The mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) gene is a potential methylation biomarker for malignancy of breast cancer

Fang-Ming Chen,Hsueh-Wei Chang,Sheau-Fang Yang,Ya-Fang Huang,Pei-Yung Nien,Yao-Tsung Yeh,Ming-Feng Hou 생화학분자생물학회 2012 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.44 No.5

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) belongs to the MAPK cascades which are central to cell proliferation and apoptosis. The carcinogenic role of MKP-1 has been reported in many types of cancer but it has rarely been investigated in breast cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the MKP-1 mRNA expression and its possible regulation by methylation of MKP-1 promoter in the model of several breast cancer cell lines and tissues as well as controls. Our data demonstrate MKP-1mRNA expression significantly decreased in five breast cancer cell lines compared to breast controls (P <0.01). Using the methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis,the unmethylated reaction (U) is dominant in both normal cell lines and benign breast tumors (100% vs. 86.2%), whereas the methylated reaction (M) is dominant in both breast cancer cell lines and invasive breast tumors (100% vs. 57.2%). In terms of methylation ratio (M/M+U), methylation level in MKP-1 promoter is significantly higher in the invasive breast tumor tissues (n = 152) than in benign breast tumor tissues (n = 29)(P < 0.0001). Assessing the methylation ratio of the promoter of MKP-1 gene to diagnose the breast malignancy (invasive vs. benign), the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.809(95% CI: 0.711-0.906, P < 0.001). The best performance for this prediction has a sensitivity of 76.32% and a specificity of 82.76% at the cutoff value of 0.38. Taken together, we firstly demonstrated that the promoter methylation of MKP-1 gene is a potential breast cancer biomarker for breast malignancy.

Risk Factors for Anxiety in Major Depressive Disorder Patients

Li-Min Xin,Lin Chen,Zhen-Peng Ji,Suo-Yuan Zhang,Jun Wang,Yan-Hong Liu,Da-Fang Chen,Fu-De Yang,Gang Wang,Yi-Ru Fang,Zheng Lu,Hai-Chen Yang,Jian Hu,Zhi-Yu Chen,Yi Huang,Jing Sun,Xiao-Ping Wang,Hui-Chun 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.3

Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. Results: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=−4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=−4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=−3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (χ2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (χ2=59.350, p <0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (χ2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.

Characteristics and heterostructure of metal-doped TiO2/ZnO nanocatalysts

Chen Wu-Jhang,Hsu Kuo-Chin,Fang Te-Hua,Chen Tao-Hsing,Li Ming-Hao 한국물리학회 2022 Current Applied Physics Vol.38 No.-

In this study, Ag or Al-doped TiO2/ZnO heterostructure nanocatalysts were prepared using a sol-gel method for photocatalysis to evaluate the degradability. The photocatalytic behavior was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. Photocatalytic studies suggested that 1 mol% Agdoped TiO2/ZnO (TiO2/ZnO = 0.75/0.25) heterostructure nanocatalysts showed higher photocatalytic activity, and that the degradation efficiency can reach 83% in 4 h, 14% higher than that for pure TiO2. Finally, the photocatalysis mechanism for the Ag-doped TiO2/ZnO heterostructure nanocatalysts is discussed.

Optical Super-Resolution Imaging of Surface Reactions

Chen, Tao,Dong, Bin,Chen, Kuangcai,Zhao, Fei,Cheng, Xiaodong,Ma, Changbei,Lee, Seungah,Zhang, Peng,Kang, Seong Ho,Ha, Ji Won,Xu, Weilin,Fang, Ning American Chemical Society 2017 Chemical reviews Vol.117 No.11

<P>Optical super-resolution imaging has gained momentum in investigations of heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions at the single-molecule level. Thanks to its exceptional spatial resolution and ability to monitor dynamic systems, much detailed information on single-molecule reaction/adsorption processes and single-particle catalytic processes has been revealed, including chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics; active-site distributions on single-particle surfaces; and size-, shape-, and facet-dependent catalytic activities of individual nanocatalysts. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in super-resolution chemical imaging of surface reactions.</P>

