Aberrant Expression of Markers of Cancer Stem Cells in Gastric Adenocarcinoma and their Relationship to Vasculogenic Mimicry

Zhou, Lei,Yu, Lan,Feng, Zhen-Zhong,Gong, Xiao-Meng,Cheng, Ze-Nong,Yao, Nan,Wang, Dan-Na,Wu, Shi-Wu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

Background: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Asia, and the majority type is gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Most GAC patients die of recurrence and metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been thought to be responsible for the initiation, development, metastasis, and ultimately recurrence of cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate expression and clinical significance of CSCs markers, CD133 and Lgr5, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in primary GAC. Materials and Methods: Specimens from 261 Chinese patients with follow-up were analyzed for CD133, Lgr5 protein expression and VM by immunohistochemical and histochemical staining. The Pearson Chi's square test was used to assess the associations among the positive staining of these markers and clinicopathological characteristics. Postoperative overall survival time was were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: In GAC tissues, positive rates of 49.0%, 38.7%, and 26.8% were obtained for CD133, Lgr5, and VM, respectively. The mean score of microvessel density (MVD) was $21.7{\pm}11.1$ in GAC tissues. There was a significantly difference between the positive and negative groups. There was a positive relationship between the VM, the expression of CD133 and Lgr5, and the score of MVD and the grades of tumor, lymph node metastasis, TNM stages (all p<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with CD133, Lgr5, VM, and MVD (${\geq}22$) positive expression was lower than that of patients with negative expression. The score of MVD, positive expression of CD133 and VM were independent prognostic factors of GAC (p<0.05). Conclusions: VM, and expression of CD133, Lgr5, and the score of MVD are related to grades of tumor, lymph node metastasis, TNM stages, and overall mean survival time. It is suggested that CSCs and VM could play an important role in the evolution of GAC.

Cathode interfacial layer-free all small-molecule solar cells with efficiency over 12%

Wu, Hao,Yue, Qihui,Zhou, Zichun,Chen, Shanshan,Zhang, Dongyang,Xu, Shengjie,Zhou, Huiqiong,Yang, Changduk,Fan, Haijun,Zhu, Xiaozhang The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019 Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for e Vol.7 No.26

<P>While nonfullerene small-molecule solar cells (NF-SMSCs) have relatively inferior performance compared with nonfullerene polymer solar cells, their performance is improving. In this work, a weak crystalline molecular donor BSFTR, was designed and synthesized to achieve efficient NF-SMSCs. By blending with a strong crystalline acceptor NBDTP-Fout, BSFTR achieves a well-intermixed blending morphology, which favors the formation of efficient charge percolation pathways with suppressed recombination. The BSFTR:NBDTP-Fout device obtains a power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of approximately 11.97% by achieving an efficient cathode interfacial layer (CIL)-free device that delivers an even higher PCE of 12.3%, which ranks among the top values for the reported NF-SMSCs. This work provides a simple solution for achieving high-performance NF-SMSCs by identifying the key factors for designing efficient, cost-saving, mass production-favorable CIL-free organic photovoltaic devices.</P>

Association of Oral Contraceptives Use and Lung Cancer Risk among Women: an Updated Meta-analysis Based on Cohort and Case-control Studies

Wu, Wei,Yin, Zhi-Hua,Guan, Peng,Ren, Yang-Wu,Zhou, Bao-Sen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.3

