Synchronous Ectopic Pancreatoblastoma in a Child: A Case Report

Zhi-Hao Yang,Jian-Bo Gao,Song-Wei Yue,Xue-Hua Yang,Hua Guo 대한의학회 2011 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.26 No.6

Pancreatoblastoma is a rare primary pancreatic neoplasm of children that may arise in any portion of the pancreas. We report a case of a 3-yr-old boy who presented to with abdominal pain our hospital and a progressive bulge in his right abdomen. Biochemical evaluation and serum levels of tumoral markers were within reference limits. On the computed tomography, two tumors were found. One located in the head of the pancreas;however, a laparotomy revealed that the head of pancreas was compressed but normal. The other was in the left abdomen near the spleen and the tail of the pancreas. The diagnosis of two synchronous pancreatoblastoma originating from the omentum was confirmed by pathology. Therefore, a pancreatoblastoma should be considered when a large well-defined, lobulated, and heterogeneous mass is identified in the pancreas of children. In addition, an ectopic pancreatoblastoma should be considered when identified within or near the ectopic pancreatic tissue.

The Effect of Electron-withdrawing Group Functionalization on Antibacterial and Catalytic Activity of Palladium(II) Complexes

Zhi-Qiang Feng,Xiao-Li Yang,Yuan-Feng Ye,Lin-Yun Hao 대한화학회 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.4

The design, synthesis, and structural characterization of two new palladium complexes based on Schiff base ligands is reported; [Pd(L1)2] (1) and [Pd(L2)2] (2), [HL1 = 2-((E)-(2,6-diethylphenylimino)methyl)-4,6- dibromophenol, L2 = (E)-N-benzylidene-2,6-diethylbenzenamine], which are obtained by functionalizing Schiff base ligands with or without electron-withdrawing groups. Both compounds are mononuclear structures. Comparisons are made to the compounds 1 and 2 to analyze and understand the effect of electron-withdrawing groups. Antibacterial activity studies indicate the electron-withdrawing groups on Schiff base ligands enhance antibacterial activity. Catalytic activity, however, is reduced due to the enhanced steric-hindrance of the electron-withdrawing groups. Electronic absorption and emission properties of HL1, L2, 1 and 2 are also reported.

Two Androstane Derivatives from the Cultures of Fungus Marasmiellus ramealis (Bull.) Singer

Yang, Ning-Ning,Ma, Qing-Yun,Huang, Sheng-Zhuo,Dai, Hao-Fu,Guo, Zhi-Kai,Yu, Zhi-Fang,Zhao, You-Xing Korean Chemical Society 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.11

A new androstane derivative, $4{\beta}$-methyl-15-oxa-$14{\beta}$-androstane-7-ene-$4{\alpha}$-carboxylic acid (1) and a known one $4{\beta}$-methyl-15-oxa-$14{\beta}$-androstane-7-ene-$4{\alpha}$-hydroxyl (2) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the cultures of the fungus Marasmiellus ramealis (Bull.) Singer. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as MS spectroscopic data analysis. The inhibitory activity of two isolates against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) revealed that compound 1 exhibited definitely inhibitory activity.

Overexpression of the maize ZmAMT1;1a gene enhances root ammonium uptake efficiency under low ammonium nutrition

Yang Zhao,Zhi Liu,Fengying Duan,Xia An,Xiangguo Liu,Dongyun Hao,Riliang Gu,Zhangkui Wang,Fanjun Chen,Lixing Yuan 한국식물생명공학회 2018 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.12 No.1

