Inhibition of L-type Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> current by ginsenoside Rd in rat ventricular myocytes

Cheng Lu,Zhijun Sun,Line Wang 고려인삼학회 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.2

Background: Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), one of the most abundant ingredients of Panax ginseng, protects the heart via multiple mechanisms including the inhibition of Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> influx. We intended to explore the effects of GSRd on L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) and define the mechanism of the suppression of ICa,L by GSRd. Methods: Perforated-patch recording and whole-cell voltage clamp techniques were applied in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. Results: (1) GSRd reduced ICa,L peak amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 32.4± 7.1 μmol/L] and up-shifted the currente-voltage (I-V) curve. (2) GSRd (30 μmol/L) significantly changed the steady-state activation curve of ICa,L (V0.5: -19.12± 0.68 vs. -16.26 ± 0.38 mV; n = 5, p < 0.05) and slowed down the recovery of ICa,L from inactivation [the time content (ζ) from 91 ms to 136 ms, n = 5, p < 0.01]. (3) A more significant inhibitive effect of GSRd (100 μmol/L) was identified in perforated-patch recording when compared with whole-cell recording [65.7 ±3.2% (n = 10) vs. 31.4 ± 5.2% (n=5), p < 0.01]. (4) Pertussis toxin (Gi protein inhibitor) completely abolished the ICa,L inhibition induced by GSRd. There was a significant difference in inhibition potency between the two cyclic adenosine monophosphate elevating agents (isoprenaline and forskolin) prestimulation [55± 7.8% (n = 5) vs. 17.2 ± 3.5% (n= 5), p < 0.01]. (5) 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (a nitric oxide scavenger) partly recovered the ICa,L inhibition induced by GSRd. (6) Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (a protein kinase Cactivator) and GF109203X (a protein kinase C inhibitor) did not contribute to the inhibition of GSRd. Conclusion: These findings suggest that GSRd could inhibit ICa,L through pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein (Gi) and a nitric oxideecyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent mechanism.

Energy spread minimization in a cascaded laser wakefield accelerator via velocity bunching

Zhang, Zhijun,Li, Wentao,Liu, Jiansheng,Wang, Wentao,Yu, Changhai,Tian, Ye,Nakajima, Kazuhisa,Deng, Aihua,Qi, Rong,Wang, Cheng,Qin, Zhiyong,Fang, Ming,Liu, Jiaqi,Xia, Changquan,Li, Ruxin,Xu, Zhizhan American Institute of Physics 2016 Physics of plasmas Vol.23 No.5

Inhibition of L-type Ca²⁺ current by ginsenoside Rd in rat ventricular myocytes

Lu, Cheng,Sun, Zhijun,Wang, Line The Korean Society of Ginseng 2015 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.39 No.2

Background: Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), one of the most abundant ingredients of Panax ginseng, protects the heart via multiple mechanisms including the inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx.We intended to explore the effects of GSRd on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca,L}$) and define the mechanism of the suppression of $I_{Ca,L}$ by GSRd. Methods: Perforated-patch recording and whole-cell voltage clamp techniques were applied in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. Results: (1) GSRd reduced $I_{Ca,L}$ peak amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner [half-maximal inhibitory concentration $(IC_{50})=32.4{\pm}7.1{\mu}mol/L$] and up-shifted the current-voltage (I-V) curve. (2) GSRd ($30{\mu}mol/L$) significantly changed the steady-state activation curve of $I_{Ca,L}$ ($V_{0.5}:-19.12{\pm}0.68$ vs. $-6.26{\pm}0.38mV$; n = 5, p < 0.05) and slowed down the recovery of $I_{Ca,L}$ from inactivation [the time content (${\zeta}$) from 91 ms to 136 ms, n = 5, p < 0.01]. (3) A more significant inhibitive effect of GSRd ($100{\mu}mol/L$) was identified in perforated-patch recording when compared with whole-cell recording [$65.7{\pm}3.2%$ (n = 10) vs. $31.4{\pm}5.2%$ (n = 5), p < 0.01]. (4) Pertussis toxin ($G_i$ protein inhibitor) completely abolished the $I_{Ca,L}$ inhibition induced by GSRd. There was a significant difference in inhibition potency between the two cyclic adenosine monophosphate elevating agents (isoprenaline and forskolin) prestimulation [$55{\pm}7.8%$ (n = 5) vs. $17.2{\pm}3.5%$ (n = 5), p < 0.01]. (5) 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and N-acetyl-$\small{L}$-cysteine (a nitric oxide scavenger) partly recovered the $I_{Ca,L}$ inhibition induced by GSRd. (6) Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (a protein kinase C activator) and GF109203X (a protein kinase C inhibitor) did not contribute to the inhibition of GSRd. Conclusion: These findings suggest that GSRd could inhibit $I_{Ca,L}$ through pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein ($G_i$) and a nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent mechanism.

