Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of myocardial damage and cardiac dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome patients

Chen Chen,Bai Lin Cong,Min Wang,Muhammad Abdullah,Xiao Long Wang,Yin Hua Zhang,Shun Ji Xu,Lan Cui 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.2

Background: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood is established to correlate with the morbidity and mortality of heart disease patients. We aimed to define the severity of inflammation (NLR) by observing the association of NLR with cardiac functions or myocardial damage parameters in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Data from 715 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 72 hours of incidence in 2016 were analysed retrospectively. Results: The NLR ranges from 0.50 to 46 (medium ± SD, 2.76 ± 2.96) in 715 patients. NLR positively correlated with myocardial damage (NLR vs. CK-mB: p < 0.0001) but negatively correlated with myocardial function (NLR vs. EF: p < 0.0001; NLR vs. FS: p < 0.0001). Myocardial damage markers (CK, CK-mB, ASL, LDH) were significantly increased, and cardiac contractile parameters (EF and FS) were reduced at NLR > 2.76 compared to those of NLR < 2.76. ELISA analysis has shown that IL-10 was significantly increased when NLR ≥ 4.6 and TGF-β was increased at NLR > 4. The correlation was diminished between NLR and CK-mB at NLR > 2.76 or at NLR > 4, but that of NLR and EF or FS was maintained in NLR > 2.76 and at NLR > 4. EF and FS were comparable between NLR > 2.76 and NLR > 4. But myocardial damage parameters increased significantly at NLR > 4 compared to those of NLR > 2.76. Conclusion: NLR is a strong predictor of myocardial damage in acute myocardial patients. High NLR are associated with myocardial dysfunction in all the patients. Severe inflammation (NLR) can predict the consequence of the heart in patients with coronary syndrome.

Therapeutic Effects and Adverse Drug Reactions are Affected by Icotinib Exposure and CYP2C19 and EGFR Genotypes in Chinese Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Chen, Jia,Zheng, Xin,Liu, Dong-Yang,Zhao, Qian,Wu, Yi-Wen,Tan, Fen-Lai,Wang, Yin-Xiang,Jiang, Ji,Hu, Pei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.17

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate how CYP2C19 affects icotinib and metabolite' exposure, and to determine whether the exposure and EGFR genotype influences survival time, tumor metastasis and adverse drug reactions. Materials and Methods: 274 NSCLC patients who accepted 125mg icotinib/t.i.d. were chosen from a phase III study. Blood samples were obtained in $672^{nd}$ ($4^{th}$ week) and $1,680^{th}$ hours ($10^{th}$ week), and plasma was used to quantify the concentration of icotinib and blood cells were sampled to check the genotypes. Clinical data were also collected at the same time, including EGFR genotypes. Plasma concentrations were assessed by HPLC-MS/MS and genotype by sequencing. All data were analyzed through SPSS 17.0 and SAS 9.2. Results: CYP 2C19 genotypes affected bio-transformation from icotinib to M24 and M26, especially in poor-metabolisers. Higher icotinib concentrations (>1000 ng/mL) not only increased patient PFS and OS but also reduced tumor metastasis. Patients with mutant EGFR experienced a higher median PFS and OS (234 and 627 days), especially those with the 19del genotype demonstrating higher PR ratio. Patients who suffered grade II skin toxicity had a higher icotinib exposure than those with grade I skin toxicity or no adverse effects. Liver toxic reactions might occur in patients with greater M20 and M23 plasma concentrations. Conclusions: CYP2C19 polymorphisms significantly affect icotinib, M24 and M26 exposure. Patients with mutant EGFR genotype and higher icotinib concentration might have increased PFS and OS and lower tumor metastasis. Liver ADR events and serious skin effects might be respectively induced by greater M20, M23 and icotinib concentrations.

Reciprocal roles of DBC1 and SIRT1 in regulating estrogen receptor α activity and co-activator synergy

Ji Yu, Eun,Kim, Seok-Hyung,Heo, Kyu,Ou, Chen-Yin,Stallcup, Michael R.,Kim, Jeong Hoon Oxford University Press 2011 Nucleic acids research Vol.39 No.16

