Proposal of a Pretreatment Nomogram for Predicting Local Recurrence after Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in T4 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Review of 415 Chinese Patients

Lu-Lu Zhang,Yi-Yang Li,Jiang Hu,Guan-Qun Zhou,Lei Chen,Wen-Fei Li,Ai-Hua Lin,Jun Ma,Zhen-Yu Qi,Ying Sun 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.4

Purpose Local relapse-free survival (LRFS) differs widely among patients with T4 category nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to build a nomogram incorporating clinicopathological information to predict LRFS in T4 NPC after definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Materials and Methods Retrospective study of 415 Chinese patients with non-metastatic T4 NPC treated with definitive IMRT with or without chemotherapy at our cancer center between October 2009 and September 2013. The nomogram for LRFS at 3 and 5 years was generated based on multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, and validated using bootstrap resampling, assessing discriminative performance using the concordance index (C-index) and determining calibration ability via calibration curves. Results Five-year LRFS was 88.8%. We identified and incorporated four independent prognostic factors for LRFS: ethmoid sinus invasion, primary gross tumor volume, age, and pretreatment body mass index. The C-index of the nomogram for local recurrence was 0.732 (95% confidence interval, 0.726 to 0.738), indicating excellent predictive accuracy. The calibration curve revealed excellent agreement between nomogram-predicted and observed LRFS probabilities. Risk subgroups based on total point score cutoff values enabled effective discrimination of LRFS. Conclusion This pretreatment nomogram enables clinicians to accurately predict LRFS in T4 NPC after definitive IMRT, and could help to facilitate personalized patient counselling and treatment strategies.

Engineered exosomes enriched in netrin-1 modRNA promote axonal growth in spinal cord injury by attenuating inflammation and pyroptosis

Lu Xiao,Xu Guangyu,Lin Zhidi,Zou Fei,Liu Siyang,Zhang Yuxuan,Fu Wei,Jiang Jianyuan,Ma Xiaosheng,Song Jian 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Spinal cord injury (SCI) brings a heavy burden to individuals and society, and there is no effective treatment at present. Exosomes (EX) are cell secreted vesicles containing molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins, which hold promise for the treatment of SCI. Netrin-1 is an axon guidance factor that regulates neuronal growth. We investigated the effects of engineered EX enriched in netrin-1 chemically synthetic modified message RNA (modRNA) in treating SCI in an attempt to find a novel therapeutic approach for SCI.Netrin-1 modRNA was transfected into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to obtain EX enriched with netrin-1 (EX-netrin1). We built an inflammatory model in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro to study the therapeutic effect of EX-netrin1 on SCI. For experiments in vitro, ELISA, CCK-8 assay, immunofluorescence staining, lactate dehydrogenase release experiments test, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot were conducted. At the same time, we constructed a rat model of SCI. MRI, hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining were used to assess the extent of SCI in rats.In vitro experiments showed that EX had no effect on the viability of oligodendrocytes and PC12 cells. EX-netrin1 could attenuate LPS-induced inflammation and pyroptosis and accelerate axonal/dentritic growth in PC12 cells/oligodendrocytes. In addition, netrin-1 could activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway upon binding to its receptor unc5b. When Unc5b and PI3K were inhibited, the effect of EX-netrin1 was weakened, which could be reversed by PI3K or mTOR activator. Our in vivo experiments indicated that EX-netrin1 could promote recovery in rats with SCI.We found that EX-netrin1 regulated inflammation, pyroptosis and axon growth in SCI via the Unc5b/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which provides a new strategy for the treatment of SCI.

Step-up and Step-down Asymmetrical 24-Pulse Autotransformer Rectifier

Lu Zhang,Hong-juan Ge,Fan Jiang,Guang Yang,Yi Lin 전력전자학회 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.5

The existing 24-pulse autotransformer rectifier unit (ATRU) needs interphase reactors for parallel work of the rectifier bridges, and its output voltage cannot be regulated. Aiming at these problems, a step-up and step-down asymmetrical 24-pulse ATRU is proposed in this paper. The connections and turns ratios among transformer windings are well designed. In addition, a 15-degree phase difference is formed between two of the 24 voltage vectors produced by the transformer, which makes the four rectifier bridge groups produce a 24-pulse DC voltage without interphase reactors. Meanwhile, by adding extended winding to each phase of the transformer, wide-range regulation of the ATRU output voltage can be realized, and the reasonable voltage regulation range is between 0.2 and 1.6. The superposition of the voltage vectors and the principle of the voltage regulation are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the turns ratio of the windings, winding current, output voltage, and kilovolt-ampere rating are all derived. Finally, the simulations and experiments are carried out, and the correctness of the principle and theoretical analysis of the new 24-pulse ATRU are verified.

