The EGF/hnRNP Q1 axis is involved in tumorigenesis via the regulation of cell cycle-related genes

Yu-Chu Wang,Kung-Chao Chang,Bo-Wen Lin,Jenq-Chang Lee,Chien-Hsien Lai,Li-Jyuan Lin,Yun Yen,Chang-Shen Lin,Shiang-Jie Yang,Peng-Chan Lin,Chung-Ta Lee,Liang-Yi Hung 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) Q1, an RNA-binding protein, has been implicated in many posttranscriptional processes, including RNA metabolism and mRNA splicing and translation. However, the role of hnRNP Q1 in tumorigenesis remains unclear. We previously performed RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-seq analysis to identify hnRNP Q1-interacting mRNAs and found that hnRNP Q1 targets a group of genes that are involved in mitotic regulation, including Aurora-A. Here, we demonstrate that altering the hnRNP Q1 level influences the expression of the Aurora-A protein, but not its mRNA. Stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances both binding between hnRNP Q1 and Aurora-A mRNA as well as the efficacy of the hnRNP Q1-induced translation of Aurora-A mRNA. The EGF/hnRNP Q1-induced translation of Aurora-A mRNA is mediated by the mTOR and ERK pathways. In addition, we show that hnRNP Q1 up-regulates the translation of a group of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) genes. hnRNP Q1 overexpression is positively correlated with the levels of Aurora-A and the SAC genes in human colorectal cancer tissues. In summary, our data suggest that hnRNP Q1 plays an important role in regulating the expression of a group of cell cycle-related genes. Therefore, it may contribute to tumorigenesis by up-regulating the translation of these genes in colorectal cancer.

Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers, Especially Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio, Predict Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Lin Fang,Fei-Hu Yan,Chao Liu,Jing Chen,Dan Wang,Chun-Hui Zhang,Chang-Jie Lou,Jie Lian,Yang Yao,Bo-Jun Wang,Rui-Yang Li,Shu-Ling Han,Yi-Bing Bai,Jia-Ni Yang,Zhi-Wei Li,Yan-Qiao Zhang 대한암학회 2021 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.53 No.1

Purpose Systemic inflammatory response is a critical factor that promotes the initiation and metastasis of malignancies including pancreatic cancer (PC). This study was designed to determine and compare the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC. Materials and Methods Three hundred fifty-three patients with resectable PC and 807 patients with locally advan-ced or metastatic PC were recruited in this study. These patients were classified into a training set (n=758) and a validation set (n=402). Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze prognosis. Results Overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients with resectable PC with low preoperative PLR (p=0.048) and MLR (p=0.027). Low FAR, MLR, NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p=0.003) were significantly associated with decreased risk of death for locally advanced or metastatic PC patients. FAR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.261 to 1.837; p < 0.001) and MLR (HR, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.532; p=0.034) were independent prognostic factors for locally advanced or metastatic PC. Conclusion The prognostic roles of FAR, MLR, NLR, and PLR in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC were different. FAR showed the most prognostic power in locally advanced or metastatic PC. Low FAR was positively correlated with OS in locally advanced or metastatic PC, which could be used to predict the prognosis.

Structure and Properties of Konjac Glucomannan/Galactoglucomannan Nanofiber Membrane

Yi Yuan,Xin Hong,Ruojun Mu,Jingni Gong,Lin Wang,Rongxun Huang,Jiayu Wu,Yongsheng Ni,Xianhui Wu,Jie Pang 한국고분자학회 2017 Macromolecular Research Vol.25 No.10

Konjac glucomannan (KGM)/galactoglucomannan (GGM) nanofiber membranes were obtained through electrospinning technology. Rheological properties of KGM/GGM solutions were observed by using a rotary rheometer. The apparent morphological, characteristic group and thermal stability of nanofiber membranes were studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectoscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) respectively. The physical and mechanical properties were also evaluated. Results revealed that the addition of GGM did not significantly affect the rheological properties of electrospinning solution. Increase in the amount of GGM in the nanofiber membrane resulted in gradual smoothening, uniformity and decrease in the number of nodes. KGM interacts with GGM through hydrogen-bond. Addition of GGM markedly enhanced the thermal stability, physical and mechanical properties of the nanofiber membrane. The study showed that the KGM/GGM nanofiber membrane have good potential for use in developing membrane based materials.

