Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Discectomy: A Post Hoc Subgroup Analysis of 2-Year Follow-up Prospective Data

Zihao Chen,Lei He,Lijun Huang,Zhongyu Liu,Jianwen Dong,Bin Liu,Ruiqiang Chen,Liangming Zhang,Peigen Xie,Limin Rong 대한척추신경외과학회 2022 Neurospine Vol.19 No.1

Objective: A post hoc subgroup analysis of prospectively collected data from a randomized controlled trial was conducted to identify risk factors related to poor outcomes in patients who underwent minimally invasive discectomy. Methods: Patients were divided into satisfied and dissatisfied subgroups based on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) back pain score (VAS-back) and leg pain score (VAS-leg) at short-term and midterm follow-up according to the patient acceptable symptom state threshold. Demographic characteristics, radiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes between the satisfied and dissatisfied subgroups were compared using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 222 patients (92.1%) completed 2-year follow-up, and the postoperative ODI, VAS-back, and VAS-leg were significantly improved after surgery as compared to preoperatively. Multivariate analysis indicated older age (p = 0.026), lateral recess stenosis (p = 0.046), and lower baseline ODI (p = 0.027) were related to poor short-term functional improvement. Higher baseline VAS-back (p = 0.048) was associated with poor short-term relief of back pain, while absence of decreased sensation (p = 0.019) and far-lateral disc herniation (p = 0.004) were associated with poorer short-term relief of leg pain. Lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis was identified as a risk factor for poor functional improvement (p = 0.003) and relief of back pain (p = 0.031). Disc protrusion (p = 0.036) predicted poorer relief of back pain at midterm follow-up. Conclusion: In this study, several factors were identified to be predictive of poor surgical outcomes following minimally invasive discectomy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01997086).

Genotype CC of rs1800947 in the C-Reactive Protein Gene May Increase Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer: a Meta-Analysis

Chen, Xiao-Lin,Liao, Yong-Qiang,Liu, Jian-Rong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be related to circulating CRP level, risk and prognosis in cancer patients. However, accumulating evidence of rs1800947 involvement in risk of cancer is inconsistent. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to obtain a more precise relationship. Materials and Methods: The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval were assessed in 10 eligible articles with 12 studies containing 5,601 cancer cases and 8,669 cancer-free controls. Results: No significant association was observed overall and in subgroups in comparison of genotype GC vs GG ($P_H$=0.847, OR=0.939, 95%CI=0.810-1.087), GC/CC vs GG ($P_H$=0.941, OR=1.021, 95%CI=0.901-1.157) and allele C vs G ($P_H$=0.933, OR=1.026, 95%CI=0.909-1.159). However, statistically significance was evident in comparison of genotype CC vs GG in cancer risk ($P_H$=0.586, OR=2.854, 95%CI= 1.413-5.763), especially in colorectal cancer ($P_H$=0.481, OR=4.527, 95%CI= 1.664- 12.315). Conclusions: Genotype CC of rs1800947 in the CRP gene is strongly associated with increased cancer risk, particularly in colorectal cancer.

Modified Dual-Buck Inverter Based on Resonant Link

Chen, Rong,Zhang, Jia-Sheng,Liu, Wei The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2015 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.15 No.6

The efficiency and reliability of the dual-buck inverter (DBI) were greatly improved by eliminating the shoot-through problem and optimally designing the freewheeling diode. The traditional DBI suffers from large harmonic components with low output voltage and large capacity output filter inductor. To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, a modified DBI (MBDI) was proposed by adopting a quasi-resonant link and pulse density modulation (PDM). This paper first introduces the working principle of the MBDI and PDM, and then the selection principle of system parameters is presented. Finally, a mathematical model of the MBDIis built, and an experiment prototype is set up. Simulation and experimental results verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the feasibility of the scheme.

