Preparation of 5-fluorouracil-loaded Nanoparticles and Study of Interaction with Gastric Cancer Cells

Fan, Yu-Ling,Fan, Bing-Yu,Li, Qiang,Di, Hai-Xiao,Meng, Xiang-Yu,Ling, Na Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.18

Aims: To prepare 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) nanoparticles with higher encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, and then investigate interaction with the SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Prescription was optimized by orthogonal experiments, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity were tested by high-performance liquid chromatography, and inhibition of proliferation by 5-Fu nanoparticles and 5-Fu given to cells for 24, 48 and 72 hours was investigated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT). In addition, 5-Fu nanoparticles were labeled by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and absorption into cells was tested by flow cytometry. Results: The optimal conditions for preparation were concentrations of 5-Fu of 5mg/ml, of $CaCl_2$ of 60 mg/ml and of chitosan of 2 mg/ml. With a stirring speed of 1200rpm, encapsulation efficiency of 5-Fu nanoparticles was $55.4{\pm}1.10%$ and loading capacity was $4.22{\pm}0.14%$; gastric cancer cells were significantly inhibited by 5-Fu nanoparticles in a time and concentration dependent manner, and compared to 5-Fu with slower drug release, in a certain concentration range, inhibition with 5-Fu nanoparticles was stronger. 5-Fu nanoparticles were absorbed by the cells in line with the concentration. Conclusions: 5-Fu nanoparticles can inhibit growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro to a greater extent than with 5-Fu with good adsorption characteristics, supporting feasibility as a carrier.

Pore Structure Identification Method for Pervious Concrete based on Improved UNet and Fusion Algorithm

Fan Yu,Kailang Li,Hua Zhang,Rui Zhang,Zhang Gao,Yubin Huang 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.11

This paper aims to establish an automatic and accurate pore identification method for pervious concrete. The residual module and mixed loss functions were introduced to the original UNet network to obtain the improved UNet. CT scanning was conducted on the six groups of pervious concrete samples with different aggregate sizes to obtain the initial dataset. The initial dataset was marked and enhanced, and then the pore recognition model was trained. The influence of image brightness and contrast on pore identification was analyzed. The fusion algorithm was used to improve the robustness of the model. The results show that during model training, R-UNet began to converge 20 epochs earlier than UNet and the loss value was smaller. Moreover, the maximum increase of mIoU and mDice was 10.3% and 11.7% respectively, and the maximum decrease of mHD was 14.1%. The fusion algorithm could improve the segmentation accuracy of pores in brightness anomaly images. Compared with threshold segmentation method, the method proposed in this paper could improve the accuracy of pore edge segmentation and the “fine pores” identification, and reduced the pore identification defects. The value of mHD was decreased by 48.7% − 72.4%, and the efficiency of pore identification was greatly improved.

Ordered Arrays of Dual-Diameter Nanopillars for Maximized Optical Absorption

Fan, Zhiyong,Kapadia, Rehan,Leu, Paul W.,Zhang, Xiaobo,Chueh, Yu-Lun,Takei, Kuniharu,Yu, Kyoungsik,Jamshidi, Arash,Rathore, Asghar A.,Ruebusch, Daniel J.,Wu, Ming,Javey, Ali American Chemical Society 2010 Nano letters Vol.10 No.10

<P>Optical properties of highly ordered Ge nanopillar arrays are tuned through shape and geometry control to achieve the optimal absorption efficiency. Increasing the Ge materials filling ratio is shown to increase the reflectance while simultaneously decreasing the transmittance, with the absorbance showing a strong diameter dependency. To enhance the broad band optical absorption efficiency, a novel dual-diameter nanopillar structure is presented, with a small diameter tip for minimal reflectance and a large diameter base for maximal effective absorption coefficient. The enabled single-crystalline absorber material with a thickness of only 2 μm exhibits an impressive absorbance of ∼99% over wavelengths, λ = 300−900 nm. These results enable a viable and convenient route toward shape-controlled nanopillar-based high-performance photonic devices.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/nalefd/2010/nalefd.2010.10.issue-10/nl1010788/production/images/medium/nl-2010-010788_0005.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl1010788'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Antioxidant Effect of Pomegranate Rind Powder Extract, Pomegranate Juice, and Pomegranate Seed Powder Extract as Antioxidants in Raw Ground Pork Meat

Yu-Yue Qin,Zhi-Hong Zhang,Lin Li,Wei Xiong,Jin-Yu Shi,Tian-Rui Zhao,Jian Fan 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.4

The antioxidant potential of pomegranate rind powder extract (PRP), pomegranate juice (PJ), and pomegranate seed powder extract (PSP) was evaluated in raw ground pork meat stored at 4±1oC for 12 days. The pH values decreased from 5.88 to 5.61. The standard plate count in the PRP group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in all other groups. Butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) and PRP significantly (p<0.05) reduced lipid oxidation compared to PJ and PSP. Samples with antioxidants had significantly (p<0.05) reduced peroxide formation than control group. Antioxidant effectiveness was in the order: BHT>PRP>PJ>PSP>control. Lightness (L* value) was lowered by the addition of PRP, PJ, and PSP. The overall acceptability scores of PRP, PJ, PSP, and BHT treated samples were higher than that of control samples. The results indicated the potential of natural functional ingredients to enhance quality of raw ground pork meat.

Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints

Fan, Yu,Kim, Do-Hee,Ryu, Yeonhee,Chang, Suchan,Lee, Bong Hyo,Yang, Chae Ha,Kim, Hee Young Frontiers Media S.A. 2018 Frontiers in neuroscience Vol.12 No.-

<P>Electrical skin measurements at acupuncture points (acupoints) have been utilized as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid for more than 50 years. Although acupoints are described as having distinct electrical properties, such as high conductance and low impedance, the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. The present study investigated in a rat model of hypertension whether the high conductance at acupoints is a result of the release of the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) during neurogenic inflammation in the referred pain area. When plasma extravasation from neurogenic inflammation was examined by exploring the leakage of intravenously injected Evans blue dye (EBD) to the skin, extravasated EBD was found most frequently in acupoints on the wrist. The increased conductance and temperature at these acupoints occurred during the development of hypertension. The increase in conductance and plasma extravasation at acupoints in hypertensive rats was ablated by cutting median and ulnar nerves, blocking small diameter afferent fibers with resiniferatoxin (RTX) injection into median and ulnar nerves, or antagonizing SP or CGRP receptors in acupoints. In turn, intradermal injection of SP or CGRP resulted in increased conductance and plasma extravasation in naïve rats. Elevated levels of SP and CGRP were found in the acupoints of hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that the high conductance at acupoints is due to vascular leakage following local release of SP and CGRP during neurogenic inflammation.</P>

Medical students’ self-assessed efficacy and satisfaction with training on endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization with smart glasses in Taiwan: a non-equivalent control-group pre- and post-test study

Yu-Fan Lin,Chien-Ying Wang,Yen-Hsun Huang,Sheng-Min Lin,Ying-Ying Yang 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2022 보건의료교육평가 Vol.19 No.-

Purpose Endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization are essential procedures in clinical practice. Simulation-based technology such as smart glasses has been used to facilitate medical students’ training on these procedures. We investigated medical students’ self-assessed efficacy and satisfaction regarding the practice and training of these procedures with smart glasses in Taiwan. Methods This observational study enrolled 145 medical students in the 5th and 6th years participating in clerkships at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between October 2020 and December 2021. Students were divided into the smart glasses or the control group and received training at a workshop. The primary outcomes included students’ pre- and post-intervention scores for self-assessed efficacy and satisfaction with the training tool, instructor’s teaching, and the workshop. Results The pre-intervention scores for self-assessed efficacy of 5th- and 6th-year medical students in endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization procedures showed no significant difference. The post-intervention score of self-assessed efficacy in the smart glasses group was better than that of the control group. Moreover, 6th-year medical students in the smart glasses group showed higher satisfaction with the training tool, instructor’s teaching, and workshop than those in the control group. Conclusion Smart glasses served as a suitable simulation tool for endotracheal intubation and central venous catheterization procedures training in medical students. Medical students practicing with smart glasses showed improved self-assessed efficacy and higher satisfaction with training, especially for procedural steps in a space-limited field. Simulation training on procedural skills with smart glasses in 5th-year medical students may be adjusted to improve their satisfaction.

Infestation and Related Ecology of Chigger Mites on the Asian House Rat (Rattus tanezumi) in Yunnan Province, Southwest China

Fan Ding,Wen-Li Jiang,Xian-Guo Guo,Rong Fan,Cheng-Fu Zhao,Zhi-Wei Zhang,Ke-Yu Mao,Rong Xiang 대한기생충학열대의학회 2021 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.59 No.4

The Blood Oxygenation T2* Values of Resectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas as Measured by 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Association with Tumor Stage

Yu-lian Tang,Xiao-ming Zhang,Zhi-gang Yang,Yu-cheng Huang,Tian-wu Chen,Yan-li Chen,Fan Chen,Nan-lin Zeng,Rui Li,Jiani Hu 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.4

