LSKL, a Peptide Antagonist of Thrombospondin-1, Attenuates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Rats with Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

Xi-sheng Xie,Fei-yan Li,Heng-chuan Liu,Yao Deng,Zi Li,Jun-ming Fan 대한약학회 2010 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.33 No.2

The effects of LSKL, the peptide antagonist of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) were investigated. Rats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 20 each): UUO group, sham-operation group and UUO plus LSKL treatment group. Collagen deposition was studied using histopathology and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). TSP-1, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), phosphorylated Smad2 (pSsmad2) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the kidney were measured using immunocytochemistry, western blotting analysis, RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical analyses in the serum and urine were made. Histopathology showed severe tubular dilatation and atrophy, interstitial inflammation and collagen accumulation after surgery and LSKL significantly inhibited interstitial fibrosis including tubular injury as well as collagen deposition. The protein and mRNA levels of TSP-1 increased notably at different time point and significantly decreased in the presence of LSKL. The expression of TGF-β1 and pSmad2 were upregulated in the obstructed kidney and substantially suppressed by LSKL treatment. Myofibroblast accumulation could be alleviated after administration of LSKL. Biochemical parameters did not show differences among the three groups. As TSP-1 is the major activator of TGF-β1, we demonstrate that LSKL can attenuate renal interstitial fibrosis in vivo by preventing TSP-1-mediated TGF-β1 activation.

MicroRNA-21 Regulates the Invasion and Metastasis in Cholangiocarcinoma and May Be a Potential Biomarker for Cancer Prognosis

Huang, Qiang,Liu, Lei,Liu, Chen-Hai,You, Hao,Shao, Feng,Xie, Fang,Lin, Xian-Sheng,Hu, San-Yuan,Zhang, Chuan-Hai Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Background: MicroRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. The aim of this study was to determine the role of microRNA-21 in cholangiocarcinomas and its relationship to cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell capacity for invasion and metastasis. Methods: MicroRNA-21 expression was investigated in 41 cases of cholangiocarcinoma samples by in situ hybridization and real-time PCR. Influence on cholangiocarcinoma cell line invasion and metastasis was analyzed with microRNA-21 transfected cells. In addition, regulation of reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) by microRNA-21 was elucidated to identify mechanisms. Results: In situ hybridization and real-time quantitative PCR results for patients with lymph node metastasis or perineural invasion showed significantly high expression of microRNA-21 (P<0.05). There was a dramatic decrease in cholangiocarcinoma cell line invasion and metastasis ability after microRNA-21 knockdown (P<0.05). However, overexpression significantly increased invasion and metastasis (P<0.05). Real-time PCR and Western-blot analysis showed that microRNA-21 could potentially inhibit RECK expression in RBE cells. Survival analysis showed that patients with higher expression levels of microRNA-21 more often had a poor prognosis (P<0.05). Conclusions: MicroRNA-21 may play an important role in cholangiocarcinoma invasion and metastasis, suggesting that MicroRNA-21 should be further evaluated as a biomarker for predicting cholangiocarcinoma prognosis.

FROM BUSINESS STRATEGY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL PERSPECTIVE TO TRAVEL AGENCIES’ COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Chih-Hsing Liu,Jeou-Shyan Horng,Sheng-Fang Chou,Yung-Chuan Huang,Bernard Gan,Wei-Long Lee 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2018 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2018 No.07

Many firms see organizational learning systems as critical to facilitating competitive advantage. However, until now, few tourism studies have empirically investigated and identified how the different characteristics of highly competitive organizations, such as travel agencies, influence competitive advantage in a dynamic environment. This study uses a mediation-moderation analysis for such an empirical examination. A total of 288 travel agencies from Taiwan were analysed. The authors found that travel agencies’ shared goals may influence competitive advantage through characteristics of dynamic capability development, differential strategy implication and social capital accumulation. Greater levels of organizational learning may positively strengthen the relationships between (a) shared goals and dynamic capability, (b) shared goals and social capital, and (c) social capital and competitive advantage. Implications of these findings for managerial and theoretical frameworks are also discussed.

Appropriate nitrogen application enhances saponin synthesis and growth mediated by optimizing root nutrient uptake ability

Wei, Wei,Ye, Chen,Huang, Hui-Chuan,Yang, Min,Mei, Xin-Yue,Du, Fei,He, Xia-Hong,Zhu, Shu-Sheng,Liu, Yi-Xiang The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.4

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

Design of a Bidirectional DC/AC Converter with Battery Charging/Discharging/Standing Balance Control

Liang-Rui Chen,Bo-Rui Xu,Chuan-Sheng Liu,Shao-wei Peng,Chia-Hsuan Wu 전력전자학회 2019 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2019 No.5

Battery cells connected in series have been widely used in high-voltage and high-power applications. In this paper, a single-phase battery energy storage system with battery balance charging, battery balance discharging, and power factor correction capabilities was developed. A prototype suitable for a single-phase 110V power supply was designed and implemented for verification. To verify its performance, three 48V/7Ah battery modules were used as normal batteries, and a 48V/5Ah battery module was used as a retired battery. The experimental results showed that the battery energy storage system has excellent battery balancing capability. Compared with that of the conventional system without balanced control, the balancing performance of the proposed system is increased by about 15.25% and 26.92%, respectively, when the system was operated in the converter and rectifier modes. In addition, the proposed system also had battery fault tolerance, and was compatible with recycled batteries and an independent power supply.

