Association of thromboxane A2 receptor (<i>TBXA2R</i>) gene polymorphism in patients with aspirin‐intolerant acute urticaria

Palikhe, N. S.,Kim, S.&#x2010,H.,Lee, H.&#x2010,Y.,Kim, J.&#x2010,H.,Ye, Y.&#x2010,M.,Park, H.&#x2010,S. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Clinical and experimental allergy Vol.41 No.2

<P>Cite this as: N. S. Palikhe, S.‐H. Kim,H.‐Y. Lee, J.‐H. Kim, Y.‐M. Ye and H.‐S. Park, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 179–185.</P><P><B>Summary</B></P><P><B>Background </B> The thromboxane A2 receptor (<I>TBXA2R</I>) is a potent broncho‐ and vaso‐constrictor and is associated with leukotriene synthesis. Polymorphisms in the <I>TBXA2R</I> gene have been linked to atopy, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. This study evaluated the association between genetic <I>TBXA2R</I> variants and the development of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA)‐intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU).</P><P><B>Methods </B> AIAU patients (<I>n</I>=167), ASA‐intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU) patients (<I>n</I>=149), and healthy controls (NC) (<I>n</I>=265) were included. All patients were enrolled at Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, Korea. Two <I>TBXA2R</I> polymorphisms (−4684T>C and 795T>C) were genotyped by primer extension using a SNAPshot ddNTP primer extension kit. Luciferase activity was measured using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay kit. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed using a nuclear extract from a human mast cell line (HMC‐1).</P><P><B>Results </B> Genetic association data demonstrated that compared with NC subjects, AIAU patients had a significantly higher frequency of the homozygous TT genotype of <I>TBXA2R</I>−4684T>C (<I>P=</I>0.005, <I>P</I><SUB>corr</SUB>=0.03). No differences were identified between the AICU and the NC groups. Luciferase activity, reflecting promoter activity, was significantly lower with the <I>TBXA2R</I>−4684T‐containing construct than with the −4684C‐containing construct (<I>P</I><0.001); the activity decreased further upon co‐transfection with ETS‐like gene transcription factor‐1 (ELK‐1) (<I>P=</I>0.012). EMSA revealed that the −4684T allele produced a specific shifted band, with a greater affinity than that produced by the −4684C allele.</P><P><B>Conclusion and clinical relevance </B> These results suggest that the <I>TBXA2R</I>−4684T allele may be associated with lower TBXA2R expression, which may contribute to the development of the AIAU phenotype.</P>

Rabbit Platelet Activating Factor and Its Relationship with Embryo Development)/Zheng X.(Beijing Agricultural Uiversity

Zheng X,C. R. Ma,G. M. Man,J. X. Ye,L. X. Wang 한국동물생명공학회(구 한국동물번식학회) 1995 Reproductive & developmental biology Vol.18 No.4

Emergent genetic oscillations in a synthetic microbial consortium

Chen, Ye,Kim, Jae Kyoung,Hirning, Andrew J.,Josi&#x107,, Kre&#x161,imir,Bennett, Matthew R. American Association for the Advancement of Scienc 2015 Science Vol.349 No.6251

<P><B>Engineering cell population behavior</B></P><P>Attaining the full promise of synthetic biology will require designing population-level behaviors of multiple interacting cell types. As a start, Chen et al. engineered two strains of the bacterium <I>Escherichia coli</I> to produce signaling molecules that regulate transcription in the complementary strain (see the Perspective by Teague and Weiss). The signaling circuit was successfully designed to produce feedback loops that produce synchronous oscillations in transcription between the two strains. A mathematical model helped determine how to modulate the oscillations and control their robustness to perturbations.</P><P><I>Science</I>, this issue p. 986; see also p. 924</P><P>A challenge of synthetic biology is the creation of cooperative microbial systems that exhibit population-level behaviors. Such systems use cellular signaling mechanisms to regulate gene expression across multiple cell types. We describe the construction of a synthetic microbial consortium consisting of two distinct cell types—an “activator” strain and a “repressor” strain. These strains produced two orthogonal cell-signaling molecules that regulate gene expression within a synthetic circuit spanning both strains. The two strains generated emergent, population-level oscillations only when cultured together. Certain network topologies of the two-strain circuit were better at maintaining robust oscillations than others. The ability to program population-level dynamics through the genetic engineering of multiple cooperative strains points the way toward engineering complex synthetic tissues and organs with multiple cell types.</P>

Upgrade of X-ray crystal spectrometer for high temperature measurement using neon-like xenon lines on EAST

Hu, R. J.,Chen, J.,Delgado-Aparicio, L. F.,Wang, Q. P.,Du, X. W.,Shen, J.,Yang, X. S.,Wang, F. D.,Fu, J.,Li, Y. Y.,Bitter, M.,Hill, K. W.,Pablant, N. A.,Lee, S. G.,Shi, Y. J.,Wan, B. N.,Ye, M. Y.,Lyu, American Institute of Physics 2018 Review of scientific instruments Vol.89 No.10

Exploration of the helimagnetic and skyrmion lattice phase diagram inCu2OSeO3using magnetoelectric susceptibility

