Patterns of Failure and Survival Trends in 3,808 Patients with Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosed from 1990 to 2012: A Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study

Xue-Song Sun,Di-Han Liu,Sai-Lan Liu,Qiu-Yan Chen,Shan-Shan Guo,Yue-Feng Wen,Li-Ting Liu,Hao-Jun Xie,Qing-Nan Tang,Yu-Jing Liang,Xiao-Yun Li,Jin-Jie Yan,Ming-Huang Hong,Jun Ma,Lin-Quan Tang,Hai-Qiang M 대한암학회 2019 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.51 No.4

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival trends and patterns of failure in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy over the last 20 years. Materials and Methods Thirty-eight hundred and eight patients diagnosed with stage II NPC between January 1990 and December 2012 were involved in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were treated with RT. According to the main imaging techniques and RT technology, we categorized these patients into four calendar periods: 1990-1996, 1997-2002, 2003-2007, and 2008-2012. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) were served as the clinical outcome. Results After a median follow-up period of 84.7 months, we observed increasing trends in survival and disease control. The 3- and 5-year OS rates increased from 87.1% and 78.7% in the first calendar period to 97.4% and 94.5% in the last calendar period, respectively (p < 0.001). Additionally, significant increasing trends could be seen in the PFS and LRFS during the four calendar periods. In the subgroup analysis, the LRFS in patients older than 50 years at diagnosis showed greater improvement than younger patients. However, the rate of distant metastasis was stable and relatively low, as the 5-year DMFS ranged from 90.5% to 94.7% among the four calendar periods. Conclusion The survival rates in patients with stage II NPC showed increasing trends from 1990 to 2012. The advance of RT provided excellent locoregional control and enhanced OS.

Intrapleural or Intraperitoneal Lobaplatin for Treatment of Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion or Ascites

Huang, Xin-En,Wei, Guo-Li,Huo, Jie-Ge,Wang, Xiao-Ning,Lu, Yan-Yan,Wu, Xue-Yan,Liu, Jin,Xiang, Jin,Feng, Ji-Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.4

Aims: To explore efficacy and side effects of intrapleural or intraperitoneal lobaplatin for treating patients with malignant pleural or peritoneal effusions. Methods: Patients in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute with cytologically confirmed solid tumors complicated with malignant pleural effusion or ascites were enrolled into this study. Lobaplatin (20-30 $mg/m^2$) was intrapleurally or intraperitoneally infused for patients with malignant pleural effusion or ascites. Results: From 2012 to 2013, intrapleural or intraperitonea lobaplatin was administered for patients with colorectal or uterus cancer who were previous treated for malignant pleural effusion or ascites. Partial response was achieved for them. Main side effects were nausea/vomiting, and bone marrow suppression. No treatment related deaths occurred. Conclusion: Intrapleural or intraperitoneal infusion of lobaplatin is a safe treatment for patients with malignant pleural effusion or ascites, and the treatment efficacy is encouraging.

Altered Distribution and Expression Pattern of E-cadherin in Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Correlations with Prognosis and Clinical Features

Jiang, Xue-Mei,Zhang, Ju-Bo,Xiong, Ju,Huang, Xiao-Xi,Ren, Zheng-Gang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Objective: E-cadherin has been identified as a tumor suppressor in many types of carcinoma. However, some studies recently suggested that the role and expression of E-cadherin might be more complex and diverse. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic value of E-cadherin expression with reference to levels in membranes and cytoplasm, and the membrane/cytoplasm ratio, in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) after curative hepatectomy. Methods: The expression of E-cadherin was assessed by immunohistochemistry in HCC tissue microarrays from 125 patients, and its prognostic values and other clinicopathlogical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were followed for a median period of 43.7 months (range 1 to 126 months). Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated that a high membrane/cytoplasm (M/C) ratio of E-cadherin expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P =0.001) and shorter time to recurrence (TTR) (P=0.038), as well as tumor size, intrahepatic metastasis, and TNM stage. In contrast, neither membrane nor cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin was related with OS and TTR. Furthermore, multivariate analysis confirmed the M/C ratio to be an independent predictor of OS (P=0.031). ${\chi}^2$ tests additionally showed that the M/C ratio of E-cadherin expression was related with early stage recurrence (P=0.012), rather than later stage recurrence. Conclusion: The M/C ratio of E-cadherin expression is a strong predictor of postoperative survival and is associated with early stage recurrence in patients with HCC.

