Excessive mechanical strain accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration by disrupting intrinsic circadian rhythm

Ding Sheng-Long,Zhang Tai-Wei,Zhang Qi-Chen,Ding Wang,Li Ze-Fang,Han Guan-Jie,Bai Jin-Song,Li Xi-Lei,Dong Jian,Wang Hui-Ren,Jiang Li-Bo 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Night shift workers with disordered rhythmic mechanical loading are more prone to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our results showed that circadian rhythm (CR) was dampened in degenerated and aged NP cells. Long-term environmental CR disruption promoted IDD in rats. Excessive mechanical strain disrupted the CR and inhibited the expression of core clock proteins. The inhibitory effect of mechanical loading on the expression of extracellular matrix genes could be reversed by BMAL1 overexpression in NP cells. The Rho/ROCK pathway was demonstrated to mediate the effect of mechanical stimulation on CR. Prolonged mechanical loading for 12 months affected intrinsic CR genes and induced IDD in a model of upright posture in a normal environment. Unexpectedly, mechanical loading further accelerated the IDD in an Light-Dark (LD) cycle-disrupted environment. These results indicated that intrinsic CR disruption might be a mechanism involved in overloading-induced IDD and a potential drug target for night shift workers.

Risk Factors of Colorectal Stricture Associated with Developing High-Grade Dysplasia or Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Long-term Follow-up Study

Weimin Xu,Wenjun Ding,Yubei Gu,Long Cui,Jie Zhong,Peng Du 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2020 Gut and Liver Vol.14 No.5

Background/Aims: The risk factors of colorectal stricture associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) carcinogenesis in the long-term disease duration remain unclear. Methods: This study included all UC patients registered from a prospectively maintained database between June 1986 to July 2018. The demographic data, clinical features, and outcomes in patients with dysplasia and stricture were assessed using univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: A total of 246 eligible patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up time was 13.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 9.0 to 16.0). There were 35 cases (14.2%) of colorectal stricture. Patients with stricture had worse clinical outcomes. Stricture formation (odds ratio [OR], 9.350; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.842 to 30.762), inflammatory polyps (OR, 5.464; 95% CI, 1.692 to 17.638), disease duration of more than 10 years (OR, 3.223; 95% CI, 1.040 to 9.985), and age >40 years at diagnosis (OR, 8.499; 95% CI, 1.903 to 37.956) were significantly associated with high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer. In addition, disease duration of more than 5 years (OR, 3.211; 95% CI, 1.168 to 8.881), moderated anemia (OR, 3.373; 95% CI, 1.472 to 7.731), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (OR, 5,842; 95% CI, 1.395 to 24.468) were contributing factors for the development of colorectal stricture. Conclusions: Colorectal stricture had the highest risk for malignant transformation. Earlier initiation of colonoscopic surveillance in UC patients with risk factors for stricture should be considered to prevent stricture formation and further malignant transformation.

Study on Gloeostereum Inoarnatum 5. Itoetimai - Fermentation Cultivation(Liquid Fermentation)

Jie, Tai-Long The Plant Resources Society of Korea 2001 Plant Resources Vol.4 No.3

It was reported in our Previous paper that the fermented products from Gloeostereum incarnatum strongly inhibit the growth of six kinds of bacteria in human bodies. In this paper the appropriated conditions of immersing culture for the strain 8 903 of Gloeostereum incarnatum was analysed. And the output of the hypha and fermentative product was determined or compared. The prelimenaryresults showed that the appropriated conditions for the growth of Gloeostereum incarnatum are: (1)culture medium:glucose 3%; protein peoptne 0.2%; soybeancake power 1% yeast power 0.3%; KH2PO40.05%; MgSO4 0.03%; CaCO3 0.01%; vitamin Bl 0.001%; befor sterilization pH Value of six should be maintained; (2) temperature; 27f ~28f ; (3) time; about 200 hours; (4) ventilation; (30%∼50%)/min. The sigh of the end culture are: pH coming down about 4: remnant glucoses less 1%; amino nitrogens about 20%; time about eight days. In the aforementioned conditions, the output of fermentative product achieve to 2.5∼3g/L.

