DNA Repair Gene ERCC1 and XPD Polymorphisms Predict Glioma Susceptibility and Prognosis

Chen, Da-Qing,Yao, Dong-Xiao,Zhao, Hong-Yang,Yang, Shu-Juan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Aims: We conducted a case-control study in a Chinese population to clarify the association between polymorphisms in ERCC1 and XPD and susceptibility and survival of glioma. Methods: A total of 393 cases and 410 controls were selected from March 2007 to December 2011. Genotyping of ERCC1 and XPD was conducted by TaqMan assays using the ABI Prism 7911HT Sequence Detection System. All analyses were performed using the STATA statistical package. Results: Polymorphisms in ERCC1 118C/T, ERCC1 8092C/A and XPD Asp312Asn showed no statistically significant difference between glioma cases and controls. However, individuals with the XPD 751Gln/Gln genotype had an increased risk of developing glioma compared with those with the Lys/Lys genotype (adjusted OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.06-2.89). The ERCC1 118T/T genotype was associated with significantly higher median survival than the ERCC1 C/C genotype (HR=0.67, 95%CI=0.35-0.96). In addition, individuals with XPD 751Gln/Gln had a lower median survival time than XPD Lys/Lys carriers (HR=0.54, 95%CI=0.37-0.93). Conclusion: In conclusion, we observed that the XPD 751Gln/Gln genotype is associated with glioma susceptibility, and ERCC1 118 T/T and XPD 751Gln/Gln genotypes confer a significantly better prognosis.

Controlling the Thickness of Thermally Expanded Films of Graphene Oxide

Chen, Xianjue,Li, Wei,Luo, Da,Huang, Ming,Wu, Xiaozhong,Huang, Yuan,Lee, Sun Hwa,Chen, Xiong,Ruoff, Rodney S. American Chemical Society 2017 ACS NANO Vol.11 No.1

<P>'Paper-like' film material made from stacked and overlapping graphene oxide sheets can be exfoliated (expanded) through rapid heating, and this has until now been done with no control of the final geometry of the expanded graphene oxide material, i.e., the expansion has been physically unconstrained. (As a consequence of the heating and exfoliation, the graphene oxide is 'reduced', i.e., the graphene oxide platelets are deoxygenated to a degree.) We have used a confined space to constrain the expanding films to a controllable and uniform thickness. By changing the gap above the film, the final thickness of expanded films prepared from, e.g., a 10 mu m-thick graphene oxide film, could be controlled to values such as 20, 30, 50, or 100 mu m. When the expansion of the films was unconstrained, the final film was broken into pieces or had many cracks. In contrast, when the expansion was constrained, it never cracked or broke. Hot pressing the expanded reduced graphene oxide films at 1000 degrees C yielded a highly compact structure and promoted graphitization. Such thickness-controlled expansion of graphene oxide films up to tens or hundreds of times the original film thickness was used to emboss patterns on the films to produce areas with different thicknesses that remain connected 'in plane'. In another set of experiments, we treated the original graphene oxide film with NaOH before its controlled expansion resulted in a different structure featuring uniformly distributed pores and interconnected layers as well as simultaneous activation of the carbon.</P>

An Efficient DVS Algorithm for Pinwheel Task Schedules

Da Ren Chen,You Shyang Chen 한국정보처리학회 2011 Journal of information processing systems Vol.7 No.4

An Efficient DVS Algorithm for Pinwheel Task Schedules

Chen, Da-Ren,Chen, You-Shyang Korea Information Processing Society 2011 Journal of information processing systems Vol.7 No.4

In this paper, we focus on the pinwheel task model with a variable voltage processor with d discrete voltage/speed levels. We propose an intra-task DVS algorithm, which constructs a minimum energy schedule for k tasks in O(d+k log k) time We also give an inter-task DVS algorithm with O(d+n log n) time, where n denotes the number of jobs. Previous approaches solve this problem by generating a canonical schedule beforehand and adjusting the tasks' speed in O(dn log n) or O($n^3$) time. However, the length of a canonical schedule depends on the hyper period of those task periods and is of exponential length in general. In our approach, the tasks with arbitrary periods are first transformed into harmonic periods and then profile their key features. Afterward, an optimal discrete voltage schedule can be computed directly from those features.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 on the Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

( Da Wei Chen ),( Zhen Quan Yang ),( Xia Chen ),( Yu Jun Huang ),( Bo Xing Yin ),( Fei Xiang Guo ),( Hai Qing Zhao ),( Jia Di Huang ),( Yun Wu ),( Rui Xia Gu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

