The Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Ratio after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Zhu, Kankai,Jin, Hailong,Li, Zhijian,Gao, Yuan,Zhang, Qing,Liu, Xiaosun,Yu, Jiren The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2021 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.21 No.1

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled gastric cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from 2004 to 2015 as the study cohort. Patients with the same inclusion criteria treated in 2016-2017 were enrolled as the validation cohort. Kaplan-Meier curves were assessed using the log-rank test to analyze the differences in overall survival (OS). Multivariate survival analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ypN and LNR categories for predicting the actual 3-year OS were compared. Results: A total of 265 patients were included in the proposal cohort. The median number of retrieved lymph nodes (rLNs) was 32. The number of positive lymph nodes (pLNs) increased as rLN increased (P=0.037), but the LNR remained relatively constant (P=0.462). The LNR was categorized into 4 groups according to the prognosis: ypNr0, node-negative with rLN>25; ypNr1, node-negative with rLN≤25 or 0<LNR≤0.1; ypNr2, 0.1<LNR≤0.3; and ypNr3, LNR>0.3. In the validation cohort of 43 enrolled patients, there was a clear distinction in OS that significantly (P<0.001) varied depending on the LNR values and LNR was the only independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis (P<0.001). Conclusions: LNR was an independent prognostic factor for survival of patients with gastric cancer after preoperative chemotherapy and might be an alternative predictor for ypN stage.

Effects of Chicory Inulin on Serum Metabolites of Uric Acid, Lipids, Glucose, and Abdominal Fat Deposition in Quails Induced by Purine-Rich Diets

Zhijian Lin,Bing Zhang,Xiaoqing Liu,Rui Jin,Wenjing Zhu 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.11

Inulin, a group of dietary fibers, is reported to improve the metabolic disorders. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chicory inulin on serum metabolites of uric acid (UA), lipids, glucose, and abdominal fat deposition in quail model induced by a purine-rich diet. In this study, 60 male French quails were randomly allocated to five groups: CON (control group), MOD (model group), BEN (benzbromarone-treated group), CHI-H (high-dosage chicory inulin-treated group), and CHI-L (low-dosage chicory inulin-treated group). The serum UA level was significantly increased in the model group from days 7 to 28, as well as triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) increased later in the experimental period. The abdominal fat ratio was increased on day 28. Benzbromarone can decrease UA levels on days 14 and 28. The high and low dosage of chicory inulin also decreased serum UA levels on days 7, 14, and 28. The abdominal fat ratio, activity, and protein of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were decreased in chicory inulin-treated groups. The activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were increased in the model group and decreased in the benzbromarone and chicory inulin groups. This study evaluated a quail model of induced hyperuricemia with other metabolic disorders caused by a high-purine diet. The results indicated that a purine-rich diet might contribute to the development of hyperuricemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and abdominal obesity. Chicory inulin decreased serum UA, TG, and abdominal fat deposition in a quail model of hyperuricemia by altering the ACC protein expression and FAS and XOD activities.

Quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker—a rational method for the internal quality of Chinese herbal medicine

Chunsheng Zhu,Xiaoping Li,Bing Zhang,Zhijian Lin 한국한의학연구원 2017 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.6 No.1

In order to achieve the comprehensive quality control of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), the conventional practice of selecting a single marker for testing has been gradually replaced by the determination of multiple active components based on the characteristics of the synergistic interaction of CHM and applicability of sophisticated analytical techniques. However, with a huge number of CHM in the market and more complex preparations, the limited availability of various standard substances for quantitative analysis has been a major bottleneck in realizing the goal. To overcome these uprising problems, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) was proposed and accepted as a new method to reflect the internal quality of CHM. In this review, the current knowledge about QAMS is systematically summarized, including the general content of QAMS, current status, and general procedure. Additionally, speculation is proposed about the future applications of QAMS approaches in the modernization and standardization of CHM.

