Genetic variations in the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are related to cigarette smoking behavior in Han Chinese smokers

Qi Fei-Yan,Zhu Zhou-Hai,Li Meng,Guan Ying,Peng Qi-Yuan,Lu She-Ming,Liu Zhi-Hua,Wang Ming-Feng,Miao Ming-Ming,Chen Zhang-Yu,Li Xue-Mei,Bai Jie,Yao Jian-Hua 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.11

Background: Smoking behavior is influenced by multiple genes, including the bitter taste gene TAS2R38. It has been reported that the correlation between TAS2R38 and smoking behavior has ethnicity-based differences. However, the TAS2R38 status in Chinese smokers is still unclear. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between genetic variations in TAS2R38 (A49P, V262A and I296V) and smoking behaviors in the Han Chinese population. Methods: The haplotype analyses were performed and smoking behavior questionnaire was completed by 1271 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior were analyzed using chi-square test. Further, for investigating the molecular mechanism of TAS2R38 variants effect on smoking behavior, we conducted TAS2R38-PAV and TAS2R38-AVI expression plasmids and tested the cellular calcium assay by cigarette smoke compounds stimulus in HEK293. Results: Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with smoking behavior. We found a higher PAV/PAV frequency than AVI/AVI in moderate and high nicotine dependence (FTND ≥ 4; X2 = 4.611, 1 df, p = 0.032) and strong cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference (X2 = 4.5383, 1 df, p = 0.033) in participants. Furthermore, in the in vitro cellular calcium assay, total particle matter (TPM), N-formylnornicotine and cotinine, existing in cigarette smoke, activated TAS2R38-PAV but not TAS2R38-AVI-transfected cells. Conclusion: Our data highlights that genetic variations in TAS2R38 are related to smoking behavior, especially nicotine dependence and cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference. Our findings may encourage further consideration of the taste process to identify individuals susceptible to nicotine dependence, particularly Han Chinese smokers.

Transcriptional profiling of MED Bemisia tabaci exposed to thermal stress and verification of HSP70 expression

Bai Jing,Liu Xiao‐Na,Lu Ming‐Xing,Du Yu‐Zhou 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.5

Temperature changes impact agricultural production and also influence the behavior and community structure of many insect species. Bemisia tabaci, is an invasive and destructive pest with at least 44 cryptic species and occurring in over 100 countries and regions. In this study, transcriptional profiling was used to evaluate the response of the Mediterranean (MED) cryptic species B. tabaci exposed to cold and hot temperature stress. In response to cold stress, 3,024 unigenes were differentially expressed and mapped to 39 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathways. A total of 4,437 unigenes were differentially expressed during heat stress, and these represented 18 KEGG enrichment pathways. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the relative expression level of the 11 HSP70 fragments; these were significantly up-regulated during high temperature stress relative to the control group that was maintained at 26°C. In conclusion, the transcriptome data indicated that B. tabaci responds to thermal stress via multiple genes and networks. Furthermore, HSP70 plays an important role in stress tolerance of the MED B. tabaci, especially during heat stress.

Comprehensive Study on Associations Between Nine SNPs and Glioma Risk

Liu, Hai-Bo,Peng, Yu-Ping,Dou, Chang-Wu,Su, Xiu-Lan,Gao, Nai-Kang,Tian, Fu-Ming,Bai, Jie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Aim: Glioma cancer is the most common type of adult brain tumor. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified various new susceptibility regions and here we conducted an extensive analysis of associations between 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and glioma risk. Methods: A total of 197 glioma cases and 197 health controls were selected, and 9 SNPs in 8 genes were analyzed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform and Sequenom Assay Design 3.1 software. Results: We found the MAF among selected controls were consistent with the MAF from the NCBI SNP database. Among 9 SNPs in 8 genes, we identified four significant SNP genotypes associated with the risk of glioma, C/C genotype at rs730437 and T/T genotype at rs1468727 in ERGF were protective against glioma, whereas the T/T genotype at rs1799782 in XRCC1 and C/C genotype at rs861539 in XRCC3 conferred elevated risk. Conclusion: Our comprehensive analysis of nine SNPs in eight genes suggests that the rs730437 and rs1468727 in ERGF, rs1799782 in XRCC1 gene, and rs861539 in XRCC3 gene are associated with glioma risk. These findings indicate that genetic variants of various genes play a complex role in the development of glioma.

