Contributed Mini Review : Isoforms, structures, and functions of versatile spectraplakin MACF1

( Li Fang Hu ),( Pei Hong Su ),( Run Zhi Li ),( Chong Yin ),( Yan Zhang ),( Peng Shang ),( Tuan Min Yang ),( Ai Rong Qian ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2016 BMB Reports Vol.49 No.1

Spectraplakins are crucially important communicators, linking cytoskeletal components to each other and cellular junctions. Microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1), also known as actin crosslinking family 7 (ACF7), is a member of the spectraplakin family. It is expressed in numerous tissues and cells as one extensively studied spectraplakin. MACF1 has several isoforms with unique structures and well-known function to be able to crosslink F-actin and microtubules. MACF1 is one versatile spectraplakin with various functions in cell processes, embryo development, tissue-specific functions, and human diseases. The importance of MACF1 has become more apparent in recent years. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the presence and function of MACF1 and provide perspectives on future research of MACF1 based on our studies and others. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 37-44]

The History of Reionization

Li-Zhi Fang 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.49 No.2I

The 3K temperature of the cosmic microwave background shows that baryon matter in the present universe should be very cold if the evolution of baryon matter is always in (quasi)-thermal equilibrium. However, the observed sky shows that in the present universe, the baryon matter, which is mostly hydrogen and helium gas, is actually hot. Therefore, the baryon matter must have undergone a non-equilibrium transition from neutral to ionized gas. This is called the cosmic reionization because the hydrogen and helium gases were in an ionized state before the decoupling between radiation and baryon matter. In the standard model of the universe, the reionization is considered to be caused by the first generations of luminous objects, which are the sources of UV background radiation that reionized the cosmic gas. New observations indicate that the transition from dark ages (cold gas) to a transparent epoch (ionized gas) is complicated. This paper will briefly review the observations and the theories for the chronology of cosmic dark ages: when the universe warmed up? when the reionization occurred? when the universe became transparent? when the evolution of cosmic matter entered into the nonlinear and non-thermal region?

Combined Screening of Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer and Reproductive Tract Infections in Rural China

Li, Zhi-Fang,Wang, Shao-Ming,Shi, Ju-Fang,Zhao, Fang-Hui,Ma, Jun-Fei,Qiao, You-Lin,Feng, Xiang-Xian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.7

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence and knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in rural Chinese women, and to explore the acceptance and feasibility of implementing a combined screening program in rural China. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among women aged 30 to 59 years old in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province from 2009 to 2010. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and RTIs, and the attitude toward single or combined screening were collected by an interview questionnaire. Each participant received a clinical examination of the cervix, breast and reproductive tract. Examinations included visual inspection, mammography, laboratory tests and pathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 1,530 women were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of cervical precancerous lesions, suspicious breast cancer, suspicious benign breast disease and RTIs was 1.4%, 0.2%, 14.0% and 54.3%, respectively. Cervicitis, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginitis were the three most common RTIs among our participants. Television, radio broadcast, and public education during screening were the major source of healthcare knowledge in rural China. Moreover 99.7% of women expressed great interest in participating in a combined screening project. The affordable limit for combined screening project was only 50 RMB for more than half of the rural women. Conclusion: A combined screening program would be more effective and popular than single disease screening projects, while appropriate accompanied education and a co-pay model for its successful implementation need to be explored, especially in low-resource settings.

Quantitative Analysis of Fatty Acids in Leaves of Ligustrum quihoui

Zhi-hui Li,Han-zhou Sun,Li-qun Huang,Li-xin He,Fang-de Lv 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

A Swimming Hydroponic System for Leafy Vegetable Production (ZAAS-SwimHydro)

Zhi-hao Xu,Wei-shon Shou,Cheng-hao Zhang,Wen-qi Dong,Jue-li Lei,Jian Cheng,Sheng-jun Zhou,Yu-qian Zhu,Dang-li Dai,Li-ping Cheng,Jian Xu,Jin-chun Fang,Sang Gyu Lee,Myeong-Cheoul Cho 한국원예학회 2008 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Feasibility, accuracy and acceptability of self-sampled human papillomavirus testing using careHPV in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study