Circ_0074027 regulates the progression of non-small cell lung cancer via miR-1304-5p/GJB2 axis

Zhang Jie,Zhu Yangli,Lin Ya,Hu Yuli,Kuang Zhijian 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2023 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.19 No.1

Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors; circular RNA (circRNA) has been shown to be involved in the advance of NSCLC. However, the function of circ_0074027 in NSCLC has not been fully studied. Objective Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0074027, microRNA-1304-5p (miR-1304-5p) and gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2) in NSCLC. Cell counting kit-8 assay, thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were designed to explore cell function. Western blot examined the protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and GJB2. The relationship between miR-1304-5p and circ_0074027 or GJB2 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The xenotransplantation model was established to study the role of circ_0074027 in vivo. Results circ_0074027 and GJB2 are significantly high-expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. Silencing circ_0074027 reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, and promoted cell apoptosis. MiR-1304-5p is a target of circ_0074027. Silencing circ_0074027 inhibited the malignant behavior of NSCLC cells by releasing miR-1304-5p. In addition, GJB2 is a target of miR-1304-5p. Overexpression of GJB2 partially restored the inhibitory effect of miR-1304-5p on cell malignant behavior. Animal experiments confirmed the anti-tumor effect of silence circ_0074027 in vivo. Conclusion Circ_0074027 regulates the expression of GJB2 by regulating miR-1304-5p, thereby promoting the development of NSCLC. Our study provides a novel targeted therapy for NSCLC.

Establishment and evaluation of a murine anb3-integrinexpressing cell line with increased susceptibility to Foot-and-mouth disease virus

Wei Zhang,Kaiqi Lian,Fan Yang,Yang Yang,Zhijian Zhu,Zixiang Zhu,Weijun Cao,Ruoqing Mao,Ye Jin,Jijun He,Jianhong Guo,Xiangtao Liu,Haixue Zheng 대한수의학회 2015 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.16 No.3

Integrin anb3 plays a major role in various signaling pathways, cell apoptosis, and tumor angiogenesis. To examine the functions and rolesof anb3 integrin, a stable CHO-677 cell line expressing the murine anb3 heterodimer (designated as “CHO-677-manb3” cells) wasestablished using a highly efficient lentiviral-mediated gene transfer technique. Integrin subunits an and b3 were detected at the gene andprotein levels by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), respectively, in the CHO-677-manb3 cellline at the 20th passage, implying that these genes were successfully introduced into the CHO-677 cells and expressed stably. A plaque-formingassay, 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50), real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and IFA were used to detect the replicationlevels of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the CHO-677-manb3 cell line. After infection with FMDV/O/ZK/93, the cell line showeda significant increase in viral RNA and protein compared with CHO-677 cells. These findings suggest that we successfully established a stableanb3-receptor-expressing cell line with increased susceptibility to FMDV. This cell line will be very useful for further investigation of anb3integrin, and as a cell model for FMDV research.

Lead ion detection using glutathione-functionalized aluminum gallium nitride/gallium nitride high-electron-mobility transistors

Dong Xiaohu,Jiang Xuecheng,Gu Yan,Wei Chunlei,Xie Zhijian,Zhang Qi,Qian Weiying,Zhang Xiangyang,Zhu Chun,Lu Naiyan,Chen Guoqing,Yang Guofeng 한국물리학회 2023 Current Applied Physics Vol.50 No.-

This work presents a new approach for lead ion detection (Pb2+) using an aluminum gallium nitride/gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) sensor. The AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure of the sensor was realized by functionalizing the gate area with glutathione (GSH). The crystalline and surface qualities of the AlGaN film were measured through X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The response of the sensor was measured in terms of the source–drain current with varying concentrations of Pb2+ ions at a fixed drain-to-source voltage. The sensitivity of the sensor was 29.3 μA/(mg/L), and it exhibited high selectivity toward Pb2+. The results show that using the GSH-functionalized AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensor is a promising strategy for Pb2+ ion detection.