Background: Previous studies on the association of oral contraceptives (OC) use and lung cancer generated inconsistent findings. The aim of this study was to confirm any definite correlation between OC use and lung cancer risk. Methods: Publications were reviewed and obtained through PubMed and EMBASE databases literature search up to November, 2013. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also reviewed. The language of publication was restricted to English. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 14 studies consisting of 9 case-control studies and 5 cohort studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association observed between OC use and lung cancer risk in the overall analysis (OR=0.91; 95% CI=0.81-1.03). There was a significant protective effect in Europe (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.60-0.91) and a borderline significant protective effect with an adenocarcinoma histology (OR=0.90; 95% CI=0.80-1.01) in subgroup analyses. No association was observed for methodological quality of study, study design, smoking status and case number of study. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that OC use is not likely to be associated with the risk of lung cancer at all. While a significant protective effect of OC use on lung cancer was observed in Europe, interpretation should be cautious because of the potential biases of low-quality studies. At the same time, more attention should be paid to the possible association of OC use with adenocarcinoma of lung. Our findings require further research, with well-conducted and large-scale epidemiological studies to confirm effects of OC use on lung cancer.

Preparation and Property of Wet-spun Silk Fibroin Filaments with Fibrils Regenerated by Dissolving in CaCl₂-Formic Acid

Wu Huiying,Wu Guiying,Yao Ping,Zhou Yan,Zhang Feng,Zuo Baoqi 한국고분자학회 2018 폴리머 Vol.42 No.5

In this work, silk fibroin (SF) filament with fibrils regenerated by dissolving in CaCl₂-formic acid (FA) was prepared by wet-spun method at room temperature. Different from traditional dissolved methods, SF solutions obtained by dissolving in CaCl₂-FA preserved fibrils, which have been recognized as the key to the high performance of native silk. The morphology of SF filament was analyzed, very dense filaments with smooth surface and circular, nanofibrils could be observed in longitudinal and cross-sections of filaments. Moreover, the breaking stress of samples was gradually increased with the increase of draw-down ratios. After 3 times drawing, the breaking stress and elongation at break of filament were 276.4±22.6 MPa and 40.8±3.1%, respectively. At the same time, the secondary structure of SF filament was typical β-sheet. In addition, SF filaments showed excellent degradation property, the mass lost of SF filament declined 42% after incubating in protease XIV solution. Above all, the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) adhered very well on the surface of the filaments, which demonstrated the good biocompatibility of SF filaments, was suitable for application in tissue engineering.

The Development and Prospect of Tourism Orchard in China

Wu Zhong Zhou,Xiao Yan Chen 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Trticles : The PcG protein hPc2 interacts with the N-terminus of histone demethylase JARID1B and acts as a transcriptional co-repressor

( Wu Zhou ),( Hai Xiang Chen ),( Li Huang Zhang ) 생화학분자생물학회 2009 BMB Reports Vol.42 No.3

Incidence and Mortality of Female Breast Cancer in Jiangsu, China

Wu, Li-Zhu,Han, Ren-Qiang,Zhou, Jin-Yi,Yang, Jie,Dong, Mei-Hua,Qian, Yun,Wu, Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the incidence and mortality of female breast cancer in Jiangsu Province of China. Methods: Incidence and mortality data for female breast cancer and corresponding population statistics from eligible cancer registries in Jiangsu from 2006 to 2010 were collected and analyzed. Crude rates, age-specific rates and age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality were calculated, and annual present changes (APCs) were estimated to describe the time trends. Results: From 2006 to 2010, 11,013 new cases and 3,068 deaths of female breast cancer were identified in selected cancer registry areas of Jiangsu. The annual average crude incidence and age-standardized incidence by world population (ASW) were 25.2/ and 17.9/100,000 respectively. The annual average crude and ASW for mortality rates were 7.03/ and 4.81/100,000. The incidence was higher in urban areas than that in rural areas, and this was consistent in all age groups. No significant difference was observed in mortality between urban and rural areas. Two peaks were observed when looking at age-specific rates, one at 50-59 years and another at over 85 years. During the 5 years, incidence and mortality increased with APCs of 4.47% and 6.89%, respectively. Compared to the national level, Jiangsu is an area with relatively low risk of female breast cancer. Conclusion: Breast cancer has become a main public health problem among Chinese females. More prevention and control activities should be conducted to reduce the burden of this disease, even in relatively low risk areas like Jiangsu.

