Expression and Functional Role of ALDH1 in Cervical Carcinoma Cells

Rao, Qun-Xian,Yao, Ting-Ting,Zhang, Bing-Zhong,Lin, Rong-Chun,Chen, Zhi-Liao,Zhou, Hui,Wang, Li-Juan,Lu, Huai-Wu,Chen, Qin,Di, Na,Lin, Zhong-Qiu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Tumor formation and growth is dictated by a very small number of tumor cells, called cancer stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal. The genesis of cancer stem cells and their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy via mechanisms such as multidrug resistance, quiescence, enhanced DNA repair abilities and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, make it imperative to develop methods to identify and use these cells as diagnostic or therapeutic targets. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is used as a cancer stem cell marker. In this study, we evaluated ALDH1 expression in CaSki, HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells using the Aldefluor method to isolate ALDH1-positive cells. We showed that higher ALDH1 expression correlated with significantly higher rates of cell proliferation, microsphere formation and migration. We also could demonstrate that SiHa-ALDH1-positive cells were significantly more tumorigenic compared to SiHa-ALDH1-negative cells. Similarly, SiHa cells overexpressing ALDH1 were significantly more tumorigenic and showed higher rates of cell proliferation and migration compared to SiHa cells where ALDH1 expression was knocked down using a lentivirus vector. Our data suggested that ALDH1 is a marker of cervical cancer stem cells and expand our understanding of its functional role.

Landscape structures of the Central Yangtze region, China

Tang, Zhi Yao,Fang, Jing Yun,Zhao, Shu Qing,Rao, Sheng,Lei, Guang Chun,Cui, Hai Ting 대한원격탐사학회 2000 International Symposium on Remote Sensing Vol.16 No.1

As habitats for many migratory birds, the plain regions of Central Yangtze plays an important role in biodiversity conservation, especially in conservation for birds and fishes. In this study, the landscape structures of the plain regions of the Central Yangtze were analyzed by using remote sensing image data (Landsat TM) and technique of geographical information system (GIS). The landscape component was divided into eight types, broad-leaved forest, shrub, meadow, water body, cropland, urban and bared land. The main results are summarized as follow: (1) Broad-leaved forest is almost made of small patches, while water body and cropland mainly made of large-area patches, suggesting that water body and cropland are the dominant components for landscape structures. (2) Shrub and meadow are highly fragmented, compared to cropland and water body. Water body, meadow and shrub are randomly distributed, whilst bared land and urban occur aggregately. (3) Places with high fragmentation index show a low dominance index value and unapparent dominant components, while the areas with low fragmentation indices, such as Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake and Jianghan Plain, indicate a high dominance index value in which the dominant components were distinct.

Intravenous Flurbiprofen Axetil Enhances Analgesic Effect of Opioids in Patients with Refractory Cancer Pain by Increasing Plasma β-Endorphin

Wu, Ting-Ting,Wang, Zhi-Gang,Ou, Wu-Ling,Wang, Jun,Yao, Guo-Qing,Yang, Bo,Rao, Zhi-Guo,Gao, Jian-Fei,Zhang, Bi-Cheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Background: The study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of a combination of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil and opioids, and evaluate the relationship between refractory pain relief and plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 cancer patients was randomly divided into two groups, 60 patients took orally morphine sulfate sustained-release tablets in group A, and another 60 patients receiving the combination treatment of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil and opioid drugs in group B. After 7 days, pain relief, quality of life improvement and side effects were evaluated. Furthermore, plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: With the combination treatment of intravenous intravenous flurbiprofen axetil and opioids, the total effective rate of pain relief rose to 91.4%, as compared to 82.1% when morphine sulfate sustained-release tablet was used alone. Compared with that of group A, the analgesic effect increased in group B (p=0.031). Moreover, satisfactory pain relief was associated with a significant increase in plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels. After the treatment, plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin level in group B was $62.4{\pm}13.5pg/ml$, which was higher than that in group A ($45.8{\pm}11.2pg/ml$) (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest the combination of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil and opioids can enhance the analgesic effect of opioid drugs by increasing plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels, which would offer a selected and reliable strategy for refractory cancer pain treatment.

