Genetic variations in the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are related to cigarette smoking behavior in Han Chinese smokers

Qi Fei-Yan,Zhu Zhou-Hai,Li Meng,Guan Ying,Peng Qi-Yuan,Lu She-Ming,Liu Zhi-Hua,Wang Ming-Feng,Miao Ming-Ming,Chen Zhang-Yu,Li Xue-Mei,Bai Jie,Yao Jian-Hua 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.11

Background: Smoking behavior is influenced by multiple genes, including the bitter taste gene TAS2R38. It has been reported that the correlation between TAS2R38 and smoking behavior has ethnicity-based differences. However, the TAS2R38 status in Chinese smokers is still unclear. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between genetic variations in TAS2R38 (A49P, V262A and I296V) and smoking behaviors in the Han Chinese population. Methods: The haplotype analyses were performed and smoking behavior questionnaire was completed by 1271 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior were analyzed using chi-square test. Further, for investigating the molecular mechanism of TAS2R38 variants effect on smoking behavior, we conducted TAS2R38-PAV and TAS2R38-AVI expression plasmids and tested the cellular calcium assay by cigarette smoke compounds stimulus in HEK293. Results: Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with smoking behavior. We found a higher PAV/PAV frequency than AVI/AVI in moderate and high nicotine dependence (FTND ≥ 4; X2 = 4.611, 1 df, p = 0.032) and strong cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference (X2 = 4.5383, 1 df, p = 0.033) in participants. Furthermore, in the in vitro cellular calcium assay, total particle matter (TPM), N-formylnornicotine and cotinine, existing in cigarette smoke, activated TAS2R38-PAV but not TAS2R38-AVI-transfected cells. Conclusion: Our data highlights that genetic variations in TAS2R38 are related to smoking behavior, especially nicotine dependence and cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference. Our findings may encourage further consideration of the taste process to identify individuals susceptible to nicotine dependence, particularly Han Chinese smokers.

2D-2D heterostructured composites Bi4O5Br2-SnS2 with boosted photocatalytic NOx abatement

Fei Chang,Zhixun Wei,Zhongyuan Zhao,Yingfei Qi,Deng-guo Liu 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.117 No.-

A desirable photocatalytic system ought to feature efficient NOx removal and retardance of toxic NO2 generation. In this investigation, a series of novel two-denominational (2D)-2D composites Bi4O5Br2-SnS2 (XBS) were successfully fabricated through a simple mechanical ball-milling route and characterized systematically. The coexistence of both expected components was confirmed. 2D morphologies of both componentswere stacked in face-to-face manner and thus formed heterojunction structures, verified by SEMand TEM patterns. The visible-light absorption was enhanced in composites caused by the shrinkage ofband gaps. With microstructural and optical merits, these binary composites showed reinforced photocatalyticabatement of NOx and attenuated generation of toxic NO2 under visible light, compared withbare Bi4O5Br2. Successive recycling catalytic experiments revealed the satisfactory reusability and structuralstability of achieved composites. Ultimately, a reasonable type-II model was deduced to describe themigration and transfer of interface carriers based on experimental and analytical results. Such workdesigned and provided various bismuth-based composites constructed by the simple mechanical ballmillingfor controlling and treating nitrogen oxides at ppb level in the atmospheric environment.

Characterization of the TAK1 gene in Apis cerana cerana (AccTAK1) and its involvement in the regulation of tissue-specific development

( Fei Meng ),( Ming Jiang Kang ),( Li Liu ),( Lu Luo ),( Bao Hua Xu ),( Xing Qi Guo ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2011 BMB Reports Vol.44 No.3

TGF-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) plays a pivotal role in developmental processes in many species. Previous research has mainly focused on the function of TAK1 in model organisms, and little is known about the function of TAK1 in hymenoptera insects. Here, we isolated and characterized the TAK1 gene from Apis cerana cerana. Promoter analysis of AccTAK1 revealed the presence of transcription factor binding sites related to early development. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that AccTAK1 was expressed at high levels in fourth instar larvae, primarily in the abdomen, in the intestinal wall cells of the midgut and in the secretory cells of the salivary glands. In addition, AccTAK1 expression in fourth instar larvae could be dramatically induced by treatment with pesticides and organic solvents. These observations suggest that AccTAK1 may be involved in the regulation of early development in the larval salivary gland and midgut. [BMB reports 2011; 44(3): 187-192]

The Pattern of Time to Onset and Resolution of Immune-Related Adverse Events Caused by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of 23 Clinical Trials and 8,436 Patients

Si-Qi Tang,Ling-Long Tang,Yan-Ping Mao,Wen-Fei Li,Lei Chen,Yuan Zhang,Ying Guo,Qing Liu,Ying Sun,Cheng Xu,Jun Ma 대한암학회 2021 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.53 No.2

