In vitro growth, differentiation and biological characteristics of neural stem cells

OBJECTIVE： To summarize the biological characteristics of neural stem cells, and the separation, purification. differentiation and source of neural stem cells. DATA SOURCES ： An online search of Pubmed database was undertaken to identify English articles about the growth of neural stem cells in vitro published from January 2000 to October 2006 by using the keywords of ＂neural stem cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs）, umbilical cord blood stem cells, embryonic stem cells （ESC）, separation methods, neural growth factor＂. And relevant articles published in IEEE/IEE Electronic Library （IEL） database, Springer Link database and Kluwer Online Journals were also searched, Chinese relevant articles published between January 2000 to October 2006 were searched with the same keywords in Chinese in Chinese journal full-text database. STUDY SELECTION ： The articles were primarily screened, and then the full-texts were searched. Inclusive criteria： （1） Articles relevant to the biological characteristics and classification of neural stem cells; （2） Articles about the source, separation and differentiation of the ESCs, BMSCs and umbilical cord blood stem cells. The repetitive studies and reviews were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION ： Thirty articles were selected from 203 relevant articles according to the inclusive criteria Articles were excluded because of repetition and reviews. DATA SYNTHESES ： Neural stem cells have the ability of self-renewing and high differentiation, and they are obtained from ESCs, nerve tissue, nerve system, BMSCs and umbilical cord blood stem cells. ESCs can be separated by means of mechanical dissociation is better than that of the trypsin digestion, BMSCs by density gradient centrifuge separation, hemolysis, whole-blood culture, etc., and umbilical cord blood stem ceils by Ficoil density gradient centrifugation, hydroxyethyl starch （HES） centrifugation sedimentation, etc. Neural growth factor （NGF） and other factors play an important role in the growth of NSCs, such as transforming growth factor （TGF） is an important player in repairing organs, NGF accelerates the process of growth, insulin-like growth factor serves importantly in the differentiation of stem cells into neuron-like cells. CONCLUSION ： As unipotent stem cells, NSCs have the abilities of self-renewal and potential of high differentiation. The method of mechanical dissociation is better than trypsin digestion in e separating ESCs. However, density gradient centrifuge separation is better than other methods in the separation of the BMSCs. NGF and other factors play an important role in the growth of NSCs.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEROSAL TYPES, PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FREE CANCER CELLS IN THE PERITONEAL CAVITY OF GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS

The relationship between free cancer cells and the pathological characteristics of gastric cancer were studied. Of 100 cases of gastric cancer, free cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity were detected in 32 cases (32%). Free cancer cells were most often found in tendonoid (62.2%) and colour diffused (60.0%) serosal types. When the area of serosal invasion was over 20 cm, the positive free cancer cell rate was 56.6% and only 2.5% if below 20 cm. Free cancer cells were related to the depth of cancer infiltration, often found in the S2 and S3 invasion layers, as well as to the pathological characteristics of gastric cancer. Free cancer cells were often seen in infiltrated type cancer, histologically poorly differentiated or undifferentiated adenocarcinoma. and nest or diffused growth types. In patients without peritoneal metastasis (P0), the positive rate was 26.1%. This study proved that Chen's serosal classification is correct and useful in assessing whether the cancer cells have penetrated through the serosa or not during surgery. Different treatments should be used in the cases with different serosal types. In addition to surgery, destruction of free cancer cells should be considered in tendonoid and colour diffused serosal types, so as to prevent peritoneal metastasis.

Expression of DLK1 protein and its correlation with renal cell carcinoma pathological characteristics

Objective To identify the expression of DLK1 protein in different types of renal cell carcinomas and its correlations with pathological characteristics and metastasis. Methods Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of DLK1 protein in

ESTABLISHMENT OF A MAMMARY CANCER CELL LINE Ca 761-86 AND ITS BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN INBRED 615 MICE

A cell line designated as Ca 761-86 has been established from the solid mouse mammary cancer (Ca 761) by suspension culture. It has been passaged for more than 212 generations. Moderate round cells were predominant and most of them were mononuclear. Some characteristics of malignant cells and A-type viral-like particles were observed by electron microscopy. The results of cytochemical studies (DNA, RNA, SDH, 5' AMPase, ACP etc.) were comparable to the ultramicroscopic results. It multiplied approximately 27.4 fold on day 5 with mitotic index reaching 1.8% on day 3. This cell line was a hyperdiploid with karyotype of 45 or 45, -2X, tril2, tri17, +M1-5. Cell agglutination was observed when treated with ConA (≥7 fig, ml). Spontaneous agglutination might also take place without adding any ConA. After 5×106 cells of Ca 761-86 suspension were transplanted into the normal inbred 615 mice by different ways (subcutan eous, intrafoot-pad or intraperitoneal), the transplan lability rate reached 100%. Spontaneous remission was never observed and its metastatic ability reserved. PPLO were not detected. Ca 761-86 may be of value for practical purposes.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CELL LINE INFECTED WITH SRS MOUSE LEUKEMIA VIRUS AND ITS BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