Accumulating evidence indicates that lactic acid bacteria could improve host physiology and lipid metabolism. To investigate the effect of the gut microbiota on host lipid metabolism, a hyperlipidemic rat model was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet for 28 days, and the gut microbiota of the rats was analyzed using real-time PCR before and after administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 and its fermented milk for 28 days. The findings showed that the Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., and Enterococcus spp. content in the hyperlipidemic rats gut was increased significantly (p < 0.05), while the Clostridium leptum and Enterobacter spp. content was decreased significantly after intervening with L. rhamnosus hrsyfm 1301 and its fermented milk for 28 days (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lipid levels of the serum and the liver were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and the fecal water content was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the hyperlipidemic rats after the intervention, and hepatocyte fatty degeneration of liver tissues was also prevented. A positive correlation was observed between the Clostridium leptum content and the level of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein, and a negative correlation was observed between the Enterobacter spp. content and the Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. content in the hyperlipidemic rats gut. These results suggest that the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism of hyperlipidemic rats could be improved by supplementation with L. rhamnosus hsryfm 1301 and its fermented milk.

Graphitization of graphene oxide films under pressure

Chen, Xianjue,Deng, Xiaomei,Kim, Na Yeon,Wang, Yu,Huang, Yuan,Peng, Li,Huang, Ming,Zhang, Xu,Chen, Xiong,Luo, Da,Wang, Bin,Wu, Xiaozhong,Ma, Yufei,Lee, Zonghoon,Ruoff, Rodney S. Elsevier 2018 Carbon Vol.132 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Lightweight, flexible graphite foils that are chemically inert, high-temperature resistant, and highly electrically and thermally conductive can be used as component materials in numerous applications. “Graphenic” foils can be prepared by thermally transforming graphene oxide films. For this transformation, it is desirable to maintain a densely packed film structure at high heating rates as well as to lower the graphitizing temperatures. In this work, we discuss the pressure-assisted thermal decomposition of graphene oxide films by hot pressing at different temperatures (<I>i.e.</I>, 300 °C, 1000 °C, or 2000 °C). The films pressed at 1000 °C or 2000 °C were subsequently heated at 2750 °C to achieve a higher degree of graphitization. The combination of heating and pressing promotes the simultaneous thermal decomposition and graphitic transformation of G-O films. Films pressed at 2000 °C as well as films further graphitized at 2750 °C show high chemical purity, uniformity, and retain their flexibility. For films pressed at 2000 °C and then further heated at 2750 °C, the mechanical performances outperform the reported values of the “graphite” foils prepared by calendering exfoliated graphite flakes; the electrical conductivity is ∼3.1 × 10<SUP>5</SUP> S/m and the in-plane thermal conductivity is ∼1.2 × 10<SUP>3</SUP> W/(m·K).</P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Role of Graphene in Water-Assisted Oxidation of Copper in Relation to Dry Transfer of Graphene

Luo, Da,You, Xueqiu,Li, Bao-Wen,Chen, Xianjue,Park, Hyo Ju,Jung, Minbok,Ko, Taeg Yeoung,Wong, Kester,Yousaf, Masood,Chen, Xiong,Huang, Ming,Lee, Sun Hwa,Lee, Zonghoon,Shin, Hyung-Joon,Ryu, Sunmin,Kwak American Chemical Society 2017 Chemistry of materials Vol.29 No.10

<P>The process of oxidation of a copper surface coated by a layer of graphene in water-saturated air at 50 degrees C was studied where it was observed that oxidation started at the graphene edge and was complete after 24 h. Isotope labeling of the oxygen gas and water showed that the oxygen in the formed copper oxides originated from water and not from the oxygen in air for both Cu and graphene-coated Cu, and this has interesting potential implications for graphene as a protective coating for Cu in dry air conditions. We propose a reaction pathway where surface hydroxyl groups formed at graphene edges and defects induce the oxidation of Cu. DFT simulation shows that the binding energy between graphene and the oxidized Cu substrate is smaller than that for the bare Cu substrate, which facilitates delamination of the graphene. Using this process, dry transfer is demonstrated using poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC) as the support layer. The high quality of the transferred graphene is demonstrated from Raman maps, XPS, STM, TEM, and sheet resistance measurements. The copper foil substrate was reused without substantial weight loss to grow graphene (up to 3 cycles) of equal quality to the first growth after each cycle. It was found that dry transfer yielded graphene with less Cu impurities as compared to methods using etching of the Cu substrate. Using PC yielded graphene with less polymeric residue after transfer than the use of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the supporting layer. Hence, this dry and clean delamination technique for CVD graphene grown on copper substrates is highly advantageous for the cost-effective large-scale production of graphene, where the Cu substrate can be reused after each growth.</P>

