Influence of host plants on the development, survivorship, and fecundity of the summer fruit tortrix moth, Adoxophyes orana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Li Guang‐wei,Wang Hui‐min,Yang Wen‐tao,Chen Xiu‐lin,Li Bo‐liao,Chen Yu‐xin 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.10

The summer fruit tortrix moth Adoxophyes orana is a seriously damaged leaf roller pest for fruit trees. In this study, we evaluated the effect of five host plants (apple, Malus domestica B.; peach, Prunus persica var. nectarina; apricot, Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.; mulberry, Morus alba L.; and jujube, Ziziphus jujuba M.) on the development, survival, and fecundity of A. orana under laboratory conditions. Results showed that the development times of A. orana on jujube were significantly longer than those on the other four plants. The preimaginal survival rate was influenced by the host plants, which were fed during the larval stage, and with the highest on peach, followed by apple, apricot, and mulberry, and with the lowest on jujube. Adult females from larvae reared on apricot laid the greatest numbers of eggs (318.11 eggs per female), while that on apple, jujube, and mulberry was smaller, and no significant difference was observed among them. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was observed on peach and apricot; these two fruit trees were considered to be the most suitable host plant for A. orana because of the shorter developmental duration, higher survival rate, and the highest fecundity.

Breviscapine Ameliorates Fear Extinction and Anxiety in BALB/cJ Mice

Wei Liang(Wei Liang),Jing Huang(Jing Huang),Shuya Yang(Shuya Yang),Peng Huang(Peng Huang),Jun Chen(Jun Chen),Chen Chen(Chen Chen),Qun Yang(Qun Yang),Fengzhan Li(Fengzhan Li) 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.3

Objective In this research, the influence of breviscapine on anxiety, fear elimination, and aggression and the potential mechanism was investigated. Methods Anxiety and locomotion were analyzed by elevated plus maze and open field test in mice. Bussey-Saksida Mouse Touch Screen Chambers were used to perform fear conditioning. Territorial aggression was assessed by resident intruder test. Protein levels were evaluated by Western blot. Breviscapine improved fear-extinction learning in BALB/cJ mice. Results Breviscapine at 20-100 mg/kg increased center cross number, total distance traveled, and velocity in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, breviscapine at 20-100 mg/kg decreased the immobility time in open field test. In addition, breviscapine at 20-100 mg/kg increased the ratio of time on the open arm, time on the distal parts of the open arm, and total distance traveled in elevated plus maze. Breviscapine at 100 mg/kg increased the average attack latency and decreased the number of attacks over the last 3 days of resident intruder test. In hippocampus, protein levels of postsynaptic density protein-95 and synaptophysin were elevated by breviscapine at these three doses. Conclusion The administration of breviscapine alleviates fear extinction, anxiety, and aggression, while increases locomotor in a dose-dependent manner, which might be associated with its influence on synaptic function.

Influence of Degree of Hydrolysis on Functional Properties, Antioxidant and ACE Inhibitory Activities of Egg White Protein Hydrolysate

Chen Chen,Yu-Jie Chi,Ming-Yang Zhao,Wei Xu 한국식품과학회 2012 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.21 No.1

Functional properties, antioxidant, and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of egg white protein hydrolysate (EWPH) prepared with trypsin at different degree of hydrolysis (DH) were investigated. The DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity, and ACE inhibitory activity increased with DH at first and then decreased gradually. Hydrolysates with 12.4% DH had the highest antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities. As DH increased, the solubility of EWPH increased while the emulsifying and foaming properties decreased. The functional properties of EWPH were also controlled by pH. Ultrafiltration of the hydrolysate with 12.4% DH revealed that the fractions of molecular weight lower than 3 kDa exhibited the highest antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities. The results indicated that EWPH with different DH have different bioactive and functional properties and EWPH by controlled hydrolysis may be useful ingredients in food and nutraceutical applications with potential bioactive properties.

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A safe and effective technique

Chen Xu,Zheng-Qiang Yang,Sheng Liu,Wei Yang,Hai-Bin Shi,Wei-Zhong Zhou 소화기인터벤션의학회 2021 International journal of gastrointestinal interven Vol.10 No.2

Background: Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) was considered as an alternative technique for long-term enteral nutrition, and the current study is aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this technique in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at a single medical center. Methods: From July 2017 to October 2020, a total of 14 patients underwent PRG with ALS were included in this retrospective study with a median age of 64.0 years, and 78.6% were male. The procedure comprised a dilation of the stomach via a nasogastric catheter, followed by puncture and gastrostomy tube placement under fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate and clinical outcomes were recorded over 3 months following the procedure. Results: The technical success rate was 100%. During the follow-up period, minor complications were reported in 2 of patients (14.3%) including superficial skin infection and early tube block. Neither major complications nor mortality were observed. Body mass index of the patients increased significantly from 16.4 ± 2.1 kg/m2 to 17.1 ± 2.0 kg/m2 (t = –13.77; P < 0.001), and the albumin level increased significantly from 37.5 ± 2.3 g/L to 41.8 ± 1.6 g/L (t = –8.82, P < 0.001). Conclusion: PRG is a relatively safe and effective method for ALS patients, and deserves widespread clinical acceptance.