Zhi-yao You,Jing Li,Miao-fang Wu,Hui Li,Yanfang Ye,Li-juan Wang,Zhongqiu Lin 대한부인종양학회 2024 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.35 No.1

Objective: Self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is a potential option forcer vical cancer screening, but research is scarce in Cambodia. We evaluated the feasibility,accuracy, and acceptability of self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV. Methods: A cross-sectional study including women aged 20–49 years attending 2 nationalhospitals in the capital city was conducted. Women under went both self-sampling andclinician-sampling of specimens, and were then asked to complete an acceptabilityquestionnaire. The paired samples were analyzed for high-risk HPV by careHPV andgenotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A total of 375 women were eligible for inclusion. Based on PCR, 78.9% were negativefor HPV in both self and clinician-samples, 9.9% had a complete HPV type match, and 6.1%had all HPV types in clinician-samples also detected in self-samples. In 5.1%, one or more HPVtypes identified in the clinician-samples were missed in self-samples. When using careHPV,the overall agreement between the 2 sampling methods was 95.7% (95% confidence inter val[CI]=95.8–95.6) with good concordance (κ=0.66, 95% CI=0.56–0.76). Nearly 90% of the womenpreferred clinician-sampling over self-sampling, citing greater comfort, ease, and speed. Conclusion: Self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV could be an option for cer vical cancerscreening in Cambodia; however, it requires periodic quality control of handling procedures. In addition, women’s health education regarding the accuracy of self-sampled HPV testingand the importance of follow-up in cases of positive results is needed.

A phase I dose-finding trial of hyperthermic intraperitoneal docetaxel combined with cisplatin in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer

Zhi-yao You,Hui Li,Miao-fang Wu,Yanfang Ye,Li-juan Wang,Zhongqiu Lin,Jing Li 대한부인종양학회 2024 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.35 No.1

Objective: To identif y the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of docetaxel combined with afixed dose of cisplatin (75 mg/m2) delivered as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) in patients with ovarian cancer. Methods: In this phase I trial, a time-to-event Bayesian optimal inter val design was used. Docetaxel was given at a starting dose of 60 mg/m2 and was increased in 5 mg/m2 incrementsuntil the MTD was determined or the maximum dose level of 75 mg/m2 was reached. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate was set at 25%, with a total sample size of 30 patients. HIPEC wasdelivered immediately following debulking surger y at a target temperature of 43°C for 90 minutes. Results: From August 2022 to November 2022, 30 patients were enrolled. Among thepatients who received a dose of docetaxel ≤65 mg/m2, no DLT was reported. DLTs wereobser ved in one patient who received 70 mg/m2 docetaxel (grade 3 anaemia) and in threepatients who received 75 mg/m2 docetaxel (one case of grade 3 anaemia, one case of grade3 hepatic impairment and one case of grade 4 thrombocytopenia). Patients treated withdocetaxel 75 mg/m2 in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 had an estimated DLT rate of25%, which was the closest to the target DLT rate and was therefore chosen as the MTD. Conclusion: Docetaxel, in combination with a fixed dose of cisplatin (75 mg/m2), can be usedsafely at intraperitoneal doses of 75 mg/m2 in ovarian cancer patients who received HIPEC(43°C, 90 minutes) following debulking surger y. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05410483

Cement Embolus Trapped in the Inferior Vena Cava Filter during Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Zhi Li,Rui-fang Ni,Xin Zhao,Chao Yang,Ming-ming Li 대한영상의학회 2013 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.14 No.3

A 58-year-old female patient, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung, underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty at the L4 vertebral body due to painful spinal metastases. Because of deep venous thrombosis of the left femoral and iliac veins, an inferior vena cava filter had been placed before vertebroplasty. Bone cement migrated into the venous bloodstream and then was being trapped within the previously placed filter. This case illustrates that caval filter could capture the bone cement and prevent it from migrating to the pulmonary circulation.

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.

Neutrophil Count and the Inflammation-based Glasgow Prognostic Score Predict Survival in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving First-line Chemotherapy

Li, Qing-Qing,Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Lu, Ming,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.