A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Brain Metastases and Value of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Sun, Dian-Shui,Hu, Li-Kuan,Cai, Ying,Li, Xiao-Mei,Ye, Lan,Hou, Hua-Ying,Wang, Cui-Hong,Jiang, Yu-Hua Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.3

Background: The incidence of brain metastases (BM) varies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), calls into question the value of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). It is possible that clinicopathologic characteristics are associated with the development of BM, but these have yet to be identified in detail. Thus, we conducted the present meta-analysis on risk factors for BM and the value of PCI in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Eligible data were extracted and the risk factors for BM and the value of PCI in patients with NSCLC were analyzed by calculating the pooled odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity was detected using Q and I-squared statistics, and publication bias was tested by funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: Six randomized controlled trials with a focus on the value of PCI and 13 eligible studies with a focus on risk factors for BM were included. PCI significantly reduced the incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC (p=0.000, pooled OR=0.34, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.59). Compared with non-squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma was associated with a low incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC (p=0.000, pooled OR=0.47, 95% confidence interval =0.34-0.65). The funnel plot and Egger's test suggested that there was no publication bias in the current meta-analysis. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides statistical evidence that compared with non-squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can be used as a predictor for BM in patients with NSCLC, and PCI might reduce the incidence of BM in patients with NSCLC, but does not provide a survival benefit.

Profiling Gene Expression During Gland Morphogenesis of a Glanded and a Glandless Upland Cotton

Ying-Fan Cai,Min Chen,Quan Sun,Yong-Fang Xie,Sheng-Wei Li,Jian-Chuan Mo,Ming-Feng Jiang,You-Lu Yuan,Yu-Zhen Shi,Huai-Zhong Jiang,Zheng Pan,Yun-Ling Gao,Peng-Sheng Ye,Hua-Lan Zeng 한국식물학회 2009 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.52 No.6

The pigment gland is an important character of the Gossypium plant. With the aim of identifying genes involved in pigment gland morphogenesis in cotton, gene expression during pigment gland morphogenesis in Chuan 2802, which is glanded both in seed and plant, and a glandless line N5 was profiled using Affymetrix Cotton microarray. The results showed that there were 564 differentially expressed genes greater than twofold during gland morphogenesis. About 60.2% of these genes shares similarity with known genes on GenBank and about 39.8% with no functional description in the database. These described genes may play roles in defense response, response to oxidative stress, peroxidase activity, and the other metabolic pathways. The KEGG Orthology-Based Annotation System indicated that these above twofold expressed genes involved seven biochemical pathways on KEGG. These findings suggest that a complicated regulation is associated with pigment gland morphogenesis and the associated defense response including gossypol biosynthesis in cotton.

Establishment of Paclitaxel-resistant Breast Cancer Cell Line and Nude Mice Models, and Underlying Multidrug Resistance Mechanisms in Vitro and in Vivo

Chen, Si-Ying,Hu, Sa-Sa,Dong, Qian,Cai, Jiang-Xia,Zhang, Wei-Peng,Sun, Jin-Yao,Wang, Tao-Tao,Xie, Jiao,He, Hai-Rong,Xing, Jian-Feng,Lu, Jun,Dong, Ya-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Background: Breast cancer is a common malignant tumor which affects health of women and multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main factors leading to failure of chemotherapy. This study was conducted to establish paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cell line and nude mice models to explore underlying mechanisms of MDR. Methods: The breast cancer drug-sensitive cell line MCF-7 (MCF-7/S) was exposed in stepwise escalating paclitaxel (TAX) to induce a resistant cell line MCF-7/TAX. Cell sensitivity to drugs and growth curves were measured by MTT assay. Changes of cell morphology and ultrastructure were examined by optical and electron microscopy. The cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of proteins related to breast cancer occurrence and MDR was tested by immunocytochemistry. In Vivo, nude mice were injected with MCF-7/S and MCF-7/TAX cells and weights and tumor sizes were observed after paclitaxel treatment. In addition, proteins involved breast cancer and MDR were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared to MCF-7/S, MCF-7/TAX cells had a higher resistance to paclitaxel, cross-resistance and prolonged doubling time. Moreover, MCF-7/TAX showed obvious alterations of ultrastructure. Estrogen receptor (ER) expression was low in drug resistant cells and tumors while expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67 was up-regulated. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), lung resistance-related protein (LRP) and glutathione-S-transferase-${\pi}$ (GST-${\pi}$) involved in the MDR phenotype of resistant cells and tumors were all overexpressed. Conclusion: The underlying MDR mechanism of breast cancer may involve increased expression of P-gp, LRP and GST-${\pi}$.

