Comprehensive Bioinformation Analysis of the MRNA Profile of Fascin Knockdown in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Wu, Bing-Li,Luo, Lie-Wei,Li, Chun-Quan,Xie, Jian-Jun,Du, Ze-Peng,Wu, Jian-Yi,Zhang, Pi-Xian,Xu, Li-Yan,Li, En-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: Fascin, an actin-bundling protein forming actin bundles including filopodia and stress fibers, is overexpressed in multiple human epithelial cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previously we conducted a microarray experiment to analyze fascin knockdown by RNAi in ESCC. Method: In this study, the differentially expressed genes from mRNA expression profilomg of fascin knockdown were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics methods for a comprehensive understanding of the role of fascin. Results: Gene Ontology enrichment found terms associated with cytoskeleton organization, including cell adhesion, actin filament binding and actin cytoskeleton, which might be related to fascin function. Except GO categories, the differentially expressed genes were annotated by 45 functional categories from the Functional Annotation Chart of DAVID. Subpathway analysis showed thirty-nine pathways were disturbed by the differentially expressed genes, providing more detailed information than traditional pathway enrichment analysis. Two subpathways derivated from regulation of the actin cytoskeleton were shown. Promoter analysis results indicated distinguishing sequence patterns and transcription factors in response to the co-expression of downregulated or upregulated differentially expressed genes. MNB1A, c-ETS, GATA2 and Prrx2 potentially regulate the transcription of the downregulated gene set, while Arnt-Ahr, ZNF42, Ubx and TCF11-MafG might co-regulate the upregulated genes. Conclusions: This multiple bioinformatic analysis helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of fascin after its knockdown in ESCC.

Analysis of shear lag effect in the negative moment region of steel-concrete composite beams under fatigue load

Jinquan Zhang,Bing Han,Hui-bing Xie,Wu Tong Yan,Wangwang Li,Jiaping Yu 국제구조공학회 2021 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.39 No.4

Shear lag effect was a significant mechanical behavior of steel-concrete composite beams, and the effective flange width was needed to consider this effect. However, the effective flange width is mostly determined by static load test. The cyclic vehicle loading cases, which is more practical, was not well considered. This paper focuses on the study of shear lag effect of the concrete slab in the negative moment region under fatigue cyclic load. Two specimens of two-span steel-concrete composite beams were tested under fatigue load and static load respectively to compare the differences in the negative moment region. The reinforcement strain in the negative moment region was measured and the stress was also analyzed under different loads. Based on the OpenSees framework, finite element analysis model of steel-concrete composite beam is established, which is used to simulate transverse reinforcement stress distribution as well as the variation trends under fatigue cycles. With the established model, effects of fatigue stress amplitude, flange width to span ratio, concrete slab thickness and shear connector stiffness on the shear lag effect of concrete slab in negative moment area are analyzed, and the effective flange width ratio of concrete slab under different working conditions is calculated. The simulated results of effective flange width are compared with calculated results of the commonly used specifications, and it is found that the methods in the specifications can better estimate the shear lag effect in concrete slab under static load, but the effective flange width in the negative moment zone under fatigue load has a large deviation.

Propofol attenuates hydrogenperoxide- induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via multiple signaling pathways

Cheng Lan Xie,Yin Bing Pan,Liu Qing Hu,Yan Ning Qian 대한마취통증의학회 2015 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.68 No.5

Background: Propofol has been reported to protect vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and examined the possible signaling pathways. Methods: HUVECs were pretreated with propofol (1, 5, 25, and 50 μM) for 30 min and then co-incubated with 0.4 mM H2O2 for 4 h. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and evaluated by quantifying caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression levels. The expression levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, cJun-N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated (p)-JNK, Akt and phosphorylated Akt [(p)-Akt] (Ser473) were measured by western blotting. Results: H2O2 treatment induced the activation of caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated Bax expression, all of which were dose-dependently attenuated by propofol pretreatment. Furthermore, propofol significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt in HUVECs. Conclusions: Propofol can protect HUVECs against H2O2-induced apoptosis via a mechanism that may involve p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt signaling pathways.