Experimental study on timing and pattern of gas injection in low permeability reservoir

Wei Huang,Shenglai Yang,Meng Chen,Zhipeng Qiu,Can Chen,Hao Chen 한국자원공학회 2014 Geosystem engineering Vol.17 No.3

Experiments were conducted to study the selection of development methods for low permeability reservoir exploitation after water drive, including the effects of different gas injection cycle times and different injection modes on oil displacement efficiency. Results showed that both gas injection cycle time and injection mode have significant effects on oil displacement efficiency. Based on the results of gas injection cycle time of the displacement with mode shifting to gas drive when water cut reaches 50% and 100%, it can be concluded that in the low permeability reservoir, which is exploited by water drive in the early time, the sooner the gas injection, the higher the oil displacement efficiency is. Because high water saturation can cause serious water-blocking effect, leading to a large amount of trapped oil and low displacement efficiency. Further, in view of the results of water drive, gas injection, and water alternating gas (WAG) flooding, it is obvious that WAG flooding is one of the best methods in enhanced oil recovery. Under the effect of gravity differentiation, WAG flooding can spread to the upper reservoir, which cannot be swept by water drive. Thus, the oil recovery factor can be improved effectively. However, it should be noted that gas injectivity should be considered in the field test.

Updated Meta-analysis on HER2 Polymorphisms and Risk of Breast Cancer: Evidence from 32 Studies

Chen, Wei,Yang, Heng,Tang, Wen-Ru,Feng, Shi-Jun,Wei, Yun-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: Several studies have been performed to investigate the association of the HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism and breast cancer risk. However, the results were inconsistent. To understand the precise relationship, a meta-analysis was here conducted. Materials and Methods: A search of PubMed conducted to investigate links between the HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism and breast cancer, identified a total of 32 studies, of which 29, including 14,926 cases and 15,768 controls, with odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess any association. Results: In the overall analysis, the HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism was associated with breast cancer in an additive genetic model (OR=1.136, 95% CI 1.043-1.239, p=0.004) and in a dominant genetic (OR=1.118, 95% CI 1.020-1.227, p=0.018), while no association was found in a recessive genetic model. On subgroup analysis, an association with breast cancer was noted in the additive genetic model (OR=1.111, 95% CI: 1.004-1.230, p=0.042) for the Caucasian subgroup. No significant associations were observed in Asians and Africans in any of the genetic models. Conclusions: In summary, our meta-analysis findings suggest that the HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism is marginally associated with breast cancer susceptibility in worldwide populations with additive and dominant models, but not a recessive model.

Metabolomes and transcriptomes revealed the saponin distribution in root tissues of Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng

Wei, Guangfei,Yang, Feng,Wei, Fugang,Zhang, Lianjuan,Gao, Ying,Qian, Jun,Chen, Zhongjian,Jia, Zhengwei,Wang, Yong,Su, He,Dong, Linlin,Xu, Jiang,Chen, Shilin The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.6

Background: Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng are widely used and well known for their pharmacological effects. As main pharmacological components, saponins have different distribution patterns in the root tissues of Panax plants. Methods: In this study, the representative ginsenosides were detected and quantified by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to demonstrate saponin distribution in the root tissues of P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, and saponin metabolite profiles were analyzed by metabolomes to obtain the biomarkers of different root tissues. Finally, the transcriptome analysis was performed to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of saponin distribution by gene profiles. Results: There was saponin distribution in the root tissues differed between P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. Eight-eight and 24 potential biomarkers were detected by metabolome analysis, and a total of 340 and 122 transcripts involved in saponin synthesis that were positively correlated with the saponin contents (R > 0.6, P < 0.05) in the root tissues of P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, respectively. Among them, GDPS1, CYP51, CYP64, and UGT11 were significantly correlated with the contents of Rg1, Re, Rc, Rb2, and Rd in P. quinquefolius. UGT255 was markedly related to the content of R1; CYP74, CYP89, CYP100, CYP103, CYP109, and UGT190 were markedly correlated with the Rd content in P. notoginseng.

