A Retrospective Study of the Effect of Spinopelvic Parameters on Fatty Infiltration in Paraspinal Muscles in Patients With Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Jia-Chen Yang,Jia-Yu Chen,Yin Ding,Yong-Jie Yin,Zhi-Ping Huang,Xiu-Hua Wu,Zu-Cheng Huang,Yi-Kai Li,Qing-An Zhu 대한척추신경외과학회 2024 Neurospine Vol.21 No.1

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion: FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Polymerization of Catechol Employing Polyoxovanadate as Biomimetic Models Catalyze for Textile Dyeing

Zhi-jie Liang,Jiayu Peng,Jiale Liang,Yujing Song,Weini Jia,Qing-hui Mao 한국섬유공학회 2022 Fibers and polymers Vol.23 No.12

The outstanding redox chemistry of polyoxovanadate has shown excellent catalysis prospects. In the present work,the effect of polyoxovanadate (K7[MnV13O38]·18H2O) on the catalytic polymerization of catechol was investigated for thefirst time. The synthesized polymer was applied in-situ for the dyeing of cotton under mild conditions. Various processparameters, including the dosages of catechol and polyoxovanadate and incubation temperature, which influence the colordepth, were analyzed. The effect of different time intervals on polyoxovanadate-catalyzed polymerization of catechol wasexamined using UV-vis spectroscopy. The color intensity of cotton was evaluated by means of K/S value and color difference(ΔE*). The results show that the dyeing depth of the dyed cotton fabrics gradually increased with the extension of time andthe increase in the concentration of polyoxovanadate. This work represents a novel synthetic process exploring the potentialof a polymer to be used for textile dyeing.

Comparison of Liver Transplantation and Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Type I and Type II

Jia-Yu Lv,Ning-Ning Zhang,Ya-Wei Du,Ying Wu,Tian-Qiang Song,Ya-Min Zhang,Yan Qu,Yu-Xin Liu,Jie Gu,Ze-Yu Wang,Yi-Bo Qiu,Bing Yang,Da-Zhi Tian,Qing-Jun Guo,Li Zhang,Ji-San Sun,Yan Xie,Zheng-Lu Wang,Xin 연세대학교의과대학 2021 Yonsei medical journal Vol.62 No.1

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involvedand divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were comparedbefore and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR(p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longermedian RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335,respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion: LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels>200 ng/mL.

Laccase-Mediated In Situ Oxidation of Dopamine for Dyeing of Human Hair

Weini Jia,Shirong Li,Zhengxin Luo,Hainan Yu,Wenjun Zhu,Wenjun Zhu,Qing-hui Mao,Xiaoli Zhang,Zhi-jie Liang,Aixue Dong 한국섬유공학회 2021 Fibers and polymers Vol.22 No.1

Due to the damage of scalp because of chemical dyes, increasing attention had been paid to the ecological dyeingof human hair. To address the need for ecological restoration and dyeing of human hair, herein, a novel approach has beenproposed via laccase-mediated in situ oxidation of dihydroxy phenylalanine (dopamine). As laccase can catalyze dopamineoxidation and then polymerization to produce strongly colored polymers, different biological coloration processes of humanhair based on this process were investigated: (i) Human hair was treated with laccase alone; (ii) The absorption of human hairwith dopamine, followed by further catalysis of air; (iii) The absorption of human hair with dopamine, followed by furthercatalysis of laccase; (iv) Simultaneous laccase-mediated polymerization and dyeing of human hair; and (v) Polymerization ofDopamine with laccase and then dyeing human hair. The surface properties of dyed hair were evaluated in terms of ultraviolet(UV)-protection, color fastness, Fourier transforming infrared spectrum (FT-IR), optical microscope, and scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM). The results show that best hair dyeing effect was achieved via simultaneous laccase-mediatedpolymerization and dyeing. The dyed hair obtained K/S values of 28, light fastness of level 5, and UPF of 100+. The opticalmicroscope and SEM observations show that the surface of colored hair fibers was covered with thin burrs, which can beattributed to polydopamine attached with physical adhesive force and covalent reaction. FT-IR analysis shows that functionalgroups were present on the surface of the dyed hair which can be considered as introduction of hydroxyl radical groups. Thisbiological stain technique may be widely used in dyeing of hair with black color.

