Sputum Transcriptomics Reveals FCN1+ Macrophage Activation in Mild Eosinophilic Asthma Compared to Non-Asthmatic Eosinophilic Bronchitis

Zhan Wenzhi,Luo Wei,Zhang Yulong,Xiang Keheng,Chen Xiaomei,Shen Shuirong,Huang Chuqing,Xu Tingting,Ding Wenbin,Chen Yuehan,Lin Mingtong,Pan Xinghua,Lai Kefang 대한천식알레르기학회 2024 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.16 No.1

Purpose: Eosinophilic asthma (EA) and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) share similar eosinophilic airway inflammation. Unlike EA, EB did not present airway hyperresponsiveness or airflow obstruction. We aimed to compare the mechanism underlying the different manifestations between EA and EB via sputum transcriptomics analysis. Methods: Induced-sputum cells from newly physician-diagnosed EA, EB patients, and healthy controls (HCs) were collected for RNA sequencing. Results: Bulk RNA sequencing was performed using sputum cells from patients with EA (n = 18), EB (n = 15) and HCs (n = 28). Principal component analysis revealed similar gene expression patterns in EA and EB. The most differentially expressed genes in EB compared with HC were also shared by EA, including IL4, IL5 IL13, CLC, CPA3, and DNASE1L3. However, gene set enrichment analysis showed that the signatures regulating macrophage activation were enriched in EA compared to EB. Sputum cells were profiled using single-cell RNA sequencing. FABP4+ macrophages, SPP1+ macrophages, FCN1+ macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, mast cells, and epithelial cells were identified based on gene expression profiling. Analysis of cell-cell communication revealed that interactions between FCN1+ macrophages and other cells were higher in EA than in EB. A wealth of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) interactions between FCN1+ macrophages and other cells have been shown in EA. The gene expression levels of EREG, TGFBI, and VEGFA in FCN1+ macrophages of EA were significantly higher than those of EB. Furthermore, signatures associated with the response to TGF-β, cellular response to VEGF stimulus and developmental cell growth were enriched in FCN1+ macrophages of EA compared to those of EB. Conclusions: FCN1+ macrophage activation associated with airway remodeling processes was upregulated in EA compared to that in EB, which may contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction.

Security Cooperation Model Based on Topology Control and Time Synchronization for Wireless Sensor Networks

Zhaobin Liu,Wenzhi Liu,Qiang Ma,Gang Liu,Liang Zhang,Ligang Fang,Victor S. Sheng 한국통신학회 2019 Journal of communications and networks Vol.21 No.5

To address malicious attacks generated from wirelesssensor networks (WSNs), in this paper, we study the difficulty ofdetecting uncoordinated behavior by using a model that is unreliableand has uncontrollable accuracy, trustless control, and an inextensibleprotocol. A security collaboration model involving coupledstate vectors associated with topology control and time synchronizationis proposed. The networks achieve synchronizationusing weights and by controlling the number of goals. The simplecalculation of time synchronization values between neighboringnodes serves as the basis for judging the behavior of the nodetopology control. The coupling state vector calculation is the coreof the model. The topology coupling strength rate, signal intensityreduction, clock drift, and clock delay are combined to form a comprehensivemodel. The network energy consumption is reduced byupdating the coupling state vector regularly. The coupling cooperationthreshold is set to make security decisions and effectivelydistinguish between attack nodes and dead nodes. Thus, to ensurethe security and reliability of the network, we present a securitycooperation collection tree protocol (SC-CTP) scheme that maintainsa trusted environment and isolates misbehaving nodes. Thesimulation results show that the model can detect malicious nodeseffectively, has a high detection rate, and greatly reduces the energyconsumption of the whole network. In order to verify the effectivenessof the proposed model, a large-scale wireless sensor networkwith 200 nodes was deployed on a campus. The proposed modelwas applied to optimize the deployment of key nodes on the campus. Furthermore, a candidate set of these nodes were selected toachieve coupling cooperation of key goals. This test verified the reliabilityof the model, its customizable accuracy, and the reliabilityof the control.

Numerical simulation and analysis of the aerodynamic noise of a nautilus-inspired bionic multiblade centrifugal fan

Hongzhan Lv,Wenzhi Yang,W. J. Zhang 대한기계학회 2022 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.36 No.9

This paper proposes a nautilus-inspired bionic volute for a multiblade centrifugal fan. Analysis of the noises generated by the fan is presented. This is made possible by a model that integrates a steady-state equation using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model and an unsteady-state estimation using the large-eddy simulation (LES) model and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings aerodynamic noise model, and by numerical solution to the model. Our computational model is validated on the sound pressure level with the help of the measurements on a physical system. The validation suggests that the proposed bionic volute significantly increases the aerodynamic performance particularly in terms of transformation between the pressure and flow rate under the rated power. The noise associated to the bionic volute is found to be predominantly tonal noise, and this is the primary source of the noise of the fan. Another finding is that the large expansion profile of the proposed volute contributes to the attenuation of the tonal noise associated to the periodic jet impingement at the impeller outlet.

