Alternaria yunnanensis sp. nov., a New Alternaria Species Causing Foliage Spot of Rubber Tree in China

( Zhi-ying Cai ),( Yi-xian Liu ),( Yu-ping Shi ),( Li-ming Dai ),( Lan-lan Li ),( Hong-jun Mu ),( Mei-lin Lv ),( Xiao-yong Liu ) 한국균학회 2019 Mycobiology Vol.47 No.1

A new species of Alternaria causing leaf spots on the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in Yunnan, China, was isolated, examined, and illustrated. Morphologically, it belongs to the section Porri of Alternaria, which produces relatively large conidia and a simple or branched, filamentous long beak. It is, however, characterized by conidiophores gradually enlarging near the apex into a clavate conidiogenous cell and long ellipsoid to obclavate, smoothwalled conidia with a long filamentous beak. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA, GAPDH, and TEF1-alpha sequences demonstrate that the phytopathogen falls in the clade of the section Porri, being most closely related to A. sidae, A. sennae, A. deseriticola, A. cyamopsidis, A. rostellata, A. nitrimali, A. crassa, and A. thunbergiae.

Baicalin attenuates TNBS-induced colitis in rats by modulating the Th17/Treg paradigm

Ying Zou,Shi-Xue Dai,Hong-Gang Chi,Tao Li,Zhi-Wei He,Jian Wang,Cai-Guo Ye,Guo-Liang Huang,Bing Zhao,Wen-Yang Li,Zheng Wan,Jin-Shan Feng,Xue-Bao Zheng 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.10

Baicalin, a flavonoid, has a wide range ofpharmacological properties, including immunomodulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect ofbaicalin on the balance of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatoryT (Treg) cells in a colitis model. The rat colitis modelwas induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS). Baicalin (10 ml/kg, each) or mesalazine (positivecontrol) was then administered orally for 7 days. Inflammatoryand immunological responses were evaluated bypathology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-timepolymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and flowcytometry. Our study showed that baicalin not only significantlyattenuated TNBS-induced colitis by reducing thedisease activity index as well as macroscopic and microscopicscores, but it also improved the weight loss andshortening of the colon. Baicalin treatment also induced asignificant decrease in the levels of inflammatory mediators,including the myeloperoxidase activity, the levels oftumor necrosis factor a, IL-1b, and Th1-related cytokinesIL-12 and IFN-c. Furthermore, the beneficial effects ofbaicalin seem to be associated with regulation of the Th17and Treg paradigm. We found that administration ofbaicalin significantly downregulated the number of Th17cells and the levels of Th17-related cytokines (IL-17 andIL-6) and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor ct. In contrast, there was an increase in Treg cells numbers,Treg-related cytokines transforming growth factor-b andIL-10, and forkhead box P3. Our results suggest that theanti-inflammatory effect of baicalin may be linked tomodulation of the balance between Th17 and Treg cells inTNBS-induced ulcerative colitis.

Serum miR-21 Expression in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Cai, Er-Hui,Gao, Yong-Xin,Wei, Zhong-Zhi,Chen, Wei-Ying,Yu, Ping,Li, Ke Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

To investigate the relationship between serum miRNA-21 (miR-21) expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and its clinicopathologic features, a 1:1 matched case-control study including 21 patients with ESCC and 21 age- and gender-matched healthy controls was carried out. Serum specimens were taken from all subjects. Total RNA was extracted and the stem-loop real time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure serum miR-21 in both groups. Clinical parameters were assessed to determine associations with serum miR-21 concentrations. Serum miR-21 expression in ESCC samples was significantly higher than in paired cancer-free samples (P<0.05). Metastasis was associated with mir-21 expression in serum (P<0.05), ESCC patients with metastasis having 8.4-fold higher serum miR-21 concentrations than healthy controls. There were no statistically significant associations between miR-21 expression and clinicopathologic parameters, such as gender (P>0.05), age (P>0.05), tumor location (P>0.05), cell differentiation (P>0.05), TNM staging (P>0.05), whether chemo/radiotherapy had been administered (P>0.05), or whether surgery had been performed (P>0.05). These findings suggest that the detection of microRNA-21 in serum might serve as a new tumor biomarker in diagnosis and assessment of prognosis of ESCCs.

