Characterization of proteolysis in muscle tissues of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

Chen-Chen Zhao,Yang Yang,Hai-tao Wu,Zhi-Mo Zhu,Yue Tang,Cui-Ping Yu,Na Sun,Qiang Lv,Jia-Run Han,Ao-Ting Li,Jia-Nan Yan,Yue Cha 한국식품과학회 2016 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.25 No.6

The proteolysis in muscle tissues of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus (sjMTs) was characterized. The proteins from sjMTs were primarily myosin heavy chains (MHCs), paramyosin (Pm), and actin (Ac) having a molecular mass of approximately 200, 98, and 42 kDa, respectively. Based on SDS-PAGE analysis and quantification of trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble peptides released, degradation of muscle proteins from sjMTs was favorable at pH 5 and 50°C. Proteolysis of MHCs was mostly inhibited by cysteine protease inhibitors, including trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucyl-amido (4- guanidino) butane (E-64) and antipain (AP). E-64 and AP completely inhibited the degradation of Pm and Ac, while iodoacetic acid showed a partially inhibitory effect. These results indicated that the proteolysis of sjMTs was mainly attributed to cysteine proteases. Avoidance of setting the tissues at 40–50oC and slightly acidic condition and inhibition of cysteine proteases are helpful for decreasing sea cucumber autolysis.

miR-340 Reverses Cisplatin Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines by Targeting Nrf2-dependent Antioxidant Pathway

Shi, Liang,Chen, Zhan-Guo,Wu, Li-li,Zheng, Jian-Jian,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Lin, Xiang-Yang,Zheng, Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

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.

Methylated Alteration of SHP1 Complements Mutation of JAK2 Tyrosine Kinase in Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Yang, Jun-Jun,Chen, Hui,Zheng, Xiao-Qun,Li, Hai-Ying,Wu, Jian-Bo,Tang, Li-Yuan,Gao, Shen-Meng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

SHP1 negatively regulates the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK2/STAT) signaling pathway, which is constitutively activated in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and leukemia. Promoter hypermethylation resulting in epigenetic inactivation of SHP1 has been reported in myelomas, leukemias and other cancers. However, whether SHP1 hypermethylation occurs in MPNs, especially in Chinese patients, has remained unclear. Here, we report that aberrant hypermethylation of SHP1 was observed in several leukemic cell lines and bone marrow mononuclear cells from MPN patients. About 51 of 118 (43.2%) MPN patients including 23 of 50 (46%) polycythaemia vera patients, 20 of 50 (40%) essential thrombocythaemia and 8 of 18 (44.4%) idiopathic myelofibrosis showed hypermethylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. However, SHP1 methylation was not measured in 20 healthy volunteers. Hypermethylation of SHP1 was found in MPN patients with both positive (34/81, 42%) and negative (17/37, 45.9%) JAK2V617F mutation. The levels of SHP1 mRNA were significantly lower in hypermethylated samples than unmethylated samples, suggesting SHP1 may be epigenetically inactivated in MPN patients. Furthermore, treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA) in K562 cells showing hypermethylation of SHP1 led to progressive demethylation of SHP1, with consequently increased reexpression of SHP1. Meanwhile, phosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3 were progressively reduced. Finally, AZA increased the expression of SHP1 in primary MPN cells with hypermethylation of SHP1. Therefore, our data suggest that epigenetic inactivation of SHP1 contributes to the constitutive activation of JAK2/STAT signaling. Restoration of SHP1 expression by AZA may contribute to clinical treatment for MPN patients.

A New Furostanol Saponin from Asparagus cochinchinensis

Yang Shen,Hai-Sheng Chen,Cong-Li Xu,Wei-Dong Xuan,Hui-Liang Li,Run-Hui Liu,Xi-Ke Xu 대한약학회 2011 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.34 No.10

A new furostanol saponin, (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furost-20(22)-en-3β, 15β,26-triol-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside, namely, aspacochioside D (1) were isolated from Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr, along with three known saponins, aspacochioside C (2), (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-yl-O-[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and pseudoprotoneodioscin (4). The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of chemical reactions and spectral analysis (IR, GC, ESI-MS, ^1H-NMR, ^13C-NMR, DEPT, HMBC, HMQC and NOESY). The antiproliferative effects of 1-4 were evaluated in a cytotoxicity assay against the human tumor cell line, A549. Compound 2 (Aspacochioside C) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against A-549, with an IC_50 value of 3.87 μg/mL.

Clinical Study of Thalidomide Combined with Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Chen, Hai-Fei,Li, Zheng-Yang,Tang, Jie-Qing,Shen, Hong-Shi,Cui, Qing-Ya,Ren, Yong-Ya,Qin, Long-Mei,Jin, Ling-Juan,Zhu, Jing-Jing,Wang, Jing,Ding, Jie,Wang, Ke-Yuan,Yu, Zi-Qiang,Wang, Zhao-Yue,Wu, Tian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the efficacy and safety of different doses of thalidomide (Thal) plus dexamethasone (Dex) as the initial therapy in elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: Clinical data of 28 elderly patients with newly diagnosed MM who underwent the TD regimen as the initial therapy were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the maximal sustained dose of Thal: lower dose (group A) and higher dose (group B). The overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AES) were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 28 patients were followed up with a median of 18 months. The ORR was 60.1%. The median response time and PFS were 2.0 and 17.0 months, respectively. The mean sustained dose of Thal in group B was significantly higher than group A (292.9 mg v 180.4 mg, P=0.01). There was no significantly difference in ORR (57.1% v 64.3%, P=1.00) and PFS (9.63months v 17.66 months, P=0.73) between groups A and B. During the follow up, only five patients died (<40%) and, therefore, median OS values were not available. It is estimated, however, that the mean survival time in the two groups was 35.6 and 33.4 months (P>0.05), respectively. All of the patients tolerated the treatment well. The incidence of AES in patients with a grading above 3 in group B was significantly higher than in group A (P=0.033). Conclusions: The TD regimen results in a high response rate and manageable AES as the initial therapy in elderly patients with MM. TD should be considered as the front line regimen for the treatment of elderly patients with MM in areas with financial constraints. The clinical response can be achieved at a low dose Thal with minimal toxicity.

