Clinical Characteristics and Survival Analysis of Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes with Hepatic Metastases

Ge, Qi-Dong,Lv, Ning,Kong, Ya-Nan,Xie, Xin-Hua,He, Ni,Xie, Xiao-Ming,Wei, Wei-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Background: The liver is one of the most common metastatic sites of breast cancer, hepatic metastases developing in 6%-25% of patients with breast cancer and being associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the survival and clinical characteristics of patients with hepatic metastases from breast cancer of different molecular subtypes and to investigate the prognostic and predictive factors that effect clinical outcome. Methods: We retrospectively studied the charts of 104 patients with breast cancer hepatic metastases diagnosed at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from December 1990 to June 2009. Subtypes were defined as luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) enriched, triple-negative (TN). Prognostic factor correlations with clinical features and treatment approaches were assessed at the diagnosis of hepatic metastases. Results: The median survival time was 16.0 months, and the one-, two- three-, four-, five-year survival rates were 63.5%, 31.7%, 15.6%, 10.8%, and 5.4%, respectively. Median survival periods after hepatic metastases were 19.3 months (luminal A), 13.3 months (luminal B), 18.9 months (HER2-enriched), and 16.1 months (TN, P=0.11). In multivariate analysis, a 2 year-interval from initial diagnosis to hepatic metastasis, treatment with endocrine therapy, and surgery were independent prognostic factors. Endocrine therapy could improve the survival of luminal subtypes (P=0.004) and was a favorable prognostic factor (median survival 23.4 months vs. 13.8 months, respectively, P=0.011). Luminal A group of patients treated with endocrine therapy did significantly better than the Luminal A group of patients treated without endocrine therapy (median survival of 48.9 vs. 13.8 months, P=0.003). Conclusions: Breast cancer subtypes were not associated with survival after hepatic metastases. Endocrine therapy was a significantly favorable treatment for patients with luminal subtype.

Emodin Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation through the ERα-MAPK/Akt-Cyclin D1/Bcl-2 Signaling Pathway

Sui, Jia-Qi,Xie, Kun-Peng,Zou, Wei,Xie, Ming-Jie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of emodin on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and the estrogen (E2) signal pathway in vitro. Materials and Methods: MTT assays were used to detect the effects of emodin on E2 induced proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) was applied to determine the effect of emodin on E2-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Western blotting allowed detection of the effects of emodin on the expression of estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$, cyclin D1 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and phosphatidylinostiol 3-kinases (PI3K). Luciferase assays were emplyed to assess transcriptional activity of $ER{\alpha}$. Results: Emodin could inhibit E2-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis effects, and arrest the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, further blocking the effect of E2 on expression and transcriptional activity of $ER{\alpha}$. Moreover, Emodin influenced the ER ${\alpha}$ genomic pathway via downregulation of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 protein expression, and influenced the non-genomic pathway via decreased PI3K/Akt protein expression. Conclusions: These findings indicate that emodin exerts inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation via inhibiting both non-genomic and genomic pathways.

Excess trehalose and glucose affects chitin metabolism in brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)

Qi-Da Shen,Meng-Meng Yang,Guo-Qiang Xie,Hui-JuanWang,Lu Zhang,Ling-Yu Qiu,Shi-GuiWang,Bin Tang 한국응용곤충학회 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.20 No.2

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide that is hydrolyzed by trehalase to yield two glucose molecules. Trehalase is the first enzyme involved in the chitin biosynthesis pathway, and it plays a pivotal role in insect growth and molting. In this study, Nilaparvata lugens, an economically important rice pest in Southeast Asia, was injectedwith trehalose or glucose to investigate their effects on chitin metabolism. Excess trehalose and glucose significantly increased the rate of deformity (molting and/or wing deformities) and mortality in N. lugens. Trehalose, glycogen, and glucose contents were also significantly decreased in N. lugens treated with trehalose or glucose. Chitin content and the expression of NlHK, NlUAP, NlG6PI1, NlGFAT, NlGNPNA, NlPGM1, NlPGM2, NlCHS1, NlCHS1a, NlCHS1b, NlCht3, NlCht4, NlCht6, and NlCht7 were significantly decreased, whereas the expression of NlCht2, NlIDGF, and NlENGase was significantly increased in treated insects. Furthermore, a significant increase in the expression of NlTRE1-1, NlTRE2, and NlTPS1 and a decrease, in the expression of NlTPS2 were observed. Results of this study suggested that excess trehalose and glucose could affect chitin metabolism by regulating the expression of pivotal genes to decrease the chitin content, resulting in the inability of N. lugens to complete its molting process.

