Neutrophil Count and the Inflammation-based Glasgow Prognostic Score Predict Survival in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving First-line Chemotherapy

Li, Qing-Qing,Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Lu, Ming,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.

Contact toxicity and transcriptomic analysis of terpinen-4-ol exposure in Tribolium castaneum

Shan-shan Gao,Yong-lei Zhang,Kun-peng Zhang,Wang Xing-yun,Qing-bo Tang,Yuan-chen Zhang 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.3

The terpene, terpinen-4-ol (T4ol), exhibits contact toxicity in Tribolium castaneum. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this toxicity have not been elucidated. This study examined changes in the expression of four classic enzymes after exposure of T. castaneum to T4ol. Acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase activities were markedly inhibited after exposure to T4ol, while that of the detoxifying enzyme cytochrome oxidase P450 increased markedly. Carboxylesterase activity did not show significant changes. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed 260 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the T4ol-treated and control samples, and qRT-PCR was used to validate the RNA-Seq data. The Gene Ontology analysis classified the DEGs into 36 functional groups, including the immune system processes, response to stimulus, and developmental processes. T4ol altered the response to stimulus and the immune system process of beetles by inducing the expression of the genes Stabilin-1, Attacin 1, and Defensin 1. Furthermore, the DEGs receptor tyrosine kinase Torso-like protein (RTKTsl), Frizzled 4 (Fz4), Protein Wnt-5b, Ecdysone-induced protein 78C (E78), Zinc finger protein GLIS1 (ZFPGLIS1) were classified as participating in beetle development, and Fz4 and Protein Wnt-5b also mapped to the Wnt signaling pathway. This indicated that pathways associated with development are inhibited after exposure to T4ol. T4ol also induced CYP9Z6/GSTs7 overexpression, and RNAi targeting these genes significantly increased larvae mortality on T4ol exposure, supporting the participation of CYP9Z6/GSTs7 in the response to T4ol in T. castaneum. The results of this study will facilitate understanding of the toxic mechanisms of T4ol and provide a basis for controlling the pests of stored products.

Research on the Model, Structure and Characteristics of a New Vibration Generator

Zhang, Qing-Xin,Yu, Li,Lin, Tong,Gao, Yun-Hong,Wang, Lu-Ping The Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic 2016 Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Material Vol.17 No.6

The vibrational energy is prevalent in the natural environment, which is studied by energy researchers as a new energy resource in recent years. Vibration generation utilizes electromagnetic induction technology, piezoelectric technology and certain characteristics of smart materials to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this paper, a new method of using MSMA (magnetic shape memory alloy) to generate electricity is proposed and the principle of generating electricity is demonstrated. Martensitic variants and magnetic domain characteristics of MSMA are analyzed. Combining with Gibbs free energy function thermal theory, the mathematics model of MSMA vibration generator is established. The basic structure of MSMA vibration generator is designed and simulation is done to analyze that the effects of generator output voltage when the input amplitude and frequency of vibration stress change. The simulation experiments verify the feasibility of using MSMA to make the micro vibration generators and the correctness of the mathematical model, which lays a good foundation for the further research and application of MSMA vibration generator.

Diagnostic value of Thyroglobulin Measurement with Fine-needle Aspiration Biopsy for Lymph Node Metastases in Patients with a History of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Zhang, Hai-Shan,Wang, Ren-Jie,Fu, Qing-Feng,Gao, Shi,Sun, Bu-Tong,Sun, Hui,Ma, Qing-Jie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FNA-Tg for detecting lymph node metastases in patients with a history of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Materials and Methods: A total of 58 patients with DTC diagnosis and evidence of single or multiple suspicious cervical lymph nodes were assessed. All underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy with (35 cases) or without (23 cases) radioiodine (RAI) ablation, followed by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy. A total of 68 lymph nodes were examined by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA) for both cytological examination and FNA-Tg measurement. Serum Tg and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels were also measured. Diagnostic performance including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of FNAC and FNA-Tg were calculated and compared. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to estimate the relationship between FNA-Tg and serum TgAb. Results: The FNA-Tg levels were significantly higher with DTC metastatic lymph nodes (median 927.7 ng/mL, interquartile range 602.9 ng/mL) than non-metastatic lymph nodes (median 0.1 ng/mL, interquartile range 0.4 ng/mL) (p<0.01). Considering 1.0 ng/mL as a threshold value for FNA-Tg, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of FNA-Tg were 95.7%, 95.5%, 95.6%, 97.8% and 91.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and accuracy of the combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg were significantly higher than that of FNAC alone (p<0.05). The diagnostic performance of FNA-Tg was not significantly different between cases with or without RAI ablation, and the serum TgAb levels did not interfere with FNA-Tg measurements. Conclusions: Measurement of FNA-Tg is useful. The combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg is more sensitive and accurate for detecting lymph node metastases in patients with a history of DTC than FNAC alone. Serum TgAbs appear to be irrelevant for measurement of FNA-Tg.

