Improved lithium storage performance of CeO2-decorated SrLi2Ti6O14 material as an anode for Li-ion battery

Ying Li,Hong-Yan Liu,Ling-Na Shi,Yan-Rong Zhu,Ting-Feng Yi 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.101 No.-

In this work, the CeO2-decorated SrLi2Ti6O14 anode was successfully prepared through a solid-state process. The space-charge effect induced by the internal adsorption of ions on the CeO2 surface can easilyresult in a formation of an excellent conductive interfacial layer between CeO2 and SrLi2Ti6O14. The goodelectrical contact between CeO2 and SrLi2Ti6O14 offers more active sites for the electrolyte storage andredox reaction, and promotes the intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions, and thus improves therate performance and cycle stability. Due to its unique structure and composition, the CeO2-decoratedSrLi2Ti6O14 composites exhibit high reversible capacities, good cycle performance and outstanding rateperformance. Especially, the CeO2 (5 wt%)-decorated SrLi2Ti6O14 anode shows the most excellent electrochemicalperformance, which delivers a large charge capacity of 121.3 mAh g 1 and a capacity retentionof 94.48% after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g 1. However, the corresponding charge capacity and capacity retentionof pristine SrLi2Ti6O14 are 100.5 mAh g 1 and 86.77%, respectively. The CeO2(5 wt%)-decoratedSrLi2Ti6O14 with enhanced rate capacity, cycle stability and structural stability is a potential electrodematerial candidate for Li-ion battery.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognoses for Multicentric Occurrence and Intrahepatic Metastasis in Synchronous Multinodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Li, Shi-Lai,Su, Ming,Peng, Tao,Xiao, Kai-Yin,Shang, Li-Ming,Xu, Bang-Hao,Su, Zhi-Xiong,Ye, Xin-Ping,Peng, Ning,Qin, Quan-Lin,Chen, De-Feng,Chen, Jie,Li, Le-Qun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the outcomes for patients are still poor. It is important to determine the original type of synchronous multinodular HCC for preoperative assessment and the choice of treatment therapy as well as for the prediction of prognosis after treatment. Aims: To analyze clinicopathologic characteristics and prognoses in patients with multicentric occurrence (MO) and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) of synchronous multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The study group comprised 42 multinodular HCC patients with a total of 112 nodules. The control group comprised 20 HCC patients with 16 single nodular HCC cases and 4 HCC cases with a portal vein tumor emboli. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region was sequenced, and the patients of the study group were categorized as MO or IM based on the sequence variations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the important clinicopathologic characteristics in the two groups. Results: In the study group, 20 cases were categorized as MO, and 22 as IM, whereas all 20 cases in the control group were characterized as IM. Several factors significantly differed between the IM and MO patients, including hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and the histological grade of the primary nodule. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that cirrhosis and portal vein and/or microvascular tumor thrombus were independent factors differentiating between IM and MO patients. The tumor-free survival time of the MO subjects was significantly longer than that of the IM subjects ($25.7{\pm}4.8$ months vs. $8.9{\pm}3.1$ months, p=0.017). Similarly, the overall survival time of the MO subjects was longer ($31.6{\pm}5.3$ months vs. $15.4{\pm}3.4$ months, p=0.024). The multivariate analysis further demonstrated that the original type (p=0.035) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of tumor-free survival time. Cirrhosis (p=0.011), original type (p=0.034) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of overall survival time. Conclusions: HBeAg, cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and histological grade of the primary nodule are important factors for differentiating IM and MO. MO HCC patients might have a favorable outcome compared with IM patients.

Comparison of drought resistance of rootstocks 'M9-T337' and 'M26' grafted with 'Huashuo' apple

Shi Cai-Yun,Liu Li,Li Qiu-Li,Wei Zhi-Feng,Gao Deng-Tao 한국원예학회 2022 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.63 No.3

