Elevated Expression of Nuclear Protein Kinase CK2α as a Poor Prognosis Indicator in Lymph Node Cancerous Metastases of Human Thyroid Cancers

Guo, Miao,Liu, Chao,Qi, Feng-Jie,Zhang, Xiu-Mei,Ren, Li-Li,Liu, Yi-Meng,Meng, Zhi-Chao,Zhu, Zhi-Tu,Xiao, Jian-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.17

Aim: To investigate the expression of protein kinase $CK2{\alpha}$ ($CK2{\alpha}$) in human thyroid disease and its relationship with thyroid cancer metastasis. Materials and Methods: Using immunohistochemistry we measured the expression of $CK2{\alpha}$ in 76 benign and malignant human thyroid cancer tissues, including 10 pairs of papillary carcinoma tissues with or without lymph node cancerous metastasis and similarly 10 pairs of lymph nodes. Results: The expression of $CK2{\alpha}$ was found to be higher in thyroid carcinoma cases (papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma and medullary carcinoma) than in ones such as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, nodular goiter and adenoma. These findings were also confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. More strikingly, elevated expression of $CK2{\alpha}$ in thyroid papillary carcinoma tissues was not only significantly associated with lymph node cancerous metastasis and clinical stage of thyroid cancers; but also correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and high tenascin C (TNC) expression. In addition, EMT and high TNC expression in thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly associated with lymph node cancerous metastasis. Conclusions: Elevated expression of nuclear $CK2{\alpha}$ is a poor prognosis indicator in lymph node cancerous metastasis of human thyroid cancers.

Alternative Splicing of Breast Cancer Associated Gene BRCA1 from Breast Cancer Cell Line

( Li Xia Miao ),( Zhi Jian Cao ),( Chao Shen ),( Chao Jiang Gu ),( Cong Yi Zheng ) 생화학분자생물학회 2007 BMB Reports Vol.40 No.1

Exogenous Sugars Involvement in Senescence and Ethylene Production of Tree Peony ‘Luoyang Hong’ Cut Flowers

Chao Zhang,Miao Liu,Jianxin Fu,Yanjie Wang,Li Dong 한국원예학회 2012 원예과학기술지 Vol.30 No.6

Sugars play important roles in petal senescence of cut flowers. In the Expt. 1 of this study, the effects of different concentrations of glucose (60, 90, and 120 g·L<SUP>-1</SUP>) and sucrose (30, 60, and 90 g·L<SUP>-1</SUP>) application on the vase life, rate of flower diameter increase, rate of flower weight increase and ethylene production of cut tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Luoyang Hong’) were evaluated. At the earlier stage, treatments of different concentrations of glucose and sucrose all retarded the process of flower opening and inhibited the increase of flower diameter and weight, while senescence of flowers fed with different concentrations of glucose was delayed at later stage. Flowers treated with 90 g·L<SUP>-1</SUP> glucose displayed the longest vase life, which showed significant difference (P < 0.05) from those of flowers with the control and sucrose treatments. All treatments with glucose or sucrose not only retarded the decrease of flower diameter and weight, but also suppressed the ethylene production at the earlier stage and delayed the peak of ethylene evolution. In order to study the effect of exogenous sugar on the postharvest response of cut tree peony to ethylene, Expt. 2 was conducted. Cut flowers were treated with 90 g·L<SUP>-1</SUP> glucose for 4 hours before (GE) or after (EG) exposed to 10 μL·L<SUP>-1</SUP> ethylene for 4 hours. Generally, the opening process of flowers with GE and EG treatments was similar to that of the control, however GE treatment delayed flower senescence. Both GE and EG treatments improved flower diameter and weight, and GE treatment delayed the time of flower weight decrease. Besides, GE delayed climacteric ethylene evolution for 8 hours. All above suggest that exogenous sugars delay tree peony ‘Luoyang Hong’ cut flower senescence and extend flower vase life through their roles in the decrease of water loss and the suppression of sensitivity to ethylene and ethylene production.

