Association of MDR1 Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Chinese Population

Ren, Yong-Qiang,Han, Ju-Qiang,Cao, Jian-Biao,Li, Shao-Xiang,Fan, Gong-Ren Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of MDR1 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 689 HCC patients and 680 cancer-free subjects were enrolled. Human MDR1 gene polymorphisms were investigated by created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (CRS-PCR) and DNA sequencing methods. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to estimate the association between MDR1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to HCC. Results: We detected a novel c.4125A>C polymorphism and our findings suggested that this variant was significantly associated with susceptibility to HCC. A significantly increased susceptibility to HCC was noted in the homozygote comparison (CC versus AA: OR=1.621, 95% CI 1.143-2.300, ${\chi}^2$=7.4095, P=0.0065), recessive model (CC versus AC+AA: OR=1.625, 95% CI 1.167-2.264, ${\chi}^2$=8.3544, P=0.0039) and allele contrast (C versus A: OR=1.185, 95% CI 1.011-1.389, ${\chi}^2$=4.4046, P=0.0358). However, no significant increase was observed in the heterozygote comparison (AC versus AA: OR=0.995, 95% CI 0.794-1.248, ${\chi}^2$=0.0017, P=0.9672) and dominant model (CC+AC versus AA: OR=1.106, 95% CI 0.894-1.369, ${\chi}^2$=0.8560, P=0.3549). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the c.4125A>C polymorphism of the MDR1 gene might contribute to susceptibility to HCC in the Chinese population. Further work will be necessary to clarify the relationship between the c.4125A>C polymorphism and susceptibility to HCC on larger populations of diverse ethnicity.

NUND: Non-Uniform Node Distribution in Cluster-based Wireless Sensor Networks

( Ju Ren ),( Yaoxue Zhang ),( Xiaodong Lin ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2014 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.8 No.7

Cluster-based wireless sensor network (WSN) can significantly reduce the energy consumption by data aggregation and has been widely used in WSN applications. However, due to the intrinsic many-to-one traffic pattern in WSN, the network lifetime is generally deteriorated by the unbalanced energy consumption in a cluster-based WSN. Therefore, energy efficiency and network lifetime improvement are two crucial and challenging issues in cluster-based WSNs. In this paper, we propose a Non-Uniform Node Distribution (NUND) scheme to improve the energy efficiency and network lifetime in cluster-based WSNs. Specifically, we first propose an analytic model to analyze the energy consumption and the network lifetime of the cluster-based WSNs. Based on the analysis results, we propose a node distribution algorithm to maximize the network lifetime with a fixed number of sensor nodes in cluster-based WSNs. Extensive simulations demonstrate that the theoretical analysis results determined by the proposed analytic model are consistent with the simulation results, and the NUND can significantly improve the energy efficiency and network lifetime.

Effect of Hydrogen-rich Water on Vase Life and Quality in Cut Lily and Rose Flowers

Peng-Ju Ren,Xin Jin,Wei-Biao Liao,Meng Wang,Li-Juan Niu,Xue-Ping Li,Xiao-Ting Xu,Yong-Chao Zhu 한국원예학회 2017 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.58 No.6

Hydrogen gas (H2) functions as an important signaling molecule in diverse plant developmental processes. H2 is thought to delay postharvest ripening and senescence in fruit. However, little is known about the influence ofH2 on flower senescence. This study was conducted to determine whether H2 treatment could improve vase life andquality in cut lily (Lilium spp.) and rose (Rosa hybrid L.) flowers. Treatment with 0.5% and 1% hydrogen-rich water(HRW) increased vase life and maximum flower diameter in lily. In addition, 50% HRW treatment significantlyincreased vase life and maximum flower diameter in cut rose flowers. The fresh weight and leaf relative watercontent in cut lilies and roses were enhanced by proper doses of HRW. Compared with the control, HRW treatmentdecreased leaf stomata size in cut lily and rose flowers. HRW treatment significantly reduced leaf malondialdehydecontents and electrolyte leakage in cut lilies. Antioxidant enzyme activities were also improved by HRW treatment incut lily and rose flowers. These results suggest that exogenously applied H2 might improve vase life and postharvestquality in cut flowers by maintaining proper water balance and membrane stability and by reducing stomata size andoxidative damage.

