Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genetic Polymorphisms and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies

Wen, Yuan-Yuan,Yang, Shu-Juan,Zhang, Jian-Xing,Chen, Xin-Yue Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Background: Genetic factors and environmental factors play a role in pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previous studies regarding the association of folate intake and Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism with ESCC was conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association of MTHFR C677T and folate intake with esophageal cancer risk. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database were searched in our study. The quality of studies were evaluated by predefined scale, and The association of polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and folate intake and ESCC risk was estimated by Odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: 19 studies (4239 cases and 5575 controls) were included for meta-analysis. A significant association was seen between individuals with MTHFR 677 CT [OR(95%)=1.47(1.32-1.63)] and TT [OR(95%)=1.69(1.49-1.91)] genotypes and ESCC risk (p<0.05). Low intake of folate had significantly higher risk of esophageal cancer among individuals with CT/TT genotype [OR(95%)=1.65(1.1-2.49)], while high intake of folate did not find significant high risk of esophageal cancer among individuals with CT/TT genotype [OR(95%)=1.64 (0.82-3.26)]. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis indicated the folate intake and MTHFR 677CT/TT are associated with the risk of ESCC, and folate showed a significant interaction with polymorphism of MTHFR C677T.

Yield Resistance and Ultimate Resistance of Steel Beam with Random Corrosion Damage

Zhang Jing-Zhou,He Ying-Hua,Zhang Wen-Jin,Zhang Ping,Wang Yuan-Zuo,LI Guo-qiang 한국강구조학회 2024 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.24 No.3

This paper presents a numerical study on the yield resistance and ultimate resistance of steel beam with random corrosion damage. The corrosion is considered by introducing random cylindrical pits to the intact steel beam, in which the thickness of the beam, both at the section and along the length of the beam is reduced. Altogether 240 corroded beams are numerically studied, wherein the eff ects of corrosion ratio, corrosion diameter, corrosion depth and corrosion location on the yield resistance and ultimate resistance of steel beam are considered. It is found that for global corrosion scenario, when the corrosion ratio is 4.76%, 9.26%, 13.37%, 18.25%, 22.36%, and 25.76%, due to the random nature of corrosion, the reduction factors of ultimate resistance of steel beam range from 0.9–0.92, 0.81–0.86, 0.77–0.8, 0.71–0.76, 0.64–0.67, and 0.58–0.64, respectively. Moreover, when corrosion distributes only at the bottom fl ange or top fl ange of steel beam, the adverse eff ects of bottom fl ange corrosion and top fl ange corrosion on the resistance of steel beam are the same. The corrosion diameter and corrosion depth have limited eff ects on the resistance of steel beam. The relationship between the reduction factors for the yield resistance and ultimate resistance with the corrosion ratio of the beam is proposed. It is found that for the global corrosion case, the reduction factors of the yield resistance and ultimate resistance of the beam are linearly and negatively correlated with the corrosion ratio. For each 10% increase in the corrosion ratio, the reduction factor of yield resistance and ultimate resistance decrease by 18.9% and 15.1%, respectively. The resistances of the corroded beam with random corrosion pits and uniform corrosion are also compared. The results suggest that by using uniform corrosion model, the resistance of the corroded steel beam will be signifi cantly overestimated. When the corrosion ratio is about 14%, the overestimation on the ultimate resistance of steel beam by using uniform corrosion model is more than 10%.

Large-scale production of (2,4-DHB)nM micro-nano spheres by spray drying and their application as catalysts for ammonium perchlorate

Wen-yuan Zhao,Tong-lai Zhang,Li-nong Zhang,Li Yang,Zun-ning Zhou 한국공업화학회 2016 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.38 No.-

A series of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoates {(2,4-DHB)nMs, M = Pb(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Co(II), n = 2 or 3}micro-nano spheres with controllable size and morphology were successfully prepared by spray dryingmethod with water or acetone as a solvent. TEM and SEM illustrated that the (2,4-DHB)nMs micro-nanospheres had core–shell or solid structure. The formation of the core–shell structure of the samples wasinterpreted in terms of the mechanism of spray drying. The results of laser particle analyzer revealed thatprecursor concentration (PC) and particle size distribution (PSD) of the samples were well fitted withpower function. The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) in the presence of the (2,4-DHB)nMs micro-nano spheres, investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showed theyeffectively lowered the decomposition temperature of AP and exhibited various catalytic performancefor AP decomposition.

