Alternative Biological Material for Tissue Engineering of the Vagina: Porcine-Derived Acellular Vaginal Matrix

Tian Yanpeng,Liu Yibin,Xiao Yanlai,Li Zhongkang,Zhang Mingle,Chen Liang,Li Zhen,Zhang Wangchao,Zhang Zhiqiang,Kong Desheng,Meng Li,Du Yanfang,Zhang Jingkun,Gao Jingui,Huang Xianghua 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2024 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.21 No.2

Background: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a severe congenital disorder characterized by vaginal hypoplasia caused by dysplasia of the Müllerian duct. Patients with MRKH syndrome often require nonsurgical or surgical treatment to achieve satisfactory vaginal length and sexual outcomes. The extracellular matrix has been successfully used for vaginal reconstruction. Methods: In this study, we developed a new biological material derived from porcine vagina (acellular vaginal matrix, AVM) to reconstruct the vagina in Bama miniature pigs. The histological characteristics and efficacy of acellularization of AVM were evaluated, and AVM was subsequently transplanted into Bama miniature pigs to reconstruct the vaginas. Results: Macroscopic analysis showed that the neovaginas functioned well in all Bama miniature pigs with AVM implants. Histological analysis and electrophysiological evidence indicated that morphological and functional recovery was restored in normal vaginal tissues. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the neovaginas had mucosal folds characteristics of normal vagina. No significant differences were observed in the expression of CK14, HSP47, and α-actin between the neovaginas and normal vaginal tissues. However, the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) was significantly lower in the neovaginas than in normal vaginal tissues. In addition, AVM promoted the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. These results suggest that AVM might promotes vaginal regeneration by activating the β-catenin/c-Myc/cyclin D1 pathway. Conclusion: This study reveals that porcine-derived AVM has potential application for vaginal regeneration. Background: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a severe congenital disorder characterized by vaginal hypoplasia caused by dysplasia of the Müllerian duct. Patients with MRKH syndrome often require nonsurgical or surgical treatment to achieve satisfactory vaginal length and sexual outcomes. The extracellular matrix has been successfully used for vaginal reconstruction. Methods: In this study, we developed a new biological material derived from porcine vagina (acellular vaginal matrix, AVM) to reconstruct the vagina in Bama miniature pigs. The histological characteristics and efficacy of acellularization of AVM were evaluated, and AVM was subsequently transplanted into Bama miniature pigs to reconstruct the vaginas. Results: Macroscopic analysis showed that the neovaginas functioned well in all Bama miniature pigs with AVM implants. Histological analysis and electrophysiological evidence indicated that morphological and functional recovery was restored in normal vaginal tissues. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the neovaginas had mucosal folds characteristics of normal vagina. No significant differences were observed in the expression of CK14, HSP47, and α-actin between the neovaginas and normal vaginal tissues. However, the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) was significantly lower in the neovaginas than in normal vaginal tissues. In addition, AVM promoted the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. These results suggest that AVM might promotes vaginal regeneration by activating the β-catenin/c-Myc/cyclin D1 pathway. Conclusion: This study reveals that porcine-derived AVM has potential application for vaginal regeneration.

ISDS Mechanism: Revocation or Reform?-Seeking the New Way Out through the Backlash of the ISDS