Synthesis, Antibacterial Activity, and Structure–Activity Relationship of Fusaric Acid Analogs

Qing-Yan Zhang,Yang Fei‐Yu,Liao Shang‐Gao,Wang Bing,Li Rui,Dong Yong‐Xi,Zhou Meng,Yang Yuan‐Yong,Xu Guo‐Bo 대한화학회 2021 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.42 No.4

Forty-one fusaric acid analogs possessing a pyridine carboxylic acid scaffold have been synthesized. The antibacterial activity results demonstrated that compounds 5b, 7b, 8c, and 8d displayed strong antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4–16 μg/mL. Molecular docking study indicated that these compounds have strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with TyrRS. Meanwhile, 8c and 8d showed promising antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027. Compound 4 exhibited pronounced antibacterial activities against a clinically isolated multidrug-resistant strain of Escherichia coli (MIC: 64 μg/mL as compared 64 μg/mL of levofloxacin and 1024 μg/mL of ceftriaxone sodium). Moreover, compound 17e displayed strong synergistic antibacterial effect with levofloxacin against the multidrug-resistant strain, decreasing the MIC value of levofloxacin to 1/16 of its original MIC. No obvious cytotoxic activities against LO2 was observed for compounds 4, 5b, 8c, 8d, 17d, and 17e at 50 μM. The preliminary structure–activity relationship of fusaric acid analogs was also discussed.

Research on the Model, Structure and Characteristics of a New Vibration Generator

Qing-Xin Zhang,Li Yu,Yun-Hong Gao,Lu-Ping Wang 한국전기전자재료학회 2016 Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Material Vol.17 No.6

The vibrational energy is prevalent in the natural environment, which is studied by energy researchers as a new energyresource in recent years. Vibration generation utilizes electromagnetic induction technology, piezoelectric technologyand certain characteristics of smart materials to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this paper, anew method of using MSMA (magnetic shape memory alloy) to generate electricity is proposed and the principleof generating electricity is demonstrated. Martensitic variants and magnetic domain characteristics of MSMA areanalyzed. Combining with Gibbs free energy function thermal theory, the mathematics model of MSMA vibrationgenerator is established. The basic structure of MSMA vibration generator is designed and simulation is done toanalyze that the effects of generator output voltage when the input amplitude and frequency of vibration stresschange. The simulation experiments verify the feasibility of using MSMA to make the micro vibration generators andthe correctness of the mathematical model, which lays a good foundation for the further research and application ofMSMA vibration generator.

Expression profile and estrogenic regulation of Amh during gonadal sex differentiation in northern snakehead (Channa argus)

Qing Luo,Mi Ou,Jian Zhao,Haiyang Liu,Dandan Gao,Yanduo Wu,Lanlan Zhang,Kunci Chen 한국유전학회 2020 Genes & Genomics Vol.42 No.7

Background Anti-Müllerian hormone (Amh) plays a critical role in both early sex determination and later gonad development in vertebrate species. However, it remains unknown in northern snakehead (Channa argus), which is economically important freshwater fish with sexual dimorphism. Objective This study aimed to identify the expression profiles and estrogenic regulation of CaAmh during gonadal sex differentiation in C. argus. Methods The cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of CaAmh were identified by PCR and RACE techniques. The expression patterns of CaAmh were detected by qRT-PCR during the gonadal sex differentiation and after 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE2) treatments. Results CaAmh is composed of seven exons and six introns, and its full-length cDNA is 2413 bp in length, with 1635 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 544 amino acid protein. Tissues expression patterns revealed that CaAmh display the highest expression in testis of XY males (40.36 folds, p < 0.01). The spatio-temporal expression patterns during gonadal sex differentiation indicated that CaAmh expression differed between XX females and XY males at 30 day after hatching (dah), and reached to the peak (36.03 folds, p < 0.01) at 90 dah in XY gonads. However, CaAmh expression in XX gonads remained low throughout the sampling period. Furthermore, CaAmh expression in the gonads (ovaries) of the sex-reversed XY fish (XY-F) by the administration of estrogen EE2 was downregulated to low level, similar to that in ovaries of normal XX females (XX-F). Conclusions These results show that Amh plays a critical role in testicular differentiation of C. argus and it is apparently modulated by estrogens in this species.

