Beneficial effects of natural Jeju groundwaters on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats

Yan-chao Wang,Jin-miao Lu,Hui-zi Jin,Ai-niu Ma,Jin-yang Zhang,Nian Gong,Qi Xiao,Bin Zhu,Ying-fang Lv,Na Yu,Wei-dong Zhang,Yong-xiang Wang 한국영양학회 2014 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.8 No.2

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (SamdasooTM), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Stem-specific Gene from Camptotheca acuminata

Yan Pi,Zhi Hua Liao,You Rong Chai,Hai Nian Zeng,Peng Wang,Yi Fu Gong,Yong Zhen Pang,Xiao Fen Sun,Ke Xuan Tang 한국생활환경학회 2006 BMB Reports Vol.39 No.1

Prevalence and Age, Gender and Geographical Area Distribution of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas in North China from 1985 to 2006

Feng, Xiao-Shan,Yang, Yan-Tong,Gao, She-Gan,Ru, Yi,Wang, Gong-Ping,Zhou, Bo,Wang, Yu-Feng,Zhang, Peng-Fei,Li, Pu-Yu,Liu, Yong-Xuan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

Objective: To establish the prevalence and distribution profile of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) over a 22-yr period in North China. Methods: Using endoscopy for primary diagnosis and histological analysis for the further confirmation, a total of 74,854 ESCC patients aged 20-89 between January 1985 and December 2006 were investigated to analyze the epidemiological profile including prevalence rates, distribution of age-of-onset, gender and geographical area of ESCC in Luoyang, the highest incidence area of North China. Results: A total of 4092 cases of ESCC were finally diagnosed among 74,854 patients who had their first endoscopies. The prevalence among males was higher than that among females (p<0.01), resulting in an overall male:female OR of 1.2 (95%CI, 1.2-1.3). The prevalence in rural areas was higher than in urban areas (p<0.01), resulting in an overall rural:urban OR of 2.6 (95%CI, 2.4-2.9). The rural:urban ORs and the 95% CI increased continuously from 2.6, 2.3-3.0 to 2.7, 2.2-3.3, respectively, for 4 consecutive periods during the 22-yr study period. Moreover, the median age of onset among females was higher than that among males (p<0.01). For both sexes and in both areas, the prevalence rates declined and the median age of onset rose for 4 consecutive periods in the 22-yrs time frame (p<0.01). Conculsions: These data reveal the epidemiological profile of ESCC in the area of North China, and suggest that urban areas and rural people account for a growing proportion of the ESCC patients although the prevalence of ESCC significantly declined and the median age-of-onset postponed over the 22-yrs period. Moreover, the prevalence status of ESCC in rural areas also underlines the need for public health initiatives aimed at reducing risk factors of this fatal disease.

<i>De novo</i> genetic variation associated with retrotransposon activation, genomic rearrangements and trait variation in a recombinant inbred line population of <i>Brassica napus</i> derived from interspecific hybridization with <i>Brassica rapa</i>

Zou, Jun,Fu, Donghui,Gong, Huihui,Qian, Wei,Xia, Wei,Pires, J. Chris,Li, RuiYuan,Long, Yan,Mason, Annaliese S.,Yang, Tae‐,Jin,Lim, Yong P.,Park, Beom S.,Meng, Jinling Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 The Plant journal Vol.68 No.2

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P>Interspecific hybridization is a significant evolutionary force as well as a powerful method for crop breeding. Partial substitution of the AA subgenome in <I>Brassica napus</I> (A<SUP>n</SUP>A<SUP>n</SUP>C<SUP>n</SUP>C<SUP>n</SUP>) with the <I>Brassica rapa</I> (A<SUP>r</SUP>A<SUP>r</SUP>) genome by two rounds of interspecific hybridization resulted in a new introgressed type of <I>B.?napus</I> (A<SUP>r</SUP>A<SUP>r</SUP>C<SUP>n</SUP>C<SUP>n</SUP>). In this study, we construct a population of recombinant inbred lines of the new introgressed type of <I>B.?napus</I>. Microsatellite, intron‐based and retrotransposon markers were used to characterize this experimental population with genetic mapping, genetic map comparison and specific marker cloning analysis. Yield‐related traits were also recorded for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). A remarkable range of novel genomic alterations was observed in the population, including simple sequence repeat (SSR) mutations, chromosomal rearrangements and retrotransposon activations. Most of these changes occurred immediately after interspecific hybridization, in the early stages of genome stabilization and derivation of experimental lines. These novel genomic alterations affected yield‐related traits in the introgressed <I>B.?napus</I> to an even greater extent than the alleles alone that were introgressed from the A<SUP>r</SUP> subgenome of <I>B.?rapa</I>, suggesting that genomic changes induced by interspecific hybridization are highly significant in both genome evolution and crop improvement.</P>