Glutamine-Supplemented Parenteral Nutrition and Probiotics in Four Adult Autoimmune Enteropathy Patients

( Ren Ying Xu ),( Yan Ping Wan ),( Yi Quan Zhou ),( Li Ping Lu ),( Zhi Qi Chen ),( Ying Jie Wu ),( Wei Cai ) 대한소화기학회 2014 Gut and Liver Vol.8 No.3

To evaluate the effects of glutamine-supplemented parenteral nutrition (PN) and probiotics in adult autoimmune enteropathy (AIE) patients. Four adult AIE patients were identified from April 2006 to January 2012. Clinical and nutritional data were obtained from the patients’ medical records. Glutamine-supplemented PN started immediately when the AIE diagnosis was confirmed. The total PN duration was 351 days. According to the PN prescription, the average caloric intake ranged from 20 to 25 kcal/kg/day, and the protein intake ranged from 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg/day. Alanyl-glutamine (20 g/day) was administered to AIE patients for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week break, and this treatment schedule was repeated when PN lasted for more than 6 weeks. Body weight gain and an increased serum albumin level were achieved after PN, and defecation frequency and quality also improved. Each patient received oral supplements, 250 mL of Ensure and two probiotics capsules (each capsule containing 0.5×108 colonies) three times a day when enteral nutrition started. Three AIE patients were successfully weaned off PN, and one patient died of pneumonia. Glutamine-supplemented PN and probiotics show promise in managing patients with AIE and related malnutrition.

Predictive Significance of Claudin-3 for Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Huang Zhi-Qun,Ye Jing,Liu Jing,Sun Li-Ying,Ong Hsiao Hui,Wei Yong-Hao,Fu Shu-Cai,Hu Xiao-Xun,Xu Yu,Wang De-Yun 대한천식알레르기학회 2023 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.15 No.4

Purpose: The abnormal expression of tight junction (TJ) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, there is no appropriate tool to distinguish and diagnose epithelial barrier defects in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of claudin-3 for epithelial barrier dysfunction in CRSwNP. Methods: In this study, TJ protein levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemistry staining in control subjects and CRSwNP patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to assess the predictive value of TJ breakdown in clinical outcomes. In vitro, human nasal epithelial cells were cultured at the air-liquid interface to analyze the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) level. Results: The expression levels of occludin, tricellulin, claudin-3, and claudin-10 were decreased (all P < 0.05), and those of claudin-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in CRSwNP patients as compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, claudin-3 and occludin levels were negatively correlated with the computed tomography score in CRSwNP (all P < 0.05), and the ROC curve indicated that the claudin-3 level had the most predictive accuracy in evaluating epithelial barrier disruption (area under the curve = 0.791, P < 0.001). Finally, the time-series analysis showed the highest correlation coefficient between TER and claudin-3 (cross-correlation function = 0.75). Conclusion: In this study, we suggest that claudin-3 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting nasal epithelial barrier defects and disease severity in CRSwNP.

Continuous Sheet Metal Forming for Doubly Curved Surface Parts

Zhong-Yi Cai,Ying-Wu Lan,Ming-Zhe Li,Zhi-Qing Hu,Mi Wang 한국정밀공학회 2012 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Continuous sheet metal forming (CSMF) is a novel technology for manufacturing doubly curved sheet metal parts. In this process,an upper flexible roll and two lower flexible rolls are employed as a forming tool, with the rotation of flexible rolls, the sheet metal is bent in the longitudinal and transverse directions simultaneously. In this study, the basic principle of CSMF system is introduced and the basic mathematical model to control the CSMF process is presented. Based on the analysis of the sheet metal deformation in longitudinal direction, the formulations to determine the finial curvature of the deformed sheet metal and to estimate the downward displacement of upper roll are obtained. Forming experiments for torus-shaped surface and saddle-shaped surface were carried out. The dimensional accuracy and smoothness of the CSMF parts were measured and analyzed. The experiment results confirm the validity of the presented mathematical models and shows that CSMF can be effectively used in forming of doubly curved surface parts.

