Punicic Acid from Trichosanthes kirilowii Seed Oil Is Rapidly Metabolized to Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Rats

Yuan, Gao-Feng,Yuan, Jing-Qun,Li, Duo The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

The incorporation and metabolism of orally administered punicic acid (PA), one isomer of conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA), in rat tissues and plasma were studied over a 24-hour period. The punic acid was derived from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim seed oil, a unique PA-containing material, and identified and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results show that PA was incorporated and metabolized to 9c,11t-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in rat plasma, liver, kidney, heart, brain, and adipose tissue. The level of PA and CLA in liver and plasma was higher than in brain, heart, kidney, and adipose tissue, and the lowest accumulation occurred in the brain. The observation that PA can be converted into 9c,11t-CLA has gained increased importance since it has been demonstrated that 9c,11t-CLA exerts many biological activities. Therefore natural resources containing CLNA, especially edible T. kirilowii seed, could be a potential dietary source of CLA, following PA metabolism. PA is expected to be used as a functional food and nutraceutical.

Punicic Acid from Trichosanthes kirilowii Seed Oil Is Rapidly Metabolized to Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Rats

Gao-Feng Yuan,Jing-Qun Yuan,Duo Li 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

The incorporation and metabolism of orally administered punicic acid (PA), one isomer of conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA), in rat tissues and plasma were studied over a 24-hour period. The punic acid was derived from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim seed oil, a unique PA-containing material, and identified and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results show that PA was incorporated and metabolized to 9c,11t-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in rat plasma, liver, kidney, heart, brain, and adipose tissue. The level of PA and CLA in liver and plasma was higher than in brain, heart, kidney, and adipose tissue, and the lowest accumulation occurred in the brain. The observation that PA can be converted into 9c,11t-CLA has gained increased importance since it has been demonstrated that 9c,11t-CLA exerts many biological activities. Therefore natural resources containing CLNA, especially edible T. kirilowii seed, could be a potential dietary source of CLA, following PA metabolism. PA is expected to be used as a functional food and nutraceutical.

Dead-Time Elimination and Zero Common Mode Voltage Operation of Neutral-Point-Clamped Inverter

Feng Gao,Jianhua Yuan,Ding Li,Poh Chiang Loh,Houlei Gao 전력전자학회 2011 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2011 No.5

This paper presents the dead-time elimination scheme for modulating neutral-point-clamped inverter. Unlike the dead-time compensation methods reported for mitigating negative effects induced by dead-time insertion, the proposed scheme simply separates each pair of switches by treating every switch independently and triggers the corresponding switches per phase according to the judged current direction. The removal of dead-time interval, together with the introduction of an appropriate modulation scheme, can then help mitigate switching common mode voltage, even without those narrow alternating spikes generated by common dead-time insertion in traditional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques.

Kinesin Family Member 11 Enhances the Self-Renewal Ability of Breast Cancer Cells by Participating in the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Yuan-yuan Pei,Gao-chi Li,Jian Ran,Xin-hong Wan,Feng-xiang Wei,Lan Wang 한국유방암학회 2019 Journal of breast cancer Vol.22 No.4

Purpose: Our previous studies have shown that kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) is markedly overexpressed in human breast cancer cells or tissues and positively correlated with distant metastasis and prognosis in patients with breast cancer, suggesting an important role in the regulation of cancer stem cells. Herein, we examined the role of KIF11 in breast cancer stem cells. Methods: In the current study, we validated our previous findings through analysis of data collected in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Endogenous KIF11 was stably silenced in MCF-7 and SKBR-3 cells. Flow cytometry was used to measure the proportion of side-population (SP) cells. Mammosphere culture and tumor implantation experiments in immunodeficient mice were used to assess the self-renewal ability of breast cancer cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, luciferase reporter assays and Wnt agonist treatment were conducted to investigate the signaling pathways regulated by KIF11. Results: We found that the expression level of KIF11 was positively correlated with stem cell-enrichment genes. The proportion of SP cells was significantly reduced in KIF11-silenced cells. Silencing endogenous KIF11 not only reduced the size and number of mammospheres in vitro, but also reduced the ability of breast cancer cells to form tumors in mice. Simultaneously, we found that KIF11 was involved in regulating the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion: Endogenous KIF11 enhances the self-renewal of breast cancer cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the characteristics of breast cancer stem cells.

