Clinical Predictive Value of Serum Angiogenic Factor in Patients with Osteosarcoma

Chen, Zhe,Chen, Qi-Xin,Hou, Zhao-Yang,Hu, Jiong,Cao, Yan-Guang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Objective: To explore serum angiogenic factor expression in patients with osteosarcoma and its relationship with metastasis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to test the expression of CD34 and FVIII-Rag in osteosarcoma tissues of 36 patients (osteosarcoma group) and microvessel density (MVD) was also recorded. In addition, ELISA was used to test the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) and endostatin (ES) in the osteosarcoma group and in a control group. Results: VEGF and ES level were significantly higher than in the control group before operation (P<0.01), VEGF, bFGF and TGF-${\beta}1$ correlating with the ES level (P<0.01). Serum VEGF and ES levels of osteosarcoma patients before surgery were closely related to relapse and metastasis; moreover, serum VEGF increased with MVD (P<0.01). Postoperative VEGF and ES levels were lower than the preoperation values (P<0.01); ES level in relapse group was significantly higher than that of the non-relapse group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative serum VEGF and postoperative ES levels have great predictive value with regard to relapse of osteosarcoma patients.

Upregulation of STK15 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas in a Mongolian Population

Chen, Guang-Lie,Hou, Gai-Ling,Sun, Fei,Jiang, Hong-Li,Xue, Jin-Feng,Li, Xiu-Shen,Xu, En-Hui,Gao, Wei-Shi,Cao, Jian-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: The STK15 gene located on chromosome 20q13.2 encodes a centrosome-associated kinase critical for regulated chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Recent studies have demonstrated STK15 to be significantly associated with many tumors, with aberrant expression obseved in many human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate expression of STK15 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) in a Mongolian population. Methods: Two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding region of STK15, rs2273535 (Phe31Ile) and rs1047972 (Val57Ile) were assessed in 380 ESCC patients and 380 healthy controls. We also detected STK15 mRNA expression in 39 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and corresponding adjacent tissues by real time PCR. Results: rs2273535 showed a significant association with ESCC in our Mongolian population (rs227353, P allele = 0.0447, OR (95%CI) = 1.259 (1.005~1.578)). Real time PCR analysis of ESCC tissues showed that expression of STK15 mRNA in cancer tissues was higher than in normal tissues (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Our study showed that functional SNPs in the STK15 gene are associated with ESCC in a Mongolian population and up-regulation of STK15 mRNAoccurs in ESCC tumors compared adjacent normal tissues. STK15 may thus have an important role in the prognosis of ESCC and be a potential therapeutic target.

Comparison of carcass and meat quality traits between lean and fat Pekin ducks

Ding, Si-Ran,Li, Guang-Sheng,Chen, Si-Rui,Zhu, Feng,Hao, Jin-Ping,Yang, Fang-Xi,Hou, Zhuo-Cheng Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.7

Objective: According to market demand, meat duck breeding mainly includes 2 breeding directions: lean Pekin duck (LPD) and fat Pekin duck (FPD). The aim of the present study was to compare carcass and meat quality traits between 2 strains, and to provide basic data for guidelines of processing and meat quality improvement. Methods: A total of 62 female Pekin ducks (32 LPDs and 30 FPDs) were slaughtered at the age of 42 days. The live body weight and carcass traits were measured and calculated. Physical properties of breast muscle were determined by texture analyzer and muscle fibers were measured by paraffin sections. The content of inosine monophosphate (IMP), intramuscular fat (IMF) and fatty acids composition were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, Soxhlet extraction method and automated gas chromatography respectively. Results: The results showed that the bodyweight of LPDs was higher than that of FPDs. FPDs were significantly higher than LPDs in subcutaneous fat thickness, subcutaneous fat weight, subcutaneous fat percentage, abdominal fat percentage and abdominal fat shear force (p<0.01). LPDs were significantly higher than FPDs in breast muscle thickness, breast muscle weight, breast muscle rate and breast muscle shear force (p<0.01). The muscle fiber average area and fiber diameter of LPDs were significantly higher than those of FPDs (p<0.01). The muscle fiber density of LPDs was significantly lower than that of FPDs (p<0.01). The IMF of LPDs in the breast muscle was significantly higher than that in the FPDs (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the 2 strains in IMP content (p>0.05). The polyunsaturated fatty acid content of LPDs was significantly higher than that of FPDs (p<0.01), and FPDs had higher saturated fatty acid and monounsaturated fatty acid levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term breeding work resulted in vast differences between the two strains Pekin ducks. This study provides a reference for differences between LPD and FPD that manifest as a result of long-term selection.