Bismuth-Doped Phosphate Glasses and H+-Implanted Waveguides

Jie Zhang,Jing-Yi Chen,Chun-Xiao Liu,Liao-Lin Zhang,She-Bao Lin 한국물리학회 2020 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.76 No.6

The work reports on the preparation and optical characterization of 75P2O5-15B2O3-9Al2O3-Bi2O3 glass by using the melt-quenching method and absorption spectroscopy, respectively. Further, 0.4-MeV proton implantation of a fluence of 8.0 × 10^{16} ions/cm^2 was carried out on this glassy sample and it was tested as a waveguide at a wavelength of 632.8 nm for the first time to our knowledge. The m-line curves of the waveguide were measured before and after successive annealing treatments. The formation theory of the planar waveguides is discussed through simulations of the energy loss distribution and analysis of the reconstructed refractive index profile. The results should be useful in the design and fabrication of bismuth-doped phosphate glass and its use in integrated photonics devices.

Gallotannins from Nut Shell Extractives of Camellia oleifera

( Yi-chang He ),( Mei-jie Wu ),( Xiao-lin Lei ),( Jie-fang Yang ),( Wei Gao ),( Young-soo Bae ),( Tae-hee Kim ),( Sun-eun Choi ),( Bao-tong Li ) 한국목재공학회 2021 목재공학 Vol.49 No.3

Camellia nut shell was collected, dried at room temperature and ground to get fine powder. The powder was extracted three times with 95% EtOH, combined, evaporated, and then freeze dried. The crude powder was dissolved in H₂O and then sequentially fractionated with n-hexane, CH₂Cl₂, EtOAc and n-BuOH. A part of EtOAc fraction was chromatographed on a silica gel and on a Sephadex LH-20 columns using MeOH, aqueous MeOH, EtOAc-n-hexane and EtOH-n-hexane to isolate gallotannins. Three gallotannins, 1,2-di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 1,2,6-tri-Ogalloyl- β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), including gallic acid (1), were isolated and elucidated by NMR and Mass spectroscopies. Although nothing new, these gallotannins were first reported from the nut shell extractives of camellia tree (Camellia oleifera C. Abel). This study was to investigate the chemical constituents, especially hydrolysable tannins, of nut shell extractives of Camellia oleifera and to provide basic information for the future chemical utilization of this species.

Prolyl endopeptidase remodels macrophage function as a novel transcriptional coregulator and inhibits fibrosis

Lin Shuang-Zhe,Wu Wei-Jie,Cheng Yu-Qing,Zhang Jian-Bin,Jiang Dai-Xi,Ren Tian-Yi,Ding Wen-Jin,Liu Mingxi,Chen Yuan-Wen,Fan Jian-Gao 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Macrophages are immune cells crucial for host defense and homeostasis maintenance, and their dysregulation is involved in multiple pathological conditions, such as liver fibrosis. The transcriptional regulation in macrophage is indispensable for fine-tuning of macrophage functions, but the details have not been fully elucidated. Prolyl endopeptidase (PREP) is a dipeptidyl peptidase with both proteolytic and non-proteolytic functions. In this study, we found that Prep knockout significantly contributed to transcriptomic alterations in quiescent and M1/M2-polarized bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), as well as aggravated fibrosis in an experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. Mechanistically, PREP predominantly localized to the macrophage nuclei and functioned as a transcriptional coregulator. Using CUT&Tag and co-immunoprecipitation, we found that PREP was mainly distributed in active cis-regulatory genomic regions and physically interacted with the transcription factor PU.1. Among PREP-regulated downstream genes, genes encoding profibrotic cathepsin B and D were overexpressed in BMDMs and fibrotic liver tissue. Our results indicate that PREP in macrophages functions as a transcriptional coregulator that finely tunes macrophage functions, and plays a protective role against liver fibrosis pathogenesis.

Mapping out the surgical anatomy of the lingual nerve: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lin Sheena Xin Yi,Sim Paul Ruiqi,Lai Wei Ming Clement,Lu Jacinta Xiaotong,Chew Jacob Ren Jie,Wong Raymond Chung Wen 대한구강악안면외과학회 2023 대한구강악안면외과학회지 Vol.49 No.4

Objectives: Understanding the lingual nerve’s precise location is crucial to prevent iatrogenic injury. This systematic review seeks to determine the lingual nerve’s most probable topographical location in the posterior mandible. Materials and Methods: Two electronic databases were searched, identifying studies reporting the lingual nerve’s position in the posterior mandible. Anatomical data in the vertical and horizontal dimensions at the retromolar and molar regions were collected for meta-analyses. Results: Of the 2,700 unique records identified, 18 studies were included in this review. In the vertical plane, 8.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0%-21.7%) and 6.3% (95% CI, 1.9%-12.5%) of the lingual nerves coursed above the alveolar crest at the retromolar and third molar regions. The mean vertical distance between the nerve and the alveolar crest ranged from 12.10 to 4.32 mm at the first to third molar regions. In the horizontal plane, 19.9% (95% CI, 0.0%-62.7%) and 35.2% (95% CI, 13.0%-61.1%) of the lingual nerves were in contact with the lingual plate at the retromolar and third molar regions. Conclusion: This systematic review mapped out the anatomical location of the lingual nerve in the posterior mandible, highlighting regions that warrant additional caution during surgeries to avoid iatrogenic lingual nerve injuries.

