Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio in Patients with Resectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Han, Li-Hui,Jia, Yi-Bin,Song, Qing-Xu,Wang, Jian-Bo,Wang, Na-Na,Cheng, Yu-Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Background: The interaction between tumor cells and inflammatory cells has not been systematically investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether preoperative the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) could predict the prognosis of ESCC patients undergoing esophagectomy. Materials and Methods: Records from 218 patients with histologically diagnosed ESCC who underwent attempted curative surgery from January 2007 to December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Besides clinicopathological prognostic factors, we evaluated the prognostic value of the LMR, the NLR, and the PLR using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: The median follow-up was 38.6 months (range 3-71 months). The cut-off values of 2.57 for the LMR, 2.60 for the NLR and 244 for the PLR were chosen as optimal to discriminate between survival and death by applying receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of patients with low preoperative LMR demonstrated a significant worse prognosis for DFS (p=0.004) and OS (p=0.002) than those with high preoperative LMR. The high NLR cohort had lower DFS (p=0.004) and OS (p=0.011). Marginally reduced DFS (p=0.068) and lower OS (p=0.039) were found in the high PLR cohort. On multivariate analysis, only preoperative LMR was an independent prognostic factor for both DFS (p=0.009, HR=1.639, 95% CI 1.129-2.381) and OS (p=0.004, HR=1.759, 95% CI 1.201-2.576) in ESCC patients. Conclusions: Preoperative LMR better predicts cancer survival compared with the cellular components of systemic inflammation in patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy.

Calculating Jacking Forces for Circular Pipes with Welding Flange Slabs from a Combined Theory and Case Study

Pengjiao Jia,Baofeng Jiang,Wen Zhao,Yongping Guan,Jianyong Han,Cheng Cheng 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.23 No.4

Recently, the Steel Tube Slab (STS) curtain method has been successfully used in the construction of ultra-shallow metro stations in modern urban areas. By using the STS curtain method, the external surfaces of pipes are welded with flange slabs, and then the pipes are jacked into soils. However, the nature and extent of the influence of flange slabs on the calculation of jacking force is unclear. This paper presents the first combined theoretical and case study to calculate the increase of jacking forces for circular steel pipes with welded flange slabs during the entire jacking process. The increase of jacking forces was assumed to balance the friction at the soil-pipeline interface. Theoretical formulae were firstly developed to calculate earth pressure based on pressure arch theory and elastic foundation beam theory. A case study was then performed to verify the theoretical results with the field data from Olympic Metro Station on the Shenyang Metro Line 9 in China. Subsequently, factors influencing the calculation of jacking force were analyzed and discussed. Results show that the theoretical formulae produced good results with minor errors. The implications of these findings regarding the prediction of jacking force and selection of hydraulic jack are discussed.

Long-term surgical outcomes of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection: A multicenter observational study

Hang-Dong JIA,Lei LIANG,Chao LI,Han WU,Hong WANG,Ying-Jian LIANG,Ya-Hao ZHOU,Wei-Min GU,Xin-Ping FAN,Wan Yee LAU,Timothy M. PAWLIK,Yong-Kang DIAO,Qiu-Ran XU,Feng SHEN,Cheng-Wu ZHANG,Dong-Sheng HUANG,T 한국간담췌외과학회 2021 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.25 No.-

Melatonin stimulates aromatase expression and estradiol production in human granulosa-lutein cells: relevance for the high serum estradiol levels in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Jung-Chien Cheng,Lanlan Fang,Yiran Li,Sijia Wang,Yuxi Li,Yang Yan,Qiongqiong Jia,Ze Wu,Zhen Wang,Xiaoyu Han,Ying-Pu Sun 생화학분자생물학회 2020 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.52 No.-

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one of the most life-threatening and potentially fatal complications associated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Although the pathogenesis of OHSS remains unclear, elevated serum estradiol (E2) levels before human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration are associated with the risk of OHSS. The pineal hormone melatonin and its receptors are expressed in human granulosa cells and have been shown to stimulate E2 production. However, the effect of melatonin on the expression of aromatase, an enzyme responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of E2, in human granulosa cells remains to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that melatonin upregulates aromatase expression in primary cultured human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells through the melatonin receptor-mediated PKA-CREB pathway. Using a mouse model of OHSS, we demonstrate that administration of the melatonin receptor inhibitor luzindole inhibits the development of OHSS. In addition, the expression of ovarian aromatase and serum E2 levels are upregulated in OHSS mice compared to control mice, but this upregulation is attenuated by inhibition of the function of melatonin. Moreover, clinical results reveal that aromatase expression levels are upregulated in hGL cells from OHSS patients. Melatonin and E2 levels in the follicular fluid are significantly higher in OHSS patients than in non-OHSS patients. Furthermore, melatonin levels are positively correlated with E2 levels in follicular fluid. This study helps to elucidate the mechanisms mediating the expression of aromatase in hGL cells and provides a potential mechanism explaining the high E2 levels in patients with OHSS.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs involved in double-color formation in Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Shima Nishiki’ by high-throughput sequencing

