Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Dogs in Zhanjiang, Southern China

Hai-Hai Jiang,Ming-Wei Li,Min-Jun Xu,Wei Cong,Xing-Quan Zhu 대한기생충학열대의학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.53 No.4

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The present study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China, using both serological and molecular detection. A total of 364 serum samples and 432 liver tissue samples were collected from the slaughter house between December 2012 and January 2013 and were examined for T. gondii IgG antibody by ELISA and T. gondii DNA by semi-nested PCR based on B1 gene, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was 51.9%, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 37 of 432 (8.6%) liver tissue samples. These positive DNA samples were analyzed by PCRRFLP at 3- and 5-SAG2. Only 8 samples gave the PCR-RFLP data, and they were all classified as type I, which may suggest that the T. gondii isolates from dogs in Zhanjiang city may represent type I or type I variant. This study revealed the high prevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China. Integrated measures should be taken to prevent and control toxoplasmosis in dogs in this area for public health concern.

Association of Helicobacter pylori with Elevated Blood Ammonia Levels in Cirrhotic Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Hai-Xing Jiang,Shan-Yu Qin,Zhi-gang Min,Ming-Zhi Xie,Tao Lin,Bang-Li Hu,Xiao-Yun Guo 연세대학교의과대학 2013 Yonsei medical journal Vol.54 No.4

Purpose: The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients is controversial. We aimed to clarify this controvercy by performing a meta-analysis of published studies. Materials and Methods:We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library for studies which explored the association between H. pylori and blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients before May 2012. Six cohort studies involved in 632 H. pylori positive and 396 H. pylori negative cirrhotic patients were eligible for our analysis. The summary estimates were presented as standard means differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from individual studies. Results: Overall, there was significant association between H. pylori infection and the elevated blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients (SMD=0.34, 95% CI=0.21-0.47, I2=42.1%). Sensitivity analysis further confirmed this association. Subgroup analysis showed that the association was found only in Asian ethnicity, but not in Caucasian ethnicity. Conclusion:H. pylori infection is associated with elevated blood ammonia levels in cirrhotic patients, and more large scale studies and stratify analysis are warranted in order to further evaluate this association.

Effect of Ausforming on the Stability of Retained Austenite in a C-Mn-Si Bainitic Steel

Hai-jiang Hu,Guang Xu,Li Wang,Ming-xing Zhou,Zheng-liang Xue 대한금속·재료학회 2015 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.21 No.5

The effect of ausforming on the stability of retained austenite in a C-Mn-Si bainitic steel was investigated through metallography, X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. The geometrical relationships of the amount of bainite transformation and the volume fractions of retained austenite with deformation strains were studied. The results show that the degree of promotion of small strains on bainite transformation is nonlinear because of the dual effects of accelerated nucleation and retarded growth caused by ausforming. The transformed bainite fraction first increased and then decreased with increased small strains. It indicates that there is a maximum degree of the promotional function corresponding to a certain small strain at low temperature. Although small strains promote bainite transformation, a larger quantity of retained austenite exists at room temperature due to the suppressed martensite transformation during the cooling process after bainite transformation. The carbon content in retained austenite increases with the amount of baintie transformation, which contributes to the stability of austenite. Compared with the stabilizing effect due to carbon enrichment, mechanical stabilization caused by ausforming has a decisive effect on determining the volume fraction of retained austenite after isothermal bainite transformation.

New Insights to the Promoted Bainitic Transformation in Prior Deformed Austenite in a Fe-C-Mn-Si Alloy

Hai-jiang Hu,Guang Xu,Ming-xing Zhou,Qing Yuan 대한금속·재료학회 2017 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.23 No.2

The varying trends of the amount and rate of bainitic transformation with strains at low temperature were investigated through metallography, X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. The results show that deformation at 573 K promotes bainitic transformation, whereas the promotion degree on bainite transformation by ausforming is nonlinear with strains. The amount of bainite in deformed austenite first increases and then decreases with the increase of strains. There exists a maximum value of the promotion effect corresponding to a critical small strain at a low temperature. Bainitic transformation rate can be increased by ausforming at low temperature, whereas a large strain weakens the acceleration effect. The amount of bainite in deformed materials is synthetically depended on the effect of enhanced nucleation and repressed growth. In addition, the volume fraction of retained austenite is not completely consistent with carbon content, indicating that ausforming plays a important role in determining the amount of austenite.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Dilatation During Bainitic Transformation Under Stress

Ming-xing Zhou,Guang Xu,Li Wang,Zheng-liang Xue,Hai-jiang Hu 대한금속·재료학회 2015 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.21 No.6

The thermal simulation experiments on bainitic transformation were conducted on Gleeble 3800. The microstructures of specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The main purpose is to investigate the relationship between the dilatation of specimens and bainitic transformation under stress. Results show that the radial strain cannot represent the real amount of bainitic transformation under stress because the radial strain contains both shear and dilatational components of invariant plane strain. In this case, the volume strain, which eliminates the influence of the shear components, should be used to analyze the amount of bainitic transformation under stress. In addition, the radial strain should not be used for the investigation of the kinetics of bainitic transformation under stress. For bainitic transformation without stress, the radial strain of the specimen can represent the amount of bainite, and can be used for the analysis of the kinetics of bainitic transformation; so it is not necessary to measure the volume strain. The present study clarifies the relationship between dilatation and the bainitic transformation under stress, and provides a useful reference to the analysis of bainitic transformation under stress.