Structural and nanomechanical properties of a-plane ZnO thin films deposited under different oxygen partial pressures

Sheng-Rui Jian,Hou-Guang Chen,Guo-Ju Chen,Jason S.C. Jang,Jenh-Yih Juang 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.3

The effects of O2 partial pressure during RF magnetron sputtering on the structural and nanomechanical properties of a-plane ZnO thin films were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nanoindentation techniques. The XRD and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) selected area diffraction results indicate that the epitaxial relationship between ZnO thin films and Al2O3 substrates is ZnO ð1120Þ//Al2O3 ð1102Þ. The average values of the hardness and Young’s modulus of the a-plane ZnO films were found to decrease with increasing oxygen partial pressure. The cross-sectional TEM revealing the localized plastic deformation of ZnO thin films beneath the Berkovich indenter, indicating the prominent role played by the threading dislocations in the film deformation behavior. At higher indentation loadings, the sapphire substrate exhibits extensive deformation with narrow slip bands appearing on {0001} plane. However, no evidence of pressure-induced phase transformation, as well as cracking and/or delamination phenomena at the filmesubstrate interface was observed.

Liposomal honokiol, a potent anti-angiogenesis agent, in combination with radiotherapy produces a synergistic antitumor efficacy without increasing toxicity

Jia Hu,Li Liu,Xiang Chen,Ping Chen,Guang-li Yang,Wen-li Hou,Ming-hai Tang,Fan Zhang,Xian-huo Wang,Xia Zhao,Yu-quan Wei,Li-juan Chen 생화학분자생물학회 2008 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.40 No.6

Honokiol is an active compound purified from magnolia that has been shown to induce cell differentiation, apoptosis, and anti-angiogenesis effects, as well as an enhancement in tumor growth delay in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in several mouse xenograft models. Our goal was to investigate the radiosensitization effect of honokiol on lung carcinoma. The radiosensitization effect of liposomal honokiol in Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LL/2) was analyzed using an in vitro clonogenic survival assay. For an in vivo study, Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with either liposomal honokiol at 25 mg/kg or 5 Gy of single tumor radiation, or a combination of both over 12 days of treatment. The tumor growth delay and the survival time were evaluated. In addition, histological analysis of tumor sections was performed to examine changes by detecting the microvessel density and apoptosis in tumor tissues. In the clonogenic survival assay, LL/2 cells treated with IC50 Lipo-HNK for 24 h showed a radiation enhancement ratio of 1.9. After 12 days of combination treatment, the tumor volume decreased 78% and produced an anti-tumor activity 1.3-fold greater than a predicted additive effect of honokiol and radiation alone. This combination treatment also caused an 8.7 day delay in tumor growth. The cell cycle distribution and histological analysis demonstrated that liposomal honokiol has an anti-tumor effect via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Liposomal honokiol can enhance tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that radiotherapy combined with liposomal honokiol can lead to greater anti-tumor efficacy. Honokiol is an active compound purified from magnolia that has been shown to induce cell differentiation, apoptosis, and anti-angiogenesis effects, as well as an enhancement in tumor growth delay in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in several mouse xenograft models. Our goal was to investigate the radiosensitization effect of honokiol on lung carcinoma. The radiosensitization effect of liposomal honokiol in Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LL/2) was analyzed using an in vitro clonogenic survival assay. For an in vivo study, Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with either liposomal honokiol at 25 mg/kg or 5 Gy of single tumor radiation, or a combination of both over 12 days of treatment. The tumor growth delay and the survival time were evaluated. In addition, histological analysis of tumor sections was performed to examine changes by detecting the microvessel density and apoptosis in tumor tissues. In the clonogenic survival assay, LL/2 cells treated with IC50 Lipo-HNK for 24 h showed a radiation enhancement ratio of 1.9. After 12 days of combination treatment, the tumor volume decreased 78% and produced an anti-tumor activity 1.3-fold greater than a predicted additive effect of honokiol and radiation alone. This combination treatment also caused an 8.7 day delay in tumor growth. The cell cycle distribution and histological analysis demonstrated that liposomal honokiol has an anti-tumor effect via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Liposomal honokiol can enhance tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that radiotherapy combined with liposomal honokiol can lead to greater anti-tumor efficacy.

Discovery of Chitin Deacetylase Inhibitors through Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biological Assays

( Yaodong Liu ),( Sibtain Ahmed ),( Yaowei Fang ),( Meng Chen ),( Jia An ),( Guang Yang ),( Xiaoyue Hou ),( Jing Lu ),( Qinwen Ye ),( Rongjun Zhu ),( Qitong Liu ),( Shu Liu ) 한국미생물생명공학회 2022 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.32 No.4

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) inhibitors were developed as novel antifungal agents because CDA participates in critical fungal physiological and metabolic processes and increases virulence in soil-borne fungal pathogens. However, few CDA inhibitors have been reported. In this study, 150 candidate CDA inhibitors were selected from the commercial Chemdiv compound library through structure-based virtual screening. The top-ranked 25 compounds were further evaluated for biological activity. The compound J075-4187 had an IC50 of 4.24 ± 0.16 μM for AnCDA. Molecular docking calculations predicted that compound J075-4187 binds to the amino acid residues, including active sites (H101, D48). Furthermore, compound J075-4187 inhibited food spoilage fungi and plant pathogenic fungi, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 260 μg/ml and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) at 520 μg/ml. Therefore, compound J075-4187 is a good candidate for use in developing antifungal agents for fungi control.