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of a Continuously Cast Al–Mg–Si–Cu Alloy Processed by Repetitive Continuous Extrusion Forming

Long Zhang,Ruiqing Lu,Jie Tang,Fulin Jiang,Dingfa Fu,Hui Zhang,Jie Teng 대한금속·재료학회 2023 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.29 No.7

A continuously cast Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy was processed by repetitive continuous extrusion forming (R-Conform) and thecorresponding deformation behaviors, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were investigated systematicallyby combining uniaxial compression deformation, finite element simulation, microstructural observation and mechanicaltest. The results showed that the grain size of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy bar was gradually refined and became more uniformafter R-Conform processing with the increase of pass as a result of continuous dynamic recrystallization. The evolution ofmicrostructure was related to the complex thermomechanical conditions of temperature, shear rate and the distribution ofaccumulated strain during R-Conform process. Then the improvement of properties was obtained by the refined grains afterR-Conform processing. Further, the dense and fine precipitates formed after solution treatment and aging led to optimizedmechanical properties with tensile strength approximate 400 MPa and elongation about 17.8%.

MiR-124 regulates apoptosis in hypoxia-induced human brain microvessel endothelial cells through targeting Bim

Jie Pu,Yuan Long,Jian Zhou,Yanqiang Zhan,Xiaoyong Qin 한국응용생명화학회 2018 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.61 No.6

Human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMECs) are crucial for brain vascular repair and maintenance. The high-expressed expressions of micro- RNA-124 (miR-124) in brain have been investigated and revealed in many researches. In this work, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-124 in apoptosis of HBMECs and the underlying mechanism. Here, we found the lowexpressed miR-124 in hypoxia-induced HBMECs using qRT-PCR analysis. MiR-124 targeting 30-untranslated region (30-UTR) of Bim mRNA was predicted by Targetscan database. Importantly, the decreased miR-124 expression and increased Bim expression, an opposite trend, were obtained in hypoxia-induced HBMECs. The further confirmation of the correlation between miR-124 and Bim was conducted by miR-124 overexpression and dual luciferase reporter assays. The inhibitory role of miR- 124 in Bim expression was evidenced by results obtained from miR-124 overexpression analysis. Luciferase reporter assay further proved that miR-124 directly targeted the two conserved seed sites in the Bim 30-UTR. The inhibited apoptosis of HBMECs was observed under both miR-124 overexpression and Bim knockdown condition in flow cytometry analysis. Collectively, these findings outline that miR-124 regulates apoptosis in hypoxia-induced HBMECs through targeting Bim, providing a better understanding of the role of miR-124 in apoptosis of HBMECs.

Commutability Assessment of Candidate External Quality Assessment Materials for Aminotransferase Activity Measurements Based on Different Approaches in China

Long Qichen,Qi Tianqi,Zhang Tianjiao,Wang Jing,Zeng Jie,Ying Yan,Meng Wang,Wei Huang,Haijian Zhao,Wenxiang Chen,Chuanbao Zhang 대한진단검사의학회 2021 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.41 No.1

Background: Using commutable external quality assessment (EQA) materials is important for monitoring successful harmonization efforts. We assessed the commutability of four human serum pool (HSP) preparations to identify candidate EQA materials for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity measurement. Methods: One set each of 85 clinical samples (CSs) was collected for ALT and AST activity measurement. The 15 candidate EQA materials included four types of HSP preparations (A to D): materials A, C, and D contained human original recombinant (HOR) aminotransferases; materials B was mixed leftover samples. The CSs and 15 candidate EQA materials were analyzed using seven routine assays, and the ln-transformed results were analyzed in 21 assay pairs. Commutability was assessed using Deming regression, with a 95% prediction interval (CLSI approach) and the difference in bias with an error component model (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine [IFCC] approach). Results: For ALT, all materials were commutable for 14–21 assay pairs according to the CLSI and IFCC approaches. For AST, B01-03 showed commutability for 14-21 assay pairs, and C01-03 and D01-03 showed commutability for no less than 10 assay pairs according to the two approaches. A01-06 were commutable for 9-16 assay pairs according to the CLSI approach, but for 6-9 assay pairs according to the IFCC approach. Conclusions: Mixed leftover samples showed desirable commutability characteristics as candidate EQA materials for routine aminotransferase activity measurements. Human serum bases supplemented with HOR were commutable for most routine ALT activity measurements.

