Prognostic Value of Preoperative Serum CA 242 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cases

Feng, Ji-Feng,Huang, Ying,Chen, Qi-Xun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 242 is inversely related to prognosis in many cancers. However, few data regarding CA 242 in esophageal cancer (EC) are available. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of CA 242 and propose an optimum cut-off point in predicting survival difference in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 192 cases. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for survival prediction was plotted to verify the optimum cuf-off point. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic parameters for survival. Results: The positive rate for CA 242 was 7.3% (14/192). The ROC curve for survival prediction gave an optimum cut-off of 2.15 (U/ml). Patients with CA 242 ${\leq}$ 2.15 U/ml had significantly better 5-year survival than patients with CA 242 >2.15 U/ml (45.4% versus 22.6%; P=0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that differentiation (P=0.033), CA 242 (P=0.017), T grade (P=0.004) and N staging (P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Preoperative CA 242 is a predictive factor for long-term survival in ESCC, especially in nodal-negative patients. We conclude that 2.15 U/ml may be the optimum cuf-off point for CA 242 in predicting survival in ESCC.

Serum miR-19a Predicts Resistance to FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Cases

Chen, Qi,Xia, Hong-Wei,Ge, Xiao-Jun,Zhang, Yu-Chen,Tang, Qiu-Lin,Bi, Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. FOLFOX is the most common regimen used in the first-line chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer, but only half of the patients respond to this regimen and we have almost no clue in predicting resistance in such first-line application. Methods: To explore the potential molecular biomarkers predicting the resistance of FOLFOX regimen as the first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer, we screened microRNAs in serum samples from drug-responsive and drug-resistant patients by microarrays. Then differential microRNA expression was further validated in an independent population by reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: 62 microRNAs expressing differentially with fold-change >2 were screened out by microarray analysis. Among them, 5 (miR-221, miR-222, miR-122, miR-19a, miR-144) were chosen for further validation in an independent population (N=72). Our results indicated serum miR-19a to be significantly up-regulated in resistance-phase serum (p=0.009). The ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of serum miR-19a to discriminate the resistant patients from the response ones was 66.7%, and the specificity was 63.9% when the AUC was 0.679. We additionally observed serum miR-19a had a complementary value for cancer embryonic antigen (CEA). Stratified analysis further revealed that serum miR-19a predicted both intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. Conclusions: Our findings confirmed aberrant expression of serum miR-19a in FOLFOX chemotherapy resistance patients, suggesting serum miR-19a could be a potential molecular biomarker for predicting and monitoring resistance to first-line FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens in advanced colorectal cancer patients.

Prognostic Value of Subcarinal Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Feng, Ji-Feng,Zhao, Qiang,Chen, Qi-Xun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Purpose: The 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual for esophageal cancer (EC) categorizes N stage according to the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), irrespective of the site. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of subcarinal LN metastasis in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 507 consecutive patients with ESCC was conducted. Potential clinicopathological factors that could influence subcarinal LN metastasis were statistically analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to evaluate the prognostic parameters for survival. Results: The frequency of subcarinal LN metastasis was 22.9% (116/507). Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor length (>3cm vs ${\leq}3cm$; P=0.027), tumor location (lower vs upper/middle; P=0.009), vessel involvement (Yes vs No; P=0.001) and depth of invasion (T3-4a vs T1-2; P=0.012) were associated with 2.085-, 1.810-, 2.535- and 2.201- fold increases, respectively, for risk of subcarinal LN metastasis. Multivariate analyses showed that differentiation (poor vs well/moderate; P=0.001), subcarinal LN metastasis (yes vs no; P=0.033), depth of invasion (T3-4a vs T1-2; P=0.014) and N staging (N1-3 vs N0; P=0.001) were independent prognostic factors. In addition, patients with subcarinal LN metastasis had a significantly lower 5-year cumulative survival rate than those without (26.7% vs 60.9%; P<0.001). Conclusions: Subcarinal LN metastasis is a predictive factor for long-term survival in patients with ESCC.

Experimental study on cold-formed lipped channel stub columns reinforced by steel bars or steel strips

Jian-Feng Chen,Ming-Qi Chen,Yong-Kang Shen,Jian-Hua Shao,Xin-Xin Yang 국제구조공학회 2021 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.40 No.3

In this paper, the axial compressive properties of cold-formed steel lipped channel stub columns strengthened by rebars or steel strips are experimentally studied. The experiment included two sections. A kind of columns with local buckling is reinforced longitudinally by steel strips at the web. The other is the columns with distorted buckling, which is reinforced longitudinally by steel bars at the curling edge. The failure mode, deformation characteristics, ultimate bearing capacity and load displacement curve of the specimen are obtained through the experiment. On the basis of the experiment, the calculation results of theoretical axial bearing capacity of cold-formed steel lipped channel stub columns in Chinese, North American and Australian code are compared and analyzed. Research indicates: First, the cold-formed steel lipped channel stub columns strengthened by steel bars or steel strips can effectively improve the compressive bearing capacity of the specimen. Secondly, when the initial stress ratio of specimen is less than 0.3, the reinforcement effect is ideal. Thirdly, the three standards don’t stipulate the calculation of theoretical bearing capacity of the specimen strengthened after loading, so there is a large deviation between the theoretical calculation value and the test value.