Physicochemical Characterization and an Injection Formulation Study of Water Insoluble ZCVI4-2, a Novel NO-Donor Anticancer Compound

Yuan Gao,Jianjun Zhang,Li Li,Feng Su,Zhenhua Gong,Yisheng Lai,Yihua Zhang 대한약학회 2012 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.35 No.7

ZCVI4-2 was a novel nitric oxide-releasing glycosyl derivative of oleanolic acid that displayed strong cytotoxicity selectively against human hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. In this study, ZCVI4-2 was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry,powder X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, hygroscopicity and stability. A high performance liquid chromatography method was also established for the quantitative determination of solubility and additional stability profile of ZCVI4-2. ZCVI4-2 was found to be an amorphous and stable solid with low solubility of less than 10 μg/mL. Based on the solubilization tests that included methods of cosolvency and micellization, the solution mixture of 5% Solutol HS-15, 5% 1, 2-propylene glycol and 5% anhydrous ethanol was determined to be the system for the preparation of the ZCVI4-2 early injection solution. The effect of pH, temperature, light and injectable isotonic glucose or NaCl solution on ZCVI4-2 injection was also investigated. Good stability was observed at all testing conditions. Under the conditions studied, the NO-releasing rate and amount of ZCVI4-2 from the early injection solution in rat plasma demonstrated a promising therapeutic efficacy while maintaining a good safety profile.

A 3D Nitrate-bridging Heterometal-azido Inorganic Polymer Containing Cd_8 Cube: Synthesis, Structure, Topology and Fluorescence

Feng Luan,Yuan Gao,Ling Xu,Bing Liu 대한화학회 2011 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.32 No.5

no abstract

Performance and Spatial Succession of a Full-Scale Anaerobic Plant Treating High-Concentration Cassava Bioethanol Wastewater

( Gao Rui Fang ),( Xu Feng Yuan ),( Jia Jia Li ),( Xiao Fen Wang ),( Xu Cheng ),( Wan Bin Zhu ),( Zong Jun Cui ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2012 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.22 No.8

A novel two-phase anaerobic treatment technology was developed to treat high-concentration organic cassava bioethanol wastewater. The start-up process and contribution of organics (COD, total nitrogen, and NH4+-N) removal in spatial succession of the whole process and spatial microbial diversity changing when sampling were analyzed. The results of the start-up phase showed that the organic loading rate could reach up to 10 kg COD/m3d, with the COD removal rate remaining over 90% after 25 days. The sample results indicated that the contribution of COD removal in the pre-anaerobic and anaerobic phases was 40% and 60%, respectively, with the highest efficiency of 98.5%; TN and NH4+-N had decreased to 0.05 g/l and 0.90 g/l, respectively, and the mineralization rate of total nitrogen was 94.8%, 76.56% of which was attributed to the anaerobic part. The microbial diversity changed remarkably among different sample points depending on the physiological characteristics of identified strains. Moraxellaceae, Planococcaceae, and Prevotellaceae were dominant in the pre-anaerobic phase and Bacteroidetes, Campylobacterales, Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, and Bacillus for the anaerobic phase. Methanosarcinaceae and Methanosaeta were the two main phylotypes in the anaerobic reactor.

Experimental Evaluation of Accelerated T1rho Relaxation Quantification in Human Liver Using Limited Spin-Lock Times

Feng Zhao,Min Deng,Jing Yuan,Gao-Jun Teng,Anil T Ahuja,Yi-Xiang J. Wang 대한영상의학회 2012 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.13 No.6

Objective: It was reported lately that to obtain consistent liver T1rho measurement, at 3T MRI using six spin-lock times (SLTs), is feasible. In this study, the feasibility of using three or two SLT points to measure liver T1rho relaxation time was explored. Materials and Methods: Seventeen healthy volunteers underwent 36 examinations. Three representative axial slices were selected to cut through the upper, middle, and lower liver. A rotary echo spin-lock pulse was implemented in a 2D fast field echo sequence. Spin-lock frequency was 500 Hz and the spin-lock times of 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 milliseconds (ms) were used for T1rho mapping. T1rho maps were constructed by using all 6 SLT points, three SLT points of 1, 20, and 50 ms, or two SLTs of 1 and 50 ms, respectively. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland and Altman plot were used to assess the measurement agreement. Results: Two examinations were excluded, due to motion artifact at the SLT of 50 ms. With the remaining 34 examinations, the ICC for 6-SLT vs. 3-SLT T1rho measurements was 0.922, while the ICC for 6-SLT vs. 2-SLT T1rho measurement was 0.756. The Bland and Altman analysis showed a mean difference of 0.19 (95% limits of agreement: -1.34, 1.73) for 6-SLT vs. 3-SLT T1rho measurement, and the mean difference of 0.89 (95% limits of agreement: -1.67, 3.45) for 6-SLT vs. 2-SLT T1rho measurement. The scan re-scan reproducibility ICC (n = 11 subjects) was 0.755, 0.727, and 0.528 for 6-SLT measurement, 3-SLT measurement, and 2-SLT measurement, respectively. Conclusion: Adopting 3 SLTs of 1, 20, and 50 ms can be an acceptable alternative for the liver T1rho measurement, while 2 SLTs of 1 and 50 ms do not provide reliable measurement. Objective: It was reported lately that to obtain consistent liver T1rho measurement, at 3T MRI using six spin-lock times (SLTs), is feasible. In this study, the feasibility of using three or two SLT points to measure liver T1rho relaxation time was explored. Materials and Methods: Seventeen healthy volunteers underwent 36 examinations. Three representative axial slices were selected to cut through the upper, middle, and lower liver. A rotary echo spin-lock pulse was implemented in a 2D fast field echo sequence. Spin-lock frequency was 500 Hz and the spin-lock times of 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 milliseconds (ms) were used for T1rho mapping. T1rho maps were constructed by using all 6 SLT points, three SLT points of 1, 20, and 50 ms, or two SLTs of 1 and 50 ms, respectively. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland and Altman plot were used to assess the measurement agreement. Results: Two examinations were excluded, due to motion artifact at the SLT of 50 ms. With the remaining 34 examinations, the ICC for 6-SLT vs. 3-SLT T1rho measurements was 0.922, while the ICC for 6-SLT vs. 2-SLT T1rho measurement was 0.756. The Bland and Altman analysis showed a mean difference of 0.19 (95% limits of agreement: -1.34, 1.73) for 6-SLT vs. 3-SLT T1rho measurement, and the mean difference of 0.89 (95% limits of agreement: -1.67, 3.45) for 6-SLT vs. 2-SLT T1rho measurement. The scan re-scan reproducibility ICC (n = 11 subjects) was 0.755, 0.727, and 0.528 for 6-SLT measurement, 3-SLT measurement, and 2-SLT measurement, respectively. Conclusion: Adopting 3 SLTs of 1, 20, and 50 ms can be an acceptable alternative for the liver T1rho measurement, while 2 SLTs of 1 and 50 ms do not provide reliable measurement.