An 8-Week Low-Intensity Progressive Cycling Training Improves Motor Functions in Patients with Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease

Hsiu-Chen Chang,Chin-Song Lu,Wei-Da Chiou,Chiung-Chu Chen,Yi-Hsin Weng,Ya-Ju Chang 대한신경과학회 2018 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.14 No.2

Background and Purpose The effects of high-intensity cycling as an adjuvant therapy forearly-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) were highlighted recently. However, patients experience difficultiesin maintaining these cycling training programs. The present study investigated the efficacyof cycling at a mild-to-moderate intensity in early-stage PD. Methods Thirteen PD patients were enrolled for 16 serial cycling sessions over a 2-month period. Motor function was assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III(UPDRS III) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test as primary outcomes. The Montreal CognitiveAssessment (MoCA), modified Hoehn and Yahr Stage (mHYS), total UPDRS, Falls EfficacyScale, New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living, 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Change, and gait performancewere assessed as secondary outcomes. Results The age and the age at onset were 59.67±7.24 and 53.23±10.26 years (mean±SD), respectively. The cycling cadence was 53.27±8.92 revolutions per minute. The UPDRS III scoreimproved significantly after 8 training sessions (p=0.011) and 16 training sessions (T2) (p=0.001) in the off-state, and at T2 (p=0.004) in the on-state compared to pretraining (T0). TheTUG duration was significantly shorter at T2 than at T0 (p<0.05). The findings of MoCA, totalUPDRS, double limb support time, and mHYS (in both the off- and on-states) also improvedsignificantly at T2. Conclusions Our pioneer study has demonstrated that a low-intensity progressive cycling exercisecan improve motor function in PD, especially akinesia. The beneficial effects were similarto those of high-intensity rehabilitation programs.

Molecular organization of the B mating type locus of a Lentinula edodes monokaryon strain SUP2

Bao Da-Peng Chen Ming-Jie,Song Wen-Hua,Song Chun-yan,Zhang Mei-Yan,Chen Xiang,Lin Nan 한국버섯학회 2010 한국버섯학회지 Vol.8 No.4

Lentinula edodes is an important cultivated mushroom in China. The development of Lentinula edodes production promotes more studies on it. In our previous work, degenerate PCR and chromosome walking technologies were used to obtain one pheromone receptor gene and one pheromone precursor gene from Lentinula edodes. In this study, four pairs of specific primers were designed according to the whole genome sequencing of the protoplast monokaryon of Lentinula edodes strain 135, to amplify STE3-like pheromone receptor gene and its flanking conserved genes in the protoplast monokaryon strain SUP2 derived from Lentinula edodes strain Suxiang and 33655bp DNA sequence was obtained. By BlastX search, seven putative genes were identified, and three of them are pheromone receptor encoded genes. Furthermore, near to two pheromone receptor genes, four genes encoding proteins with conserved motifs of pheromone precursors were found. This study firstly reveals the molecular organization of the B mating type locus of Lentinula edodes.

Effect of Acute Phase Pain Control Using TENS on Pain Relief in Knee Osteoarthritis in a Rat Model

( Chang-da Chen ),( Seung-kyu Kim ),( Gak Hwangbo ) 대한물리의학회 2021 대한물리의학회지 Vol.16 No.3

PURPOSE: This study examined the influence of treadmill exercise with initial pain control using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on induced pain of knee osteoarthritis in rats. METHODS: Thirty adult male Sprague - Dawley rats were divided randomly into the TENS Group (TG, n = 10), Treadmill Exercise Group (TEG, n = 10), and Treadmill with TENS Group (TTG, n = 10). In the TG, TENS was performed for 20 min per day for two weeks with a TENS program at the knee joint. The TEG performed treadmill exercise 15 m/min for 20 min per day for two weeks. The TTG performed initial pain control by TENS program during the 1st ~ 3rd days, and treadmill exercise was performed using the TEG methods from the 4th day. The lumbar spine was extracted and processed using western blot analysis to evaluate pain (c-fos expression). RESULTS: The results showed that c-fos expression was decreased significantly in all groups after each intervention (p < .05). In particular, TTG produced the most significant decrease compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that treadmill exercise with initial pain control using TENS is a suitable method for relieving pain in knee osteoarthritis.