An Unstructured Kinetic Model to Study NaCl Effect on Volatile Ester Fermentation by Candida etchellsii for Soy Sauce Production

Jie Feng,Xiao-Bei Zhan,Dong Wang,Li-Min Zhang,Chi Chung Lin 한국생물공학회 2012 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.17 No.2

Salt-tolerant aromatic yeast is an important microorganism arising from the solid state fermentation of soy sauce. The fermentation kinetics of volatile esters by Candida etchellsii was studied in a batch system. The data obtained from the fermentation were used for determining the kinetic parameters of the model. Batch experimental results at four NaCl levels (180, 200, 220, and 240 g/L) were used to formulate the parameter estimation model. The kinetic parameters of the model were optimized by specifically designed Runge-Kutta Genetic Algorithms (GA). The resulting mathematical model for volatile ester production, cell growth and glucose consumption simulates the experimental data well. The resulting new model was capable of explaining the behavior of volatile ester fermentation. The optimized parameters (μo, Xmax, Ki, α, β, YX/S, m, and YP/S) were characterized by a correlation of functions assuming salinity dependence. The kinetic models optimized by GA describe the batch fermentation process adequately, as demonstrated by our experimental results.

Quantitative Presentation of the Systematic Relationships Between S. sudanense and S. bicolor

Qiu-Wen Zhan,Ping Lin,Jie-Qin Li,Min Zu,Jun-Cheng Fan,Ya Chen,Fei Fan,Shi-fu Shu 한국초지조사료학회 2009 한국초지조사료학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2009 No.08

Fifty-four biological characters were used for quantitative classification of sorghum and sudangrass and their relationship. Discriminant analysis of all 240 individuals of 48 accessions suggested that 100% of originally grouped cases were correctly classified. Analysis of variance results showed that the differences among 48 accessions in characters were significant at the 0.01 level. Cluster analysis showed that the 48 accessions were obviously divided into two clusters by a Euclidean distance of 17.46 as the classification standards, i.e. the genus maize and genus sorghum. The 48 accessions were divided into four clusters by a Euclidean distance of 9.86, i.e. Sorghum-Sudangrass, Sorghum related species (S. propinquum and S. halepense), Zea mexicana and Z. mays. All accessions were divided into five clusters by a Euclidean distance of 8.91, namely group Ⅰ (Sudangrass-Chinese sorghum), group Ⅱ (Non-Chinese sorghum), group Ⅲ (Sorghum related species), group Ⅳ (Zea mexicana), and group Ⅴ (Z mays).

User-intervened structured meshing methods and applications for complex flow fields based on multiblock partitioning

Wen-Hao Cai,Jie-Min Zhan,Ying-Ying Luo 한국CDE학회 2021 Journal of computational design and engineering Vol.8 No.1

Recently, a series of automatic structured grid generation methods for different fields or specific problems have been proposed by various researchers, but these methods still have some disadvantages or limitations. Therefore, in the present study, several user-intervened structured meshing methods for complex flow fields have been introduced for multiblock docking and multiblock splicing based on multiblock structured grid technology. Besides, three applications compared with the other methods or experiments are discussed to illustrate the crucial workflow of the user-intervened partitioning. The successful implementation of these partitioning examples demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the methods described herein. And the techniques and criteria summarized in the present paper are quite practical and helpful for high-quality meshing.

Influence of Sodium Chloride on Thermal Denaturation of a High-Salt-Tolerant Neutral Protease from Aspergillus oryzae

Dong Wang,Zhiyong Zheng,Jie Feng,Xiao-Bei Zhan,Li-Min Zhang,Jian-Rong Wu,Chi-Chung Lin,Li Zhu 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.5

The temperature and pH stability of proteases have been extensively investigated. A neutral protease produced by Aspergillus oryzae was thermodynamically characterized at high-salt environment. When the protease was tested at 24% NaCl and 60oC, its half-life was increased to 30.0 min, 111% longer than that of control. Its Gibbs free energy and activation energy for denaturation in high NaCl concentration solutions were higher than in low salt solutions and increased by 2.1 and 4.75 kJ/mol,respectively. The protease exhibited higher thermal stability in higher salt conditions. This feature is beneficial to soybean sauce fermentation by enhancing the protease performance and taste of the product. Analysis by farultraviolet circular dichroism (far-UV CD) spectroscopy revealed that α-helix conformation in the protease increased from 3.2 to 31.7%, respectively, when the NaCl concentration increased from 0 to 18%, in agreement with the results deduced by thermodynamic calculations.

