Magnetite-Nanoparticle-Encapsulated pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelle as an MRI Probe for Detecting Acidic Pathologic Areas

Gao, Guang Hui,Im, Geun Ho,Kim, Min Sang,Lee, Jae Won,Yang, Jehoon,Jeon, Hyesung,Lee, Jung Hee,Lee, Doo Sung WILEY-VCH Verlag 2010 Small Vol.6 No.11

<B>Graphic Abstract</B> <P>A facile and powerful pH-responsive polymeric micelle encapsulates Fe<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> nanoparticles as an acid-targeting MRI contrast agent for pathologic diagnosis. This MRI probe remains in a micellar state in the physiological environment whereas it can be dissolved in acidic pathological areas. More biomedical applications will be possible owing to its unique ability to target an acidic pathologic environment. <img src='wiley_img_2010/16136810-2010-6-11-SMLL200902317-content.gif' alt='wiley_img_2010/16136810-2010-6-11-SMLL200902317-content'> </P>

Upregulation of STK15 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas in a Mongolian Population

Chen, Guang-Lie,Hou, Gai-Ling,Sun, Fei,Jiang, Hong-Li,Xue, Jin-Feng,Li, Xiu-Shen,Xu, En-Hui,Gao, Wei-Shi,Cao, Jian-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: The STK15 gene located on chromosome 20q13.2 encodes a centrosome-associated kinase critical for regulated chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Recent studies have demonstrated STK15 to be significantly associated with many tumors, with aberrant expression obseved in many human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate expression of STK15 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) in a Mongolian population. Methods: Two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding region of STK15, rs2273535 (Phe31Ile) and rs1047972 (Val57Ile) were assessed in 380 ESCC patients and 380 healthy controls. We also detected STK15 mRNA expression in 39 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and corresponding adjacent tissues by real time PCR. Results: rs2273535 showed a significant association with ESCC in our Mongolian population (rs227353, P allele = 0.0447, OR (95%CI) = 1.259 (1.005~1.578)). Real time PCR analysis of ESCC tissues showed that expression of STK15 mRNA in cancer tissues was higher than in normal tissues (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Our study showed that functional SNPs in the STK15 gene are associated with ESCC in a Mongolian population and up-regulation of STK15 mRNAoccurs in ESCC tumors compared adjacent normal tissues. STK15 may thus have an important role in the prognosis of ESCC and be a potential therapeutic target.

Stimulus-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles and their applications as drug and gene carriers.

Li, Yi,Gao, Guang Hui,Lee, Doo Sung Wiley-VCH 2013 Advanced healthcare materials Vol.2 No.3

<P>Polymeric nanoparticles are promising candidates as drug and gene carriers. Among polymeric nanoparticles, those that are responsive to internal or external stimuli are of greater interest because they allow more efficient delivery of therapeutics to pathological regions. Stimulus-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles have been fabricated based on numerous nanostructures, including micelles, vesicles, crosslinked nanoparticles, and hybrid nanoparticles. The changes in chemical or physical properties of polymeric nanoparticles that occur in response to single, dual, or multiple stimuli endow these nanoparticles with the ability to retain cargoes during circulation, target the pathological region, and release their cargoes after cell internalization. This Review focuses on the most recent developments in the preparation of stimulus-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles and their applications in drug and gene delivery.</P>

Tax is Involved in Up-regulation of HMGB1 Expression Levels by Interaction with C/EBP

