An ileosigmoid fistula: what is the diagnosis?

( Chun Lan Zhang ),( Ji Li ),( Yan You ),( Yue Hui Ni ),( Yan Zhang ),( Jia Ming Qian ) 대한장연구학회 2017 Intestinal Research Vol.15 No.2

Operational modal analysis of Canton Tower by a fast frequency domain Bayesian method

Feng-Liang Zhang,Yan-Chun Ni,Yan-Chun Ni,You-Wu Wang 국제구조공학회 2016 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.17 No.2

The Canton Tower is a high-rise slender structure with a height of 610 m. A structural health monitoring system has been instrumented on the structure, by which data is continuously monitored. This paper presents an investigation on the identified modal properties of the Canton Tower using ambient vibration data collected during a whole day (24 hours). A recently developed Fast Bayesian FFT method is utilized for operational modal analysis on the basis of the measured acceleration data. The approach views modal identification as an inference problem where probability is used as a measure for the relative plausibility of outcomes given a model of the structure and measured data. Focusing on the first several modes, the modal properties of this supertall slender structure are identified on non-overlapping time windows during the whole day under normal wind speed. With the identified modal parameters and the associated posterior uncertainty, the distribution of the modal parameters in the future is predicted and assessed. By defining the modal root-mean-square value in terms of the power spectral density of modal force identified, the identified natural frequencies and damping ratios versus the vibration amplitude are investigated with the associated posterior uncertainty considered. Meanwhile, the correlations between modal parameters and temperature, modal parameters and wind speed are studied. For comparison purpose, the frequency domain decomposition (FDD) method is also utilized to identify the modal parameters. The identified results obtained by the Bayesian method, the FDD method and a finite element model are compared and discussed.

Studies of the microbial metabolism of flavonoids extracted from the leaves of Diospyros kaki by intestinal bacteria

Sheng-hai Zhang,Ying-zi Wang,Fan-yun Meng,You-lin Li,Cai-xia Li,Fei-peng Duan,Qing Wang,Xiu-ting Zhang,Chun-ni Zhang 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.5

Flavonoid glycosides are metabolized byintestinal bacteria, giving rise to a wide range of phenolicacids that may exert systemic effects in the body. Themicrobial metabolism of flavonoids extracted from theleaves of Diospyros kaki (FLDK) by intestinal bacteria wasinvestigated in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography/linear trap quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometrywas performed to analyze the metabolites of flavonoidsin vivo using Xcalibur2.1 software. The results showed thatthe levels of flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid aglyconesdecreased rapidly in the process of microbial metabolismby intestinal bacteria in vitro, and the metabolic rate maybe related to the concentration of intestinal bacteria in theculture solution. In vivo metabolites of FLDK weredetected in rat plasma and urine after oral administration ofFLDK. Eight flavonoids were identified in the urine, andthree were identified in the plasma; however, flavonoidaglycones were not found in the plasma.

The Association of GSDMB and ORMDL3 Gene Polymorphisms With Asthma: A Meta-Analysis

Chun-Ni Zhao,Ye Fan,Jian-Jun Huang,Hai-Xia Zhang,Tao Gao,Cong Wang,Tong Wang,Li-Fang Hou 대한천식알레르기학회 2015 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.7 No.2

Purpose: ORM1-like 3 (ORMDL3) belongs to a highly conserved protein family which is anchored as transmembrane protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. Gasdermin B (GSDMB) is adjacent to ORMDL3 on chromosome 17q21.2 and belongs to the gasdermin-domain containing the protein family(GSDM family). Recent reports suggest that GSDMB and ORMDL3 are associated with asthma in several populations. However, genetic associationstudies that examined the association of GSDMB and ORMDL3 gene variants with asthma showed conflicting results. To assess whether combinedevidence shows the association between GSDMB/ORMDL3 polymorphism and asthma. Methods: A bibliographic search from MEDLINE identified13 original articles using the search keywords ‘GSDMB’, ‘ORMDL3’, and ‘asthma’. An updated literature-based meta-analysis involving 6,691 subjectswith asthma, 9,281 control individuals, and 1,360 families were conducted. Meta-odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) basedon the fixed effects model or the random effects model depended on Cochran’s Q-statistic and I2 values. Data from case-control and TDT studieswere analyzed in an allelic model using the Catmap software. Results: We selected and identified 3 SNPs of ORMDL3 associated with asthma(rs8076131: OR=1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.20; P=0.012. rs12603332: OR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25; P=0.002. rs3744246: OR=1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.17;P=0.008) and 1 SNP of GSDMB associated with asthma (rs7216389: OR=1.37; 95% CI, 1.27-1.47; P<0.01). Publication bias was estimated usingmodified Egger’s linear regression test proposed by Harbordetal and revealed no evidence of biases. Furthermore, cumulative meta-analysis in chronologicalorder showed the inclination toward significant association for rs7216389 and rs12603332 with continually adding studies, and the inclinationtoward null-significant association for rs3744246 and rs8076131. Conclusions: Moderate evidence exists for associations of the ORMDL3rs8076131, rs12603332, and rs3744246 and GSDMB rs7216389 variants with asthma. Large sample size and representative population-based studiesand TDT studies with homogeneous asthmatic patients and well-matched controls are warranted to confirm this finding.