Drought stress is one of the main limiting factors in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivation. Rootstock plays an important role in the drought tolerance of apple plants. ‘M.9-T337’ is a novel apple rootstock that was recently introduced and widely cultivated in China. In this study, we selected the new, widely promoted Chinese apple variety ‘Huashuo’ as the scion and grafted it onto ‘M.9-T337’ (HM9). Another combination, ‘Huashuo’/‘M.26’/Malus robusta Rehd. (HM26), served as the experimental control to analyse drought resistance in the two hybrids. We believe that this empirical approach is more representative than merely studying rootstock seedlings. After sustained drought stress for over 1 month, the leaf relative water content had decreased in both types of plants, but to a lesser extent in HM26 than in HM9. The SPAD values increased in both plants, but without significant difference. Drought stress reduced photosynthetic activity in both plants, and the net photosynthetic rate was higher in HM26 than in HM9. The observed changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters indicated that drought had damaged the PSII activity centres of both plants, photosynthetic electron transfer was inhibited, and excessive excitation energy accumulated. However, compared to HM26, HM9 displayed lower maximal PSII quantum photochemical efficiency and potential PSII activity. Moreover, HM9 showed lower antioxidant enzyme activity than HM26 under drought stress. A membership function analysis confirmed that ‘M.9-T337’ was less drought resistant than ‘M.26’. Nevertheless, ‘M.9-T337’ could still recover after prolonged drought stress, indicating it also had good drought resistance.

Screening of Recurrence Related MicroRNA in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Functional Study of MicroRNA-654-5p

Shi Li,Tianjie Pu,Lin Xiao,Hongwei Gao,Li Li,Feng Ye,Yueping Liu,Hong Bu 한국유방암학회 2019 Journal of breast cancer Vol.22 No.1

Purpose: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) contributes to 20%–30% of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in China. Although the breast cancer-specific mortality of DCIS is extremely low, a small proportion of DCIS patients still show relapse or metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. Little is known about the molecular mechanism for DCIS metastasis, partly due to the limited number of poor prognosis patients. This study analyzed the clinicopathological features and screened key microRNAs (miRNAs) contributing to local or distant recurrence. Methods: The clinicopathological features of DCIS were evaluated and survival analysis were performed to clarify risk factors associated with poor prognosis. Using miRNA arrays and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on DCIS formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples with or without microinvasion with different clinical outcomes, potential DCIS metastasis-related miRNAs were screened out and further validated. The influence of one identified miRNA, miRNA-654-5p, on DCIS progression was analyzed. Results: Poor prognosis was significantly associated with larger tumor size and higher lymph node metastasis rate (both p < 0.05). Both were independent prognostic factors for DCIS. According to RT-qPCR results, distinct miRNA expression profiles were identified between DCIS and DCIS with microinvasion (DCIS-Mi) patients. In the DCIS panel, miRNA-654-5p was significantly upregulated in the patients with poor prognosis. In vitro, miRNA-654-5p promoted MDA-MB-231 cell mobility in healing tests and metastasis in the Transwell study. Conclusion: The panel of high-risk miRNAs in DCIS and DCIS-Mi differs markedly. miRNA-654-5p is significantly upregulated DCIS patients having poor prognosis and may be essential for local and distant recurrence in DCIS.

Identification of high-affinity VEGFR3-binding peptides through a phage-displayed random peptide library

Li-Feng Shi,Yan Wu,Cai-Yun Li 대한부인종양학회 2015 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.26 No.4

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) interaction with its receptor, VEGFR-3/Flt-4, regulates lymphangiogenesis. VEGFR-3/Flt-4 expression in cancer cells has been correlated with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and lymphatic invasion. The objective of this study is to identify a VEGFR-3/Flt-4-interacting peptide that could be used to inhibit VEGFR-3 for ovarian cancer therapy. Methods: The extracellular fragment of recombinant human VEGFR-3/Flt-4 (rhVEGFR-3/Flt-4) fused with coat protein pIII was screened against a phage-displayed random peptide library. Using affinity enrichment and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening, positive clones of phages were amplified. Three phage clones were selected after four rounds of biopanning, and the specific binding of the peptides to rhVEGFR-3 was detected by ELISA and compared with that of VEGF-D. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses of ovarian cancer tissue sections was undertaken to demonstrate the specificity of the peptides. Results: After four rounds of biopanning, ELISA confirmed the specificity of the enriched bound phage clones for rhVEGFR-3. Sequencing and translation identified three different peptides. Non-competitive ELISA revealed that peptides I, II, and III had binding affinities for VEGFR-3 with Kaff (affinity constant) of 16.4±8.6 μg/mL (n=3), 9.2±2.1 μg/mL (n=3), and 174.8±31.1 μg/ mL (n=3), respectively. In ovarian carcinoma tissue sections, peptide III (WHWLPNLRHYAS), which had the greatest binding affinity, also co-localized with VEGFR-3 in endothelial cells lining lymphatic vessels; its labeling of ovarian tumors in vivo was also confirmed. Conclusion: These finding showed that peptide III has high specificity and activity and, therefore, may represent a potential therapeutic approach to target VEGF-VEGFR-3 signaling for the treatment or diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