<P>Estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays critical roles in development and progression of breast cancer. Because ERα activity is strictly dependent upon the interaction with coregulators, coregulators are also believed to contribute to breast tumorigenesis. Cell Cycle and Apoptosis Regulator 1 (CCAR1) is an important co-activator for estrogen-induced gene expression and estrogen-dependent growth of breast cancer cells. Here, we identified Deleted in Breast Cancer 1 (DBC1) as a CCAR1 binding protein. DBC1 was recently shown to function as a negative regulator of the NAD-dependent protein deacetylase SIRT1. DBC1 associates directly with ERα and cooperates synergistically with CCAR1 to enhance ERα function. DBC1 is required for estrogen-induced expression of a subset of ERα target genes as well as breast cancer cell proliferation and for estrogen-induced recruitment of ERα to the target promoters in a gene-specific manner. The mechanism of DBC1 action involves inhibition of SIRT1 interaction with ERα and of SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of ERα. SIRT1 also represses the co-activator synergy between DBC1 and CCAR1 by binding to DBC1 and disrupting its interaction with CCAR1. Our results indicate that DBC1 and SIRT1 play reciprocal roles as major regulators of ERα activity, by regulating DNA binding by ERα and by regulating co-activator synergy.</P>

Association between the Interleukin-17A -197G>A (rs2275913) Polymorphism and Risk of Digestive Cancer

Duan, Yin,Shi, Ji-Nan,Pan, Chi,Chen, Hai-Long,Zhang, Su-Zhan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.21

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of cancer. To date, several studies have investigated associations between IL-17A -197G>A (rs2275913) polymorphism and digestive cancer risk, but the results remain conflicting. We here aimed to confirm the role of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in susceptibility to digestive cancer through a systemic review and meta-analysis. Ten eligible case-control studies were identified by searching electronic databases, involving 3,087 cases and 3,815 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of the association. The results of overall analyses indicated that the variant A allele was associated with an increased risk of digestive cancer (AA vs GG: OR=1.51, 95%CI=1.18-1.93; AA vs GG+GA: OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.12-1.87; A vs G: OR=1.21, 95%CI=1.05-1.39). In subgroup analysis stratified by specific cancer type, elevated risk among studies of gastric cancer was found (AA vs GG: OR=1.68, 95%CI=1.24-2.28; AA vs GG+GA: OR=1.62, 95%CI=1.16-2.26; A vs G: OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.04-1.46). According to ethnicity, there was evidence in the Asian populations for an association between this polymorphism and cancer risk (GA vs GG: OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.05-1.36; AA vs GG: OR=1.56, 95%CI=1.15-2.12; AA+GA vs GG: OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.13-1.44; AA vs GG+GA: OR=1.42, 95%CI=1.01-2.00; A vs G: OR=1.24, 95%CI=1.08-1.44), while in the Caucasian populations an association was found in the recessive model (AA vs GG+GA: OR=1.62, 95%CI=1.17-2.24). In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that the IL-17A -197G>A polymorphism contributes to an increased risk of human digestive cancer, both in the Asian and Caucasian populations and especially for gastric cancer.

Retinoic Acid Promotes Interleukin-4 Plasmid-Dimethylsulfoxide Topical Transdermal Delivery for Treatment of Psoriasis

( Zhong Wen Chen ),( Yin Bing Zhang ),( Xaing Jun Chen ),( Xiao Liu ),( Zhen Wang ),( Xi Kun Zhou ),( Ji Qiu ),( Nan Nan Zhang ),( Xiu Teng ),( Yong Qiu Mao ),( Chang Yong Liu ),( Yu Quan Wei ),( Jion 대한피부과학회 2015 Annals of Dermatology Vol.27 No.2

Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is caused by a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1- dominant immunity. It has been established as an effective treatment to counteract psoriasis by subcutaneous injection of recombinant interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-4 gene therapy by topical transdermal penetration has shown its antipsoriatic effect in mice. Retinoic acid (RA) and dimethylsulfoxide can increase the efficiency of gene transfection in the topical transdermal delivery system. Objective: We investigated whether RA could improve anti-psoriasis efficiency using IL-4 expression plasmid pORF-mIL-4 (pIL-4) via transdermal delivery system in K14-vascular endothelial growth (K14- VEGF) factor transgenic mice. Methods: After pretreatment with RA, plasmid pIL-4 in 10% dimethylsulfoxide was applied to the ear skin by topical transdermal penetration. Hematoxylin- eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were performed with ear samples to evaluate anti-psoriasis efficiency in mice. Results: The psoriasis pathological features were relieved and psoriasis-associated factors were significantly reduced. Conclusion: Our results reveal that topical application of pIL-4 in dimethylsulfoxide by transdermal delivery with RA pretreatment can improve psoriasis significantly.(Ann Dermatol 27(2) 121∼127, 2015)

Understanding Breast Cancer Screening Practices in Taiwan: a Country with Universal Health Care

Wu, Tsu-Yin,Chung, Scott,Yeh, Ming-Chen,Chang, Shu-Chen,Hsieh, Hsing-Fang,Ha, Soo Ji Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

