Three new species of the genus Rhodesiella from Nanling Mountains, China (Diptera: Chloropidae)

Cai Xiao-Dong,Liu Xiao-Yan,Yang Ding 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

The species of the genus Rhodesiella Adams, 1905 from the Nanling Mountains of China are reviewed with the descriptions of the following three new species: Rhodesiella excavata sp. nov., Rhodesiella nanlingiae sp. nov. and Rhodesiella punctihalterata sp. nov. A key to the species of Rhodesiella from the Nanling Mountains is given. Comments and feature figures of new species are provided for identification. https://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E4F1DBB5-3F1E-41EF-8AA3-D5EA86037F4B

Low Counts of γδ T Cells in Peritumoral Liver Tissue are Related to More Frequent Recurrence in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

Cai, Xiao-Yan,Wang, Jia-Xing,Yi, Yong,He, Hong-Wei,Ni, Xiao-Chun,Zhou, Jian,Cheng, Yun-Feng,Jin, Jian-Jun,Fan, Jia,Qiu, Shuang-Jian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Objectives: TCR-gamma-delta+T cells (${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells) are non-conventional T lymphocytes that can recognize and eradicate tumor cells. Our previous studies showed that infiltration and function of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells were substantially attenuated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their prognostic value was not clarified. Methods: The association between ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells and the clinical outcomes was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a HCC patient cohort (n = 342). Results:Immunohistochemistry showed decreased infiltration of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in tumoral tissues compared with paired peritumoral tissues. The counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral tissues were negatively correlated with tumor size (P = 0.005). Survival analysis showed that the levels of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells were related to both time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.010 and P = 0.036, respectively) in univariate analysis, and related to TTR in multivariate analysis (P = 0.014, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.682 [0.502-0.927]). Furthermore, the level of peritumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells showed independent prognostic value for TTR in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A patients (P = 0.038, H.R. [95% CI] = 0.727 [0.537-0.984]). However, tumoral ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells did not show independent prognostic value for either TTR or OS in HCC patients. Conclusions: Low counts of ${\gamma}{\delta}$ T cells in peritumoral liver tissue are related to a higher incidence of recurrence in HCC and can predict postoperative recurrence, especially in those with early-stage HCC.

Crocetin Induces Cytotoxicity in Colon Cancer Cells Via p53-independent Mechanisms

Li, Cai-Yan,Huang, Wen-Feng,Wang, Qun-Li,Wang, Fan,Cai, E.,Hu, Bing,Du, Jia-Cheng,Wang, Jing,Chen, Rong,Cai, Xiao-Jing,Feng, Jing,Li, Hui-Hui Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Objective: Crocin has been proposed as a promising candidate for cancer chemoprevention. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the chemopreventive action and the possible mechanisms of crocin against human colon cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Cell proliferation was examined using MTT assay and the cell cycle distribution fractions were analyzed using fow cytometric analysis after propidium iodide staining. Apoptosis was detected using theTUNEL Apoptosis Detection Kit with laser scanning confocal microscope. DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, while expression levels of p53, cdk2, cyclinA and P21 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: Treatment of SW480 cells with crocetin (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mmol/L) for 48 h signifcantly inhibited their proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) signifcantly induced cell cycle arrest through p53-independent mechanisms accompanied by P21 induction. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) caused cytotoxicity in the SW480 cells by enhancing apoptosis and decreasing DNA repair capacity in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: This report provides evidence that crocetin is a potential anticancer agent, which may be used as a chemotherapeutic drug.

Over-expression of StLCYb increases b-carotene accumulation in potato tubers

Xiao-yan Song,Wen-jiao Zhu,Rui-min Tang,Jing-hui Cai,Min Chen,Qing Yang 한국식물생명공학회 2016 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.10 No.2

Lycopene b-cyclase (LCYb) is involved in the first step of the b-branch synthetic pathway of carotenoids from lycopene in plants. In this study, to explore the possibility of regulating b-carotene synthesis via the b-branchspecific pathway in potato, StLCYb gene was first isolated from potato cultivar Desiree, and its open reading frame was 1503 bp long without intron. The protein sequence of StLCYb showed high similarity with that of LCYbs in other species such as SlLCYb1, CaLCYb, NtLCYb and ApLCYb. StLCYb was expressed in all tissues and the highest level was observed in tubers followed in flowers, and the lowest level was in roots. HPLC detected an about 1.5–1.9 times increase in b-carotene content of transgenic potato tubers, in which the gene StLCYb was overexpressed, compared with the wild-type control. Besides, the expression levels of carotenoid-related genes StPSY, StPDS, StZDS, StCHYb and StZEP transcripts in the transgenic lines were significantly higher than in the wild-type control, which implied a positive regulation in promoting carotenoid synthesis. All these results suggest that b-carotene content in potato tubers could be regulated by modulating StLCYb expression.

