Intranasal administration of oxytocin attenuates stress responses following chronic complicated stress in rats.

Yu Yang,Haijie Yu,Reji Babygirija,Bei Shi,Weinan Sun,Xiaojiao Zheng,Jun Zheng 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2019 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.25 No.4

Background/Aims Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may develop when we fail to adapt to various stressors of our daily life. Central oxytocin (OXT) can counteract the biological actions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and in turn attenuates stress responses. Administration (intracerebroventricular) of OXT significantly antagonized the inhibitory effects of chronic complicated stress (CCS) on GI dysmotility in rats. However, intracerebroventricular administration is an invasive pathway. Intranasal administration can rapidly deliver peptides to the brain avoiding stress response. The effects of intranasal OXT on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and GI motility in CCS conditions have not been investigated. Methods A CCS rat model was set up, OXT 5, 10, or 20 μg were intranasal administered, 30 minutes prior to stress loading. Central CRF and OXT expression levels were analyzed, serum corticosterone and OXT concentrations were measured, and gastric and colonic motor functions were evaluated by gastric emptying, fecal pellet output, and motility recording system. Results Rats in CCS condition showed significantly increased CRF expression and corticosterone concentration, which resulted in delayed gastric emptying and increased fecal pellet output, attenuated gastric motility and enhanced colonic motility were also recorded. OXT 10 μg or 20 μg significantly reduced CRF mRNA expression and the corticosterone concentration, OXT 20 μg also helped to restore GI motor dysfunction induced by CCS. Conclusion Intranasal administration of OXT has an anxiolytic effect and attenuates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to CCS, and gave effects which helped to restore GI dysmotility, and might be a new approach for the treatment of stress-induced GI motility disorders. Background/Aims Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may develop when we fail to adapt to various stressors of our daily life. Central oxytocin (OXT) can counteract the biological actions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and in turn attenuates stress responses. Administration (intracerebroventricular) of OXT significantly antagonized the inhibitory effects of chronic complicated stress (CCS) on GI dysmotility in rats. However, intracerebroventricular administration is an invasive pathway. Intranasal administration can rapidly deliver peptides to the brain avoiding stress response. The effects of intranasal OXT on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and GI motility in CCS conditions have not been investigated. Methods A CCS rat model was set up, OXT 5, 10, or 20 μg were intranasal administered, 30 minutes prior to stress loading. Central CRF and OXT expression levels were analyzed, serum corticosterone and OXT concentrations were measured, and gastric and colonic motor functions were evaluated by gastric emptying, fecal pellet output, and motility recording system. Results Rats in CCS condition showed significantly increased CRF expression and corticosterone concentration, which resulted in delayed gastric emptying and increased fecal pellet output, attenuated gastric motility and enhanced colonic motility were also recorded. OXT 10 μg or 20 μg significantly reduced CRF mRNA expression and the corticosterone concentration, OXT 20 μg also helped to restore GI motor dysfunction induced by CCS. Conclusion Intranasal administration of OXT has an anxiolytic effect and attenuates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to CCS, and gave effects which helped to restore GI dysmotility, and might be a new approach for the treatment of stress-induced GI motility disorders.

기획주제(企劃主題) : 동아시아 한자(漢字),한자교육(漢字敎育)의 현황(現況)과 과제(課題); 漢字結構分析的曆史演變 -試論六書、偏旁與部件之更替

( Zheng Yu Shi ) 한국한자한문교육학회 2013 漢字 漢文敎育 Vol.30 No.-

한자의 구조 분석 중 육서와 편방, 부건의 구체적 함의와 상호 관계 등의 문제는 항상 한자의 이론 연구와 교육 실천에 있어서 어려운 문제였다. 필자는 어떠한구조 분석법이라도 모두가 상상에서 나온 것이 아니라, 육서와 편방, 부건의 출현이 한자의 변천 과정 중 몇 차례 있었던 대변화의 시기와 맞물려 있다고 생각하여, 이 문제들을 이해하는데 도움을 주고자 하였다. 이를 위해 필자는 한자 발전의 각도에서 이 세 가지 용어의 기원과 발전 맥락을 분석하고, 이와 함께 이 세 가지가 내포하고 있는 함의와 관계에 대해 정리하였다. The author of this paper combined the six categories of Chinese characters, radicals, components and the evolution of Chinese characters font to investigate the difference between the three and their inner links based on the diachronic analysis method and drew the following conclusions: The six categories of Chinese characters, radicals and components were three different structure analysis methods used on different font during the different historical period of the Chinese characters font evolution. The six categories of Chinese characters was the one of the three methods which was created by a man whose surname was Bao in Zhou dynasty to analyse the ancient Chinese character structure so that can let the temporal students initiate Chinese characters; The radicals were obtained from the disposable analysis of temporal font of the period from the official script to the regular script; The components came from the multiple stereoscopic segmentation of Chinese characters, which are the ways to simplify them and process their information. The six categories of Chinese characters, radicals and the components are relatively independent and have some certain gradualism and inheritance as well.