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.

Dynamic behavior of an ellipsoidal bubble contaminated by surfactant near a vertical wall

Enbo Ju,Runze Cai,Haopeng Sun,Ying Fan,Wenyi Chen,Jiao Sun 한국화학공학회 2022 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.39 No.5

Adding a small amount of surfactant to gas-liquid two-phase flow can markedly change bubble behavior,which has crucial application value in nuclear energy, petrochemical, chemical, and environmental engineering. In thispaper, the dynamic behavior of a single ellipsoidal bubble (Re~800) contaminated by surfactant rising near a verticalwall in stagnant liquid is studied using the shadow method. The effects of different concentrations of sodium dodecylsulfate solution (100 ppm, 400 ppm, 800 ppm) and initial dimensionless distances on bubble dynamics were compared. The dynamic parameters, shape oscillation, force, and energy of the bubble were analyzed. The results show that thecritical initial dimensionless distance at which the collision occurs is decreased due to a dimensionless distance changefrom 3.3 to 0.23, accelerating the transition from zigzag to spiral movement. Transverse movement of the contaminatedbubble is restrained. Because of the Marangoni effect caused by the surfactant, the boundary condition changesfrom zero shear to non-zero shear, resulting in a decrease in velocity and an increase in the drag coefficient. As the surfactantconcentration increases, the lift coefficient does not significantly change with concentration variations. Theinfluences of the wall effect on velocity and drag gradually weaken. Comparing free-rising and collision conditions, theaspect ratio of the contaminated bubble is distinct from the regularity of a clean bubble. The surfactant also changes thewall-normal velocity frequency and symmetrical shape frequency and inhibits energy conversion during collision.

Characterization of the first tuber mustard calmodulin-like gene, BjAAR1, and its functions in responses to abiotic stress and abscisic acid in Arabidopsis

Liuxin Xiang,Yuxian Xia,Ying-Fan Cai,Jijun Liu,Xiaohong He,Quan Sun,Xiaoyan Wang,Yuyin Fu,Yonghong Fan,Daiwen Dong,Guanfan Zhou,Jinjuan Shen,Yihua Liu 한국식물학회 2013 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.56 No.3

The first tuber mustard calmodulin-like (CML) gene BjAAR1 (Brassica juncea var. tumida Tsen et Lee Abiotic stress and Abscisic acid (ABA) Responsive gene 1) was cloned and characterized. The protein encoded by BjAAR1 contains four predicted Ca2+ binding sites (EF-hand motif) and its recombinant protein can bind Ca2+ in vitro. qRT-PCR showed that the expression level of BjAAR1 was rather high in non-swollen stem of tuber mustard and largely reduced in swollen stem. Expression of BjAAR1 enhanced ABA- and stress-induced gene expression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Transgenic plants also exhibited hypersensitivity to NaCl, mannitol, and ABA during the seed germination and post-germination stages. ABA biosynthesis inhibitor, norflurazon (NF), rescued hypersensitivity phenotype of transgenic plants to NaCl and mannitol, indicating that BjAAR1 functions in multiple abiotic stresses response through ABA-dependent process.

Benzochloroporphyrin Derivative Induced Cytotoxicity and Inhibition of Tumor Recurrence During Photodynamic Therapy for Osteosarcoma

Gong, Hai-Yang,Sun, Meng-Xiong,Hu, Shuo,Tao, Ying-Ying,Gao, Bo,Li, Guo-Dong,Cai, Zheng-Dong,Yao, Jian-Zhong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment modality that uses dye-sensitized photooxidation of biologic matter in target tissue. This study explored effects of the photosensitizer BCPD-17 during PDT for osteosarcoma. LM-8 osteosarcoma cells were treated with BCPD-17 and cell viability after laser irradiation was assessed in vitro with the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The effects of BCPD-17 during PDT recurrence were then examined on tumor-bearing mice in vivo. BCPD-17 had dosedependent cytotoxic effects on LM-8 osteosarcoma cells after laser irradiation which also had energy-dependent effects on the cells. The rate of local recurrence was reduced when marginal resection of mice tumors was followed by BCPD-17-mediated PDT. Our results indicated BCPD-17-mediated PDT in combination with marginal resection of tumors is a potentially new effective treatment for osteosarcoma.