Evaluation of Ni Film Interfacial Energy Release Rate on Titanium and Stainless Steel Substrates

Ren, F. Z.,Zhao, W. Z.,Zhou, G. S.,Ju, X. H.,Zheng, M. 대한금속학회 2002 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.8 No.2

An expression including the effect of residual stress on the interfacial energy release rate is proposed for peeling experiments according to the energy-balance argument. The influence of residual stress on the external work is also contained in the expression. Two numerical methods are employed to evaluate the values of the work expenditure G_db, which is the actual energy dissipated during bending of the peel arm near the peel front. The peeling method is employed to test the interfacial energy release rates, G, for Ni films on Titanium and stainless steel substrates. The results indicate that the value of G for Ni films on stainless steel substrate is about 5.47-6.03 N/m, while 5.23-6.71 N/m for Ni films on titanium substrate; the interfacial energy release rates, G, do not depend on the residual stress in film, film thickness nor peel angle. The effect of residual stress in film on peel strength P/h is also discussed.

The role of peroxiredoxin V in (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate-induced multiple myeloma cell death.

Ren, Lina,Yang, Hee-Young,Choi, Hoon-In,Chung, Kyoung-Jin,Yang, Ung,Lee, Il-Kwon,Kim, Hyeoung-Joon,Lee, Dong-Seok,Park, Byung-Ju,Lee, Tae-Hoon Pergamon Press 2011 Oncology Research Vol.19 No.8

<P>(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant polyphenol in green tea that acts as an anticancer agent via both direct and indirect pathways. Although the relationship between EGCG's anticancer effects and its antioxidant activity is not fully understood, it is known that EGCG stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce oxidative stress leading to cell death. In IM9 multiple myeloma cells, EGCG acted in a dose- and time-dependent manner to induce apoptotic cell death. Among the antioxidant enzymes expressed in IM9 cells, levels of peroxiredoxin V (PrdxV) were selectively and significantly reduced by EGCG. Moreover, the ROS scavenger NAC completely inhibited EGCG-induced apoptosis and PrdxV reduction, while overexpression of PrdxV, but not a Prdx(VC48S) mutant, protected IM9 cells from EGCG-induced apoptosis. EGCG-induced reductions in cell viability and PrdxV levels were also observed in primary CD138+ multiple myeloma cells from patients. These results suggest that PrdxV is a key target via which EGCG mediates its anticancer effects.</P>

Analysis of the Relationship between MHC-DRB1 Gene Polymorphism and Hydatidosis in Kazakh Sheep

Li, Ren-Yan,Jia, Bin,Zhang, Wen-Ju,Zhao, Zong-Sheng,Shi, Guo-Qing,Shen, Hong,Peng, Qiang,Lv, Li-Min,Zhou, Qi-Wei,Du, Ying-Chun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.9

The objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between ovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DRB1 gene polymorphism and genetic resistance to hydatidosis in Kazakh sheep. The Ovar (ovine MHC) class II DRB1 second exon was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA samples of 702 Kazakh sheep, including 302 sheep with hydatidosis and 400 health controls. PCR products were characterized by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique using five restriction enzymes, i.e., MvaI, HaeIII, SacI, SacII and Hin1I, yielding 14 alleles and 28 genotypes. Comparing the frequency of genotypes in hydatidosis sheep with the control group, it was found that the genotype frequencies of MvaIbc, Hin1Iab, SacIIab, HaeIIIde, HaeIIIdf and HaeIIIdd in control sheep were significantly (p<0.01) higher than in hydatidosis sheep, indicating that a significant correlation existed between these genotypes and resistance to hydatidosis. Genotype frequencies of MvaIbb, SacIIaa, Hin1Ibb and HaeIIIef in sheep with hydatidosis were extremely significantly (p<0.01) higher than in the control group, and the genotype frequency of HaeIIIab was significantly higher (p<0.05), indicating that a marked correlation existed between these genotypes and susceptibility to hydatidosis. By way of analyzing haplotype with these resistant genotypes, the hydatidosis resistant haplotype MvaIbc-SacIIab-Hin1Iab of Kazakh sheep was screened out, and then verified through artificial hydatid infection in sheep. The results indicated that the infection rate of sheep with the resistant haplotype of hydatidosis was significantly lower (p<0.01) than without this resistant haplotype. It showed that the genic haplotype MvaIbc-SacIIab-Hin1Iab of Ovar-DRB1 exon 2 was the resistant haplotype of hydatidosis in Kazakh sheep.