Purpose The occurrence pattern of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in cancer treatment remains unclear. Materials and Methods Phase II-III clinical trials that evaluated ICI-based treatments in cancer and were published between January 2007 and December 2019 were retrieved from public electronic databases. The pooled median time to onset (PMT-O), resolution (PMT-R), and immune-modulation resolution (PMT-IMR) of irAEs were generated using the metamedian package of R software.Results Twenty-two eligible studies involving 23 clinical trials and 8,436 patients were included. The PMT-O of all-grade irAEs ranged from 2.2 to 14.8 weeks, with the longest in renal events. The PMT-O of grade ≥ 3 irAEs was significantly longer than that of all-grade irAEs induced by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors (27.5 weeks vs. 8.4 weeks, p < 0.001) and treatment of nivolumab (NIV) plus ipilimumab (IPI) (7.9 weeks vs. 6.0 weeks, p < 0.001). The PMT-R of all-grade irAEs ranged from 0.1 to 54.3 weeks, with the shortest and longest in hypersensitivity/infusion reaction and endocrine events, respectively. The PMT-IMR of grade ≥ 3 irAEs was significantly shorter than that of all-grade irAEs caused by PD-1/PD-L1 blockade (6.9 weeks vs. 40.6 weeks, p=0.002) and NIV+IPI treatment (3.1 weeks vs. 5.9 weeks, p=0.031).Conclusion This study revealed the general and specific occurrence pattern of ICI-induced irAEs in pan-cancers, which was deemed to aid the comprehensive understanding, timely detection, and effective management of ICI-induced irAEs.

Retrospective Evaluation of Discrepancies between Radiological and Pathological Size of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Masses

Tian, Fei,Wu, Jian-Xiong,Rong, Wei-Qi,Wang, Li-Ming,Wu, Fan,Yu, Wei-Bo,An, Song-Lin,Liu, Fa-Qiang,Feng, Li,Liu, Yun-He Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.21

Background: The size of a hepatic neoplasm is critical for staging, prognosis and selection of appropriate treatment. Our study aimed to compare the radiological size of solid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) masses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the pathological size in a Chinese population, and to elucidate discrepancies. Materials and Methods: A total of 178 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection after enhanced MRI between July 2010 and October 2013 were retrospectively identified and analyzed. Pathological data of the whole removed tumors wereassessed and differences between radiological and pathological tumor size were identified. All patients were restaged using a modified Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system postoperatively according to the maximum diameter alteration. The lesions were classified as hypo-staged, iso-staged or hyper-staged for qualitative assessment. In the quantitative analysis, the relative pre and postoperative tumor size contrast ratio ($%{\Delta}size$) was also computed according to size intervals. In addition, the relationship between radiological and pathological tumor diameter variation and histologic grade was analyzed. Results: Pathological examination showed 85 (47.8%) patients were overestimated, 82 (46.1%) patients underestimated, while accurate measurement by MRI was found in 11 (6.2%) patients. Among the total subjects, 14 (7.9%) patients were hypo-staged and 15 (8.4%) were hyper-staged post-operatively. Accuracy of MRI for calculation and characterized staging was related to the lesion size, ranging from 83.1% to 87.4% (<2cm to ${\geq}5cm$, p=0.328) and from 62.5% to 89.1% (cT1 to cT4, p=0.006), respectively. Overall, MRI misjudged pathological size by 6.0 mm (p=0.588 ), and the greatest difference was observed in tumors <2cm (3.6 mm, $%{\Delta}size=16.9%$, p=0.028). No statistically significant difference was observed for moderately differentiated HCC (5.5mm, p=0.781). However, for well differentiated and poorly differentiated cases, radiographic tumor maximum diameter was significantly larger than the pathological maximum diameter by 3.15 mm and underestimated by 4.51 mm, respectively (p=0.034 and 0.020). Conclusions: A preoperative HCC tumor size measurement using MRI can provide relatively acceptable accuracy but may give rise to discrepancy in tumors in a certain size range or histologic grade. In pathological well differentiated subjects, the pathological tumor size was significantly overestimated, but underestimated in poorly differentiated HCC. The difference between radiological and pathological tumor size was greatest for tumors <2 cm. For some HCC patients, the size difference may have implications for the decision of resection, transplantation, ablation, or arterially directed therapy, and should be considered in staging or selecting the appropriate treatment tactics.

Solubilities of solanesol in acetonitrile, ethanol and n-hexane from 285 to 310K

Jiang-Chu Liu,Rong-Qi Zhou,Fei Hao,Dian-Qing Li 한국화학공학회 2007 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.24 No.1

Temperature-dependent development of Lista haraldusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Platycarya strobilacea

Jian-Feng Liu,Man Liu,Mao-Fa Yang,Dimitris C. Kontodimas,Xiao-Fei Yu,Qi-Xian Lian 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.4

