Excessive mechanical strain accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration by disrupting intrinsic circadian rhythm

Ding Sheng-Long,Zhang Tai-Wei,Zhang Qi-Chen,Ding Wang,Li Ze-Fang,Han Guan-Jie,Bai Jin-Song,Li Xi-Lei,Dong Jian,Wang Hui-Ren,Jiang Li-Bo 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Night shift workers with disordered rhythmic mechanical loading are more prone to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our results showed that circadian rhythm (CR) was dampened in degenerated and aged NP cells. Long-term environmental CR disruption promoted IDD in rats. Excessive mechanical strain disrupted the CR and inhibited the expression of core clock proteins. The inhibitory effect of mechanical loading on the expression of extracellular matrix genes could be reversed by BMAL1 overexpression in NP cells. The Rho/ROCK pathway was demonstrated to mediate the effect of mechanical stimulation on CR. Prolonged mechanical loading for 12 months affected intrinsic CR genes and induced IDD in a model of upright posture in a normal environment. Unexpectedly, mechanical loading further accelerated the IDD in an Light-Dark (LD) cycle-disrupted environment. These results indicated that intrinsic CR disruption might be a mechanism involved in overloading-induced IDD and a potential drug target for night shift workers.

Surf points based Moving Target Detection and Long-term Tracking in Aerial Videos

( Juan-juan Zhu ),( Wei Sun ),( Bao-long Guo ),( Cheng Li ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.11

A novel method based on Surf points is proposed to detect and lock-track single ground target in aerial videos. Videos captured by moving cameras contain complex motions, which bring difficulty in moving object detection. Our approach contains three parts: moving target template detection, search area estimation and target tracking. Global motion estimation and compensation are first made by grids-sampling Surf points selecting and matching. And then, the single ground target is detected by joint spatial-temporal information processing. The temporal process is made by calculating difference between compensated reference and current image and the spatial process is implementing morphological operations and adaptive binarization. The second part improves KALMAN filter with surf points scale information to predict target position and search area adaptively. Lastly, the local Surf points of target template are matched in this search region to realize target tracking. The long-term tracking is updated following target scaling, occlusion and large deformation. Experimental results show that the algorithm can correctly detect small moving target in dynamic scenes with complex motions. It is robust to vehicle dithering and target scale changing, rotation, especially partial occlusion or temporal complete occlusion. Comparing with traditional algorithms, our method enables real time operation, processing 520×390 frames at around 15fps.

Risk Factors Associated with Pain Severity in Patients with Non-specific Low Back Pain in Southern China

Shilabant Sen Sribastav,Jun Long,Peiheng He,Wei He,Fubiao Ye,Zemin Li,Jianru Wang,Hui Liu,Hua Wang,Zhaomin Zheng 대한척추외과학회 2018 Asian Spine Journal Vol.12 No.3

Study Design: A prospective cross-sectional study. Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors associated with the severity of pain intensity in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) in Southern China. Overview of Literature: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absence throughout the world, so a firm understanding of the risk factor associated with NSLBP can provide early and prompt interventions that are aimed at attaining long-term results. Methods: Participants were recruited from January 2014 to January 2016 and were surveyed using a self-designed questionnaire. Anonymous assessments included Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The association between the severity of NSLBP and these potential risk factors were evaluated. Results: A total of 1,046 NSLBP patients were enrolled. The patients with primary school education, high body mass index (BMI), those exposed to sustained durations of driving and sitting, smoking, recurrent LBP had increased VAS and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores with lower SF-36 scores (p <0.01). Workers and drivers compared with waiters and patients who lifted >10 kg objects in a quarter of their work time for >10 years had higher VAS and ODI scores with lower SF-36 scores (p <0.01). Multiple logistic regression showed lower levels of education, LBP for 1–7 days, long-lasting LBP in last year, smoking, long duration driving, and higher BMI were associated with more severe VAS score. Conclusions: The severity of NSLBP is associated with lower levels of education, poor standards of living, heavy physical labor, long duration driving, and sedentary lifestyle. Patients with recurrent NSLBP have more severe pain. Reducing rates of obesity, the duration of heavy physical work, driving or riding, and attenuating the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and smoking may reduce the prevalence of NSLBP.

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.

