Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Patients with Operable HER-2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer

Liu, Ai-Na,Sun, Ping,Liu, Jian-Nan,Ma, Jin-Bo,Qu, Hua-Jun,Zhu, Hua,Yu, Cai-Yan,Zhang, Liang-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Objective: To study the relationship between clinical pathologic characteristics, treatment modalities and prognostic factors in HER-2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-2) overexpressed breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Major clinico-pathological factors including therapeutic modalities and survival status of 371 breast cancer patients with HER2 over-expression, teated at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from March of 2002 to December of 2010 were retrospectively studied, with special attention focused on survival-related factors. Results: The median age of the total 371 patients in this study was 48 years at time of diagnosis, among which, the leading pathological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (92.5%); 62.8% presented with a primary tomor larger than 2 cm in diameter at diagnosis, 51.0% had axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases; ER (Estrogen receptor)/PR (Progesterone receptor) double negative occured in 52.8% of cases, and PCNA (proliferation cell nuclear antigen) (+++) was found in 55.1%. HER-2 overexpressed patients were usually in advanced stage when the diagnosis was made (72.8% at stages IIA~IIIC). The prognosis and survival were assessed in 259 patients with complete follow-up data. 5-year DFS (disease-free survival) and OS (overall survival) rate was 68.0% and 78.0% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that age, tumor size, ALN metastases, LVSI (lymph-vascular space involvement), PCNA status, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy cycles, and HER-2 overexpression, correlated closely with the prognosis. ALN metastases, LVSI, PCNA status and chemotherapy cycles were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions: HER-2 overexpressed breast cancer has special clinical and pathological characteristics, with advanced clinical stages and high rate of ER/PR double negative. Lymph node metastases, LVSI, PCNA and chemotherapy cycles are independent predictors of prognosis.

Clinical Effectiveness of Preoperative Embolization for Cerebellar Hemangioblastoma

Liu, Ai-Hua,Peng, Tang-Ming,Wu, Zhen,Xiao, Xin-Ru,Jiang, Chu-Han,Wu, Zhong-Xue,Li, You-Xiang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

The cerebellar hemangioblastoma (CHB) has an abundant blood supply and deep anatomical location. Complete surgical resection is generally very difficult. This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of preoperative embolization followed by surgical resection of CHB in a large cohort of patients. A database of 125 CHB patients with surgical resection in Beijing Tiantan Hospital between July 2006 and July 2012 was reviewed. Of those, 46 cases (experimental group) received preoperative embolization, 79 cases (control group) underwent surgery without embolization. Patient demographics, tumor size, duration of surgery, blood loss, blood transfusion, complications and follow-up results were collected and analyzed retrospectively. In the experimental group, the Kamofsky score (KS) was 80-100 in 40 cases (86.9%), 40-70 in 4 cases (8.7%), and below 40 in 2 cases (4.3%). Among 31 cases with follow-up, KS was 80-100 in 27 cases (87.1%), 40-70 in 2 cases (6.5%), and 0 in 2 cases (6.5%). In control group, KS was 80 -100 in 65 cases (82.2%), 40-70 in 6 cases (7.6%), 10-30 in 3 cases (3.8%), and 0 in 3 cases (3.8%). Among 53 cases with follow-up, KS was 80-100 in 44 cases (83.0%), 40-70 in 4 cases (7.5%), 10-30 in 1 case (1.9%), and 0 in 4 cases (7.5%). There were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in tumor size, duration of surgery, amount of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion (p<0.01). However, complications (p=0.31) and follow-up results (p=0.76) showed no significant differences between groups. Selective preoperative embolization of those CHB patients with richer blood supply, higher hemorrhage risk, is safe and effective, and is a reliable adjuvant therapy for complete surgical resection of CHB.