Staged Improvement in Awareness of Disease for Elderly Cancer Patients in Southern China

Li, Xing,Dong, Min,Wen, Jing-Yun,Wei, Li,Ma, Xiao-Kun,Xing, Yan-Fang,Deng, Yun,Chen, Zhan-Hong,Chen, Jie,Ruan, Dan-Yun,Lin, Ze-Xiao,Wang, Tian-Tian,Wu, Dong-Hao,Liu, Xu,Hu, Hai-Tao,Lin, Jia-Yu,Li, Zhu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.15

Background: In mainland China, awareness of disease of elderly cancer patients largely relies on the patients' families. We developed a staged procedure to improve their awareness of disease. Materials and Methods: Participants were 224 elderly cancer patients from 9 leading hospitals across Southern China. A questionnaire was given to the oncologists in charge of each patient to evaluate the interaction between family and patients, patient awareness of their disease and participation in medical decision-making. After first cycles of treatment, increased information of disease was given to patients with cooperation of the family. Then patient awareness of their disease and participation in medical decision-making was documented. Results: Among the 224 cancer elderly patients, 26 (11.6%) made decisions by themselves and 125 (55.8%) delegated their rights of decision-making to their family. Subordinate family members tended to play a passive role in decision-making significantly. Patients participating more in medical decision-making tended to know more about their disease. However, in contrast to the awareness of disease, patient awareness of violation of medical recommendations was reversely associated with their participation in medical decision-making. Improvement in awareness of diagnosis, stages and prognosis was achieved in about 20% elderly cancer patients. About 5% participated more actively in medical decision-making. Conclusions: Chinese elderly cancer patient awareness of disease and participation in medical decision-making is limited and relies on their family status. The staged procedure we developed to improve patient awareness of disease proved effective.

Hepatitis B Virus DNA Negativity Acts as a Favorable Prognostic Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Li, Xing,Zhong, Xiang,Chen, Zhan-Hong,Xing, Yan-Fang,Wu, Dong-Hao,Chen, Jie,Ma, Xiao-Kun,Lin, Qu,Wen, Jing-Yun,Wei, Li,Wang, Tian-Tian,Ruan, Dan-Yun,Lin, Ze-Xiao,Wu, Xiang-Yuan,Dong, Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of prophylactic agents in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving TACE and compare the difference between lamivudine and entecavir. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 203 HBV-related HCC patients receiving TACE were analyzed including 91 patients given prophylactic agents. Virologic events, defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA level to more than 1 log10 IU/ml higher than the nadir level, hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation and progression free survival (PFS) were the main endpoints. Results: Some 48 (69.6%) reached virologic response. Prophylaxis significantly reduced virologic events (8.8% vs 58.0%, p=0.000) and hepatitis flares (1.1% vs 13.4%, p=0.001). Patients presenting undetectable HBV DNA levels displayed a significantly improved PFS as compared to those who never achieved undetectable HBV DNA. Prophylaxis and e-antigen positivity were the only significant variables associated with virologic events. In addition, prophylaxis was the only independent protective factor for hepatitis flares. Liver cirrhosis, more cycles of TACE, HBV DNA negativity, a lower Cancer of the Liver Italian Program score, non-metastasis and no hepatitis flares were protective factors for PFS. Prophylactic lamivudine demonstrated similar efficacy as entecavir. Conclusions: Prophylactic agents are efficacious for prevention of HBV reactivation in HCC patients receiving TACE. Achievement of undetectable HBV DNA levels displayed a significant capability in improving PFS. Moreover, persistent tumor residual lesions, positive HBV DNA and hepatitis B flares might be causes of tumor progression in these patients.

Efficacy of Prophylactic Entecavir for Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

Li, Xing,Zhong, Xiang,Chen, Zhan-Hong,Wang, Tian-Tian,Ma, Xiao-Kun,Xing, Yan-Fang,Wu, Dong-Hao,Dong, Min,Chen, Jie,Ruan, Dan-Yun,Lin, Ze-Xiao,Wen, Jing-Yun,Wei, Li,Wu, Xiang-Yuan,Lin, Qu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.18

Background and Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation was reported to be induced by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinonma (HCC) patients with a high incidence. The effective strategy to reduce hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation in this specific group of patients was limited to lamivudine. This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of prophylactic entecavir in HCC patients receiving TACE. Methods: A consecutive series of 191 HBV-related HCC patients receiving TACE were analyzed including 44 patients received prophylactic entecavir. Virologic events, defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA level to more than 1 log10 copies/ml higher than nadir the level, and hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation were the main endpoints. Results: Patients with or without prophylactic were similar in host factors and the majorities of characteristics regarding to tumor factors, HBV status, liver function and LMR. Notably, cycles of TACE were parallel between the groups. Ten (22.7%) patients receiving prophylactic entecavir reached virologic response. The patients receiving prophylactic entecavir presented significantly reduced virologic events (6.8% vs 54.4%, p=0.000) and hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation (0.0% vs 11.6%, p=0.039) compared with patients without prophylaxis. Kaplan-Meier analysis illustrated that the patients in the entecavir group presented significantly improved virologic events free survival (p=0.000) and hepatitis flare free survival (p=0.017). Female and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 was the only significant predictors for virological events in patients without prophylactic antiviral. Rescue antiviral therapy did not reduce the incidence of hepatitis flares due to HBV reactivation. Conclusion: Prophylactic entecavir presented promising efficacy in HBV-related cancer patients receiving TACE. Lower performance status and female gender might be the predictors for HBV reactivation in these patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Urapidil for Older Hypertensive Patients with Acute Heart Failure: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Wei Yang,Qi Hua,Yu-Jie Zhou,Yan Fu,Jian Qin,Shu Qin,Xiao-Min Chen,Jin-Cheng Guo,De-Zhao Wang,Hong Zhan,Jing Li,Jing-Yu He 연세대학교의과대학 2017 Yonsei medical journal Vol.58 No.1