Association Between Metabolic Risk Factors and Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia Based on Sex

Hongna Huang,Lizhao Du,Zhengping Pu,Yuan Shi,Zifan Xiao,Xi Chen,Shun Yao,Lijun Wang,Zezhi Li,Ting Xue,Donghong Cui 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.10

Objective Sex differences have been observed in many aspects of schizophrenia, including cognitive deficits. Despite extensive research into the relationship between metabolic factors and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, few studies have explored the potential sex difference in their association. Methods We recruited 358 schizophrenia patients and 231 healthy controls. The participants underwent measurements of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose. Metabolic risk factors included abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. A collection of these metabolic risk factors has been defined as metabolic syndrome. These diagnoses were based on the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III. Cognitive performance was measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). A descriptive analysis, difference analysis, and linear regression model were used to identify the metabolic risk factors for cognitive function in schizophrenia. Results Our findings revealed sex differences in the rate of abdominal obesity and hypertension in schizophrenic patients. Additionally, we observed sex differences in the association between metabolic risk factors and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Specifically, hyperglycemia was associated with the immediate memory index score of RBANS in male patients, while dyslipidemia was associated with language, attention, delayed memory index scores, and RBANS total score in female patients. Conclusion Our results suggest that sex should be considered when evaluating the impact of metabolic disorders on the cognitive function of schizophrenic patients. Moreover, our study identifies hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia as potential targets for precise treatment by sex stratification, which could benefit the improvement of cognitive impairment in schizophrenic patients.

Highly Selective Production of Compound K from Ginsenoside Rd by Hydrolyzing Glucose at C-3 Glycoside Using β-Glucosidase of Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700

( Ru Zhang ),( Xue-mei Huang ),( Hui-juan Yan ),( Xin-yi Liu ),( Qi Zhou ),( Zhi-yong Luo ),( Xiao-ning Tan ),( Bian-ling Zhang ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2019 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.29 No.3

To investigate a novel β-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 (BbBgl) to produce compound K (CK) via ginsenoside F2 by highly selective and efficient hydrolysis of the C-3 glycoside from ginsenoside Rd, the BbBgl gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21. The recombinant BbBgl was purified by Ni-NTA magnetic beads to obtain an enzyme with specific activity of 37 U/mg protein using pNP-Glc as substrate. The enzyme activity was optimized at pH 5.0, 35°C, 2 or 6 U/ml, and its activity was enhanced by Mn²⁺ significantly. Under the optimal conditions, the half-life of the BbBgl is 180 h, much longer than the characterized β-glycosidases, and the Km and V_max values are 2.7 mM and 39.8 μmol/mg/min for ginsenoside Rd. Moreover, the enzyme exhibits strong tolerance against high substrate concentration (up to 40 g/l ginsenoside Rd) with a molar biotransformation rate of 96% within 12 h. The good enzymatic properties and gram-scale conversion capacity of BbBgl provide an attractive method for large-scale production of rare ginsenoside CK using a single enzyme or a combination of enzymes.

Ni/La2O3-ZrO2 catalyst for hydrogen production from steam reforming of acetic acid as a model compound of bio-oil

Ya-ping Xue,Chang-feng Yan,Xiao-yong Zhao,Shi-lin Huang,Chang-qing Guo 한국화학공학회 2017 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.34 No.2

Hydrogen production from steam reforming of acetic acid was investigated over Ni/La2O3-ZrO2 catalyst. A series of Ni/La2O3-ZrO2 catalysts were synthesized by sol-gel method coupled with wet impregnation, which was characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, EDS, TG, SEM and TPR. Catalytic activity of Ni/La2O3-ZrO2 was evaluated by steam reforming of acetic acid at the temperature range of 550-750 oC. The tetragonal phase La0.1Zr0.9O1.95 is formed through the doping of La2O3 into the ZrO2 lattice and nickel species are highly dispersed on the support with high specific surface area. H2 yield and CO2 yield of Ni/La2O3-ZrO2 catalyst with 15%wt Ni reaches 89.27% and 80.41% at 600 oC, respectively, which is attributed to high BET surface area and sufficient Ni active sites in strong interaction with the support. 15%wt Ni supported on La2O3-ZrO2 catalyst maintains relatively stable catalytic activities for a period of 20 h.

Insect-specific microRNA involved in the development of the silkworm Bombyx mori

Yong Zhang,Xue Zhou,Xie Ge,Jiang-Hao Jiang,Mu-Wang Li,Shi-Hai Jia,Xiao-Nan Yang,Yun-Chao Kan,Xue-Xia Miao,Guo-Ping Zhao,Fei Li,Yong-Ping Huang 한국응용곤충학회 2009 한국응용곤충학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2009 No.10

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding genes that participate in post-transcription regulation by either degrading mRNA or blocking its translation. It is considered to be very important in regulating insect development and metamorphosis. Insects are the largest group of animals and are extremely valuable in biological and agriculture research. Insects are also important pests to human health and agriculture, and efforts are necessary protect both humans and plants from disease and damage. Despite their importance, insects lag behind mammals, nematodes, and plants in miRNA research. At present, only 279 insect miRNAs have been identified from Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae, Apis mellifera, Bombyx mori, and D. pseudoobscura in miRBase, and most of these miRNAs were computationally predicted without experimental validation. Functional analysis of insect miRNAs has only been conducted in D. melanogaster.

Physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity of chitosanmodified single walled carbon nanotubes as drug carriers

Qing‑Ri Cao,Xiao‑Xue Zhang,Hao‑Yan Huang,Li‑Qing Chen,Hehua Jin,Beom‑Jin Lee,Jing‑Hao Cui 한국약제학회 2019 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.49 No.1

The application of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as drug carriers is limited by their poor dispersal in aqueous medium. This study aimed to prepare chitosan (CS)-modified SWCNTs (CS-SWCNTs) and to evaluate their physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity. Oxidized SWCNTs (O-SWCNTs) were prepared with the use of strong acid, and the effects of acidizing conditions on the oxidation degree of the O-SWCNTs were investigated. CS was then non-covalently modified on the surfaces of O-SWCNTs. O-SWCNTs and CS-SWCNTs were characterized through ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The cytotoxic effects of the functionalized SWCNTs were determined through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. O-SWCNTs with relatively complete structure were successfully synthesized through 5 h of treatment with 5 M acid. The amine group of the CS and the carboxyl group of O-SWCNTs interacted in CS-SWCNTs. The functionalized SWCNTs did not aggregate or precipitate in water and exerted no cytotoxic effects on A549 and MCF-7 tumor cells. The CS-SWCNTs possess the advantages of a simple preparation process, excellent water dispersibility, and biocompatibility for drug loading.

Longitudinal Intrinsic Brain Activity Changes in Cirrhotic Patients before and One Month after Liver Transplantation

Yue Cheng,Li-Xiang Huang,Li Zhang,Ming Ma,Shuang-Shuang Xie,Qian Ji,Xiao-Dong Zhang,Gao-Yan Zhang,Xue-Ning Zhang,Hong-Yan Ni,Wen Shen 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.2

Objective: To evaluate the spontaneous brain activity alterations in liver transplantation (LT) recipients using resting-state functional MRI. Materials and Methods: Twenty cirrhotic patients as transplant candidates and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All patients repeated the MRI study one month after LT. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values were compared between cirrhotic patients (both pre- and post-LT) and HCs as well as between the pre- and post-LT groups. The relationship between ALFF changes and venous blood ammonia levels and neuropsychological tests were investigated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: In the cirrhotic patients, decreased ALFF in the vision-related regions (left lingual gyrus and calcarine), sensorimotor-related regions (left postcentral gyrus and middle cingulate cortex), and the default-mode network (bilateral precuneus and left inferior parietal lobule) were restored, and the increased ALFF in the temporal and frontal lobe improved in the early period after LT. The ALFF decreases persisted in the right supplementary motor area, inferior parietal lobule, and calcarine. The ALFF changes in the right precuneus were negatively correlated with changes in number connection test-A scores (r = 0.507, p < 0.05). Conclusion: LT improved spontaneous brain activity and the results for associated cognition tests. However, decreased ALFF in some areas persisted, and new-onset abnormal ALFF were possible, indicating that complete cognitive function recovery may need more time.

Esomeprazole magnesium enteric-coated pellet-based tablets with high acid tolerance and good compressibility

Jiang‑Yan Liu,Xiao‑Xue Zhang,Hao‑Yan Huang,이범진,Jing‑Hao Cui,Qing‑Ri Cao 한국약제학회 2018 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.48 No.3

The aim of this study was to develop esomeprazole magnesium (EMZ-Mg) enteric-coated pellets and pellet-based tablets, as well as to investigate the effects of pellet size and compression method on acid tolerance, content uniformity, compressibility, and stability of preparations. This study used two types of pellet cores, namely, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) core with a particle size of 150–300 μm and sucrose core with a particle size of 600–700 μm. Enteric-coated pellets, which consisted of a drug-free core, a drug layer, a sub-coating layer (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 6 cps), and an enteric-coating layer ( Eudragit®L30D-55), were prepared by using a bottomspray fluidized bed-coating technique. Pellet-based tablets were prepared by using a direct compression method or a wet granulation method. The acid tolerances of the two types of enteric-coated pellets (MCC and sucrose cores) reached up to 98% in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.0) within 2 h, and the dissolution rates in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) reached up to 85% of the labeled amount within 15 min. When compressed into tablets, the pellets based on MCC core (smaller particle size) displayed a significantly higher acid tolerance (up to 92%) compared with the pellets based on sucrose core (larger particle size). In addition, the MCC core-based tablets (F8), especially those prepared by using a granulation method, showed higher drug content uniformity and compressibility than the sucrose core-based tablets (F10), and no lamination phenomenon was observed during compression. The crystallinity of EMZ-Mg was altered during drug layering process, and some physicochemical interactions were observed between the drug and excipients. Moreover, the two types of enteric-coated pellets showed a relatively high stability after storage under high temperature and strong light. However, they showed poor stability under high humidity, resulting in remarkable degradation of active compound. The EMZ-Mg entericcoated pellets and pellet-based tablets were successfully developed, and reduction in pellet size and wet granulation reduced the differences in content uniformity and better protected the pellet coating from damages during compression.