Stigma and Efficacy of Zhizhu Kuanzhong Capsules Versus Doxepin in the Treatment of Refractory Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Qian-Qian Wang,Li Cheng,Bi-Yu Wu,Hong-Yi Qiu,Ping Xu,Bo Wang,Xiu-Juan Yan,Sheng-Liang Chen 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2023 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.29 No.3

Background/AimsStigma related with antidepressants is prevalent in patients with functional dyspepsia. It affects medication compliance and efficacy. Herbal medicine acquired a deep-rooted cultural identity in relieving dyspeptic symptoms in Asians. The research was designed to compare the effectiveness of Zhizhu Kuanzhong capsules (ZZKZ) versus doxepin hydrochloride (doxepin) on alleviating stigma and medication nonadherence among patients with refractory FD (rFD). MethodsPatients with rFD from February 2021 to February 2022 were randomly allocated to receive either doxepin (n = 56) or ZZKZ (n = 57) combined with omeprazole for 4 weeks. Medication possession ratio (MPR), the disease- and medication-associated stigma were analyzed. The scales were utilized to assess dyspeptic symptoms (Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire) and psychological conditions (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire). ResultsThe MPR values for ZZKZ were significantly higher than those for doxepin (P < 0.001). The stigma scores decreased in ZZKZ group while increased in doxepin group compared to baseline after treatment. The proportion of patients showing ZZKZ-associated stigma was significantly lower than doxepin-associated stigma (P < 0.001). The MPR values were negatively correlated with post-treatment stigma scores in both groups (P < 0.001). Dyspeptic symptoms and psychological condition were improved in both groups after treatment, with no significant difference on post-treatment Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, or Patient Health Questionnaire scores between 2 groups. ConclusionZZKZ is superior to doxepin in alleviating stigma and medication non-adherence, with comparable efficacy in improving dyspeptic symptoms and psychological condition of patients with rFD.

Platform development for multi-physics coupling and uncertainty analysis based on a unified framework

Qian Guan-Hua,Li Ren,Yang Tao,Wang Xu,Zhao Peng-Cheng,Zhao Ya-Nan,Yu Tao 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.5

The multi-physics coupled methodologies that have been widely used to analyze the complex process occurring in nuclear reactors have also been used to the R&D of numerical reactors. The advancement in the field of computer technology has helped in the development of these methodologies. Herein, we report the integration of ADPRES code and RELAP5 code into the SALOME-ICoCo framework to form a multi-physics coupling platform. The platform exploits the supervisor architecture, serial mode, mesh one-to-one correspondence and explicit coupling methods during analysis, and the uncertainty analysis tool URANIE was used. The correctness of the platform was verified through the NEACRP-L-335 benchmark. The results obtained were in accordance with the reference values. The platform could be used to accurately determine the power peak. In addition, design margins could be gained post uncertainty analysis. The initial power, inlet coolant temperature and the mass flow of assembly property significantly influence reactor safety during the rod ejections accident (REA).

Management Strategy for Congenital Choledochal Cyst with Co-existing Intrahepatic Dilation and Aberrant Bile Duct As Well As Other Complicated Biliary Anomalies

Qian Dong,Buxian Jiang,Hong Zhang,Zhong Jiang,Hongting Lu,Chuanmin Yang,Yu Cheng,Xiwei Hao 연세대학교의과대학 2006 Yonsei medical journal Vol.47 No.6

The purpose of this study was to investigate and discuss imaging methods and management strategies for congenital choledochal cyst with co-existing intrahepatic dilation and aberrant bile duct as well as other complicated biliary anomalies. In this study we reviewed and analyzed 72 patients with congenital choledochal cyst, ranging in age from 15 days to 12 years old and who were seen at our hospital during the past 12 years, from January 1993 to October 2005. The image manifestation and clinical significance of patients with co- xisting intrahepatic biliary dilation and aberrant bile duct were carefully examined during operation via MRCP, cholangiography and choledochoscope. Twenty-two cases (30.1%) presented with intrahepatic bile duct dilation and 12 of these were of the cystic type. That is, the orifice of the dilated intrahepatic tract that converged into the common hepatic duct showed membrane or septum-like stenosis. In 10 cases the dilation tapered off from the porta hepatis to the initiating terminals of the intra-hepatic bile ducts and was not accompanied by stenosis. An aberrant bile duct was observed in 2 of the cases. In 3 cases, the right and left hepatic ducts converged at the choledochal cyst. In conclusion, the imaging methods for intrahepatic bile duct dilation possess important clinical significance. Further, for hepatojejunostomy with radical excision of a choledochal cyst, additional operative procedures for intrahepatic stenosis, possible bile duct malformation and pancreaticobiliary common duct calculi can potentially reduce postoperative complications.