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Feng, Sen-Ling,Luo, Hai-Bin,Cai, Liang,Zhang, Jie,Wang, Dan,Chen, Ying-Jiang,Zhan, Huan-Xing,Jiang, Zhi-Hong,Xie, Ying The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Silencing of Twist Expression by RNA Interference Suppresses Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition, Invasion, and Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer

Wang, Wen-Shuang,Yang, Xing-Sheng,Xia, Min,Jiang, Hai-Yang,Hou, Jian-Qing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the role of the Twist gene in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovarian cancer. Methods: An RNA interference plasmid expressing a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting Twist (Twist siRNA vector) was designed, constructed, and transfected into the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Transfection efficiency was assessed under a fluorescence microscope. Changes in the expression of Twist mRNA in A2780 after transfection with the pGenesil Twist shRNA plasmid were analyzed through RT-PCR. MTT assays and adhesion experiments were applied to determine changes in proliferation and adhesion ability of A2870 after transfection with the Twist shRNA plasmid. Changes in the expression of the E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins in A2780 after transfection with the Twist shRNA plasmid were analyzed using Western blotting. Result: The restructuring plasmid pGenesil-Twist shRNA was constructed successfully. After 48 h of culture, 80% of the cells expressed high-intensity GFP fluorescence and stability. The expression of Twist decreased significantly after the transfection of the Twist shRNA plasmid (P<0.05). Proliferation of the transfected Twist shRNA cells showed no difference with that of the A2780-nontransfection or A2780-si-control groups (P>0.05) but the adhesion ability of A2780 decreased dramatically (P<0.05). Expression of the E-cadherin protein increased, whereas that of the N-cadherin protein decreased compared with that in the A2780-nontransfection or A2780-si-control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Twist is essential for epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Sen-Ling Feng,Hai-Bin Luo,Liang Cai,Jie Zhang,Dan Wang,Ying-Jiang Chen,Huan-Xing Zhan,Zhi-Hong Jiang,Ying Xie 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinicalcancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediatedby ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrateswere carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. Theexpressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cellxenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation ofABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPaseand reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 bindingsite which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 anddocetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizingeffect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXTtreatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicitywhen compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvantchemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Correlation between Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Derived Metrics and Serum Soluble CD40 Ligand Level in an Embolic Canine Stroke Model

Xiao-Quan Xu,Chen-Jiang Wu,Shan-Shan Lu,Qian-Qian Gao,Qing-Quan Zu,Xing-Long Liu,Hai-Bin Shi,Sheng Liu 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.5

Objective: To determine the relationship between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging derived quantitative metrics and serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) level in an embolic canine stroke model. Materials and Methods: A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was established in 24 beagle dogs. Experimental dogs were divided into low- and high-sCD40L group according to serum sCD40L level at 4.5 hours after establishing the model. IVIM imaging was scanned at 4.5 hours after model establishment using 10 b values ranging from 0 to 900 s/mm2. Quantitative metrics diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) of ischemic lesions were calculated. Quantitative metrics of ischemic lesions were normalized by contralateral hemisphere using the following formula: normalized D = Dstroke / Dcontralateral. Differences in IVIM metrics between the low- and high-sCD40L groups were compared using t test. Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between IVIM metrics and serum sCD40L level. Results: The high-sCD40L group showed significantly lower f and normalized f values than the low-sCD40L group (f, p < 0.001; normalized f, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D value between the two groups (All p > 0.05). Both f and normalized f values were negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level (f, r = -0.789, p < 0.001; normalized f, r = -0.823, p < 0.001). However, serum sCD40L level had no significant correlation with D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D (All p > 0.05). Conclusion: The f value derived from IVIM imaging was negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level. f value might serve as a potential imaging biomarker to assess the formation of microvascular thrombosis in hyperacute period of ischemic stroke.

Review : Recovery Processes of Organic Acids from Fermentation Broths in the Biomass-Based Industry

( Qian Zhu Li ),( Xing Lin Jiang ),( Xin Jun Feng ),( Ji Ming Wang ),( Chao Sun ),( Hai Bo Zhang ),( Mo Xian ),( Hui Zhou Liu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.1

The new movement towards green chemistry and renewable feedstocks makes microbial production of chemicals more competitive. Among the numerous chemicals, organic acids are more attractive targets for process development efforts in the renewable-based biorefinery industry. However, most of the production costs in microbial processes are higher than that in chemical processes, among which over 60% are generated by separation processes. Therefore, the research of separation and purification processes is important for a promising biorefinery industry. This review highlights the progress of recovery processes in the separation and purification of organic acids, including their advantages and disadvantages, current situation, and future prospects in terms of recovery yields and industrial application.