Metabolomic analysis of biochemical changes in the tissue and urine of proteoglycan-induced spondylitis in mice after treatment with moxibustion

Xiao Xu,Ya-Nan Shi,Rong-Yun Wang,Cai-Yan Ding,Xiao Zhou,Yu-Fei Zhang,Zhi-Ling Sun,Zhi-Qin Sun,Qiu-Hua Sun 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.1

Background: Moxibustion is widely used in East Asian countries to manage the symptom of rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify potential metabolic profiles of moxibustion on relieving ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mice through UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS metabolomic study. Methods: Thirty-two female Balb/c mice were randomized into healthy control (HC), AS model, moxibustion at acupuncture points (MA) in AS model, and moxibustion at non-acupuncture points (MNA) AS model groups. Moxibustion was administered daily at GV4, bilateral BL23 and bilateral ST36 acupuncture points for four weeks in the MA group. The overall health status, the thickness of hind paws and the tissue concentrations of IL-1β, PGE2, IL-6 and TNF-α were assessed. The UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used to explore the perturbations of endogenous metabolites in tissue and urine of AS model mice intervened by moxibustion. Results: Compared with the AS group, the overall health status was significantly improved after 4-week moxibustion intervention (p < 0.05). The results also showed that MA significantly reduced the levels of paw thickness and decreased the levels of four cytokines in the tissue (p < 0.01). Thirty-seven endogenous metabolites identified by the OPLS-DA were considered to be contributing to therapeutic effects of moxibustion. Moreover, metabolic pathway analysis further revealed that the identified metabolites were mainly involved in TCA cycle, Lipid metabolism, Amino Acid metabolism, Intestinal flora metabolism and Purine metabolism. Conclusions: UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics approach, as a novel and powerful tool, can help us to gain the insights into potential mechanisms of action of moxibustion for AS.

Laser Joining of Ti3Al-Based Alloy to Ni-Based Superalloy using a Titanium Interlayer

Xiao-Long Cai,Da-Qian Sun,Hong-Mei Li,Hong-Ling Guo,Yan Zhang,Ying-ying Che 한국정밀공학회 2018 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.19 No.8

Joining Ti3Al-based alloy to Ni-based superalloy is of great interest for applications in the aerospace fields. Direct welding of these two materials was very difficult and the joint usually fractured during laser welding which cannot form an effective welding joint. In this work, a pure titanium interlayer with a thickness of 0.4 mm was used between the base metals. The results indicated that the addition of titanium interlayer has a great effect on the joint performance. No macrocracks were found through the whole joint. The average room-temperature tensile strength of the joint with titanium was 177 MPa which still much lower than the two base metals. The weak link of the dissimilar joint was the Ti3Al/weld interface. The presence of Ti2Ni, α2-Ti3Al and AlNi2Ti brittle intermetallic compounds in the Ti3Al/weld interface deteriorated the joint properties.

Elevated Platelets Enhance Cancer Cell Migration, Promote Hematogenous Metastasis and Associate with a Poor Prognosis in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cases

Li, Yan,Miao, Li-Yun,Xiao, Yong-Long,Cai, Hou-Rong,Zhang, De-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.1

Although correlations between platelets and lung cancer has been recognized, effects on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis remain to be determined in detail. In the present study, wound healing assays revealed a role of platelets in NSCLC cell migration. Thus the mean migration rate of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells was significantly elevated after co-culture with platelets ($81.7{\pm}0.45%$ vs $41.0{\pm}3.50%$, P<0.01). Expression of GAPDH was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to study the effect of platelets on NSCLC cell proliferation. The result showed that the proliferation of A549 and SPC-A1 cells was not affected. Mouse models were established by transfusing A549 cells and SPC-A1 cells into mice lateral tail veins. We found tumor metastasis nodules in lungs to be increased significantly after co-transfusion with platelets (in A549, $4.33{\pm}0.33$ vs $0.33{\pm}0.33$, P=0.01; in SPC-A1, $2.67{\pm}0.33$ vs $0.00{\pm}0.00$, P=0.01). In addition, consecutive inoperable patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC (TNM stage III or IV) between January 2009 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, NSCLC patients with a high platelet counts demonstrated a significantly shorter progression free survival compared with those with a low platelet count (> $200{\times}10^9/L$, 3 months versus ${\leq}200{\times}10^9/L$, 5 months, P=0.001). An elevated platelet count was also identified as an independent prognostic factor by Cox regression analysis for prgression free survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.46; P=0.006). This study suggested that platelets might contribute to the hematogenous metastatic process by promoting cancer cell migration, which eventually affects the prognosis of NSCLC.