Enhanced Acetoin Production by Serratia marcescens H32 Using Statistical Optimization and a Two-stage Agitation Speed Control Strategy

Jianan Sun,Liaoyuan Zhang,Ben Rao,Yunbin Han,Ju Chu,Jiawen Zhu,Yaling Shen,Dong-Zhi Wei 한국생물공학회 2012 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.17 No.3

Enhanced acetoin production was carried out by Serratia marcescens H32. First, medium compositions were optimized statistically for shake flask fermentations to produce acetoin. Sucrose and corn steep liquor powder (CSLP) were identified as the most significant factors by Plackett–Burman design. The path of steepest ascent and response surface methodology were then employed to determine the optimal concentrations of the two factors. Acetoin yield was up to 41.5 g/L in flask fermentations using the optimized medium. Furthermore, the optimal medium was used to conduct fermentation experiments in a 3.7-L bioreactor. The influences of different agitation speeds on acetoin production were investigated. Based on a process analysis, a two-stage agitation speed control strategy was proposed, in which the agitation speed was controlled at 700 rpm during the first 8 h and then switched to 600 rpm. A relatively high acetoin concentration (44.9 g/L)and high acetoin productivity (1.73 g/L/h) were achieved by applying this strategy. Fed-batch fermentation based on the two-stage agitation speed control strategy was performed,and a maximum acetoin concentration of 60.5 g/L with productivity of 1.44 g/L/h was achieved. Enhanced acetoin production was carried out by Serratia marcescens H32. First, medium compositions were optimized statistically for shake flask fermentations to produce acetoin. Sucrose and corn steep liquor powder (CSLP) were identified as the most significant factors by Plackett–Burman design. The path of steepest ascent and response surface methodology were then employed to determine the optimal concentrations of the two factors. Acetoin yield was up to 41.5 g/L in flask fermentations using the optimized medium. Furthermore, the optimal medium was used to conduct fermentation experiments in a 3.7-L bioreactor. The influences of different agitation speeds on acetoin production were investigated. Based on a process analysis, a two-stage agitation speed control strategy was proposed, in which the agitation speed was controlled at 700 rpm during the first 8 h and then switched to 600 rpm. A relatively high acetoin concentration (44.9 g/L)and high acetoin productivity (1.73 g/L/h) were achieved by applying this strategy. Fed-batch fermentation based on the two-stage agitation speed control strategy was performed,and a maximum acetoin concentration of 60.5 g/L with productivity of 1.44 g/L/h was achieved.

Two distinct types of dust polarization in the disk and its vicinity around the protostar TMC-1A

Yusuke Aso,Woojin Kwon,Tao-Chung Ching,Shih-Ping Lai,Zhi-Yun Li,Naomi Hirano,Ramprasad Rao 한국천문학회 2020 天文學會報 Vol.45 No.1

Oridonin Alleviates Visceral Hyperalgesia in a Rat Model of Postinflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Role of Colonic Enterochromaffin Cell and Serotonin Availability

Kai-hong Zang,Yun-yun Shao,Xiao Zuo,Zhi Rao,Hongyan Qin 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.6

The aim of this present study was to investigate the effect of oridonin on visceral hyperalgesia and colonic serotonin availability in a rat model of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced postinflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, PI-IBS model, PI-IBS+low-dose oridonin (5 mg/kg), PI-IBS+median-dose oridonin (10 mg/kg), and PI-IBS+high-dose oridonin (20 mg/kg). Rats in control and model groups were orally administered with water by gavage, whereas rats in oridonin-treated groups were orally administered with different dosages of oridonin, and drugs were given for 14 consecutive days. Compared with the control group, the pain threshold pressure was significantly reduced in PI-IBS rats. The colonic enterochromaffin (EC) cell number, serotonin content, and the protein expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) were markedly increased and the protein expression of serotonin reuptake transporter was significantly decreased in PI-IBS rats. The spleen index in PI-IBS rats was decreased, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13 in the colon of PI-IBS rats were also markedly decreased. Oridonin treatment dose dependently increased pain threshold pressure, and markedly decreased colon EC cell numbers, TPH expression, and serotonin content in PI-IBS rats. Oridonin treatment also significantly increased the spleen index as well as the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 in the colon of PI-IBS rats. Results of this study demonstrate that the analgesic effect of oridonin in PI-IBS rats is associated with reduced colonic EC cell hyperplasia and 5-HT availability, the regulatory effect of oridonin on colonic cytokine production may be correlated with its effect on colonic EC cell number.

