Sex-related Differences in DNA Copy Number Alterations in Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Zhu, Zhong-Zheng,Wang, Dong,Cong, Wen-Ming,Jiang, Hongmei,Yu, Yue,Wen, Bing-Ji,Dong, Hui,Zhang, Xiao,Liu, Shu-Fang,Wang, Ai-Zhong,Zhu, Guanshan,Hou, Lifang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

Background: Males have a higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than females in general, but the reasons for the sex disparity are still obscure. DNA copy number alteration (CNA) is a major feature of solid tumors including HCC, but whether CNA plays a role in sex-related differences in HCC development has never been evaluated. Methods: High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 17 female and 46 male HCC patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Shanghai, China. Two-tailed Fisher's exact or ${\chi}^2$ tests was used to compare CNAs between females and males. Results: The overall frequencies and patterns of CNAs in female and male cases were similar. However, female HCC tumors presented more copy number gains compared to those in males on 1q21.3-q22 (76.5% vs. 37.0%, P = 0.009), 11q11 (35.3% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.0002) and 19q13.31-q13.32 (23.5% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.004), and loss on 16p11.2 (35.3% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.009). Relative to females, male cases had greater copy number loss on 11q11 (63.0% vs. 17.6%, P = 0.002). Further analyses showed that 11q11 gain correlated with 19q13.31-q13.32 gain (P = 0.042), 11q11 loss (P = 0.011) and 16p11.2 loss (P = 0.033), while 1q21.3-q22 gain correlated with 19q13.31-q13.32 gain (P = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings suggest that CNAs may play a role in sex-related differences in HBVassociated HCC development.

Overexpression of rice phosphate transporter gene OsPT2 enhances nitrogen fixation and ammonium assimilation in transgenic soybean under phosphorus deficiency

Wen-Li Zhu,Li-Fei Yang,Shouping Yang,Jun-Yi Gai,Yue-Lin Zhu 한국식물학회 2016 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.59 No.2

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major factors that limit legume nodulation and nitrogen (N) fixation, and thus legume productivity. In our previous study, we showed that three T2 transgenic soybean lines overexpressing rice phosphate transporter gene OsPT2 showed enhanced tolerance to low P stress. This study aimed to determine whether OsPT2 overexpression would increase N2 fixation and ammonium assimilation in three T3 homozygous transgenic lines (HTLs) under P deficiency in pot culture. Under low inorganic phosphate (Pi) conditions, the P accumulation, total N and total ureide concentrations were significantly higher in the T3 HTLs than in the wild type (WT) plants. Further, the T3 HTLs showed significantly better plant growth performance and nodule development than the WT plants under low-Pi conditions. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression levels of GmENOD40-1, GmENOD40-2 (two early nodulin genes), and GmLba (one leghemoglobin gene) were significantly increased in T3 HTLs under P deficiency at 24 and 32 d after inoculation (DAI). The increased transcript levels of GmGS1β1 and GmGS1β2 (two cytosolic glutamine synthetase genes) in the T3 HTLs were consistent with the increase in glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) activity at 32 DAI. Our results indicated that the overexpression of OsPT2 in T3 HTLs enhances N2 fixation and ammonium assimilation activity under low P stress.

A Z-scheme CuO–ZnO–ZnS–CuS quaternary nanocomposite for solar-light-driven photocatalytic performance

Zhu Wenli,Yang Qiaoling,Du Juan,Yin Pinpin,Yi Jun,Liu Yanmei,Wu Xuemei,Zhang Zhongyi 한국물리학회 2022 Current Applied Physics Vol.39 No.-

A quaternary CuO–CuS–ZnO–ZnS nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a facile microwave irradiation based on the preprepared ZnS and CuO nanoparticles. CuO–CuS–ZnO–ZnS nanocomposite was a porous photocatalyst, providing excellent adsorption performance. It was sensitive to both ultraviolet and visible light, moreover, the photoelectrochemical measurements confirmed that there was a high separation rate and low recombination rate of photo-generated charge carriers in the nanocomposite, endowing excellent photocatalytic activity in the sunlight. Under the simulated solar light irradiation, the removal efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) pollutant (30 mg/L) over CuO–CuS–ZnO–ZnS nanocomposite was 33.98 and 2.90 times of pristine CuO and ZnS, respectively. The outstandingt photocatalytic performance was attributed to Z-scheme charge transfer path.