Design of ZVT-ZCT buck converter based on self-tracking ZCD algorithm

Zhou Dongguo,Wu Yangjie,Zhou Hong 대한전기학회 2022 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.17 No.1

In this study, a novel buck converter with a resonant circuit and self-tracking zero current detection (ZCD) algorithm is proposed. The active resonant circuit provides main switch and auxiliary switch. In this converter all switching devices operate with soft switching, to tun on with (ZVT) zero-voltage transition and to turn off with (ZCT)zero-current transition. The PWM self-tracking ZCD algorithm improves the conversion effi ciency and avoid reverse current. The operation principle and detailed steady-state analysis of the ZVT-ZCT buck converter are given. The buck converter can operate with soft switching at high frequencies which has a simple structure. The presented theoretical analysis is verifi ed exactly by a MATLAB simulation experiment and a prototype of 1 kW and 100 kHz buck converter. The converter can eff ectively reduce current and voltage stress, reduce losses and improve power conversion effi ciency.

Intestinal Development and Function of Broiler Chickens on Diets Supplemented with Clinoptilolite

Wu, Q.J.,Zhou, Y.M.,Wu, Y.N.,Wang, T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.7

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of natural clinoptilolite (NCLI) and modified clinoptilolite (MCLI) on broiler performance, gut morphology, intestinal length and weight, and gut digestive enzyme activity. A total of 240 d-old male chicks were randomly assigned to 3 treatments, each of which comprised 8 pens of 10 chicks per pen. Birds in the control group were fed the basal diet, while those in the experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with NCLI at 2% (NCLI group), or MCLI at 2% (MCLI group), respectively, for 42 d. Compared with the control, supplementation with NCLI or MCLI had no significant (p>0.05) effects on productive parameters from d 1 to 42. Supplementation with NCLI or MCLI had no influence on the relative length and weight of small intestine at d 1 to 21. But supplementation with NCLI or MCLI significantly reduced the relative weight of duodenum. Supplementation with MCLI and NCLI was associated with greater (p<0.05) villus height in the jejunal and ileal mucosa compared with those areas in the controls from d 1 to 42. However, supplementation with NCLI and MCLI had no significant (p>0.05) influence on the crypt depth in the jejunal and ileal mucosa compared with those in the controls. The addition of either NCLI or MCLI to the diet improved the activities of total protease, and amylase in the small intestinal contents. In conclusion, supplementation with NCLI or MCLI in diets improved intestinal morphology, increased the intestinal length and weigh and gut digestive enzyme activity.

Resequencing 302 wild and cultivated accessions identifies genes related to domestication and improvement in soybean

Zhou, Zhengkui,Jiang, Yu,Wang, Zheng,Gou, Zhiheng,Lyu, Jun,Li, Weiyu,Yu, Yanjun,Shu, Liping,Zhao, Yingjun,Ma, Yanming,Fang, Chao,Shen, Yanting,Liu, Tengfei,Li, Congcong,Li, Qing,Wu, Mian,Wang, Min,Wu, Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan P 2015 Nature biotechnology Vol.33 No.4

Understanding soybean (Glycine max) domestication and improvement at a genetic level is important to inform future efforts to further improve a crop that provides the world's main source of oilseed. We detect 230 selective sweeps and 162 selected copy number variants by analysis of 302 resequenced wild, landrace and improved soybean accessions at >11× depth. A genome-wide association study using these new sequences reveals associations between 10 selected regions and 9 domestication or improvement traits, and identifies 13 previously uncharacterized loci for agronomic traits including oil content, plant height and pubescence form. Combined with previous quantitative trait loci (QTL) information, we find that, of the 230 selected regions, 96 correlate with reported oil QTLs and 21 contain fatty acid biosynthesis genes. Moreover, we observe that some traits and loci are associated with geographical regions, which shows that soybean populations are structured geographically. This study provides resources for genomics-enabled improvements in soybean breeding.