Transarterial Chemoembolization Using Gelatin Sponges or Microspheres Plus Lipiodol-Doxorubicin versus Doxorubicin-Loaded Beads for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Yi-Sheng Liu,Ming-Ching Ou,Yi-Shan Tsai,Xi-Zhang Lin,Chien-Kuo Wang,Hong-Ming Tsai,Ming-Tsung Chuang 대한영상의학회 2015 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.16 No.1

To retrospectively compare treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using gelatin sponges or microspheres plus lipiodol-doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads (DEB). A total of 158 patients with HCC received TACE from November 2010 to November 2011 were enrolled in this study, including 64 (40.5%) received TACE with lipiodol-doxorubicin and gelatin sponges (group A), 41 (25.9%) received TACE with lipiodol-doxorubicin and microspheres (group B), and 53 (33.5%) received TACE with doxorubicin-loaded DEB (group C). Tumor response and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. No significant difference was found at baseline among the three groups. The doxorubicin dosage in group C wassignificantly (p < 0.001) higher compared to the dose used in groups A or B (median, 50 mg vs. 31 mg or 25 mg). Significantly (p < 0.001) more patients in group C achieved complete response compared to those in groups A or B (32.1% vs. 6.3% or 2.4%). Significantly (p < 0.001) less patients in group C had progressive disease compared to those in groups A or B (34.0% vs. 57.8% or 68.3%). Minor AEs were more common in groups A and B compared to group C, with rates of 54.7%, 34.1%, and 5.7%, respectively. In patients with HCC, TACE with DEB offers better safety and efficacy profiles compared to either TACE with gelatin sponges or TACE with microspheres.

Mouse Nerve Growth Factor Facilitates the Growth of Interspinal Schwannoma Cells by Activating NGF Receptors

Liu, Shu Yi,Liu, Sheng Ze,Li, Yu,Chen, Shi The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2019 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.62 No.6

Objective : Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor family and plays a vital role in the physiological processes of organisms, especially in the nervous system. Many recent studies have reported that NGF is also involved in the regulation of tumourigenesis by either promoting or suppressing tumor growth, which depends on the location and type of tumor. However, little is known regarding the effect of NGF on interspinal schwannoma (IS). In the present study, we aimed to explored whether mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF), which is widely used in the clinic, can influence the growth of interspinal schwannoma cells (ISCs) isolated from IS in vitro. Methods : ISCs were isolated, cultured and identified by S-100 with immunofluorescence analysis. S-100-positive cells were divided into five groups, and separately cultured with various concentrations of mNGF (0 [phosphate buffered saline, PBS], 40, 80, 160, and 320 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Western blot and quantantive real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied to detect tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) receptor and p75 neurotrophin receptor ($p75^{NTR}$) in each group. Crystal violet staining was selected to assess the effect of mNGF (160 ng/mL) on ISCs growth. Results : ISCs growth was enhanced by mNGF in a dose-dependent manner. The result of crystal violet staining revealed that it was significantly strengthened the cells growth kinetics when cultured with 160 ng/mL mNGF compared to PBS group. Western blot and quantantive real time PCR discovered that TrkA receptor and mRNA expression were both up-regualated under the condition of mNGF, expecially in 160 ng/mL, while the exoression of $p75^{NTR}$ demonstrated no difference among groups. Conclusion : From these data, we conclude that exogenous mNGF can facilitate ISC growth by activating both TrkA receptor and $p75^{NTR}$. In addition, patients who are suffering from IS should not be administered mNGF in the clinic.

Study on Property of Diamond Mobile Telephone Windows

Liu Tie-Lin,Yang Guang-Sheng,Zhou Jian-Wu,Sun Yi-Ning 한국진공학회(ASCT) 2002 Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology Vol.6 No.2

a-C:H films were coated on windows of mobile telephone by RF plasma chemical vapor deposition equipment made in our company. Thickness of the coatings is about 0.7 micrometers and they have high hardness, low friction coefficient, good adhesion, high optical transparency and chemical inertness. Knoop hardness of the diamond-like carbon films on glass substrate is 2328 ㎏/㎣. The adherence between films and substrate is good and shows to be 69 N by scratching test. The optical performance is improved obviously owing to coat the film on it. The index of the coated windows is 2.5, transmission of visible light is larger than 90%, and transmission of ultraviolet light decreases by 30% and the ultraviolet light can be obstructed obviously. The coated glass also has self-clean effect and decontamination ability. The films have hydrophobic character and the soakage angle of water drop is larger than 90 degrees. The windows have fog-proof ability owing to eliminate the capillary phenomena in the inner surface. The physics and chemical properties of the coated windows are steady. Study indicates that the performance of a-C:H coated mobile phone windows are improved notably on wear-resistance, corrosion-proof and optical properties and it is excellent mobile windows protective coatings.