Promoter methylation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling antagonist <i>Dkk‐3</i> is associated with poor survival in gastric cancer

Yu, Jun,Tao, Qian,Cheng, Yuen Y.,Lee, Kwan Y.,Ng, Simon S. M.,Cheung, Kin F.,Tian, Linwei,Rha, Sun Y.,Neumann, Ulf,Rö,cken, Christoph,Ebert, Matthias P. A.,Chan, Francis K. L.,Sung, Joseph J. Y. Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2009 Cancer Vol.115 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>BACKGROUND:</B></P><P>Abnormal activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway is common and critical in the pathogenesis of digestive cancers. In this study, the authors investigated the promoter methylation of the dickkopf homolog 3 gene <I>Dkk‐3</I> in these cancers and its prognostic significance in gastric cancer.</P><P><B>METHODS:</B></P><P><I>Dkk‐3</I> methylation was assessed in 173 patients with gastric cancers (including 104 patients who were followed for up to 4090 days) and in 128 patients with colorectal cancer. Cell growth was evaluated by using a colony‐formation assay. For survival analyses, the authors used Kaplan‐Meier plots, the log‐rank test, and Cox proportional regression.</P><P><B>RESULTS:</B></P><P><I>Dkk‐3</I> was silenced or down‐regulated in 12 of 17 gastric cancer cell lines (70.6%) and in 3 of 9 colon cancer cell lines (33.3%). The loss of gene expression was associated with promoter methylation, which could be restored by demethylating agents. Ectopic expression of <I>Dkk‐3</I> suppressed colony formation. Moreover, methylation of <I>Dkk‐3</I> was detected in 117 of 173 primary gastric tumors (67.6%) and in 67 of 128 colorectal tumors (52.3%). The clinical significance and the prognostic value of <I>Dkk‐3</I> methylation also were examined in 104 gastric cancers and in 84 colorectal cancers. Multivariate analysis indicated that <I>Dkk‐3</I> methylation was associated significantly and independently with poor disease survival (relative risk, 2.534; 95% confidence interval, 1.54–4.17; <I>P</I> = .002) in gastric cancer, but not in colorectal cancer. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves revealed that patients who had <I>Dkk‐3</I> methylated gastric cancers had a significantly shorter survival (median, 0.76 years) compared with patients who did not have <I>Dkk‐3</I> methylation (median, 2.68 years; <I>P</I> < .0001; log‐rank test).</P><P><B>CONCLUSIONS:</B></P><P>Epigenetic silencing of the <I>Dkk‐3</I> gene by promoter methylation was a common event in gastric cancer and was associated with a poor outcome in such patients. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society.</P>

Comparison of Six Automated Immunoassays With Isotope-Diluted Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Total Thyroxine Measurement

Songlin Yu,Weiyan Zhou,Xinqi Cheng,Qinghui Meng,Honglei Li,Li’an Hou,Jun Lu,Shaowei Xie,Qian Cheng,Chuanbao Zhang,Ling Qiu 대한진단검사의학회 2019 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.39 No.4

Background: Accurate serum total thyroxine (TT4) measurement is important for thyroid disorder diagnosis and management. We compared the performance of six automated immunoassays with that of isotope-diluted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) as the reference method. We also evaluated the correlation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with TT4 measured by ID-LC-MS/MS and immunoassays. Methods: Serum was collected from 156 patients between October 2015 and January 2016. TT4 was measured by immunoassays from Abbott (Architect), Siemens (ADVIA Centaur XP), Roche (E601), Beckman-Coulter (Dxi800), Autobio (Autolumo A2000), and Mindray (CL-1000i), and by ID-LC-MS/MS. Results were analyzed using Passing–Bablok regression and Bland–Altman plots. Minimum requirements based on biological variation were as follows: a mean bias of ≤4.5% and total imprecision (CV) of ≤3.7%. Results: All immunoassays showed a correlation >0.945 with ID-LC-MS/MS; however, the slope of the Passing–Bablok regression line varied from 0.886 (Mindray) to 1.23 (Siemens) and the intercept from -12.8 (Siemens) to 4.61 (Mindray). Only Autobio, Beckman-Coulter, and Roche included the value of one in the 95% confidence interval for slope. The mean bias ranged from -10.8% (Abbott) to 9.0% (Siemens), with the lowest value noted for Roche (3.5%) and the highest for Abbott (-10.8%). Only Abbott and Roche showed within-run and total CV ≤3.7%. Conclusions: Though all immunoassays correlated strongly with ID-LC-MS/MS, most did not meet the minimum clinical requirement. Laboratories and immunoassay manufacturers must be aware of these limitations.

Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Significant Genes and Pathways to Targetfor Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Jiang, Qian,Yu, You-Cheng,Ding, Xiao-Jun,Luo, Yin,Ruan, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to explore the molecular mechanisms in the process of oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC) development. Method: We downloaded the affymetrix microarray data GSE31853 and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OSCC and normal tissues. Then Gene Ontology (GO) and Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) networks analysis was conducted to investigate the DEGs at the function level. Results: A total 372 DEGs with logFCI >1 and P value < 0.05 were obtained, including NNMT, BAX, MMP9 and VEGF. The enriched GO terms mainly were associated with the nucleoplasm, response to DNA damage stimuli and DNA repair. PPI network analysis indicated that GMNN and TSPO were significant hub proteins and steroid biosynthesis and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies were significantly dysregulated pathways. Conclusion: It is concluded that the genes and pathways identified in our work may play critical roles in OSCC development. Our data provides a comprehensive perspective to understand mechanisms underlying OSCC and the significant genes (proteins) and pathways may be targets for therapy in the future.