Pre-treatment Elevated Platelet Count Associates with HER2 Overexpression and Prognosis in Patients with Breast Cancer

Gu, Mei-Ling,Yuan, Cai-Jun,Liu, Xiao-Mei,Zhou, Yi-Chao,Di, Shu-Huan,Sun, Fei-Fei,Qu, Quan-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.13

Purpose: To research the association between pre-treatment elevated platelet count and clinicopathologic characteristics in breast cancer (BC), as well as explore the relationship between pre-treatment elevated platelet count and HER2 status and prognosis of BC patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of BC patients who were newly diagnosed or treated by surgery only and had pathological detection results and platelet values in the Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical College were enrolled from 1/1/2008 until 31/12/2009, and followed up until 31/12/2014. Age, thrombocyte parameters before chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, immunohistochemical (IHM) indexes, and regional lymph node (LN) involvement and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded. Results: A total of 447 eligible subjects were included in this research. As we analyzed, for HER2, positive and negative, the incidence rates of elevated platelet count were 25.8% and 14.7% (P<0.05). In the Cox proportional hazards model both variables were independent risk factors for BC (for HER2, OR, 0.592, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.355 to 0.985, P=0.044;f or PLT, OR, 0.998, 95% CI, 0.996 to 1.000, P=0.042). For ER, PR, Ki67 and LN involvement, the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: In this research, pre-treatment elevated level of platelet count demostrated a significantrelationship with HER2 amplification/overexpression, and both variables significantly influenced the prognosis of BC. However, elevated platelet count did not exhibit any association with ER, PR, Ki67 and LN involvement.

Predictive Potential of Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms for Prognosis of Osteosarcoma Patients on Chemotherapy

Zhang, Shai-Lin,Mao, Ning-Fang,Sun, Jun-Ying,Shi, Zhi-Cai,Wang, Bing,Sun, Yong-Jian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms for the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 159 patients were included in our study between January 2005 and December 2007., with follow-up until January 2012. Genotyping was based upon the duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the PCR-CTPP method. Results: At the time of diagnosis, 15.4% of the patients presented with metastasis, while 22.3% developed metastasis during follow-up. At the time of final analysis on January 2012, the median follow-up was 45.5 months. Patients with null GSTM1 and GSTT1 had a higher event free survival rate than non-null genotype, but no significant association was found between the two genotypes and prognosis of osteosarcoma. Individuals with GSTP1 Val/Val genotype tended to live shorter than with the IIe/IIe genotype, and we found a significantly higher risk of death from osteosarcoma (adjusted HR=2.35, 95% CI=1.13-4.85). Conclusion: The GSTP1 gene polymorphism may have an important role in the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients with chemotherapy. Further analyses with larger samples and more genes encoding metabolizing and DNA repair enzymes are warranted.

Predictive Significance of Claudin-3 for Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Huang Zhi-Qun,Ye Jing,Liu Jing,Sun Li-Ying,Ong Hsiao Hui,Wei Yong-Hao,Fu Shu-Cai,Hu Xiao-Xun,Xu Yu,Wang De-Yun 대한천식알레르기학회 2023 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.15 No.4

Purpose: The abnormal expression of tight junction (TJ) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, there is no appropriate tool to distinguish and diagnose epithelial barrier defects in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of claudin-3 for epithelial barrier dysfunction in CRSwNP. Methods: In this study, TJ protein levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemistry staining in control subjects and CRSwNP patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to assess the predictive value of TJ breakdown in clinical outcomes. In vitro, human nasal epithelial cells were cultured at the air-liquid interface to analyze the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) level. Results: The expression levels of occludin, tricellulin, claudin-3, and claudin-10 were decreased (all P < 0.05), and those of claudin-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in CRSwNP patients as compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, claudin-3 and occludin levels were negatively correlated with the computed tomography score in CRSwNP (all P < 0.05), and the ROC curve indicated that the claudin-3 level had the most predictive accuracy in evaluating epithelial barrier disruption (area under the curve = 0.791, P < 0.001). Finally, the time-series analysis showed the highest correlation coefficient between TER and claudin-3 (cross-correlation function = 0.75). Conclusion: In this study, we suggest that claudin-3 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting nasal epithelial barrier defects and disease severity in CRSwNP.