Objective: To explore the association between the blood oxygenation T2* values of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and tumor stages. Materials and Methods: This study included 48 ESCC patients and 20 healthy participants who had undergone esophageal T2*-weighted imaging to obtain T2* values of the tumors and normal esophagi. ESCC patients underwent surgical resections less than one week after imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association between T2* values of ESCCs and tumor stages. Results: One-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests revealed that the T2* value could differentiate stage T1 ESCCs (17.7 ± 3.3 ms) from stage T2 and T3 tumors (24.6 ± 2.7 ms and 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively; all ps < 0.001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed the suitable cutoff T2* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. The former statistical tests demonstrated that the T2* value could not differentiate between stages T2 and T3 (24.6 ± 2.7 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, respectively, p > 0.05) or between N stages (N1 vs. N2 vs. N3: 24.7 ± 6.9 ms vs. 25.4 ± 4.5 ms vs. 26.8 ± 3.9 ms, respectively; all ps > 0.05). The former tests illustrated that the T2* value could differentiate anatomic stages I and II (18.8 ± 4.8 ms and 26.9 ± 5.9 ms, respectively) or stages I and III (27.3 ± 3.6 ms). ROC analysis depicted the same cutoff T2* value of 21.3 ms for either differentiation. In addition, the Student’s t test revealed that the T2* value could determine grouped T stages (T0 vs. T1–3: 17.0 ± 2.9 ms vs. 25.2 ± 6.2 ms; T0–1 vs. T2–3: 17.3 ± 3.0 ms vs. 27.1 ± 5.3 ms; and T0–2 vs. T3: 18.8 ± 4.2 ms vs. 27.8 ± 5.6 ms, all ps < 0.001). ROC analysis indicated that the T2* value could detect ESCCs (cutoff, 20 ms), and discriminate between stages T0–1 and T2–3 (cutoff, 21.3 ms) and between T0–2 and T3 (cutoff, 20.4 ms). Conclusion: The T2* value can be an additional quantitative indicator for detecting ESCC except for stage T1 cancer, and can preoperatively discriminate between some T stages and between anatomic stages of this tumor.

TAZ as a novel regulator of oxidative damage in decidualization via Nrf2/ARE/Foxo1 pathway

Yu Hai-Fan,Zheng Lian-Wen,Yang Zhan-Qing,Wang Yu-Si,Wang Ting-Ting,Yue Zhan-Peng,Guo Bin 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

TAZ, as a crucial effector of Hippo pathway, is required for spermatogenesis and fertilization, but little is known regarding its physiological function in uterine decidualization. In this study, we showed that TAZ was localized in the decidua, where it promoted stromal cell proliferation followed by accelerated G1/S phase transition via Ccnd3 and Cdk4 and induced the expression or activity of stromal differentiation markers Prl8a2, Prl3c1 and ALP, indicating the importance of TAZ in decidualization. Knockdown of TAZ impeded HB-EGF induction of stromal cell proliferation and differentiation. Under oxidative stress, TAZ protected stromal differentiation against oxidative damage by reducing intracellular ROS and enhancing cellular antioxidant capacity dependent on the Nrf2/ARE/Foxo1 pathway. TAZ strengthened the transcriptional activity of Nrf2 which directly bound to the antioxidant response element (ARE) of Foxo1 promoter region. Additionally, silencing TAZ caused accumulation of intracellular ROS through heightening NOX activity whose blockade by APO reversed the disruption in stromal differentiation. Further analysis revealed that TAZ might restore mitochondrial function, as indicated by the increase in ATP level, mtDNA copy number and mitochondrial membrane potential with the reduction in mitochondrial superoxide. Additionally, TAZ modulated the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and III whose suppression by ROT and AA resulted in the inability of TAZ to defend against oxidative damage to stromal differentiation. Moreover, TAZ prevented stromal cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl2 expression and inhibiting Casp3 activity and Bax expression. In summary, TAZ might mediate HB-EGF function in uterine decidualization through Ccnd3 and ameliorate oxidative damage to stromal cell differentiation via Nrf2/ARE/Foxo1 pathway.

Dynamic Rheological Behavior, Processability and Mechanical Properties of PVC/Butyl Acrylate-grafted-Methyl Methacrylate/Styrene Blends

Yu Fan,Hailong Zhang,Guangfeng Wu,Huixuan Zhang 한국고분자학회 2015 폴리머 Vol.39 No.6

Core-shell structured grafted copolymer particles of butyl acrylate (BA) grafted methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) monomers (ACR-g-St) were prepared by seed emulsion polymerization. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/ACR-g-St blends were proposed. The fusion properties, dynamic mechanical behavior, rheological behavior, mechanical properties and morphology of blends were characterized by a torque rheometer, dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), rotational rheometer, universal mechanical testing machine and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the ACR-g-St particles accelerated the fusion of PVC resins, but the equilibrium torque increased slightly. The storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) and complex viscosity (η<SUP>*</SUP>) of melts exhibited a monotonic changing with frequency and all had minimum values when ACR-g-St content was 16 phr. The tensile and impact strength were highest at 8 phr content of ACR-g-St. ACR-g-St not only can be used as an efficient impact aid but also plays a role of lubricant, which is helpful for PVC processing.