Laser-processing of transparent solid materials for advanced photonic device applications

Feng Zhu,Rui Yang,Lei Wang,Yong-Sen Yu,Qi-Dai Chen,Hong-Bo Sun 한국생산제조학회 2012 한국생산제조시스템학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

We demonstrate the laser processing for fabrication of advanced photonic devices including fiber gratings and high transmittance biomimetic windows. The fiber gratings, including fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and long period fiber gratings (LPFGs), are fabricated in non-sensitized standard telecom single-mode fiber by femtosecond (fs) laser, making them hightemperature (1000 ℃) stable. The FBG written by fs laser combined with phase mask method is used for monitoring the thermal effect in fs laser interaction with silica glass. The peak temperature of the thermal impulse is estimated about 4800 ℃, which decays to around 500 ℃ in the pulse interval for irradiation of 1.1 mJ at repetition rate of 1 kHz. When the pulse energy and repetition rate increase in the fabrication process of FBGs, the fs-laser-induced grating regions extend from the fiber core to the cladding?air boundary due to the laser self-focusing. With the help of selective chemical etching of the laser modified grating regions, a microhole array structured FBG is formed, which is demonstrated in the application of simultaneous sensing for refractive index (RI) and temperature. For the fs laser direct writing of LPFGs, the period is 100 μm, making the total length of the LPFG only 5 mm. The LPFGs can couple the guided mode to high-order cladding modes of second-order diffraction, resulting in a high RI sensitivity of 5265 nm/RI unit in the RI range of 1.433 ∼ 1.443 and a low-temperature sensitivity of ?15.52 pm/℃ from 20 ℃ to 500 ℃. In addition, the high transmittance biomimetic windows are produced by direct laser interference ablation. The interfered laser beams are introduced into the surface of a bare optical substrate, where structured surfaces consisting of a micropillar array are produced by the multiple exposure of the two-beam interference ablation. As an example of the application, zinc sulfide substrates are processed with this technology.

Slow Release Fertilizer Decreases Leaching Loss of Nitrogen in Sand-based Root Zone

Chen Wei-Feng(첸웨이펭),Wang-Wei(왕웨이),Qi Ying-Jie(퀴잉제) 한국잡초학회·한국잔디학회 2007 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.21 No.2

축구장의 식재지반이 모래로 조성될 경우 낮은 보비력과 높은 용탈율로 인해 시비관리의 조정이 필요하다. 본 실험의 목적은 PVC관을 이용한 경기장 유사모형 실험구에서 캔터키 블루그래스에 있어서 완효성비료의 생육 효과를 비교 실험하였다. 잔디의 색깔, 균일도, 생육, 지상부 생체량과배출수의 질산의 유출량을 몇가지 다른 생육상과 네번의 유사 강우 시험 시 행하였다. 실험 결과 요소의 성분 유출량이 가장 높았고 공시 완효성비료는 가장 낮았다. 이 완효성 비료는 다른 공사 잔디비료에 비해 14일간, 요소보다는 28일간 잔디의 품질 변에서 비효가 지속되었다. 또한 이 완효성비료는 잔디의 웃자람과 잔디깎기에 소요되는 시간을 줄일 수 있었다. 질산태 질소의 유출에 았어서도잔디의 조성 초반기에 50% 정도를 감소 시켰다. When a football field is constructed using sand medium, the fertilizer management has to be adjusted because of the low nutrient holding capacity and higher leaching rate. The objective of this study was to test the effects of slow release fertilizers on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) growth in simulated sport field rootzones with PVC pipe pots. Data of turf grass color, uniformity, growth rate, biomass above ground, and the nitrate content in the leaching solution was collected at different growing stages and during four simulated rain fall periods. The result showed that the nutrient release rate of urea was the highest and that of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer was the lowest. Effects of the controlled release nitrogen fertilizer lasted 14 days more than other lawn fertilizers and 28 days longer than regular urea with acceptable quality levels of turf. The slow release fertilizer also restrained excessive growth of the grass, reduced the times of mowing. Slow release fertilizer used in this study reduced NO₃-N leaching by almost 50% at the beginning of turf establishment.

