Contrast-Enhanced Harmonic Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness: a Preliminary Study

Yunkai Zhu,Yaqing Chen,Jun Jiang,Ren Wang,Yongchang Zhou,Huizhen Zhang 대한영상의학회 2010 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.11 No.1

Objective: To determine whether contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography was performed in 103 patients suspected of prostate cancer before biopsy. Time intensity curves were reconstructed for systematic biopsy sites and sonographic abnormalities. The characteristics of the curves were described using hemodynamic indices including arrival time (AT), time-to-peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). The differences of hemodynamic indices between high-grade and low-grade cancer were analyzed and the correlations between the hemodynamic indices and biopsy Gleason score were studied. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 41 of 103 patients and there were significant differences in the hemodynamic indices between the biopsy sites of the non-malignant patients and prostate cancer lesions (p < 0.05). The prostate biopsies revealed 154 prostate cancer lesions, including 31 low-grade lesions and 123 high-grade lesions. The hemodynamic indices AT and TTP of highgrade tumors were significantly shorter than those of low-grade tumors (p = 0.001, 0.002). In addition, high-grade peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher PI than low-grade PZ tumors (p = 0.009). The PZ prostate cancer Gleason score correlated with PI, AT and TTP, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.223, -0.335, and -0.351, respectively (p = 0.013, < 0.001 and < 0.001). Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of hemodynamic indices correlate with the prostate cancer Gleason score. Objective: To determine whether contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography was performed in 103 patients suspected of prostate cancer before biopsy. Time intensity curves were reconstructed for systematic biopsy sites and sonographic abnormalities. The characteristics of the curves were described using hemodynamic indices including arrival time (AT), time-to-peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). The differences of hemodynamic indices between high-grade and low-grade cancer were analyzed and the correlations between the hemodynamic indices and biopsy Gleason score were studied. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 41 of 103 patients and there were significant differences in the hemodynamic indices between the biopsy sites of the non-malignant patients and prostate cancer lesions (p < 0.05). The prostate biopsies revealed 154 prostate cancer lesions, including 31 low-grade lesions and 123 high-grade lesions. The hemodynamic indices AT and TTP of highgrade tumors were significantly shorter than those of low-grade tumors (p = 0.001, 0.002). In addition, high-grade peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher PI than low-grade PZ tumors (p = 0.009). The PZ prostate cancer Gleason score correlated with PI, AT and TTP, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.223, -0.335, and -0.351, respectively (p = 0.013, < 0.001 and < 0.001). Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of hemodynamic indices correlate with the prostate cancer Gleason score.

Energy-Aware Traffic Engineering in Hybrid SDN/IP Backbone Networks

Yunkai Wei,Xiaoning Zhang,Lei Xie,Supeng Leng 한국통신학회 2016 Journal of communications and networks Vol.18 No.4

Software defined network (SDN) can effectively improvethe performance of traffic engineering and will be widely used inbackbone networks. Therefore, new energy-saving schemes musttake SDN into consideration; this action is extremely importantowing to the rapidly increasing energy consumption in telecom andInternet service provider (ISP) networks. Meanwhile, the introductionof SDN in current networks must be incremental in mostcases, for technical and economic reasons. During this period, operatorsmust manage hybrid networks in which SDN and traditionalprotocols coexist. In this study, we investigate the energyefficienttraffic engineering problem in hybrid SDN/Internet protocol(IP) networks. First, we formulate the mathematical optimizationmodel considering the SDN/IP hybrid routing mode. Theproblem is NP-hard; therefore, we propose a fast heuristic algorithmnamed hybrid energy-aware traffic engineering (HEATE) asa solution. In our proposed HEATE algorithm, the IP routers performshortest-path routing by using distributed open shortest pathfirst (OSPF) link weight optimization. The SDNs perform multipathrouting with traffic-flow splitting managed by the global SDNcontroller. The HEATE algorithm determines the optimal settingfor the OSPF link weight and the splitting ratio of SDNs. Thus, thetraffic flow is aggregated onto partial links, and the underutilizedlinks can be turned off to save energy. Based on computer simulationresults, we demonstrate that our algorithm achieves a signifi-cant improvement in energy efficiency in hybrid SDN/IP networks.

Energy-Aware Traffic Engineering in Hybrid SDN/IP Backbone Networks

Wei, Yunkai,Zhang, Xiaoning,Xie, Lei,Leng, Supeng The Korea Institute of Information and Commucation 2016 Journal of communications and networks Vol.18 No.4

Software defined network (SDN) can effectively improve the performance of traffic engineering and will be widely used in backbone networks. Therefore, new energy-saving schemes must take SDN into consideration; this action is extremely important owing to the rapidly increasing energy consumption in telecom and Internet service provider (ISP) networks. Meanwhile, the introduction of SDN in current networks must be incremental in most cases, for technical and economic reasons. During this period, operators must manage hybrid networks in which SDN and traditional protocols coexist. In this study, we investigate the energy-efficient traffic engineering problem in hybrid SDN/Internet protocol (IP) networks. First, we formulate the mathematical optimization model considering the SDN/IP hybrid routing mode. The problem is NP-hard; therefore, we propose a fast heuristic algorithm named hybrid energy-aware traffic engineering (HEATE) as a solution. In our proposed HEATE algorithm, the IP routers perform shortest-path routing by using distributed open shortest path first (OSPF) link weight optimization. The SDNs perform multipath routing with traffic-flow splitting managed by the global SDN controller. The HEATE algorithm determines the optimal setting for the OSPF link weight and the splitting ratio of SDNs. Thus, the traffic flow is aggregated onto partial links, and the underutilized links can be turned off to save energy. Based on computer simulation results, we demonstrate that our algorithm achieves a significant improvement in energy efficiency in hybrid SDN/IP networks.