Experimental study on creep behavior of fly ash concrete filled steel tube circular arches

Wu T. Yan,Bing Han,Jin Q. Zhang,Hui B. Xie,Li Zhu,Zhong J. Xue 국제구조공학회 2018 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.27 No.2

Fly ash can significantly improve concrete workability and performance, and recycling fly ash in concrete can contribute to a cleaner environment. Since fly ash influences pozzolanic reactions in concrete, mechanical behaviors of concrete containing fly ash differ from traditional concrete. Creep behaviors of fly ash concrete filled steel tube arch were experimentally investigated for 10% and 30% fly ash replacement. The axes of two arches are designed as circular arc with 2.1 m computed span, 0.24 m arch rise, and their cross-sections are all in circular section. Time dependent deflection and strain of loading and mid-span steel tube were measured, and long term deflection of the model arch with 10% fly ash replacement was significantly larger than with 30% replacement. Considering the steel tube strain, compressive zone height, cross section curvature, and internal force borne by the steel tube, the compressive zone height and structural internal forces increased gradually over time due to concrete creep. Increased fly ash content resulted in more significant neutral axis shift. Mechanisms for internal force effects on neutral axis height were analyzed and verified experimentally.

A fiber beam element model for elastic-plastic analysis of girders with shear lag effects

Wu-Tong Yan,Bing Han,Li Zhu,Yu-Ying Jiao,Hui-bing Xie 국제구조공학회 2019 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.32 No.5

This paper proposes a one-dimensional fiber beam element model taking account of materially non-linear behavior, benefiting the highly efficient elastic-plastic analysis of girders with shear-lag effects. Based on the displacement-based fiber beam-column element, two additional degrees of freedom (DOFs) are added into the proposed model to consider the shear-lag warping deformations of the slabs. The new finite element (FE) formulations of the tangent stiffness matrix and resisting force vector are deduced with the variational principle of the minimum potential energy. Then the proposed element is implemented in the OpenSees computational framework as a newly developed element, and the full Newton iteration method is adopted for an iterative solution. The typical materially non-linear behaviors, including the cracking and crushing of concrete, as well as the plasticity of the reinforcement and steel girder, are all considered in the model. The proposed model is applied to several test cases under elastic or plastic loading states and compared with the solutions of theoretical models, tests, and shell/solid refined FE models. The results of these comparisons indicate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model for the analysis of both concrete box girders and steel-concrete composite girders, under either elastic or plastic states.

Injection molding of ultra-fine zirconia (Y-TZP) powders

Zhi-peng Xie,Zhong-zhou Yi,Bing Xiaoc, Yan Gao,Jie-sheng Luo,Jian-bao Li,Yong Huang 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2006 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.7 No.1

Injection moldings of three types of ultra-fine zirconia powder were investigated. It was demonstrated that powder characteristics involving particle size, particle size distribution, particle shape and specific surface area significantly affect the optimal compositions of binders and ceramic powders, and the properties of sintered compacts. Investigation of the injection molding variables showed that an excessive barrel-deposited value may easily lead to defects in the debound and sintered bodies. It was also demonstrated that the microstructure of a sintered body can be affected by heating rates influencing grain growth, and that suitable heating rates to the high temperature sintering stage for the three powders are different.

Proposals for flexural capacity prediction method of externally prestressed concrete beam

Wu-Tong Yan,Liang-Jiang Chen,Bing Han,Feng Wei,Hui-Bing Xie,Jia-Ping Yu 국제구조공학회 2022 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.83 No.3

Flexural capacity prediction is a challenging problem for externally prestressed concrete beams (EPCBs) due to the unbonded phenomenon between the concrete beam and external tendons. Many prediction equations have been provided in previous research but typically ignored the differences in deformation mode between internal and external unbonded tendons. The availability of these equations for EPCBs is controversial due to the inconsistent deformation modes and ignored secondorder effects. In this study, the deformation characteristics and collapse mechanism of EPCB are carefully considered, and the ultimate deflected shape curves are derived based on the simplified curvature distribution. With the compatible relation between external tendons and the concrete beam, the equations of tendon elongation and eccentricity loss at ultimate states are derived, and the geometric interpretation is clearly presented. Combined with the sectional equilibrium equations, a rational and simplified flexural capacity prediction method for EPCBs is proposed. The key parameter, plastic hinge length, is emphatically discussed and determined by the sensitivity analysis of 324 FE analysis results. With 94 collected laboratory-tested results, the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed, and comparisons with the previous formulas are made. The results show the better prediction accuracy of the proposed method for both stress increments and flexural capacity of EPCBs and the main reasons are discussed.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and heterologous expression analysis of heat shock protein genes (hsp70 and hsp90) of the invasive alien weed, Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae)