<i>Glaciihabitans tibetensis</i> gen. nov., sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium of the family <i>Microbacteriaceae</i>, isolated from glacier ice water

Li, Ai-Hua,Liu, Hong-Can,Xin, Yu-Hua,Kim, Song-Gun,Zhou, Yu-Guang International Union of Microbiological Societies 2014 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.64 No.2

<P>A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-spore-forming, short-rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP>, was isolated from ice water of Midui Glacier in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The strain was psychrotolerant, growing at 0–25 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> was most similar to <I>Frigoribacterium faeni</I> NBRC 103066<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Compostimonas suwonensis</I> KACC 13354<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Frigoribacterium mesophilum</I> KCTC 19311<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Marisediminicola antarctica</I> CCTCC AB 209077<SUP>T</SUP> and <I>Alpinimonas psychrophila</I> JCM 18951<SUP>T</SUP>, with similarities of 97.4, 97.2, 97.2, 97.1 and 97.1 %, respectively. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> clustered with nine genera of the family <I>Microbacteriaceae</I>, namely <I>Frigoribacterium</I>, <I>Compostimonas</I>, <I>Marisediminicola</I>, <I>Alpinimonas</I>, <I>Frondihabitans</I>, <I>Clavibacter</I>, <I>Subtercola</I>, <I>Klugiella</I> and <I>Agreia</I><I>.</I> However, bootstrap analysis showed that there was no significance in the branching pattern of the linage comprising strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> and any existing generic lineage of the family <I>Microbacteriaceae</I>. DNA–DNA hybridization results indicated levels of relatedness between strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> and <I>Marisediminicola antarctica</I> CCTCC AB 209077<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Frigoribacterium faeni</I> NBRC 103066<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Frigoribacterium mesophilum</I> KCTC 19311<SUP>T</SUP>, <I>Compostimonas suwonensis</I> KACC 13354<SUP>T</SUP> and <I>Alpinimonas psychrophila</I> JCM 18951<SUP>T</SUP> were 25.8±7.3, 29.6±7.6, 19.7±6.7, 16.0±4.2 and 12.4±5.1 % (mean±<SMALL>sd</SMALL>), respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.1 mol%. Analysis of the cell-wall peptidoglycan revealed that the peptidoglycan structure of strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> was B10 type with Gly[<SMALL>l</SMALL>-Hse]–<SMALL>d</SMALL>-Glu–<SMALL>d</SMALL>-DAB, containing 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) as a diagnostic amino acid. The cell-wall sugars were rhamnose, ribose, mannose and glucose. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>, iso-C<SUB>16 : 0</SUB> and anteiso A-C<SUB>15 : 1</SUB>. An unusual compound identified as anteiso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>-DMA (1, 1-dimethoxy-anteiso-pentadecane) was also present in strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP>. The predominant menaquinone was MK-10. Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), one unknown glycolipid and four unknown lipids were detected in the polar lipid extracts. As strain MP203<SUP>T</SUP> was distinguishable from phylogenetically related genera in the family <I>Microbacteriaceae</I> in terms of its physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic position, it was considered to represent a novel species of a new genus. Thus, the name <I>Glaciihabitans tibetensis</I> gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of <I>Glaciihabitans tibetensis</I> is MP203<SUP>T</SUP> ( = CGMCC 1.12484<SUP>T</SUP> = KCTC 29148<SUP>T</SUP>).</P>

Significance of Oligoclonal Bands after Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma Cases

Liu, Ai-Jun,Zong, Hong,Yang, Guang-Zhong,Zhai, Yu-Hua,Li, Li-Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Objective: To determine the characteristics of oligoclonal bands that are frequently detected by serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) after stem cell transplantation. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 56 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing transplantation, and standard immunofixation electrophoresis was used to identify and quantify paraproteins. Results: The median follow-up was 35 months (range, 10-76months) and 21 patients relapsed. Twelve (25.0%) demonstrated oligoclonal bands after a median time 1.4 months (range, 1-3months), with a median duration of 5.8 months (range, 1-15months). The majority patients with oligoclonal bands had normal quantities of immunoglobulins and the one year event free survival (EFS) was 92%, even higher than for patients without OBs (P=0.002). Conclusion: Oligoclonal bands frequent develop post-transplantation in MM cases. In the vast majority of patients, they may not represent relapsed disease, and more likely represent a transient phenomenon representing recovery of impaired immunoglobulin production.