Xinpeng Zhang,Jinshan Jia,Ming-yuan Zhao,Cheng Li,Xu Han,Zongda Xu 한국원예학회 2022 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.63 No.1

Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Shima Nishiki’ is a valuable double-color cultivar, but the mechanism of its double-color formationis still unknown at the post-translational level. Moreover, many studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a keyrole in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study, small RNA sequencing was performed to identify and characterizemiRNAs in six libraries of the red (LH) and pink (LF) petals. A total of 591 conserved and 53 novel miRNAs wereidentified, among which 68 conserved and 2 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed between the LH and LF libraries. Meanwhile, the corresponding target genes for these differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were successfully predictedand annotated. Among them, two DEMs (miR858 and miR156a-5p) and their corresponding target genes possibly relatedto anthocyanin biosynthesis were screened. We further confirmed the relative expression of 15 candidate miRNAs (2 DEMsand other 13 miRNAs) and the 4 corresponding target genes of these DEMs by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Among these four target genes, only CL2846.Contig2_All [Annotation: transcription factor MYB12] showed a substantiallyhigher differential expression between the red and pink petals. Based on the above results, we concluded that miR858 andmiR156a-5p (especially miR858) are possibly involved in mediating double-color formation. These results provide a newunderstanding about the mechanism of double-color formation in P. suffruticosa ‘Shima Nishiki’.

Identification of mountain-cultivated ginseng and cultivated ginseng using UPLC/oa-TOF MSE with a multivariate statistical sample-profiling strategy

Xu, Xin-fang,Cheng, Xian-long,Lin, Qing-hua,Li, Sha-sha,Jia, Zhe,Han, Ting,Lin, Rui-chao,Wang, Dan,Wei, Feng,Li, Xiang-ri The Korean Society of Ginseng 2016 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.40 No.4

Background: Mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and cultivated ginseng (CG) both belong to Panax ginseng and have similar ingredients. However, their pharmacological activities are different due to their significantly different growth environments. Methods: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)-based approach was developed to distinguish MCG and CG. Multivariate statistical methods, such as principal component analysis and supervised orthogonal partial-least-squares discrimination analysis were used to select the influential components. Results: Under optimized UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS conditions, 40 ginsenosides in both MCG and CG were unambiguously identified and tentatively assigned. The results showed that the characteristic components of CG and MCG included ginsenoside Ra3/isomer, gypenoside XVII, quinquenoside R1, ginsenoside Ra7, notoginsenoside Fe, ginsenoside Ra2, ginsenoside Rs6/Rs7, malonyl ginsenoside Rc, malonyl ginsenoside Rb1, malonyl ginsenoside Rb2, palmitoleic acid, and ethyl linoleate. The malony ginsenosides are abundant in CG, but higher levels of the minor ginsenosides were detected in MCG. Conclusion: This is the first time that the differences between CG and MCG have been observed systematically at the chemical level. Our results suggested that using the identified characteristic components as chemical markers to identify different ginseng products is effective and viable.

Application of Recurrence Plots and VGG Deep Learning Model to the Study of Condition Monitoring of Robotic Grinding

Kuan‑Jung Chung,Cheng‑Han Dai,Tung‑Chun Chiang,June‑Jia Xie,Ming-Tzer Lin 한국정밀공학회 2023 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.24 No.9

This study adopted AI to identify the normal and abnormal vibration signals generated during robotic grinding. This study classified four fundamental factors affecting grinding into three levels to obtain a widely used result and designed an L9(34)orthogonal array for the grinding experiment. During experimentation, part of the grinding wheels was added weight to produce abnormal vibration signals, which an accelerometer would measure. The study transformed the collected vibration signals into recurrence plots and conducted model training with VGG16 CNN architecture. Finally, this study tested a model with 89.6% training accuracy. The results showed the model could identify whether the recurrence plots stand for normal or abnormal vibrations, with an accuracy of 85%. This means it could predict normal and abnormal grinding conditions and help avoid problems caused by abnormal vibrations.