Gong, Wei Na,Xie, Bing Yan,Wan, Fang Hao,Guo, Jian Ying The Korean Society of Weed Science and The Turfgra 2010 Weed Biology and Management Vol.10 No.2

An invasive alien weed, Ageratina adenophora, has become widespread in the southwest of China due to its high environmental adaptation. In the present study, in order to understand the molecular aspects of resistance to heat and cold stress, we investigated the characterization and expression of heat shock protein genes (designated as Aahsp70 and Aahsp90) in A. adenophora. The cDNA of A. adenophora Aahsp70 and Aahsp90 was cloned by the combination of homology cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analyses revealed that Aahsp70 and Aahsp90 shared high levels of identity with corresponding proteins from other species. Hybridization was employed to examine the expression patterns of Aahsp70 and Aahsp90. The relative expression levels of the Aahsp70 and Aahsp90 transcripts were both up-regulated and reached maximal levels at 2-4 h after heat shock. Then, Aahsp70 dropped progressively to the original level at ~4 h after heat shock. The transcriptional changes of Aahsp70 and Aahsp90 both were more obvious under cold stress. Recombinant Aahsp70 and Aahsp90 improved the viability, in comparison with the control cultures, of Escherichia coli under stress conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the cell lysates suggested that the protective effect in vivo was related to increased thermo-stability of the soluble cytosolic proteins. This study emphasizes that the relationship between, and regulation of, heat shock proteins might incorporate variable strengths to increase the adaptation of A. adenophora.

Network Analyses of Gene Expression following Fascin Knockdown in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Du, Ze-Peng,Wu, Bing-Li,Xie, Jian-Jun,Lin, Xuan-Hao,Qiu, Xiao-Yang,Zhan, Xiao-Fen,Wang, Shao-Hong,Shen, Jin-Hui,Li, En-Min,Xu, Li-Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.13

Fascin-1 (FSCN1) is an actin-bundling protein that induces cell membrane protrusions, increases cell motility, and is overexpressed in various human epithelial cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We analyzed various protein-protein interactions (PPI) of differentially-expressed genes (DEGs), in fascin knockdown ESCC cells, to explore the role of fascin overexpression. The node-degree distributions indicated these PPI sub-networks to be characterized as scale-free. Subcellular localization analysis revealed DEGs to interact with other proteins directly or indirectly, distributed in multiple layers of extracellular membrane-cytoskeleton/ cytoplasm-nucleus. The functional annotation map revealed hundreds of significant gene ontology (GO) terms, especially those associated with cytoskeleton organization of FSCN1. The Random Walk with Restart algorithm was applied to identify the prioritizations of these DEGs when considering their relationship with FSCN1. These analyses based on PPI network have greatly expanded our comprehension of the mRNA expression profile following fascin knockdown to future examine the roles and mechanisms of fascin action.

Efficacy and Safety of Sorafenib for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Wang, Wei-Lan,Tang, Zhi-Hui,Xie, Ting-Ting,Xiao, Bing-Kun,Zhang, Xin-Yu,Guo, Dai-Hong,Wang, Dong-Xiao,Pei, Fei,Si, Hai-Yan,Zhu, Man Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.14

Background: Many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate sorafenib for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but the results for efficacy have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced NSCLC in more detail by meta-analysis. Methods: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed after searching PubMed, EMBASE, ASCO Abstracts, ESMO Abstracts, and the proceedings of major conferences for relevant clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials. Outcomes analysis were disease control rate (DCR), progression- free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and major toxicity. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to sorafenib monotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKI to investigate the preferred therapy strategy. Results: Results reported from 6 RCTs involving 2, 748 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to sorafenib-free group, SBT was not associated with higher DCR (RR 1.31 (0.96- 1.79), p=0.09), PFS (HR 0.82 (0.66-1.02), p=0.07) and OS (HR 1.01 (0.92-1.12), p=0.77). In terms of subgroup results, sorafenib monotherapy was associated with significant superior DCR and longer PFS, but failed to show advantage with regard to OS. Grade 3 or greater sorafenib-related adverse events included fatigue, hypertension, diarrhea, oral mucositis, rash and HFSR. Conclusions: SBT was revealed to yield no improvement in DCR, PFS and OS. However, sorafenib as monotherapy showed some activity in NSCLC. Further evaluation may be considered in subsets of patients who may benefit from this treatment. Sorafenib combined inhibition therapy should be limited unless the choice of platinum-doublet regimen, administration sequence or identification of predictive biomarkers are considered to receive better anti-tumor activity and prevention of resistance mechanisms.