Slimy partners: the mucus barrier and gut microbiome in ulcerative colitis

Fang Jian,Wang Hui,Zhou Yuping,Zhang Hui,Zhou Huiting,Zhang Xiaohong 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent intestinal inflammatory disease characterized by high incidence and young onset age. Recently, there have been some interesting findings in the pathogenesis of UC. The mucus barrier, which is composed of a mucin complex rich in O-glycosylation, not only provides nutrients and habitat for intestinal microbes but also orchestrates the taming of germs. In turn, the gut microbiota modulates the production and secretion of mucins and stratification of the mucus layers. Active bidirectional communication between the microbiota and its ‘slimy’ partner, the mucus barrier, seems to be a continually performed concerto, maintaining homeostasis of the gut ecological microenvironment. Any abnormalities may induce a disorder in the gut community, thereby causing inflammatory damage. Our review mainly focuses on the complicated communication between the mucus barrier and gut microbiome to explore a promising new avenue for UC therapy.

Establishing a Nomogram for Stage IA-IIB Cervical Cancer Patients after Complete Resection

Zhou, Hang,Li, Xiong,Zhang, Yuan,Jia, Yao,Hu, Ting,Yang, Ru,Huang, Ke-Cheng,Chen, Zhi-Lan,Wang, Shao-Shuai,Tang, Fang-Xu,Zhou, Jin,Chen, Yi-Le,Wu, Li,Han, Xiao-Bing,Lin, Zhong-Qiu,Lu, Xiao-Mei,Xing, H Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. Results: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Antibiotic-Impregnated Shunt Catheters on Anti-Infective Effect of Hydrocephalus Shunt

Zhou, Wen-xiu,Hou, Wen-bo,Zhou, Chao,Yin, Yu-xia,Lu, Shou-tao,Liu, Guang,Fang, Yi,Li, Jian-wen,Wang, Yan,Liu, Ai-hua,Zhang, Hai-jun The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2021 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.64 No.2

Objective : Shunt infection is a common complication while treating hydrocephalus. The antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheter (AISC) was designed to reduce shunt infection rate. A meta-analysis was conducted to study the effectiveness of AISCs in reduction of shunt infection in terms of age, follow-up time and high-risk patient population. Methods : This study reviewed literature from three databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (from 2000 to March 2019). Clinical studies from controlled trials for shunt operation were included in this analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed based on the patient's age, follow-up time and high-risk population. The fixed effect in RevMan 5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration) was used for this meta-analysis. Results : This study included 19 controlled clinical trials including 10105 operations. The analysis demonstrated that AISC could reduce the infection rate in shunt surgery compared to standard shunt catheter (non-AISC) from 8.13% to 4.09% (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.58; p=0.01; I2=46%). Subgroup analysis of different age groups showed that AISC had significant antimicrobial effects in all three groups (adult, infant, and adolescent). Follow-up time analysis showed that AISC was effective in preventing early shunt infections (within 6 months after implant). AISC is more effective in high-risk population (OR, 0.24;95% CI, 0.14-0.40; p=0.60; I2=0%) than in general patient population. Conclusion : The results of meta-analysis indicated that AISC is an effective method for reducing shunt infection. We recommend that AISC should be considered for use in infants and high-risk groups. For adult patients, the choice for AISC could be determined based on the treatment cost.

W. B. Yeats’s Early Poetry of Aging

Zhou Fang 한국예이츠학회 2015 한국예이츠 저널 Vol.48 No.-

W. B. 예이츠의 노년을 다룬 초기 시는, 비록 예이츠가 젊어서 썼지만, 상실 속에서의 위엄이나 폐허에 대한 열정과 같은 기본적인 톤이 생기는데 이것은 그 의 후기 시에서 늙음에 대한 거친 저항으로 발전한다. 그의 초기 시는 후기의 나이에 대한 시의 서곡의 역할을 한다. 더구나, 이 시들은 후기의 나이든 예이츠가 늙음의 족 쇄를 벗고 젊은 자신과 다시 일체가 되게 하는 데 도움이 된다. W. B. Yeats’s early poems on aging, though he wrote them as a young man, have already set the basic tone of dignity amid losses and that of passion for ruins, which is to develop into a wild defiance against aging in his late poems. His earlier poems serve not only as a prelude to the late poems on aging. These poems also help the old Yeats in his late poems liberate himself from the restraints of aging and reunite with the young self.

Effects of Different Medium Composition and Exogenous Hormones on Browning of Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) Callus in Tissue Cultu

Fang Fang Zhou,Zheng Wang,Li Yun Shi,Jia Jia Niu,Wen Qian Shang,Dan He,Song Lin He 한국화훼학회 2016 화훼연구 Vol.24 No.2

Browning is one of the key factors that influenced the callus subculture of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.). Effects of medium composition and exogenous hormones: macro elements of Murashige and Skoog (MS salts) and iron salt (Fe2+), pH, agar and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and kinetin (KT) on the callus browning of P. suffruticosa ‘Shan Hu Tai’ in vitro were studied in this paper. Results showed that the browning of P. suffruticosa callus were more sensitive to KT than 6-BA in different concentrations of 6-BA and KT separately with different concentrations of NAA, and reduced to the lowest (13.3%) under 0.5 mg·L-1 NAA plus 0.3 mg·L-1 KT. 1/4 × MS plus 1/4 × Fe2+ was the best basic medium in which the browning rate was only 18.2%. The browning rate of the callus was the lowest of 4.0% under pH 6.5 and the callus grew better in 7.0 g·L-1 agar than others. This study indicated that the best medium preventing P. suffruticosa callus in vitro from browning was: 1/4 × MS medium supplemented with 6.95 mg·L-1Fe2+, 0.3 mg·L-1 KT, 0.5 mg·L-1 NAA, 6.0 g·L-1 agar and 30 g·L-1 sucrose in pH 6.5.

