Expression and Clinical Significance of Osteopontin in Calcified Breast Tissue

Huan, Jin-Liang,Xing, Li,Qin, Xian-Ju,Gao, Zhi-Guang,Pan, Xiao-Feng,Zhao, Zhi-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Osteopontin (OPN) is an integrin-binding protein, believed to be involved in a variety of physiological cellular functions. The physiology of OPN is best documented in the bone where this secreted adhesive glycoprotein appears to be involved in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. In our study, we used semi-quantitative RT-PCR of osteopontin in calcification tissue of breast to detect breast cancer metastasis. The obtained data indicate that the expression of osteopontin is related to calcification tissue of breast, and possibly with the incidence of breast cancer. The expression strength of OPN by RT-PCR detection was related to the degree of malignancy of breast lesions, suggesting a close relationship between OPN and breast calcification tissue. The results revealed that expression of OPN mRNA is related to calcification of breast cancer tissue and to the development of breast cancer. Determination of OPN mRNA expression can be expected to be a guide to clinical therapy and prediction of the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

Upregulation and biological function of transmembrane protein 119 in osteosarcoma

Zhen-Huan Jiang,Jun Peng,Hui-Lin Yang,Xing-Li Fu,Jin-Zhi Wang,Lei Liu,Jian-Nong Jiang,Yong-Fei Tan,Zhi-Jun Ge 생화학분자생물학회 2017 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.49 No.-

Osteosarcoma is suggested to be caused by genetic and molecular alterations that disrupt osteoblast differentiation. Recent studies have reported that transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119) contributes to osteoblast differentiation and bone development. However, the level of TMEM119 expression and its roles in osteosarcoma have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, TMEM119 mRNA and protein expression was found to be up-regulated in osteosarcoma compared with normal bone cyst tissues. The level of TMEM119 protein expression was strongly associated with tumor size, clinical stage, distant metastasis and overall survival time. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) GSE42352 dataset revealed TMEM119 expression in osteosarcoma tissues to be positively correlated with cell cycle, apoptosis, metastasis and TGF-β signaling. We then knocked down TMEM119 expression in U2OS and MG63 cells using small interfering RNA, which revealed that downregulation of TMEM119 could inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells by inducing cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. We also found that TMEM119 knockdown significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion, and decreased the expression of TGF-β pathway-related factors (BMP2, BMP7 and TGF-β). TGF-β application rescued the inhibitory effects of TMEM119 knockdown on osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Further in vitro experiments with a TGF-β inhibitor (SB431542) or BMP inhibitor (dorsomorphin) suggested that TMEM119 significantly promotes cell migration and invasion, partly through TGF-β/BMP signaling. In conclusion, our data support the notion that TMEM119 contributes to the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, and functions as an oncogene in osteosarcoma.

Annual Financial Impact of Thyroidectomies for Nodular Thyroid Disease in China

Liu, Xiao-Yun,Zhu, Li-Jun,Cui, Dai,Wang, Zhi-Xiao,Chen, Huan-Huan,Duan, Yu,Shen, Mei-Ping,Zhang, Zhi-Hong,Wang, Xiao-Dong,Chen, Jia-Wei,Alexander, Erik Karl,Yang, Tao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.14

A large proportion of patients with thyroid nodules in China undergo thyroidectomy in order to get confirmatory histology diagnosis. The financial impact of this modality remains to be investigated. To evaluate rationality of performing thyroidectomy without a routine FNA preoperatively from the economic perspective, we conducted a retrospective, observational study of all archival thyroidectomies with records of cost per stay (CPS), cost per day (CPD) and length of stay (LOS) from 2008 to 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. We compared all the parameters between cancer and non-cancer thyroidectomies. We recruited 6, 140 thyroidectomies with valid records of CPS, CPD and LOS in this period. The CPS of cancer thyroidectomy was significantly higher than non-cancer thyroidectomy. The percentage of cancer thyroidectomy increased from 26.5% to 41.6%. The percentage of annual cost of cancer thyroidectomies rose from 30.2% to 45.2%. The LOS for cancer and non-cancer thyroidectomy decreased while the CPD increased in the past six years. The estimated national cost in 2012 for all thyroidectomies would be USD 1.86 billion with USD 1.09 billion for non-cancer thyroidectomies. We have witnessed great improvement in the healthcare for patients with thyroid nodules in China. However, given limited healthcare resources, currently thyroid FNA for more precise preoperative diagnosis may help to curb the rapidly increasing demand in healthcare costs in the future for nodular thyroid disease in China.

Functional Connections of the Vestibulo-spino-adrenal Axis in the Control of Blood Pressure Via the Vestibulosympathetic Reflex in Conscious Rats

Huan-Jun Lu,Mei-Han Li,Mei-Zhi Li,박상언,김민선,Yuan-Zhe Jin,박병림 대한약리학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.5

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

Functional Connections of the Vestibulo-spino-adrenal Axis in the Control of Blood Pressure Via the Vestibulosympathetic Reflex in Conscious Rats

Lu, Huan-Jun,Li, Mei-Han,Li, Mei-Zhi,Park, Sang Eon,Kim, Min Sun,Jin, Yuan-Zhe,Park, Byung Rim The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.5

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

Current Evidence on the Relationship Between Two Polymorphisms in the NBS1 Gene and Breast Cancer Risk: a Meta-analysis

