The Prognostic Value of Treatment-Related Lymphopenia in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

Li-Ting Liu,Qiu-Yan Chen,Lin-Quan Tang,Shan-Shan Guo,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Ming-Yuan Chen,Chong Zhao,Xiang Guo,Chao-Nan Qian,Mu-Sheng Zeng,Jin-Xin Bei,Jing Tan,Shuai Chen,Ming-Huang Hong,Jian-Yong Shao 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.1

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of treatment-related lymphopenia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods A total of 413 consecutive stage II-IVb NPC patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were enrolled. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were compared using the log-rank test. Results A minimum (mini)–absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) of < 390 cells/μL or ALC after 3 months of CCRT (post3m-ALC) < 705 cells/μL was significantly associated with worse outcome than mini-ALC ! 390 cells/μL (OS, p=0.002; PFS, p=0.005; DMFS, p=0.004) or post3m-ALC ! 705 cells/μL (OS, p < 0.001; PFS, p < 0.001; DMFS, p=0.001). Patients with lymphopenia (mini-ALC < 390 cells/μL and post3m-ALC < 705 cells/μL) had a worse prognosis than those without lymphopenia (mini-ALC ! 390 cells/μL and post3m-ALC ! 705 cells/μL) (OS, p < 0.001; PFS, p < 0.001; DMFS, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that post3m-ALC was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.78; p=0.015), PFS (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.82; p=0.003), and DMFS (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.08; p=0.014). Multivariate analysis also revealed that patients with lymphopenia had a high risk of death (HR, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.75 to 8.19; p=0.001), disease progression (HR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.59 to 5.41; p=0.001), and distant metastasis (HR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.67 to 9.10; p=0.002). Multivariate analysis performed with time dependent Cox regression demonstrated ALC was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.991 to 0.999; p=0.025) and PFS (HR, 0.993; 95% CI, 0.988 to 0.998; p=0.006). Conclusion Treatment-related lymphopenia was a poor prognostic factor in NPC patients.

Mechanical behavior of rock-coal-rock specimens with different coal thicknesses

Guo, Wei-Yao,Tan, Yun-Liang,Yu, Feng-Hai,Zhao, Tong-Bin,Hu, Shan-Chao,Huang, Dong-Mei,Qin, Zhe Techno-Press 2018 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.15 No.4

To explore the influence of coal thickness on the mechanical behavior and the failure characteristics of rock-coal-rock (RCR) mass, the experimental investigation of uniaxial compressive tests was conducted first and then a systematic numerical simulation by particle flow code (PFC2D) was performed to deeply analyze the failure mechanical behavior of RCR specimens with different coal thicknesses in conventional compression tests. The overall elastic modulus and peak stress of RCR specimens lie between the rock and the coal. Inter-particle properties were calibrated to match the physical sample strength and the stiffness response. Numerical simulation results show that the deformation and strength behaviors of RCR specimens depend not only on the coal thickness, but also on the confining pressure. Under low confining pressures, the overall failure mechanism of RCR specimen is the serious damage of coal section when the coal thickness is smaller than 30 mm, but it is shear failure of coal section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm. Whereas under high confining pressures, obvious shear bands exist in both the coal section and the rock section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm, but when the coal thickness is smaller than 30mm, the failure mechanism is serious damage of coal section and shear failure of rock section.

Purification and Characterization of a β-Glucosidase from Aspergillus niger and Its Application in the Hydrolysis of Geniposide to Genipin

( Guo Hong Gong ),( Zhi Ming Zheng ),( Hui Liu,Li Wang ),( Jin Shan Diao ),( Peng Wang ),( Gen Hai Zhao ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.6

An extracellular β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger Au0847 was purified to homogeneity by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, anion exchange, and gel filtration. The purified protein was composed of two subunits with molecular masses of 110 and 120 kDa. Au0847 β-glucosidase exhibited relatively high thermostability and pH stability, and its highest activity was obtained at 65°C and pH 4.6, respectively. As a potential metalloprotein, its enzymatic activity was potently stimulated by manganese ion and DTT. The β-glucosidase displayed avid affinity and high catalytic efficiency for geniposide. Au0847 β-glucosidase has potential value as an industrial enzyme for the hydrolysis of geniposide to genipin.