A new strategy for protein crystallization : Effect of ionic liquids on lysozyme crystallization and morphology

Zhanzhong Wang,Qing Gu,Wenzhi Fang,Yan Li,Jingshu Zhang 한국화학공학회 2014 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.31 No.6

Protein crystallization is a complex physical and chemical process. The high-quality protein crystal is still apersistent bottleneck to the application of X-ray crystallography in structural biology. The additives may promote formationof crystal nucleus and subsequent growth in protein crystallization. As a distinct material, ionic liquids (ILs)have aroused great attention and interest for protein crystallization due to their unique properties. We reviewed the progressof protein crystallization and reported research about protein crystal morphology control by ILs, as crystal growthtemplate, in aqueous solutions. ILs encourage changes in some cases in terms of growth morphology and crystal size. The effect of ILs on lysozyme growth morphology can be attributed to changing interaction among lysozyme moleculesin aqueous solutions. This work can provide some initial insight into the preparation of high quality crystal and thedevelopment of new crystal form.

Combination of dispersive solid phase extraction with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the sequential speciation and preconcentration of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples prior to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry determination

Li Yao,Yongqun Zhu,Wenzhi Xu,Hong Wang,Xie Wang,Jianhua Zhang,Haitao Liu,Chaowen Lin 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.72 No.-

In this study, the combination of dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) with dispersive liquid–liquidmicroextraction (DLLME) was proposed as a novel sequential speciation method for Cr determination bygraphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In thefirst step, the selective extraction of Cr(III) byDSPE was achieved using graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles as the adsorbent. The difficulty of separationand collection of GO in analytical performance was solved by the introduction of the syringe nanofilter. Then Cr(VI) was enriched by DLLME using [Omim] [PF6] as the extraction solvent. The experimentalparameters affecting the performance of both preconcentration methods were investigated andoptimized. Under the optimal conditions including the initial pH value of 7, 150 mg GO, 2 min ultrasoundtime, 210 mL elution solvent (first step), secondary pH value of 4, 0.15% (m/v) Aliquat-336, 120 mL of[Omim] [PF6] and 3 min ultrasound time (second step), the linear range of 0.06–5 ng/mL (R > 0.997), thelimits of detection of 0.015 and 0.02 ng/mL were achieved for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. The relativestandard deviations (n = 5) of 0.6 ng/mL Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 3.2% and 4.6%, respectively. Finally, thisnewly developed method was applied for the speciation and determination of Cr species in differentwater samples and satisfactory results were obtained.

Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in Cats from Liaoning Province, Northeastern China

Honglie Hou,Lili Cao,Wenzhi Ren,Dansheng Wang,He Ding,Juan You,Xinhua Yao,Hang Dong,Yanbing Guo,Shuxian Yuan,Xi-Chen Zhang,Pengtao Gong 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.55 No.6

The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats from Liaoning province, northeastern China. From October 2014 to September 2016, sera of 651 cats, including 364 domestic cats and 287 feral cats (332 females and 319 males) were assessed. They were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen using SNAP Heartworm RT test kit. In this population, the average prevalence was 4.5%. Age and rearing conditions (feral or domestic) were found to be associated with the prevalence of D. immitis. The prevalence was significantly higher in feral cats compared with domestic cats (8.4% vs 1.4%, P<0.01). There was no significant difference between males and females (4.7% vs 4.2%, P>0.05), but older cats (≥3 years old) showed a statistically higher prevalence compared with younger cats (<3 years old) in feral populations (16.8 vs 2.4%, P<0.01), while the difference between the age groups was not statistically significant in domestic cats (2.4% vs 0.51%, P>0.05), all these results suggest that outdoor exposure time may be one of the most important factors for D. immitis prevalence in cats. Results reveal that D. immitis are prevalence in domestic and feral cats in northeastern China, which indicates that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to decrease the incidence of feline heartworm disease in Liaoning province, northeastern China.