An Improved MMC Control Strategy with Single-Phase to Ground Fault-Tolerance Capability

Miao, Huiyu,Mei, Jun,Zheng, Jianyong,Zhang, Chenyu,Zhu, Chao,Ma, Tian,Mei, Fei The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2016 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.11 No.5

Experimental Investigation on the Bond Behavior of Deformed Bars in a Class of Structural Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Concrete

Chao Li,Linchang Miao,Quan You,Lijian Lei,Xiaodong Liang,Junjie Wang 대한토목학회 2020 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.24 No.12

The structural expanded polystyrene (EPS) concrete (above 35 MPa) has the potential to be used as metro track bed to reduce and isolate vibration, but its bond behavior is still unclear. This inhibits its application because it is often used in combination with reinforcing bar. In this paper, a class of structural EPS concrete (above 35 MPa) was developed. Based on this, a series of pull-out tests were conducted and the bond behavior of deformed bars in these structural EPS concretes was investigated. In addition, effects of rebar bond length and rebar diameter were analyzed in detail. Experimental results indicate that the structural EPS concrete suffers splitting failure more easily than the conventional concrete (CC). Increase of EPS replacement, rebar bond length or rebar diameter tends to cause the splitting failure of structural EPS concrete. Moreover, with increase of EPS replacement, the failure process is less explosive and more gradual. The stress-slip relationships of the most specimens show three stages, namely linear ascending, non-linear progression, and descending stages. The bond strength of structural EPS concrete is found depended linearly on the power function of its compressive strength, relative cover thickness (c/d) and relative rebar bond length (L/d), respectively. Accordingly, a bond strength prediction model was formulated, and it can precisely predict the bond strength of deformed bars in structural EPS concrete, specimens failing in splitting or splitting-pull out modes, and no fiber added. The results can provide reference for the design of structural EPS concrete.

Telomere-Mitochondrion Links Contribute to Induction of Senescence in MCF-7 Cells after Carbon-Ion Irradiation

Miao, Guo-Ying,Zhou, Xin,Zhang, Xin,Xie, Yi,Sun, Chao,Liu, Yang,Gan, Lu,Zhang, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.4

The effects of carbon-ion irradiation on cancer cell telomere function have not been comprehensively studied. In our previous report cancer cells with telomere dysfunction were more sensitive to carbon-ion irradiation, but the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Here we found that telomerase activity was suppressed by carbon-ion irradiation via hTERT down-regulation. Inhibition of telomere activity by MST-312 further increased cancer cell radiosensitivity to carbon-ion radiation. hTERT suppression caused by either carbon-ion irradiation or MST-312 impaired mitochondrial function, as indicated by decreased membrane potential, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial mass, total ATP levels and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). PGC-$1{\alpha}$ expression was repressed after carbion-ion irradiation, and hTERT inhibition by MST-312 could further exacerbate this effect. Lowering the mitochondrial ROS level by MitoTEMPO could partially counteract the induction of cellular senescence induced by carbon-ion radiation and MST-312 incubation. Taken together, the current data suggest that telomere-mitochondrion links play a role in the induction of senescence in MCF-7 cells after carbon-ion irradiation.

Comparative Study of Two Common In Vitro Models for the Pancreatic Islet with MIN6

Chao Xinxin,Zhao Furong,Hu Jiawei,Yu Yanrong,Xie Renjian,Zhong Jianing,Huang Miao,Zeng Tai,Yang Hui,Luo Dan,Peng Weijie 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2023 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.20 No.1

