ZNF217 is Overexpressed and Enhances Cell Migration and Invasion in Colorectal Carcinoma

Zhang, Zi-Chao,Zheng, Li-Qiang,Pan, Li-Jie,Guo, Jin-Xing,Yang, Guo-Shan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Background: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Materials and Methods: The expression of ZNF217 in 60 CRC tissues and matched tumor adjacent tissues, collected between January 2013 and June 2014, was assessed immunohistochemically. The relationship between the expression of ZNF217 and clinicopathlogical features was analyzed by Pearson chi-square test. In addition, siRNA was used to down-regulate the expression of ZNF217 in CRC cells. The effects of ZNF217 for cell migration and invasion were measured by wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Results: The expression level of ZNF217 was significantly higher in CRC tissues than in tumor adjacent tissues (p<0.05), positively correlating with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis and advanced TNM stage (p<0.05). Down-regulation of ZNF217 in CRC cells could significantly suppress cell migration and invasion. Conclusions: ZNF217 is overexpressed in colorectal carcinoma tissues and is associated with tumor malignant clinicopathological features. ZNF217 may promote CRC progression by inducing cell migration and invasion.

Saliva Supernatant miR-21: a Novel Potential Biomarker for Esophageal Cancer Detection

Xie, Zi-Jun,Chen, Gang,Zhang, Xu-Chao,Li, Dong-Feng,Huang, Jian,Li, Zi-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Objective: To identify whether saliva supernatant miR-21 can serve as a novel potential biomarker in patients with esophageal cancer (EC). Methods: 32 patients with EC and 16 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Total RNA was extracted from saliva supernatant samples for measurement of miR-21 levels using RT-qPCR and relationships between miR-21 levels and clinical characteristics of EC patients were analyzed. Results: miR-21 was significantly higher in the EC than control groups. The sensitivity and specificity were 84.4% and 62.5% respectively. Supernatant miR-21 levels showed no significant correlation with cancer stage, differentiation and nodal metastasis. Conclusions: Saliva supernatant miR-21 may be a novel biomarker for EC.

Construction and Characterization of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin (VHb) with Enhanced Peroxidase Activity for Efficient Degradation of Textile Dye

( Zi Dong Zhang ),( Wei Li ),( Hai Chao Li ),( Jing Zhangi ),( Yue Bin Zhang ),( Yu Feng Cao ),( Jian Zhang Ma ),( Zheng Qiang Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.9

Pollution resulting from the discharge of textile dyes into water systems has become a major global concern. Because peroxidases are known for their ability to decolorize and detoxify textile dyes, the peroxidase activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has recently been studied. It is found that VHb and variants of this enzyme show great promise for enzymatic decolorization of dyes and may play a role in achieving their successful removal from industrial wastewater. The level of VHb peroxidase activity correlates with two amino acid residues present within the conserved distal pocket, at positions 53 and 54. In this work, sitedirected mutagenesis of these residues was performed and resulted in improved VHb peroxidase activity. The double mutant, Q53H/P54C, shows the highest dye decolorization and removal efficiency, with 70% removal efficiency within 5 min. UV spectral studies of Q53H/P54C reveals a more compact structure and an altered porphyrin environment (λSoret = 413 nm) relative to that of wild-type VHb (λSoret = 406), and differential scanning calorimetry data indicate that the VHb variant protein structure is more stable. In addition, circular dichroism spectroscopic studies indicate that this variant’s increased protein structural stability is due to an increase in helical structure, as deduced from the melting temperature, which is higher than 90°C. Therefore, the VHb variant Q53H/P54C shows promise as an excellent peroxidase, with excellent dye decolorization activity and a more stable structure than wild-type VHb under high-temperature conditions.

Multi-institutional development and validation of modified albumin-bilirubin grade for predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy

Chao LI,Ming-Da WANG,Lei LIANG,Hao XING,Lan-Qing YAO,Zi-Xiang CHEN,Feng SHEN,Dong-Sheng HUANG,Tian YANG 한국간담췌외과학회 2022 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.26 No.-

Product Quality Control Activities and Repurchase Intention in Agro-product E-commerce

Zi-Hui BAI,Chao XU,Sung Eui CHO International Convergence Management Association 2024 융합경영연구 Vol.12 No.1

Purpose: This study aims to explore the critical factors in the quality control activities of agricultural products in e-commerce companies and analyze how these factors affect customers' perceived value and repurchase intention. Finally, it further reveals the mediating role of perceived value between the factors of quality control activities of agricultural products and customer repurchase intention. Research design, data and methodology: This study identified six independent factors within agricultural product quality control activities: freshness, assurance, diversity, grading, packaging, and timeliness. Subsequently, the impact of these factors on customer repurchase intention was analyzed. Additionally, perceived value was considered as an intermediary variable between the independent and dependent variables. Data was gathered from 269 Chinese consumers who had experience purchasing on agricultural product e-commerce websites. Results: The study results indicate that the relevant factors within agricultural product quality control activities strongly influence customer repurchase intention, with perceived value mediating this relationship. Conclusions: The significance of this study lies in its exploration of the relevant factors within agricultural product e-commerce's product quality control activities. It identifies their impact on customer repurchase intention and confirms the mediating role of perceived value. The results of this research offer valuable insights and practical guidance for academics in related research fields and practitioners in the agricultural product e-commerce industry.