Linking an Anxiety-Related Personality Trait to Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Well-Defined Healthy Adults: Harm Avoidance and Resting Heart Rate Variability

Lien-Cheng Kao,Yu-Wen Liu,Nian-Sheng Tzeng,Terry B. J. Kuo,San-Yuan Huang,Chuan-Chia Chang,Hsin-An Chang 대한신경정신의학회 2016 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.13 No.4

ObjectiveaaAnxiety trait, anxiety and depression states have all been reported to increase risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD), possibly through altering cardiac autonomic regulation. Our aim was to investigate whether the relationship between harm avoidance (HA, an anxiety-related personality trait) and cardiac autonomic regulation is independent of anxiety and depression states in healthy adults. MethodsaaWe recruited 535 physically and mentally healthy volunteers. Participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Tri-dimensional Personality Questionnaire. Participants were divided into high or low HA groups as discriminated by the quartile value. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). We obtained the time and frequency-domain indices of HRV including variance (total HRV), the low-frequency power (LF; 0.05–0.15 Hz), which may reflect baroreflex function, the high-frequency power (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz), which reflects cardiac parasympathetic activity, as well as the LF/HF ratio. ResultsaaThe BDI and HA scores showed associations with HRV parameters. After adjustment for the BDI scores and other control variables, HA is still associated with reduced variance, LF and HF power. Compared with the participants with low HA, those with high HA displayed significant reductions in variance, LF and HF power and a significant increase in their LF/HF ratio. ConclusionaaThis study highlights the independent role of HA in contributing to decreased autonomic cardiac regulation in healthy adults and provides a potential underlying mechanism for anxiety trait to confer increased risk for CVD.

Effects of Codeine on Esophageal Peristalsis in Patients With Ineffective Esophageal Motility: Studies Using High-resolution Manometry

Wei-Yi Lei,Tso-Tsai Liu,Wei-Chuan Chang,Chih-Hsun Yi,Jui-Sheng Hung,Ming-Wun Wong,Shu-Wei Liang,Lin Lin,Chien-Lin Chen 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2024 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.30 No.1

Background/AimsThis study aims to evaluate the effects of acute codeine administration on primary and secondary esophageal peristalsis in patients with ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). MethodsEighteen IEM patients (8 women; mean age 37.8 years, range 23-64 years) were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent high-resolution manometry exams, consisting of 10 single wet swallows, multiple rapid swallows, and ten 20 mL rapid air injections to trigger secondary peristalsis. All participants completed 2 separate sessions, including acute administration of codeine (60 mg) and placebo, in a randomized order. ResultsCodeine significantly increased the distal contractile integral (566 ± 81 mmHg∙s∙cm vs 247 ± 36 mmHg∙s∙cm, P = 0.001) and shortened distal latency (5.7 ± 0.2 seconds vs 6.5 ± 0.1 seconds, P < 0.001) for primary peristalsis compared with these parameters after placebo treatment. The mean total break length decreased significantly after codeine treatment compared with the length after placebo (P = 0.003). Codeine significantly increased esophagogastric junction-contractile integral (P = 0.028) but did not change the 4-second integrated relaxation pressure (P = 0.794). Codeine significantly decreased the frequency of weak (P = 0.039) and failed contractions (P = 0.009), resulting in increased frequency of normal primary peristalsis (P < 0.136). No significant differences in the ratio of impaired multiple rapid swallows inhibition and parameters of secondary peristalsis were detected. ConclusionsIn IEM patients, acute administration of codeine increases contraction vigor and reduces distal latency of primary esophageal peristalsis, but has no effect on secondary peristalsis. Future studies are required to further elucidate clinical relevance of these findings, especially in the setting of gastroesophageal reflux disease with IEM.