NIH/3T3 cells were infected with a cell-free extract from the mouse SRS ascltic tumor and propagated at vitro. Experimental results showed that type A and type C virus particles were observed in the cytoplasm of infected NIH/ 3T3 cells by electron-microscopy, X-C assay and reverse transcriptase were both positive. Free proviral-DN A of the leukemia vims was found in the infected NIH/3T3 cell by Southern blot hybridization.Morphologically, the NIH/3T3 cells infected in vitro appeared spherical and formed monolayer cell colonies of various sizes after 24 - 48 hours. When the cultured cells were Inoculated into nude mice (BALB/ c, nu nu ) subcutaneously, flbrosarcoma was Induced, 100%. Inoculation of the cell-free extract of the same cultured cells into Inbred SW-1 newborn mice, resulted in the production of lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma in 52. 3% within 191 days.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MUCINS AND CEA IN GLOBOID DYSPLASTIC CELLS OF HUMAN STOMACH AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SIGNET RING CELL CARCINOMA

Fourty-three cases of globoid dysplasia and signet ring cell carcinoma were stained by mucin and CEA (ABC method). It was found that there were three kinds of mucins (neutral, sialo and sulphomucin in both globoid dysplastic cells and signet ring cells. The percentages of the three kinds of mucins seen in the two kinds of cells were not much different. It was indicated that the altered mucins in the gastric epithelial cells must be a sign of dedifferentiation of the cells and the results of malfunction. The globoid dysplasia type I mainly contained neutral mucin, whereas type II, the acid mucin was predominant, especially the sulphomucin. The CEA positive reaction became stronger as the atypia being remarkable, and the characteristics of distribution of CEA positive particles were similar in the two kinds of cells namely, randomly or disorderly in the cells. Based on the analysis of the results, a conclusion can be made that the variety of mucins in globoid dysplastic cells can be used as a reference point in classification and is not much significant in grading, but the amount of CEA positive matter can be a reference point in grading. The globoid dysplasia is such a lesion with special features in morphology and function manifested in the process of de-differentiation towards signet ring cell carcinoma following the successive action of carcinogens upon the cells of gastric epithelium.

Identification,Characterization,and Probiotic Potentials of Lactobacillus pentosus SF-1

In recent years probiotics have been considered as a potential substitution of antibiotics to control pathogens and treat infectious diseases in aquaculture.In the present study a strain of Lactobacillus pentosus,named as L.pentosus SF-1,was isolated from waters in aquaculture.The species identification of this strain was conducted by 16S rRNA sequence,and the physiological and biochemical characteristics of this strain were assessed.Furthermore,the virulence,antibiotic sensitivity,cell surface characteristics and acid/base-resistance of L.pentosus SF-1 were determined to evaluate the probiotic potentials of this strain.Specifically,L.pentosus SF-1 is sensitive to most common antibiotics,and no hemolysin was generated from it,indicating the safety of this strain to hosts.In addition,L.pentosus SF-1 was able to tolerate the artificial gastric juice at pH 3 for 4 h and the artificial intestinal fluid at pH 6.8 or 8.0 for 6 h.Moreover,the analysis of self-aggregation and the adhesion of L.pentosus SF-1 to organic solvents suggested a high potential of L.pentosus SF-1 to inhabit the hosts,which was confirmed by testing the colonization of L.pentosus SF-1 in germ-free zebrafish.Interestingly,L.pentosus SF-1 displayed a high bactericidal activity against several bacterial pathogens.Consistently,the incubation of L.pentosus SF-1 significantly promoted the expression of antimicrobial components in zebrafish,contributing to the protection of the fish from E.tarda infection in vivo.Taken together,the probiotic strain L.pentosus SF-1 could be applied as anti-infection reagent in aquaculture.

