Use of Clozapine for the Treatment of Schizophrenia: Findings of the 2006 Research on the China Psychotropic Prescription Studies

Tian-Mei Si,Yun-shu Zhang,Liang Shu,Ke-Qing Li,Xie-He Liu,Qi-Yi Mei,Gao-Hua Wang,Pei-Shen Bai,Li-Ping Ji,Xian-Sheng Cheng,Cui Ma,Jian-Guo Shi,Hong-Yan Zhang,Hong Ma,Xin Yu 대한정신약물학회 2012 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.10 No.2

Objective: Clozapine is one of the most commonly used antipsychotic drugs in China. To date, few studies have investigated the patterns the prescription of clozapine nationwide. The present study examined these patterns in China in 2006 and identified the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of clozapine. Methods: Using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure, we surveyed 5,898 patients with schizophrenia in 10provinces with differing levels of economic development. Results: Overall, clozapine had been prescribed for 31.9% (n=1,883) of the patients; however we found considerable variation among the 10 provinces. The frequency of clozapine use was highest in Sichuan (39.3%) and lowest in Beijing (17.3%). The mean daily dose of clozapine was 210.36±128.72 mg/day, and 25.1% of the patients were treated with clozapine in combination with other antipsychotics. Compared with the group not receiving clozapine, clozapine-user had been treated for longer durations and had experienced a greater number of relapses and hospitalizations. Furthermore, those in the clozapine-user had lower family incomes, were less able to seek psychiatric services, and more likely to be male and have a positive family history of schizophrenia. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, professional help-seeking behaviors, duration of illness, economic status, educational level, and clinical manifestations were associated with the use of clozapine. Conclusion: Clozapine use is common in China. However, use of the antipsychotic varies among provinces, and demographic and clinical factors play important roles in the prescription of clozapine.

Factors that Influence the Presciption of Antipsychotics for Patients with Schizophrenia in China

Tian-Mei Si,Liang Shu,Ke-Qing Li,Xie-He Liu,Qi-Yi Mei,Gao-Hua Wang,Pei-Shen Bai,Li-Ping Ji,Xian-Sheng Chen,Cui Ma,Jian-Guo Shi,Hong-Yan Zhang,Hong Ma,Xin Yu 대한정신약물학회 2011 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.9 No.3

Objective: To investigate the patterns of antipsychotic use in China and to analyze the factors that influence antipsychotic prescriptions. Methods: A standardized survey was conducted from May 20 to 24 2002 in five different regions of China with varying economic levels. The patterns of antipsychotic medication use were analyzed in a sample of 4,779 patients with schizophrenia. The survey gathered information on demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and antipsychotic medications prescribed. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to patterns of antipsychotic medication use. Results: A plurality of patients with schizophrenia was treated with clozapine (39%); this was followed by risperidone, sulpride,chlorpromazine, perphenazine, and haloperidol. More than 56.3% of patients were treated with only one atypical antipsychotic. The mean daily dose of chlorpromazine was 365±253 mg (mean±standard deviation), and 6.5% of patients were treated with depot injections of typical antipsychotic medications. A total of 73.7% (n=3,523) of patients with schizophrenia received monotherapy,24.8% (n=1,183) received two antipsychotics, 1.1% (n=52) received three antipsychotics, and one received four different antipsychotics. Patients often simultaneously received other classes of medications including anticholinergic agents, benzodiazepines,β-blockers, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Economic status and clinical symptoms were the main factors that contributed to the patterns of antipsychotic prescription. Conclusion: The present study suggests that atypical antipsychotic medications, especially clozapine, are the primary psychiatric treatments of choice in the management of schizophrenia in China. Moreover, the economic status and clinical profile of the patient are the major factors affecting the prescription of antipsychotic medication.

SPON2 Promotes M1-like Macrophage Recruitment and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Distinct Integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo Pathways

Zhang, Yan-Li,Li, Qing,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Fang, Fang,Li, Jun,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Qin,Zhu, Lei,Nie, Hui-Zhen,Zhang, Xue-Li,Feng, Ming-Xuan,Jiang, Shu-Heng,Tian, Guang-Ang,Hu, Li-Peng,Lee, Ho-Young,Lee, Su-J American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Cancer research Vol.78 No.9