Immunomodulatory biomaterials for implant-associated infections: from conventional to advanced therapeutic strategies

Dong Jiale,Wang Wenzhi,Zhou Wei,Zhang Siming,Li Meng,Li Ning,Pan Guoqing,Zhang Xianzuo,Bai Jiaxiang,Zhu Chen 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Implant-associated infection (IAI) is increasingly emerging as a serious threat with the massive application of biomaterials. Bacteria attached to the surface of implants are often difficult to remove and exhibit high resistance to bactericides. In the quest for novel antimicrobial strategies, conventional antimicrobial materials often fail to exert their function because they tend to focus on direct bactericidal activity while neglecting the modulation of immune systems. The inflammatory response induced by host immune cells was thought to be a detrimental force impeding wound healing. However, the immune system has recently received increasing attention as a vital player in the host’s defense against infection. Anti-infective strategies based on the modulation of host immune defenses are emerging as a field of interest. This review explains the importance of the immune system in combating infections and describes current advanced immune-enhanced anti-infection strategies. First, the characteristics of traditional/conventional implant biomaterials and the reasons for the difficulty of bacterial clearance in IAI were reviewed. Second, the importance of immune cells in the battle against bacteria is elucidated. Then, we discuss how to design biomaterials that activate the defense function of immune cells to enhance the antimicrobial potential. Based on the key premise of restoring proper host-protective immunity, varying advanced immune-enhanced antimicrobial strategies were discussed. Finally, current issues and perspectives in this field were offered. This review will provide scientific guidance to enhance the development of advanced anti-infective biomaterials.

Discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins

Juan Liu,Yangrong Xu,Jingjing Yang,Wenzhi Wang,Jianqiang Zhang,Renmei Zhang,Qingguo Meng 고려인삼학회 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.3

Ocotillol-type saponins are one kind of tetracyclic triterpenoids, sharing a tetrahydrofuran ring. Natural ocotillol-type saponins have been discovered in Panax quinquefolius L., Panax japonicus, Hana mina, and Vietnamese ginseng. In recent years, the semisynthesis of 20(S/R)-ocotillol-type saponins has been reported. The biological activities of ocotillol-type saponins include neuroprotective effect, antimyocardial ischemia, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Owing to their chemical structure, pharmacological actions, and the stereoselective activity on antimyocardial ischemia, ocotillol-type saponins are subjected to extensive consideration. In this review, we sum up the discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins.

Discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins

Liu, Juan,Xu, Yangrong,Yang, Jingjing,Wang, Wenzhi,Zhang, Jianqiang,Zhang, Renmei,Meng, Qingguo The Korean Society of Ginseng 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.3

Ocotillol-type saponins are one kind of tetracyclic triterpenoids, sharing a tetrahydrofuran ring. Natural ocotillol-type saponins have been discovered in Panax quinquefolius L., Panax japonicus, Hana mina, and Vietnamese ginseng. In recent years, the semisynthesis of 20(S/R)-ocotillol-type saponins has been reported. The biological activities of ocotillol-type saponins include neuroprotective effect, antimyocardial ischemia, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Owing to their chemical structure, pharmacological actions, and the stereoselective activity on antimyocardial ischemia, ocotillol-type saponins are subjected to extensive consideration. In this review, we sum up the discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins.

Feasibility of a Clinical-Radiomics Model to Predict the Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Zhou Yiran,Wu Di,Yan Su,Xie Yan,Zhang Shun,Lv Wenzhi,Qin Yuanyuan,Liu Yufei,Liu Chengxia,Lu Jun,Li Jia,Zhu Hongquan,Liu Weiyin Vivian,Liu Huan,Zhang Guiling,Zhu Wenzhen 대한영상의학회 2022 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.23 No.8

Objective: To develop a model incorporating radiomic features and clinical factors to accurately predict acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 522 AIS patients (382 male [73.2%]; mean age ± standard deviation, 58.9 ± 11.5 years) were randomly divided into the training (n = 311) and validation cohorts (n = 211). According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months after hospital discharge, prognosis was dichotomized into good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor (mRS > 2); 1310 radiomics features were extracted from diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression method were implemented to select the features and establish a radiomics model. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and construct a clinical model. Ultimately, a multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating independent clinical factors and radiomics score was implemented to establish the final combined prediction model using a backward step-down selection procedure, and a clinical-radiomics nomogram was developed. The models were evaluated using calibration, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analyses. Results: Age, sex, stroke history, diabetes, baseline mRS, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and radiomics score were independent predictors of AIS outcomes. The area under the ROC curve of the clinical-radiomics model was 0.868 (95% confidence interval, 0.825–0.910) in the training cohort and 0.890 (0.844–0.936) in the validation cohort, which was significantly larger than that of the clinical or radiomics models. The clinical radiomics nomogram was well calibrated (p > 0.05). The decision curve analysis indicated its clinical usefulness. Conclusion: The clinical-radiomics model outperformed individual clinical or radiomics models and achieved satisfactory performance in predicting AIS outcome