Study on the Crystalline Structure and the Thermal Stability of Silver-oxide Films Deposited by Using Direct-current Reactive Magnetron Sputtering Methods

Gao Xiao-Yong,Feng Hong-Liang,Zhang Zeng-Yuan,Ma Jiao-Min 한국물리학회 2010 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.56 No.4

Silver-oxide (AgxO) films were deposited on glass substrates by direct-current reactive magnetron sputtering at different oxygen flux ratios (OFR = [O2]/[Ar]) and substrate temperatures (Ts). An X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the AgxO films are biphased (Ag + Ag2O) when deposited at low OFR values and that Ag2O-dominated AgxO film can only be synthesized at higher OFR values, as con¯rmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This result may be due to the Ag2O phase being preferably produced at high OFR value. The AgO phase is thermodynamically unsta-ble compared with the Ag2O phase. In order to further offer deep insight into the ¯lm's thermal stability, Ag2O-dominated AgxO ¯lms were thermally treated by using a rapid thermal processing technique at different annealing temperatures for different annealing times. The Ag2O phase is thermodynamically stable at temperatures below the threshold of the thermal decomposition tem-perature which approaches 175 ±C. The domination of the Ag2O phase in the AgxO film may be attributed to the chain reaction AgO → Ag2O ↔ Ag + O, AgO + Ag → Ag2O.

Effects of α-Si₃N₄ seeds and sintering additives on properties of porous silicon nitride ceramics fabricated by carbothermal reduction

Yuan Lu,Ji-Qiang Gao,Jian-feng Yang 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2008 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.9 No.6

In this paper, porous Si3N4 ceramics were fabricated by carbothermal reduction between silicon dioxide and carbon [1]. The influences of α-Si3N4 seeds and sintering additives on the microstructure and mechanical properties of porous Si3N4 ceremics were investigated. XRD analysis proved the complete formation of a single-phase β-Si3N4. SEM analysis showed that the resultant porous Si3N4 ceramics had a fine microstructure and a uniform pore structure. The sintered sample with Lu2O3 as sintering additive showed finer, higher aspect ratio β-Si3N4 grains. The addition of Eu2O3 accelerated the densification of porous Si3N4 ceramics, decreased the porosity and increased the flexural strength. The addition of α-Si3N4 seeds accelerated the formation of the α-Si3N4 phase at a low temperature and the α-β phase transformation process at a high temperature. With an increase in the α-Si3N4 seeds content, the porosity decreased, and the flexural strength increased accordingly. In this paper, porous Si3N4 ceramics were fabricated by carbothermal reduction between silicon dioxide and carbon [1]. The influences of α-Si3N4 seeds and sintering additives on the microstructure and mechanical properties of porous Si3N4 ceremics were investigated. XRD analysis proved the complete formation of a single-phase β-Si3N4. SEM analysis showed that the resultant porous Si3N4 ceramics had a fine microstructure and a uniform pore structure. The sintered sample with Lu2O3 as sintering additive showed finer, higher aspect ratio β-Si3N4 grains. The addition of Eu2O3 accelerated the densification of porous Si3N4 ceramics, decreased the porosity and increased the flexural strength. The addition of α-Si3N4 seeds accelerated the formation of the α-Si3N4 phase at a low temperature and the α-β phase transformation process at a high temperature. With an increase in the α-Si3N4 seeds content, the porosity decreased, and the flexural strength increased accordingly.