To isolate and identify cancer stem cells from esophageal carcinoma cells (ECCs) using cell surface marker p75NTR.

In the present paper, the characteristics of acupoints in composition and their functional activities are discussed based on related domestic and abroad investigated results achieved in this area. Niche microenvironment of adult stem cells and correlative special differentiated cells are assembled, like gathering in caves, under the complex ation of network junctions of biological stress. A hypothesis of trinity is put forward to explain the construction and functional activities of acupoints.

To evaluate the efficacy of hBMP-4 gene modified tissue engineered bone graft in the enhancement of rabbit spinal fusion and find an ideal kind of substitute for the autograft bone.

To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of standard-dose IA regimen (idarubicin and cytarabine) as induction therapy followed by FLAG regimen in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and its influence on peripheral stem cell mobilization.

To investigate the effect and the potential mechanism of umbilical cord (UC) derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on umbilical cord blood (UCB) derived CD34+ cells in vivo homing in xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice model.

To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha on the homing efficiency of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HS/PC) into bone marrow and its mechanism.

To explore the influence of methylprednisolone (MP) on cellular component in donor graft and on H-2 haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in mice.

To analyze the clinical outcome of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from related donors for hematological malignancies.

To investigate the relationship between caspase 12 activation and endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis of guinea pig cochlea cells induced by intense noise.

To explore the influence of two different endolymphatic infusion ways on cochlear morphology and function.

To explore the feasibility of directionally inducing human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) towards inner ear hair cells.

To study the effects of Down syndrome cellular adhesion molecule (DSCAM) on differentiation of rat marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into neurons in vitro.

To evaluate the effect of clearance of superoxide anion by catechin on the expression of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) and endothelial nitricoxide synthase (eNOS) and apoptosis in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II).

To investigate the feasibility of using adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) to promote neovascularization and survival rate of free fat transplantation.

The researches of therapeutic cloning and somatic cell reprogramming, two strategies used to generate patient-specific autologous stem cells, have recently made great progress. Therapeutic cloning refers to derivation of embryonic stem cells from blastocyst produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer, whereas somatic cell reprogramming refers to establishment of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from differentiated somatic cells by ectopic expression of specific transcription factors. The two strategies differ in their methodological approaches, technical obstacles and ethical debates, but confront similar problems including the differentiation of stem cells and the feasibility of cell-replacement therapy. This review discusses the research advance of these two biotechnologies and summarizes their difference and similarity.

In treating of leukemia and controlling of minimal-residual disease (MRD), graft versus leukemia effect (GVL) plays a critical role, and complicated mechanisms are involved in this immunology process. When graft cells are infused into recipients, the evoked GVL effect must be inevitably influenced by many factors derived from allogeneic effect between donor and receptor. To utilize GVL more efficiently in future clinical practice and to improve the curative effect of allo-HSCT, it is necessary to recognize these factors. Some potential factors influencing GVL such as chimerism patterns, autocytotoxic cells, dynamics of immune cells in patients, the cytokines and so on are reviewed in this article.

In recent years, Research shows that cluster A of Hox gene family is a group of master genes for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), which influence on the number of hematopoietic stem cells and the differentiation of HSPCs into erythroid, myeloid, megakaryocytic and lymphocytic lineages, and are closely related with the pathogenesis of leukemia. In this review, the effects of gene Hox on proliferation and differentiation of HSPCs were concerned, while the epigenetics alterations of cluster A in Hox gene family as well as its coexistence with Non-HOX and other fusion genes were also discussed. This made cluster A in Hox gene family plays a regulatory role in pathogenesis of leukemia.

The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an abnormal clonal proliferation disease resulting from disorder of hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells and is characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and high risk of transforming into acute leukemia. The present experimental studies in gene, chromosome, cytokines and biochemical aspects may put the genetically models for clarifying the pathogenesis of MDS, help to early evaluation of disease prognosis and eventually develop the strategies of more effective prevention and treatment methods for MDS. In this article, the advances of chromosome, gene, cytokines and biochemical aspects in pathogenesis of MDS are summarized on basis of proceedings of ASH meeting in 2007 years.

This study was aimed to investigate a beneficial approach for resolving the deficiency of blood source, preventing the infection resulting from blood transfusion and overcoming the knotty match of patients with rare blood group by using massive expansion of erythroid cells from cord blood CD34(+) cells in vitro. The CD34(+) cells from human cord blood were cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO) for 1 week, then expansion and differentiation of CD34(+) cells into erythroid cells were supported by co-culture with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow for 2 weeks. The results indicated that after culture for 23 days, the expansion multiple of total cell number reached 2.52 x 10(5), and over 95% of these cells were erythroid cells as compared with less than 1% of myelomonocytic (CD14(+) or CD15(+)) cells and megakaryocytic (CD41(+)) cells. However, the culture system without MSC support was significantly disadvantaged both in expansion ability and ratio of erythroid cells when compared with MSC supporting system. It is concluded that the erythroid cells can be produced from CD34(+) cells in large scale by culturing in the system comprised of cytokine sets and MSC feeders, in which MSCs can support the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells.

The study was aimed to investigate the effective therapeutic method for patients with multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis. A 58-year-old patient diagnosed as multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis in four limbs was enrolled in this study. The various clinical and laboratorial examinations were performed, including bone marrow smear, immunologic test, radiography and so on. Patient received chemotherapeutic drugs and then autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). The result showed that hematopoietic reconstitution was achieved at 23 days after auto-HSCT. Immunofixation electrophoresis was normal. There was only 0.6% plasma cells in the bone marrow. In conclusion, the auto-HSCT may be an effective treatment for multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis in four limbs.