Enhancer-Gene Interaction Analyses Identified the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor as a Susceptibility Gene for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Yang Yang,Shi Yao,Jing-Miao Ding,Wei Chen,Yan Guo 대한당뇨병학회 2021 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.45 No.2

Background: Genetic interactions are known to play an important role in the missing heritability problem for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interactions between enhancers and their target genes play important roles in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to identify genetic interactions between enhancers and their target genes associated with T2DM. Methods: We performed genetic interaction analyses of enhancers and protein-coding genes for T2DM in 2,696 T2DM patients and 3,548 controls of European ancestry. A linear regression model was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) pairs that could affect the expression of the protein-coding genes. Differential expression analyses were used to identify differentially expressed susceptibility genes in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Results: We identified one SNP pair, rs4947941×rs7785013, significantly associated with T2DM (combined P=4.84×10−10). The SNP rs4947941 was annotated as an enhancer, and rs7785013 was located in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. This SNP pair was significantly associated with EGFR expression in the pancreas (P=0.033), and the minor allele “A” of rs7785013 decreased EGFR gene expression and the risk of T2DM with an increase in the dosage of “T” of rs4947941. EGFR expression was significantly upregulated in T2DM patients, which was consistent with the effect of rs4947941×rs7785013 on T2DM and EGFR expression. A functional validation study using the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) database showed that EGFR was associated with diabetes-relevant phenotypes. Conclusion: Genetic interaction analyses of enhancers and protein-coding genes suggested that EGFR may be a novel susceptibility gene for T2DM.

De novo assembly and transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes relevant to variegation in hawthorn flowers

Wei Ji,Wei Zhao,Rong‑Chen Liu,Xiao‑Bo Jiao,Kai Han,Zhong‑Yi Yang,Mei‑Ying Gao,Rui Ren,Xiu‑Juan Fan,Ming‑Xia Yang 한국식물생명공학회 2019 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.13 No.6

Flower color variegation has been observed in many plant species. However, pink flowers on the white-blooming hawthorn trees found by our group earlier have never been reported. To better understand the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in variegated hawthorn flowers, white and pink flowers at different developmental stages (S1 and S2) underwent transcriptome sequencing separately. Approximately 34.28 Gb of high-quality data were obtained and assembled into 100,013 unigenes with an average length of 706.93 bp. These unigenes were further subjected to functional annotation and biochemical pathway analysis, and DEGs of two types of hawthorn flowers at different developmental stages were studied. Based on the enrichment analysis of DEGs, eight anthocyanin-modified enzyme genes or other enzyme genes that indirectly affect anthocyanin synthesis (5AT, 3GGT , and AI, β-Glu, two Aux/IAAs, two PODs), eight structural genes (UFGT, DFR, CHI, two F3Hs, and three PALs), and three transcription factors (one MYB and two bHLHs) were also identified. We randomly selected 15 genes, and the trends in the expression levels of these genes in the organs of white and pink flowers at different developmental stages were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. Mass sequence data obtained by RNA-seq of variegated hawthorn flowers provided basic sequence information and a unique opportunity to uncover the genetic mechanisms under-lying flower color variegation.

Surgical Treatment for Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Chen, Shao-Bin,Weng, Hong-Rui,Wang, Geng,Yang, Jie-Sheng,Yang, Wei-Ping,Liu, Di-Tian,Chen, Yu-Ping,Zhang, Hao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

More studies are needed to clarify treatments and prognosis of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This retrospective study was designed to review the outcome of surgical treatment for early ESCC, evaluate the results of a left thoracotomy for selected patients with early ESCC, and identify factors affecting lymph node metastases and survival. The clinicopathological data of 228 patients with early ESCC who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy without preoperative adjuvant treatment were reviewed. The ${\chi}^2$ test or Fisher's exact test were used to detect factors related to lymph node metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. There were 152 males and 76 females with a median age of 55 years. Two hundred and eight patients underwent a left thoracotomy, and the remaining 20 patients with lymph nodes in the upper mediastinum more than 5 mm in short-axis diameter by computed tomography scan underwent a right thoracotomy. No lymph node metastasis was found in the 18 patients with carcinoma in situ, while lymph node metastases were detected in 1.6% (1/62) of patients with mucosal tumours and 18.2% (27/148) of patients with submucosal tumours. Only 7 patients showed upper mediastinal lymph node metastases in the follow-up. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 81.4% and 70.1%, respectively. Only histologic grade (P<0.001) and pT category (P=0.001) significantly correlated with the presence of lymph node metastases. In multivariate analysis, only histologic grade (P=0.026) and pT category (P=0.008) were independent prognostic factors. A left thoracotomy is acceptable for selected patients with early ESCC. Histologic grade and pT category affected the presence of lymph node metastases and were independent prognostic factors for early ESCC.