Synthesis, Characterization, and DFT Studies of Four Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Aromatic Carboxylate Ligands: Cu2(L)4·(CH3OH)2

Qi Zhang,Liang Min Yu,Chun Hua Ni,Xin Li,Xia Li 대한화학회 2015 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.36 No.9

Four dinuclear copper(II) complexes, Cu2(L1 –4)4·(CH3OH)2(1–4) (HL1  = m-anisic acid, HL2  = p-anisic acid, HL3  = m-toluic acid, HL4  = p-toluic acid) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction. All of the complexes are consisting of two Cu(II) cations, four L ligands and two methanol molecules, in which the L ligands are coordinated with copper cations by bidentate bridging coordination mode. There exists hydrogen bond interaction or CH…π interaction in the complexes, forming three-dimensional network structures. Theoretical study of the complexes was carried out by density functional theory B3LYP method.

Lentivirus-mediated Silencing of Rhomboid Domain Containing 1 Suppresses Tumor Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

Liu, Xue-Ni,Tang, Zheng-Hao,Zhang, Yi,Pan, Qing-Chun,Chen, Xiao-Hua,Yu, Yong-Sheng,Zang, Guo-Qing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Rhomboids were identified as the first intramembrane serine proteases about 10 years ago. Since then, the study of the rhomboid protease family has blossomed. Rhomboid domain containing 1 (RHBDD1), highly-expressed in human testis, contains a rhomboid domain with unknown function. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that RHBDD1 was associated with proliferation and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma using recombinant lentivirus-mediated silencing of RHBDD1 in HepG2 cells. Our results showed that down-regulation of RHBDD1 mRNA levels markedly suppressed proliferation and colony formation capacity of HepG2 human hepatoma cancer cells in vitro, and induced cell cycle arrest. We also found that RHBDD1 silencing could obviously trigger HepG2 cell apoptosis. In summary, it was demonstrated that RHBDD1 might be a positive regulator for proliferative and apoptotic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Mode identifiability of a cable-stayed bridge based on a Bayesian method

Feng-Liang Zhang,Yi-Qing Ni,Yan-Chun Ni 국제구조공학회 2016 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.17 No.3

Modal identification based on ambient vibration data has attracted extensive attention in the past few decades. Since the excitation for ambient vibration tests is mainly from the environmental effects such as wind and traffic loading and no artificial excitation is applied, the signal to noise (s/n) ratio of the data acquired plays an important role in mode identifiability. Under ambient vibration conditions, certain modes may not be identifiable due to a low s/n ratio. This paper presents a study on the mode identifiability of an instrumented cable-stayed bridge with the use of acceleration response data measured by a long-term structural health monitoring system. A recently developed fast Bayesian FFT method is utilized to perform output-only modal identification. In addition to identifying the most probable values (MPVs) of modal parameters, the associated posterior uncertainties can be obtained by this method. Likewise, the power spectral density of modal force can be identified, and thus it is possible to obtain the modal s/n ratio. This provides an efficient way to investigate the mode identifiability. Three groups of data are utilized in this study: the first one is 10 data sets including six collected under normal wind conditions and four collected during typhoons; the second one is three data sets with wind speeds of about 7.5 m/s; and the third one is some blind data. The first two groups of data are used to perform ambient modal identification and help to estimate a critical value of the s/n ratio above which the deficient mode is identifiable, while the third group of data is used to perform verification. A couple of fundamental modes are identified, including the ones in the vertical and transverse directions respectively and coupled in both directions. The uncertainty and s/n ratio of the deficient mode are investigated and discussed. A critical value of the modal s/n ratio is suggested to evaluate the mode identifiability of the deficient mode. The work presented in this paper could provide a base for the vibration-based condition assessment in future.

A novel panel of serum miR-21/miR-155/miR-365 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for breast cancer

Ji-Guang Han,Yong-Dong Jiang,Chun-Hui Zhang,Yan-Mei Yang,Da Pang,Yan-Ni Song,Guo-Qiang Zhang 대한외과학회 2017 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.92 No.2

Purpose: Insufficient sensitivity and specificity prevent the use of most existing biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Recently, it was reported that serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may be potential biomarkers in many cancer diseases. In this study, we investigated whether serum levels of 5 miRNAs including miR-21, miR-125b, miR-145, miR-155, and miR-365 could discriminate breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Methods: Serum levels of miRNAs were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 99 breast cancer patients and 21 healthy controls. The abundance change of serum miRNAs were also evaluated following surgical resection in 20 breast cancer patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. Results: Serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 was significantly higher, while miR-365 was significantly lower in breast cancer as compared with healthy controls. The serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 significantly decreased following surgical resection. Additionally, the serum level of miR-155 at stages I and II was significantly higher compared to stage III. The serum miR-145 level was remarkably higher in progesterone receptor (PR)-positive patients than PR-negative. The positivity of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 was high compared to CA 153 and CEA in breast cancer. ROC curve analyses of a combination of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 yielded much higher area under curve and enhanced sensitivity and specificity in comparison to each miRNA alone. Conclusion: The combination of serum miR-21/miR-155/miR-365 may potentially serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker that enables differentiation of breast cancer from healthy controls.

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.