Half Load-Cycle Worked Dual SEPIC Single-Stage Inverter

Rong Chen,Jia-Sheng Zhang,Wei Liu,Chang-Ming Zheng 대한전기학회 2016 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.11 No.1

The two-stage converter is widely used in traditional DC/AC inverter. It has several disadvantages such as complex topology, large volume and high loss. In order to overcome these shortcomings, a novel half load-cycle worked dual SEPIC single-stage inverter, which is based on the analysis of the relationship between input and output voltages of SEPIC converters operating in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), is presented in this paper. The traditional single-stage inverter has remarkable advantages in small and medium power applications, but it can’t realize boost DC/AC output directly. Besides one pre-boost DC/DC converter is needed between the DC source and the traditional single-stage inverter. A novel DC/AC inverter without pre-boost DC/DC converter, which is comprised of two SEPIC converters, is studied. The output of dual SEPIC converters is connected with anti-parallel and half load-cycle control is used to realize boost and buck DC/AC output directly and work properly, whatever the DC input voltage is higher or lower than the AC output voltage. The working principle, parameter selection and the control strategy of the inverters are analyzed in this paper. Simulation and experiment results verify the feasibility of the new inverter.

Lack of Associations of the COMT Val158Met Polymorphism with Risk of Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer: a Pooled Analysis of Case-control Studies

Liu, Jin-Xin,Luo, Rong-Cheng,Li, Rong,Li, Xia,Guo, Yu-Wu,Ding, Da-Peng,Chen, Yi-Zhi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

This meta-analysis was conducted to examine whether the genotype status of Val158Met polymorphism in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is associated with endometrial and ovarian cancer risk. Eligible studies were identified by searching several databases for relevant reports published before January 1, 2014. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were appropriately derived from fixed-effects or random-effects models. In total, 15 studies (1,293 cases and 2,647 controls for ovarian cancer and 2,174 cases and 2,699 controls for endometrial cancer) were included in the present meta-analysis. When all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, there was no evidence for significant association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk (Val/Met versus Val/Val: OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.76-1.08; Met/Met versus Val/Val: OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.73-1.10; dominant model: OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.77-1.06; recessive model: OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.80-1.13). Similarly, no associations were found in all comparisons for endometrial cancer (Val/Met versus Val/Val: OR 0.97, 95% CI=0.77-1.21; Met/Met versus Val/Val: OR=1.02, 95% CI=0.73-1.42; dominant model: OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.77-1.25; recessive model: OR=1.02, 95% CI=0.87-1.20). In the subgroup analyses by source of control and ethnicity, no significant associations were found in any subgroup of population. This meta-analysis strongly suggests that COMT Val158Met polymorphism is not associated with increased endometrial and ovarian cancer risk.

Complexity science of multiscale materials via stochastic computations

Liu, Wing Kam,Siad, Larbi,Tian, Rong,Lee, Sanghoon,Lee, Dockjin,Yin, Xiaolei,Chen, Wei,Chan, Stephanie,Olson, Gregory B.,Lindgen, Lars-Erik,Horstemeyer, Mark F.,Chang, Yoon-Suk,Choi, Jae-Boong,Kim, Yo John Wiley Sons, Ltd. 2009 International Journal for Numerical Methods in Eng Vol.80 No.6

<P>New technological advances today allow for a range of advanced composite materials, including multilayer materials and nanofiber-matrix composites. In this context, the key to developing advanced materials is the understanding of the interplay between the various physical scales present, from the atomic level interactions to the microstructural composition and the macroscale behavior. Using the developing ‘multiresolution data sets mechanics’, the ‘predictive science-based governing laws of the materials microstructure evolutions’ are derived and melted into a ‘stochastic multiresolution design framework.’ Under such a framework, the governing laws of the materials microstructure evolution will be essential to assess, across multiple scales, the impact of multiscale material design, geometry design of a structure, and the manufacturing process conditions, by following the cause–effect relationships from structure to property and then to performance.</P><P>The future integrated multiscale analysis system will be constructed based on a probabilistic complexity science-based mathematical framework. Its verification, validation and uncertainty quantification are done through carefully designed experiments, and the life-cycled materials design for products design and manufacturing is performed through the use of petascale computing. The various techniques of microstructure reconstruction result in the generation of model microstructures that, at some level, has the same statistical properties as the real heterogeneous media. Having reconstructed the heterogeneous medium, one can then evaluate its effective properties via direct numerical simulation and compare these values with experimentally measured properties of the actual medium. The proposed analysis will be dynamic in nature to capture the multi-stage historical evolvement of material/structure performance over the life span of a product. In addition to providing more accurate assessment of structure performance with stochastic multiscale analysis, our development will provide the capability of predicting structure failures and system reliability to enable more reliable design and manufacturing decisions in product development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</P>