While the incidence of breast cancer (BC) has been relatively low in Asian countries, it has been rising rapidly in Taiwan. Within the last decade, it has replaced cervical cancer as the most diagnosed cancer site for women. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of studies reporting the attitudes and practices of breast cancer screening among Chinese women. The aim of this study is to assess Taiwanese women's knowledge of and attitudes toward BC screening and to identify potential factors that may influence screening behavior. The study population consisted of a sample of 434 Taiwanese women aged 40 and older. Despite access to universal health care for Taiwanese women and the fact that a majority of the women had heard of the breast cancer screening (mammogram, clinical breast exams, etc.), the actual utilization of these screening modalities was relatively low. In the current study, the majority of women had never had mammograms or ultrasound in the past 5 years. The number one most reported barriers were "no time," "forgetfulness," "too cumbersome," and "laziness," followed by the perception of no need to get screened. In addition, the results revealed several areas of misconceptions or incorrect information perceived by study participants. Based on the results from the regression analysis, significant predictors of obtaining repeated screening modalities included age, coverage for screening, barriers, self-efficacy, intention, family/friends diagnosed with breast cancer. The findings from the current study provide the potential to build evidence-based programs to effectively plan and implement policies in order to raise awareness in breast cancer and promote BC screening in order to optimize health outcomes for women affected by this disease.

Retinoic Acid Promotes Interleukin-4 Plasmid-Dimethylsulfoxide Topical Transdermal Delivery for Treatment of Psoriasis

( Zhong Wen Chen ),( Yin Bing Zhang ),( Xaing Jun Chen ),( Xiao Liu ),( Zhen Wang ),( Xi Kun Zhou ),( Ji Qiu ),( Nan Nan Zhang ),( Xiu Teng ),( Yong Qiu Mao ),( Chang Yong Liu ),( Yu Quan Wei ),( Jion 대한피부과학회 2015 Annals of Dermatology Vol.27 No.3

Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is caused by a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1- dominant immunity. It has been established as an effective treatment to counteract psoriasis by subcutaneous injection of recombinant interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-4 gene therapy by topical transdermal penetration has shown its antipsoriatic effect in mice. Retinoic acid (RA) and dimethylsulfoxide can increase the efficiency of gene transfection in the topical transdermal delivery system. Objective: We investigated whether RA could improve anti-psoriasis efficiency using IL-4 expression plasmid pORF-mIL-4 (pIL-4) via transdermal delivery system in K14-vascular endothelial growth (K14- VEGF) factor transgenic mice. Methods: After pretreatment with RA, plasmid pIL-4 in 10% dimethylsulfoxide was applied to the ear skin by topical transdermal penetration. Hematoxylin- eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were performed with ear samples to evaluate anti-psoriasis efficiency in mice. Results: The psoriasis pathological features were relieved and psoriasis-associated factors were significantly reduced. Conclusion: Our results reveal that topical application of pIL-4 in dimethylsulfoxide by transdermal delivery with RA pretreatment can improve psoriasis significantly. (Ann Dermatol 27(2) 121∼127, 2015)

Chinese herbal injections in combination with radiotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Yun-Ru Chen,Ruo-Tong Zhao,Yi-Fang Xu,Yin-Jie Ma,Shao-Bo Hu,Xue-Hui Wang,Bing-Bing Fan,Yan-Ji Zhou,Yu-Bei Huang,Nicola Robinson,Jian-ping Liu,Zhao-Lan Liu 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.4

Background: Advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) is a fatal disease with limited treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different Chinese herbal injections (CHIs) as adjuvants for radiotherapy (RT) in APC and compare their treatment potentials using network meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched three English and four Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to July 25, 2023. The primary outcome was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes included Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). The treatment potentials of different CHIs were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). The Cochrane RoB 2 tool and CINeMA were used for quality assessment and evidence grading. Results: Eighteen RCTs involving 1199 patients were included. Five CHIs were evaluated. Compound Kushen injection (CKI) combined with RT significantly improved ORR compared to RT alone (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.21–1.86). Kanglaite (KLT) plus RT (RR 1.58, 95 % CrI 1.20–2.16) and CKI plus RT (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.16–1.95) were associated with improved KPS score compared to radiation monotherapy, with KLT+RT being the highest rank (SUCRA 72.28 %). Regarding AEs, CKI plus RT was the most favorable in reducing the incidence of leukopenia (SUCRA 90.37 %) and nausea/vomiting (SUCRA 85.79 %). Conclusions: CKI may be the optimal choice of CHIs to combine with RT for APC as it may improve clinical response, quality of life, and reduce AEs. High-quality trials are necessary to establish a robust body of evidence. Protocol registration: PROSPERO, CRD42023396828.