Elevating Limonene Production in Oleaginous Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica via Genetic Engineering of Limonene Biosynthesis Pathway and Optimization of Medium Composition

Bo-Qian Cheng,Liu-Jing Wei,Yu-Bei Lv,Jun Chen,Qiang Hua 한국생물공학회 2019 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.24 No.3

As an alternative terpenoid producer, nonconventional oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was chosen for limonene production. Y. lipolytica can give high biomass yield and metabolize a broad range of substrates such as glycerol, alkanes, fatty acid, fats, and oils. As previously reported, optimization of limonene synthesis pathway and mevalonate (MVA) pathway leads to the accumulation of 112-fold higher limonene as compared to an initial strain. In this study, we introduced an additional copy of limonene synthesis gene (LS), which resulted in an increase of limonene production. This engineered strain was used to carry out further optimization study. Amongst all the carbon sources tested, the highest level of limonene production was obtained from glycerol, and citrate was selected as an auxiliary carbon source. In fed-batch fermentation with an optimized medium, the engineered strain was found to produce 165.3 mg/L limonene, which corresponds to the highest yield till date for the production of limonene in Y. lipolytica.

Transcriptome analysis of flower colour reveals the correlation between SNP and differential expression genes in Phalaenopsis

Ding Yu,Wang Ma-Yin,Yang Ding-Hai,Hao Dai-Cheng,Li Wei-Shi,Ling Peng,Xie Shang-Qian 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.12

Background Phalaenopsis is an important ornamental plant that has great economic value in the world flower market as one of the most popular flower resources. Objective To investigate the flower colour formation of Phalaenopsis at the transcription level, the genes involved in flower color formation were identified from RNA-seq in this study. Methods In this study, white and purple petals of Phalaenopsis were collected and analyzed to obtained (1) differential expression genes (DEGs) between white and purple flower color and (2) the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) mutations and DEGs at the transcriptome level. Results The results indicated that a total of 1,175 DEGs were identified, and 718 and 457 of them were up- and down-regulated genes, respectively. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment showed that the biosynthesis of the secondary metabolites pathway was key to color formation, and the expression of 12 crucial genes (C4H, CCoAOMT, F3’H, UA3’5’GT, PAL, 4CL, CCR, CAD, CALDH, bglx, SGTase, and E1.11.17) that are involved in the regulation of flower color in Phalaenopsis. Conclusion This study reported the association between the SNP mutations and DEGs for color formation at RNA level, and provides a new insight to further investigate the gene expression and its relationship with genetic variants from RNA-seq data in other species.

Kano 모델과 QFD를 활용한 해양캐릭터 이미지를 디자인 연구

최문천(Cui wen-qian),김기수(Kim kie-su),정사항(Cheng si-hang),유우진(Liu yu-chen) 한국콘텐츠학회 2024 한국콘텐츠학회 종합학술대회 논문집 Vol.2024 No.5

Protectin DX increases alveolar fluid clearance in rats with lipopolysaccharideinduced acute lung injury

Xiao-Jun Zhuo,Yu Hao,Fei Cao,Song-Fan Yan,Hui Li,Qian Wang,Bi-Huan Cheng,Bin-Yu Ying,Bin-Yu Ying,Sheng-Wei Jin 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening critical syndrome resulting largely from the accumulation of and the inability to clear pulmonary edema. Protectin DX, an endogenously produced lipid mediator, is believed to exert anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects. Protectin DX (5 μg/kg) was injected i.v. 8 h after LPS (14 mg/kg) administration, and alveolar fluid clearance was measured in live rats (n = 8). In primary rat ATII epithelial cells, protectin DX (3.605 × 10−3 mg/l) was added to the culture medium with LPS for 6 h. Protectin DX improved alveolar fluid clearance (9.65 ± 1.60 vs. 15.85 ± 1.49, p < 0.0001) and decreased pulmonary edema and lung injury in LPSinduced lung injury in rats. Protectin DX markedly regulated alveolar fluid clearance by upregulating sodium channel and Na, K-ATPase protein expression levels in vivo and in vitro. Protectin DX also increased the activity of Na, K-ATPase and upregulated P-Akt via inhibiting Nedd4–2 in vivo. In addition, protectin DX enhanced the subcellular distribution of sodium channels and Na, K-ATPase, which were specifically localized to the apical and basal membranes of primary rat ATII cells. Furthermore, BOC-2, Rp-cAMP, and LY294002 blocked the increased alveolar fluid clearance in response to protectin DX. Protectin DX stimulates alveolar fluid clearance through a mechanism partly dependent on alveolar epithelial sodium channel and Na, K-ATPase activation via the ALX/PI3K/Nedd4–2 signaling pathway.