Tube Voltage, DNA Double-Strand Breaks, and Image Quality in Coronary CT Angiography

Lin Zhu Xiao,Zhou Fan,Schoepf U. Joseph,Pillai Balakrishnan,Zhou Chang Sheng,Quan Wei,Bao Xue Qin,Lu Guang Ming,Zhang Long Jiang 대한영상의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.21 No.8

Objective: To evaluate the effects of tube voltage on image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA), the estimated radiation dose, and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes to optimize the use of CCTA in the era of low radiation doses. Materials and Methods: This study included 240 patients who were divided into 2 groups according to the DNA DSB analysis methods, i.e., immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Each group was subdivided into 4 subgroups: those receiving CCTA only with different tube voltages of 120, 100, 80, or 70 kVp. Objective and subjective image quality was evaluated by analysis of variance. Radiation dosages were also recorded and compared. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the 2 groups and 4 subgroups in each group (all p > 0.05). As tube voltage decreased, both image quality and radiation dose decreased gradually and significantly. After CCTA, γ-H2AX foci and mean fluorescence intensity in the 120-, 100-, 80-, and 70-kVp groups increased by 0.14, 0.09, 0.07, and 0.06 foci per cell and 21.26, 9.13, 8.10, and 7.13 (all p < 0.05), respectively. The increase in the DNA DSB level in the 120-kVp group was higher than those in the other 3 groups (all p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the DSBs levels among these latter groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: The 100-kVp tube voltage may be optimal for CCTA when weighing DNA DSBs against the estimated radiation dose and image quality, with further reductions in tube voltage being unnecessary for CCTA.

Geographic Distribution and Epidemiology of Lung Cancer During 2011 in Zhejiang Province of China

Lin, Xia-Lu,Chen, Yan,Gong, Wei-Wei,Wu, Zhao-Fan,Zou, Bao-Bo,Zhao, Jin-Shun,Gu, Hua,Jiang, Jian-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Background: To explore etiology for providing scientific clues for the prevention of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Data for lung cancer incidence and meteorological geographic factors from 25 counties in Zhejiang province of China during 2011 were studied. Stepwise multiple regression and correlation analysis were performed to analyze the geographic distribution and epidemiology of lung cancer. Results: 8,291 new cases (5,998 in males and 2,293 females) of lung cancer during 2011 in Zhejiang province were reported in the 25 studied counties. Reported and standardized incidence rates for lung cancer were 58.0 and 47.0 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence of lung cancer increased with age. Geographic distribution analysis shows that the standardized incidence rates of lung cancer in northeastern Zhejiang province were higher than in the southwestern part, such as in Nanhu, Fuyang, Wuxing and Yuyao counties, where the rates were more than 50 per 100,000 population. In the southwestern Zhejiang province, for instance, in Yueqing, Xianju and Jiande counties, the standardized incidence rates of lung cancer were lower than 37 per 100,000 population. Spearman correlation tests showed that forest coverage rate, air quality index (AQI), and annual precipitation level are associated with the incidence of lung cancer. Conclusions: Lung cancer in Zhejiang province shows obvious regional differences. High incidence appears associated with low forest coverage rate, poor air quality and low annual precipitation. Therefore, increasing the forest coverage rate and controlling air pollution may play an important role in lung cancer prevention.

Step-up and Step-down Asymmetrical 24-Pulse Autotransformer Rectifier

Zhang, Lu,Ge, Hong-juan,Jiang, Fan,Yang, Guang,Lin, Yi The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.5

The existing 24-pulse autotransformer rectifier unit (ATRU) needs interphase reactors for parallel work of the rectifier bridges, and its output voltage cannot be regulated. Aiming at these problems, a step-up and step-down asymmetrical 24-pulse ATRU is proposed in this paper. The connections and turns ratios among transformer windings are well designed. In addition, a 15-degree phase difference is formed between two of the 24 voltage vectors produced by the transformer, which makes the four rectifier bridge groups produce a 24-pulse DC voltage without interphase reactors. Meanwhile, by adding extended winding to each phase of the transformer, wide-range regulation of the ATRU output voltage can be realized, and the reasonable voltage regulation range is between 0.2 and 1.6. The superposition of the voltage vectors and the principle of the voltage regulation are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the turns ratio of the windings, winding current, output voltage, and kilovolt-ampere rating are all derived. Finally, the simulations and experiments are carried out, and the correctness of the principle and theoretical analysis of the new 24-pulse ATRU are verified.