An Intelligent Nano-positioning Control System Driven by an Ultrasonic Motor

Kuang-Chao Fan,Zi-Fa Lai 한국정밀공학회 2008 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.9 No.3

This paper presents a linear positioning system and its control algorithm design with nano accuracy/resolution. The basic linear stage structure is driven by an ultrasonic motor and its displacement feedback is detected by a LDGI(Laser Diffraction Grating Interferometer), which can achieve nanometer resolution. Due to the friction driving property of the ultrasonic motor, the driving situation differs in various ranges along the travel. Experiments have been carried out in order to observe and realize the phenomena of the three main driving modes: AC mode (for ㎜ motion), Gate mode (for ㎛ motion), and DC mode (for ㎚ motion). A proposed FCMAC(Fuzzy Cerebella Model Articulation Controller) control algorithm is implemented for manipulating and predicting the velocity variation during the motion of each mode respectively. The PCbased integral positioning system is built up with a NI DAQ Device by a BCB (Borland C?? Builder) program to accomplish the purpose of an intelligent nano-positioning control.

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.

An Intelligent Nano-positioning Control System Driven by an Ultrasonic Motor

Fan, Kuang-Chao,Lai, Zi-Fa Korean Society for Precision Engineering 2008 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.9 No.3

This paper presents a linear positioning system and its control algorithm design with nano accuracy/resolution. The basic linear stage structure is driven by an ultrasonic motor and its displacement feedback is detected by a LDGI (Laser Diffraction Grating Interferometer), which can achieve nanometer resolution. Due to the friction driving property of the ultrasonic motor, the driving situation differs in various ranges along the travel. Experiments have been carried out in order to observe and realize the phenomena of the three main driving modes: AC mode (for mm motion), Gate mode (for ${\mu}m$ motion), and DC mode (for nm motion). A proposed FCMAC (Fuzzy Cerebella Model Articulation Controller) control algorithm is implemented for manipulating and predicting the velocity variation during the motion of each mode respectively. The PCbased integral positioning system is built up with a NI DAQ Device by a BCB (Borland $C^{++}$ Builder) program to accomplish the purpose of an intelligent nanopositioning control.

Interleukin-18 Synergism with Interleukin-2 in Cytotoxicity and NKG2D Expression of Human Natural Killer Cells

Qi, Yuan-Ying,Lu, Chao,Ju, Ying,Wang, Zi-E,Li, Yuan-Tang,Shen, Ya-Juan,Lu, Zhi-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.18

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in anti-tumor immunity. Interleukin (IL)-18 is an immunoregulatory cytokine that induces potent NK cell-dependent anti-tumor responses when administrated with other cytokines. In this study, we explored the effects of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytotoxicity as well as expression levels of the NK cell receptor NKG2D in vitro. Freshly isolated PBMCs were incubated for 48 h with IL-18 and IL-2, then CD107a expression on $CD3^-CD56^+$ NK cells was determined by three-colour flow cytometry to evaluate the cytotoxicity of NK cells against human erythroleukemia K562 cells and human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. Flow cytometric analysis was also employed to determine NKG2D expression on NK cells. The combined use of IL-18 and IL-2 significantly increased CD107a expression on NK cells compared with using IL-18 or IL-2 alone, suggesting that the combination of these two cytokines exerted synergistic enhancement of NK cytotoxicity. IL-18 also enhanced NKG2D expression on NK cells when administered with IL-2. In addition, blockade of NKG2D signaling with NKG2D-blocking antibody attenuated the up-regulatory effect of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytolysis. Our data revealed that IL-18 synergized with IL-2 to dramatically enhance the cytolytic activity of human NK cells in a NKG2D-dependent manner. The results appear encouraging for the use of combined IL-18 and IL-2 in tumor immunotherapy.

Diversity and Active Mechanism of Fengycin-Type Cyclopeptides from Bacillus subtilis XF-1 Against Plasmodiophora brassicae

( Xing Yu Li ),( Zi Chao Mao ),( Yue Hu Wang ),( Yi Xing Wu ),( Yue Qiu He ),( Chun Lin Long ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.3

Bacillus subtilis XF-1, a strain with demonstrated ability to control clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, was studied to elucidate its mechanism of antifungal activity against P. brassicae. Fengycin-type cyclopeptides (FTCPs), a well-known class of compounds with strong fungitoxic activity, were purified by acid precipitation, methanol extraction, and chromatographic separation. Eight homologs of fengycin, seven homologs of dehydroxyfengycin, and six unknown FTCPs were characterized with LC/ESI-MS, LC/ESI-MS/MS, and NMR. FTCPs (250μg/ml) were used to treat the resting spores of P. brassicae (107/ml) by detecting leakage of the cytoplasm components and cell destruction. After 12 h treatment, the absorbencies at 260 nm (A260) and at 280 nm (A280) increased gradually to approaching the maximum of absorbance, accompanying the collapse of P. brassicae resting spores, and nearly no complete cells were observed at 24 h treatment. The results suggested that the cells could be cleaved by the FTCPs of B. subtilis XF-1, and the diversity of FTCPs was mainly attributed to a mechanism of clubroot disease biocontrol.