Effects of FasL Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer

Fang, Li,Sun, Lin,Hu, Fang-Fang,Chen, Qiao-Er Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Purpose: To probe the role of FasL in cell apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Methods: The expression of Fas/FasL was assessed in 10 cases of normal oral epithelium, 38 cases of OSCC and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and 11 cases of metastatic lymph nodes by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of tumor cells and TIL was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL). FasL-induction of T cell apoptosis was tested by co-culture assay in vitro with SCC-9 and Jurkat T cells. Results: The 10 cases of normal oral epithelium all demonstrated extensive expression of Fas, the positive rate being largely down-regulated in OSCC (21/38) (P<0.05) compared to the normal (10/10). At the same time, the positive rate of FasL significantly increased in OSCC (P<0.05) especially those with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The positive rates of Fas in well and middle differentiated OSCC were higher than those in poor differentiated OSCC (P<0.05). The AI of tumor cells in Fas-positive OSCC was remarkably higher than that in Fas-negative OSCC (P<0.01), with a positive correlation between Fas expression and cell differentiation as well as apoptosis (r=0.68, P<0.01). The AI of tumor cells in FasL positive OSCC was remarkably lower than that in control while the AI of TIL was higher than in FasL negative OSCC (P<0.05). The AI of tumor cells reversely correlated with that of TIL (r = -0. 72, P<0.05). It was found that SCC-9 cells expressing functional FasL could induce apoptosis of Jurkat cells as demonstrated by co-culture assays. As a conclusion, it is evident that OSCC cells expressing FasL can induce apoptosis in Fas-expressing T cells. Conclusions: In progression of OSCC, expression of the Fas/FasL changes significantly. The results suggest that FasL is a mediator of immune privilege in OSCC and may serve as an marker for predicting malignant change in oral tissues.

[Ru(phen)₂(dppz)]²⁺ Assemble on the Surface of the SDS Micelle and Its Application for the Determination of DNA

Chen, Fang,Huang, Jianping,He, Zhike Korean Chemical Society 2006 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.27 No.10

The solution of $[Ru(phen)_2(dppz)]^{2+}$ and SDS has high Resonance Light Scattering (RLS) signals due to $[Ru(phen)_2(dppz)]^{2+}$ assemble on the surface of the SDS micelle. Because of the high affinity ($KB\geq10^6\;L\;mol^{-1}$) between $[Ru(phen)_2(dppz)]^{2+}$ and DNA, the adding of DNA in the solution of $[Ru(phen)_2(dppz)]^{2+}$-SDS makes the dissociation of $[Ru(phen)_2(dppz)]^{2+}$-SDS, and results in decreasing of the RLS signals and increasing of the absorbance. Based on this, a novel method is proposed for DNA assay. Under optimum condition, good linear relationship was obtained within the concentration range of 0.018-1.26 $\mu g\;mL^{-1}$, the linear equation is $I_{RLS}$ = 504.8-348.8 c (c: $\mu g\;mL^{-1}$) and the correlation coefficient (r) is 0.9992. The detect limit for calf thymus DNA is 8.6 ng $mL^{-1}$. The proposed method was successful applied to determine the extracted colibacillus plasmid DNA.

Optimal Trade Policy in Vertically Related Markets

Chen, Fang-yueh 세종대학교 국제경제연구소 1998 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.13 No.2

We examine home country tariff and subsidy policies when a domestic firm uses an imported key input to produce its low-quality exports, and foreign firms produce high-quality exports as well as the key input. We show that the decisions of foreign vertically integrated firms on strategy regarding input supply depend on the tariff-inclusive and quality-adjusted comparative advantage between countries. We prove that the home country's optimal policy is to tax either its goods exports or its key input imports. We also show that without vertical integration, if and only if goods are not very quality-differentiated, the home country should subsidize either its goods exports and/or its key input imports.(JEL Classification: F12, F13)

Use of an Artificial Neural Network to Construct a Model of Predicting Deep Fungal Infection in Lung Cancer Patients

Chen, Jian,Chen, Jie,Ding, Hong-Yan,Pan, Qin-Shi,Hong, Wan-Dong,Xu, Gang,Yu, Fang-You,Wang, Yu-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.12