Omrani, A. A.,White, J. S.,Pr&#x161,a, K.,&#x17d,ivkovi&#x107,, I.,Berger, H.,Magrez, A.,Liu, Ye-Hua,Han, J. H.,Rønnow, H. M. American Physical Society 2014 Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials Vol.89 No.6

Using superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry techniques, we have studied the change in magnetization versus applied ac electric field, i.e. the magnetoelectric (ME) susceptibility dM/dE, in the chiral-lattice ME insulator Cu2OSeO3. Measurements of the dM/dE response provide a sensitive and efficient probe of the magnetic phase diagram, and we observe clearly distinct responses for the different magnetic phases, including the skyrmion lattice phase. By combining our results with theoretical calculation, we estimate quantitatively the ME coupling strength as lambda = 0.0146 meV/(V/nm) in the conical phase. Our study demonstrates the ME susceptibility to be a powerful, sensitive, and efficient technique for both characterizing and discovering new multiferroic materials and phases.

A Novel Family of Biodegradable Poly(ester amide) Elastomers

Cheng, Hao,Hill, Paulina S.,Siegwart, Daniel J.,Vacanti, Nathaniel,Lytton&#x2010,Jean, Abigail K. R.,Cho, Seung&#x2010,Woo,Ye, Anne,Langer, Robert,Anderson, Daniel G. WILEY‐VCH Verlag 2011 ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol.23 No.12

<P><B>Biodegradable elastomeric materials</B> have particular utility in tissue engineering applications because their compliance under force closely resembles the elastic nature of many human tissues. A family of biodegradable poly(ester amide) elastomers were developed, with excellent elasticity under hydrated conditions, good in vivo biocompatibility and a slow degradation rate. This study sheds light on the structure‐property relationship behind designing biodegradable elastomeric materials. </P>

Osteopontin is induced by hedgehog pathway activation and promotes fibrosis progression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Syn, Wing&#x2010,Kin,Choi, Steve S.,Liaskou, Evaggelia,Karaca, Gamze F.,Agboola, Kolade M.,Oo, Ye Htun,Mi, Zhiyong,Pereira, Thiago A.,Zdanowicz, Marzena,Malladi, Padmini,Chen, Yuping,Moylan, Cynthia,J Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2011 Hepatology Vol.53 No.1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of cirrhosis. Recently, we showed that NASH‐related cirrhosis is associated with Hedgehog (Hh) pathway activation. The gene encoding osteopontin (OPN), a profibrogenic extracellular matrix protein and cytokine, is a direct transcriptional target of the Hh pathway. Thus, we hypothesize that Hh signaling induces OPN to promote liver fibrosis in NASH. Hepatic OPN expression and liver fibrosis were analyzed in wild‐type (WT) mice, Patched‐deficient (Ptc<SUP>+/−</SUP>) (overly active Hh signaling) mice, and OPN‐deficient mice before and after feeding methionine and choline–deficient (MCD) diets to induce NASH‐related fibrosis. Hepatic OPN was also quantified in human NASH and nondiseased livers. Hh signaling was manipulated in cultured liver cells to assess direct effects on OPN expression, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cultured in medium with different OPN activities to determine effects on HSC phenotype. When fed MCD diets, Ptc<SUP>+/−</SUP> mice expressed more OPN and developed worse liver fibrosis (<I>P</I> < 0.05) than WT mice, whereas OPN‐deficient mice exhibited reduced fibrosis (<I>P</I> < 0.05). In NASH patients, OPN was significantly up‐regulated and correlated with Hh pathway activity and fibrosis stage. During NASH, ductular cells strongly expressed OPN. In cultured HSCs, SAG (an Hh agonist) up‐regulated, whereas cyclopamine (an Hh antagonist) repressed OPN expression (<I>P</I> < 0.005). Cholangiocyte‐derived OPN and recombinant OPN promoted fibrogenic responses in HSCs (<I>P</I> < 0.05); neutralizing OPN with RNA aptamers attenuated this (<I>P</I> < 0.05). <I>Conclusion:</I> OPN is Hh‐regulated and directly promotes profibrogenic responses. OPN induction correlates with Hh pathway activity and fibrosis stage. Therefore, OPN inhibition may be beneficial in NASH (H<SMALL>EPATOLOGY</SMALL> 2011)</P>

Recurrence after Anatomic Resection Versus Nonanatomic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis

Ye, J.Z.,Miao, Z.G.,Wu, F.X.,Zhao, Y.N.,Ye, H.H.,Li, L.Q. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

The impact of anatomic resection (AR) as compared to non-anatomic resection (NAR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a factor for preventing intra-hepatic and local recurrence after the initial surgical procedure remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of nonrandomized trials comparing anatomic resection with non-anatomic resection for HCC published from 1990 to 2010 in PubMed and Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Science Citation Index were therefore performed. Intra-hepatic recurrence, including early and late, and local recurrence were considered as primary outcomes. As secondary outcomes, 5 year survival and 5 year disease-free survival were considered. Pooled effects were calculated utilizing either fixed effects or random effects models. Eleven non-randomized studies including 1,576 patients were identified and analyzed, with 810 patients in the AR group and 766 in the NAR group. Patients in the AR group were characterized by lower prevalence of cirrhosis, more favorable hepatic function, and larger tumor size and higher prevalence of macrovascular invasion compared with patients in the NAR group. Anatomic resection significantly reduced the risks of local recurrence and achieved a better 5 years disease-free survival. Also, anatomic resection was marginally effective for decreasing the early intra-hepatic recurrence. However, it was not advantageous in preventing late intra-hepatic recurrence compared with non-anatomic resection. No differences were found between AR and NAR with respect to postoperative morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization. Anatomic resection can be recommended as superior to non-anatomic resection in terms of reducing the risks of local recurrence, early intra-hepatic recurrence and achieving a better 5 year disease-free survival in HCC patients.