BRCA1 Gene Exon 11 Mutations in Uighur and Han Women with Early-onset Sporadic Breast Cancer in the Northwest Region of China

Cao, Yu-Wen,Fu, Xin-Ge,Wan, Guo-Xing,Yu, Shi-Ying,Cui, Xiao-Bin,Li, Li,Jiang, Jin-Fang,Zheng, Yu-Qin,Zhang, Wen-Jie,Li, Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.11

The prevalence of BRCA1 gene mutations in breast cancer differs between diverse ethnic groups. Relatively little information is known about patterns of BRCA1 mutations in early-onset breast cancer in women of Uighur or Han descent, the major ethnic populations of the Xinjiang region in China. The aim of this study was to identify BRCA1 mutations in Uighur and Han patients with early-onset (age <35 years), and sporadic breast cancer for genetic predisposition to breast cancer. For detection of BRCA1 mutations, we used a polymerase chain reaction single-stranded conformation polymorphism approach, followed by direct DNA sequencing in 22 Uighur and 13 Han women with early-onset sporadic breast cancer, and 32 women with benign breast diseases. The prevalence of BRCA1 mutations in this population was 22.9% (8/35) among early-onset sporadic breast cancer cases. Of these, 31.8% (7/22) of Uighur patients and 7.69% (1/13) of Han patients were found to have BRCA1 mutations. In 7 Uighur patients with BRCA1 mutations, there were 11 unique sequence alterations in the BRCA1 gene, including 4 clearly disease-associated mutations on exon 11 and 3 variants of uncertain clinical significance on exon 11, meanwhile 4 neutral variants on intron 20 or 2. None of the 11 BRCA1 mutations identified have been previously reported in the Breast Cancer Information Core database. These findings reflect the prevalence of BRCA1 mutations in Uighur women with early-onset and sporadic breast cancer, which will allow for provision of appropriate genetic counseling and treatment for Uighur patients in the Xinjiang region.

Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula and its extraction on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs, porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain gene expression in myocytes

Yu, Qin Ping,Feng, Ding Yuan,He, Xiao Jun,Wu, Fan,Xia, Min Hao,Dong, Tao,Liu, Yi Hua,Tan, Hui Ze,Zou, Shi Geng,Zheng, Tao,Ou, Xian Hua,Zuo, Jian Jun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.11

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) on muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs and the effects of the formula's extract (distilled water, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extraction) on porcine cell proliferation and isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene expression in myocytes. Methods: In a completely randomized design, ninety pigs were assigned to three diets with five replications per treatment and six pigs per pen. The diets included the basal diet (control group), TCMF1 (basal diet+2.5 g/kg TCMF) and TCMF2 (basal diet+5 g/kg TCMF). The psoas major muscle was obtained from pigs at the end of the experiment. Muscle fiber characteristics in the psoas major muscle were analyzed using myosin ATPase staining. Cell proliferation was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye and cytometry. Isoforms of MyHC gene expression were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The final body weight and carcass weight of finishing pigs were increased by TCMF1 (p<0.05), while the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area was increased by TCMF (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and diameter of psoas major muscle fiber Ι, IIA, and IIB were increased by TCMF2 (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area and fiber diameter of psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB were increased by diet supplementation with TCMF1 (p<0.05). Psoas major muscle fiber IIA and IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF1 diet and the type IIB fiber density from the pigs fed the TCMF2 diet were lower compared to pigs fed the control diet (p<0.05). Pigs fed TCMF2 had a higher composition of type Ι fiber and a lower percentage of type IIB fiber in the psoas major muscle (p<0.05). The expression levels of MyHC Ι, MyHC IIa, and MyHC IIx mRNA increased and the amount of MyHC IIb mRNA decreased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF2, whereas MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA increased in the psoas major muscle from TCMF1 (p<0.05). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ $coactivator-1{\alpha}$ and CaN mRNA expression in the psoas major muscle were up-regulated by TCMF (p<0.05). Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation was promoted by $4{\mu}g/mL$ and $20{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Both $1{\mu}g/mL$ and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of TCMF water extraction increased MyHC IIa, MyHC IIb, and MyHC IIx mRNA expression in porcine myocytes (p<0.05), while MyHC Ι mRNA expression in porcine myocytes was decreased by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF water extraction (p<0.05). Porcine myocyte MyHC Ι and MyHC IIx mRNA expression were increased, and MyHC IIa and MyHC IIb mRNA expression were down-regulated by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). MyHC Ι and MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were increased, and the MyHC IIb mRNA expression was decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF ethyl acetate extraction (p<0.05). Four isoforms of MyHC mRNA expression in porcine myocytes were reduced by $5{\mu}g/mL$ TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). MyHC IIa mRNA expression in porcine myocytes increased and MyHC IIb mRNA expression decreased by $1{\mu}g/mL$ in a TCMF petroleum ether extraction (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that TCMF amplified the psoas major muscle cross-sectional area through changing muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. This effect was confirmed as TCMF extraction promoted porcine cell proliferation and affected isoforms of MyHC gene expression in myocytes.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of water-soluble flavonoids extract from Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves

Yu Zheng,Lin Chen,Yanhua Liu,Lei Shi,Shoupeng Wan,Li Wang 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.6

Aqueous extract of Vaccinium bracteatumThunb. leaves (VWFE) is traditionally used for foodpreservation in China, which is rich in flavonoids compounds. VWFE could effectively inhibit the growth of bothGram negative (Escherichia coli) and positive bacteria(Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), however, noinhibition effects were observed on mold and yeast. Theminimum inhibitory concentration of VWFE were2.06 mg/ml, 1.03 mg/ml, and 4.11 mg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis, respectively, which were 13%, 13%,and 26% of sodium benzoate and 23%, 11%, and 46% ofpotassium sorbate. Cell membrane permeability assaysindicated that cell membrane disruption was one of theantibacterial mechanisms of VWFE. VWFE showed a goodthermal stability. The expiration date of VWFE was6 months at 25 C, which was predicted using the acceleratedaging method. This present work indicated

Clinical Outcomes of Downregulation of E-cadherin Gene Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Zheng, Shi-Ying,Hou, Jing-Yu,Zhao, Jun,Jiang, Dong,Ge, Jin-Feng,Chen, Sheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Objective: To investigate the promoter methylation status of the E-cadherin gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its association with clinical pathological parameters, and to explore the relationship between downregulation of E-cadherin gene expression and the methylation status of its promoter region. Methods: Nested methylation-specific PCR was performed to examine CpG methylation within the 5' CpG island of the E-cadherin gene in lung cancer and para-cancerous tissue from 37 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the level of E-cadherin mRNA. Results: Of thirty-seven cases, 12 (32.4%) samples showed aberrant CpG methylation in tumor tissues compared with the corresponding normal tissues. In addition, a reduction in E-cadherin mRNA levels was observed in 11 of the 12 (91.7%) tumor tissues carrying a methylated E-cadherin gene. However, only 10 (43.5%) cases displayed reduced mRNA levels in tumor tissues from the remaining 23 cases (excluding 2 samples from which mRNA was unavailable) without methylation events. Downregulation of E-cadherin gene expression significantly correlated with the promoter methylation status of this gene. Conclusion: These results provide strong evidence that the methylation status of E-cadherin gene contributes to a reduction in the expression of E-cadherin mRNA, and may play a role in the development and progression of NSCLC.

A novel design method for improving collapse resistances of multi-story steel frames with unequal spans using steel braces

Zheng Tan,Wei-hui Zhong,Bao Meng,Shi-chao Duan,Hong-chen Wang3,Xing-You Yao,Yu-hui Zheng 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.47 No.2

The bearing capacities resisted by the two-bay beams of multi-story planar frames with unequal spans under column removal scenarios differ considerably owing to the asymmetric stress on the left and right beams connected to the failed column and cause the potential for beams with larger span-to-depth ratios to be unable to exert effectively, which is disadvantageous for resisting the vertical load in unequal-span frame structures. To address this problem, the structural measure of adding braces to the weak bays of multi-story unequal-span frames was proposed, with the objective of achieving a coordinated stress state in two-bay beams with unequal spans, thereby improving the collapse resistance of unequal-span frame structures. Before conducting the numerical simulation, the modeling methods were verified by previous experimental results of two multi-story planar frames with and without steel braces. Thereafter, the effects of the tensile and compressive braces on the collapse behavior of the frame structures were elucidated. Then, based on the mechanical action laws of the braces throughout the collapse process, a detailed design method for improving the collapse resistance of unequal-span frame structures was proposed. Finally, the proposed design method was verified by using sufficient example models, and the results demonstrated that the design method has good application prospects and high practical value.