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Sen-Ling Feng,Hai-Bin Luo,Liang Cai,Jie Zhang,Dan Wang,Ying-Jiang Chen,Huan-Xing Zhan,Zhi-Hong Jiang,Ying Xie 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinicalcancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediatedby ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrateswere carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. Theexpressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cellxenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation ofABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPaseand reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 bindingsite which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 anddocetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizingeffect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXTtreatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicitywhen compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvantchemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Feng, Sen-Ling,Luo, Hai-Bin,Cai, Liang,Zhang, Jie,Wang, Dan,Chen, Ying-Jiang,Zhan, Huan-Xing,Jiang, Zhi-Hong,Xie, Ying The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Promotes Preinvasive and Invasive Estrogen Receptor-Positive Tumor Development in MMTV-erbB2 Mice

Chun Ling Zhao,Guang Ping Zhang,Zheng Zheng Xiao,Zhi Kun Ma,Cai Peng Lei,Shi Yuan Song,Ying Ying Feng,Ya Chao Zhao,Xiao Shan Feng 한국유방암학회 2015 Journal of breast cancer Vol.18 No.2

Purpose: We investigated whether recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) could promote the development of preinvasive and invasive breast cancer in mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV-erbB2) mice with estrogen receptor- positive tumors. Methods: MMTV-erbB2 mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups with 20 mice in each group. MMTV-erbB2 mice were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of vehicle or rhG-CSF (low-rhG-CSF group, rhG-CSF 0.125 μg; vehicle-rhG-CSF group, normal saline 0.25 μg; and high-rhG-CSF group, rhG-CSF 0.25 μg) at 3 months of age. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of G-CSF action in mammary glands were investigated via immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Low, but not high, rhG-CSF doses significantly accelerated mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-erbB2 mice. Short-term treatment with rhG-CSF could significantly promote the development of preinvasive mammary lesions. The cancer prevention effect was associated with reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cluster of differentiation 34, and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 in mammary glands by >80%. Conclusion: We found that G-CSF was regulated by rhG-CSF both in vitro and in vivo. Identification of G-CSF genes helped us further understand the mechanism by which G-CSF promotes cancer. Low doses of rhG-CSF could significantly increase tumor latency and increase tumor multiplicity and burden. Moreover, rhG-CSF effectively promotes development of both malignant and premalignant mammary lesions in MMTV-erbB2 mice.

Predictive Potential of Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms for Prognosis of Osteosarcoma Patients on Chemotherapy

Zhang, Shai-Lin,Mao, Ning-Fang,Sun, Jun-Ying,Shi, Zhi-Cai,Wang, Bing,Sun, Yong-Jian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms for the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 159 patients were included in our study between January 2005 and December 2007., with follow-up until January 2012. Genotyping was based upon the duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the PCR-CTPP method. Results: At the time of diagnosis, 15.4% of the patients presented with metastasis, while 22.3% developed metastasis during follow-up. At the time of final analysis on January 2012, the median follow-up was 45.5 months. Patients with null GSTM1 and GSTT1 had a higher event free survival rate than non-null genotype, but no significant association was found between the two genotypes and prognosis of osteosarcoma. Individuals with GSTP1 Val/Val genotype tended to live shorter than with the IIe/IIe genotype, and we found a significantly higher risk of death from osteosarcoma (adjusted HR=2.35, 95% CI=1.13-4.85). Conclusion: The GSTP1 gene polymorphism may have an important role in the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients with chemotherapy. Further analyses with larger samples and more genes encoding metabolizing and DNA repair enzymes are warranted.