MRI T2-Weighted Imaging and Fat-Suppressed T2-Weighted Imaging Image Fusion Technology Improves Image Discriminability for the Evaluation of Anal Fistulas

Shi-Ting Feng,Mengqi Huang,Zhi Dong,Ling Xu,Yin Li,Yingmei Jia,Huasong Cai,Bingqi Shen,Zi-Ping Li 대한영상의학회 2019 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.20 No.3

Objective: To explore whether MRI fusion technology (combined T2-weighted imaging [T2WI] and fat-suppressed T2WI [T2WI-FS]) improves signal differences between anal fistulas and surrounding structures. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 patients with confirmed diagnoses of anal fistula were retrospectively studied. All available T2WI and T2WI-FS images for each patient were used to generate fusion image (T2WI-Fusion) based on the addition of gray values obtained from each pixel via an MR post-processing work station. The discriminability of fistula, perianal sphincter, and perianal fat in T2WI, T2WI-FS, and T2WI-Fusion images was quantified with Fisher’s scoring algorithm. For subjective visual image assessment by researchers, five-point scale scores were determined using a modified double-stimulus continuous qualityscale test to evaluate T2WI-FS, T2WI, enhanced axial three-dimensional-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE), and T2WI-Fusion sequence images. The differences were subsequently compared. Results: Mean Fisher scores for fistulas vs. sphincters obtained from T2WI-Fusion (FFusion-fistula = 6.56) were significantly higher than those from T2WI (FT2WI-fistula = 3.35) (p = 0.001). Mean Fisher scores for sphincters vs. fat from T2WI-Fusion (FFusion-sphincter = 10.84) were significantly higher than those from T2WI-FS (FSFS-sphincter = 2.57) (p = 0.001). In human assessment, T2WI-Fusion showed the same fistula discriminability as T2WI-FS, and better sphincter discriminability than T2WI. Overall, T2WI-Fusion showed better discriminability than T2WI, T2WI-FS, and enhanced 3D-VIBE images. Conclusion: T2WI and T2WI-FS fusion technology improves signal differences between anal fistulas and surrounding structures, and may facilitate better evaluation of anal fistulas and sphincters.

No Association Between the USP7 Gene Polymorphisms and Colorectal Cancer in the Chinese Han Population

Li, Xin,Wang, Yang,Li, Xing-Wang,Liu, Bao-Cheng,Zhao, Qing-Zhu,Li, Wei-Dong,Chen, Shi-Qing,Huang, Xiao-Ye,Yang, Feng-Ping,Wang, Quan,Wang, Jin-Fen,Xiao, Yan-Zeng,Xu, Yi-Feng,Feng, Guo-Yin,Peng, Zhi-Ha Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Colorectal cancer (CRC), now the third most common cancer across the world, is known to aggregate in families. USP7 is a very important protein with an important role in regulating the p53 pathway, which is critical for genomic stability and tumor suppression. We here genotyped eight SNPs within the USP7 gene and conducted a case-control study in 312 CRC patients and 270 healthy subjects in the Chinese Han population. No significant associations were found for any single SNP and CRC risk. Our data eliminate USP7 as a potential candidate gene towards for CRC in the Han Chinese population.