An aromatic imine group enhances the EL efficiency and carrier transport properties of highly efficient blue emitter for OLEDs

Park, Youngil,Lee, Ji-Hoon,Jung, Dong Hyun,Liu, Su-Hao,Lin, You-Heng,Chen, Li-Yin,Wu, Chung-Chih,Park, Jongwook Royal Society of Chemistry 2010 Journal of materials chemistry Vol.20 No.28

<P>This study not only describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel indenofluorene derivative, 6,6,12,12-tetraethyl-2,8-bis-[1,1′;3′,1′]terphenyl-4′-yl-6,12-dihydro-indeno[1,2-b]fluorine (TP-EIF), for use as an emitting material in blue organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), but also the comparison with 6,6,12,12-tetraethyl-2,8-bis-[1,1′;3′,1′]terphenyl-4′-yl-6,12-dihydro-diindeno[1,2-b;1′,2′-e]pyrazine (TP-EPY). UV-visible and PL spectra showed that the TP-EPY absorption and emission bands were red-shifted with narrow full widths at half maxima (FWHMs) compared to TP-EIF, both in solution and as a film. Density functional theory electronic structure calculations suggested that the spectral differences arose from the electron withdrawing properties of the imine group in the indenopyrazine, which increased conjugation in the core group and decreased conjugation in the side group at the LUMO level. The lower energy of the LUMO in TP-EPY resulted in increased active electron injection in electron-only devices and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The hole mobilities, which were measured by time of flight (TOF) methods, were 1.8 × 10<SUP>−3</SUP> and 1.1 × 10<SUP>−4</SUP> cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s for TP-EPY and TP-EIF, respectively, which demonstrated that TP-EPY displayed excellent hole transport abilities. The electron mobility was also high in TP-EPY (8.3 × 10<SUP>−5</SUP> cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s). TP-EPY was, therefore, shown to be bipolar, unlike TP-EIF. The electroluminescence (EL) performance of TP-EPY in OLED devices was higher than that of TP-EIF: the luminance efficiencies were 1.72 and 0.76 cd A<SUP>−1</SUP>, and the power efficiencies were 0.65 and 0.27 lm W<SUP>−1</SUP>, for TP-EPY and TP-EIF, respectively. In particular, the FWHMs of the EL spectral bands were 54 nm for TP-EPY and 73 nm for TP-EIF, which demonstrated enhanced emission spectral purity. The external quantum efficiency of TP-EPY was 5.1%, which was more than twice the value for TP-EIF (2.19%).</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>A new indenofluorene derivative, TP-EIF was synthesized, and its physical properties (optical, thermal, electrochemical, electroluminescent, and charge carrier mobility characteristics) were compared with those of the previously described TP-EPY, which has an imine group in the core structure. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c0jm00581a'> </P>

A Novel Approach in Spinal Cord Stimulation for Enhancing Gastric Motility: A Preliminary Study on Canines

( Lei Tu ),( Payam Gharibani ),( Yi Yang ),( Bo Zhang ),( Feng Ji ),( Jieyun Yin ),( Jiande D Z Chen ) 대한소화기 기능성질환·운동학회 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.1

Background/Aims Gastroparesis is commonly seen in patients with diabetes and functional dyspepsia with no satisfactory therapies. Dysautonomia is one of the main reasons for the imbalanced motility. We hypothesized that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a viable therapy for gastroparesis via the autonomic modulation to improve gastric motility. The aim is to find an optimal method of SCS for treating gastroparesis. Methods Eight healthy-female dogs were implanted with a gastric cannula, a duodenal cannula, 2 multi-electrode spinal leads, and an implantable pulse generator. Gastric motility index (MI) was used to determine the best stimulation location/parameters of SCS. Optimized SCS was used to improve glucagon-induced gastroparesis. Results With fixed parameters, SCS at Thoracic 10 (T10) was found most effective for increasing gastric MI (37.8%, P = 0.013). SCS was optimized with different parameters (pulse width: 0.05-0.6 msec, frequency: 5-500 Hz, motor threshold: 30-90%) on T10. Our findings revealed that 0.5 msec, 20 Hz with 90% motor threshold at T10 were the best parameters in increasing MI. Glucagon significantly delayed gastric emptying, and this inhibitory effect was partially blocked by SCS. Gastric emptying at 120 minutes was 25.6% in the control session and 15.7% in glucagon session (P = 0.007 vs control), while it was 22.9% with SCS session (P = 0.041 vs glucagon). SCS with the optimal parameters was found to maximally enhance vagal activity and inhibit sympathetic activity assessed by the spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Conclusions SCS with optimized stimulation location and parameters improves gastric motility in healthy-dogs and accelerates gastric emptying impaired by glucagon via enhancing vagal activity.