Prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in histological variants of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Deng-xiong Li,Xiao-ming Wang,Yin Tang,Yu-bo Yang,Dechao Feng,Ao Li,Fa-cai Zhang,Yun-jin Bai,Ping Han 대한비뇨의학회 2021 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.62 No.6

Purpose: Many studies identified that the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (PNLR) was associated with patient prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We hypothesized that PNLR could be prognostic in patients with histological variants of NMIBC (VH-NMIBC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with VH-NMIBC admitted at our center between January 2009 and May 2019. The best cut-off value of NLR was measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to evaluate the association between PNLR and disease prognosis, including recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 243 patients with VH-NMIBC were enrolled in our study. According to the Kaplan-Meier method results, patients with PNLR ≥2.2 were associated with poor RFS (p<0.001), PFS (p<0.001), CSS (p<0.001), and OS (p<0.001). Multivariable analyses indicated that PNLR ≥ 2.2 was an independent prognostic factor of RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.57–1.83; p<0.001), PFS (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.70–3.21; p<0.001), CCS (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.96–4.18; p< 0.001), and OS (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.96–4.07; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study identified that PNLR ≥2.2 was usually associated with a poor prognosis for patients with VH-NMIBC.

CONVERGENCE OF MODIFIED MULTI-STEP ITERATIVE FOR A FINITE FAMILY OF ASYMPTOTICALLY QUASI-NONEXPANSIVE MAPPINGS

Xiao, Juan,Deng, Lei,Yang, Ming-Ge Korean Mathematical Society 2014 대한수학회논문집 Vol.29 No.1

In a uniformly convex Banach space, we introduce a iterative scheme for a finite family of asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive mappings and utilize a new inequality to prove several convergence results for the iterative sequence. The results generalize and unify many important known results of relevant scholars.

Application of Computed Tomography for Differential Diagnosis of Glioma Stoke and Simple Cerebral Hemorrhage

Li, Xiao-Li,Zhou, Fa-Ming,Shangguan, Shou-Qin,Zou, Wen-Qin,Deng, Yan-Qing,Chen, Tao,Chen, Guang-Hui Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.8

Objective: To explore the value of computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 patients with glioma stroke and stroke as the initial symptom in our hospital from Jun., 2009 to Oct., 2013 were selected along with 50 individuals with simple cerebral hemorrhage in the same period randomly collected as a control group. The CT results in both groups were analyzed and compared. Results: In the observation group, there were 25 patients with astrocytoma (55.6%), 11 with oligodendroglioma (24.4%), 8 with ependymoma (17.2%) and 1 with glioblastoma multiforma (GBM, 2.22%). Additionally, the major CT manifestation was coexistence of hemorrhage and tumor signs. By comparison, it could be found that the proportions of patients respectively with peripheral edema and space-occupying effect in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: Application of CT examination combined with medical history in patients has very important clinical value in the differential diagnosis of glioma stroke and simple cerebral hemorrhage.

ZNF552, a novel human KRAB/C2H2 zinc finger protein, inhibits AP-1- and SRE-mediated transcriptional activity

( Yun Deng ),( Bi Sheng Liu ),( Xiong Wei Fan ),( Yue Qun Wang ),( Ming Tang ),( Xiao Yang Mo ),( Yong Qing Li ),( Zao Chu Ying ),( Yong Qi Wan ),( Na Luo ),( Jun Mei Zhou ),( Xiu Shan Wu ),( Wu Zhou 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2010 BMB Reports Vol.43 No.3

In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel C2H2 zinc finger protein, ZNF552, from a human embryonic heart cDNA library. ZNF552 is composed of three exons and two introns and maps to chromosome 19q13.43. The cDNA of ZNF552 is 2.3 kb, encoding 407 amino acids with an amino-terminal KRAB domain and seven carboxyl-terminal C2H2 zinc finger motifs in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Northern blotting analysis indicated that a 2.3 kb transcript specific for ZNF552 was expressed in liver, lung, spleen, testis and kidney, especially with a higher level in the lung and testis in human adult tissues. Reporter gene assays showed that ZNF552 was a transcriptional repressor, and overexpression of ZNF552 in the COS-7 cells inhibited the transcriptional activities of AP-1 and SRE, which could be relieved through RNAi analysis. Deletion studies showed that the KRAB domain of ZNF552 may be involved in this inhibition. [BMB reports 2010; 43(3): 193-198]