Occurrence and Source Effect of Novel Brominated Flame Retardants (NBFRs) in Soils from Five Asian Countries and Their Relationship with PBDEs

Li, Wen-Long,Ma, Wan-Li,Zhang, Zi-Feng,Liu, Li-Yan,Song, Wei-Wei,Jia, Hong-Liang,Ding, Yong-Sheng,Nakata, Haruhiko,Minh, Nguyen Hung,Sinha, Ravindra Kumar,Moon, Hyo-Bang,Kannan, Kurunthachalam,Sverko, American Chemical Society 2017 Environmental science & technology Vol.51 No.19

<P>This paper presents the first comprehensive survey of 19 novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil samples collected among five Asian countries. High variability in concentrations of all NBFRs was found in soils with the geometric mean (GM) values ranging from 0.50 ng/g dry weight (dw) in Vietnam to 540 ng/g dw in the vicinity of a BFR manufacturer in China. In urban, rural, and background locations, the GM concentrations of Sigma(19)NBFRs decreased in the order of Japan > South Korea > China > India > Vietnam. Correlations among different NBFR compounds were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that they originate from similar sources. Evidence for simultaneous application between polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and NBFRs were also noted. Principal component analysis of NBFR concentrations revealed specific pollution sources for different NBFRs coming from urban, BFR-related industrial, and e-waste sites. For the first time, this study demonstrates a 'point source fractionation effect' for NBFRs and PBDEs. The concentrations of all NBFRs and PBDEs were negatively and significantly correlated with the distance from BFR-related industrial and e-waste regions. Positive and significant correlation between population density and NBFR concentrations in soils was identified. Our study revealed that the primary sources effects were stronger than the secondary sources effects in controlling the levels and distribution of NBFRs and PBDEs in soils in these five Asian countries.</P>

Interface engineering for improving reliability of resistance switching in Cu/HfO₂/TiO₂/Pt structure

Wei Zhou, Li,Long Shao, Xing,Yuan Li, Xiang,Jiang, Hao,Chen, Ran,Jean Yoon, Kyung,Jin Kim, Hae,Zhang, Kailiang,Zhao, Jinshi,Seong Hwang, Cheol American Institute of Physics 2015 APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS Vol.107 No.7

Ginsenoside Rg1 Induces Apoptosis through Inhibition of the EpoR-Mediated JAK2/STAT5 Signalling Pathway in the TF-1/Epo Human Leukemia Cell Line

Li, Jing,Wei, Qiang,Zuo, Guo-Wei,Xia, Jing,You, Zhi-Mei,Li, Chun-Li,Chen, Di-Long Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Ginsenoside Rg1 is one effective anticancer and antioxidant constituent of total saponins of Panax ginseng (TSPG), which has been shown to have various pharmacological effects. Our previous study demonstrated that Rg1 had anti-tumor activity in K562 leukemia cells. The aim of this study was designed to investigate whether Rg1 could induce apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we found that Rg1 could inhibit TF-1/Epo cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in vitro in a concentration and time dependent manner. It also suppressed the expression of EpoR on the surface membrane and inhibited JAK2/STAT5 pathway activity. Rg1 induced up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and C-PAPR protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and AG490, a JAK2 specific inhibitor, could enhance the effects of Rg1. Our studies showed that EpoR-mediated JAK2/STAT5 signaling played a key role in Rg1-induced apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells. These results may provide new insights of Rg1 protective roles in the prevention a nd treatment of leukemia.

Anisotropic Patterns of Liver Cancer Prevalence in Guangxi in Southwest China: Is Local Climate a Contributing Factor?