LCL Resonant Compensation of Movable ICPT Systems with a Multi-load

Jie Hua,Hui-Zhen Wang,Yao Zhao,Ai-Long Zou 전력전자학회 2015 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.15 No.6

Compared to LC resonance, LCL resonance has distinct advantages such as a large resonant capability, low voltage and current stresses of the power device, constant voltage or current output characteristics, and fault-tolerance capability. Thus, LCL resonant compensation is employed for a movable Inductive Contactless Power Transfer (ICPT) system with a multi-load in this paper, which achieves constant current output characteristics. Peculiarly, the primary side adopts a much larger compensation inductor than the primary leakage inductor to lower the reactive power, reduce the input current ripple, generate a large current in the primary side, and realize soft-switching. Furthermore, this paper proposes an approximate resonant point for large inductor-ratio LCL resonant compensation through fundamental wave analysis. In addition, the PWM control strategy is used for this system to achieve constant current output characteristics. Finally, an experimental platform is built, whose secondary E-Type coils can ride and move on a primary rail. Simulations and experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of both the theory and the design method.

BMB : Reports ; An inhibitory role of NEK6 in TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway

( Jie Zuo ),( Haijie Ma ),( Hao Cai ),( Yanhua Wu ),( Wei Jiang ),( Long Yu ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2015 BMB Reports Vol.48 No.8

The NEK6 (NIMA-related kinases 6) is reported to play po-tential roles in tumorigenesis. Although it is suggested to function in several cellular pathways, the underlying mechanism in tumorigenesis is still largely unknown. In the present study, we discovered interaction of NEK6 with Smad4, a key member of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway. Over-expression of NEK6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines suppresses TGFβ- mediated transcription activity in a kinase activity-dependent manner. In addition, NEK6 suppresses the cell growth arrest induced by TGFβ. Mechanically, NEK6 blocks nuclear translocation of Smad4, which is essential for TGF β function. Moreover, we identified that NEK6 could be regulated by TGFβ and hypoxia. Our study sheds new light on the roles of NEK6 in canonical TGFβ/Smad pathway and tum-origenesis. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 473-478]

Flexural Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Epoxy Resin/Carbon Fiber Cloth/Metallic Powder Composites

Jie Chen,You-Jia Dong,Fan-Long Jin,박수진 한국고분자학회 2019 Macromolecular Research Vol.27 No.1

In this study, epoxy-based composites were prepared using diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as the matrix, carbon fiber cloth (CFC) as the reinforcing agent, and metallic powder as the conductive filler. The mechanical and electrical properties of DGEBA/CFC and DGEBA/CFC/metallic powder composites were investigated using several techniques. The morphology of the fracture surface was investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The flexural strength of the DGEBA/CFC composites was found to significantly increase with the addition of CFC. The electrical conductivity of the DGEBA/CFC composites significantly increased with the increasing amount of CFC and further increased after the addition of metallic powders. The electrical conductivity of the DGEBA/CFC composites significantly improved with the addition of a small amount of graphene.

A New Method for Determination of 3D Active Earth Pressure of Unsaturated Backfills

Long Wang,Meijuan Xu,Jie Li,Wenhua Liu,De’an Sun 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.12

Determinations of active earth pressures are commonly performed two-dimensionally (2D) based on completely saturated and/or dry assumptions, though the soil in cases of geotechnical interest is mostly unsaturated and the earth pressures are usually of conspicuous three-dimensional (3D) features. In this paper, a novel finite prismoid element method (FPEM) for calculating the lateral earth pressures acting against the retaining wall is suggested. The main feature of the FPEM is that the whole backfill is discretized into numerous horizontally distributed prismoid elements that might characterized with different soil properties. For unsaturated backfills, the prismoid elements are characterized with various soil cohesions and unit soil weights. Upper bound solutions to active earth pressures under 2D and 3D conditions with and without suction are both calculated and compared with several other analytical ones, indicating the reliability and applicability of the proposed method. The responses of unsaturated backfills to surcharge loads on the crest are numerically studied and discussed. An illustrative example is reexamined to further demonstrate the practical use of the technique.