<P>Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent key regulators of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune microenvironment. Matricellular protein SPON2 is essential for recruiting lymphocytes and initiating immune responses. Recent studies have shown that SPON2 has complicated roles in cell migration and tumor progression. Here we report that, in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SPON2 not only promotes infiltration of M1-like macrophages but also inhibits tumor metastasis. SPON2-α4β1 integrin signaling activated RhoA and Rac1, increased F-actin reorganization, and promoted M1-like macrophage recruitment. F-Actin accumulation also activated the Hippo pathway by suppressing LATS1 phosphorylation, promoting YAP nuclear translocation, and initiating downstream gene expression. However, SPON2-α5β1 integrin signaling inactivated RhoA and prevented F-actin assembly, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration; the Hippo pathway was not noticeably involved in SPON2-mediated HCC cell migration. In HCC patients, SPON2 levels correlated positively with prognosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence that SPON2 is a critical factor in mediating the immune response against tumor cell growth and migration in HCC.</P><P><B>Significance:</B> Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract:</B> http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/9/2305/F1.large.jpg. <I>Cancer Res; 78(9); 2305–17. ©2018 AACR</I>.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P> [Figure]</P>

Development of Nested PCR, Multiplex PCR, and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for Rapid Detection of Cylindrocladium scoparium on Eucalyptus

Tian-Min Qiao,Jing Zhang,Shu-Jiang Li,Shan Han,Tian-Hui Zhu 한국식물병리학회 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.5

Eucalyptus dieback disease, caused by Cylindrocladiumscoparium, has occurred in last few years in largeEucalyptus planting areas in China and other countries. Rapid, simple, and reliable diagnostic techniquesare desired for the early detection of Eucalyptus diebackof C. scoparium prior to formulation of efficientcontrol plan. For this purpose, three PCR-based methodsof nested PCR, multiplex PCR, loop-mediatedisothermal amplification (LAMP) were developed fordetection of C. scoparium based on factor 1-alpha (tef1)and beta-tubulin gene in this study. All of the threemethods showed highly specific to C. scoparium. Thesensitivities of the nested PCR and LAMP were muchhigher than the multiplex PCR. The sensitivity of multiplexPCR was also higher than regular PCR. C. scopariumcould be detected within 60 min from infectedEucalyptus plants by LAMP, while at least 2 h wasneeded by the rest two methods. Using different Eucalyptustissues as samples for C. scoparium detection,all of the three PCR-based methods showed muchbetter detection results than regular PCR. Base on theresults from this study, we concluded that any of thethree PCR-based methods could be used as diagnostictechnology for the development of efficient strategiesof Eucalyptus dieback disease control. Particularly,LAMP was the most practical method in field applicationbecause of its one-step and rapid reaction, simpleoperation, single-tube utilization, and simple visualizationof amplification products.

Screening of Endophytic Antagonistic Bacterium from Phellodendron amurense and Their Biocontrol Effects against Canker Rot

Shu-Jiang Li,Xinmei Fang,Hanlian Zhang,Yanling Zeng,Tian-Hui Zhu 한국식물병리학회 2019 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.35 No.3

Thirty-four strains of bacteria were isolated from Phellodendron amurense. Using Nectria haematococca as an indicator strain, the best strain, B18, was obtained by the growth rate method. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of strain B18 and its 16S DNA gene sequence were identified, and the biocontrol effect of strain B18 was assessed in pot and field tests, as well as in a field-control test. Drilling methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of metabolites from strain B18 and their effects on the growth of pathogen mycelia and spores. The best bacteriostatic rate was 85.4%. B18 can hydrolyse starch and oxidize glucose but does not produce gas; a positive result was obtained in a gelatine liquefaction test. According to 16S DNA gene sequencing, strain B18 is Bacillus methylotrophicus (GenBank accession number: MG457759). The results of pot and field-control trials showed 98% disease control when inoculating 108 cfu/ ml of the strain. The disease control effect of the B18 culture liquid (concentrations of 108, 2 × 106, 106, 5 × 105 and 2.5 × 105 cfu/ml) in the field-control test was higher than 80%, and the cure rate of the original delivery solution was 96%. Therefore, in the practical forestry production, a 2.5 × 105 cfu/ml culture liquidshould be applied in advance to achieve good control effects.

Gut microbiota metabolic characteristics in coronary artery disease patients with hyperhomocysteine

Tian Ran,Liu Hong-Hong,Feng Si-Qin,Wang Yi-Fei,Wang Yi-Yang,Chen Yu-Xiong,Wang Hui,Zhang Shu-Yang 한국미생물학회 2022 The journal of microbiology Vol.60 No.4

Hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) is known as a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite the knowledge that gut microbiota related metabolism pathway shares metabolites with that of Hcy, little has been shown concerning the association between HHcy and gut microbiota. To explore their relationship in the context of CAD, 105 patients and 14 healthy controls were recruited from one single medical center located in Beijing, China. Their serum and fecal samples were collected, with multi-omics analyses performed via LC/MS/ MS and 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region sequencing, respectively. Participants from the prospective cohort were divided into CAD, CAD & HHcy and healthy controls (HC) groups based on the diagnosis and serum Hcy concentration. The results revealed significant different metabolic signatures between CAD and CAD & HHcy groups. CAD patients with HHcy suffered a heavier atherosclerotic burden compared to CAD patients, and the difference was closely associated to betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT)-related metabolites and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-related metabolites. Dimethylglycine (DMG) exhibited a strong positive correlation with serum total Hcy (tHcy), and TMAO and trimethylysine (TML) were associated with heavier atherosclerotic burden. Multiple other metabolites were also identified to be related to distinct cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, Clostridium cluster IV and Butyricimonas were enriched in CAD patients with elevated tHcy. Our study suggested that CAD patients with elevated tHcy were correlated with higher atherosclerotic burden, and the impaired Hcy metabolism and cardiovascular risk were closely associated with BHMT-related metabolites, TMAO-related metabolites and impaired gut microbiota homeostasis.

Identification and expression analysis of the E2F/DP genes under salt stress in Medicago truncatula

Tian-Yi Ma,Jing Guo,Zi-Wei Li,Shu-Yong Zhang,Guo-Ting Liang 한국유전학회 2014 Genes & Genomics Vol.36 No.6

Cell cycle control in plants converges on theRb/E2F/DP pathway, which is regulated by cyclin-dependentkinases. Plants can coordinate their cell cycles duringsalt stress to benefit their growth and development. However,the mechanism underlying cell cycle control undersalt stress is still unclear. Here, we identified five predictedE2F/DP genes in the Medicago truncatula genome,including three E2Fs, one DP, and one DEL. The conserveddomains of the E2F/DP proteins were relativelywell conserved with those of Arabidopsis thaliana andOryza sativa. Intron/exon organization analyses indicatedthat Medtr;E2Fc and Medtr;DPa gained/lost introns in theconserved domains during recent evolutionary process. Furthermore, an expression analysis showed that thesegenes were expressed with varied transcription levels in allof the tissues tested. Contrasting gene expression changesin response to salt treatment in salt-tolerant versus saltsensitivegenotypes indicated that Medtr;DPa might be acandidate gene underlying the salt tolerance. This studywill contribute to the understanding of the E2F/DP transcriptionfactors in M. truncatula and of the mechanismorganizing cell cycle regulation and salt stress.

Selective absorption of H2S and CO2 from simulated coke oven gas by aqueous blends of N-methyldiethanolamine and tetramethylammonium glycine

Pan Zhang,Yuetong Zhao,Xiangfeng Tian,Yanxi Ji,Yuxuan Shu,Kun Fu,Dong Fu,Lemeng Wang 한국화학공학회 2022 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.39 No.11

Tetramethylammonium glycine ([N1111][Gly]) can be completely ionized into cation [N1111]+ and anion [Gly] in aqueous solution. The anion contains an amino -NH2 and a carboxyl -COO, both of which can react with hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Therefore, [N1111][Gly] was used to promote the selective absorption of H2S in coke oven gas (COG) by N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The absorption performance and selectivity of H2S in the aqueous solution of MDEA-[N1111][Gly] were investigated. The effects of MDEA mass fraction, [N1111][Gly] mass fraction, temperature, H2S partial pressure and CO2 partial pressure on the absorption capacity and selectivity were clarified. The results showed that an aqueous solution of MDEA-[N1111][Gly] has good selectivity for H2S in COG. The absorption capacity was large and the mass fraction of the solute in the absorbent reached more than 0.55, thereby having outstanding advantages in the aspects of saving energy consumption and operating cost and having a good application potential.

Molecular Identification of Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense from 3 Human Cases in Heilongjiang Province with a Brief Literature Review in China

Weizhe Zhang,Fei Che,Song Tian,Jing Shu,Xiaoli Zhang 대한기생충학열대의학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.53 No.6

Full-order and Reduced-order Observer Design for One-sided Lipschitz Nonlinear Fractional Order Systems with Unknown Input

Tao Zhang,Jiaming Tian,Shu-Ping Ma 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2018 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.16 No.5

This paper studies the problem of designing the unknown input observers (UIOs) for fractional order one-sided Lipchitz nonlinear systems. By introducing a continuous frequency distributed equivalent model and using the matrix generalized inverse approach, sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of the observer error dynamic systems are presented, which guarantee the existence of the full-order and reduced-order UIOs. All the conditions are obtained in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI). Furthermore, we show that the obtained results can be applied to a fractional order electrical circuit with the unknown input signal. Two examples are given to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.