Prevalence of Spina Bifida Occulta and Its Relationship With Overactive Bladder in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese People

Jun Wei Wu,Yu Rong Xing,Yi Bo Wen,Tian Fang Li,Quan De Feng,Xiao Ping Shang,Yun Long Li,Jin Jin Feng,Xin Xin Wang,Rong Qun Zhai,Xiang Fei He,Tao Chen,Xin Jian Liu,Jian Guo Wen 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2016 International Neurourology Journal Vol.20 No.2

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of spina bifida occulta (SBO) and its relationship with the presence of overactive bladder (OAB) in middle-aged and elderly people in China. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was carried out at 7 communities in Zhengzhou City, China from December 15, 2013 to June 10, 2014, where residents aged over 40 years were randomly selected to participate. All of the participants underwent lumbosacral radiographic analysis and relevant laboratory tests. A questionnaire including basic information, past medical history and present illness, and the OAB symptom score was filled out by all participants. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used for data analysis with a P-value of <0.05 denoting statistical significance. Results: A total of 1,061 subjects were qualified for the final statistical analysis (58.8±11.7 years; male, 471 [44.4%]; female, 590 [55.6%]). The overall prevalence of SBO was 15.1% (160 of 1,061): 18.3% (86 of 471) in men and 12.5% (74 of 590) in women. Among these subjects, 13.7% (145 of 1,061) had OAB: 13.2% (62 of 471) in men and 14.1% (83 of 590) in women. The results of logistic regression showed that age, SBO, history of cerebral infarction (HCI), and constipation were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while sex, history of childhood enuresis (HCE), body mass index (BMI), and diabetes mellitus (DM) were not (P>0.05). In men, age, SBO, and constipation were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while HCE, BMI, DM, HCI, and benign prostate hyperplasia were not (P>0.05). In women, age, SBO, and HCI were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while HCE, BMI, DM, vaginal delivery, and constipation were not (P>0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of SBO is high and it is related to OAB in middle-aged and elderly people in China.

A novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide providing heterologous protection in mice

Feng Wen,Ji-Hong Ma,Hai Yu,Fu-Ru Yang,Meng Huang,Yan-Jun Zhou,Ze-Jun Li,Xiu-Hui Wang,Guo-Xin Li,Yi-Feng Jiang,Wu Tong,Guangzhi Tong 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.1

Swine influenza viruses (SwIVs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs, resulting in a significant economic burden. Moreover, pigs have been considered to be a possible mixing vessel in which novel strains loom. Here, we developed and evaluated a novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide (M2e-MAP) as a supplemental antigen for inactivated H3N2 vaccine to provide cross-protection against two main subtypes of SwIVs, H1N1 and H3N2. The novel tetra-branched MAP was constructed by fusing four copies of M2e to one copy of foreign T helper cell epitopes. A high-yield reassortant H3N2 virus was generated by plasmid based reverse genetics. The efficacy of the novel H3N2 inactivated vaccines with or without M2e-MAP supplementation was evaluated in a mouse model. M2e-MAP conjugated vaccine induced strong antibody responses in mice. Complete protection against the heterologous swine H1N1 virus was observed in mice vaccinated with M2e-MAP combined vaccine. Moreover, this novel peptide confers protection against lethal challenge of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). Taken together, our results suggest the combined immunization of reassortant inactivated H3N2 vaccine and the novel M2e-MAP provided cross-protection against swine and human viruses and may serve as a promising approach for influenza vaccine development.

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>

A depth-based Multi-view Super-Resolution Method Using Image Fusion and Blind Deblurring

( Jun Fan ),( Xiangrong Zeng ),( Qizi Huangpeng ),( Yan Liu ),( Xin Long ),( Jing Feng ),( Jinglun Zhou ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.10