Establishing a Nomogram for Stage IA-IIB Cervical Cancer Patients after Complete Resection

Zhou, Hang,Li, Xiong,Zhang, Yuan,Jia, Yao,Hu, Ting,Yang, Ru,Huang, Ke-Cheng,Chen, Zhi-Lan,Wang, Shao-Shuai,Tang, Fang-Xu,Zhou, Jin,Chen, Yi-Le,Wu, Li,Han, Xiao-Bing,Lin, Zhong-Qiu,Lu, Xiao-Mei,Xing, H Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. Results: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. Conclusions: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

Empirical seismic vulnerability probability prediction model of RC structures considering historical field observation

Si-Qi Li,Hong-Bo Liu,Ke Du,Jia-Cheng Han,Yi-Ru Li,Li-Hui Yin 국제구조공학회 2023 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.86 No.4

To deeply probe the actual earthquake level and fragility of typical reinforced concrete (RC) structures under multiple intensity grades, considering diachronic measurement building stock samples and actual observations of representative catastrophic earth shocks in China from 1990 to 2010, RC structures were divided into traditional RC structures (TRCs) and bottom reinforced concrete frame seismic wall masonry (BFM) structures, and the empirical damage characteristics and mechanisms were analysed. A great deal of statistics and induction were developed on the historical experience investigation data of 59 typical catastrophic earthquakes in 9 provinces of China. The database and fragility matrix prediction model were established with TRCs of 4,122.5284×104 m2 and 5,844 buildings and BFMs of 5,872 buildings as empirical seismic damage samples. By employing the methods of structural damage probability and statistics, nonlinear prediction of seismic vulnerability, and numerical and applied functional analysis, the comparison matrix of actual fragility probability prediction of TRC and BFM in multiple intensity regions under the latest version of China’s macrointensity standard was established. A novel nonlinear regression prediction model of seismic vulnerability was proposed, and prediction models considering the seismic damage ratio and transcendental probability parameters were constructed. The time-varying vulnerability comparative model of the sample database was developed according to the different periods of multiple earthquakes. The new calculation method of the average fragility prediction index (AFPI) matrix parameter model has been proposed to predict the seismic fragility of an areal RC structure.

Changes in Markers of Liver Function in HCV 1b Patients with Compensated Cirrhosis Treated with Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/ Ritonavir plus Dasabuvir with Ribavirin

( Jeong Heo ),( Yan Luo ),( Wan-long Chuang ),( Jidong Jia ),( Kwang-hyub Han ),( Ming-lung Yu ),( Hong Tang ),( Young-suk Lim ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Min Xu ),( Maorong Wang ),( Bo Fu ),( Niloufar Mo 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: Patients chronically infected with HCV are at risk of developing extrahepatic manifestations of HCV as well as progressing to compensated or decompensated cirrhosis and HCC. Although current treatments have high rates of SVR, relatively little is known about possible regression of liver fibrosis after achieving an SVR. The ONYX-II trial examined the efficacy and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir + ribavirin (RBV) in Asian patients with HCV genotype 1b infection and compensated cirrhosis. Here we report changes in key markers of liver fibrosis and function. Methods: Patients with chronic HCV GT1b infection and compensated cirrhosis were enrolled in China, South Korea and Taiwan and received 12 weeks of OBV/PTV/r (25 mg/150 mg/100 mg once daily) and DSV (250 mg twice daily) with weight-based RBV. The primary objective of ONYX-II was to assess efficacy (SVR12) and safety of the regimen. Changes in markers of liver fibrosis and function between baseline (BL) and post-treatment week (PTW) 12 are presented. Results: Overall, 104 patients were enrolled and treated in ONYX-II. All patients (104/104, 100%) achieved SVR12. BL and PTW12 data for FibroTest score, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, albumin, platelet count and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) are shown in Table 1. All selected parameters showed numerical improvements between BL and PTW12. Mean ALT and AST levels returned to within normal range and FibroTest scores demonstrated a numerical improvement, suggesting improvement in liver status. The complete set of data between BL and PTW12 will be presented for these parameters and other liver composite parameters at the conference. Conclusions: Measurement of key liver function markers during the ONYX-II trial showed a numerical improvement within 12 weeks of completion of treatment in HCV GT1b-infected patients with compensated cirrhosis. Further follow-up of these patients will determine the long-term durability of these changes.