BACKGROUND: Islet transplantation is currently considered the most promising method for treating insulin-dependent diabetes. The two most-studied artificial islets are alginate-encapsulated b cells or b cell spheroids. As three-dimensional (3D) models, both artificial islets have better insulin secretory functions and transplantation efficiencies than cells in twodimensional (2D) monolayer culture. However, the effects of these two methods have not been compared yet. Therefore, in this study, cells from the mouse islet b cell line Min6 were constructed as scaffold-free spheroids or alginate-encapsulated dispersed cells. METHODS: MIN6 cell spheroids were prepared by using Agarose-base microwell arrays. The insulin secretion level was determined by mouse insulin ELISA kit, and the gene and protein expression status of the MIN6 were performed by Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot, respectively. RESULTS: Both 3D cultures effectively promoted the proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIS) of MIN6 cells compared to 2D adherent cells. Furthermore, 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells demonstrated more significant effects than the spheroids. In general, three pancreatic genes were expressed at higher levels in response to the 3D culture than to the 2D culture, and pancreatic/duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX1) expression was higher in the cells encapsulated in 1% alginate than that in the spheroids. A western blot analysis showed that 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine protein kinase (AKT)/forkhead transcription factor FKHR (FoxO1) pathway more than the spheroids, 0.5% alginate-, or 2% alginate-encapsulated cells did. The 3D MIN6 culture, therefore, showed improved effects compared to the 2D culture, and the 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells exhibited better effects than the spheroids. The upregulation of PDX1 expression through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 pathway may mediate the improved cell proliferation and GSIS in 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells. CONCLUSION: This study may contribute to the construction of in vitro culture systems for pancreatic islets to meet clinical requirements.

Characterization and Mechanism Analysis of Flexible UV Irradiated PAN-Based Carbon Fiber Membranes Prepared

Chao Hou,Miao Yu,Binjie Xin 한국섬유공학회 2023 Fibers and polymers Vol.24 No.12

To enhance the flexibility of electrostatically spun PAN-based carbon nanofiber films for wearable textile applications, this study aimed to prepare PAN nanofiber films by incorporating the 1173 photoinitiator. Subsequently, UV irradiation, pre-oxidation treatment, and high-temperature carbonization processes were employed to develop PAN nanofiber films with improved mechanical properties. The results indicated that UV irradiation treatment significantly promoted the degree of pre-oxidation reaction in PAN nanofiber membranes. Thermal performance characterization demonstrated that UV irradiation reduced the initiation temperature of the cyclization reaction and mitigated the concentration of exothermic phenomena. Raman spectra analysis revealed increased graphitization in the carbon nanofiber film following UV irradiation, as evidenced by a decrease in the ID/IG value to 0.908. This suggests that UV irradiation facilitated stable carbonization and enhanced the graphitization of the carbon fiber within PAN nanofiber films. Moreover, the stress–strain curve indicated that the breaking strength of the nanofiber film reached 1.45 MPa after 20 min of UV irradiation while maintaining an elongation at a break of 3.5%, demonstrating its remarkable strength and toughness. The resulting flexible carbon nanofiber film holds great potential for medical textiles, filtration membranes, flexible capacitors, and more applications.

Comparative studies on potential dependent electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of cathode material 0.5Li2MnO3$0.5LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 for the initial two charging cycles

Chao Chen,Shu Chen,Miao Shui,Xiaoping Xu,Weidong Zheng,Lin Feng,Jie Shu,Yuanlong Ren 한국물리학회 2015 Current Applied Physics Vol.15 No.2

Cathode material 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 is successfully synthesized by citrate acid assisted sol -gel method and shows pretty good electro-chemical performance. To elucidate the electro-chemical reactions and charge carrier transportation kinetics in the charge-discharge process, series of electrochemical impedance spectra for the first and the second charge process are measured on multiple given state of charges. The rapid augmentation of resistance to electronic conduction and ionic conduction within the voltage range 4.45-4.6 V where the removal of Li2O from Li2MnO3 component takes place gives us more evidence about the complicated “structurally integrated” feature of this material. The relatively large span of the arc responsible for electronic conduction and the extremely large Mn3+ related charge transfer resistance at the beginning of the second charging indicate that after one complete charge-discharge cycle, Li2MnO3 and LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 domains still reserve its original structure and will keep its structure for the followed cycles.

Beneficial effects of natural Jeju groundwaters on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats

Yan-chao Wang,Jin-miao Lu,Hui-zi Jin,Ai-niu Ma,Jin-yang Zhang,Nian Gong,Qi Xiao,Bin Zhu,Ying-fang Lv,Na Yu,Wei-dong Zhang,Yong-xiang Wang 한국영양학회 2014 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.8 No.2

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (SamdasooTM), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.