Deng, Wei,Long, Long,Tang, Xian-Yan,Huang, Tian-Ren,Li, Ji-Lin,Rong, Min-Hua,Li, Ke-Zhi,Liu, Hai-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Geographic information system (GIS) technology has useful applications for epidemiology, enabling the detection of spatial patterns of disease dispersion and locating geographic areas at increased risk. In this study, we applied GIS technology to characterize the spatial pattern of mortality due to liver cancer in the autonomous region of Guangxi Zhuang in southwest China. A database with liver cancer mortality data for 1971-1973, 1990-1992, and 2004-2005, including geographic locations and climate conditions, was constructed, and the appropriate associations were investigated. It was found that the regions with the highest mortality rates were central Guangxi with Guigang City at the center, and southwest Guangxi centered in Fusui County. Regions with the lowest mortality rates were eastern Guangxi with Pingnan County at the center, and northern Guangxi centered in Sanjiang and Rongshui counties. Regarding climate conditions, in the 1990s the mortality rate of liver cancer positively correlated with average temperature and average minimum temperature, and negatively correlated with average precipitation. In 2004 through 2005, mortality due to liver cancer positively correlated with the average minimum temperature. Regions of high mortality had lower average humidity and higher average barometric pressure than did regions of low mortality. Our results provide information to benefit development of a regional liver cancer prevention program in Guangxi, and provide important information and a reference for exploring causes of liver cancer.

Removal of nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide from flue gases using a FeII-ethylenediamineteraacetate solution

Xiang-li Long,Hai-Song Zhu,Yan-Peng Mao,Yu Chen,Wei-kang Yuan 한국화학공학회 2013 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.30 No.6

The combined absorption of NO and SO2 into the Fe(II)-ethylenediamineteraacetate(EDTA) solution has been realized. Activated carbon is used to catalyze the reduction of FeIII-EDTA to FeII-EDTA to maintain the ability to remove NO with the Fe-EDTA solution. The reductant is the sulfite/bisulfite ions produced by SO2 dissolved into the aqueous solution. Experiments have been performed to determine the effects of activated carbon of coconut shell,pH value, temperature of absorption and regeneration, O2 partial pressure, sulfite/bisulfite and chloride concentration on the combined elimination of NO and SO2 with FeII-EDTA solution coupled with the FeII-EDTA regeneration catalyzed by activated carbon. The experimental results indicate that NO removal efficiency increases with activated carbon mass. There is an optimum pH of 7.5 for this process. The NO removal efficiency increases with the liquid flow rate but it is not necessary to increase the liquid flow rate beyond 25 ml min−1. The NO removal efficiency decreases with the absorption temperature as the temperature is over 35 oC. The Fe2+ regeneration rate may be speeded up with temperature. The NO removal efficiency decreases with O2 partial pressure in the gas streams. The NO removal efficiency is enhanced with the sulfite/bisulfite concentration. Chloride does not affect the NO removal. Ca(OH)2 and MgO slurries have little influence on NO removal. High NO and SO2 removal efficiencies can be maintained at a high level for a long period of time with this heterogeneous catalytic process.

Mortality of Major Cancers in Guangxi, China: Sex, Age and Geographical Differences from 1971 and 2005

Deng, Wei,Long, Long,Li, Ji-Lin,Zheng, Dan,Yu, Jia-Hua,Zhang, Chun-Yan,Li, Ke-Zhi,Liu, Hai-Zhou,Huang, Tian-Ren Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.4

The incidence and mortality rates of liver and nasopharyngeal cancer in Guangxi province of China have always been among the highest in the world, and cancer is one of the major diseases that pose a threat to the health of residents in Guangxi. However, no systematic study has been performed to evaluate the time trends in the structure of cancer-related deaths and cancer mortality. In this study, we reveal sex, age and geography differences of cancers mortality between three death surveys (1971 to 1973, 1990 to 1992, and 2004 to 2005). The results show that the standardized mortality rate of cancer in Guangxi residents has risen from 43.3/100,000 to 84.2/100,000, the share of cancer deaths in all-cause deaths has increased from 13.3% to 20.7%, and cancer has become the second most common cause of death. The five major cancers, liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and colorectal cancer, account for 60% of all the cancer deaths. Cancers with growing mortality rates over the past 30 years include lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer and female breast cancer, of which lung cancer is associated with the sharpest rise in mortality, with a more than 600% rise in both men and women. Cancer death in Guangxi residents occurs mainly in the elderly population above 45 years of age, especially in people over the age of 65. The areas with the highest mortality rates for liver cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, which feature regional high incidences, include Chongzuo and Wuzhou. Therefore, for major cancers such as liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and female breast cancer in Guangxi, we can select high-risk age groups as the target population for cancer prevention and control efforts in high-prevalence areas in a bid to achieve the ultimate goal of lowering cancer mortality in Guangxi.