Determination of Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients With Distant Lymph Node Metastasis Using Prealbumin Level and Prothrombin Time: Contour Plots Based on Random Survival Forest Algorithm on High-Dimensionality Clinical and Laboratory Datasets

Zhang, Cheng,Xie, Minmin,Zhang, Yi,Zhang, Xiaopeng,Feng, Chong,Wu, Zhijun,Feng, Ying,Yang, Yahui,Xu, Hui,Ma, Tai The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2022 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.22 No.2

Purpose: This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for patients with distant lymph node-involved gastric cancer (GC) using a machine learning algorithm, a method that offers considerable advantages and new prospects for high-dimensional biomedical data exploration. Materials and Methods: This study employed 79 features of clinical pathology, laboratory tests, and therapeutic details from 289 GC patients whose distant lymphadenopathy was presented as the first episode of recurrence or metastasis. Outcomes were measured as any-cause death events and survival months after distant lymph node metastasis. A prediction model was built based on possible outcome predictors using a random survival forest algorithm and confirmed by 5×5 nested cross-validation. The effects of single variables were interpreted using partial dependence plots. A contour plot was used to visually represent survival prediction based on 2 predictive features. Results: The median survival time of patients with GC with distant nodal metastasis was 9.2 months. The optimal model incorporated the prealbumin level and the prothrombin time (PT), and yielded a prediction error of 0.353. The inclusion of other variables resulted in poorer model performance. Patients with higher serum prealbumin levels or shorter PTs had a significantly better prognosis. The predicted one-year survival rate was stratified and illustrated as a contour plot based on the combined effect the prealbumin level and the PT. Conclusions: Machine learning is useful for identifying the important determinants of cancer survival using high-dimensional datasets. The prealbumin level and the PT on distant lymph node metastasis are the 2 most crucial factors in predicting the subsequent survival time of advanced GC.

Biomass Chitosan-Induced Fe3O4 Functionalized Halloysite Nanotube Composites: Preparation, Characterization and Flame-Retardant Performance

Mengmeng Zhang,Yamin Cheng,Zhiwei Li,Xiaohong Li,Laigui Yu,Zhijun Zhang 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.15 No.01

An inorganic–organic nanohybrid flame retardant, HNT@CS@Fe3O4, is prepared by Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) as nanotemplate, chitosan (CS) as char-forming agent and ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) playing in a catalytic role, aiming to endow enhanced flame-retardant performance of its nanohybrid. Results show that HNT@CS@Fe3O4 nanohybrids have a corn-like structure and can significantly improve the flame retardancy and thermal stability of epoxy resin (EP). Especially, the initial thermal degradation temperature of EP/HNT@CS@Fe3O4 is significantly improved by 24 ℃ relative to pure EP, and the residual carbon yield under air atmosphere is 8.8 wt.%, which is significantly higher than other EP composites, indicating a higher thermal stability is offered by the as-prepared nanohybrid. The limiting oxygen index of EP/10HNT@CS@Fe3O4 is 31.3%, which is 10.2% higher than that of pure EP. Meanwhile, the HNT@CS@Fe3O4 nanofiller reduces the peak heat release rate, CO production and peak smoke production release of EP nanocomposite by 32.0%, 44.0% and 33.0% in a cone calorimeter test, respectively. This is because the HNT-based composite can form a three-dimensional network structure into the EP matrix to inhibit heat release and diffusion of flammable moieties upon burning of EP. In the meantime, the incorporated Fe3O4 nanoparticle can in situ catalyze the charring of CS and EP matrix on the surface of HNT during the combustion process, which also contributes to the significantly increased fire safety of EP.