Analysis and Research on the Development of Chinese MISs

Shun Yu Piao,Zong Bin Wang,Yong Gong Yan,Hua Cheng Xue 대한전자공학회 1991 International Conference on Electronics, Informati Vol.1 No.1

Inhibition of α-glucosidase by 2-thiobarbituric acid: Molecular dynamics simulation integrating parabolic noncompetitive inhibition kinetics

Qin, Xiu-Yuan,Lee, Jinhyuk,Zheng, Li,Yang, Jun-Mo,Gong, Yan,Park, Yong-Doo Elsevier 2018 Process biochemistry Vol.65 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The phenomenon of α-glucosidase inhibition has attracted the attention of researchers due to its association with type 2 diabetes treatment in humans. In this study, we found that 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) induces complex inhibition of α-glucosidase using kinetics tests and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Computational MD and docking simulations demonstrate that TBA interacts with three residues on active sites of α-glucosidase such as Met69, Arg212, and His348. These biochemical tests indicate that TBA reversibly inhibits α-glucosidase in a parabolic noncompetitive manner (<I>IC</I> <SUB>50</SUB> =17.13±1.14mM; <I>K</I> <SUB>i</SUB> =13.25±0.56mM) and that this inhibition is accompanied by a biphasic kinetic process. The tertiary conformational changes were not synchronized with TBA inhibition but we observed hydrophobic disruption after inactivation at higher concentrations of TBA. Our results provide insight into the functional roles of residues located at the active sites of α-glucosidase, and we suggest that compounds similar to TBA (heterocyclic compounds) targeting the key residues of active sites are potential α-glucosidase inhibitors.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> 2-Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) induces complex inhibition of α-glucosidase. </LI> <LI> Computational MD simulations demonstrate that TBA interacts with Met69, Arg212, and His348. </LI> <LI> TBA reversibly inhibits α-glucosidase in a parabolic noncompetitive manner (<I>IC</I> <SUB>50</SUB> =17.13±1.14mM; <I>K</I> <SUB>i</SUB> =13.25±0.56mM). </LI> <LI> The high dose of TBA induces hydrophobic disruption after inactivation. </LI> <LI> Heterocyclic compounds targeting the key residues of active sites are potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Research on Human-robot Shared Control of Throat Swab Sampling Robot Based on Intention Estimation

Ying-Long Chen,Fu-Jun Song,Peng-Yu Zhao,Yong-Jun Gong,Heng-Fei Yan 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2024 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.22 No.2

With the spread and persistence of COVID-19, pharyngeal swab sampling, is an important link in nucleic acid testing, which is characterized by a high workload and susceptibility to infection. Therefore, it is necessary for medical workers to use medical robots instead of manual site sampling for collaborative sampling. However, the traditional teleoperation has difficulty ensuring the closed-loop performance due to the delay of the actual process, along with the weak control performance; Moreover, a robot cannot accurately plan and track sampling paths due to sensor accuracy and the changes in patient pharyngeal posture. The paper proposes a human-robot shared control strategy based on intention estimation, introducing the human intention as a reference, and the operator and robot work together to solve various significant problems during sampling. The human-robot negotiation based on the method includes the human judgement and perception and the robot into the invasion task. Through, the shared control based on the operator intention estimation, the robot can operate the obstacle avoidance and approach the target contact point remotely. Finally, two kinds of experiments of invasion process of throat swab sampling are implemented: a static target invasive experiment and a dynamic target invasive experiment, aiming at two different sampling conditions. Compared with the robotic independent control sampling, the time consumption in the two experiments is reduced by 34.8% and 41.6%, respectively, and the ultimate target position is basically within the scope of sampling field (where the range of the posterior pharynx wall < 20 mm). Thus, the sampling rate can reach 100%. Compared with independent control sampling by humans, the time consumption of the two experiments is respectively reduced by 15.9% and 42.3% on average, and the target position accuracy and sampling rate are quite close. Experimental results show that the control strategy improves the speed, flexibility, and intelligence of task execution compared to common sampling methods, laying the foundation for low-cost human-robot collaborative sampling.