Effect of activated carbon modified with oxalic acid on the production of IPA from MX catalyzed by H3PW12O40@carbon and cobalt

Zhou-wen Fang,Hua-jie Liu,Zhi-hao Wang,Di Wen,Xiang-li Long 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.68 No.-

The production of IPA from the oxidation of MX is completed under the catalysis of H3PW12O40 (HPW) loaded on carbon and cobalt. Oxalic acid is tried to modify the carbon to upgrade the catalytic activity of HPW@C catalyst. The experiments show that the best carbon is acquired by carbonizing the carbon at 450 °C for 2 h in N2 after being soaked in a 0.20 mol l−1 oxalic acid solution for 16 h. The IPA produced by the HPW@C catalysts prepared with the carbon modified is 58.9% over that obtained by the catalysts prepared with the original carbon.

Association Analysis of Common Genetic Variations in MUC5AC Gene with the Risk of Non-cardia Gastric Cancer in a Chinese Population

Zhou, Cheng-Jiang,Zhang, Liu-Wei,Gao, Fang,Zhang, Bin,Wang, Ying,Chen, Da-Fang,Jia, Yan-Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Several lines of evidence suggest that genetic variation in MUC5AC gene might contribute to the risk of gastric cancer. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the relationship between common genetic variations in MUC5AC gene and non-cardia gastric cancer using an LD-based tagSNP approach in Baotou, north-western China. We genotyped 12 tagSNPs by TaqMan method among 288 cases with non-cardia gastric cancer and 281 normal controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for non-cardia gastric cancer risk in association with alleles, genotypes and haplotypes. We observed that the frequencies of rs3793964 C allele and rs11040869 A allele were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Meanwhile, minor allele homozygotes of rs3793964 and rs11040869 were significantly associated with a decreased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer when compared with their major allele homozygotes. Furthermore, a statistically significantly protective effect of rs885454 genotypes on non-cardia gastric cancer was also observed (for CT vs. CC: OR=0.581, 95%CI=0.408-0.829; for CT/TT vs. CC: OR=0.623, 95%CI=0.451-0.884). Our results indicated that some common genetic variations in the MUC5AC gene might have effects on the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer in our studied population.

Effect of H2O2 modification of H3PW12O40@carbon for m-xylene oxidation to isophthalic acid

Zhou-wen Fang,Di Wen,Zhi-hao Wang,Xiang-li Long 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.11

The production of isophthalic acid (IPA) from the oxidation of m-xylene (MX) by air is catalyzed by H3PW12O40 (HPW) loaded on carbon and cobalt. We used H2O2 solution to oxidize the carbon to improve the catalytic activity of HPW@C catalyst. Experiments reveal that the best carbon sample is obtained by calcining the carbon at 700oC for 4h after being impregnated in the 3.75% H2O2 solution at 40oC for 7h. The surface characterization displays that the H2O2 modification leads to an increase in the acidic groups and a reduction in the basic groups on the carbon surface. The catalytic capability of the HPW@C catalyst depends on its surface chemical characteristics and physical property. The acidic groups play a more important part than the physical property. The MX conversion after 180min reaction acquired by the HPW@C catalysts prepared from the activated carbon modified in the best condition is 3.81% over that obtained by the HPW@C catalysts prepared from the original carbon. The IPA produced by the former is 46.2% over that produced by the latter.

Common Genetic Variations in the MUC5AC Gene are Not Related to Helicobacter pylori Serologic Status

Zhou, Cheng-Jiang,Zhang, Liu-Wei,Gao, Fang,Zhang, Bin,Wang, Ying,Chen, Da-Fang,Jia, Yan-Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Several lines of evidence suggest that MUC5AC genetic polymorphisms might confer susceptibility to H. pylori infection and therefore gastric cancer risk. We here assessed the association of common polymorphisms in the MUC5AC gene with H. pylori seroprevalence using an LD-based tagSNP approach in a north-western Chinese Han population. A total of 12 tagSNPs were successfully genotyped among 281 unrelated ethnic Han Chinese who had no cancer history, and no identifiable gastric disease or genetic disease. No significant association between any alleles, genotypes or haplotypes and H. pylori seroprevalence was observed. Our results suggest that common genetic variations in MUC5AC gene might not make a major contribution to the risk of H. pylori infection.

Comparison of University Students' Creativity by Grade:Focusing on Korea and China

Fang Xu Zhou,김채복 사단법인 인문사회과학기술융합학회 2016 예술인문사회융합멀티미디어논문지 Vol.6 No.7

The 21st century is an era of knowledge innovation. Under the era background of knowledge explosion and information explosion, the competition among countries is ultimately talent competition. High-end talents are the core element of national competitiveness. Today, with the rapid development of science and technology and knowledge changing with each passing day, the cultivation of students’ creativity is the requirement of social development and national progress. This paper makes a comparison between the creativity of business school students in China and Korea with questionnaire survey. Empirical study and comparative study with university students by grade in China and Korea are performed. The test results indicates that there are differences between Korean and Chinese students. Also, university students’ creativity are different by grade. This study finds internal reasons for creativity differences and puts forward counter measures and methods for improving students’creativity.