Increased brain uptake of venlafaxine loaded solid lipid nanoparticles by overcoming the efflux function and expression of P-gp

Yan Zhou,Xin’an Wu,Guo-Qiang Zhang,Zhi Rao,Yang Yang,Qian Zhou,Hongyan Qin,Yuhui Wei 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.7

Venlafaxine (VLX) could be pumped out of the brain by P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Moreover, the expression of P-gp distributed in blood–brain barrier could be significantly induced by VLX. Thus, P-gp could be considered as the nature barrier for delivering of VLX to the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the efflux function and increased expression of P-gp could be reversed by utilizing solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). VLX solid lipid nanoparticles (VLX - SLN) were prepared and evaluated. Pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of VLX in different formulations were conducted after oral or intravenous administration. P-gp efflux function to VLX was evaluated by the brain uptake amount of VLX, while P-gp expression was investigated by Western blotting. Results indicated that the entrapment, mean size and zata potential of VLX - SLN was 74.9 ± 3.0 %, 186.3 ± 69.26 nm and -22.8 ± 7.78 mv, respectively. After vein injection of VLX formulations, the brain uptake amount of VLX from VLX - SLN was significantly higher than that of VLX solution, VLX solution with empty SLN (VLX? empty SLN) and VLX solution with Verapamil (VLX ? Ver), respectively. Furthermore, the protein mass of P-gp in VLX - SLN treated group was the lowest among all the investigated groups. These results indicated that SLN could overcome P-gp and achieve brain target by intravenous administration.

Dynamics and Liver Disease Specific Aspects of Quality of Life Among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in Yunnan, China

Che, Yan-Hua,You, Jing,Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi,Li, Li,Sriplung, Hucha,Yan, Yuan-Zhi,Ma, Si-Jia,Zhang, Xiaoli,Shen, Ting,Chen, He-Min,Rao, Shao-Feng,Zhang, Ru-Yi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) may have compromised health related quality of life (HRQoL). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been the leading cause of CLD including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Knowledge on different symptom profiles of CLD should help in development of comprehensive treatment and patient care plans. Objective: To access the facets of HRQoL in chronic liver diseases throughout their spectrum of severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in Yunnan Province of China. Both out- and inpatients undergoing treatment protocols for different HBV related liver disease states were consecutively collected from December 2012 to June 2013. ANOVA was used to compare the mean scores of EQ-5D and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) among 5 disease groups. The relationship between demographic variables predicting global CLDQ scores and the domains of CLDQ was analysed. Results: A total of 1040 patients including 520 without complications, 91 with compensated cirrhosis, 198 with decompensated cirrhosis, 131 with HCC and 100 with liver failure were recruited. All domains of CLDQ, the means of EQ-5D value and EQ VAS exhibited significant decline with worsening of disease severity from uncomplicated HBV to liver failure. The multivariate regression demonstrated the reduction of mean scores of CLDQ domain at advanced stage. Patients with liver failure and HCC had more HRQoL impairment than other disease states. No effect of patient gender was found. Patient age was associated with 'fatigue' and 'worry' domains (p=0.006; p=0.004) but not with other domains and global scores of CLDQ and ED-5D. Conclusions: The HRQoL in chronic hepatitis B patients is greatly affected by disease states. Care for HBV-related diseases should consider not only the outcomes of treatment strategies but also improvement in patient wellbeing.