Zhang, Zhi-Hua,Yang, Lin-Sheng,Huang, Fen,Hao, Jia-Hu,Su, Pu-Yu,Sun, Ye-Huan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Introduction: Published studies on the association between Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1(NBS1) gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk have been inconclusive, and a meta-analysis was therefore performed for clarification. Methods: Eligible articles were identified by a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE bibliographic databases for the period up to March 2012. The presence of between-study heterogeneity was investigated using the chi-square-based Cochran's Q statistic test. When there was statistical heterogeneity, the random effects model was chosen; otherwise, fixed effects estimates were reported as an alternative approach. Results: A total of 11 eligible articles (14 case-control studies) were identified, nine case-control studies were for the 657del5 mutation (7,534 breast cancer cases, 14,034 controls) and five case-control studies were for the I171V mutation (3,273 breast cancer cases, 4,004 controls). Our analysis results indicated that the 657del5 mutation was associated with breast cancer risk (carriers vs. non-carriers: pooled OR =2.63, 95% CI: 1.76-3.93), whereas the I171V mutation was not (carriers vs. non-carriers: pooled OR =1.52, 95% CI: 0.70-3.28). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis suggests that the 657del5 gene mutation in the NBS1 gene plays a role in breast cancer risk, while the I171V mutation does not exert a significant influence.

Unactuated Force Control of 5-DOF Parallel Robot Based on Fuzzy PI

Shu-Huan Wen,Wei Zheng,Shi-Dong Jia,Zhi-Xin Ji,Peng-Cheng Hao,Hak-Keung Lam 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2020 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.18 No.6

This paper investigates the fuzzy position/force hybrid control for a class of 5-degree-of-freedom (DOF) redundantly actuated parallel robots. The position control law is designed based on the proportional-integraldifferential (PID) for the 5-DOF redundantly actuated parallel robot. The fuzzy proportional-integral (PI) redundant actuation force control law is designed based on the position/force hybrid control structure for the 5-DOF redundantly actuated parallel robot. The optimum driving force is obtained in the presence of interference, and the force tracking performance of the fuzzy PI controller is better than the conventional PI controller under the interference condition. Based on the fuzzy position/force hybrid controller, the tracking performance of the closed-loop system for the 5-DOF redundantly actuated parallel robot is improved by using the fuzzy position/force hybrid controller and the interference is eliminated effectively in the control system design. Finally, the co-simulation results of ADAMS and MATLAB/SIMULINK are given to show the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed methodscompared with the conventional PI controller.

The Effect of Salt and pH on the Phase Transition Behaviors of pH and Temperature-Responsive Poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-methylacrylic acid)

Tong Huan Liu,Jian Fang,Ya Ping Zhang,Zheng Zhi Zeng 한국고분자학회 2008 Macromolecular Research Vol.16 No.8

Optimizing the Utility of Pleural Fluid Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) for the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion (TPE)

( Nai-chien Huan ),( Inn Shih Khor ),( Hema Yamini Ramarmuty ),( Ming Yao Lim ),( Kai Choon Ng ),( Alfieyanto Syaripuddin ),( Qin Zhi Lee ),( Wee Jing Teo ),( Kunji Kannan Sivaraman Kannan ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2020 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.128 No.-

Introduction Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (pfADA) is a simple, rapid and inexpensive surrogate marker for tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). A nationwide cut-off of 40U/L is currently used based on overseas data. There is a need to optimise the diagnostic utility of pfADA by establishing a local cut-off value. In this study, we aimed to: describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with TPE and non-TPE; to determine the sensitivity and specificity of current pfADA of 40U/L; and to establish a new local pfADA cut-off for TPE. Methods We conducted a single centre, observational, prospective study of patients with exudative pleural effusion and pfADA measured from 1st October 2019 to 30th April 2020 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Malaysia. Results The diagnosis of analysed patients (n=93) included TPE (n=41), malignancy (n=28), parapneumonic effusion (n=12) and other causes (n=12) (figurer 1). The mean pfADA was 51.15 (SD=13.77)U/L among TPE group and 18.86 (SD=12.33)U/L among non- TPE. When analysis was restricted to TPE patients, the local pfADA cut-off is 29.6U/L, with sensitivity of 97.6% and specificity of 90.4% (figure 2). The current pfADA of 40U/L has a sensitivity of 87.8% and specificity of 92.3%. Conclusion We established a local pfADA cut-off of 29.6U/L for TPE. Optimising the utility of pfADA helps to enhance clinicians’ treatment confidence of TPE when initial work-up were inconclusive.

Bi-Directional Wireless Power Transfer for Vehicle-to-Grid Systems

Yue Sun,Cheng Jiang,Zhi-Hui Wang,Lijuan Xiang,Huan Zhang 전력전자학회 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.4

A current sourced bi-directional wireless power transfer (WPT) system is proposed to solve the problems that exist in the bi-directional WPT for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems. These problems include the fact that these systems are not safe enough, the output power is limited and the control methods are complicated. Firstly, the proposed system adopts two different compensation and control methods on both the primary and secondary sides. Secondly, based on an AC impedance analysis, the working principle is analyzed and the parameter configuration method with frequency stability is given. In order to output a constant voltage, a bi-directional DC/DC circuit and a controllable rectifier bridge are adopted, which are based on the “constant primary current, constant secondary voltage” control strategy. Finally, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed methods are verified by experimental results.