Loss of KDM5B ameliorates pathological cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction by epigenetically enhancing ATF3 expression

Wang Bo,Tan Yong,Zhang Yunkai,Zhang Sheng,Duan Xuewen,Jiang Yuyu,Li Tong,Zhou Qingqing,Liu Xingguang,Zhan Zhenzhen 생화학분자생물학회 2022 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.54 No.-

Excessive cardiac fibrosis is central to adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction leading to heart failure in many cardiac diseases. Histone methylation plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological events. However, the role of histone methylation modification enzymes in pathological cardiac fibrosis needs to be fully elucidated. Here, we identified lysine demethylase 5B (KDM5B), a histone H3K4me2/me3 demethylase, as a key epigenetic mediator of pathological cardiac fibrosis. KDM5B expression was upregulated in cardiac fibroblasts and myocardial tissues in response to pathological stress. KDM5B deficiency markedly ameliorated cardiac fibrosis, improved cardiac function, and prevented adverse cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) or pressure overload. KDM5B knockout or inhibitor treatment constrained the transition of cardiac fibroblasts to profibrogenic myofibroblasts and suppressed fibrotic responses. KDM5B deficiency also facilitated the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts to endothelial-like cells and promoted angiogenesis in response to myocardial injury. Mechanistically, KDM5B bound to the promoter of activating transcription factor 3 (Atf3), an antifibrotic regulator of cardiac fibrosis, and inhibited ATF3 expression by demethylating the activated H3K4me2/3 modification, leading to the enhanced activation of TGF-β signaling and excessive expression of profibrotic genes. Our study indicates that KDM5B drives pathological cardiac fibrosis and represents a candidate target for intervention in cardiac dysfunction and heart failure.

Fuzzy C-means Clustering Analysis Based on Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for the Grouping of Rock Discontinuity Sets

Shengyuan Song,Qing Wang,Jianping Chen,Yanyan Li,Wen Zhang,Yunkai Ruan 대한토목학회 2017 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.21 No.4

Rock discontinuities significantly influence the deformation as well as strength of rock masses. One of the basic analyses for rock engineering is categorizing discontinuities with similar orientations into groups. In this study, an improved FCM method is proposed to identify rock discontinuity sets automatically. The method is established on account of quantum particle swarm optimization, which could achieve the global optimization as well as becomes insensitive to the initial cluster centers. Benchmark case with artificial data and discontinuity data exposed from the Songta dam area are utilized to test the validity of the new algorithm. The test results demonstrate that the new algorithm could well divide discontinuity data. The grouping results acquired by the new algorithm are similar to those of several other methods, which are commonly used to divide discontinuity sets. The main advantage of this method is that achieves a global optimum without selecting proper initial cluster centers.

In vitro differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells using testicular cells from Guangxi Bama mini-pig

Huimin Zhao,Junyu Nie,Xiangxing Zhu,Yangqing Lu,Xingwei Liang,Huiyan Xu,Xiaogan Yang,Yunkai Zhang,Kehuan Lu,Shengsheng Lu 대한수의학회 2018 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.19 No.5

In this study, we attempted to establish a culture system for in vitro spermatogenesis from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of Bama mini-pig. Dissociated testicular cells from 1-month-old pigs were co-cultured to mimic in vivo spermatogenesis. The testicular cells were seeded in minimum essential medium alpha (a-MEM) supplemented with Knockout serum replacement (KSR). Three-dimensional colonies formed after 10 days of culture. The colonies showed positive staining for SSC-associated markers such as UCHL1, PLZF, THY1, OCT4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, and alkaline phosphatase. Induction of SSCs was performed in a-MEM + KSR supplemented with retinoic acid, bone morphogenetic protein 4, activin A, follicle-stimulating hormone, or testosterone. The results showed that STRA8, DMC1, PRM1, and TNP1 were upregulated significantly in the colonies after induction compared to that in testis from 1-month-old pigs, while expression levels of those genes were significantly low compared to those in 2-month-old testis. However, upregulation of ACROSIN was not significant. Replacement of a-MEM and KSR with Iscove’s modified Dulbecco’s medium and fetal bovine serum did not upregulate expression of these genes significantly. These results indicate that SSCs of Bama mini-pig could undergo differentiation and develop to a post-meiotic stage in α-MEM supplemented with KSR and induction factors.