Up-regulation of NICE-3 as a Novel EDC Gene Could Contribute to Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Wei, Yuan-Jiang,Hu, Qin-Qin,Gu, Cheng-Yu,Wang, Yu-Ping,Han, Ze-Guang,Cai, Bing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

The epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) contains a large number of gene products which are crucial for the maturation of the human epidermis and can contribute to skin diseases, even carcinogenesis. It is generally accepted that activation of oncogenes and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes play pivotal roles in the process of carcinogenesis. Here, NICE-3, a novel EDC gene, was found to be up-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, overexpression of exogenous NICE-3 by recombinant plasmids could significantly promote cell proliferation, colony formation and soft agar colony formation in Focus and WRL-68 HCC cell lines. Reversely, NICE-3 silencing by RNA interference could markedly inhibit these malignant phenotypes in YY-8103 and MHCC-97H cells. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of MHCC-97H transfected with siRNA by flow cytometry showed that NICE-3 knockdown may inhibit cell growth via arrest in G0/G1 phase and hindering entry of cells into S phase. All data of our findings indicate that NICE-3 may contribute to human hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting cell proliferation.

Three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography analysis of temporomandibular joint response to the Twin-block functional appliance

Yuan-yuan Jiang,Lian Sun,Hua Wang,Chun-yang Zhao,Wei-Bing Zhang 대한치과교정학회 2020 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.50 No.2

Objective: To propose a three-dimensional (3D) method for evaluating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) changes during Twin-block treatment. Methods: Seventeen patients with Class II division 1 malocclusion treated using Twinblock and nine untreated patients with a similar malocclusion were included in this research. We collected their cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data from before and 8 months after treatment. Segmentations were constructed using ITK-SNAP. Condylar volume and superficial area were measured using 3D Slicer.The 3D landmarks were identified on CBCT images by using Dolphin software to assess the condylar positional relationship. 3D models of the mandible and glenoid fossa of the patients were constructed and registered via voxel-based superimposition using 3D Slicer. Thereafter, skeletal changes could be visualized using 3DMeshMetric in any direction of the superimposition on a color-coded map. All the superimpositions were measured using the same scale on the distance color-coded map, in which red color represents overgrowth and blue color represents resorption. Results: Significant differences were observed in condylar volume, superficial area, and condylar position in bothgroups after 8 months. Compared with the control group (CG), the Twin-block group exhibited more obvious condyle-fossa modifications and joint positional changes. Moreover, on the color-coded map, more obvious condyle-fossa modifications could be observed in the posterior and superior directions in the Twin-block group than in the CG. Conclusions: We successfully established a 3D method for measuring and evaluating TMJ changes caused by Twin-block treatment. The treatment produced a larger condylar size and caused condylar positional changes. [Korean J Orthod 2020;50(2):86-97]

Plasmonic Nanoantennae Fabricated by Focused Ion Beam Milling

Jiang-Tao Lv,Yuan Yan,Wei-Kang Zhang,Yun-Hui Liu,Zi-Yu Jiang,Guang-Yuan Si 한국정밀공학회 2015 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

We show a novel approach to fabricate plasmonic nanoantennae based on a maskless focused ion beam nanoring patterning process. Antenna nanoarrays with desired outlines are achieved by precisely controlling the geometric parameters during the milling process. Various nanoantenna designs of bow-tie, nanoclusters (pentamers), and ellipsoid shaped satellites surrounded particle lattices arerealized. The whole fabrication method is programmable and monolithic since only a one-step milling process is involved. The opticalproperties are experimentally characterized. Such nanoantennae may find extensive applications in chemical/bio-sensing due toremarkably enhanced near field intensity at the plasmon resonance.

Thermodynamic simulation and structural optimization of the collimator in the drift duct of EAST-NBI

Tang Ning,Hu Chun-dong,Xie Yuan-lai,Wei Jiang-long,Cui Zhi-Wei,Xie Jun-Wei,Pan Zhuo,Jiang Yao 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.11