Effect of Vanadium on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 2100 MPa Ultra-High Strength High Plasticity Spring Steel Processed by a Novel Online Rapid-Induction Heat Treatment

Qi‑Lei Dai,Kun Li,Kai‑Ren Meng,Zhou Fang,Wen Chen,Tian‑Bao Yang,Chi Feng,Jin‑Ming Wu,R. D. K. Misra 대한금속·재료학회 2023 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.29 No.4

Advanced automotive industries generate large demand for the next generation of high strength and high toughness springsteels. Vanadium-containing 55SiCrV spring steels subjected to rapid-induction heating treatment can fulfil such requirements. However, the effect of vanadium microalloying under online rapid-induction heat treatments is rarely reported. Acomparative study of the microstructure and tensile properties of 55SiCr and 55SiCrV spring steel wires subjected to a novelonline rapid induction heat treatment has been demonstrated herein. It is found that the tensile strength of the 55SiCr springwire decreases with the decrease in the wire speed in online rapid-induction heating, and the plasticity increases. Whereas,the tensile strength of the 55SiCrV steel wire increases with the decrease in the wire speed with the retained high plasticity,which is attributed to the strengthening effect of the dislocations. Through the optimized rapid-induction heating/coolingthermal cycles and intermediate-temperature tempering treatment, the tensile strength of the 55SiCrV steel wire approaches2106 MPa with total elongation of 9.7%. Compared with the 55SiCr spring steel, the addition of V in 55SiCrV spring steelchanges the strengthening and toughening mechanisms via the grain refinement and enhancement in the hardenability andtempering resistance. The finely dispersed V-containing secondary phases are rarely found in the matrix, which indicates thatthe precipitation effect stemming from the addition of V is not the dominant strengthening factor in the online rapid-inductionheat process. The proposed novel online rapid-induction heat treatment provides a promising pathway for the mechanicalproperty improvement of the spring steel.

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes 4 is a Predictor of Survival and a Novel Therapeutic Target in Colorectal Cancer

Feng, Xiao-Dong,Song, Qi,Li, Chuan-Wei,Chen, Jian,Tang, Hua-Mei,Peng, Zhi-Hai,Wang, Xue-Chun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.21

Background: Structural maintenance of chromosomes 4 (SMC-4) is a chromosomal ATPase which plays an important role in regulate chromosome assembly and segregation. However, the role of SMC-4 in the incidence of malignancies, especially colorectal cancer is still poorly understood. Materials and Methods: We here used quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis to examine SMC-4 mRNA and protein levels in primary colorectal cancer and paired normal colonic mucosa. SMC-4 clinicopathological significance was assessed by immunohistochemical staining in a tissue microarray (TMA) in which 118 cases of primary colorectal cancer were paired with noncancerous tissue. The biological function of SMC-4 knockdown was measured by CCK8 and plate colony formation assays. Fluorescence detection has been used to detect cell cycling and apoptosis. Results: SMC-4 expression was significantly higher in colorectal cancer and associated with T stage, N stage, AJCC stage and differentiation. Knockdown of SMC-4 expression significantly suppressed the proliferation of cancer cells and degraded its malignant degree. Conclusions: Our clinical and experimental data suggest that SMC-4 may contribute to the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. Our study provides a new therapeutic target for colorectal cancer treatment.

FOUR LOGARITHMICALLY COMPLETELY MONOTONIC FUNCTIONS INVOLVING GAMMA FUNCTION

Qi, Feng,Niu, Da-Wei,Cao, Jian,Chen, Shou-Xin Korean Mathematical Society 2008 대한수학회지 Vol.45 No.2

In this paper, two classes of functions, involving a parameter and the classical Euler gamma function, and two functions, involving the classical Euler gamma function, are verified to be logarithmically completely monotonic in $(-\frac{1}{2},\infty)$ or $(0,\infty)$; some inequalities involving the classical Euler gamma function are deduced and compared with those originating from certain problems of traffic flow, due to J. Wendel and A. Laforgia, and relating to the well known Stirling's formula.

Four logarithmically completely monotonic functions involving gamma function

Feng Qi,Da-Wei Niu,Jian Cao,Shou-Xin Chen 대한수학회 2008 대한수학회지 Vol.45 No.2

In this paper, two classes of functions, involving a parameter and the classical Euler gamma function, and two functions, involving the classical Euler gamma function, are verified to be logarithmically completely monotonic in (-½, ∞) or (0, ∞); some inequalities involving the classical Euler gamma function are deduced and compared with those originating from certain problems of traffic flow, due to J. Wendel and A. Laforgia, and relating to the well known Stirling’s formula. In this paper, two classes of functions, involving a parameter and the classical Euler gamma function, and two functions, involving the classical Euler gamma function, are verified to be logarithmically completely monotonic in (-½, ∞) or (0, ∞); some inequalities involving the classical Euler gamma function are deduced and compared with those originating from certain problems of traffic flow, due to J. Wendel and A. Laforgia, and relating to the well known Stirling’s formula.