The effect of constant temperatures on development and survival of Lista haraldusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae), a newly reported insect species used to produce insect tea in Guizhou province (China), was studiedin laboratory conditions at seven temperatures (19 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, 34 °C, and 37 °C) on Platycaryastrobilacea. Increasing the temperature from 19 °C to 31 °C led to a significant decrease in the developmentaltime from egg to adult emergence, and then the total developmental time increased at 34 °C. Egg incubationwas the stage where L. haraldusalis experienced the highest mortality at all temperatures. The survival ofL. haraldusalis was significantly higher at 25 °C and 28 °C, whereas none of the eggs hatched at 37 °C. Commonand Ikemoto linear models were used to describe the relationship between the temperature and the developmentalrate for each immature stage of L. haraldusalis. The estimated values of the lower temperature thresholdand thermal constant of the total immature stages using Common and Ikemoto linear models were 11.34 °C and11.20 °C, and 939.85 and 950.41 degree-days, respectively. Seven nonlinear models were used to fit the experimentaldata to estimate the developmental rate of L. haraldusalis. Based on the biological significance for modelevaluation, Ikemoto linear, Logan-6, and SSI were the best models that fitted each immature stage ofL. haraldusalis and they were used to estimate the temperature thresholds. These thermal requirements and temperaturethresholds are crucial for facilitating the development of factory-based mass rearing of L. haraldusalis.

Ultrafast dynamics control on ablation of Cu using shaped femtosecond pulse trains

Deng Jiannan,Qi Hongxia,Liu Xinyi,Li Xiaoyi,Tong Qiunan,Lian Zhenzhong,Li Juan,Bo Jinqiu,Fei Dehou,Chen Zhou,Hu Zhan 한국물리학회 2021 Current Applied Physics Vol.26 No.-

The ablation processes of Cu film are investigated using temporal shaped femtosecond pulse trains. The depth is modulated by changing the number and interval of the sub-pulses. The underlying ultrafast dynamic processes are discussed based on plasma shielding and electron multiple heating mechanisms. When the sub-pulse interval is less than 0.4 ps electron multiple heating is the dominant mechanism, while the plasma shielding dominates the subsequent ablation processes when the sub-pulse interval is larger than 0.4 ps. The curve of depth obtained by three pulse trains shows more significant oscillation as the function of sub-pulse interval under the lowfluence. We propose that the oscillation of depth is due to the coherent phonon oscillation excited by the pulse train. The study provides a basis for giving insight into the ultrafast dynamics for improving micromachining and nano-fabrications using shaped femtosecond pulse trains.

Weight Gain in Pregnancy, Maternal Age and Gestational Age in Relation to Fetal Macrosomia

( Yi Li ),( Qi-fei Liu ),( Dan Zhang ),( Ying Shen ),( Kui Ye ),( Han-lin Lai ),( Hai-qing Wang ),( Chuan-lai Hu ),( Qi-hong Zhao ),( Li Li ) 한국임상영양학회 2015 Clinical Nutrition Research Vol.4 No.2

To investigate the possible risk factors related to macrosomia. Pregnant women and their newborns (n = 1041) were recruited from a cohort study in Maternal and Child Care Center of Hefei from January 2011 to July 2012. Questionnaires were applied to collect the demographic data besides the medical records. Detailed health records of the entire pregnancy were obtained using retrospective study. Meanwhile the data of neonatal outcomes was prospectively tracked. Associations between exposure risk factors and macrosomia were analyzed using Pearson’s chi squared test. Logistic regression models were used to assess the independent association between these potential predictors and macrosomia. The incidence of macrosomia of this cohort was 11.24% of which male: female = 2.55:1. Male incidence (8.07%) of macrosomia was higher than female (3.17%), p < 0.001. Body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy (pre-BMI), maternal height, parity were not independently associated with macrosomia; multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that macrosomia was mainly independently associated with weight gain in pregnancy (OR=1.14,95% CI [1.10-1.19]), maternal age (OR = 1.09,95% CI [1.03-1.15]) and gestational age (OR = 1.62,95% CI [1.31-1.99]), respectively. Our findings indicate that weight gain in pregnancy, maternal age and gestational age should be considered as independent risk factors for macrosomia.

TGF-β1 Protein Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers is Correlated with Prognosis

Huang, Ai-Li,Liu, Shu-Guang,Qi, Wen-Juan,Zhao, Yun-Fei,Li, Yu-Mei,Lei, Bin,Sheng, Wen-Jie,Shen, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.19

To investigate the expression intensity and prognostic significance of TGF-${\beta}1$ protein in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immunohistochemistry was carried out in 194 cases of NSCLC and 24 cases of normal lung tissues by SP methods. The PU (positive unit) value was used to assess the TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression in systematically selected fields under the microscope with Leica Q500MC image analysis. We found that the TGF-${\beta}1$ PU value was nearly two-fold higher in NSCLC than in normal lung tissues (p=0.000), being associated with TNM stages (p=0.000) and lymph node metastases (p=0.000), but not to patient age, gender, smoking history, tumor differentiation, histological subtype and tumor location (P>0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that patients with high TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression and lymph node metastases demonstrated a poor prognosis (both p=0.000,). Multivariate analysis showed that TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression (RR = 2.565, p=0.002) and lymph node metastases (RR=1.874, p=0.030) were also independent prognostic factors. Thus, TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression may be correlated to oncogenesis and serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for NSCLC.