Establishment and biological characteristics of human multiple myeloma cell line CZ-1

Background There were only 3 multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines established in China. In this study,we succeeded in establishing a novel MM cell line and analyzed its biological characteristics. Methods Mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of a patient with advanced MM (λ light chain type) were cultured in medium. Cell morphology was analyzed by Wright-Giemsa-staining and cytochemical staining,immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis by chromosome RHG-banding technique. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) DNA. Results The established cell line could survive and proliferate in the presence of feeder cells or conditioned medium. The cells secreted λ light chain and were negative for EBV. The Wright-Giemsa-staining showed typical plasmablast or plasma cell morphology. The cytochemical staining of the cells showed the following reactivity patterns: positive for acid phosphatase,negative for myeloperoxidase. The immunoprofile of the cells was concordant with that of MM cells: positive for CD_ 10 ,CD_ 28 ,CD_ 38 ,CD_ 138 ,CD_ 56 ,CD_ 49d ,CD_ 44 ,CD_ 54 and CD_ 58 ,negative for CD_ 19 , CD_ 40 ,CD_ 95 ,CD_ 95L ,CD_ 34 ,CD_2 and CD_5. The cytogenetic analysis showed complex chromosome abnormality of i (1q+),8q+,13q+,i (17q),i (18q) and +M. There was no difference in morphology,immunophenotype and cytogenetics between cells from PB and BM. Conclusions An MM cell line secreting λ light chain named CZ-1 was established. The cells from both PB and BM have the same biological characteristics.

Far-infrared electroluminescence characteristics of an InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cell under forward DC bias

The far-infrared electroluminescence characteristics of an InGaP/InGaAs/Ge solar cell are investigated under forward DC bias at room temperature in dark conditions.An electroluminescence viewgraph shows the clear device structures,and the electroluminescence intensity is shown to increases exponentially with bias voltage and linearly with bias current.The results can be interpreted using an equivalent circuit of a single ideal diode model for triple-junction solar cells.The good fit between the measured and calculated data proves the above conclusions. This work is of guiding significance for current solar cell testing and research.

Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

Microbial desalination cell （MDC） is a promis- ing technology to desalinate water and generate electrical power simultaneously. The objectives of this study were to investigate the desalination performance of monovalent and divalent cations in the MDC, and discuss the effect of ion characteristics, ion concentrations, and electrical characteristics. Mixed salt solutions of NaC1, MgC12, KC1, and CaC12 with the same concentration were used in the desalination chamber to study removal of cations. Results showed that in the mixed salt solutions, the electrodialysis desalination rates of cations were： Ca2＋ 〉 Mg2＋ 〉 Na＋ 〉 K＋. Higher ionic charges and smaller hydrated ionic radii resulted in higher desalination rates of the cations, in which the ionic charge was more important than the hydrated ionic radius. Mixed solutions of NaC1 and MgC12 with different concentrations were used in the desalination chamber to study the effect of ion concentra- tions. Results showed that when ion concentrations ofNa＋ were one-fifth to five times of Mg2~, ion concentration influenced the dialysis more profoundly than electrodia- lysis. With the current densities below a certain value, charge transfer efficiencies became very low and the dialysis was the main process responsible for the desalination. And the phosphate transfer from the anode chamber and potassium transfer from the cathode chamber could balance 1%-3% of the charge transfer in the MDC.

Efficient dye-sensitized solar cells from mesoporous zinc oxide nanostructures sensitized by N719 dye

Dye-sensitized solar cells（DSCs） have attracted a great deal of attention due to their low-cost and high power conversion efficiencies. They usually utilize an interconnected nanoparticle layer of TiO2 as the electron transport medium. From the fundamental point of view, faster mobility of electrons in Zn O is expected to contribute to better performance in DSCs than TiO2, though the actual practical situation is quite the opposite. In this research, we addressed this problem by first applying a dense layer of Zn O on FTO followed by a mesoporous layer of interconnected Zn O nanoparticle layer, both were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique. The best cell shows a power conversion efficiency of 5.2% when the mesoporous layer thickness is 14 μm and the concentration of the N719 dye in dye coating solution is 0.3 m M, while a cell without a dense layer shows 4.2% under identical conditions. The surface concentration of dye adsorbed in the cell with a dense layer and that without a dense layer are5.00 × 10^（-7） and 3.34 × 10^（-7） mol/cm^2, respectively. The cell with the dense layer has an electron lifetime of-54.81 ms whereas that without the dense layer is 11.08 ms. As such, the presence of the dense layer improves DSC characteristics of Zn O-based DSCs.