STC2 is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes cell proliferation and migration in vitro

( Hai Xiao Wang ),( Kuang Jie Wu ),( Yuan Sun ),( Yan Dong Li ),( Ming Yu Wu ),( Qian Qiao ),( Yuan Jiang Wei ),( Ze Guang Han ),( Bing Cai ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2012 BMB Reports Vol.45 No.11

The human glycoprotein, stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) plays multiple roles in several tumor types, however, its function and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we detected STC2 expression by quantitative real-time PCR and found STC2 was upregulated in HCC tissues, correla ed with tumor size and multiplicity of HCC. Ectopic expression of STC2 markedly promoted HCC cell proliferation and colony formation, while silencing of endogenous STC2 resulted in a reduced cell growth by cell cycle delay in G0/G1 phase. Western blot analysis demonstrated that STC2 could regulate the expression of cyclin D1 and activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in a dominant-positive manner. Transwell chamber assay also indicated altered patterns of STC2 expression had an important effect on cell migration. Our findings suggest that STC2 functions as a potential oncoprotein in the development and progression of HCC as well as a promising molecular target for HCC therapy.

Serum Amyloid A is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Ni, Xiao-Chun,Yi, Yong,Fu, Yi-Peng,He, Hong-Wei,Cai, Xiao-Yan,Wang, Jia-Xing,Zhou, Jian,Fan, Jia,Qiu, Shuang-Jian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of serum amyloid A (SAA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing surgery. Materials and Methods: Preoperative serum samples of 328 patients with HCC who underwent curative resection and of 47 patients with benign liver lesion were assayed. Serum levels of SAA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival were explored. Results: Levels of SAA were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those with benign liver lesion. There were strong correlations between preoperative serum SAA level and tumor size and more advanced BCLC stage. On univariate analysis, elevated SAA was associated with reduced disease-free survival and overall survival (p=0.001 and 0.03, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed that serum SAA level was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio 2.80, p=0.01). Conclusions: High SAA serum level is a novel biomarker for the prognosis of HCC patients.

Administration of antibiotics contributes to cholestasis in pediatric patients with intestinal failure via the alteration of FXR signaling

Yongtao Xiao,Kejun Zhou,Ying Lu,Weihui Yan,Wei Cai,Ying Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

The link between antibiotic treatment and IF-associated liver disease (IFALD) is unclear. Here, we study the effect of antibiotic treatment on bile acid (BA) metabolism and investigate the involved mechanisms. The results showed that pediatric IF patients with cholestasis had a significantly lower abundance of BA-biotransforming bacteria than patients without cholestasis. In addition, the BA composition was altered in the serum, feces, and liver of pediatric IF patients with cholestasis, as reflected by the increased proportion of primary BAs. In the ileum, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expression was reduced in patients with cholestasis. Correspondingly, the serum FGF19 levels decreased significantly in patients with cholestasis. In the liver, the expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in bile salt synthesis, cytochrome P450 7a1 (CYP7A1), increased noticeably in IF patients with cholestasis. In mice, we showed that oral antibiotics (gentamicin, GM or vancomycin, VCM) reduced colonic microbial diversity, with a decrease in both Gram-negative bacteria (GM affected Eubacterium and Bacteroides) and Gram-positive bacteria (VCM affected Clostridium, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus). Concomitantly, treatment with GM or VCM decreased secondary BAs in the colonic contents, with a simultaneous increase in primary BAs in plasma. Moreover, the changes in the colonic BA profile especially that of tauro-beta-muricholic acid (TβMCA), were predominantly associated with the inhibition of the FXR and further altered BA synthesis and transport. In conclusion, the administration of antibiotics significantly decreased the intestinal microbiota diversity and subsequently altered the BA composition. The alterations in BA composition contributed to cholestasis in IF patients by regulating FXR signaling.