Effect of Tea Polyphenols on the Adhesion of Highly Metastatic Human Lung Carcinoma Cell Lines to Endothelial Cells in Vitro

Zheng, Feng-Jin,Shi, Lin,Yang, Jun,Deng, Xiao-Hui,Wu, Yu-Quan,Yan, Xi-Qing,Huang, Ning Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Aim: Tea polyphenols are known to play roles in critical steps of human lung carcinoma cell metastasis. For understanding the mechanisms whereby they inhibit tumor metastasis, the present study was conducted to investigate their effects on the adhesion of highly metastatic lung carcinoma cell lines (PG cells) to endothelial cells (EC cells) and adhesion molecule expression in vitro. Methods: The expression of CD44 or CD54 in the PG cells was detected by flow cytometry and adhesion of PG cells to EC cells was assessed by confocal microscopy double fluorescence staining. Results: The results showed that tea polyphenols: (1) inhibited the expression of CD44 and CD54, two important adhesion molecules in the PG cells in a dose-dependent manner; (2) significantly blocked the adhesion of PG cells to EC cells not only in a state of rest but also when active; and (3) influenced CD44 and CD54 expression during the adhesion process of PG cells to EC cells. Conclusions: The data indicated that the blocking role of tea polyphenols in the adhesion of PG cells to EC cells is related to CD44 and CD54. The mechanism of tea polyphenol prevention of human lung carcinoma metastasis might be through inhibiting adhesion molecule expression to block cancer cell adhesion.

Common genetic determinants of breast-cancer risk in East Asian women: a collaborative study of 23 637 breast cancer cases and 25 579 controls

Zheng, Wei,Zhang, Ben,Cai, Qiuyin,Sung, Hyuna,Michailidou, Kyriaki,Shi, Jiajun,Choi, Ji-Yeob,Long, Jirong,Dennis, Joe,Humphreys, Manjeet K.,Wang, Qin,Lu, Wei,Gao, Yu-Tang,Li, Chun,Cai, Hui,Park, Sue K Oxford University Press 2013 Human Molecular Genetics Vol.22 No.12

<P>In a consortium including 23 637 breast cancer patients and 25 579 controls of East Asian ancestry, we investigated 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 67 independent breast cancer susceptibility loci recently identified by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) conducted primarily in European-ancestry populations. SNPs in 31 loci showed an association with breast cancer risk at <I>P</I> < 0.05 in a direction consistent with that reported previously. Twenty-one of them remained statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni-corrected significance level of <0.0015. Eight of the 70 SNPs showed a significantly different association with breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor (ER) status at <I>P</I> < 0.05. With the exception of rs2046210 at 6q25.1, the seven other SNPs showed a stronger association with ER-positive than ER-negative cancer. This study replicated all five genetic risk variants initially identified in Asians and provided evidence for associations of breast cancer risk in the East Asian population with nearly half of the genetic risk variants initially reported in GWASs conducted in European descendants. Taken together, these common genetic risk variants explain ∼10% of excess familial risk of breast cancer in Asian populations.</P>

Finite element analysis of high-density polyethylene pipe in pipe gallery of nuclear power plants

Shi, Jianfeng,Hu, Anqi,Yu, Fa,Cui, Ying,Yang, Ruobing,Zheng, Jinyang Korean Nuclear Society 2021 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.53 No.3

High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has many advantages over metallic pipe, and has been used in non-safety related application for years in some nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently, HDPE pipe was introduced into safety related applications. The main difference between safety-related and non-safety-related pipes in NPPs is the design method of extra loadings such as gravity, temperature, and earthquake. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of HDPE pipe under various loads in pipe gallery was studied by finite element analysis (FEA). Stress concentrations were found at the fusion regions on inner surface of mitered elbows of HDPE pipe system. The effects of various factors were analyzed, and the influence of various loads on the damage of HDPE pipe system were evaluated. The results of this paper provide a reference for the design of nuclear safety-related Class 3 HDPE pipe. In addition, as the HDPE pipes analyzed in this paper were suspended in pipe gallery, it can also serve as a supplementary reference for current ASME standard on Class 3 HDPE pipe, which only covers the application for buried pipe application.