Expression Level of Valosin Containing Protein is Associated with Prognosis of Primary Orbital MALT Lymphoma

Zhu, Wen-Wen,Kang, Li,Gao, Ya-Ping,Hei, Yan,Dong, Jie,Liu, Yu,Xiao, Li-Hua,Yang, Guang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Objective: To investigate whether the expression level of valosin-containing protein (VCP) is correlated with the prognosis of primary orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Methods: VCP expression in 58 samples from primary orbital MALT lymphoma patients was determined by immunohistochemisty using monoclonal antibodies. Correlations between VCP expression level and prognosis were clarified by statistical analysis. Results: It was found that the percentage of VCP positive cells in samples of primary orbital MALT lymphoma ranged from 32% to 95%. The samples were divided into two groups (level 1 and level 2) according to the median value (45%) of the percentage of VCP positive cells. It was found that the expression level of VCP was significantly correlated with recurrence (P=0.003) and tumor size (P=0.008). At the same time, the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate of patients of level 1 was significantly better than that of level 2 (P=0.001; P=0.032). There was no observed correlation between the expression level of VCP and other clinical features. Conclusion: VCP could be a useful marker for predicting the prognosis of primary orbital MALT lymphoma.

Risk Factors for Early Recurrence of HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Meeting Milan Criteria after Curative Resection

Zhu, Wen-Jiang,Huang, Chu-Ying,Li, Chuan,Peng, Wei,Wen, Tian-Fu,Yan, Lv-Nan,Li, Bo,Wang, Wen-Tao,Xu, Ming-Qing,Yang, Jia-Yin,Jiang, Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection varies greatly. Few studies had investigated the risk factors for early recurrence (recurrence-free time ${\leq}$ 1 year) of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCCs meeting Milan criteria. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the 224 patients with HCC meeting Milan criteria who underwent curative liver resection in our center between February 2007 and March 2012. The overall survival (OS) rate, recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate and risk factors for early recurrence were analyzed. Results: After a median follow-up of 33.3 months, HCC reoccurred in 105 of 224 patients and 32 died during the period. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 97.3%, 81.6% and 75.6% respectively, and the 1-, 3- and 5-year RFS rates were 73.2%, 53.7% and 41.6%. Cox regression showed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 800 ng/ml (HR 2.538, 95% CI 1.464-4.401, P=0.001), multiple tumors (HR 2.286, 95% CI 1.123-4.246, P=0.009) and microvascular invasion (HR 2.518, 95% CI 1.475-4.298, P=0.001) to be associated with early recurrence (recurrence-free time ${\leq}$ 1-year) of HCC meeting Milan criteria. Conclusions: AFP > 800 ng/ml, multiple tumors and microvascular invasion are independent risk factors affecting early postoperative recurrence of HCC. In addition resection appears capable of replacing liver transplantation in some situations with safety and a better outcome.

CO2 Adsorption on the B12N12 Nanocage Encapsulated with Alkali Metals: A Density Functional Study

Haiyan Zhu,Qiyan Zhang,Qinfu Zhao,He Zhao,Yifan Feng,Bingbing Suo,Huixian Han,Qi Song,Yawei Li,Wenli Zou,Haiyan Zhu 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.14 No.3

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to study the capacity of the B12N12 nanocage encapsulated with alkali metals (Li, Na, K) for the CO2 adsorption and activation. It is found that after encapsulating alkali metals, the alkali metal atoms are closer to one side of clusters instead of exactly lying at the center, and a considerable charge transfers from the inner alkali metal atoms to the B12N12 cage. Besides, the HOMO–LUMO gap (HLG) values of Li@B12N12, Na@B12N12 and K@B12N12 are decreased to about 6 eV, being much smaller than that of the pristine B12N12. Although the geometry structure parameters and the energy differences of M06-2X are slightly different from the ones of ωB97X-D, some identical results of two kinds of functional can be obtained. CO2 can be adsorbed chemically and physically on majority bonds of all the clusters, except for some bonds with large change in bond length and bond indices. The encapsulation of alkali-metal atoms may enhance the physical and chemical adsorption of CO2 on the surface of the clusters, in which Na@B12N12 and K@B12N12 are the most powerful physical and chemical adsorbent for CO2, respectively.

