Original Article: Food Science/Microbiology : Immobilization of α-amylase from Exiguobacterium sp. DAU5 on Chitosan and Chitosan-carbon Bead: Its Properties

( Shu Jun Fang ),( Jie Chang ),( Yong Suk Lee ),( Eun Jung Hwang ),( Jae Bok Heo ),( Yong Lark Choi ) 한국응용생명화학회 2016 Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry (J. Appl. Vol.59 No.1

Glutaraldehyde was used as a cross-linking agent for immobilization of purified α-amylase from Exiguobacterium sp. DAU5. Befitting concentration of glutaradehyde and cross-linking time is the key to preparation of cross-linking chitosan beads. Based on optimized immobilization condition for α-amylase, an overall yield of 56% with specific activity of 2,240 U/g on chitosan beads and 58% with specific activity of 2,320 U/g on chitosan-carbon beads was obtained. The optimal temperature and pH of each immobilized enzyme activity were 50℃ and 50 mM glycine-NaOH buffer pH 8.5, respectively. Those retained more than 75 and 90% of its maximal enzyme activity at pH 7.0-9.5 and after incubation at 50℃ for 1 h, respectively. In addition, the immobilization product showed higher organic-solvent tolerance than free enzymes. The mode of hydrolyzing soluble starch revealed that the α-amylase possessed high hydrolyzing activity. These results indicate that chitosan is good support and has broad application prospects of enzyme immobilization.

Increased Serotonin Signaling Contributes to the Warburg Effect in Pancreatic Tumor Cells Under Metabolic Stress and Promotes Growth of Pancreatic Tumors in Mice

Jiang, Shu-Heng,Li, Jun,Dong, Fang-Yuan,Yang, Jian-Yu,Liu, De-Jun,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Min-Wei,Fu, Xue-Liang,Zhang, Xiao-Xin,Li, Qing,Pang, Xiu-Feng,Huo, Yan-Miao,Li, Jiao,Zhang, Jun-Feng Elsevier 2017 Gastroenterology Vol.153 No.1

<P><B>Background & Aims</B></P> <P>Desmoplasia and poor vascularity cause severe metabolic stress in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator with neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine functions that contributes to tumorigenesis. We investigated the role of 5-HT signaling in the growth of pancreatic tumors.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>We measured the levels of proteins that regulate 5-HT synthesis, packaging, and degradation in pancreata from Kras<SUP>G12D/+</SUP>/Trp53<SUP>R172H/+</SUP>/Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice, which develop pancreatic tumors, as well as in PDAC cell lines and a tissue microarray containing 81 human PDAC samples. We also analyzed expression levels of proteins involved in 5-HT synthesis and degradation by immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray containing 311 PDAC specimens, and associated expression levels with patient survival times. 5-HT level in 14 matched PDAC tumor and non-tumor tissues were analyzed by ELISA. PDAC cell lines were incubated with 5-HT and cell survival and apoptosis were measured. We analyzed expression of the 5-HT receptor HTR2B in PDAC cells and effects of receptor agonists and antagonists, as well as HTR2B knockdown with small hairpin RNAs. We determined the effects of 5-HT stimulation on gene expression profiles of BxPC-3 cells. Regulation of glycolysis by 5-HT signaling via HTR2B was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analyses, as well as by determination of the extracellular acid ratio, glucose consumption, and lactate production. Primary PDACs, with or without exposure to SB204741 (a selective antagonist of HTR2B), were grown as xenograft tumors in mice, and SB204741 was administered to tumor-bearing KPC mice; tumor growth and metabolism were measured by imaging analyses.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>In immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray of PDAC specimens, increased levels of TPH1 and decreased level of MAOA, which regulate 5-HT synthesis and degradation, correlated with stage and size of PDACs and shorter patient survival time. We found levels of 5-HT to be increased in human PDAC tissues compared with non-tumor pancreatic tissues, and PDAC cell lines compared with non-transformed pancreatic cells. Incubation of PDAC cell lines with 5-HT increased proliferation and prevented apoptosis. Agonists of HTR2B, but not other 5-HT receptors, promoted proliferation and prevented apoptosis of PDAC cells. Knockdown of HTR2B in PDAC cells, or incubation of cells with HTR2B inhibitors, reduced their growth as xenograft tumors in mice. We observed a correlation between 5-HT and glycolytic flux in PDAC cells; levels of metabolic enzymes involved in glycolysis, the phosphate pentose pathway, and hexosamine biosynthesis pathway increased significantly in PDAC cells following 5-HT stimulation. 5-HT stimulation led to formation of the HTR2B–LYN–p85 complex, which increased PI3K–Akt–mTOR signaling and the Warburg effect by increasing protein levels of MYC and HIF1A. Administration of SB204741 to KPC mice slowed growth and metabolism of established pancreatic tumors and prolonged survival of the mice.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>Human PDACs have increased levels of 5-HT, and PDAC cells increase expression of its receptor, HTR2B. These increases allow for tumor glycolysis under metabolic stress and promote growth of pancreatic tumors and PDAC xenograft tumors in mice.</P>