An Optimized Motion Estimation Algorithm and Application in the FRUC System

Min-Jun Deng,Ping Gan,Zhuo Chen,Xiao-Qing Shen,Dong-Lian Li,Ming-Yan Yu,Yu Zhang,Cai -Lan Zeng,He Huang 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.10 No.8

Based on the optimized three-step search algorithm. Combining threshold judgment as well as local full search, a more efficient motion estimation algorithm is proposed. The algorithm not only inherited the traditional three-step algorithm’s quick speed but also kept the advantages of a relatively small amount of calculation, besides it can avoid the local optimum problem in the three-step search algorithm (TSS). In addition, the algorithm combined with the threshold judgment and local full search algorithm, so it also maintains satisfactory visual quality. Comparing the algorithm with TSS and local full search algorithm (LFS). The algorithm has great performance in search points and peak signal-to-noise ratio. Experimental results show that compared with LFS, search points drop by 34.61% ~ 54.47% .While compared with the TSS, the search points only rise by 6.15% ~ 12.21%. The average PSNR of proposed Algorithm is 0.24dB higher than LFS and 3.30dB higher than TSS.

The function, mechanisms, and clinical applications of metformin: potential drug, unlimited potentials

Jianhong Liu,Ming Zhang,Dan Deng,Xiao Zhu 대한약학회 2023 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.46 No.5

Metformin has been used clinically for more than 60 years. As time goes by, more and more miraculous effects of metformin beyond the clinic have been discovered and discussed. In addition to the clinically approved hypoglycemic effect, it also has a positive metabolic regulation effect on the human body that cannot be ignored. Such as anti-cancer, anti-aging, brain repair, cardiovascular protection, gastrointestinal regulation, hair growth and inhibition of thyroid nodules, and other nonclinical effects. Metformin affects almost the entire body in the situation taking it over a long period, and the preventive effects of metformin in addition to treating diabetes are also beginning to be recommended in some guidelines. This review is mainly composed of four parts: the development history of metformin, the progress of clinical efficacy, the nonclinical efficacy of metformin, and the consideration and prospect of its application.

Alternatively Polarized Macrophages Regulate the Growth and Differentiation of Ependymal Stem Cells through the SIRT2 Pathway

Yonggang Ma,Ming Deng,Xiao-qi Zhao,Min Liu 한국뇌신경과학회 2020 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.29 No.2

Ependymal stem cells (EpSCs) are dormant stem cells in the adult spinal cord that proliferate rapidly and migrate to the site of injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). Although they can differentiate into neurons under appropriate conditions in vitro, EpSCs mainly differentiate into astrocytes in vivo. Our previous study confirmed that alternatively polarized macrophages (M2) facilitate the differentiation of EpSCs towards neurons, but the detailed mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we found that M2 conditioned medium could upregulate the expression of Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) in EpSCs in vitro through the BDNF/TrkB-MEK/ERK signaling pathway. As an important deacetylase, SIRT2 deacetylated stable Ac-α- tubulin (Acetyl alpha Tubulin) in microtubules and thus promoted EpSC differentiation into neurons. The present study provides a theoretical basis and a new way to improve neural recovery, such as regulating the growth and differentiation of EpSCs by increasing the proportion of M2 cells in the local microenvironment or upregulating the expression of SIRT2 in EpSCs.

Elevated FBXL6 expression in hepatocytes activates VRK2-transketolase-ROS-mTOR-mediated immune evasion and liver cancer metastasis in mice

Zhang Jie,Lin Xiao-Tong,Yu Hong-Qiang,Fang Lei,Wu Di,Luo Yuan-Deng,Zhang Yu-Jun,Xie Chuan-Ming 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most lethal malignancy and lacks effective treatment. FBXL6 is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but whether this change drives liver tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in vivo remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify FBXL6 (F-Box and Leucine Rich Repeat Protein 6) as a key driver of HCC metastasis and to provide a new paradigm for HCC therapy. We found that elevated FBXL6 expression in hepatocytes drove HCC lung metastasis and was a much stronger driver than Kras mutation (KrasG12D/+;Alb-Cre), p53 haploinsufficiency (p53+/-) or Tsc1 loss (Tsc1fl/fl;Alb-Cre). Mechanistically, VRK2 promoted Thr287 phosphorylation of TKT and then recruited FBXL6 to promote TKT ubiquitination and activation. Activated TKT further increased PD-L1 and VRK2 expression via the ROS-mTOR axis, leading to immune evasion and HCC metastasis. Targeting or knockdown of TKT significantly blocked FBXL6-driven immune evasion and HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the level of active TKT (p-Thr287 TKT) was increased and was positively correlated with the FBXL6 and VRK2 expression levels in HCC patients. Our work provides novel mechanistic insights into FBXL6-driven HCC metastasis and suggests that targeting the TKT-ROS-mTOR-PD-L1/VRK2 axis is a new paradigm for treating patients with metastatic HCC with high FBXL6 expression.