Environmental Microbiology and Engineering : Comparison of Two Laccases from Trametes versicolor for Application in the Decolorization of Dyes

( Qi Li ),( Lin Ge ),( Junli Cai ),( Jianjun Pei ),( Jingcong Xie ),( Linguo Zhao ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.4

It has been previously demonstrated that laccases exhibit great potential for use in several industrial and environmental applications. In this paper, two laccase isoenzyme genes, lccB and lccC, were cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The sequence analysis indicated that the lccB and lccC genes consisted of 1,563 and 1,584 bp, and their open reading frames encoded 520 and 527 amino acids, respectively. They had 72.7% degree of identity in nucleotides and 86.7% in amino acids. The expression levels of LccB and LccC were up to 32,479 and 34,231 U/l, respectively. The recombinant laccases were purified by ultrafiltration and (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, showing a single band on SDS-PAGE, which had a molecular mass of 58 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for LccB were 2.0 and 55oC with 2,2`-azinobis-[ 3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid (ABTS) as a substrate, whereas LccC exhibited optimal pH and temperature at 3.0 and 60oC. The apparent kinetic parameters of LccB were 0.43 mM for ABTS with a Vmax value of 51.28 U/mg, and the Km and Vmax values for LccC were 0.29 mM and 62.89 U/mg. The recombinant laccases were able to decolorize five types of dyes. Acid Violet 43 (100 g/ml) was completely decolorized by LccB or LccC (2 U/ml), and the decolorization of Reactive Blue KN-R (100 g/ml) was 91.6% by LccC (2 U/ml). Thus, the study characterizes useful laccase isoenzymes from T. versicolor that have the capability of being incorporated into the treatment of similar azo and anthraquinone dyes from dyeing industries.

Engineering of a Bacillus subtilis Strain Deficient in Cellulase: Application in Degumming of Ramie

Qi Yang,Shengwen Duan,Lifeng Cheng,Xiangyuan Feng,Ke Zheng,Chunliang Xie,Zhiyuan Liu,Yuande Peng 한국섬유공학회 2019 Fibers and polymers Vol.20 No.1

Degumming is the most important step before ramie fibers are used in textile industry. Conventional chemical degumming technology with alkaline treatment at high temperature causes critical problems in environment. In addition to multiple degumming enzymes (e.g. pectinases and xylanases), Bacillus subtilis strain 168 can also produce cellulase which brings irreversible damage to ramie fibers. In this study, a strain deficient in cellulase was constructed by insertional inactivation of gene eglS to make it suitable for microbial degumming. Results showed that the cellulase activity was not detected in strain ΔeglS, after 25 h of incubation with strain ΔeglS, the weight loss of the ramie fibers was 20.20 %. Though the residual gum content of ramie fibers obtained in microbial degumming process was 19.67 %, microbial intervention followed by diluted alkaline solution treatment showed lower residual gum content (2.73 %) than chemical degumming (2.96 %). The single fiber breaking strength value of ramie fibers from bio-chemical degumming process reached 27.19 cN, which was the highest of three samples. Moreover, bio-chemical degumming process resulted in a 75 % decrease of alkali dosage as compared with chemical degumming process. This study provides a suggestion to genetically modify wild-type strain in order to protect ramie fibers from cellulase damage, and indicates a sustainable alternative for the traditional chemical degumming in the textile industry.

The investigation of pH threshold value on the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete

Qi Pu,Yan Yao,Ling Wang,Xingxiang Shi,Jingjing Luo,Yifei Xie 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2017 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.19 No.3

The aim of this study is to investigate the pH threshold value for the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete. A method was designed to attain the pH value of the pore solution on the location of the steel in concrete. Then the pH values of the pore solution on the location of steel in concrete were changed by exposing the samples to the environment (CO25%, RH 40%) to accelerate carbonation with different periods. Based on this, the pH threshold value for the corrosion of steel reinforcement had been examined by the methods of half-cell potential and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The results have indicated that the pH threshold value for the initial corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete was 11.21. However, in the carbonated concrete, agreement among whether steel corrosion was initiatory determined by the detection methods mentioned above could be found.