Changes in prostate-specific antigen kinetics during androgen-deprivation therapy as a predictor of response to abiraterone in chemonaïve patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Chung-Lin Lee,Ying-Hsu Chang,Chung-Yi Liu,Ming-Li Hsieh,Liang-Kang Huang,Yuan-Cheng Chu,Hung-Cheng Kan,Po-Hung Lin,Kai-Jie Yu,Cheng-Keng Chuang,Chun-Te Wu,See-Tong Pang,I-Hung Shao 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.5

Purpose: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has a poor prognosis. Abiraterone acetate (AA), enzalutamide, and chemotherapy are first-line treatments for patients with mCRPC. This study examined prognostic factors for AA response in the form of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics throughout androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in chemonaïve patients with mCRPC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively included data from 34 chemonaïve patients with mCRPC who had received AA at some point between January 2017 and December 2018. We separated patients into two study arms according to the decrease in PSA percentages after use of AA for 3 months. We correlated PSA kinetics parameters with response and compared the two study groups with respect to PSA kinetics. Results: The patients’ median age was 77 years. In the total group of patients, 64% had a response to AA, whereas 35% did not. The ratio of the PSA level at nadir to the level during ADT was significantly higher in the AA-sensitive group (19.78 vs. 1.03, p=0.019). Conclusions: Patients who experienced a dramatic change in PSA level during ADT were more likely to be resistant to AA after progression to mCRPC. Chemotherapy rather than AA might be more suitable as a first-line treatment for these patients.

Modified Procedures for ALPPS Based on a Risk-Reduced Strategy: Paralleled Clinical Evaluation at Multiple Institutions

Ya-Lin Kong,Ying Xing,Jie Li,Cheng-Li Liu,Xiao-Jun He,Cheng Wang,Jiang-Min Chen,Ling-Hong Kong,Xu Han,Hong-Yi Zhang 연세대학교의과대학 2021 Yonsei medical journal Vol.62 No.10

Purpose: We compared the clinical outcomes of modified procedures for associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) based on a risk-reduced strategy with those of classic ALPPS procedures in treating large liver carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Short-term outcomes, increases in future liver remnant (FLR) and functional FLR (FFLR), and overall survival (OS) were compared between 45 consecutive patients treated with modified ALPPS procedures and 34 patients treated with classic ALPPS procedures. Results: Clinical outcomes after the 1st-stage operation markedly improved with the modified procedures. Although the proportions of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were higher in the modified group, the mortality and incidence of severe complications did not increase. FLR and FFLR hypertrophy at 1 week after the 1st-stage operation were similar in both groups; however, kinetic growth rates in the modified group were lower. OS rates were similar. Conclusion: Modified ALPPS procedures could be safely applied to provide long-term survival for patients with liver cirrhosis without sufficient FLR.

Hypothalamic Norepinephrine Mediates Acupunctural Effects on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis During Ethanol Withdrawal

Zheng Lin Zhao,김상찬,Jie Zhang,Hong Feng Liu,이봉효,장은영,이철원,조일제,안원근,양재하,김영우,Rong Jie Zhao,Yi Yan Wu 사단법인약침학회 2016 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.9 No.1

A previous study demonstrated that acupuncture at ST36 (Zu-San-Li) attenuates ethanol withdrawal (EW)-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in rats. The current study investigated the involvement of hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) in that process. Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 g/kg/d of ethanol or saline for 28 days. After 24 hours of EW, acupuncture was applied to rats at bilateral ST36 points or at nonacupoints (tail) for 1 minute. A high-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that EW significantly increased both the NE and the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Western blot analysis also revealed that EW markedly elevated the phosphorylation rates of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), but spared TH protein expression in the PVN. However, acupuncture at ST36, but not at nonacupoints, greatly inhibited the increase in the hypothalamic NE, MHPG, and phosphorylation rates of TH. Additionally, postacupuncture infusion of NE into the PVN significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of acupuncture at ST36 on the oversecretion of plasma corticosterone during EW. These results suggest that acupuncture at ST36 inhibits EW-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic NEergic system to produce therapeutic effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.