Fifth Generation Communication Performance of Poly(ether ketone ketone)/Modified Montmorillonite Substrate

Guang Kui Zhou,Xiao Dong Zhi,Deng Ming Pan,Tim Hsu,Jen-taut Yeh 한국고분자학회 2022 Macromolecular Research Vol.30 No.2

Quaternary ammonium salt modified montmorillonite (QASMMT) nanoplatelets were well dispersed in poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) polymers to make pleasing fifth generation (5G) substrates. Substantially smaller dielectric properties and linear thermal expansion coefficient (LCTE) were found for each PEKKa xQASMMTy film series filled with small and appropriate QASMMT loadings. The dielectric constant (εr) and dielectric loss (tan δ) values acquired for each PEKKa xQASMMTy film series reduced to a lowest value as QASMMT loadings approached 3wt%. Satisfactory εr (2.59, 2.71, and 2.80 at 1 MHz), tan δ (0.0032, 0.0038, and 0.0042 at 1 MHz) and LCTE (~36.8×10-6/℃, 38.8×10-6/℃ and 40.5×10-6/℃) for 5G communication were acquired for PEKKa 97QASMMT3 films filled with only 3wt% optimum loading of QASMMT nano-platelets. In the meantime, the onset degradation temperatures acquired for each PEKKa xQASMMTy film series increased substantially with increasing QASMMT loadings. All free volume properties, such as, the radius of the free-volume-cavity or free-volume-cavity numbers per unit volume evaluated for every PEKKa xQASMMTy film sequence enlarged to a largest value, as QASMMT loadings approached an appropriate value of 3wt%. Substantial smaller εr and tan δ were acquired for PEKKa and PEKKa xQASMMTy with larger free volume properties. Possible reasons accounting for these substantially diminished dielectric and LCTE properties of PEKKa xQASMMTy films are proposed.

Multiple Cytotoxic Factors Involved in IL-21 Enhanced Antitumor Function of CIK Cells Signaled through STAT-3 and STAT5b Pathways

Rajbhandary, S.,Zhao, Ming-Feng,Zhao, Nan,Lu, Wen-Yi,Zhu, Hai-Bo,Xiao, Xia,Deng, Qi,Li, Yu-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Background/Objectives: Maintenance of cellular function in culture is vital for transfer and development following adoptive immunotherapy. Dual properties of IL-21 in activating T cells and reducing activation induced cell death led us to explore the mechanism of action of IL-21 enhanced proliferation and cytotoxic potential of CIK cells. Method: CIK cells cultured from PBMCs of healthy subjects were stimulated with IL-21 and cellular viability and cytotoxicity to K562 cells were measured. To elucidate the mechanism of action of IL-21, mRNA expression of cytotoxic factors was assessed by RT-PCR and protein expression of significantly important cytotoxic factors and cytokine secretion were determined through flow cytometry and ELISA. Western blotting was performed to check the involvement of the JAK/STAT pathway following stimulation. Results: We found that IL-21 did not enhance in vitro proliferation of CIK cells, but did increase the number of cells expressing the CD3+/CD56+ phenotype. Cytotoxic potential was increased with corresponding increase in perforin ($0.9831{\pm}0.1265$ to $0.7592{\pm}0.1457$), granzyme B ($0.4084{\pm}0.1589$ to $0.7319{\pm}0.1639$) and FasL ($0.4015{\pm}0.2842$ to $0.7381{\pm}0.2568$). Interferon gamma and TNF-alpha were noted to increase ($25.8{\pm}6.1ng/L$ to $56.0{\pm}2.3ng/L$; and $5.64{\pm}0.61{\mu}g/L$ to $15.14{\pm}0.93{\mu}g/L$, respectively) while no significant differences were observed in the expression of granzyme A, TNF-alpha and NKG2D, and NKG2D. We further affirmed that IL-21 signals through the STAT-3 and STAT-5b signaling pathway in the CIK cell pool. Conclusion: IL-21 enhances cytotoxic potential of CIK cells through increasing expression of perforin, granzyme B, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. The effect is brought about by the activation of STAT-3 and STAT-5b proteins.