Effect of Al on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–Sn–Ca–Mn Wrought Alloy

Yun Feng,Yuanyuan Yang,Zongqi Xiao,Xianglong Meng,Guorong Zhou,Jinfeng Leng,Xinying Teng 대한금속·재료학회 2022 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.28 No.6

Mg–Sn–Ca–Mn–xAl (x = 0,1.5 wt%) alloys with ultra-fine recrystallized grains were prepared by conventional extrusion(400 °C, 0.5 mm/s). Effects of aluminum (Al) on mechanical properties and microstructure of the Mg–1Sn–1Ca–0.5Mn(wt%) alloy were systematically investigated. By the addition of 1.5 wt% Al, the yield strength of the as-extruded alloysignificantly increased from 183 to 237 MPa. The as-cast alloys show a dendritic structure consists of α-Mg, (Mg, Al)2Ca,and CaMgSn phases. The as-extruded Mg–1Sn–1Ca–0.5Mn–1.5Al alloys exhibit a bimodal grain structure composed ofdynamic recrystallized (DRXed) fine grains and coarse unDRXed grains. Compared with Al free alloy, a lot of nano-scaleplanar Al2Caand rectangle shape Al8Mn5precipitated in the as-extruded alloy with 1.5 wt% Al. Meanwhile, the addition ofAl significantly strengthened alloys’ fiber texture with < 10–10 >//ED.

Research on the Relationship Between Serum Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Song, Xiao-Yun,Zhou, Shi-Jie,Xiao, Ning,Li, Yun-Song,Zhen, De-Zhi,Su, Chong-Yu,Liu, Zhi-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum of patients with non- small cell lung cancer, for assessing their possible diagnostic and prognostic roles. Methods: We enrolled 48 patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and 40 healthy controls. TNF- ${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured in the serum of all the subjects with specific radioimmunoassay kits, while EGF was analyzed by sandwich enzyme immunoassay techniques. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between lung cancer patients and the control group regarding the values of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum. Moreover, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and VEGF levels were higher in patients with advanced stages compared to early stages. In addition, higher serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were found in smokers than in non-smokers, both in patients and controls. Conclusion: Serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were all elevated in lung cancer patients, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines could be jointly used as a screening tool. Though TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and VEGF levels were related to advanced disease, long-term survival studies of NSCLC patients should be performed to confirm whether they can act as biomarkers of advanced disease. In addition, smoking would be an important contributor to the processes of inflammation and lung cancer.

Protective Effect of Ginsenoside R0 on Anoxic and Oxidative Damage In vitro

( Zhou Jiang ),( Yu Hui Wang ),( Xiao Yun Zhang ),( Tao Peng ),( Yan Qing Li ),( Yi Zhang ) 한국응용약물학회 2012 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.20 No.6

To examine the neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside R0, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside R0 in PC12 cells under an anoxic or oxidative environment with Edaravone as a control. PC12 neuroendocrine cells were used as a model target. Anoxic damage or oxidative damage in PC12 cells were induced by adding sodium dithionite or hydrogen peroxide respectively in cul-tured medium. Survival ratios of different groups were detected by an AlamarBlue assay. At the same time, the apoptosis of PC12 cells were determined with flow cytometry. The putative neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside R0 is thought to be exerted through enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes Superoxide dismutases (SOD). The activity of SOD and the level of malondialde-hyde (MDA) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), were measured to evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of ginsenoside R0. Ginsenoside R0 treated cells had a higher SOD activity, lower MDA level and lower ROS, and their survival ratio was higher with a lower apoptosis rate. It is suggested that ginsenoside R0 has a protective effect in the cultured PC12 cells, and the protection efficiency is higher than Edaravone. The protective mechanisms of these two are different. The prevent ability of ginsenoside R0 is higher than its repair ability in neuroprotection in vitro.

Prefrontal cortex miR-29b-3p plays a key role in the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine in rats