Transient Hiatal Separation During Straight Leg Raise Can Predict Reflux Burden in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients With Ineffective Esophageal Motility

Wei-Yi Lei,Shu-Wei Liang,Taher Omari,Wei-Chuan Chang,Ming-Wun Wong,Jui-Sheng Hung,Chih-Hsun Yi,Tso-Tsai Liu,Lin Lin,C Prakash Gyawali,Chien-Lin Chen 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.4

Background/Aims Straight leg raise (SLR) can be utilized to evaluate the integrity of the esophagogastric junction during high-resolution manometry (HRM). We aim to assess the value of transient hiatal separation during SLR in symptomatic reflux patients. Methods Consecutive reflux patients undergoing esophageal HRM and pH monitoring were included. Transient hiatal separation was defined by a ≥ 1 cm separation between the lower esophageal sphincter and crural diaphragm during SLR. We compared esophageal motor patterns and reflux monitoring parameters between patients with normal, transiently abnormal and consistently abnormal esophagogastric junction morphology during SLR. Results Of 85 (56.3% female, mean age: 46.7 ± 12.3 years) completed SLR, esophagogastric junction morphology was normal in 31 (36.5%), transient hiatal separation in 19 (22.3%), and consistently hiatal hernia in 35 (41.2%). The values of total acid exposure time (P = 0.016), longest acid reflux episodes (P = 0.024), and DeMeester scores (P = 0.016) were higher in hiatal hernia compared to patients with non-transient hiatal separation, but there were no differences between those with and without transient hiatal separation. Within ineffective esophageal motility, the presence of transient hiatal separation during SLR significantly associated with a higher total acid exposure time (P = 0.014), higher DeMeester scores (P = 0.019), higher total acid reflux events (P = 0.037), and higher longest acid reflux episodes (P = 0.006). Conclusion Our work suggests that SLR may have value as a provocative test during HRM, and future outcome studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical relevance of motor abnormalities depicted from SLR.

Appropriate Soil Heat Treatment Promotes Growth and Disease Suppression of Panax notoginseng by Interfering with the Bacterial Community

( Ying-bin Li ),( Zhi-ping Zhang ),( Ye Yuan ),( Hui-chuan Huang ),( Xin-yue Mei ),( Fen Du ),( Min Yang ),( Yi-xiang Liu ),( Shu-sheng Zhu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2022 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.32 No.3

In our greenhouse experiment, soil heat treatment groups (50, 80, and 121°C) significantly promoted growth and disease suppression of Panax notoginseng in consecutively cultivated soil (CCS) samples (p < 0.01), and 80°C worked better than 50°C and 121°C (p < 0.01). Furthermore, we found that heat treatment at 80°C changes the microbial diversity in CCS, and the inhibition ratios of culturable microorganisms, such as fungi and actinomycetes, were nearly 100%. However, the heat-tolerant bacterial community was preserved. The 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing analyses indicated that the soil heat treatment had a greater effect on the Chao1 index and Shannon’s diversity index of bacteria than fungi, and the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were significantly higher than without heating (80 and 121°C, p < 0.05). Soil probiotic bacteria, such as Bacillus (67%), Sporosarcina (9%), Paenibacillus (6%), Paenisporosarcina (6%), and Cohnella (4%), remained in the soil after the 80°C and 121°C heat treatments. Although steam increased the relative abundances of most of the heat-tolerant microbes before sowing, richness and diversity gradually recovered to the level of CCS, regardless of fungi or bacteria, after replanting. Thus, we added heat-tolerant microbes (such as Bacillus) after steaming, which reduced the relative abundance of pathogens, recruited antagonistic bacteria, and provided a long-term protective effect compared to the steaming and Bacillus alone (p < 0.05). Taken together, the current study provides novel insight into sustainable agriculture in a consecutively cultivated system.

Preparation of AlN Films and nc-AlN/a-SiNx Nanocomposite Films by Medium Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Ming Kai Li,Xiang Jun Fan,Cheng Bin Li,Chuan Sheng Liu 한국물리학회 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.46 No.1

AlN ¯lms and nc-AlN/a-SiNx nanocomposite ¯lms are deposited on (111) silicon and glass sub-strates by using medium-frequency reactive magnetron sputtering under N2/Ar atmosphere, and then the ¯lms are analyzed in detail by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diraction (XRD). Hardness of the nc-AlN/a-SiNx ¯lms is measured. The microstructures of AlN ¯lms under dierent nitrogen concentrations are compared. The XRD patterns indicate that the ¯lm shows (002) orientation, strongly independent of N2 partial °ow rate. The TEM images show that the uniform AlN crystal, the clear polycrystalline diraction circles and the dierence of the grain size under dierent conditions are signi¯cant. Columnar grains of AlN ¯lm on (111) silicon substrate under 70 % N2 partial °ow rate are observed. The results indicate that the preferred orientation of AlN ¯lm is aected by N2 partial °ow rate. The hardness of nc-AlN/a-SiNx ¯lms increases with increasing a-SiNx content and the hardness decreases when a-SiNx is excessive. The maximal hardness of nc-AlN/a-SiNx nanocomposite ¯lms can reach 30 GPa by adjusting a-SiNx content. The transmission of the nanocomposite ¯lms is over 85 %. The results suggest that it has potential application for optical protective coatings.