Corrosion Resistance and Compressive Strength of Cemented Soil Mixed with Nano-Silica in Simulated Seawater Environment

Qing-Sheng Chen,Hongyu Zhang,Jianjun Ye,Gao-LiangTao,Sanjay Nimbalkar 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.4

Cemented soil structures are frequently exposed to the corrosive environment of seawater for an extended period, severely affecting their interior structure and mechanical qualities. This study presents laboratory-based approach to investigate the effect of nano-SiO2 on the structural and mechanical properties of cemented soil in a simulated seawater environment. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus and other mechanical properties of cemented soil mixed with nano-SiO2 and ordinary silicate cemented soil were evaluated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to deduce the crystalline composition and microstructure characteristics of the modified cemented soil. The results show that the addition of nano-SiO2 greatly increased the compressive strength and corrosion resistance of the cemented soil. In a 3C (105% salinity) simulated saltwater curing environment, the compressive strength of the cemented soil containing 2% nano-SiO2increased by 86% and 158% at 30days and 60days, respectively. XRD and SEM showed that nano-SiO2 enhanced the interface structure of cemented soil and increased the compactness of the cement-soil system. The current study demonstrates that nano-SiO2 could considerably improve the mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance of cemented soil when exposed to simulated seawater.

Sputasol (Dithiothreitol 0.54%) Improves the Detection of Human Papillomaviruses Using the Cobas 4800 System

Qing-Yong Wang,He-Rui Zhang,Yu Gao,Rong-Hai Li,Xiao-Hong Shang 대한진단검사의학회 2017 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.37 No.5

Dear Editor, Persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Screening of cervical specimens for high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) has become a routine part of patient care in most countries. The Roche cobas 4800 system (Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Pleasanton, CA, USA), a fully automated system that uses in vitro qualitative real-time PCR technology, displays high sensitivity and specificity for HR-HPV detection [1]. However, a small proportion of invalid results may occur in specimens showing mucopurulent discharge because of pipetting errors, clot formation, or failed amplification, which could cause a delay in the results and lead to additional waiting time for patients and extra work hours for staff, although most cases are resolved by vortexing the specimens and retesting. To the best of our knowledge, no researcher has tried to overcome this problem by pretreating specimens with an appropriate concentration of Sputasol (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, United Kingdom); Sputasol (dithiothreitol 1.4%) has been used to aid culturing and DNA extraction from sputum specimens in some laboratories [2]. Here, we propose a standard method to improve HR-HPV detection without affecting the performance of the cobas 4800 HPV system.

Schisandrin B Improves the Hypothermic Preservation of Celsior Solution in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Zhang Ying,Wang Peng,Jin Mei-xian,Zhou Ying-qi,Ye Liang,Zhu Xiao-juan,Li Hui-fang,Zhou Ming,Li Yang,Li Shao,Liang Kang-yan,Wang Yi,Gao Yi,Pan Ming-xin,Zhou Shu-qin,Peng Qing 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2023 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.20 No.3

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have emerged as promising therapy for immune and inflammatory diseases. However, how to maintain the activity and unique properties during cold storage and transportation is one of the key factors affecting the therapeutic efficiency of hUCMSCs. Schisandrin B (SchB) has many functions in cell protection as a natural medicine. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SchB on the hypothermic preservation of hUCMSCs. METHODS: hUCMSCs were isolated from Wharton’s jelly. Subsequently, hUCMSCs were exposed to cold storage (4 C) and 24-h re-warming. After that, cells viability, surface markers, immunomodulatory effects, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial integrity, apoptosis-related and antioxidant proteins expression level were evaluated. RESULTS: SchB significantly alleviated the cells injury and maintained unique properties such as differentiation potential, level of surface markers and immunomodulatory effects of hUCMSCs. The protective effects of SchB on hUCMSCs after hypothermic storage seemed associated with its inhibition of apoptosis and the anti-oxidative stress effect mediated by nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 signaling. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate SchB could be used as an agent for hypothermic preservation of hUCMSCs.