Yun-Qiang Wan,Jian-Guo Feng,Mao Li,Mao-Zhou Wang,Li Liu,Xueru Liu,Xiao-Xia Duan,Chun-Xiang Zhang,Xiao-Bin Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Ketamine has a rapid, obvious, and persistent antidepressant effect, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important modulators of ketamine’s antidepressant effect. We investigated the alteration in miR-29b-3p in the brain of rats subjected to ketamine administration and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and a sucrose preference test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the rats’ depressive-like state. We used recombination adeno-associated virus (rAAV) or lentivirus-expressing miR-29b-3p to observe the change in metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (GRM4). Cell culture and electrophysiological recordings were used to evaluate the function of miR-29b-3p. Ketamine dramatically increased miR-29b-3p expression in the prefrontal cortex of the normal rats. The dual luciferase reporter test confirmed that GRM4 was the target of miR-29b- 3p. The miR-29b-3p levels were downregulated, while the GRM4 levels were upregulated in the prefrontal cortex of the depressive-like rats. The ketamine treatment increased miR-29b-3p expression and decreased GRM4 expression in the prefrontal cortex of the depressive-like rats and primary neurons. By overexpressing and silencing miR-29b-3p, we further validated that miR-29b-3p could negatively regulate GRM4. The silencing of miR-29b-3p suppressed the Ca2+ influx in the prefrontal cortex neurons. The miR-29b-3p overexpression contributed to cell survival, cytodendrite growth, increases in extracellular glutamate concentration, and cell apoptosis inhibition. The overexpression of miR- 29b-3p by rAAV resulted in a noticeable relief of the depressive behaviors of the CUMS rats and a lower expression of GRM4. The miR-29b-3p/GRM4 pathway acts as a critical mediator of ketamine’s antidepressant effect in depressive-like rats and could be considered a potential therapeutic target for treating major depression disorder.

The fecal microbiota composition of boar Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace and Hampshire pigs

Xiao, Yingping,Li, Kaifeng,Xiang, Yun,Zhou, Weidong,Gui, Guohong,Yang, Hua Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.10

Objective: To investigate the effect of host genetics on gut microbial diversity, we performed a structural survey of the fecal microbiota of four purebred boar pig lines: Duroc, Landrace, Hampshire, and Yorkshire. Methods: The V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced. Results: A total of 783 operational taxonomic units were shared by all breeds, whereas others were breed-specific. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the majority of the fecal microbiota; Clostridia, Bacilli, and Bacteroidia were the major classes. Nine predominant genera were observed in all breeds and eight of them can produce short-chain fatty acids. Some bacteria can secrete cellulase to aid fiber digestion by the host. Butyric, isobutyric, valeric, and isovaleric acid levels were highest in Landrace pigs, whereas acetic and propionic acid were highest in the Hampshire breed. Heatmap was used to revealed breed-specific bacteria. Principal coordinate analysis of fecal bacteria revealed that the Landrace and Yorkshire breeds had high similarity and were clearly separated from the Duroc and Hampshire breeds. Conclusion: Overall, this study is the first time to compare the fecal microbiomes of four breeds of boar pig by high-throughput sequencing and to use Spearman's rank correlation to analyze competition and cooperation among the core bacteria.

ZNF552, a novel human KRAB/C2H2 zinc finger protein, inhibits AP-1- and SRE-mediated transcriptional activity

( Yun Deng ),( Bi Sheng Liu ),( Xiong Wei Fan ),( Yue Qun Wang ),( Ming Tang ),( Xiao Yang Mo ),( Yong Qing Li ),( Zao Chu Ying ),( Yong Qi Wan ),( Na Luo ),( Jun Mei Zhou ),( Xiu Shan Wu ),( Wu Zhou 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2010 BMB Reports Vol.43 No.3

In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel C2H2 zinc finger protein, ZNF552, from a human embryonic heart cDNA library. ZNF552 is composed of three exons and two introns and maps to chromosome 19q13.43. The cDNA of ZNF552 is 2.3 kb, encoding 407 amino acids with an amino-terminal KRAB domain and seven carboxyl-terminal C2H2 zinc finger motifs in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Northern blotting analysis indicated that a 2.3 kb transcript specific for ZNF552 was expressed in liver, lung, spleen, testis and kidney, especially with a higher level in the lung and testis in human adult tissues. Reporter gene assays showed that ZNF552 was a transcriptional repressor, and overexpression of ZNF552 in the COS-7 cells inhibited the transcriptional activities of AP-1 and SRE, which could be relieved through RNAi analysis. Deletion studies showed that the KRAB domain of ZNF552 may be involved in this inhibition. [BMB reports 2010; 43(3): 193-198]

Metabolomic analysis of biochemical changes in the tissue and urine of proteoglycan-induced spondylitis in mice after treatment with moxibustion

Xiao Xu,Ya-Nan Shi,Rong-Yun Wang,Cai-Yan Ding,Xiao Zhou,Yu-Fei Zhang,Zhi-Ling Sun,Zhi-Qin Sun,Qiu-Hua Sun 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.1