High-affinity ammonium uptake in maize roots is mainly mediated by AMT1-type ammonium transporters ZmAMT1;1a and ZmAMT1;3, but whether the increased expression of ZmAMTs genes is able to enhance ammonium uptake capacity and subsequently improves overall nitrogen use efficiency remains to be elucidated. In this work, ZmAMT1;1a-overexpression transgenic maize plants were generated with the elevated levels of transcripts and proteins, and phenotypically analyzed together with wild-type plants grown in nutrient solution under two regimes of ammonium supply. Under low ammonium nutrition (0.04 mM), in relative to wild-type plants, the maize transgenic lines showed an approximately 17% increases in the high-affinity ammonium uptake capacity of roots as revealed by 15N-labeled ammonium influx assay and further contributed to about 7% increases in the total nitrogen uptake at the whole plant level. By contrast, when ammonium was supplied in high amounts (1 mM), wild-type plants expressed higher levels of ZmAMT1;1a, but exhibited a lower ammonium uptake capacity in roots. Furthermore, the transgenic maize line accumulated more amounts of ZmAMT1;1a protein, but did not translate into an enhanced ammonium acquisition, suggesting a possible post-translational down-regulation of ZmAMT1;1a by high ammonium. This study proved the possibility to enhance ammonium acquisition by elevating ZmAMTs expression in maize roots and provided an effective transgenic approach on developing high nitrogen use efficient maize cultivars.

Good performance of Sc (0001) surface adsorbing CO molecule

Hao Zhi-Qiang,Yang Jian-Long,Li Hui,Yao Jian-Gang 한국물리학회 2022 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.80 No.9

There is a big discrepancy in terms of calculating the surface energy of the HCP Sc (0001) surface for previous theoretical results. Herein, we used a relatively reasonable method to predict the calculated value (1.263 J/m2), which agrees well with the experimental outcome (1.275 J/m2). Based on this, the adsorption behaviors of CO at different sites, i.e., hollow (H1, H2, and H3), bridge (B1), and top sites (T1), were explored theoretically. The results suggest that hollow sites, particularly the H1 site exhibits a good performance in adsorbing CO molecule, and that the adsorption energy reaches nearly 3.5 eV, which corresponds to a significant elongation of the C–O distance (more than 24%). In addition, the CO adsorbed at the H1 site is seen to be located parallelly at the surface. An obvious substantive variation of the CO molecular orbit of H1 adsorption site is observed.

Enhancing Performances of Polyamide 66 Short Fiber/Natural Rubber Composites via In Situ Vulcanization Reaction

Zhi Hao,Junqi Shen,Xiang Sheng,Zong Shen,Le Yang,Xuefeng Lu,Zhu Luo,Qiang Zheng 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.2

This paper details a new method for improving the interfacial bonding between PA66 short fiber (PSF) and natural rubber (NR) by reaction of the methacrylic acid (MAA)-grafting-modified PSF with rubber during vulcanization. Carboncarbon double bonds introduced to the SF surface by MAA grafting were opened, and a vulcanization reaction occurred between the modified PSF and rubber in the presence of sulfur. The chemical reactions were verified by FTIR and XPS. The processing rheological behaviors of the compounded composites were investigated by a rubber processing analyzer (RPA). The morphology of modified PSF was characterized by AFM and SEM. The improved interfacial bonding was confirmed by DMA, which enhanced deformational stress at definite elongation of the NR/PSF composites. The volume concentration of the MAA solution for grafting on the SF surface had a great influence on the interfacial bonding and mechanical properties of the composites; when the volume concentration was 30 %, the modified PSF-reinforced NR/CB had the best interfacial bonding and mechanical properties.

The Effect of Electron-withdrawing Group Functionalization on Antibacterial and Catalytic Activity of Palladium(II) Complexes

Feng, Zhi-Qiang,Yang, Xiao-Li,Ye, Yuan-Feng,Hao, Lin-Yun Korean Chemical Society 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.4

The design, synthesis, and structural characterization of two new palladium complexes based on Schiff base ligands is reported; $[Pd(L1)_2]$ (1) and $[Pd(L2)_2]$ (2), [HL1 = 2-((E)-(2,6-diethylphenylimino)methyl)-4,6-dibromophenol, L2 = (E)-N-benzylidene-2,6-diethylbenzenamine], which are obtained by functionalizing Schiff base ligands with or without electron-withdrawing groups. Both compounds are mononuclear structures. Comparisons are made to the compounds 1 and 2 to analyze and understand the effect of electron-withdrawing groups. Antibacterial activity studies indicate the electron-withdrawing groups on Schiff base ligands enhance antibacterial activity. Catalytic activity, however, is reduced due to the enhanced steric-hindrance of the electron-withdrawing groups. Electronic absorption and emission properties of HL1, L2, 1 and 2 are also reported.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate depresses angiotensin IIinducedcardiomyocyte hypertrophy through MEK/ERKpathway

