reviewed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) program requirements and relevant documents from the ACGME website to evaluate competency requirements across specialties.

Methods: The program requirements for each specialty and its subspecialties were reviewed from December 2011 through February 2012.

Beliefs about causes, symptoms, and stigma associated with severe mental illness among 'highly acculturated' Chinese-American patients.

Background: Literature about experiences of mental illness among ethnic minority has tended to focus on first-generation migrants. This study fills that gap by exploring experiences among highly acculturated Chinese-American patients with mental illness.

Material S: Twenty-nine participants completed semi-structured interviews based on Kleinman's explanatory model, which were audio-taped, transcribed and coded for qualitative analysis.

Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation potential of human gingival fibroblasts by spheroid formation on chitosan membranes.

Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were recently found to be a source of mesenchymal stem cells. Their behavior on a biomaterial has not been reported so far. The effect of culturing HGF on chitosan membranes on their chondrogenic differentiation was investigated in this study.

A comparison of surgery and family medicine residents' perceptions of cross-cultural care training.

The need for physicians formally trained to deliver care to diverse patient populations has been widely advocated. Utilizing a validated tool, Weissman and Betancourt's Cross-Cultural Care Survey, the aim of this current study was to compare surgery and family medicine residents' perceptions of their preparedness and skillfulness to provide high quality cross-cultural care. Past research has documented differences between the two groups' reported impressions of importance and level of instruction received in cross-cultural care.