Multi-view super-resolution (MVSR) aims to estimate a high-resolution (HR) image from a set of low-resolution (LR) images that are captured from different viewpoints (typically by different cameras). MVSR is usually applied in camera array imaging. Given that MVSR is an ill-posed problem and is typically computationally costly, we super-resolve multi-view LR images of the original scene via image fusion (IF) and blind deblurring (BD). First, we reformulate the MVSR problem into two easier problems: an IF problem and a BD problem. We further solve the IF problem on the premise of calculating the depth map of the desired image ahead, and then solve the BD problem, in which the optimization problems with respect to the desired image and with respect to the unknown blur are efficiently addressed by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Our approach bridges the gap between MVSR and BD, taking advantages of existing BD methods to address MVSR. Thus, this approach is appropriate for camera array imaging because the blur kernel is typically unknown in practice. Corresponding experimental results using real and synthetic images demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

A Novel Intermediate Estimator Based Secure Consensus Control for Multi-agent Systems with Application to Networked Multi-axis Motion Synchronization

Jun-Wei Zhu,Chao-Yang Liang,De-Feng He,Xin Wang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2021 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.19 No.4

This paper studies the secure consensus control problem of multi-agent systems under DoS attacks onthe sensor, the actuator, and the communication topology. A resilient intermediate estimator based attack tolerantcontrol strategy is proposed. By fully exploiting the hardware redundancies, both of the estimators and the controlprotocols can be reconstructed online according to different DoS attack scenarios. Finally, the experiment results ofthe networked multi-axis motion control system are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

BMB Reports : siRNA-mediated gene silencing of MexB from the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

( Feng Yun Gong ),( Ding Yu Zhang ),( Jiang Guo Zhang ),( Li Li Wang ),( Wei Li Zhan ),( Jun Ying Qi ),( Jian Xin Song ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2014 BMB Reports Vol.47 No.4

To gain insights into the effect of MexB gene under the short interfering RNA (siRNA), we synthesized 21 bp siRNA duplexes against the MexB gene. RT-PCR was performed to determine whether the siRNA inhibited the expression of MexB mRNA. Changes in antibiotic susceptibility in response to siRNA were measured by the E-test method. The efficacy of siRNAs was determined in a murine model of chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection. MexB-siRNAs inhibited both mRNA expression and the activity of P. aeruginosa in vitro. In vivo, siRNA was effective in reducing the bacterial load in the model of chronic lung infection and the P. aeruginosa-induced pathological changes. MexB-siRNA treatment enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines in the early infection stage (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that targeting of MexB with siRNA appears to be a novel strategy for treating P. aeruginosa infections. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(4): 203-208]

Suppression of MED19 expression by shRNA induces inhibition of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in human prostate cancer cells

( Xin Gang Cui ),( Dan Feng Xu ),( Chao Lv ),( Fa Jun Qu ),( Jin He ),( Ming Chen ),( Yu Shan Liu ),( Yi Gao ),( Jian Ping Che ),( Ya Cheng Yao ),( Hong Yu Yu ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2011 BMB Reports Vol.44 No.8

MED19 is a member of the Mediator that plays a key role in the activation and repression of signal transduction or the regulation of transcription in carcinomas. To tested the functional role of MED19 in human prostate cancer, we downregulated MED19 expression in prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and DU145) by lentivirus- mediated short hairpin (shRNA), and analyzed the effect of inhibition of MED19 on prostate cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. The in vitro prostate cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and in vivo tumor growth in nude mice xenografts was significantly reduced after the downregulation of MED19. Knock- down of MED19 caused S-phase arrest and induced apoptosis via modulation of Bid and Caspase 7. It was suggested that MED19 serves as a novel proliferation regulator that promotes growth of prostate cancer cells. [BMB reports 2011; 44(8): 547-552]

Numerical techniques for computing nonlinear dynamic characteristic of rotor-seal system

Xin Yan,Kun He,Jun Li,Zhenping Feng 대한기계학회 2014 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.28 No.5