A New Method for Three-dimensional Measurement with Two Horizontally-aligned Omni-directional Cameras

Sheng-Fuu Lin,Jau-Chi Ke,Hsin-Yi Liu,Jiao-Rou Liao 제어로봇시스템학회 2014 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2014 No.10

In this paper, a new method for three-dimensional measurement with two horizontally-aligned omni-directional cameras is proposed. Some omni-camera stereo vision systems calculate three-dimensional information which always considers either azimuth angles or elevation angles causing inaccuracy easily. The proposed method takes into account both azimuth angles and elevation angles in order to reduce errors. Besides, the range of interest (ROI) is 3 to 8 meters around cameras in the system. The proposed method has better performance than the vertically- or horizontally-aligned in the 3D measurement.

Study on the response surface optimization of online upgrading of bio-oil with MCM-41 and catalyst durability analysis

Liu Sha,Cai Yi-xi,Fan Yong-sheng,Li Xiao-hua,Wang Jia-jun 대한환경공학회 2017 Environmental Engineering Research Vol.22 No.1

Direct catalysis of vapors from vacuum pyrolysis of biomass was performed on MCM-41 to investigate the effects of operating parameters including catalyzing temperature, catalyzing bed height and system pressure on the organic yields. Optimization of organic phase yield was further conducted by employing response surface methodology. The statistical analysis showed that operating parameters have significant effects on the organic phase yield. The organic phase yield first increases and then decreases as catalyzing temperature and catalyzing bed height increase, and decreases as system pressure increases. The optimal conditions for the maximum organic phase yield were obtained at catalyzing temperature of 502.7℃, catalyzing bed height of 2.74 cm and system pressure of 6.83 kPa, the organic phase yield amounts to 15.84% which is quite close to the predicted value 16.19%. The H/C, O/C molar ratios (dry basis), density, pH value, kinematic viscosity and high heat value of the organic phase obtained at optimal conditions were 1.287, 0.174, 0.98 g/cm3, 5.12, 5.87 mm2/s and 33.08 MJ/kg, respectively. Organic product compositions were examined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the analysis showed that the content of oxygenated aromatics in organic phase had decreased and hydrocarbons had increased, and the hydrocarbons in organic phase were mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons. Besides, thermo-gravimetric analysis of the MCM-41 zeolite was conducted within air atmosphere and the results showed that when the catalyst continuously works over 100 min, the index of physicochemical properties of bio-oil decreases gradually from 1.15 to 0.45, suggesting that the refined bio-oil significantly deteriorates. Meanwhile, the coke deposition of catalyst increases from 4.97% to 14.81%, which suggests that the catalytic activity significantly decreases till the catalyst completely looses its activity.

Assembling Synthesis of Barium Chromate Nano-superstructures Using Eggshell Membrane as Template

Liu, Jin-Ku,Wu, Qing-Sheng,Ding, Ya-Ping,Yi, Yu Korean Chemical Society 2004 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.25 No.12

The branch-like, feather-like $BaCrO_4$ nano-superstructures were synthesized with bioactive eggshell membrane as directing and assembly template. Studies on the two products revealed that they formed through the self-assembly of nanoparticles, and that the optical properties of the products were different from $BaCrO_4$ bulk materials.

Analysis of Pressure Distribution of the Bolted Joints Based on the Finite Element Method

Sheng-ao Wang,Min Zhu,Fei Wu,Tian-xi Liang,Zhao-qun Shao,Yi-long Liu 한국강구조학회 2023 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.23 No.2

Bolted joints widely exist in the field of the national defense industry. However, its nonlinear stiffness degradation will occur under tangential load which may lead to the reliability reduction. According to Coulomb friction theory, the pressure distribution is the key in the tangential degradation of bolted joints. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the pressure distribution of bolted joints. Firstly, we established a threaded bolt model and two simplified models. Secondly, the accuracy of the three models describing the contact area is verified, and the influence of preload and material properties on the contact radius is analyzed. Thirdly, we compared the pressure distribution of the three models, and results show that the smooth bolt model is more suitable for pressure analysis. Finally, the accuracy of several different functions to characterize the pressure distribution of bolted joints is analyzed, and results indicated that the Fernlund function is optimal. This paper provides a feasible simplified bolt model for finite element analysis, and the optimal pressure distribution function can be applied in the tangential stiffness degradation modeling.