Depth Up-Sampling via Pixel-Classifying and Joint Bilateral Filtering

( Yannan Ren ),( Ju Liu ),( Hui Yuan ),( Yifan Xiao ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2018 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.12 No.7

In this paper, a depth image up-sampling method is put forward by using pixel classifying and jointed bilateral filtering. By analyzing the edge maps originated from the high-resolution color image and low-resolution depth map respectively, pixels in up-sampled depth maps can be classified into four categories: edge points, edge-neighbor points, texture points and smooth points. First, joint bilateral up-sampling (JBU) method is used to generate an initial up-sampling depth image. Then, for each pixel category, different refinement methods are employed to modify the initial up-sampling depth image. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can reduce the blurring artifact with lower bad pixel rate (BPR).

Biomimetic sensor design

Lee, Ju Hun,Jin, Hyo-Eon,Desai, Malav S.,Ren, Shuo,Kim, Soyoun,Lee, Seung-Wuk The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 Nanoscale Vol.7 No.44

<P>Detection of desired target chemicals in a sensitive and selective manner is critically important to protect human health, environment and national security. Nature has been a great source of inspiration for the design of sensitive and selective sensors. In this mini-review, we overview the recent developments in bio-inspired sensor development. There are four major components of sensor design: design of receptors for specific targets; coating materials to integrate receptors to transducing machinery; sensitive transducing of signals; and decision making based on the sensing results. We discuss the biomimetic methods to discover specific receptors followed by a discussion about bio-inspired nanocoating material design. We then review the recent developments in phage-based bioinspired transducing systems followed by a discussion of biomimetic pattern recognition-based decision making systems. Our review will be helpful to understand recent approaches to reverse-engineer natural systems to design specific and sensitive sensors.</P>

The reverse model of repositioning: A case study of the Howard Johnson hotel chain in China

Lianping Ren,Po-Ju Chen,Jinlin Zhao,Peilai Wang 한국마케팅과학회 2017 마케팅과학연구 Vol.27 No.4

This study explores the repositioning of an international hotel brand, Howard Johnson China (HoJo China) and examines the decoding strategies and process the fi rm undertook to establish itself in that market. The study reports that HoJo China had gone through a reverse model of repositioning, starting with the repositioning decision, followed by customer response analysis, and competitor analysis. A persistent pursuit of service quality and eff ective management consolidated the repositioning of HoJo China. The study includes creating a causal map to analyze the success factors of the repositioning case of HoJo China. The discussion describes the infl uences of contextual factors.

Anti-inflammatory and Anticancer Activities of Ethanol Extract of Pendulous Monkshood Root in vitro

Huang, Xian-Ju,Ren, Wei,Li, Jun,Chen, Lv-Yi,Mei, Zhi-Nan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

Aim: Pendulous monkshood root is traditionally used for the treatment of several inflammatory pathologies such as rheumatisms, wounds, pain and tumors in China. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities and the mechanism of crude ethanol extract of pendulous monkshood root (EPMR) were evaluated and investigated in vitro. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic effects of EPMR on different tumor cell lines were determined by the MTT method. Cell apoptosis and cell nucleus morphology were assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO) levels and intracellular oxidative stress in peritoneal macrophages were determined to further elucidate mechanisms of action. Results: The data showed that EPMR could produce significant dose-dependent toxicity on three kinds of tumor cells. Furthermore, EPMR displayed obvious anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages at the dosage of 4 - 200 ${\mu}g/mL$. The results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of Pendulous Monkshood Root on cancer and inflammatory diseases. Conclusion: Our results indicate that EPMR has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, suggesting that pendulous monkshood root may be a useful anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory reagent in the clinic.