Characteristics of registered studies for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review

Ming Yang,Ya-xi Shang,Zi-yu Tian,Min Xiong,Chun-li Lu,Jiang Yue,Zhang Yao,Zhang Ying-ying,Jin Xin-yan,Jin Qiu-bai,Zhang Ying-ying,Willcox Merlin L.,Liu Jian-ping 한국한의학연구원 2020 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.9 No.3

Background: The World Health Organization characterized the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic on March 11th. Many clinical trials on COVID-19 have been registered, and we aim to review the study characteristics and provide guidance for future trials to avoid duplicated effort. Methods: Studies on COVID-19 registered before March 3rd, 2020 on eight registry platforms worldwide were searched and the data of design, participants, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: Three hundred and ninety-three studies were identified and 380 (96.7%) were from mainland China, while 3 in Japan, 3 in France, 2 in the US, and 3 were international collaborative studies. Two hundred and sixty-six (67.7%) aimed at therapeutic effect, others were for prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, etc. Two hundred and two studies (51.4%) were randomized controlled trials. Two third of therapeutic studies tested Western medicines including antiviral drugs (17.7%), stem cell and cord blood therapy (10.2%), chloroquine and derivatives (8.3%), 16 (6.0%) on Chinese medicines, and 73 (27.4%) on integrated therapy of Western and Chinese medicines. Thirty-one studies among 266 therapeutic studies (11.7%) used mortality as primary outcome, while the most designed secondary outcomes were symptoms and signs (47.0%). Half of the studies (45.5%) had not started recruiting till March 3rd. Conclusion: Inappropriate outcome setting, delayed recruitment and insufficient numbers of new cases in China implied many studies may fail to complete. Strategies and protocols of the studies with robust and rapid data sharing are warranted for emergency public health events, helping the timely evidence-based decision-making.

Dietary maifanite supplementation did not affect the apparent total tract digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in growing pigs

Li Li Bai,Dong Xu Ming,Shu Ren Dong,Zhong Yue Yang,Wen Hui Wang,Shuai Zhang,Xiang Shu Piao,Ling Liu,Fenglai Wang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.2

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary maifanite supplementation and fecal collection method on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) and blood parameters in growing pigs. Methods: Thirty-six growing barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire; 27.0±2.6 kg) were allotted to six dietary treatments with 6 pigs per treatment according to body weight in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments were: i) Low Ca+cornstarch (2.25%), ii) Low Ca+maifanite (2.25%), iii) Medium Ca+cornstarch (1.42%), iv) Medium Ca+maifanite (1.42%), v) High Ca+cornstarch (0.64%), and vi) High Ca+maifanite (0.64%). Feces were collected by the total collection (TC) and indicator method (IM). At the beginning and the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from each pig. Results: For the TC method, there were no difference in Ca intake, fecal Ca output, Ca retention and the ATTD of Ca between cornstarch and maifanite diets at the same dietary Ca level. However, urinary Ca excretion was lower (p = 0.01) in pigs fed low Ca diets without maifanite supplementation compared with other dietary treatments. Dietary maifanite supplementation had no effect on the P metabolism in growing pigs. For the IM method, there was no difference in Ca digestibility between cornstarch and maifanite diets at the same dietary Ca level. The ATTD of P was greater (p<0.01) in pigs fed the high Ca diet with maifanite supplementation compared with the high Ca diet with cornstarch treatment. Dietary inclusion of maifanite had no effect on blood parameters in growing pigs. Conclusion: Dietary maifanite supplementation had no effect on the ATTD of Ca and P and serum parameters in growing pigs. The IM resulted in lower digestibility values than the TC method.

Structures, biomimetic synthesis, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of two pairs of enantiomeric phenylpropanoid-conjugated protoberberine alkaloids from the rhizomes of Corydalis decumbens

Jing-Guang Lu,Yingwei Wang,Ming-Rong Yang,Cai-Yun Wang,Jieru Meng,Jiazheng Liu,Zifeng Yang,Kongsong Wu,Li-Ping Bai,Guo-Yuan Zhu,Zhi-Hong Jiang 대한약학회 2022 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.45 No.9

(±)-Decumicorine A ( 1 ) and (±)- epi -decumicorine A ( 2 ), two pairs of enantiomeric isoquinoline alkaloids featuring a novel phenylpropanoid-conjugated protoberberine skeleton, were isolated and purifi ed from the rhizomes of Corydalis decumbens . The separation of (±)- 1 and (±)- 2 was achieved by chiral HPLC to produce four optically pure enantiomers. The structures and absolute confi gurations of compounds (−)- 1 , (+)- 1 , (−)- 2 , and (+)- 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculations, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The two racemates were generated from a Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition between jatrorrhizine and ferulic acid in the proposed biosynthetic pathways, which were fully verifi ed by a biomimetic synthesis. Moreover, compound (+)- 1 exhibited an antiviral entry eff ect on SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus by blocking spike binding to the ACE2 receptor on HEK-293T-ACE2 h host cells.