Zhang, Chen-Guang,Wang, Hui,Niu, Zhi-Guo,Zhang, Jing-Jing,Yin, Ming-Mei,Gao, Zhi-Tao,Hu, Li-Hua Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is a multifunctional cytokine-like molecule that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tumors. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reactions and Western blot assays indicated that HMGB1 transcriptional activity and protein level are increased in $Tax^+$-T cells (TaxP). To clarify the mechanisms, a series of HMGB1 deletion reporter plasmids (pHLuc1 to pHLuc6) were transfected into $Tax^-$-T cells (TaxN, Jurkat) and $Tax^+$-T cells (TaxP). We found that promoter activity in $Tax^+$-T cells to be higher than that in $Tax^-$-T cells, indicating a significant increase in pHLuc6. Bay11-7082 (NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor) treatment did not block the enhancing effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Tax was retained on a HMGB1 promoter fragment encompassing -1163 to -975. Bioinformatics analysis showed six characteristic cis-elements for CdxA, AP-1, AML-1a, USF, v-Myb, and C/EBP in the fragment in question. Mutation of cis-elements for C/EBP reduced significant HMGB1 promoter activity induced by Tax. These findings indicate that Tax enhances the expression of HMGB1 gene at the transcriptional level, possibly by interacting with C/EBP.

hMSH2 and nm23 Expression in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer and its Clinical Significance

Wu, Hong-Wei,Gao, Li-Dong,Wei, Guang-Hui Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Objective: To study the expression of the mismatch repair proteins hMSH2 and nm23 in sporadic colorectal cancer, determine any inter-relationship, and further investigate any clinical significance. Methods: Expression of hMSH2 and nm23 proteins was assessed in 87 colorectal cancer tissues by SP immunohistochemistry, with analysis of survival using follow-up data. Results: In the sporadic colorectal cancer tissues, nm23 protein expression appeared independent of the histological type (P>0.05), but correlated with the invasion depth and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). In contrast, hMSH2 protein expression was not significantly correlated with these clinicopathologic features (P>0.05), although it positively correlated with that of nm23 protein in the sporadic colorectal cancers (rs=0.635, P<0.05). Combined expression of the two was found to be related with invasion depth, lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of sporadic colorectal cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion: nm23 protein level was related with the degree of malignancy, and could be used as an index to predict the invasion and metastasis potential. The expression of hMSH2 protein is positively correlated that of nm23 protein, and the combined expression of the two has certain guiding significance for the prognosis of sporadic colorectal cancer.

Toughening polystyrene by core–shell grafting copolymer polybutadiene-graft-polystyrene with potassium persulfate as initiator

Gui Di Cai,Guang Hui Gao,Hong Yu Yang,Li Dan Zhu,Hua Liu,Guang Feng Wu,Ming Yao Zhang,Chao Zhou,Hui Xuan Zhang 한국공업화학회 2013 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.19 No.3

Core–shell polybutadiene-graft-polystyrene rubber particles with different ratios of polybutadiene core to polystyrene shell were synthesized by an emulsion polymerization using K2S2O8 as an initiator. Then the core–shell rubber particles were blended with PS to prepare PS/PB-g-PS. The rubber particles with a size of 0.3–0.5 mm could toughen polystyrene significantly. The mechanical properties, morphologies and deformation mechanisms of samples were extensively investigated. The experimental results showed that the dispersion of rubber particles in a ‘‘cluster’’ state leads to better impact resistances. Crazing occurred from rubber particles and extended in a bridge-like manner to neighboring rubber particles parallel to the equatorial direction.

Biodegradable oligo(amidoamine/β-amino ester) hydrogels for controlled insulin delivery

Nguyen, Minh Khanh,Huynh, Cong Truc,Gao, Guang Hui,Kim, Ji Hyun,Huynh, Dai Phu,Chae, Su Young,Lee, Kang Choon,Lee, Doo Sung The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011 Soft matter Vol.7 No.6

<P>An injectable biodegradable hydrogel system based on oligo(amidoamine/β-amino ester) (OAAAE) was designed and synthesized for controlled release of insulin under the physiological conditions. OAAAE was prepared in one step <I>via</I> the Michael-addition oligomerization of the secondary aminegroups of 4,4-trimethylene dipiperidine (TMDP) with the vinyl groups of 1,8-octylene diacrylamide (ODA) and 1,6-hexane diol diacrylate (HDA). The formed oligomer was characterized by <SUP>1</SUP>H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). OAAAE in aqueous solution (20 wt%) underwent a gel–sol transition in the pH range of 6.8–7.4. A complex hydrogel was formed when mixinginsulin with the oligomer solution followed by increasing pH and temperature. Degradation of the hydrogel, influence of insulin on gel phase and gel strength, <I>in vitro</I> cytotoxicity of OAAAE, <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I> release of insulin from the complex hydrogel were investigated. Furthermore, the <I>in vivo</I> release profile of insulin from the complex hydrogel was compared with that from the neutral hydrogel.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>Controlled protein release using injectable and biodegradable oligomer hydrogel. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c0sm01285h'> </P>