Lack of Effects of Dietary Folate Intake on Risk of Breast Cancer: An Updated Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies

Liu, Meng,Cui, Lian-Hua,Ma, Ai-Guo,Li, Na,Piao, Jin-Mei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

Background: Epidemiological findings are controversial relating to the relationship between dietary folate intake and the risk of breast cancer. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to clarify this association. Materials and Methods: PUBMED, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases were searched for all relevant literature published in English from January 1, 1966 to August 2013. Summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. Results: Dietary folate intake was not significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer. The combined RR with 95%CI for the highest vs. lowest category dietary intake of folate [fifteen studies; 1,836,566 participants and 24,083 patients with breast cancer] was 0.98 (0.90-1.05). Among subgroup analysis by menstrual status, hormonal status and the consumption of alcohol, methionine and vitamin B12, no significant association was observed for the dietary intake of folate and the risk of breast cancer. Dose-response analysis showed that a 220 ${\mu}g/day$ increment in dietary folate intake was not associated with the risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that dietary folate intake has no significant effect on the risk of breast cancer.

Knockdown of an ABC transporter leads to bright red eyes in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Shu Hua Liu,Ai YingWang,Bao Jun Yang,Ju Luo,Jian Tang 한국응용곤충학회 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.20 No.2

Compound eye color is an important biological character of insects,which is determined by the nature of eye pigments. Ommochrome is the solely source of eye color for some insects, while pteridines is also needed for the other insect species. However, little is known about the eye pigment composition for any planthopper. Scarlet is an ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter protein, which functions as the transmembrane transporter for ommochrome precursor. The failure of Scarlet function can cause bright red or white eyes in different species, which depending on the nature of eye pigments. Here, we identified a scarlet ortholog gene (Nlst) from the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, which is a destructive insect pest of rice. Nlst is the first characterized eye pigment transporter gene from Hemipteran. NlSt, the protein deduced from Nlst, has an open reading frame (ORF) of 629 amino acidswith the two sequence logos for eye pigment transporters. Expression profile revealed that Nlst expressed at all development stages and had the highest transcript level in head. Knockdown the Nlst transcript, the wild-type eye color partially changed to bright red, while not to white. Meantime, the ommochrome level in heads reduced to 73.4%. These results suggested that the eye coloration of BPH needs both ommochrome and pteridines pigments. Because nymphal RNAi with Nlst leading to a clearly distinguished phenotype from the control individuals, Nlst maybe a suitable genetic marker to exploit embryonic RNAi technique in this insect pest.

Abortions and Breast Cancer Risk in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women in Jiangsu Province of China

Jiang, Ai-Ren,Gao, Chang-Ming,Ding, Jian-Hua,Li, Su-Ping,Liu, Yan-Ting,Cao, Hai-Xia,Wu, Jian-Zhong,Tang, Jin-Hai,Qian, Yun,Tajima, Kazuo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

To evaluate the relationship between abortions and risk of breast cancer, we conducted a case-control study with 669 cases and 682 population-based controls in Jiangsu Province of China. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit detailed information. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results have revealed that induced abortion was related to increased risk of breast caner. Premenopausal women who had ${\geq}3$ times of induced abortion were at increased crude OR (2.41, 95%CI: 1.09-5.42) and adjusted-OR (1.55, 95%CI: 1.15-5.68). Postmenopausal women with a previous induced abortion were at increased crude OR (2.04, 95%CI: 1.48-2.81) and adjusted-OR (1.82, 95%CI: 1.30-2.54), and there was a significant increase trend in OR with number of induced abortions (p for trend: 0.0001). Overall, spontaneous abortion did not significantly alter the risk of breast cancer, but postmenopausal women who had history of spontaneous abortion were at increased OR. These results suggested that relationship between breast cancer and abortions may depend on menopausal status and induced abortion may played an important role in the development of breast cancer in Jiangsu' women of China.

The white gene in Nilaparvata lugens and its expression pattern under two different survival stresses

Shu Hua Liu,Bao Jun Yang,Ai YingWang,Ju Luo,Jian Tang 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.2

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is a serious pest of rice. Chemical control and pestresistant rice breeding are always two major management strategies of BPH. In order to keep effective control, understanding the detoxification mechanism of this insect pest appears to be high important. In addition to be an eye pigment transporter, White protein is also important for its non-eye roles, such as a potential target for insecticides and Bt toxin. In this study, we characterized the full-length white orthologues gene in N. lugens (Nlwhite). NlWhite, the deduced protein of Nlwhite, has feature motifs of the eye pigment transporter. Knocking down Nlwhite transcript, the compound eye color partially changed to white. Nlwhite can be detected in all developmental stages and body parts, indicating that it is not a developmental or tissue-specific expression gene. The expression levels of Nlwhite were all significantly upregulated in both pymetrozine-selection and Mudgoselection BPH strains, which were selected for several generations. These results indicated that NlWhite participated in the detoxification not only for the exogenous insecticides but also for the endogenous toxic substance.

