Identification of candidate odorant‐degrading enzyme genes in the antennal transcriptome of Aphidius gifuensis

Kang Zhi‐Wei,Liu Fang‐Hua,Xu Yong‐Yu,Cheng Jia‐Hui,Lin Xiao‐Li,Jing Xiang‐Feng,Tian Hong‐Gang,Liu Tong‐Xian 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.1

Odorant‐degrading enzymes (ODEs) have been found in insect antennae and play a critical role in signal chemical degradation once the message is conveyed. Significant progress has been made in characterizing ODEs in a variety of pests but very little is known in their natural enemies. We have carried out an antennae‐ and sex‐specific transcriptome of Aphidius gifuensis, a natural enemy of aphid, to identify the candidate ODEs. Based on the antennae‐ and sex‐specific transcriptome, a total of 100 putative ODEs were identified including one aldehyde oxidase (AOX), four alcohol dehydrogenases (ADs), eight UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), 45 cytochrome P450 (P450s), nine glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) and 40 carboxylesterases (CCEs or CXEs). Additionally, we used RT‐qPCR to determine the expression profiles of these genes in tissues of both sexes. Based on the phylogenic analysis and tissue‐expression patterns, AgifEstE4, AgifCXE3, AgifCCE4, AgifCCE7, and AgifCCE18 were suggested as key ODEs in A. gifuensis. In addition, the female or male specifically enriched genes, such as AgifCCE17, AgifEstB1, AgifCYP18a1, AgifUGT2C2, were also considered to involve in the chemosensory processing in A. gifuensis. This study not only identified the candidate ODEs in A. gifuensis but also provided source for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of chemical signal transductions in A. gifuensis, as well as other hymenopteran species.

Seismic Factor of Safety for 3D Reinforced Soil Slope with Piles under Unsaturated Condition

Jia-jing Wei,Hong Liao,Li-Li Liu,Jian-qun Zhu 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.9

This study investigates the seismic stability of reinforced slope under a three-dimensional (3D) rotational horn-like failure mechanism, using the pseudo-dynamic approach and provides a new procedure to estimate factor of safety (FS) for slope. Such a procedure is able to figure out the influences of the seismic force, the soil property and the reinforcement by piles. Pseudo-dynamic approach is used to describe the seismic force in the time-to-spatial fields in unsaturated soils where matric suction works. Compared to the pseudo-static approach, the current approach considers the effects of time and spatial through the horizontal and vertical shear waves. For the pile driving, different insertion depths can yield various results, whether two work conditions of considering the pile resistance or not are discussed. FS of this study undergoes a decrement as the increase of the pile resistance and seismic force, indicating that the insertion depth affects FS where FS decreases in the early period of pile driving, after that increases and keeps constant in the late of pile driving, showing evident unimodal characteristics during the pile driving. The new expressions for slope reinforced by piles are presented for practical use in unsaturated soil engineering.

Associations of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in miR-146a, miR-196a, miR-149 and miR-499 with Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility

Du, Wei,Ma, Xue-Lei,Zhao, Chong,Liu, Tao,Du, Yu-Liang,Kong, Wei-Qi,Wei, Ben-Ling,Yu, Jia-Yun,Li, Yan-Yan,Huang, Jing-Wen,Li, Zi-Kang,Liu, Lei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs of 20-25 nucleotides in length that function as negative gene regulators. MiRNAs play roles in most biological processes, as well as diverse human diseases including cancer. Recently, many studies investigated the association between SNPs in miR-146a rs2910164, miR-196a2 rs11614913, miR-149 rs229283, miR-499 rs3746444 and colorectal cancer (CRC), which results have been inconclusive. Methodology/Principal Findings: PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI databases were searched with the last search updated on November 5, 2013. For miR-196a2 rs11614913, a significantly decreased risk of CRC development was observed under three genetic models (dominant model: OR = 0.848, 95%CI: 0.735-0.979, P = 0.025; recessive model: OR = 0.838, 95%CI: 0.721-0.974, P = 0.021; homozygous model: OR = 0.754, 95%CI: 0.627-0.907, P = 0.003). In the subgroup analyses, miR-$196a2^*T$ variant was associated with a significantly decreased susceptibility of CRC (allele model: OR = 0.839, 95%CI: 0.749-0.940, P = 0.000; dominant model: OR = 0.770, 95%CI: 0.653-0.980, P = 0.002; recessive model: OR = 0.802, 95%CI: 0.685-0.939, P = 0.006; homozygous model: OR = 0.695, 95%CI: 0.570-0.847, P = 0.000). As for miR-149 rs2292832, the two genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.199, 95% CI 1.028-1.398, P = 0.021; heterozygous model: OR = 1.226, 95% CI 1.039-1.447, P = 0.013) demonstrated increased susceptibility to CRC. On subgroup analysis, significantly increased susceptibility of CRC was found in the genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.180, 95% CI 1.008-1.382, P = 0.040; heterozygous model: OR = 1.202, 95% CI 1.013-1.425, P = 0.013) in the Asian group. Conclusions: These findings supported that the miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-149 rs2292832 polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to CRC.