The collimator is one of the high-heat-flux components used to avoid a series of vacuum and thermal problems. In this paper, the heat load distribution throughout the collimator is first calculated through experimental data, and a transient thermodynamic simulation analysis of the original model is carried out. The error of the pipe outlet temperature between the simulated and experimental values is 1.632%, indicating that the simulation result is reliable. Second, the model is optimized to improve the heat transfer performance of the collimator, including the contact mode between the pipe and the flange, the pipe material and the addition of a twisted tape in the pipe. It is concluded that the convective heat transfer coefficient of the optimized model is increased by 15.381% and the maximum wall temperature is reduced by 16.415%; thus, the heat transfer capacity of the optimized model is effectively improved. Third, to adapt the long-pulse steady-state operation of the experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in the future, steady-state simulations of the original and optimized collimators are carried out. The results show that the maximum temperature of the optimized model is reduced by 37.864% compared with that of the original model. The optimized model was changed as little as possible to obtain a better heat exchange structure on the premise of ensuring the consumption of the same mass flow rate of water so that the collimator can adapt to operational environments with higher heat fluxes and long pulses in the future. These research methods also provide a reference for the future design of components under high-energy and long-pulse operational conditions

Application of High-speed Counter-current Chromatography for the Isolation of 5 Alkaloids from Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) Leaves

Jiang-Ning Hu,Bin Shan,Ze-Yuan Deng,Jing Li,Ya-Wei Fan,Rong Liu,Zheng Ruan 한국식품과학회 2010 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.19 No.6

A high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was developed for isolation of 5alkaloids from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) leaves. The 2-phase solvent system of HSCCC composed of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water was set up in 2-step separation process in the proportion of 3:5:3:5 for isolation of N-nornuciferine and armepavine, and in the proportion of 1:5:1:5 for that of anonaine, pronuciferine,and nuciferine. The purity of anonaine (14.6mg), pronuciferine (29.7 mg), N-nornuciferine (31.4 mg), nuciferine (22.1 mg),and armepavine (23.3 mg) isolated from 150 mg crude extract of lotus leaves were examined as 95.6, 88.2, 92.5,94.3, and 92.1%, respectively.

Increased Serotonin Signaling Contributes to the Warburg Effect in Pancreatic Tumor Cells Under Metabolic Stress and Promotes Growth of Pancreatic Tumors in Mice

Jiang, Shu-Heng,Li, Jun,Dong, Fang-Yuan,Yang, Jian-Yu,Liu, De-Jun,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Min-Wei,Fu, Xue-Liang,Zhang, Xiao-Xin,Li, Qing,Pang, Xiu-Feng,Huo, Yan-Miao,Li, Jiao,Zhang, Jun-Feng Elsevier 2017 Gastroenterology Vol.153 No.1

<P><B>Background & Aims</B></P> <P>Desmoplasia and poor vascularity cause severe metabolic stress in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator with neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine functions that contributes to tumorigenesis. We investigated the role of 5-HT signaling in the growth of pancreatic tumors.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>We measured the levels of proteins that regulate 5-HT synthesis, packaging, and degradation in pancreata from Kras<SUP>G12D/+</SUP>/Trp53<SUP>R172H/+</SUP>/Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice, which develop pancreatic tumors, as well as in PDAC cell lines and a tissue microarray containing 81 human PDAC samples. We also analyzed expression levels of proteins involved in 5-HT synthesis and degradation by immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray containing 311 PDAC specimens, and associated expression levels with patient survival times. 5-HT level in 14 matched PDAC tumor and non-tumor tissues were analyzed by ELISA. PDAC cell lines were incubated with 5-HT and cell survival and apoptosis were measured. We analyzed expression of the 5-HT receptor HTR2B in PDAC cells and effects of receptor agonists and antagonists, as well as HTR2B knockdown with small hairpin RNAs. We determined the effects of 5-HT stimulation on gene expression profiles of BxPC-3 cells. Regulation of glycolysis by 5-HT signaling via HTR2B was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analyses, as well as by determination of the extracellular acid ratio, glucose consumption, and lactate production. Primary PDACs, with or without exposure to SB204741 (a selective antagonist of HTR2B), were grown as xenograft tumors in mice, and SB204741 was administered to tumor-bearing KPC mice; tumor growth and metabolism were measured by imaging analyses.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>In immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray of PDAC specimens, increased levels of TPH1 and decreased level of MAOA, which regulate 5-HT synthesis and degradation, correlated with stage and size of PDACs and shorter patient survival time. We found levels of 5-HT to be increased in human PDAC tissues compared with non-tumor pancreatic tissues, and PDAC cell lines compared with non-transformed pancreatic cells. Incubation of PDAC cell lines with 5-HT increased proliferation and prevented apoptosis. Agonists of HTR2B, but not other 5-HT receptors, promoted proliferation and prevented apoptosis of PDAC cells. Knockdown of HTR2B in PDAC cells, or incubation of cells with HTR2B inhibitors, reduced their growth as xenograft tumors in mice. We observed a correlation between 5-HT and glycolytic flux in PDAC cells; levels of metabolic enzymes involved in glycolysis, the phosphate pentose pathway, and hexosamine biosynthesis pathway increased significantly in PDAC cells following 5-HT stimulation. 5-HT stimulation led to formation of the HTR2B–LYN–p85 complex, which increased PI3K–Akt–mTOR signaling and the Warburg effect by increasing protein levels of MYC and HIF1A. Administration of SB204741 to KPC mice slowed growth and metabolism of established pancreatic tumors and prolonged survival of the mice.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>Human PDACs have increased levels of 5-HT, and PDAC cells increase expression of its receptor, HTR2B. These increases allow for tumor glycolysis under metabolic stress and promote growth of pancreatic tumors and PDAC xenograft tumors in mice.</P>