Self-assembled wide bandgap nanocoatings enabled outstanding dielectric characteristics in the sandwich-like structure polymer composites

Wang Tian-Yu,Li Xiao-Fen,Liu Shu-Ming,Liu Bai-Xin,Liang Xi-Dong,Li Shunning,Zhang Gui-Xin,Liu Jian-Bo,Dang Zhi-Min 나노기술연구협의회 2022 Nano Convergence Vol.9 No.55

Polymer dielectrics are insulators or energy storage materials widely used in electrical and electronic devices. Polymer dielectrics are needed with outstanding dielectric characteristics than current technologies. In this study, the self-assembly of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) was applied to form an inorganic–organic nanocoating on various common polymer dielectrics. It is inexpensive and easy to fabricate this thin coating on a large scale. The coating has a wide bandgap and thus can significantly improve the breakdown strength of polymer dielectrics. The charge characteristics and trapping parameters of nano-domains on the surfaces of polymer dielectrics were measured, and the coating had shallow trap levels. This facilitated the dissipation of surface charges and thus greatly increased the flashover voltage. The coating also effectively improved the temperature stability and dielectric constant of the polymer dielectric. This nanocoating shows potential as a method to effectively improve the dielectric characteristics of polymer dielectrics and outperform existing composite polymer dielectrics, which are crucial for large-scale applications in energy storage and power and electronic devices.

miR-27a as an Oncogenic microRNA of Hepatitis B Virus-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Wu, Xin-Jun,Li, Yan,Liu, Dong,Zhao, Lun-De,Bai, Bin,Xue, Ming-Hui Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional interactions with mRNA. miRNAs have recently emerged as key regulators of various cancers. Although miR-27a has been implicated in several other cancers, its role in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. In this study, we showed miR-27a to be frequently up-regulated in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7). Overexpression of miR-27a enhanced cell proliferation, promoted migration and invasion, and activated cell cycling in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. In summary, our results suggest that up-regulation of miR-27a may play an oncogenic role in the development of HCC and might thus be a new therapeutic target in HCC patients.

Clinical Significance of Quantitative Analysis of Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Patients of Xinjiang Uygur Nationality with Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Li, Xun,Yang, Shun-E.,Guo, Yun-Quan,Shen, Ming-Xia,Gu, Li,Gulikezi, Gulikezi,Zhao, Bing,Liu, Wei,Tuerxun, Tuerxun,Bai, Jing-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Objective: To investigate the relationship between plasma EBV-DNA concentration and clinicopathologic features of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. Methods: At first, the positive rate of plasma EBV-DNA was determined with a nested-PCR method using 45 specimens from Uygur HL patients, as well as 110 healthy people sampled as normal controls. Secondly, using fluorescent quantitative nested-PCR, EBV viral load was assessed in the EBV-DNA positive plasma samples. Then, relationships between plasma EBV viral load and clinicopathologic features of HL patients were analyzed. Results: The positive rate of plasma EBV-DNA of HL patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls (53.3% vs 26.4%, P=0.001). There was no significant difference about plasma EBV viral load between EBV-associated HL and EBV-DNA positive normal people (P=0.490). Looking at patients' characteristics, plasma EBV viral load in 10-20 years EBV-associated HL was higher than in EBV cases which were less than 10 years or more than 35 years (P=0.025). Furthermore, in EBV-associated HL, concentration of plasma EBV-DNA was significantly higher in advanced stage disease (stages III-IV; P=0.013), and with B-symptoms (P=0.020). Conclusion: EBV-DNA levels were associated with part of clinicopathologic features of cases. It was of practical use to screen HL. Further etiological studies appear warranted.

Parecoxib: an Enhancer of Radiation Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

Xiong, Wei,Li, Wen-Hui,Jiang, Yong-Xin,Liu, Shan,Ai, Yi-Qin,Liu, Rong,Chang, Li,Zhang, Ming,Wang, Xiao-Li,Bai, Han,Wang, Hong,Zheng, Rui,Tan, Jing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Background: To study the effect of parecoxib, a novel cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor, on the radiation response of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and its underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Both in vitro colony formation and apoptosis assays as well as in vivo mouse xenograft experiments were used to explore the radiosensitizing effects of parecoxib in human HCT116 and HT29 CRC cells. Results: Parecoxib sensitized CRC cells to radiation in vitro with a sensitivity enhancement ratio of 1.32 for HCT116 cells and 1.15 for HT29 cells at a surviving fraction of 0.37. This effect was partially attributable to enhanced apoptosis induction by parecoxib combined with radiation, as illustrated using an in vitro apoptosis assays. Parecoxib augmented the tumor response of HCT116 xenografts to radiation, achieving growth delay more than 20 days and an enhancement factor of 1.53. In accordance with the in vitro results, parecoxib combined with radiation resulted in less proliferation and more apoptosis in tumors than radiation alone. Radiation monotherapy decreased microvessel density (MVD) and microvessel intensity (MVI), but increased the hypoxia level in xenografts. Parecoxib did not affect MVD, but it increased MVI and attenuated hypoxia. Conclusions: Parecoxib can effectively enhance radiation sensitivity in CRC cells through direct effects on tumor cells and indirect effects on tumor vasculature.