Differential Gene Expression in the Pathogenic Strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotypes 1 and 3

( Fang Xie ),( Ming Jun Zhang ),( Shu Qing Li ),( Chong Tao Du ),( Chang Jiang Sun ),( Wen Yu Han ),( Liang Zhou ),( Lian Cheng Lei ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2010 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.20 No.4

Auricular acupressure promotes uterine involution after cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial

Shu-xin Wang,Jing-chun Zeng,Ting Li,Wan-lan Zhang,Yan-fang Li,Run-jin Zhou,Zi-jun Liu,Yu-ling Liu,Xun Zhuang,Rui Zhang,Li-ming Lu,Guo-hua Lin 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.3

Background: Postpartum subinvolution of the uterus is a more common condition after cesarean section. Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used for the treatment of postpartum diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of AA as a treatment of uterine involution following cesarean section to date. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AA for uterine involution after cesarean section. Methods: A total of 109 women who underwent cesarean section participated in this study. They were randomly allocated to either real AA or sham AA in a 1:1 ratio by a computer program. For 3 days, the real AA and sham AA groups received treatment 3 times daily. A series of assessments at 42 days after cesarean section, namely on the uterine size, the incidence of hydrometra, the first anal exsufflation time, bleeding volume at 6 hours, bleeding volume at 6–24 hours along with other general assessments were carried out. Results: A total of 89 women completed the study. The uterine size at 42 days after a cesarean section was 6.3 cm smaller in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The incidence of hydrometra on day 42 postpartum was lower in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The lochia duration and the first anal exsufflation time after cesarean section were shorter in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: AA improves uterine involution after cesarean section. Trial registration: ChiCTR1800015569.

Evolution of ALPPS: The Simpler, Safer and Effective One---TELPP

( Shu You Peng ),( Xu An Wang ),( Cong Yun Huang ),( You Yong Zhang ),( Jiang Tao Li ),( De Fei Hong ),( Xiu Jun Cai ),( Yi Fang Wang ),( Xiao Liang ),( Jian Wei Wang ) 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: The characteristic of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy(ALPPS) carries high mortality and morbidity. There is room for improvement. We suggest Terminal Branches Portal Vein Embolization (TBPVE) as a way to compart the liver. As a result, only a single surgical operation is required.This method is termed Terminal branches portal vein Embolization Liver Partition Planned hepatectomy (TELPP). Methods: Patients with unresectable primary or metastatic liver tumor were performed with TELPP. The procedure of TELPP was that in addition to PVE, embolization agent was infused to the terminal branches of portal vein of S5,S8 or S4. CT scan was taken one or two weeks later, and standard liver volume(SLV), FLR and FLR/SLV are calculated. Two weeks later when the FLR and liver function is appropriate, open or laparoscopic hepatectomy is performed. Results: The study included 11patients including hepatocellular carcinoma: n =8, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: n = 1, hilarcholangiocarcinoma: n =1, colorectal liver metastasis: n =1. After a waiting period of 14 days, the volume of theFLR had increased from 382mlto 578ml, representing a median volume increase of 51% (range =32.5%-86.7%). Of the 11patients with hepatectomy, right hemihepatectomy (n=2), extended right hemihepatectomy (n=5), right trisecmentectomy(2), extended left hemihepatectomy (n=1) and left trisecmentectomy(1). No patient died, and no serve perioperative morbidity occurred. Conclusions: ALPPS and all modifications need two-stage operations with a high morbidity and mortality rate. It seems that TELPP is very promising. It has the merit of ALPPS as extraordinarily rapid increasement of FLRvolume, yet the morbidity and mortality is much lower, owing to the fact that unlike ALPPS, there is no two liver raw surfaces left behind in the abdominal cavity to produce bile leak, as only single surgical operation is required

Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers, Especially Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio, Predict Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Lin Fang,Fei-Hu Yan,Chao Liu,Jing Chen,Dan Wang,Chun-Hui Zhang,Chang-Jie Lou,Jie Lian,Yang Yao,Bo-Jun Wang,Rui-Yang Li,Shu-Ling Han,Yi-Bing Bai,Jia-Ni Yang,Zhi-Wei Li,Yan-Qiao Zhang 대한암학회 2021 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.53 No.1

Purpose Systemic inflammatory response is a critical factor that promotes the initiation and metastasis of malignancies including pancreatic cancer (PC). This study was designed to determine and compare the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC. Materials and Methods Three hundred fifty-three patients with resectable PC and 807 patients with locally advan-ced or metastatic PC were recruited in this study. These patients were classified into a training set (n=758) and a validation set (n=402). Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze prognosis. Results Overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients with resectable PC with low preoperative PLR (p=0.048) and MLR (p=0.027). Low FAR, MLR, NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p=0.003) were significantly associated with decreased risk of death for locally advanced or metastatic PC patients. FAR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.261 to 1.837; p < 0.001) and MLR (HR, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.532; p=0.034) were independent prognostic factors for locally advanced or metastatic PC. Conclusion The prognostic roles of FAR, MLR, NLR, and PLR in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC were different. FAR showed the most prognostic power in locally advanced or metastatic PC. Low FAR was positively correlated with OS in locally advanced or metastatic PC, which could be used to predict the prognosis.

Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of Precast Shear Wall with Rabbet-Unbonded Horizontal Connection

Chong-fang Sun,Shu-ting Liang,Xiao-jun Zhu,Hu Li,Jian-min Guo,Gang Li,Ya-min Song,Dong-yue Wu 한국콘크리트학회 2020 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.14 No.1

This paper reports the results of a seismic performance study of a precast shear wall with a new horizontal connection. The new connection is the rabbet-unbonded horizontal connection, which is composed of rabbets and unbonded rebar segments. The rabbets are used to improve the shear capacity and prevent slippage of the connection, and the unbonded rebar segments are used to improve the ductility and energy dissipation. Three specimens were tested with different parameters under cyclic quasi-static loading. The test results showed that the specimen with a larger unbonded level had a richer hysteresis curve, larger ductility, larger energy dissipation, and slightly smaller bearing capacity. Moreover, in relation to the stiffness degradation, in the initial stage, the specimen with a larger unbonded level had a smaller stiffness, whereas in the last stage, the stiffnesses were similar regardless of the unbonded level. A parameter analysis using a finite element model proved that the ductility and energy dissipation of a shear wall with the rabbet-unbonded horizontal connection increased with the unbonded length and level. In addition, when the axial compression ratio increased, the bearing capacity increased, but the load-displacement curves decreased more rapidly. It was concluded that the unbonded length and unbonded level could effectively improve the ductility and energy dissipation of a shear wall. However, they should not be too large under high pressure, and the design suggestions for the new connection need further research considering other factors.

Parkinson’s Disease with Fatigue: Clinical Characteristics and Potential Mechanisms Relevant to α-Synuclein Oligomer

Li-Jun Zuo,Shu-Yang Yu,Fang Wang,Yanghui Xia,Ying-Shan Piao,Yang Du,Teng-Hong Lian,Rui-Dan Wang,Qiu-Jin Yu,Ya-Jie Wang,Xiao-Min Wang,Piu Chan,Sheng-Di Chen,Yongjun Wang,Wei Zhang 대한신경과학회 2016 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.12 No.2

Background and Purpose The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. Methods PD patients (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins—α-synuclein oligomer, β-amyloid (Aβ)1-42, and tau—were measured in 102 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed pathological proteins in PD patients. Results The frequency of fatigue in the PD patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of α-synuclein oligomer was higher and that of Aβ1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was significantly and positively correlated with the α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions PD patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with an increased α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF

Life history responses of the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi to temperature change

Jian‐Jun Tang,Hai-Min HE,Ting GENG,Shu FU,Fang-Sen XUE 한국곤충학회 2016 Entomological Research Vol.46 No.6

Temperature is considered one of the most important mediators of phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms. Here, we investigated life history traits of the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), at a wide range of temperatures (16, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 28°C). The larval and pupal times were significantly decreased with increasing rearing temperature and growth rate was positively correlated with temperature. However, the relationship between body size and rearing temperature in C. bowringi did not follow the temperature–size rule; both males and females reached the highest body weight at 19°C. Females were significantly larger than males at all temperatures. Male pupae lost significantly more weight at metamorphosis compared to females. However, diapausing males gained significantly higher weight after feeding compared to diapausing females at higher temperatures of 22, 24, 26 and 28°C. Body weight tended to decrease with increasing rearing temperature, whereas sexual size dimorphism (SSD) tended to increase with increasing rearing temperature; thus, Rensch's rule is upheld. The degree to which SSD changed with temperature varied with different development stages. SSD was lowest in pupae, highest in newly emerged adults and intermediate in diapausing adults.

Adaptive H-infinity SMC-based Model Reference Tracker for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Input Nonlinearity

Jiunn-Shiou Fang,Jason Sheng-Hong Tsai,Jun-Juh Yan,Shu-Mei Guo 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2021 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.19 No.4

This paper presents a novel robust H∞ model reference adaptive tracker (MRAT) for a class of nonlinearsystems with input nonlinearities, uncertainties, and mismatched disturbances. Since the bounds of input nonlinearities and uncertainties are unknown, a new adaptive controller is proposed to solve these problems. Because the proposed adaptive laws are with convergence, the adaptive gains estimated can avoid overestimation. Furthermore, the sliding mode control (SMC) is implemented integrated with a smooth function, then the undesirable chattering phenomenon is reduced. Finally, the proposed tracking controller can process the undesirable effects of external disturbances and promote the tracking performance even subjected to the unknown input nonlinearity. The numerical simulation results demonstrate the robustness and validity of the proposed tracking controller.