녹차 카테킨의 자유 라디칼(Free Radicals) 소거(消去) 메커니즘

Liu Ji Chen,Xian Qiang Yang,Park Jae Il,Sheng Rong Shen,Yue Fei Wang 한국식품과학회 2001 국제녹차심포지엄 Vol.2001 No.1

Modified Dual-Buck Inverter Based on Resonant Link

Rong Chen,Jia-Sheng Zhang,Wei Liu 전력전자학회 2015 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.15 No.6

The efficiency and reliability of the dual-buck inverter (DBI) were greatly improved by eliminating the shoot-through problem and optimally designing the freewheeling diode. The traditional DBI suffers from large harmonic components with low output voltage and large capacity output filter inductor. To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, a modified DBI (MBDI) was proposed by adopting a quasi-resonant link and pulse density modulation (PDM). This paper first introduces the working principle of the MBDI and PDM, and then the selection principle of system parameters is presented. Finally, a mathematical model of the MBDIis built, and an experiment prototype is set up. Simulation and experimental results verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the feasibility of the scheme.

Inhibitory Effects of α-Pinene on Hepatoma Carcinoma Cell Proliferation

Chen, Wei-Qiang,Xu, Bin,Mao, Jian-Wen,Wei, Feng-Xiang,Li, Ming,Liu, Tao,Jin, Xiao-Bao,Zhang, Li-Rong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known. Methods: In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay. Results: Further experiments showed that ${\alpha}$-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings indicate that ${\alpha}$-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.

Study of upfront surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery for patients with stage IIIC and IV ovarian cancer, SGOG SUNNY (SOC-2) trial concept

Rong Jiang,Jianqing Zhu,김재원,Jihong Liu,Kazuyoshi Kato,김희승,Yuqin Zhang,Ping Zhang,Tao Zhu,Daisuke Aoki,Aijun Yu,Xiaojun Chen,Xipeng Wang,Ding Zhu,Wei Zhang,Huixun Jia,Ting-Yan Shi,Wen Gao,Sheng Yin,Yan 대한부인종양학회 2020 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.31 No.5

Background: Two randomized phase III trials (EORTC55971 and CHORUS) showed similarprogression-free and overall survival in primary or interval debulking surgery in ovariancancer, however both studies had limitations with lower rate of complete resection and lack ofsurgical qualifications for participating centers. There is no consensus on whether neoadjuvantchemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS) could be a preferred approachin the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in the clinical practice. Methods: The Asian SUNNY study is an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled,phase III trial to compare the effect of primary debulking surgery (PDS) to NACT-IDS instages IIIC and IV EOC, fallopian tube cancer (FTC) or primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC). The hypothesis is that PDS enhances the survivorship when compared with NACT-IDS inadvanced ovarian cancer. The primary objective is to clarify the role of PDS and NACT-IDS inthe treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Surgical quality assures include at least 50% of nogross residual (NGR) in PDS group in all centers and participating centers should be nationalcancer centers or designed ovarian cancer section or those with the experience participatingsurgical trials of ovarian cancer. Any participating center should be monitored evaluatingthe proportions of NGR by a training set. The aim of the surgery in both arms is maximalcytoreduction. Tumor burden of the disease is evaluated by diagnostic laparoscopy orpositron emission tomography/computed tomography scan. Patients assigned to PDS groupwill undergo upfront maximal cytoreductive surgery within 3 weeks after biopsy, followed by6 cycles of standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients assigned to NACT group will undergo 3cycles of NACT-IDS, and subsequently 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. The maximal timeinterval between IDS and the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy is 8 weeks. Major inclusioncriteria are pathologic confirmed stage IIIC and IV EOC, FTC or PPC; ECOG performancestatus of 0 to 2; ASA score of 1 to 2. Major exclusion criteria are non-epithelial tumors as wellas borderline tumors; low-grade carcinoma; mucinous ovarian cancer. The sample size is 456subjects. Primary endpoint is overall survival. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02859038