Interface engineering for improving reliability of resistance switching in Cu/HfO₂/TiO₂/Pt structure

Wei Zhou, Li,Long Shao, Xing,Yuan Li, Xiang,Jiang, Hao,Chen, Ran,Jean Yoon, Kyung,Jin Kim, Hae,Zhang, Kailiang,Zhao, Jinshi,Seong Hwang, Cheol American Institute of Physics 2015 APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS Vol.107 No.7

Kocuria subflava sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment from the Indian Ocean

Jiang, Zhao,Zhang, Wei-Hua,Yuan, Chang-Guo,Chen, Jia-Yang,Cao, Li-Xiang,Park, Dong-Jin,Xiao, Min,Kim, Chang-Jin,Li, Wen-Jun Springer-Verlag 2015 Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Vol.108 No.6

Space Charge Behavior of Oil-paper Insulation Thermally Aged under Different Temperatures and Moistures

Yuan-Xiang Zhou,Meng Huang,Wei-Jiang Chen,Fu-Bao Jin 대한전기학회 2015 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.10 No.3

Moisture and high temperature are the most important factors that lead to the ageing of oil-paper insulation, but the research about space charge characteristics of oil-paper insulation does not take the combined effect of ambient temperature, moisture and thermal ageing into account. The pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method was used to investigate the influence of moisture and temperature on space charge characteristics of oil paper at different ageing stages. The results showed that moisture could speed up formation of space charge in oil paper when water concentration was low, but the formation was restrained if the water concentration was high. At the beginning of thermal ageing, heterogeneous charge accumulation had predominance, but it gradually changed to homogeneous charge injection with ageing. It was believed that moisture concentration could speed up ageing and enhance charge accumulation on one hand, and accelerate or slow down the establishment speed of space charge on the other hand, therefore, charge accumulation type changed with ageing. The more seriously the oil-paper insulation was thermally aged, the deeper the trap energy level was, hence more space charge was trapped, which could be speeded up by increasing the ageing temperature, but the effect of ambient temperature did not fit the Arrhenius law.

The Crystal Structure of One Natural Compound Cyclo-(1,10-Docandiamino-11,20-Docanedioic) Amide (1,12-Diazacyclodocosane-2,11-Dione)

Wei, Wan-Xing,Pan, Yuan-Jiang Korean Chemical Society 2002 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.23 No.11

1,12-diazacyclodocosane-2,11-dione was first isolated from a plant Phyllanthus niruri Linn. Its structure has been determined by means of spectroscopy methods and X-ray crystallography. Two peptide groups in the big ring (lactam) are the main factors influencing intermolecular contacts. The hydrogen-bond interaction of these hydrophilic groups is observed in the crystal structure. Meanwhile, C-H···O hydrogen bonds in molecules contribute to the formation of the whole crystal. These two kinds of hydrogen-bond form six- member rings among molecules. This compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with a= 9.588(1) $\AA$, b= $9.850(1)\AA$, c = $11.810(1)\AA$, $\alpha=$ 68.18(1)$^{\circ}C$ , $\beta=$ 84.98(1), $\gamma$ = 86.03(1)$^{\circ}C$ , V = $1030.66(17)\AA3$ , Z = 2. A disorder of five-member carbon chain in the whole ring is observed in the title compound. The bond angle 105.8(4) is determined for a extreme configuration C(14)-C(15)-C(16), and 117.7(10) for another extreme configuration C(14')-C(15')-C(16'). In this crystal, two molecules are tied each other by short intermolecular hydrogen bonds, the oxygen atom being tied by hydrogen bond to nitrogen atom of another two molecules. The NMR and IR spectral data coincides to the structure of the compound.