장첨첨 ( Zhang Tian Tian ) 제주대학교 법과정책연구소 2016 국제법무 Vol.8 No.1

ISDS체제에 대한 공중의 질의와 반대는 체제의 탄생부터 현재까지 끊이지 않고 제기되어 왔다. 현재는 TPP협정의 체결과 TTIP협상의 가속적인 진행으로 ISDS체제에 대한 관심은 더욱 뜨거워 졌으며 국제사회의 ISDS체제에 대한 논의와 문제제기가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그 중에서 ISDS체제에 대한 많은 반대의 의견이 나오고 있고 이 체제를 폐기하자는 의견도 나타났다. 그러나 필자는 체제에 대한 간단한 폐기보다는 체제의 단점과 부족을 분석하고 연구하여 최적화한 개혁방안을 설계함으로써 ISDS 체제의 새로운 출로를 모색하는 것이 더욱 바람직하다고 생각한다. 투자협정을 기초로 하는 ISDS체제의 설립취지는 투자자의 합법적 권익을 보호하고 국제투자의 양성(良性) 발전을 촉진하는데 있다. 그러나 현실에서는 ISDS중재판정부가 판정을 내릴 때 일반적으로 투자유치국의 공공이익을 경시하고 단편적으로 투자자의 사적 권리를 보호하는 경향이 있어 투자유치국의 공공이익, 사법주권 내지 사회의 안정에 부정적인 영향을 미치게 되고 심지어 일부 국가의 국가경제안정에 치명적인 타격을 가하게 됨으로써 국제투자 활동에서의 사적 권리와 공공이익간의 균형관계를 무너뜨리게 된다. 따라서 ISDS체제 자체도 많은 의문, 비판과 반대를 받게 되었다. 본 논문은 3개 부분으로 구성되었다. 우선 ISDS가 체결되어서부터 현재까지의 발전과정에 대하여 간략하게 소개한다. 여기에는 ISDS체제의 정의, ISDS조항에 규정되어있는 투자협정, ISDS체제의 사건수리기구 그리고 ISDS 체제의 필요성, 독창성, 존재의 의의가 포함된다. 다음으로 아르헨티나 위기, Philip Morris담배 사건, 한미FTA에 대한 사레분석을 통하여 ISDS체제대한국제사회의 비판과 반대 그리고 공공이익에 미치는 부정적인 영향을 제시한다. 그리고 ISDS체제의 성격과 특정에서 출발하여 공공이익과 사적 권리의 충돌 및 이익불균형이 발생하게 된 원인을 분석한다. 마지막으로 실체적인 측면과 절차적인 측면에서 ISDS체제에 대한 일련의 개혁조치를 제안하는 것으로 ISDS체제의 새로운 형평효과를 기대한다. 실체적인 측면에서 ISDS체제를 규정하고 있는 국제투자협정의 세부적인 내용을 명확하게 규정하고 상세한 공공이익의 예외규정을 추가함으로써 조약에 대한 중재판정부의 임의적인 해석을 제한한다. 절차적인 측면에서 ISDS체제의 투명성을 제고하고자 중재인 선임에 있어서의 공정성을 강화하고 제3자 소송제도를 개선한다. 그리고 상소 기구를 설치하여 ISDS의 잘못된 판정에 대한 구제체제를 마련함으로서 전면적으로 ISDS체제의 공정성과 합리성을 보장한다. As a relatively new form of dispute settlement in international investment, the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism has gone through tremendous questioning and challenges in both of the academic field and the practice field. In the ongoing negotiations of the TPP and the TTIP, whether to apply the ISDS mechanism under the framework also becomes a hot debatable issue. This essay argues that reform rather than revocation should be the better way for ISDS mechanism to go. The ISDS mechanism is based on the investment treaties, with the initial purposes of protecting the legitimate rights of investors and promoting the benign development of international investment. While in the practice, some international investment tribunals gave too much protection to investors and paid little attention on the public interest of the host state, which brought negative influence to the public policy, legal sovereignty and social stability of the host state. Moreover, the backlash also comes from the transparency principal and the arbitrator selection under the ISDS mechanism. This article mainly talks about 3 aspects. Firstly, it gives a brief introduction to the birth and development of the ISDS mechanism, including the definition of ISDS, the investment treaties containing ISDS, and the international arbitration tribunals that apply the ISDS mechanism. Then the article points out the backlash and challenges to the ISDS through the cases of Argentina crisis, Philip Morris tobacco cases and the KORUS FTA. Lastly it provides some approaches to the reform of ISDS substantially and procedurally. In the perspective of substantial law, it suggests that the content and provisions of investment treaties should be specified, with the definite and specific exceptional clauses, which would limit the discretion of the arbitrators. In the procedural perspective, the transparency and the arbitrator`s impartiality should be emphasized, at the same time, the perfection of Amicus Curiae system and the establishment of the appellate body of ISDS should also be brought into mind.

Information Fusion Filter for Multi-rate Multi-sensor Systems

Jing Ma,Hao Jin,Tian Tian,Wei Zhang 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.10 No.1

This paper is concerned with the information fusion filtering problem for a class of multi-rate multi-sensor systems, where the system is described at the highest sampling rate and different sensors may have different lower sampling rates. Firstly, the local filters (LFs) at state updating points are proposed by using the LFs at measurement sampling points. Then, the distributed suboptimal fusion filter is obtained by the well-known covariance intersection fusion (CIF) algorithm. The filtering error variance matrices are derived to obtain the fusion weights. The computational cost is reduced since the cross-covariance matrices between any two local filters are avoided. Simulation example verifies the correctness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm.