Prognostic Values of Various Clinical Factors and Genetic Subtypes for Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of 227 Cases

Zhou, De,Xie, Wan-Zhuo,Hu, Ke-Yue,Huang, Wei-Jia,Wei, Guo-Qing,He, Jing-Song,Shi, Ji-Min,Luo, Yi,Li, Li,Zhu, Jing-Jing,Zhang, Jie,Lin, Mao-Fang,Ye, Xiu-Jin,Cai, Zhen,Huang, He Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Aim: To analyze the significance of different clinical factors for prognostic prediction in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven DLBCL patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were managed with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) regimen or rituximab plus the CHOP (RCHOP) regimen. Results: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ${\beta}2$-microglobulin (${\beta}2$-M), B symptoms, Ann Arbor stage and genetic subtypes were statistically relevant in predicting the prognosis of the overall survival (OS). In the CHOP group, the OS in patients with germinal center B-cell-like (GCB)(76.2%) was significantly higher than that of the non-GCB group (51.9%, P=0.032). With RCHOP management, there was no statistical difference in OS between the GCB (88.4%) and non-GCB groups (81.9%, P=0.288). Conclusion: Elevated LDH and ${\beta}2$-M levels, positive B symptoms, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, and primary nodal lymphoma indicate an unfavorable prognosis of DLBCL patients. Patients with GCB-like DLBCL have a better prognosis than those with non-GCB when treated with the CHOP regimen. The RCHOP treatment with the addition of rituximab can improve the prognosis of patients with DLBCL.

Case Report : Nutrition Therapy for Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalopathy with Homozygous Mutation of the TYMP Gene

( Jing Wang ),( Wei Chen ),( Fang Wang ),( Dong Wu ),( Jia Ming Qian ),( Jun Ren Kang ),( Hai Long Li ),( En Ling Ma ) 한국임상영양학회 2015 Clinical Nutrition Research Vol.4 No.2

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy (MNGIE) is characterized by significant gastrointestinal dysmotility. Early and long-term nutritional therapy is highly recommended. We report a case of MNGIE in a patient who was undergoing longterm nutrition therapy. The patient was diagnosed with a serious symptom of fatty liver and hyperlipidemia complications, along with homozygous mutation of the thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) gene (c.217G > A). To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a case. Herein, we describe preventive measures for the aforementioned complications and mitochondrial disease-specific nutritional therapy.

Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of the Optical Properties of Ge2Sb2Te5 for Multi-State Optical Data Storage

Jing Li,Song-You Wang,Ming Xu,Shen-Jin Wei,Song Wu,Fei Pei,Liang-Yao Chen,Yu Jia 한국물리학회 2008 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.53 No.4

Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) is widely used as an excellent data recording material based on its fast and reversible amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation that is accompanied by changes in the optical reflectivity and the electrical conductivity. It was demonstrated that GST can be transformed reversibly between the amorphous and the cubic phases, and, under certain conditions, it can be transformed between the cubic and the hexagonal phases as well. Thus, if we can take advantage of the differences in the optical and the electrical properties among the amorphous, the cubic, and the hexagonal states, we could use GST as a multi-state storage material, and its storage density would be improved remarkably. In this study, we investigate the electronic and the optical properties of crystalline GST by using both ab-initio and experimental analyses. The results show that the cubic GST is semi-conductive while the hexagonal GST may exhibit much higher conductivity. The reflectivity contrast of the two crystalline states is above 8 % in the range from 400 nm to 700 nm, indicating a potential for applications of GST in multi-state optical data storage.

Depression and Structural Factors Are Associated With Symptoms in Patients of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea

( Jia Lu ),( Lili Shi ),( Dan Huang ),( Wenjuan Fan ),( Xiaoqing Li ),( Liming Zhu ),( Jing Wei ),( Xiucai Fang ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.4