A transient CFD procedure to compute the nonlinear dynamic characteristic of the coupled rotor-seal system was presented in thisstudy. In each time step, the displacement diffusion model was implemented to govern the mesh deformation, and the URANS (UnsteadyReynolds averaged Navier-Stokes) equations were solved to obtain the transient fluid force on the rotor surface for the free vibrations. With the obtained fluid force from the CFD solver, the nonlinear equations of motion for a simplified rotor-seal system were numericallysolved on the basis of external user defined routines. During each transient time step, the computed fluid force from the CFD solver andthe rotor motion from the user defined routines were transferred to each other timely. The rotor center trajectories, frequency spectrumand projection of Poincaré section were calculated to investigate the nonlinear dynamic performance of the single disk rotor-seal system. The effects of the rotational speed and pressure ratio on the vibration characteristic of the rotor-seal system were analyzed by the bifurcationtheorem. The results show that the coupled rotor-seal system experiences a period-one motion, resonance, periodic-doubling motion,quasi-periodic motion, and finally possible chaotic motion as the rotor speed increases. The pressure ratio has pronounced effect on thefrequency response of the first-order critical speed; however, it has little influence on the motion state as well as the frequency responseof the rotating speed. Although a constant-clearance annular smooth stator seal was selected as the research object in the current paper,the presented transient CFD method is still available for other complex annular seals, such as labyrinth seal, honeycomb seal, pocketdamper seal, etc.

Streptomyces xinghaiensis sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

Zhao, Xin-Qing,Li, Wen-Jun,Jiao, Wen-Ce,Li, Yan,Yuan, Wen-Jie,Zhang, Yu-Qin,Klenk, Hans-Peter,Suh, Joo-Won,Bai, Feng-Wu Society for General Microbiology 2009 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.59 No.11

<P>A novel actinomycete, strain S187(T), was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from Xinghai Bay, Dalian, China. Growth occurred on ISP medium 2 containing 0-9 % NaCl and at pH 6.0-9.0 and 10-45 degrees C. The cell wall of strain S187(T) contained the isomer ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H(6)) (40.8 %), MK-9(H(8)) (38.2 %) and MK-9(H(2)) (8.8 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C(16 : 0) (29.6 %), anteiso-C(15 : 0) (14.0 %) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) (11.6 %). Cells contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and one unknown phospholipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.01 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate had similarities of 98.1 and 97.5 % with those of Streptomyces flavofuscus NRRL B-8036(T) (=DSM 41426(T)) and Streptomyces albiaxialis DSM 41799(T), respectively, showing that the novel strain should be assigned to the genus Streptomyces. DNA-DNA hybridizations with the two above-mentioned Streptomyces species showed 31.4 and 46.9 % relatedness, respectively. Moreover, the three strains differed in some physiological and biochemical properties. Thus, on the basis of phenotypic and genotypic analyses, it is proposed that strain S187(T) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces xinghaiensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is S187(T) (=NRRL B-24674(T)=CCTCC AA 208049(T)=KCTC 19546(T)).</P>

A20 ameliorates disc degeneration by suppressing mTOR/BNIP3 axis-mediated mitophagy

Peng Xin,Zhang Cong,Gao Jia-Wei,Wang Feng,Bao Jun-Ping,Zhou Zhi-Min,Sun Rui,Ji Hang-Yu,VLF Cabral,Wu Xiao-Tao 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.5

Background The pathological mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an unanswered question that we are committed to exploring. A20 is an anti-inflammatory protein of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and plays a protective role in intervertebral disc degeneration. Objective This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which A20 attenuates disc degeneration. Methods The proteins of interest were measured by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, ELISA assay, and immunohistochemical technique to conduct related experiments. Immunofluorescence assays and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) were used to assess mitophagy and mitochondrial fitness, respectively. Results Here, we demonstrated that A20 promoted mitophagy, attenuated pyroptosis, and inhibited the degradation of the extracellular matrix, consequently significantly ameliorating disc degeneration. Mechanistically, A20 reduces pyroptosis and further suppresses cellular mTOR activity. On the one hand, A20-induced mTOR inhibition triggers BNIP3-mediated mitophagy to ensure mitochondrial fitness under LPS stimulation, as a result of mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction induced by LPS. On the other hand, A20-induced mTOR inhibition reduces the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of Mitochondrial ROS. Conclusion The study revealed that A20 promotes BNIP3-mediated mitophagy by suppressing mTOR pathway activation against LPS-induced pyroptosis.