PKCδ-dependent Activation of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System is Responsible for High Glucose-induced Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion

Zhu, Shan,Yao, Feng,Li, Wen-Huan,Wan, Jin-Nan,Zhang, Yi-Min,Tang, Zhao,Khan, Shahzad,Wang, Chang-Hua,Sun, Sheng-Rong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has contributed to advanced breast cancer development over the past decades. However, the mechanism underlying this contribution is poorly understood. In this study, we determined that high glucose enhanced proteasome activity was accompanied by enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as suppressed apoptosis, in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BZM) pretreatment mitigated high glucose-induced MCF-7 cell growth and invasion. Furthermore, high glucose increased protein kinase C delta ($PKC{\delta}$)-phosphorylation. Administration of the specific $PKC{\delta}$ inhibitor rottlerin attenuated high glucose-stimulated cancer cell growth and invasion. In addition, $PKC{\delta}$ inhibition by both rottlerin and $PKC{\delta}$ shRNA significantly suppressed high glucose-induced proteasome activity. Our results suggest that $PKC{\delta}$-dependent ubiquitin proteasome system activation plays an important role in high glucose-induced breast cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Full-scale testing and modeling of the mechanical behavior of shield TBM tunnel joints

Wen-qi Ding,Yi-cheng Peng,Zhi-guo Yan,Bi-wei Shen,He-hua Zhu,Xin-xin Wei 국제구조공학회 2013 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.45 No.3

For shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) tunnel lining, the segment joint is the most critical component for determining the mechanical response of the complete lining ring. To investigate the mechanical behavior of the segment joint in a water conveyance tunnel, which is different from the vehicle tunnel because of the external loads and the high internal water pressure during the tunnel’s service life, full-scale joint tests were conducted. The main advantage of the joint tests over previous ones was the definiteness of the loads applied to the joints using a unique testing facility and the acquisition of the mechanical behavior of actual joints. Furthermore, based on the test results and the theoretical analysis, a mechanical model of segment joints has been proposed, which consists of all important influencing factors,including the elastic-plastic behavior of concrete, the pre-tightening force of the bolts and the deformations of all joint components, i.e., concrete blocks, bolts and cast iron panels. Finally, the proposed mechanical model of segment joints has been verified by the aforementioned full-scale joint tests.

Perforation optimization of hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas well

Zhu, Hai Yan,Deng, Jin Gen,Chen, Zi Jian,An, Feng Chen,Liu, Shu Jie,Peng, Cheng Yong,Wen, Min,Dong, Guang Techno-Press 2013 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.5 No.5

Considering the influences of fluid penetration, casing, excavation processes of wellbore and perforation tunnels, the seepage-deformation finite element model of oil and gas well coupled with perforating technique is established using the tensile strength failure criterion, in which the user-defined subroutine is developed to investigate the dynamic evolvement of the reservoir porosity and permeability. The results show that the increases of perforation angle and decreases of perforation density lead to a higher fracture initiation pressure, while the changes of the perforation diameter and length have no evident influences on the fracture initiation pressure. As for initiation location for the fracture in wellbore, it is on the wellbore face while considering the presence of the casing. By contrast, the fractures firstly initiate on the root of the tunnels without considering casing. Besides, the initial fracture position is also related with the perforation angle. The fracture initiation position is located in the point far away from the wellbore face, when the perforation angle is around $30^{\circ}$; however, when the perforation angle is increased to $45^{\circ}$, a plane fracture is initiated from the wellbore face in the maximum horizontal stress direction; no fractures was found around perforation tunnels, when the angel is close to $90^{\circ}$. The results have been successfully applied in an oilfield, with the error of only 1.1% comparing the fracture initiation pressure simulated with the one from on-site experiment.

Progressive damage detection of thin plate structures using wavelet finite element model updating

Wen-Yu He,Songye Zhu,Wei-Xin Ren 국제구조공학회 2018 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.22 No.3

In this paper, wavelet finite element model (WFEM) updating technique is employed to detect sub-element damage in thin plate structures progressively. The procedure of WFEM-based detection method, which can detect sub-element damage gradually, is established. This method involves the optimization of an objective function that combines frequencies and modal assurance criteria (MAC). During the damage detection process, the scales of wavelet elements in the concerned regions are adaptively enhanced or reduced to remain compatible with the gradually identified damage scenarios, while the modal properties from the tests remains the same, i.e., no measurement point replacement or addition are needed. Numerical and experimental examples were conducted to examine the effectiveness of the proposed method. A scanning Doppler laser vibrometer system was employed to measure the plate mode shapes in the experimental study. The results indicate that the proposed method can detect structural damage with satisfactory accuracy by using minimal degrees-of-freedoms (DOFs) in the model and minimal updating parameters in optimization.