Gestational weight gain of multiparas and risk of primary preeclampsia: a retrospective cohort study in Shanghai

Chen Chao,Lei Zhijun,Xiong Yaoxi,Ni Meng,He Biwei,Gao Jing,Zheng Panchan,Xie Xianjing,He Chengrong,Yang Xingyu,Cheng Weiwei 대한고혈압학회 2023 Clinical Hypertension Vol.29 No.-

Background In all studies conducted so far, there was no report about the correlation between excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and the risk of preeclampsia (PE) in multiparas, especially considering that multiparity is a protective factor for both excessive GWG and PE. Thus, the aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine whether GWG of multiparas is associated with the increased risk of PE. Methods This was a study with 15,541 multiparous women who delivered in a maternity hospital in Shanghai from 2017 to 2021, stratifed by early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) category. Early-pregnancy body weight, height, week-specifc and total gestational weight gain as well as records of antenatal care were extracted using electronic medical records, and antenatal weight gain measurements were standardized into gestational age-specifc z scores. Results Among these 15,541 multiparous women, 534 (3.44%) developed preeclampsia. The odds of preeclampsia increased by 26% with every 1 z score increase in pregnancy weight gain among normal weight women and by 41% among overweight or obese women. For normal weight women, pregnant women with preeclampsia gained more weight than pregnant women without preeclampsia beginning at 25 weeks of gestation, while accelerated weight gain was more obvious in overweight or obese women after 25 weeks of gestation. Conclusions In conclusion, excessive GWG in normal weight and overweight or obese multiparas was strongly associated with the increased risk of preeclampsia. In parallel, the appropriate management and control of weight gain, especially in the second and third trimesters, may lower the risk of developing preeclampsia.

Performances of Prognostic Models in Stratifying Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving First-line Chemotherapy: a Validation Study in a Chinese Cohort

Xu, Hui,Zhang, Xiaopeng,Wu, Zhijun,Feng, Ying,Zhang, Cheng,Xie, Minmin,Yang, Yahui,Zhang, Yi,Feng, Chong,Ma, Tai The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2021 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.21 No.3

Purpose: While several prognostic models for the stratification of death risk have been developed for patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy, they have seldom been tested in the Chinese population. This study investigated the performance of these models and identified the optimal tools for Chinese patients. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with metastatic or recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma who received first-line chemotherapy were eligible for inclusion in the validation cohort. Their clinical data and survival outcomes were retrieved and documented. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the models. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted for patients in different risk groups divided by 7 published stratification tools. Log-rank tests with pairwise comparisons were used to compare survival differences. Results: The analysis included a total of 346 patients with metastatic or recurrent disease. The median overall survival time was 11.9 months. The patients were different into different risk groups according to the prognostic stratification models, which showed variability in distinguishing mortality risk in these patients. The model proposed by Kim et al. showed relative higher predicting abilities compared to the other models, with the highest χ² (25.8) value in log-rank tests across subgroups, and areas under the curve values at 6, 12, and 24 months of 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.72), 0.60 (0.54-0.65), and 0.63 (0.56-0.69), respectively. Conclusions: Among existing prognostic tools, the models constructed by Kim et al., which incorporated performance status score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and tumor differentiation, were more effective in stratifying Chinese patients with gastric cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy.