Background: The statistical methods to analyze and predict the related dangerous factors of deep fungal infection in lung cancer patients were several, such as logic regression analysis, meta-analysis, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis, retrospective analysis, and so on, but the results are inconsistent. Materials and Methods: A total of 696 patients with lung cancer were enrolled. The factors were compared employing Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test or the Chi-square test and variables that were significantly related to the presence of deep fungal infection selected as candidates for input into the final artificial neural network analysis (ANN) model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the performance of the artificial neural network (ANN) model and logistic regression (LR) model. Results: The prevalence of deep fungal infection from lung cancer in this entire study population was 32.04%(223/696), deep fungal infections occur in sputum specimens 44.05%(200/454). The ratio of candida albicans was 86.99% (194/223) in the total fungi. It was demonstrated that older (${\geq}65$ years), use of antibiotics, low serum albumin concentrations (${\leq}37.18g/L$), radiotherapy, surgery, low hemoglobin hyperlipidemia (${\leq}93.67g/L$), long time of hospitalization (${\geq}14$days) were apt to deep fungal infection and the ANN model consisted of the seven factors. The AUC of ANN model($0.829{\pm}0.019$)was higher than that of LR model ($0.756{\pm}0.021$). Conclusions: The artificial neural network model with variables consisting of age, use of antibiotics, serum albumin concentrations, received radiotherapy, received surgery, hemoglobin, time of hospitalization should be useful for predicting the deep fungal infection in lung cancer.

“Manage marriage”: State, gender, and class in urban China

Fang Chen 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2020 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.26 No.2

The main goal of this research is to examine the intertwined relations between class formation and gender subjectivities through the lens of marriage in contemporary urban China. Two salient social phenomena have been observed in scholarship on China: first, the emerging middle-class as “the backbone” of the nation’s rejuvenation and the decline of the working-class, seen to be the heroic protagonist under the Maoist regime. Second, different kinds of gender subjectivities co-exist. The scholarship on gender and class in China has developed distinctive bodies of literature, yet they have failed to tell us about the subject position of each class with respect to particular gender subjectivities. Using ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews, this article examines the discourse on managing marriage, which reflects complexities regarding the state’s strategic solution for domesticating the social sphere, gender politics, and class formations. I argue that differences in managing marriage between middle-class and working-class women not only help to understand the material conditions of their lives, but are also extremely pertinent for an analysis of subject positions that characterize their respective classes.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Oral Cancer: Evidence from a Meta-analysis

Chen, Fang-Chun,Zhang, Fan,Zhang, Zhi-Jiao,Meng, Si-Ying,Wang, Yang,Xiang, Xue-Rong,Wang, Chun,Tang, Yu-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Numerous studies have been conducted regarding association between TNF-${\alpha}$ and oral cancer risk, but the results remain controversial. The present meta-analysis is performed to acquire a more precise estimation of relationships. Databases of Pubmed, the Cochrane library and the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) were retrieved until August 10, 2013. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated with fixed- or random-effect models. The heterogeneity assumption was assessed by I-squared test. Among the eight included case-control studies, all were focused on TNF-${\alpha}$-308G>A and four also concerned the TNF-${\alpha}$-238G>A polymorphism. It was found that oral cancer risk were significant decreased with the TNF-${\alpha}$-308G>A polymorphism in the additive genetic model (GG vs. AA, OR=0.19, 95% CI: [0.04, 1.00], P=0.05, I2=68.9%) and the dominant genetic model (GG+GA vs. AA, OR=0.22, 95% CI: [0.06, 0.82], P=0.03, I2=52.4%); however, no significant association was observed in allele contrast (G vs. A, OR=0.70, 95% CI: [0.23, 2.16], P=0.54, I2=95.9%) and recessive genetic models (GG vs. GA+AA, OR=0.72, 95% CI: [0.33, 1.57], P=0.41, I2=93.1%). For the TNF-${\alpha}$-238G>A polymorphism, significant associations with oral cancer risk were found in the allele contrast (G vs. A, OR=2.75, 95% CI: [1.25, 6.04], P=0.01, I2=0.0%) and recessive genetic models (GG vs. GA+AA, OR=2.23, 95%CI: [1.18, 4.23], P=0.01, I2=0.0%). Conclusively, this meta-analysis indicates that TNF-${\alpha}$ polymorphisms may contribute to the risk of oral cancer. Allele G and the GG+GA genotype of TNF-${\alpha}$-308G>A may decrease the risk of oral cancer, while allele G and the GG genotype of TNF-${\alpha}$-238G>A may cause an increase.