Background: Moxibustion is widely used in East Asian countries to manage the symptom of rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify potential metabolic profiles of moxibustion on relieving ankylosing spondylitis (AS) mice through UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS metabolomic study. Methods: Thirty-two female Balb/c mice were randomized into healthy control (HC), AS model, moxibustion at acupuncture points (MA) in AS model, and moxibustion at non-acupuncture points (MNA) AS model groups. Moxibustion was administered daily at GV4, bilateral BL23 and bilateral ST36 acupuncture points for four weeks in the MA group. The overall health status, the thickness of hind paws and the tissue concentrations of IL-1β, PGE2, IL-6 and TNF-α were assessed. The UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used to explore the perturbations of endogenous metabolites in tissue and urine of AS model mice intervened by moxibustion. Results: Compared with the AS group, the overall health status was significantly improved after 4-week moxibustion intervention (p < 0.05). The results also showed that MA significantly reduced the levels of paw thickness and decreased the levels of four cytokines in the tissue (p < 0.01). Thirty-seven endogenous metabolites identified by the OPLS-DA were considered to be contributing to therapeutic effects of moxibustion. Moreover, metabolic pathway analysis further revealed that the identified metabolites were mainly involved in TCA cycle, Lipid metabolism, Amino Acid metabolism, Intestinal flora metabolism and Purine metabolism. Conclusions: UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics approach, as a novel and powerful tool, can help us to gain the insights into potential mechanisms of action of moxibustion for AS.

Metabolomics Investigation of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma Based on UHPLC-QTOF/MS

Zhou, Qing-Yuan,Wang, Yue-Lin,Li, Xia,Shen, Xiao-Yan,Li, Ke-Jia,Zheng, Jie,Yu, Yun-Qiu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Objectives: The identification of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) biomarkers may serve as a predictor of disease progression and treatment response. The aim of this study was to map potential biomarkers in CTCL plasma. Design and Methods: Plasma metabolic perturbations between CTCL cases and healthy individuals were investigated using metabolomics and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS). Results: Principal component analysis (PCA) of the spectra showed clear metabolic changes between the two groups. Thirty six potential biomarkers associated with CTCL were found. Conclusions: Based on PCA, several biomarkers were determined and further identified by LC/MS/MS analysis. All of these could be potential early markers of CTCL. In addition, we established that heparin as a nticoagulant has better pre-treatment results than EDTA with the UHPLC-QTOF/MS appraoch.

Risk Effects of GST Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Prospective Study

Zhou, Lei,Zhu, Yan-Yun,Zhang, Xiao-Dong,Li, Yang,Liu, Zhuo-Gang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme levels are associated with risk of many cancers, including hematologic tumours. We here aimed to investigate the relationships between GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms and the risk of AML. Genotyping of GSTs was based upon duplex polymerase-chain-reactions with the confronting-two-pair primer (PCR-CTPP) method in 163 cases and 204 controls. Individuals carrying null GSTT1 genotype had a 1.64 fold risk of acute leukemia relative to a non-null genotype (P<0.05). A heavy risk was observed in those carrying combination of null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and GSTP1 Val allele genotypes when compared with those carrying wild genotypes, with an OR (95% CI) of 3.39 (1.26-9.26) (P<0.05). These findings indicate that genetic variants of GST and especially the GSTT1 gene have a critical function in the development of AML. Our study offers important insights into the molecular etiology of AML.

Synergistic efficacy of LBH and αB-crystallin through inhibiting transcriptional activities of p53 and p21

( Yun Deng ),( Yong Qing Li ),( Xiong Wei Fan ),( Wu Zhou Yuan ),( Hua Ping Xie ),( Xiao Yang Mo ),( Yan Yan ),( Jun Mei Zhou ),( Yue Qun Wang ),( Xian Li Ye ),( Yong Qi Wan ),( Xiu Shan Wu ) 생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2010 BMB Reports Vol.43 No.6

LBH is a transcription factor as a candidate gene for CHD associated with partial trisomy 2p syndrome. To identify potential LBH-interacting partners, a yeast two-hybrid screen using LBH as a bait was performed with a human heart cDNA library. One of the clones identified encodes αB-crystallin. Co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays showed that LBH interacts with αB-crystallin, which is further confirmed by mammalian two-hybrid assays. Co-localization analysis showed that in COS-7 cells, αB-crystallin that is cytoplasmic alone, accumulates partialy in the nucleus when co-transfected with LBH. Transient transfection assays indicated that overexpression of LBH or αB-crystallin reduced the transcriptional activities of p53 and p21, respectively, Overexpression of both αB-crystallin and LBH together resulted in a stronger repression of the transcriptional activities of p21 and p53. These results showed that the interaction of LBH and αB-crystallin may inhibit synergistically the transcriptional regulation of p53 and p21. [BMB reports 2010; 43(6): 432-437]