Le Yang,Xiaojing Zou,Qiansheng Liang,Hao Chen,Jun Feng,Li Yan,Zhaohua Wang,Daixing Zhou,Shusheng Li,Shanglong Yao,Zhi Zheng 생화학분자생물학회 2007 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.39 No.1

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of sodium tans - hinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in vivo and in vitro. In long-term treatment, adult Wistar rats were infused with Ang II for three weeks via osmotic mini-pumps and some of them were given intragas - trically of STS. Left ventricle was isolated; the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were determined and heart morphometry was assessed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results indicated STS inhibited Ang II-induced increases in myocyte diameter and decreased the LVW/BW ratio independent of decreasing systolic blood pressure. In vitro, treatment of cultured cardiomyocytes with STS inhibited Ang II-induced increase in cell size, protein synthesis, ANP expression, activation of extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK) and ERK kinase (MEK). Then we reexamined the mechanism of STS-induced antihypertrophic effects. Results revealed MEK inhibitor U0126 (20 µM) markedly enhanced STS-induced depressions in [3H]leucine incorporation and ANP expression. In conclusion, MEK/ERK pathway plays a significant role in the anti-hypertrophic effects of STS.

Current Evidence on the Relationship Between Two Polymorphisms in the NBS1 Gene and Breast Cancer Risk: a Meta-analysis

Zhang, Zhi-Hua,Yang, Lin-Sheng,Huang, Fen,Hao, Jia-Hu,Su, Pu-Yu,Sun, Ye-Huan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Introduction: Published studies on the association between Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1(NBS1) gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk have been inconclusive, and a meta-analysis was therefore performed for clarification. Methods: Eligible articles were identified by a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE bibliographic databases for the period up to March 2012. The presence of between-study heterogeneity was investigated using the chi-square-based Cochran's Q statistic test. When there was statistical heterogeneity, the random effects model was chosen; otherwise, fixed effects estimates were reported as an alternative approach. Results: A total of 11 eligible articles (14 case-control studies) were identified, nine case-control studies were for the 657del5 mutation (7,534 breast cancer cases, 14,034 controls) and five case-control studies were for the I171V mutation (3,273 breast cancer cases, 4,004 controls). Our analysis results indicated that the 657del5 mutation was associated with breast cancer risk (carriers vs. non-carriers: pooled OR =2.63, 95% CI: 1.76-3.93), whereas the I171V mutation was not (carriers vs. non-carriers: pooled OR =1.52, 95% CI: 0.70-3.28). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis suggests that the 657del5 gene mutation in the NBS1 gene plays a role in breast cancer risk, while the I171V mutation does not exert a significant influence.

Weight Loss Correlates with Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 Expression and Might Influence Outcome in Patients with Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Yu, Jing-Wei,Lu, Ming,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: Weight loss during chemotherapy has not been exclusively investigated. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) might play a role in its etiology. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of weight loss before chemotherapy and its relationship with MIC-1 concentration and its occurrence during chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Materials and Methods: We analyzed 157 inoperable locally advanced or metastatic ESCC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy. Serum MIC-1 concentrations were assessed before chemotherapy. Patients were assigned into two groups according to their weight loss before or during chemotherapy:>5% weight loss group and ${\leq}5%$ weight loss group. Results: Patients with weight loss>5% before chemotherapy had shorter progression-free survival period (5.8 months vs. 8.7 months; p=0.027) and overall survival (10.8 months vs. 20.0 months; p=0.010). Patients with weight loss >5% during chemotherapy tended to have shorter progression-free survival (6.0 months vs. 8.1 months; p=0.062) and overall survival (8.6 months vs. 18.0 months; p=0.022), and if weight loss was reversed during chemotherapy, survival rates improved. Furthermore, serum MIC-1 concentration was closely related to weight loss before chemotherapy (p=0.001) Conclusions: Weight loss both before and during chemotherapy predicted poor outcome in advanced ESCC patients, and MIC-1 might be involved in the development of weight loss in such patients.