BMB Reports : Nutlin-3 downregulates p53 phosphorylation on serine and induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

( Xin Li Shi ),( Jing Li Liu ),( Lai Feng Ren ),( Nan Mao ),( Fang Tan ),( Nana Ding ),( Jing Yang ),( Ming Yuan Li ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2014 BMB Reports Vol.47 No.4

Drug-resistance and imbalance of apoptotic regulation limit chemotherapy clinical application for the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. The reactivation of p53 is an attractive therapeutic strategy in cancer with disrupted-p53 function. Nutlin-3, a MDM2 antagonist, has antitumor activity in various cancers. The post-translational modifications of p53 are a hot topic, but there are some controversy ideas about the function of phospho-Ser392-p53 protein in cancer cell lines in response to Nutlin-3. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Nutlin-3 and phospho-Ser392-p53 protein expression levels in SMMC-7721 (wild-type TP53) and HuH-7 cells (mutant TP53). We demonstrated that Nutlin-3 induced apoptosis through down-regulation phospho-Ser392-p53 in two HCC cells. The result suggests that inhibition of p53 phosphorylation on Ser392 presents an alternative for HCC chemotherapy. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(4): 221-226]

Diversity of Endophytic Fungi from Different Verticillium-Wilt-Resistant Gossypium hirsutum and Evaluation of Antifungal Activity Against Verticillium dahliae In Vitro

( Zhi Fang Li ),( Ling Fei Wang ),( Zi Li Feng ),( Li Hong Zhao ),( Yong Qiang Shi ),( He Qin Zhu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.9

Cotton plants were sampled and ranked according to their resistance to Verticillium wilt. In total, 642 endophytic fungi isolates representing 27 genera were recovered from Gossypium hirsutum root, stem, and leaf tissues, but were not uniformly distributed. More endophytic fungi appeared in the leaf (391) compared with the root (140) and stem (111) sections. However, no significant difference in the abundance of isolated endophytes was found among resistant cotton varieties. Alternaria exhibited the highest colonization frequency (7.9%), followed by Acremonium (6.6%) and Penicillium (4.8%). Unlike tolerant varieties, resistant and susceptible ones had similar endophytic fungal population compositions. In three Verticillium-wilt-resistant cotton varieties, fungal endophytes from the genus Alternaria were most frequently isolated, followed by Gibberella and Penicillium. The maximum concentration of dominant endophytic fungi was observed in leaf tissues (0.1797). The evenness of stem tissue endophytic communities (0.702) was comparatively more uniform than the other two tissues. Eighty endophytic fungi selected from 27 genera were evaluated for their inhibition activity against highly virulent Verticillium dahliae isolate Vd080 in vitro. Thirty-nine isolates exhibited fungistasis against the pathogen at varying degrees. Seven species, having high growth inhibition rates (≥75%), exhibited strong antifungal activity against V. dahliae. The antifungal activity of both volatile and nonvolatile metabolites was also investigated. The nonvolatile substances produced by CEF-818 (Penicillium simplicissimum), CEF-325 (Fusarium solani), CEF-714 (Leptosphaeria sp.), and CEF-642 (Talaromyces flavus) completely inhibited V. dahliae growth. These findings deepen our understanding of cotton-endophyte interactions and provide a platform for screening G. hirsutum endophytes with biocontrol potential.

Study of Recellularized Human Acellular Arterial Matrix Repairs Porcine Biliary Segmental Defects

Wei Liu,Sheng-Ning Zhang,Zong-Qiang Hu,Shi-Ming Feng,Zhen-Hui Li,Shu-Feng Xiao,Hong-Shu Wang,Li Li 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2019 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.16 No.6

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, common bile duct injury has been reported more frequently. There is no perfect method for repairing porcine biliary segmental defects. METHODS: After the decellularization of human arterial blood vessels, the cells were cultured with GFP? (carry green fluorescent protein) porcine bile duct epithelial cells. The growth and proliferation of porcine bile duct epithelial cells on the human acellular arterial matrix (HAAM) were observed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. Then, the recellularized human acellular arterial matrix (RHAAM) was used to repair biliary segmental defects in the pig. The feasibility of it was detected by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, liver function and blood routine changes, HE staining, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blot. RESULTS: After 4 weeks (w) of co-culture of HAAM and GFP? porcine bile duct epithelial cells, GFP? porcine bile duct epithelial cells grew stably, proliferated, and fused on HAAM. Bile was successfully drained into the duodenum without bile leakage or biliary obstruction. Immunofluorescence detection showed that GFP-positive bile duct cells could still be detected after GFP-containing bile duct cells were implanted into the acellular arterial matrix for 8 w. The implanted bile duct cells can successfully resist bile invasion and protect the acellular arterial matrix until the newborn bile duct is formed. CONCLUSION: The RHAAM can be used to repair biliary segmental defects in pigs, which provides a new idea for the clinical treatment of common bile duct injury.