Efficacy of Pap Test in Combination with ThinPrep Cytological Test in Screening for Cervical Cancer

Chen, Hua,Shu, Hui-Min,Chang, Zhou-Lin,Wang, Zhi-Feng,Yao, Hai-Hong,Zhu, Hong-Mei,Lu, Tian-Mei,Ma, Qiang-Yan,Yang, Bin-Lie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of the Pap test in combination with the ThinPrep cytological test (TCT) in screening for cervical cancer in China. Design: From March 2006 to October 2008, 988 women with the mean age $46.4{\pm}10.5$ years (range, 23-80 years) were recruited to receive cervical cancer screening. Pap test results ${\geq}$ grade III and TCT findings ${\geq}$ ASCUS/AGUS were considered abnormal. Subjects with a Pap test result ${\geq}$ grade IIb received TCT. Colposcopy and biopsies were performed in all participants, and final diagnosis was based on pathological findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and Youden index for predicting CIN I or above were determined. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and Youden index of the Pap test were 43.1%, 97.2%, 70.0%, 91.9%, and 40.3%, respectively. The same values for TCT in predicting CIN were 80.0%, 63.2%, 16.0%, 97.3%, and 43.2%, respectively. The two tests in combination gave values for predicting CIN of 64.8%, 87.6%, 43.6%, 94.4%, and 53.5%, respectively. Combined testing exhibited the highest Youden index (53.4%). Conclusion: The Pap test with a reduced threshold in combination with the TCT has high sensitivity and high specificity in screening for cervical cancer.

Multiple Impairments in Male Reproduction 1 (mimr1), a Novel Male-Sterile Mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, Shows Several Defects in Male Reproductive Development

Hai-Yan Chen,Yue-Feng Guan,Xue-Yong Huang,Yu-Ting Wu,Fen-Fei Wang,Ju-Fang Gao,Que Zhou,Zhong-Nan Yang,Jia-Yao Liu,Hong-Xia Zhang 한국식물학회 2012 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.55 No.3

We have characterized a new male-sterile mutant in Arabidopsis that exhibits conditional sterility but has restored fertility when drought-stressed. This mutant,multiple impairments in male reproduction 1 (mimr1),shows pleiotropic defects in both vegetative and reproductive development. Examination with dissecting and scanning electron microscopes revealed that its pollen grains are not effectively released from the anther locule after dehiscence, and anther differentiation is defective. Growth of the style and stamen filaments are also abnormal. Histological analysis demonstrated that these phenomena are due not only to a noticeably reduced extension of the stamen but also greater elongation of the pistil. Genetic analysis indicated that mimr1 is a single locus recessive nuclear mutant. The mutation can be mapped to a locus strongly linked to a 1200-kb region on Chromosome 3. Meta-analysis of expression patterning presented several candidate genes in that region. No mutants with similar phenotypes have previously been reported, suggesting that mimr1 is a novel male-sterile locus. Characterization of MIMR1 will provide further insights into the molecular basis for the development of plant reproductive organs.

Establishing the Foundation of Attended Manpower for Emergency First Aid Rooms

Chen Hai Yu,Lin Mnlin,Huang Meei Jyhi,Liu Yun Ting,Yang Chin Chin 한국간호과학회 2009 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2009 No.10

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A safe and effective technique

Chen Xu,Zheng-Qiang Yang,Sheng Liu,Wei Yang,Hai-Bin Shi,Wei-Zhong Zhou 소화기인터벤션의학회 2021 Gastrointestinal Intervention Vol.10 No.2

Background: Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) was considered as an alternative technique for long-term enteral nutrition, and the current study is aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this technique in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at a single medical center. Methods: From July 2017 to October 2020, a total of 14 patients underwent PRG with ALS were included in this retrospective study with a median age of 64.0 years, and 78.6% were male. The procedure comprised a dilation of the stomach via a nasogastric catheter, followed by puncture and gastrostomy tube placement under fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate and clinical outcomes were recorded over 3 months following the procedure. Results: The technical success rate was 100%. During the follow-up period, minor complications were reported in 2 of patients (14.3%) including superficial skin infection and early tube block. Neither major complications nor mortality were observed. Body mass index of the patients increased significantly from 16.4 ± 2.1 kg/m2 to 17.1 ± 2.0 kg/m2 (t = –13.77; P < 0.001), and the albumin level increased significantly from 37.5 ± 2.3 g/L to 41.8 ± 1.6 g/L (t = –8.82, P < 0.001). Conclusion: PRG is a relatively safe and effective method for ALS patients, and deserves widespread clinical acceptance.