Association of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A_2 with Characteristics of Vulnerable Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques

Yu-Sheng Liu,Qing-Hua Lu,Xiao-Bo Hu,Hong-Zhuan Li,Wei-Dong Jiang,Xin Wang,Hao Lin,Ai-Qiong Qin,Yong-Mei Wang,Tong Zhao,Zhao-Qiang Dong,Mei Zhang 연세대학교의과대학 2011 Yonsei medical journal Vol.52 No.6

Purpose: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA_2) is an inflammatory enzyme expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated the association of circulating Lp-PLA_2 with characteristics of vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Materials and Methods: We recruited 113 patients with either unstable angina (UA, n=59) and stable angina (SA, n=54) by coronary angiography. Thirty-six healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate the characteristics of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, and serum Lp-PLA2 concentration was measured as well. Results: Lp-PLA_2 concentration was significantly higher in both UA and SA patients [(396±36) μg/L and (321±39) μg/L, respectively]compared with the controls [(127±49) μg/L, p<0.01], and higher in UA than SA group. IVUS findings showed that remodeling index (RI) (0.91±0.15 vs. 0.85±0.11, p=0.005) and eccentricity index (EI) (0.73±0.16 vs. 0.65±0.22, p=0.039) were larger in UA than in SA group, and fibrous caps were thicker in SA than UA group [(0.91±0.23) mm vs. (0.63±0.21) mm, p=0.032]. Moreover, Lp-PLA_2 correlated positively with EI (r=0.439, p<0.01) and RI (r=0.592, p<0.05) in UA group. There was an inverse relationship between Lp-PLA_2 and fibrous cap thickness in both UA (r=-0.587, p<0.001) and SA (r=-0.318, p<0.05) groups. The independent risk factors in UA group were Lp-PLA_2 (OR=1.055, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08, p=0.013), LDL-cholesterol (OR=0.032, 95% CI: 0.00-0.05, p=0.041) and fibrous cap thickness (OR=0.008, 95% CI: 0.00-0.45, p=0.019). Lp-PLA_2 was strongly associated with both EI and fibrous cap thickness in both groups. Conclusion: Serum level of Lp-PLA_2 is associated with both eccentricity index and fibrous cap thickness in both UA and SA groups. Elevated levels of circulating Lp-PLA_2 might to be a strong risk factor and more serious for unstable angina than stable angina.

Active control of amplitude and phase of high-power RF systems in EAST ICRF heating experiments

Zhu Guanghui,Liu Lunan,Mao Yuzhou,Zhang Xinjun,Guo Yaoyao,Ai Lin,Jiang Runhao,Qin Chengming,Zhang Wei,Yang Hua,Yuan Shuai,Wang Lei,Ju Songqing,Wang Yongsheng,Sun Xuan,Yang Zhida,Wang Jinxin,Cheng Yan 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.2

The EAST ICRF system operating space has been extended in power and phase control with a low-level RF system for the new double-strap antenna. Then the multi-step power and periodic phase scanning experiment were conducted in L-mode plasma, respectively. In the power scanning experiment, the stored energy, radiation power, plasma impedance and the antenna's temperature all have positive responses during the short ramp-ups of PL;ICRF. The core ion temperature increased from 1 keV to 1.5 keV and the core heating area expanded from jZj 5 cmto jZj 10 cm during the injection of ICRF waves. In the phasing scanning experiment, in addition to the same conclusions as the previous relatively phasing scanning experiment, the superposition effect of the fluctuation of stored energy, radiation power and neutron yield caused by phasing change with dual antenna, resulting in the amplitude and phase shift, was also observed. The active control of RF output facilitates the precise control of plasma profiles and greatly benefits future experimental exploration.