Seismic behavior of steel tube reinforced concrete bridge columns

Tian Tian,Wenliang Qiu,Zhe Zhang 국제구조공학회 2018 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.28 No.1

This paper reports an experimental study that was accomplished to assess the seismic behavior of steel tube reinforced concrete bridge columns (SBCs). The motivation of this study was to verify a supposition that the core steel tube may be terminated at a rational position in the column to minimize the material cost while maintaining the seismic behavior of this composite column. Four SBC specimens were tested under combined constant axial load and cyclic reversed lateral loads. The unique variable in the test matrix was the core steel tube embedment length, which ranged from 1/3 to 3/3 of the column effective height. It is observed that SBCs showed two distinctly different failure patterns, namely brittle shear failure and ductile flexural failure. Tests results indicate that the hysteretic responses of SBCs were susceptible to the core steel tube embedment length. With the increase of this structural parameter, the lateral strength of SBC was progressively improved; the deformability and ductility, however, exhibited a tendency of first increase and then decrease. It is also found that in addition to maintained the rate of stiffness degradation and cumulative energy dissipation basically unchanged, both the ductility and deformability of SBC were significantly improved when the core steel tube was terminated at the mid-height of the column, and these were the most unexpected benefits accompanied with material cost reduction.

Moderate tetrabasic zinc chloride supplementation improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs

Zhang, Gang,Xia, Tian,Zhao, Jinbiao,Liu, Ling,He, Pingli,Zhang, Shuai,Zhang, Liying Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.2

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC) on the health of weaned pigs, and to determine the optimal supplemental concentrations and whether dietary TBZC could replace the pharmacological concentrations of dietary zinc oxide (ZnO) to improve growth performance and decrease Zn excretion in weaned pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, 180 weaned pigs (8.92±1.05 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments, including the basal diet containing 125 mg/kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), and the basal diet with 1,200, 1,800, 2,400, or 3,000 mg/kg TBZC supplementation. In Exp. 2, 240 weaned pigs (7.66±1.09 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments, including a negative control diet without Zn supplementation, a positive control diet (2,250 mg/kg ZnO), and 3 experimental diets with different concentrations of TBZC supplementation (1,000, 1,250, and 1,500 mg/kg). Results: In Exp. 1, the average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (G:F) and diarrhea incidence responded quadratically (p<0.01) as the TBZC supplemental concentrations increased, and pigs fed 1,200 and 1,800 mg/kg TBZC showed the best growth performance. Moreover, 1,800 mg/kg TBZC supplementation showed the greatest (p<0.01) total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activities in liver of pigs. Histopathological examination revealed lesions in heart, liver, lung and kidney, and mild or severe histological lesions mainly occurred with the supplementation of 2,400 and 3,000 mg/kg TBZC. In Exp. 2, 1,000 and 1,250 mg/kg TBZC supplementation in diets significantly (p<0.01) increased ADG and G:F of weaned pigs, reduced Zn excretion in feces, and had no effect on diarrhea-reducing compared to 2,250 mg/kg ZnO supplementation. Conclusion: The TBZC is a potential alternative to ZnO. The recommended concentration of TBZC in weaned pig diets is 1,000 to 1,250 mg/kg.

XPG is Predictive Gene of Clinical Outcome in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer with Platinum Drug Therapy

Zhang, Tian,Sun, Jing,Lv, Min,Zhang, Lin,Wang, Xia,Ren, Ji-Chen,Wang, Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Polymorphisms in XPG are considered to contribute to the clinical outcome of patients receiving platinum drug chemotherapy. We aimed to investigate the role of five potential SNPs of XPG gene on the response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced Chinese NSCLC patients. A total of 451 patients with newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed primary NSCLC were consecutively collected. XPG rs2296147, rs4150261, rs17655, rs1047768 and rs2094258 were genotyped by the Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In our study, we found patients carrying rs1057768 TT genotype had a significantly lower treatment response when compared with the CC genotype (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.18-0.78). Patients carrying rs1047768 TT genotype showed a significantly short median PFS (11.2 months) and OS (13.6 months) than CC genotype, and the hazard ratios (HR) for PFS and OS were 2.06 (1.01-4.50) and 2.29 (1.21-2.49), respectively. Moreover, we found a significant decreased risk of death from NSCLC among patients carrying the rs2296147 TT genotype when compared with the CC genotype, the HR (95% CI) for OS being 0.50 (0.27-0.95). In conclusion, our study found that polymorphisms in rs1047768 C/T and rs2296147 C/T are associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC, and XPG polymorphisms could be predictive of prognosis.

Differences in the biological properties of mesenchymal stromal cells from traumatic temporomandibular joint fibrous and bony ankylosis: a comparative study

Zhang Pei-Pei,Liang Su-Xia,Wang Hua-Lun,Yang Kun,Nie Shao-Chen,Zhang Tong-Mei,Tian Yuan-Yuan,Xu Zhao-Yuan,Chen Wei,Yan Ying-Bin 한국통합생물학회 2021 Animal cells and systems Vol.25 No.5

The aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from a sheep model of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fibrous and bony ankylosis. A sheep model of bilateral TMJ trauma-induced fibrous ankylosis on one side and bony ankylosis on the contralateral side was used. MSCs from fibrous ankylosed callus (FAMSCs) or bony ankylosed callus (BA-MSCs) at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 after surgery were isolated and cultured. MSCs derived from the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle (BM-MSCs) were used as controls. The MSCs from the different sources were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. Adherence and trilineage differentiation potential were presented in the ovine MSCs. These cell populations highly positively expressed MSC-associated specific markers, namely CD29, CD44, and CD166, but lacked CD31 and CD45 expressions. The BA-MSCs had higher clonogenic and proliferative potentials than the FA-MSCs. The BA-MSCs also showed higher osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials, but lower adipogenic capacity than the FA-MSCs. In addition, the BA-MSCs demonstrated higher chondrogenic, but lower osteogenic capacity than the BM-MSCs. Our study suggests that inhibition of the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiations of MSCs might be a promising strategy for preventing bony ankylosis in the future.

SPON2 Promotes M1-like Macrophage Recruitment and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Distinct Integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo Pathways

Zhang, Yan-Li,Li, Qing,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Fang, Fang,Li, Jun,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Qin,Zhu, Lei,Nie, Hui-Zhen,Zhang, Xue-Li,Feng, Ming-Xuan,Jiang, Shu-Heng,Tian, Guang-Ang,Hu, Li-Peng,Lee, Ho-Young,Lee, Su-J American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Cancer research Vol.78 No.9

<P>Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent key regulators of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune microenvironment. Matricellular protein SPON2 is essential for recruiting lymphocytes and initiating immune responses. Recent studies have shown that SPON2 has complicated roles in cell migration and tumor progression. Here we report that, in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SPON2 not only promotes infiltration of M1-like macrophages but also inhibits tumor metastasis. SPON2-α4β1 integrin signaling activated RhoA and Rac1, increased F-actin reorganization, and promoted M1-like macrophage recruitment. F-Actin accumulation also activated the Hippo pathway by suppressing LATS1 phosphorylation, promoting YAP nuclear translocation, and initiating downstream gene expression. However, SPON2-α5β1 integrin signaling inactivated RhoA and prevented F-actin assembly, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration; the Hippo pathway was not noticeably involved in SPON2-mediated HCC cell migration. In HCC patients, SPON2 levels correlated positively with prognosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence that SPON2 is a critical factor in mediating the immune response against tumor cell growth and migration in HCC.</P><P><B>Significance:</B> Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract:</B> http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/9/2305/F1.large.jpg. <I>Cancer Res; 78(9); 2305–17. ©2018 AACR</I>.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P> [Figure]</P>

Impact of Latrogenic Biliary Injury during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Surgeon’s Mental Distress A Nationwide Survey from China

( Tian Yang ),( Hai-su Dai ),( Lei Liang ),( Cheng-cheng Zhang ),( Zhang-jun Cheng ),( Yong-hai Peng ),( Yao-ming Zhang ),( Zhi-yu Chen ) 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: Iatrogenic biliary injury (IBI) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most common and recognized iatrogenic complications. Little is known whether LC-IBI would lead to surgeon’s mental distress. This study reports the incidence of surgeon’s mental distress who have caused LC-IBI and risk factors of surgeon’s severe mental distress (SMD). Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the form of electronic questionnaire was conducted among Chinese general surgeons who have caused LC-IBI. The six collected clinical features relating to mental distress included: 1) feeling burnout, anxiety, or depression, 2) avoiding performing LC, 3) having physical reactions when recalling the incidence, 4) having the urge to quit surgery, 5) taking psychiatric medications, and 6) seeking professional psychological counseling. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors of SMD, which was defined as meeting ≥3 of the above-mentioned clinical features. Results: Among 1,466 surveyed surgeons, 1,236(84.3%) experienced mental distress following LC-IBI, and nearly half (49.7%, 614/1236) had SMD. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that surgeons from non-university affiliated hospitals (OR:1.873), patients who required multiple repair operations (OR:4.075), patients who required hepaticojejunostomy/partial hepatectomy (OR:1.859), existing lawsuit litigation (OR:10.491), existing violent doctor-patient conflicts (OR:4.995), needing surgeons’ personal compensation (OR:2.531), and additional administrative punishment by hospitals (OR:2.324) were independent risk factors of surgeon’s SMD. Conclusions: Four out of five surgeons experienced mental distress following LC-IBI, and nearly half had SMD. Several independent risk factors of SMD were identified, which could help to make strategies to improve mental well-being of these surgeons.

PS-PNIPAm Nanoparticles-based Photonic Hydrogels for Solvent Sensing

Tian Zhang,Xiaolu Jia,Jintao Zhu 한국고분자학회 2016 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.41 No.2