An improved SCGM(1,m) model for multi-point deformation analysis

Qi-jie Wang,Chang-cheng Wang,Rong-an Xie,Xin-qing Zhang,Jian-jun Zhu 한국지질과학협의회 2014 Geosciences Journal Vol.18 No.4

Considering the deformation of discrete monitoringpoints within the same deformable body usually have similar physicalproperties and tend to undergoing identical dynamic process, jointmodelling of the deformation processes of these points in time domainare expected to generate better results. Yin et al. (1997) first extendedthe multi-variable grey model-system cloud grey model SCGM(1,m),with obviously superior modelling mechanism than single-variablegrey model, to multi-point deformation modelling. However, thismodel is still not widely recognized and its applications remain verylimited in the field of deformation analysis. The objective of this studyis to demonstrate the capability of the SCGM(1,m) model, to presenttwo revisions to further improve the performance of the model andto draw more attention to the community of deformation analysis. We first introduce the principles of the SCGM(1,m) model in theanalysis and prediction of deformation surveys. Two practicaltechniques, namely residuals re-modelling and linear regressionadjustment, are then presented to improve the SCGM(1,m) model. Combined with slope monitoring data, the modelling with the originaland the improved SCGM(1,m) models by residuals re-modellingand linear regression adjustment are illustrated. The mean relativeprediction errors decrease from 5.89% to 3.54% and 2.69%, whenthe two refining techniques are applied, respectively, indicating relativeimprovements of 39.9% and 54.3%.

Tolerance Analysis of Circuits by Interval Iterative Method

Xie Ting Ling,Hua Lin,Qi Cheng Yu 대한전자공학회 1987 JTC-CSCC : Joint Technical Conference on Circuits Vol.- No.-

Metabolic Regulation of Gene Expression by Histone Lysine β-Hydroxybutyrylation

Xie, Zhongyu,Zhang, Di,Chung, Dongjun,Tang, Zhanyun,Huang, He,Dai, Lunzhi,Qi, Shankang,Li, Jingya,Colak, Gozde,Chen, Yue,Xia, Chunmei,Peng, Chao,Ruan, Haibin,Kirkey, Matt,Wang, Danli,Jensen, Lindy M. Elsevier 2016 Molecular cell Vol.62 No.2

<P><B>Summary</B></P> <P>Here we report the identification and verification of a β-hydroxybutyrate-derived protein modification, lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb), as a new type of histone mark. Histone Kbhb marks are dramatically induced in response to elevated β-hydroxybutyrate levels in cultured cells and in livers from mice subjected to prolonged fasting or streptozotocin-induced diabetic ketoacidosis. In total, we identified 44 histone Kbhb sites, a figure comparable to the known number of histone acetylation sites. By ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis, we demonstrate that histone Kbhb is a mark enriched in active gene promoters and that the increased H3K9bhb levels that occur during starvation are associated with genes upregulated in starvation-responsive metabolic pathways. Histone β-hydroxybutyrylation thus represents a new epigenetic regulatory mark that couples metabolism to gene expression, offering a new avenue to study chromatin regulation and diverse functions of β-hydroxybutyrate in the context of important human pathophysiological states, including diabetes, epilepsy, and neoplasia.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb) is a new type of histone mark </LI> <LI> 44 non-redundant histone Kbhb sites are identified in human and mouse cells </LI> <LI> Histone Kbhb increases under starvation and STZ-induced ketoacidosis </LI> <LI> Starvation-induced H3K9bhb is associated with active gene expression </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Microsatellite primers in red bayberry, <i>Myrica rubra</i> (Myricaceae)

Xie, Xiaobo,Qiu, Yingying,Ke, Liping,Zheng, Xiliang,Wu, Guanting,Chen, Jinqing,Qi, Xingjiang,Ahn, Sangnag Wiley (John WileySons) 2011 American journal of botany Vol.98 No.4

<P>Microsatellite markers were developed in Myrica rubra to investigate potential hybridization events within or between M. rubra and its closely related species.</P>