Purpose: Urapidil is putatively effective for patients with hypertension and acute heart failure, although randomized controlled trials thereon are lacking. We investigated the efficacy and safety of intravenous urapidil relative to that of nitroglycerin in older patients with hypertension and heart failure in a randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: Patients (>60 y) with hypertension and heart failure were randomly assigned to receive intravenous urapidil (n=89) or nitroglycerin (n=91) for 7 days. Hemodynamic parameters, cardiac function, and safety outcomes were compared. Results: Patients in the urapidil group had significantly lower mean systolic blood pressure (110.1±6.5 mm Hg) than those given nitroglycerin (126.4±8.1 mm Hg, p=0.022), without changes in heart rate. Urapidil was associated with improved cardiac function as reflected by lower N terminal-pro B type natriuretic peptide after 7 days (3311.4±546.1 ng/mL vs. 4879.1±325.7 ng/mL, p=0.027) and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (62.2±3.4% vs. 51.0±2.4%, p=0.032). Patients given urapidil had fewer associatedadverse events, specifically headache (p=0.025) and tachycardia (p=0.004). The one-month rehospitalization and all-cause mortality rates were similar. Conclusion: Intravenous administration of urapidil, compared with nitroglycerin, was associated with better control of blood pressure and preserved cardiac function, as well as fewer adverse events, for elderly patients with hypertension and acute heart failure.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 9 Overexpression Reduces Osteosarcoma Cell Migration and Invasion

Zilan Lv,Ya-guang Weng,Dandan Yang,Jie Li,Min Hu,Min Luo,Xiaoqin Zhan,Peipei Song,Chen Liu,Huili Bai,Baolin Li,Yang Yang,Yingying Chen,Qiong Shi 한국분자세포생물학회 2013 Molecules and cells Vol.36 No.2

Transforming growth factor- (TGF-) is known to pro-mote tumor migration and invasion. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF- family expressed in a variety of human carcinoma cell lines. The role of bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), the most powerful osteogenic factor, in osteosarcoma (OS) progression has not been fully clarified. The expression of BMP9 and its receptors in OS cell lines was analyzed by RT-PCR. We found that BMP9 and its receptors were expressed in OS cell lines. We further investigated the influence of BMP9 on the biological behaviors of OS cells. BMP9 overexpression in the OS cell lines 143B and MG63 inhibited in vitro cell migration and invasion. We further investigated the ex-pression of a panel of cancer-related genes and found that BMP9 overexpression increased the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 proteins, increased the expression of ID1, and reduced the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in OS cells. BMP9 silencing induced the opposite effects. We also found that BMP9 may not affect the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) axis to regulate the invasiveness and metastatic capacity of OS cells. Interestingly, CXCR4 was expressed in both 143B and MG63 cells, while CXCL12 was only detected in MG63 cells. Taken together, we hypothesize that BMP9 inhibits the migration and invasiveness of OS cells through a Smad-dependent pathway by downregulating the expression and activity of MMP9.

Efficacy and Tolerance of Pegaspargase-Based Chemotherapy in Patients with Nasal-Type Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma: a Pilot Study

Wen, Jing-Yun,Li, Mai,Li, Xing,Chen, Jie,Lin, Qu,Ma, Xiao-Kun,Dong, Min,Wei, Li,Chen, Zhan-Hong,Wu, Xiang-Yuan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is a highly invasive cancer with a poor prognosis. More effective and safer treatment regimens for ENKL are needed. Pegaspargase (PEG-Asp) has a similar mechanism of action to L-asparaginase (L-Asp), but presents lower antigenicity. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the safety profile and the latent efficacy of a PEG-Asp-based treatment regimen in patients with ENKL. Data collected from 20 patients with histologically confirmed ENKL, admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2009 to August 2013, were included in the study. All patients received $2500IU/m^2$/IM PEG-Asp on day 1 of every 21-day treatment cycle. Patients received combination chemotherapy with CHOP (n=5), EPOCH (n=7), GEMOX (n=7) or CHOP with bleomycin (n=1). After 2-5 treatment cycles (median, 4 cycles) of PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy, five patients (25%) showed a complete response (CR), and the overall response rate (ORR) was 60%. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in fourteen patients (70%). Grade 3 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was observed in two. Grade 1-2 non-hematological toxicity consisted of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) elongation (n=9), hypofibrinogenemia (n=6), hypoproteinemia (n=17), hyperglycemia (n=3), and nausea (n=6). No allergic reactions were detected. No treatment related death was reported. Our results suggested that PEG-Asp-based chemotherapy presented an acceptable tolerance and a potential short-term outcome in patients with nasal-type ENKL.