The learning curve and difficult points of the O-RADS ultrasound risk stratification system in 54 trainees

Shan Zhou,Yuyang Guo,Lieming Wen,Baihua Zhao,Minghui Liu 대한초음파의학회 2022 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.41 No.2

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the learning curve and explore the difficult points of the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) ultrasound risk stratification system.Methods: One hundred adnexal masses (AMs) were randomly selected for five tests as training data. Two experienced trainers had an inter-rater agreement of 0.95 for the O-RADS scores. Fifty-four trainees (26 level I practitioners [group 1], 17 level II practitioners [group 2], and 11 experienced level II practitioners [group 3]) attended the training. Every trainee received assessment and feedback after 20 scored cases. The outcomes of the five tests were compared among the three groups using repeated-measurements analysis of variance.Results: Of the 100 AMs, 52 were pathologically benign and 48 were malignant; the O-RADS scores were 2, 3, 4, and 5 in 22, 11, 48, and 19 AMs, respectively. The between-subjects effects test showed no significant differences between groups 1, 2, and 3 for the five tests (P=0.501). For each group, the differences among the five tests were significant (P<0.001, P=0.006, and P=0.044 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Test 2 was the worst. In 23 cases, more than 40% of trainees gave incorrect answers, which mainly related to classic benign lesions, the color flow score, and solid-appearing masses.Conclusion: After training, junior doctors at different levels can reach a coincident O-RADS ultrasound risk stratification. The difficulties primarily related to subjective judgments of classic benign lesions, the color flow score, and solid-appearing masses. More experience is needed to improve the applicability of the system.

Enhancement Method of Weak Transmission Area for Omnidirectional Wireless Power Transfer System

Guo Bochao,Zhao Yubo,Chen Wei,Pan Shan,Tian Zijian 대한전기학회 2024 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.19 No.3

Reducing the weak transmission area (WTA) of omnidirectional transmitter in wireless power transfer is a challenge. In this paper, we propose a method to enhance the WTA with nonorthogonal coils, and two types of transmitters are made, the 90° sandglass Tx and the 20° sandglass Tx. Specifcally, a single power source is utilized to drive the current of Tx without phase and current control methodology. Power is transmitted to the receiver through magnetic resonant coupling in 50 mm. In addition, an equivalent circuit model of the sandglass Tx system is derived and mathematically analyzed. The magnetic induction density of the sandglass Tx system is evaluated via analysis and experiments. Finally, practical experimental results from the resonant coupling system confrm the theoretical analysis.

A comparison of the diagnostic performance of the O-RADS, RMI4, IOTA LR2, and IOTA SR systems by senior and junior doctors

Yuyang Guo,Baihua Zhao,Shan Zhou,Lieming Wen,Liu Jieyu,Yaqian Fu,Fang Xu,Minghui Liu 대한초음파의학회 2022 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.41 No.3

Purpose: This study compared the diagnostic performance of the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS), the Risk of Malignancy Index 4 (RMI4), the International Ovarian of Tumor Analysis Logistic Regression Model 2 (IOTA LR2), and the IOTA Simple Rules (IOTA SR) in predicting the malignancy of adnexal masses (AMs).Methods: This retrospective study included 575 women with AMs between 2017 and 2020. All clinical messages, ultrasound images, and pathological findings were collected. Two senior doctors (group I) and two junior doctors (group II) used the four systems to classify AMs. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to test the diagnostic performance. The interrater agreement between the two groups was tested using kappa values.Results: Of all 592 AMs, 447 (75.5%) were benign, 123 (20.8%) were malignant, and 22 (3.7%) were borderline. The intergroup consistency test yielded kappa values of 0.71, 0.92, 0.68, and 0.77 for the O-RADS, RMI4, IOTA LR2, and IOTA SR, respectively. To predict malignant lesions, the areas under the curve of the O-RADS, RMI4, IOTA LR2, and IOTA SR systems were 0.90, 0.89, 0.90, and 0.86 for group I and 0.89, 0.87, 0.88, and 0.84 for group II, respectively. The O-RADS had the highest sensitivity (91.0% in group I and 84.8% in group II).Conclusion: The four diagnostic systems could compensate for junior doctors’ inexperience in predicting malignant adnexal lesions. The O-RADS performed best and showed the highest sensitivity.

Expression of Yeast YAP1 in Transgenic Arabidopsis Results in Increased Salt Tolerance

Jiqiang Zhao,Shanli Guo,Shihua Chen,Hui Zhang,Yanxiu Zhao 한국식물학회 2009 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.52 No.1

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that lowers agricultural production around the world. Mainly caused by elevated levels of NaCl, it induces a wide range of responses in plants. In addition to ion toxicity, high salt levels can induce oxidative stress with the formation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We introduced the transcription factor YAP1, originally from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), into Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia). When treated with various NaCl concentrations, transgenic plants showed increased activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione reductase compared with the wild-type Arabidopsis. This demonstrated that an active oxygen scavenging system was enhanced to protect plants from salt stress by equilibrating ROS metabolism. Transgenic Arabidopsis maintained higher photosynthesis levels and lower amounts of H2O2, suggesting that ROS production was reduced. Physiological analysis implied that transgenic Arabidopsis might employ multiple mechanisms to improve its salt tolerance.