Analytical and experimental research on wind-induced vibration in high-rise buildings with tuned liquid column dampers

Liu, Ming-Yi,Chiang, Wei-Ling,Chu, Chia-Ren,Lin, Shih-Sheng Techno-Press 2003 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.6 No.1

In recent years, high-strength, light-weight materials have been widely used in the construction of high-rise buildings. Such structures generally have flexible, low-damping characteristics. Consequently, wind-induced oscillation greatly affects the structural safety and the comfort of the building's occupants. In this research, wind tunnel experiments were carried out to study the wind-induced vibration of a building with a tuned liquid column damper (TLCD). Then, a model for predicting the aerodynamic response in the across-wind direction was generated. Finally, a computing procedure was developed for the analytical modeling of the structural oscillation in a building with a TLCD under the wind load. The model agrees substantially with the experimental results. Therefore, it may be used to accurately calculate the structural response. Results from this investigation show that the TLCD is more advantageous for reducing the across-wind vibration than the along-wind oscillation. When the across-wind aerodynamic effects are considered, the TLCD more effectively controls the aerodynamic response. Moreover, it is also more useful in suppressing the acceleration than the displacement in biaxial directions. As s result, TLCDs are effective devices for reducing the wind-induced vibration in buildings. Parametric studies have also been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the TLCD in suppressing the structural oscillation. This study may help engineers to more correctly predict the aerodynamic response of high-rise buildings as well as select the most appropriate TLCDs for reducing the structural vibration under the wind load. It may also improve the understanding of wind-structure interactions and wind resistant designs for high-rise buildings.

Starving Aphelinus asychis negatively affects host feeding and parasitism on Myzus persicae

Sheng-Yin Wang,Yi Feng,Ning-Ning Liang,Rui Tang,Yan-Hong Liu,Da Yu Zhang,Tong-Xian Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.2

Aphelinus asychis (Walker) is an effective biological control agent for many species of aphids found on various crops. To provide strategies for releasing these parasitoids into a crop ecosystem, the effects of a short-duration starvation experiment on A. asychis were measured under laboratory conditions using Myzus persicae (Sulzer) as the host on cabbage and chili pepper plants. The survival rate of starved A. asychis female adults decreased sharply as the starving time increased, and the longevity of the starved parasitoids also decreased significantly. The number of aphids killed by the parasitoids decreased gradually with the extended duration of starvation. In addition, the number of aphids on chili peppers and cabbages killed by starved A. asychis females over their lifespan was significantly lower than that in the control group. Our results indicated that a short period of starvation might not cause significantly negative effects on the parasitoids and may be beneficial for the control of M. persicae at low densities after 1 day; however, starvation for>1 day seriously affected the performance of A. asychis females over their entire lifespan. The parasitoids performed similarly when aphids were fed chili pepper or cabbage plants.

Lentivirus-mediated Silencing of Rhomboid Domain Containing 1 Suppresses Tumor Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

Liu, Xue-Ni,Tang, Zheng-Hao,Zhang, Yi,Pan, Qing-Chun,Chen, Xiao-Hua,Yu, Yong-Sheng,Zang, Guo-Qing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Rhomboids were identified as the first intramembrane serine proteases about 10 years ago. Since then, the study of the rhomboid protease family has blossomed. Rhomboid domain containing 1 (RHBDD1), highly-expressed in human testis, contains a rhomboid domain with unknown function. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that RHBDD1 was associated with proliferation and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma using recombinant lentivirus-mediated silencing of RHBDD1 in HepG2 cells. Our results showed that down-regulation of RHBDD1 mRNA levels markedly suppressed proliferation and colony formation capacity of HepG2 human hepatoma cancer cells in vitro, and induced cell cycle arrest. We also found that RHBDD1 silencing could obviously trigger HepG2 cell apoptosis. In summary, it was demonstrated that RHBDD1 might be a positive regulator for proliferative and apoptotic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.