Efficacy of First-line Chemotherapy Affects the Second-Line Setting Response in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Cao, Wa,Li, Ai-Wu,Ren, Sheng-Xiang,Chen, Xiao-Xia,Li, Wei,Gao, Guang-Hui,He, Ya-Yi,Zhou, Cai-Cun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

Background: Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for the majority of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without driver mutations and many receive therapies beyond first-line. Second-line chemotherapy has been disappointing both in terms of response rate and survival and we know relatively little about the prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: One thousand and eight patients with advanced NSCLC who received second-line chemotherapy after progression were reviewed in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, China, from September 2005 to July 2010. We analyzed the effects of potential prognostic factors on the outcomes of second-line chemotherapy (overall response rate, ORR; progression free survival, PFS; overall survival, OS). Results: The response and progression free survival of first-line chemotherapy affects the ORR, PFS and OS of second-line chemotherapy (ORR: CR/PR 15.4%, SD 10.1%, PD2.3%, p<0.001; PFS: CR/PR 3.80 months, SD 2.77 months, PD 2.03 months, p<0.001; OS: CR/PR 11.60 months, SD 10.33 months, PD 6.57 months, p=0.578, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). On multivariate analysis, better response to first-line therapy (CR/PR: HR=0.751, p=0.002; SD: HR=0.781, p=0.021) and progression within 3-6 months (HR=0.626, p<0.001), together with adenocarcinoma (HR=0.815, p=0.017), without liver metastasis (HR=0.541, p=0.001), never-smoker (HR=0.772, p=0.001), and ECOG PS 0-1 (HR=0.745, p=0.021) were predictors for good OS following second-line chemotherapy. Conclusions: Patients who responded to first-line chemotherapy had a better outcome after second-line therapy for advanced NSCLC, and the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy, period of progression, histology, liver metastasis, smoking status and ECOG PS were independent prognostic factors for OS.

Nomogram for predicting overall survival in children with neuroblastoma based on SEER database

Song-Wu Liang,Gang Chen,Yi-Ge Luo,Peng Chen,Jin-Han Gu,Qiong-Qian Xu,Yi-Wu Dang,Li-Ting Qin,Hui-Ping Lu,Wen-Ting Huang,Zhi-Guang Huang,Li Gao,Jia-Bo Chen 대한외과학회 2020 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.99 No.2

Purpose: This study was performed to establish and validate a nomogram for predicting the overall survival in children with neuroblastoma. Methods: The latest clinical data of neuroblastoma in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was extracted from 2000 to 2016. The cases included were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. The survival curves were drawn with a Kaplan-Meier estimator to investigate the influences of certain single factors on overall survival. Also, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to further select the prognostic variables for neuroblastoma. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram. Results: In total, 1,262 patients were collected and 8 independent prognostic factors were achieved, including patients’ age, sex, race, tumor grade, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tumor site, and tumor size. Then we constructed a nomogram by using the data of the training cohort with 886 cases. Subsequently, the nomogram was validated internally and externally with 886 and 376 cases, respectively. The internal validation revealed that the area under the curves (AUC) of ROC curves of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 0.69, 0.78, and 0.81, respectively. Accordingly, the external validation also showed that the AUC of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were all ≥0.69. Both methods of validation demonstrated that the predictive calibration curves were consistent with standard curves. Conclusion: The nomogram possess the potential to be a new tool in predicting the survival rate of neuroblastoma patients.