Transcriptomics Analysis Identified Candidate Genes Colocalized with Seed Dormancy QTLs in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Huaide Qin,Fuqing Wu,Kun Xie,Zhijun Cheng,Xiuping Guo,Xin Zhang,Jie Wang,Cailin Lei,Jiulin Wang,Long Mao,Ling Jiang,Jianmin Wan 한국식물학회 2010 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.54 No.5

Rice seed dormancy is an important trait related to the preharvest sprouting resistance of rice and is controlled by a polygene network. To identify the genes involved in this process, transcriptome analysis was applied to strong seed dormancy indica cultivar N22 and its weak dormancy mutant Q4646. The results showed that 280genes were significantly upregulated and 244 genes significantly downregulated in the seed of Q4646 as compared to N22 during 25 to 28 days after heading. These genes were mainly involved in stress response, Ccompound metabolism, plant development, DNA processing,and lipid metabolism. Some of these genes were colocalized with several reported dormancy QTLs, suggesting that they are possibly candidate genes underlying rice seed dormancy. Our work provides important clues for future effort to clone seed dormant genes in rice.

Metagenomics analysis of the gut microbiome in healthy and bacterial pneumonia forest musk deer

Wei Zhao,Ziwei Ren,Yan Luo,Jianguo Cheng,Jie Wang,Yin Wang,Zexiao Yang,Xueping Yao,Zhijun Zhong,Wei Yang,Xi Wu 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.1

Background The forest musk deer (FMD, Moschus berezovskii) is an threatened species in China. Bacterial pneumonia was found to seriously restrict the development of FMD captive breeding. Historical evidence has demonstrated the relationship between immune system and intestinal Lactobacillus in FMD. Objective We sought to elucidate the diferences in the gut microbiota of healthy and bacterial pneumonia FMD. Methods The bacterial pneumonia FMD was demonstrated by bacterial and pathological diagnosis, and the gut microbiome of healthy and bacterial pneumonia FMD was sequenced and analysed. Results There are three pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus equinus and Trueperella pyogenes) isolated from the bacterial pneumonia FMD individuals. Compared with the healthy group, the abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the pneumonia group was changed, and a high level of Proteobacteria was found in the pneumonia group. In addition, a higher abundance of Acinetobacter (p=0.01) was observed in the population of the pneumonia group compared with the healthy group. Several potentially harmful bacteria and disease-related KEGG subsystems were only found in the gut of the bacterial pneumonia group. Analysis of KEGG revealed that many genes related to type IV secretion system, type IV pilus, lipopolysaccharide export system, HTH-type transcriptional regulator/antitoxin MqsA, and ArsR family transcriptional regulator were signifcantly enriched in the metagenome of the bacterial pneumonia FMD. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that the gut microbiome was signifcantly altered in the bacterial pneumonia group. Overall, our research improves the understanding of the potential role of the gut microbiota in the FMD bacterial pneumonia.

Map-based cloning and functional analysis of the chromogen gene C in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Shasha Zhao,Cuihong Wang,Jian Ma,Shuai Wang,Peng Tian,Jiulin Wang,Zhijun Cheng,Xin Zhang,Xiuping Guo,Cailin Lei 한국식물학회 2016 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.59 No.5

The chromogen gene C is critical for anthocyanin regulation in rice, and apiculus color is an important agronomic trait in selective breeding and variety purification. Mapbased cloning and in-depth functional analysis of the C gene will be useful for understanding the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis and for rice breeding. Japonica landrace Lijiangxintuanheigu (LTH) has red apiculi and purple stigmas. Genetic analysis showed that red apiculus and purple stigma in LTH co-segregated indicating control by a single dominant gene, or by two completely linked genes. Using 1,851 recessive individuals from two F2 populations, the target gene OsC was delimited to a 70.8 kb interval on chromosome 6 that contains the rice homologue of the maize anthocyanin regulatory gene C1. When the entire OsC gene and its full-length cDNA cloned from LTH were transformed into japonica cultivar Kitaake with colorless apiculi and stigmas all positive transformants had red apiculi but non-colored stigmas, validating that OsC alone was responsible for the apiculus color and represented the functional C gene. OsC was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, with strongest expression in leaf blades. These results set a foundation to clarify the regulatory mechanisms of OsC in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway.