Meta-analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells as a Prognostic Marker in Lung Cancer

Ma, Xue-Lei,Xiao, Zhi-Lan,Liu, Lei,Liu, Xiao-Xiao,Nie, Wen,Li, Ping,Chen, Nian-Yong,Wei, Yu-Quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play potential roles as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers with various cancer types. The aim of this study was to comprehensively and quantitatively summarize the evidence for the use of CTCs to predict the survival outcome of lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was identified using Medline and EMBASE. Patients' clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) together with CTC positive rates at different time points (before, during and after treatment) were extracted. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the prognostic role of CTCs and the correlation between the CTC appearance and clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 12 articles containing survival outcomes and clinical characteristics and 15 articles containing only clinical characteristics were included for the global meta-analysis. The hazard ratio (HR) for OS predicted by pro-treatment CTCs was 2.61 [1.82, 3.74], while the HR for PFS was 2.37 [1.41, 3.99]. The HR for OS predicted by post-treatment CTCs was 4.19 [2.92, 6.00], while the HR for PFS was 4.97 [3.05, 8.11]. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to histological classification and detection method. Odds ratio (OR) showed the appearance of pro-treatment CTCs correlated with the lymph node status, distant metastasis, and TNM staging, while post-treatment CTCs correlated with TNM staging only. Conclusion: Detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood indicates a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer.

Prognostic Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Ma, Xue-Lei,Li, Yan-Yan,Zhang, Jing,Huang, Jing-Wen,Jia, Hong-Yuan,Liu, Lei,Li, Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: Isolation and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients suffering from a variety of different cancers have become hot biomarker topics. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of CTCs in pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: Initial literature was identified using Medline and EMBASE. The primary data were hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression free survival/recurrence free survival (PFS/RFS). Results: A total of 9 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis, published between 2002 and 2013. The estimated pooled HR and 95%CI for OS for all studies was 1.64 (95%CI 1.39-1.94, p<0.00001) and the pooled HR and 95%CI for RFS/DFS was 2.36 (95%CI 1.41-3.96, p<0.00001). The HRs and 95%CIs for OS and RFS/DFS in patients before treatment were 1.93 (95%CI 1.26-2.96, p=0.003) and 1.82 (95%CI 1.22-2.72, p=0.003), respectively. In patients receiving treatment, the HRs and 95%CI for OS and RFS/DFS were 1.37 (95%CI 1.00-1.86, p=0.05) and 1.89 (95%CI 1.01-3.51, p=0.05), respectively. Moreover, the pooled HR and 95%CI for OS in the post-treatment group was 2.20 (95%CI 0.80-6.02, p=0.13) and the pooled HR for RFS/DFS was 8.36 (95%CI 3.22-21.67, p<0.0001). Conclusions: The meta-analysis provided strong evidence supporting the proposition that CTCs detected in peripheral blood have a fine predictive role in pancreatic patients especially on the time point of post-treatment.

Transcriptome Network Analysis Reveals Potential Candidate Genes for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Ma, Zheng,Guo, Wei,Niu, Hui-Jun,Yang, Fan,Wang, Ru-Wen,Jiang, Yao-Guang,Zhao, Yun-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

The esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Understanding molecular changes in ESCC should improve identification of risk factors with different molecular subtypes and provide potential targets for early detection and therapy. Our study aimed to obtain a molecular signature of ESCC through the regulation network based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used the GSE23400 series to identify potential genes related to ESCC. Based on bioinformatics we constructed a regulation network. From the results, we could establish that many transcription factors and pathways closely related with ESCC were linked by our method. STAT1 also arose as a hub node in our transcriptome network, along with some transcription factors like CCNB1, TAP1, RARG and IFITM1 proven to be related with ESCC by previous studies. In conclusion, our regulation network provided information on important genes which might be useful in investigating the complex interacting mechanisms underlying the disease.

POSITIVE SOLUTIONS OF A REACTION-DIFFUSION SYSTEM WITH DIRICHLET BOUNDARY CONDITION

Ma, Zhan-Ping,Yao, Shao-Wen Korean Mathematical Society 2020 대한수학회보 Vol.57 No.3

In this article, we study a reaction-diffusion system with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, which describing a three-species food chain model. Under some conditions, the predator-prey subsystem (u₁ ≡ 0) has a unique positive solution (${\bar{u_2}}$, ${\bar{u_3}}$). By using the birth rate of the prey r1 as a bifurcation parameter, a connected set of positive solutions of our system bifurcating from semi-trivial solution set (r₁, (0, ${\bar{u_2}}$, ${\bar{u_3}}$)) is obtained. Results are obtained by the use of degree theory in cones and sub and super solution techniques.

Identification and Characterization of Protein Encoded by orf382 as L-Threonine Dehydrogenase

( Fei Ma ),( Tian Wen Wang ),( Xing Yuan Ma ),( Ping Wang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.6

In the genome annotation of Escherichia coli MG1655, the orf382 (1,149 bp) is designated as a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase that may be Fe-dependent. In this study, the gene was amplified from the genome by PCR and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant 6×His-tag protein was then purified and characterized. In an enzymatic assay using different hydroxyl-containing substrates (n-butanol, L-threonine, ethanol, isopropanol, glucose, glycerol, L-serine, lactic acid, citric acid, methanol, or D-threonine), the enzyme showed the highest activity on L-threonine. Characterization of the mutant constructed using gene knockout of the orf382 also implied the function of the enzyme in the metabolism of L-threonine into glycine. Considering the presence of tested substrates in living E. coli cel ls and previous literature, we believed that the suitable nomenclature for the enzyme should be an L-threonine dehydrogenase (LTDH). When using L-threonine as the substrate, the enzyme exhibited the best catalytic performance at 39°C and pH 9.8 with NAD+ as the cofactor. The determination of the Km values towards L-threonine (Km = 11.29 μM), ethanol (222.5 μM), and n-butanol (8.02 μM) also confirmed the enzyme as an LTDH. Furthermore, the LTDH was shown to be an ion-containing protein based on inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry with an isoelectronic point of pH 5.4. Moreover, a circular dichroism analysis revealed that the metal ion was structurally and enzymatically essential, as its deprivation remarkably changed the α-helix percentage (from 12.6% to 6.3%).

Positive solutions of a reaction-diffusion system with Dirichlet boundary condition

Zhan-Ping Ma,Shao-Wen Yao 대한수학회 2020 대한수학회보 Vol.57 No.3

In this article, we study a reaction-diffusion system with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, which describing a three-species food chain model. Under some conditions, the predator-prey subsystem ($u_{1}\equiv0 $) has a unique positive solution $\left( \overline{u_{2}},\overline{u_{3}} \right).$ By using the birth rate of the prey $r_{1}$ as a bifurcation parameter, a connected set of positive solutions of our system bifurcating from semi-trivial solution set $\left( r_{1},\left( 0,\overline{ u_{2}},\overline{u_{3}}\right) \right) $ is obtained. Results are obtained by the use of degree theory in cones and sub and super solution techniques.

Comparison of Gadobenate Dimeglumine and Gadopentetate Dimeglumine for Breast MRI Screening: a Meta-analysis

Yang, Xiao-Ping,Han, Yue-Dong,Ye, Jian-Jun,Chen, Gang,Luo, Ying,Ma, Hong-Xia,Yu, Xue-Wen,Niu, Juan-Qin,Ren, Fang-Yuan,Guo, You-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: As a common and essential contrast medium at present, gadobenate dimeglumine has shown better performance than some other agents when applied to Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screening (Breast MRI Screening). Nevertheless, reports on the diagnostic performance of these two mediums (gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine) are not completely consistent. Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine for Breast MRI Screening in patients suffering from breast cancer and to provide more convinced evidence to guide clinical practice in terms of appropriate contrast agents. Data Sources and Review Methods: Original articles in English and Chinese published before January 2013 were selected from available databases (The Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, Chinese Journal Full-text). The criteria for inclusion and exclusion were based on the standard for diagnosis tests. Meta-Disc software (Version 1.4) was used for data analysis. Then, the area under curve (AUC) of SROC and the spearman rank correlation of sensitivity against (1-specificity) were calculated. Results: Total of 17 researches involving 1934 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine were 0.99 (0.97, 1.00) and 0.93 (0.88, 1.00) respectively. The pooled specificity for these two contrast agents were 0.924 (0.902, 0.943) and 0.838 (0.817, 0.858) respectively, and the AUC of SROC curve were 0.9781 and 0.9215 respectively. Conclusions: Gadobenate dimeglumine can be regarded as a more effective and feasible contrast medium for Breast MRI Screening. At least 5% differences in diagnostic performance are usually considered as clinically relevant.

Neutropenia during the First Cycle of Induction Chemotherapy Is Prognostic for Poor Survival in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Real-World Study in an Endemic Area

Cheng Xu,Shi-Ping Yang,Yuan Zhang,Ling-Long Tang,Guan-Qun Zhou,Xu Liu,Yan-Ping Mao,Rui Guo,Wen-Fei Li,Lei Chen,Ai-Hua Lin,Ying Sun,Jun Ma 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neutropenia during the first cycle of induction chemotherapy (IC-1) on survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Materials and Methods Eligible patients (n=545) with LANPC receiving IC+concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included. Based on nadir neutrophil after IC-1, all patients were categorized into three groups: no/grade 1-2/grade 3-4 neutropenia. Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between groups and subgroups stratified by IC regimen. We also explored the occurrence of IC-1–induced myelosuppression events and the minimal value of post-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (post-NLRmin). Univariate/multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the effect of IC-1–induced neutropenia, timing of neutropenia, number of myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin on OS/DFS. Results Grade 1-2/grade 3-4 neutropenia were associated with poorer OS/DFS than no neutropenia (all p < 0.05); OS/DFS were not significantly different between patients experiencing grade 1-2 vs. 3-4 neutropenia. Neutropenia had no significant effect on OS/DFS in patients receiving docetaxel–cisplatin–5-fluorouracil (TPF). Grade 1-2 (grade 3-4) neutropenia negatively influenced OS/DFS in patients receiving cisplatin–5-fluorouracil (PF) (PF and docetaxel– cisplatin [TP]; all p < 0.05). Neutropenia, two/three myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin ( 1.33) was most frequent on days 5-10, second and third week of IC-1, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, IC-1–induced neutropenia, two/three myelosuppression events, and post-NLRmin  1.33 were validated as negative predictors of OS/DFS (all p < 0.05); timing of neutropenia had no significant effect. Conclusion Occurrence of neutropenia, number of myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin during PF/TP IC-1 have prognostic value for poor survival in LANPC.

Effect of sodium sulfite, tartaric acid, tannin, and glucose on rheological properties, release of aroma compounds, and color characteristics of red wine

Hao Wang,Zhi-Jing Ni,Wen-Ping Ma,Chang-Bing Song,Jian-Guo Zhang,Kiran Thakur,Zhao-Jun Wei 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.2

In this study, we evaluated the effect of additionof non-volatile compounds (sodium sulfite, tartaric acid,tannin, and glucose) on the rheological properties, releaseof aroma compounds, and color of the red wine. Whiledetermining the rheological properties of the supplementedsamples, non-Newtonian fluidic and shear-thinningbehavior of samples was noticed. The viscosity of thesesamples was found in negative correlation with the dose ofaddition of various non-volatile substances. The aromaprofile of red wine after additions showed the change in therelease of the nine key aroma compounds. Among themethyl hexanoate, phenylethyl alcohol, octanoic acid, diethylsuccinate, and ethyl octanoate were profoundly increased. Further, the color of red wines was improved in the presenceof tartaric acid and tannin. Overall, supplementationof various substances during storage period of three differentwines could enormously affect the sensory characteristicsin a dose dependent manner.

Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes and Small Molecule Drugs for Prostate Cancer by a Bioinformatics Strategy

Li, Jian,Xu, Ya-Hong,Lu, Yi,Ma, Xiao-Ping,Chen, Ping,Luo, Shun-Wen,Jia, Zhi-Gang,Liu, Yang,Guo, Yu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Purpose: Prostate cancer caused by the abnormal disorderly growth of prostatic acinar cells is the most prevalent cancer of men in western countries. We aimed to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore small molecule drugs for prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: The GSE3824 gene expression profile of prostate cancer was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database which including 21 normal samples and 18 prostate cancer cells. The DEGs were identified by Limma package in R language and gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed. In addition, potential regulatory microRNAs and the target sites of the transcription factors were screened out based on the molecular signature database. In addition, the DEGs were mapped to the connectivity map database to identify potential small molecule drugs. Results: A total of 6,588 genes were filtered as DEGs between normal and prostate cancer samples. Examples such as ITGB6, ITGB3, ITGAV and ITGA2 may induce prostate cancer through actions on the focal adhesion pathway. Furthermore, the transcription factor, SP1, and its target genes ARHGAP26 and USF1 were identified. The most significant microRNA, MIR-506, was screened and found to regulate genes including ITGB1 and ITGB3. Additionally, small molecules MS-275, 8-azaguanine and pyrvinium were discovered to have the potential to repair the disordered metabolic pathways, abd furthermore to remedy prostate cancer. Conclusions: The results of our analysis bear on the mechanism of prostate cancer and allow screening for small molecular drugs for this cancer. The findings have the potential for future use in the clinic for treatment of prostate cancer.