Functional Evaluation of Transplanted Kidneys with Reduced Field-of-View Diffusion-Weighted Imaging at 3T

Yuan Xie,Yanjun Li,Jiqiu Wen,Xue Li,Zhe Zhang,Jianrui Li,Yan’e Zhao,Peng Wang,Jun Zhang,Ying Tian,Long Jiang Zhang,Guang Ming Lu 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.2

Objective: To determine the feasibility of reduced field-of-view diffusion-weighted imaging (rFOV DWI) with multi-b values to detect functional variability in transplanted kidneys. Materials and Methods: Using a 3T MRI scanner, multi-b rFOV DWI of transplanted kidney or native kidney was performed in 40 renal transplantation recipients and 18 healthy volunteers. The patients were stratified, according to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Group 1, eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; Group 2, eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; Group 3, eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Total apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCT), perfusion-free ADC (ADCD) and perfusion fraction (FP) of kidneys were calculated and compared among the four groups. Correlations between the imaging results and eGFR were assessed. Results: All volunteers had eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, while 16, 16, and 8 patients were included in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the renal cortex, ADCT was higher in Group 1 ([1.65 ± 0.13] x 10-3 mm2/s) than Group 3 ([1.44 ± 0.11] x 10-3 mm2/s) (p < 0.05), and the inter-group differences of FP values were significant (all p < 0.05) (0.330 ± 0.024, 0.309 ± 0.019, 0.278 ± 0.033, and 0.250 ± 0.028 for control group, Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Renal cortical ADCT, ADCD, FP, and renal medullary ADCT and FP correlated positively with eGFR (r = 0.596, 0.403, 0.711, 0.341, and 0.323, respectively; all p < 0.05). When using 0.278 as the cutoff value, renal cortical FP had a sensitivity of 97.1% and a specificity of 66.7% for predicting decreased renal function. Conclusion: Multi-b rFOV DWI presents transplanted kidneys with high resolution, which is a promising functional tool for non-invasively monitoring function of transplanted kidneys.

Canonical transient receptor potential channels and their modulators: biology, pharmacology and therapeutic potentials

Yuan-Yuan Gao,Wen Tian,Hui-Nan Zhang,Yang Sun,Jing-Ru Meng,Wei Cao,Xiao-Qiang Li 대한약학회 2021 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.44 No.4

Canonical transient receptor potential channels(TRPCs) are nonselective, high calcium permeability cationicchannels. The TRPCs family includes TRPC1, TRPC2,TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPC6, and TRPC7. These channelsare widely expressed in the cardiovascular and nervoussystems and exist in many other human tissues and celltypes, playing several crucial roles in the human physiologicaland pathological processes. Hence, the emergenceof TRPCs modulators can help investigate these channels’applications in health and disease. It is worth noting that theTRPCs subfamilies have structural and functional similarities,which presents a signifi cant diffi culty in screening anddiscovering of TRPCs modulators. In the past few years,only a limited number of selective modulators of TRPCswere detected; thus, additional research on more potent andmore selective TRPCs modulators is needed. The presentreview focuses on the striking desired therapeutic eff ectsof TRPCs modulators, which provides intel on the structuralmodifi cation of TRPCs modulators and further pharmacologicalresearch. Importantly, TRPCs modulators cansignifi cantly facilitate future studies of TRPCs and TRPCsrelated diseases.

454 Pyrosequencing Analysis of Bacterial Diversity Revealed by a Comparative Study of Soils from Mining Subsidence and Reclamation Areas

( Yuan Yuan Li ),( Long Qian Chen ),( Hong Yu Wen ),( Tian Jian Zhou ),( Ting Zhang ),( Xia Li Gao ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.3

Significant alteration in the microbial community can occur across reclamation areas suffering subsidence from mining. A reclamation site undergoing fertilization practices and an adjacent coal-excavated subsidence site (sites A and B, respectively) were examined to characterize the bacterial diversity using 454 high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. The dominant taxonomic groups in both the sites were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes. However, the bacterial communities` abundance, diversity, and composition differed significantly between the sites. Site A presented higher bacterial diversity and more complex community structures than site B. The majority of sequences related to Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Firmicutes, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Anaerolineae were from site A; whereas those related to Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Gammaproteobacteria, Nitriliruptoria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Phycisphaerae originated from site B. The distribution of some bacterial groups and subgroups in the two sites correlated with soil properties and vegetation due to reclamation practice. Site A exhibited enriched bacterial community, soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN), suggesting the presence of relatively diverse microorganisms. SOM and TN were important factors shaping the underlying microbial communities. Furthermore, the specific plant functional group (legumes) was also an important factor influencing soil microbial community composition. Thus, the effectiveness of 454 pyrosequencing in analyzing soil bacterial diversity was validated and an association between land ecological system restoration, mostly mediated by microbial communities, and an improvement in soil properties in coalmining reclamation areas was suggested.