Integration of hemicellulose pre-extraction and solid alkali-oxygen cooking processes for lignocellulose fractionation with emphasis on xylan valorization

Yetao Jiang,Xiaoyu Wang,Zhen Wu,Jiaxing Xu,Lei Hu,Lu Lin 한국화학공학회 2021 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.38 No.4

Cooking with active oxygen and solid alkali (CAOSA) is a mild and environmentally friendly method for separation of lignin components. The degradation mechanism of hemicellulose associated with this method has been investigated. It was found that the hemicellulose-derived polysaccharides were directly oxidized rather than hydrolyzed to monosaccharides for degradation. To avoid the undesirable degradation of hemicellulose components by CAOSA, the idea of separating hemicellulose first in the form of xylan to produce xylooligosaccharide was presented by this study. Although hydrothermal autocatalysis has been commonly used in hemicellulose separation, the effects of acidenhanced hydrothermal method and alkali-suppressed hydrothermal method on hydrothermal autocatalysis were systematically compared for the first time, and it was found that the acid-enhanced method was beneficial for highly selective extraction of xylan. Then, the hemicellulose-removed bamboo was treated with CAOSA process to separate lignin from cellulose. It was found that solid alkali dosage of CAOSA could be evidently decreased for hemicelluloseremoved bamboo, which was helpful to reduce the cost of CAOSA. Coupling hemicellulose pre-extraction and CAOSA lignin fractionation strategy, a comprehensive biorefinery case for bamboo biomass could be anticipated.

Hepato-protective effect of fucoidan extracted from acid-processed Sargassum fusiformis in ethanol-treated Chang liver cells and in a zebrafish model

Yu-Lin Dai,Yun-Fei Jiang,Yu-Hang Nie,Yu-An Lu,Min-Cheol Kang,You-Jin Jeon 제주대학교 해양과학연구소 2020 해양과환경연구소 연구논문집 Vol.44 No.-

In our previous study, the anticancer effect of the active fucoidan (JHCF4) isolated from acid-processed Sargassum fusiformis was evaluated. In this study, the liver-protective effects of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced Chang liver cell damage and apoptosis-related responses were investigated. Furthermore, the low cytotoxicity and high cell viability of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced cell damage, as well as its protective effect against ethanol-induced cell apoptosis, were observed via nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 in Chang liver cells. Additionally, the treatment of the 72 h post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish model with JHCF4 increased the ethanol-stimulated survival rates as well as decreased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death levels. JHCF4 was found to significantly decrease steatosis production in the 128 hpf zebrafish model by Oil Red O staining, as well as attenuate the malondialdehyde and increase the glutathione contents, compared with the untreated group. These results demonstrate that JHCF4 has a potential hepato-protective effect against ethanol-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo.

Pruning Enhances Earlier Flowering in Hylocereus undatus

Yi-Lu Jiang,Tzong-Shyan Lin,Chung-Ruey Yen 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Adsorption of acetone and toluene by N-functionalized porous carbon derived from ZIF-8

Xiaomi Meng,Lin Yang,Wenju Jiang,Lu Yao 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.111 No.-

In this study, a N-functionalized porous carbon derived from ZIF-8 (NFPC) was prepared and applied forthe gaseous acetone and toluene adsorption removal. The NFPC perfectly inherited the morphology ofparent ZIF-8, posed a high specific surface area (SBET = 1228 m2g1), be rich in surface nitrogen functionalgroups, and resulting in a good dynamic adsorption of the VOCs. The NFPC-1000 exhibited the bestadsorption performance of low concentration acetone and toluene, with equilibrium adsorption capacityof 203.4 and 297.1 mgg1 at 25 C respectively. The acetone and toluene adsorption were spontaneouslyand exothermic, given the negative values of free energy (DG) and enthalpy (DH). The difference of acetoneand toluene adsorption on NFPC attributed to the affinity difference (boiling point, polarity andmolecular diameter), the nitrogen-containing functional groups (pyridinic-N) and the cation-p bonding. Therefore, the NFPC was found to be more favorable for aromatic compounds adsorption, the tolueneadsorption of NFPC-1000 only decreased 5.3% after 6 cycles reuse, while its adsorption capacity of acetonelost more than 60%.