Estimation of growth parameters of Listeria monocytogenes after sublethal heat and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment

Xuan, X.T.,Ding, T.,Li, J.,Ahn, J.H.,Zhao, Y.,Chen, S.G.,Ye, X.Q.,Liu, D.H. Butterworths ; Taylor Francis ; Elsevier Science 2017 FOOD CONTROL Vol.71 No.-

<P>Time to detection experiments (TTD) based on turbidometry using an automatic Bioscreen C is a useful and straightforward method for estimating microbial growth parameters (lag time (lambda), growth rate (mu) and 'work to be done' (h(0))) at constant temperature. This study investigated the effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and heat treatment on Listeria monocytogenes growth at different recovery temperatures (10 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 30 degrees C). Similar surviving and sublethally injured L. monocytogenes populations were obtained by heat treatment (55 degrees C for 10 min) and SAEW treatment (available chlorine concentration of 30 mg/l and ratio of bacteria against SAEW of 8:2 for 30 s). In these experimental conditions, stresses had greater impact on the lambda and h(0) parameter in comparison with recovery temperature while there was no great change in growth rate under isothermal conditions. Larger lambda values and h(0) parameters were observed in sublethal-heat injured L. monocytogenes (the maximum lambda and h(0) parameters are 30.199 h and 1.6492) as compared to SAEW groups (the maximum lambda and h(0) parameters are 22.634 h and 1.4396). The sensitivity analysis of SAEW and heat treatments on h(0) parameter indicated that SAEW treatment showed a higher influence. The collinearity diagnostics of independent variables [recovery temperature (T), mu, lambda] for dependent variable (h(0) parameter) demonstrated that T, mu and lambda had strong collinearity. In addition, the established secondary models in this study have good performances on predicting the effect of recovery temperature on bacterial growth parameters. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Nutritional Evaluation of Bamboo Shoot Shell and Its Effect as Supplementary Feed on Performance of Heifers Offered Ammoniated Rice Straw Diets

Liu, J.X.,Wang, X.Q.,Shi, Z.Q.,Ye, H.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.10

The present study was conducted to examine the feasibility of utilising bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) shoot shell (BSS) in ruminants. Chemical composition, rumen degradability and some antinutritional compounds were determined for fresh and boiled BSSs to evaluate its feed value and safety. Thirty-two Holstein heifers were allocated to four groups and used to investigate the response in growth rate to supplementing ammoniated rice straw with fresh shell (phase 1) or silage of boiled BSS (phase 2). All animals were offered ammoniated straw ad libitum with 1kg of cotton seed meal (phase 1) or 0.5 kg of cotton seed meal and 0.5 kg of concentrate mixture (phase 2) per head per day. The BSS was supplemented at levels of 0, 3, 6 or 9 kg/d (phase 1) and 0, 5, 10 or 15 kg/d (phase 2) (as fed basis). The BSS was very high in moisture content, and its contents of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were 13~16% DM and 65~76% DM, respectively; boiling resulting in higher moisture and protein. No hydrocyanic acid was detected in both BSSs and content of tannins was negligible. Rumen degradability of BSS was reasonably high, and with boiling the rapidly degradable fraction decreased, and potentially degradable component increased. Silage of the boiled BSS was slightly lower in both rapidly and slowly degraded fractions than the fresh BSS. Animals consumed all supplemented BSSs without any adverse health problems. Intake of ammoniated straw decreased with the increasing levels of BSS, but total intake was higher in almost all supplementary groups than in the non-BSS. Heifers had a higher growth rate in phase 1 with fresh BSS than in phase 2 with ensiled shell, and daily weight gains were 622, 629, 744 or 690 g in phase 1, and 578, 575, 677 or 635 g in phase 2 at four BSS levels, respectively. For both phases growth rate was significantly higher for the animals in groups 3 and 4 than those in groups 1 and 2 (p<0.01), with little difference between groups 1 and 2 (p>0.05) but significant difference between groups 3 and 4 (p<0.05). Supplementation with BSS also resulted in an improved feed conversion rate, with the least concentrate consumption in group 3 for both phases. It is concluded that the BSS has a high potential nutritional value as indicated by its medium protein content, reasonably high rumen degradability, and that inclusion of BSS in ammoniated rice straw diet is not only safe to animals, but also may improve growth rate of ruminants and feed conversion rate. It may be disadvantageous to use high amounts of BSS in ammoniated straw diets.