Model-free Controls of Manipulator Quadrotor UAV Under Grasping Operation and Environmental Disturbance

Xitong Guo,Xia Li,Shan Wang,Pingjuan Niu,Di Zhao,An Chang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2022 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.20 No.11

Quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an ideal carrier for air transportation because of its simple structure and strong maneuverability that can complete vertical take-off and landing and hover operations. In recent years, the combination of quadrotor UAV and manipulator has attracted the most extensive attention. However, the quadrotor UAV will be significantly interfered with installing the manipulator, making control difficult. In this paper, a complete mathematical model of the manipulator quadrotor UAV is established. The model describes the interference of the manipulator and its operation to the quadrotor UAV. In order to suppress the interference caused by the manipulator, it is necessary to select the appropriate controller. Three model-free control algorithms are designed: proportional-integral-derivative (PID), sliding mode control based on RBF neural network (RBF-based SMC), and high order differential feedback controller (HODFC) and the derivation of RBF-based SMC and HODFC and the proof of closed-loop system are given. The PID controller has the worst anti-interference performance through the analysis of simulation experiments. On the other hand, RBF-based SMC has a time delay, HODFC has the strongest robustness to disturbance and excellent rapidity, which is an ideal method to control manipulator quadrotor UAV.

Immune and Anti-oxidant Functions of Ethanol Extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Mice Bearing U14 Cervical Cancers

Peng, Yong,Guo, Cong-Shan,Li, Pan-Xia,Fu, Zhan-Zhao,Gao, Li-Ming,Di, Ya,Ju, Ya-Kun,Tian, Ru,Xue, Jia-Jia Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Background: The objective was to study the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extracts (SBGE) on immune and anti-oxidant function in U14 tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: U14 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, a cyclophosphamide (CTX) group, three dose groups of SBGEI (high, medium, low), and three dose groups of SBGEII (high, medium, low). After two weeks, the thymus and spleen weight indices of mice bearing U14 cervical cancer were calculated. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8, and PCNA. MDA activity and SOD activity in plasma were measured with detection kits. Results: In the SBGE groups, thymus weight and spleen weight indices of U14 tumor-bearing mice were significantly higher than in the control group or CTX group (p<0.05). Compared to control group, the levels of serum IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in U14 tumor-bearing mice increased significantly, whereas the contents of serum IL-8 and PCNA decreased (p<0.05). The activity of SOD increased with the growing dose of SBGE, while the activity of MDA decreased significantly in the highe-rdose groups of SBGE. Conclusions: These findings suggested that SBGE, especially at high dose, 1000 mg/kg, showed significant immune and anti-oxidant effects infU14 tumor-bearing mice, which might be the mechanisms of SBGE inhibition of tumor growth.

Inter-hemispheric Functional Connections Are More Vulnerable to Attack Than Structural Connection in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

( Guangyao Liu ),( Shan Li ),( Nan Chen ),( Ziyang Zhao ),( Man Guo ),( Hong Liu ),( Jie Feng ),( Dekui Zhang ),( Zhijun Yao ),( Bin Hu ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2021 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.27 No.3

Background/Aims Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disease characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction. However, the majority of previous neuroimaging studies focus on brain structure and connections but seldom on the inter-hemispheric connectivity or structural asymmetry. This study uses multi-modal imaging to investigate the abnormal changes across the 2 cerebral hemispheres in patients with IBS. Methods Structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired from 34 patients with IBS and 33 healthy controls. The voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity, fractional anisotropy, fiber length, fiber number, and asymmetry index were calculated and assessed for group differences. In addition, we assessed their relevance for the severity of IBS. Results Compared with healthy controls, the inter-hemispheric functional connectivity of patients with IBS showed higher levels in bilateral superior occipital gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and angular gyrus, but lower in supplementary motor area. The statistical results showed no significant difference in inter-hemispheric anatomical connections and structural asymmetry, however negative correlations between inter-hemispheric connectivity and the severity of IBS were found in some regions with significant difference. Conclusions The functional connections between cerebral hemispheres were more susceptible to IBS than anatomical connections, and brain structure is relatively stable. Besides, the brain areas affected by IBS were concentrated in default mode network and sensorimotor network. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021;27:426-435)