Background/Aims A strong correlation between depression and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) has been identified. The aim of this study is to identify the correlations among depression, structural factors, gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-GI symptoms, and efficacy of neuromodulators in patients with IBS-D. Methods Patients meeting the Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for IBS-D were enrolled. The intestinal symptoms and psychological states were evaluated using IBS-specific symptom questionnaires and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Results In total, 410 patients with IBS-D were enrolled, 28.8% (118/410) had comorbid depression. Patients with depression did not readily experience improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort after defecation, and had a higher prevalence of passing mucus, overlapping functional dyspepsia, and extra-GI symptoms. The structural factor “mental disorders” significantly correlated with main bowel symptom score and degree of pre-defecation abdominal pain/discomfort. No structural factor significantly correlated with bowel movements or stool form. Patients who had passing mucus, overlapping functional dyspepsia and extra-GI painful symptoms have higher score of “anxiety/somatization.” Patients with sexual dysfunction have higher score of “retardation symptoms.” In total, 28.3% of patients with IBS-D were prescribed neuromodulators. Baseline scores of “anxiety/somatization” and “retardation symptoms” positively correlated with improvement of diarrhea after paroxetine, and “sleep disturbances” positively correlated with improvement of abdominal pain/discomfort and diarrhea after mirtazapine. Conclusions Comorbid depression and higher scores of structural factors might aggravate GI and extra-GI symptoms other than bowel movements and stool form. Structural factors of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale correlated with efficacy of paroxetine and mirtazapine in patients with IBS-D. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:505-513)

Heat Stress Causes Aberrant DNA Methylation of H19 and Igf-2r in Mouse Blastocysts

Jia-Qiao Zhu,Jing-He Liu,Xing-Wei Liang,Bao-Zeng Xu,Yi Hou,Xing-Xu Zhao,Qing-Yuan Sun 한국분자세포생물학회 2008 Molecules and cells Vol.25 No.2

To gain a better understanding of the methylation imprinting changes associated with heat stress in early development, we used bisulfite sequencing and bisulfite restriction analysis to examine the DNA methylation status of imprinted genes in early embryos (blastocysts). The paternal imprinted genes, H19 and Igf-2r, had lower methylation levels in heat-stressed embryos than in control embryos, whereas the maternal imprinted genes, Peg3 and Peg1, had similar methylation pattern in heat-stressed embryos and in control embryos. Our results indicate that heat stress may induce aberrant methylation imprinting, which results in developmental failure of mouse embryos, and that the effects of heat shock on methylation imprinting may be gene-specific.

Effects of dietary spermine supplementation on cell cycle, apoptosis, and amino acid transporters of the thymus and spleen in piglets

Cao, Wei,Wu, Xianjian,Jia, Gang,Zhao, Hua,Chen, Xiaoling,Wu, Caimei,Cai, Jingyi,Wang, Jing,Liu, Guangmang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.8

Objective: This study investigated whether spermine supplementation could regulate cell cycle, apoptosis, and amino acid transporter-related genes expression in the thymus and spleen of early weaned piglets. Methods: Eighty female piglets were randomly distributed to receive adequate nutrients supplemented with spermine (0.4 mmol/kg body weight/24 h) or to be provided with restricted nourishment supplemented with normal saline for 7 h or 3, 6, or 9 d in pairs. Results: Regardless of administration time, spermine supplementation significantly up-regulated cyclin A2 gene expression but down-regulated p21 and cyclin D3 mRNA levels in the thymus and spleen and reduced cyclin E2 gene expression in the thymus of piglets (p<0.05). Irrespective of the treatment period, the reduced Bax and caspase-3 gene expressions and improved Bcl-2 mRNA level were observed in the thymus and spleen of spermine-administrated piglets (p<0.05). Regardless of supplementation time, spermine intake significantly enhanced the expressions of amino acid transporter-related genes (SLC1A1, SLC1A5, SLC7A1, SLC7A7, and SLC15A1) in both thymus and spleen, as well as SLC7A9 in the spleen of piglets (p<0.05). In addition, extended spermine administration also markedly promoted cell proliferation, depressed apoptosis and modulated amino acid transport (p<0.05), and such effects were the greatest during prolonged spermine supplementation (6 d) compared to the other time periods (p<0.05). Conclusion: Spermine supplementation may regulate cell cycle during the G1/S phase, suppress apoptosis and modulate amino acid transport. A period of 6 d of spermine supplementation is required to produce the optimal effects on nutritional implications.

Distinctions Between Clinicopathological Factors and Prognosis of Alpha-fetoprotein Negative and Positive Hepatocelluar Carcinoma Patients

Xu, Jia,Liu, Chang,Zhou, Lei,Tian, Feng,Tai, Ming-Hui,Wei, Ji-Chao,Qu, Kai,Meng, Fan-Di,Zhang, Ling-Qiang,Wang, Zhi-Xin,Zhang, Jing-Yao,Chang, Hu-Lin,Liu, Si-Nan,Xu, Xin-Shen,Song, Yan-Zhou,Liu, Jun,Z Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.2

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ${\leq}$20ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.