<i>Haloactinopolyspora alkaliphila</i> sp. nov., and emended description of the genus <i>Haloactinopolyspora</i>

Zhang, Yong-Guang,Liu, Qing,Wang, Hong-Fei,Zhang, Dao-Feng,Zhang, Yuan-Ming,Park, Dong-Jin,Kim, Chang-Jin,Li, Wen-Jun International Union of Microbiological Societies 2014 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.64 No.6

<P>A facultatively alkaliphilic actinomycete strain, designated EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP>, was isolated from a saline-alkali soil sample from Xinjiang province, north-west China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization. Strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> formed fragmented aerial hyphae and short spore chains, and rod-like spores aggregated at maturity. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the isolate contained <SMALL>ll</SMALL>-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, and glucosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose and rhamnose as the marker sugars. The major fatty acids identified (>5 %) were anteiso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>, iso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>, summed feature 4 (iso-C<SUB>17 : 1</SUB>I/anteiso-C<SUB>17 : 1</SUB>B), iso-C<SUB>16 : 0</SUB> and anteiso-C<SUB>17 : 0</SUB>. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H<SUB>4</SUB>). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> was 70.6 mol%. EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to its closest phylogenetic neighbour <I>Haloactinopolyspora alba</I> YIM 93246<SUP>T</SUP> (98.5 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness value of the strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> and <I>H. alba</I> YIM 93246<SUP>T</SUP> was 59.3±5.2 %. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> represents a novel species of the genus <I>Haloactinopolyspora</I>, for which the name <I>Haloactinopolyspora alkaliphila</I> sp. nov. (type strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> = BCRC 16946<SUP>T</SUP> = JCM 19128<SUP>T</SUP>) is proposed. The description of the genus <I>Haloactinopolyspora</I> has also been emended.</P>

Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Cycles on Prognosis of Resectable Stomach Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Zhang, Wen-Ying,Zhang, Wen-Jun,Bai, Yu,Yuan, Hai-Hua,Liu, Feng,Gao, Jun,Gong, Yan-Fang,Jiang, Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles on the prognosis of patients with post-operative stomach cancer through retrospective analysis. Methods: A total of 128 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of epirubicin, cisplatin or oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil, according to a defined schedule, were divided into three groups according to the number of chemotherapy cycles: Group I (<6 cycles); Group II (6 cycles); and Group III (>6 cycles). Results: The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 20.8% in Group I, 45.0% in Group II, and 42.9% in Group III, with a median follow-up of 43 months. The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 15.1% in Group I, 40% in Group II, and 40% in Group III. The OS and RFS in Groups II and III were significantly better than in Group I (OS, p = 0.002 and p=0.003; RFS, P<0.001 and P=0.002). There was no difference in OS (p = 0.970) or in RFS (p = 0.722) between Groups II and III. Multivariate Cox hazard analysis determined that the number of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles was an independent factor that influenced OS and RFS. Conclusion: Six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy gave encouraging outcomes in patients with resectable gastric cancer. Further prospective randomized controlled investigations are warranted in a multi-center setting.

The MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: an Updated Meta-analysis Based on 37 Case-control Studies

Jiang, Yuan,Hou, Jing,Zhang, Qiang,Jia, Shu-Ting,Wang, Bo-Yuan,Zhang, Ji-Hong,Tang, Wen-Ru,Luo, Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Background: The C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, results were conflicting. The aim of this study was to quantitatively summarize the evidence for the MTHFRC677T polymorphism and ALL risk. Methods: Electronic searches of PubMed and the Chinese Biomedicine database were conducted to select case-control studies containing available genotype frequencies of C677T and the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of any association. Results: Case-control studies including 6,371 cases and 10,850 controls were identified. The meta-analysis stratified by ethnicity showed that individuals with the homozygous TT genotype had decreased risk of ALL (OR= 0.776, 95% CI: 0.687~0.877, p< 0.001) in Caucasians (OR= 0.715, 95% CI: 0.655~0.781, p= 0.000). However, results among Asians (OR=0.711, 95% CI: 0.591~1.005, p= 0.055) and others (OR=0.913, 95% CI: 0.656~1.271, p= 0. 590) did not suggest an association. A symmetric funnel plot, the Egger's test (P=0.093), and the Begg- test (P=0.072) were all suggestive of the lack of publication bias. Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports the idea that the MTHFR C677T genotype is associated with risk of ALL in Caucasians. To draw comprehensive and true conclusions, further prospective studies with larger numbers of participants worldwide are needed to examine associations between the MTHFRC677T polymorphism and ALL.

In Vitro Activity of Taurine-5-Bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff Base Against Planktonic and Biofilm Cultures of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

( Ru Qiang Yuan ),( Yun Peng Diao ),( Wen Li Zhang ),( Yuan Lin ),( Shan Shan Huang ),( Houli Zhang ),( Li Ma ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.8

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, implicated in both community and hospital acquired infections. The therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is becoming more difficult because of multidrug resistance and strong biofilmforming properties. Schiff bases have attracted attention as promising antibacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the in vitro activity of taurine-5-bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff base (TBSSB) against MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using a microtiter broth dilution method. TBSSB effectively inhibited planktonic MRSA, with an MIC of 32 μg/ml. The time-kill curve confirmed that TBSSB exhibited bactericidal activity against MRSA. TBSSB was also found to significantly inhibit MRSA biofilm formation at 24 h, especially at 1×MIC and sub-MIC levels. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed remarkable morphological and ultrastructural changes on the MRSA cell surface, due to exposure to TBSSB. This study indicated that TBSSB may be an effective bactericidal agent against MRSA.