Identification and Association of SNPs in TBC1D1 Gene with Growth Traits in Two Rabbit Breeds

Yang, Zhi-Juan,Fu, Lu,Zhang, Gong-Wei,Yang, Yu,Chen, Shi-Yi,Wang, Jie,Lai, Song-Jia Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.11

The TBC1D1 plays a key role in body energy homeostasis by regulating the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The present study aimed to identify the association between genetic polymorphisms of TBC1D1 and body weight (BW) in rabbits. Among the total of 12 SNPs detected in all 20 exons, only one SNP was non-synonymous (c.214G>A. p.G72R) located in exon 1. c.214G>A was subsequently genotyped among 491 individuals from two rabbit breeds by the high-resolution melting method. Allele A was the predominant allele with frequencies of 0.7780 and 0.6678 in European white rabbit (EWR, n = 205) and New Zealand White rabbit (NZW, n = 286), respectively. The moderate polymorphism information content (0.25<PIC<0.50) was present in both breeds. The association analysis revealed that genotypes GA and AA had higher 35 d body weight (BW) than genotype GG in both EWR (p<0.01) and NEW (p<0.05). For the 56 d BW and 70 d BW traits, genotypes AA and GA were higher than genotype GG in both two breeds, the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Our results implied that the c.214G>A of TBC1D1 gene might be one of the candidate loci affecting the trait of 35 d BW in the rabbit.

Effect of Light with Different Wavelengths on Nostoc flagelliforme Cells in Liquid Culture

( Yu Jie Dai ),( Jing Li ),( Shu Mei Wei ),( Nan Chen ),( Yu Peng Xiao ),( Zhi Lei Tan ),( Shi Ru Jia ),( Nan Nan Yuan ),( Ning Tan ),( Yi Jie Song ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.4

The effects of lights with different wavelengths on the growth and the yield of extracellular polysaccharides of Nostoc flagelliforme cells were investigated in a liquid cultivation. N. flagelliforme cells were cultured for 16 days in 500 ml conical flasks containing BG11 culture medium under 27 μmol·m-2·s-1 of light intensity and 25oC on a rotary shaker (140 rpm). The chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycoerythrin contents in N. flagelliforme cells under the lights of different wavelengths were also measured. It was found that the cell biomass and the yield of polysaccharide changed with different wavelengths of light. The biomass and the yield of extracellular polysaccharides under the red or violet light were higher than those under other light colors. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin are the main pigments in N. flagelliforme cells. The results showed that N. flagelliforme, like other cyanobacteria, has the ability of adjusting the contents and relative ratio of its pigments with the light quality. As a conclusion, N. flagelliforme cells favor red and violet lights and perform the complementary chromatic adaptation ability to acclimate to the changes of the light quality in the environment.

Ginsenoside Rg3 in combination with artesunate overcomes sorafenib resistance in hepatoma cell and mouse models

Ying-Jie Chen,Jia-Ying Wu,Yu-Yi Deng,Ying Wu,Xiao-Qi Wang,Amy Sze-man Li,Lut Yi Wong,Xiuqiong Fu,Zhi-Ling Yu,Chun Liang 고려인삼학회 2022 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.46 No.3

Sorafenib is effective in treating hepatoma, but most patients develop resistance to it. STAT3signaling has been implicated in sorafenib resistance. Artesunate (ART) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3)have anti-hepatoma effects and can inhibit STAT3 signaling in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluatethe effects of Rg3 in combination with ART (Rg3-plus-ART) in overcoming sorafenib resistance, and toexamine the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects. Methods: Sorafenib-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2-SR) were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-hepatomaeffects of Rg3-plus-ART. A HepG2-SR hepatoma-bearing BALB/c-nu/nu mouse model was used to assessthe in vivo anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. CCK-8 assays and Annexin V-FITC/PI double stainingwere used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Immunoblotting was employed toexamine protein levels. ROS generation was examined by measuring DCF-DA fluorescence. Results: Rg3-plus-ART synergistically reduced viability of, and evoked apoptosis in HepG2-SR cells, andsuppressed HepG2-SR tumor growth in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rg3-plus-ART inhibitedactivation/phosphorylation of Src and STAT3 in HepG2-SR cultures and tumors. The combination alsodecreased the STAT3 nuclear level and induced ROS production in HepG2-SR cultures. Furthermore, overactivation of STAT3 or removal of ROS diminished the anti-proliferative effects of Rg3-plus-ART, andremoval of ROS diminished Rg3-plus-ART's inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation in HepG2-SR cells. Conclusions: Rg3-plus-ART overcomes sorafenib resistance in experimental models, and inhibition of Src/STAT3 signaling and modulation of ROS/STAT3 signaling contribute to the underlying mechanisms. Thisstudy provides a pharmacological basis for developing Rg3-plus-ART into a novel modality for treatingsorafenib-resistant hepatoma.

Deuterium Clusters Fusion Induced by the Intense Femtosecond Laser Pulse

Hong-Jie, Liu,Zhi-Jian, Zheng,Yu-Qiu, Gu,Bao-Han, Zhang,Yong-Joo, Rhee,Sung-Mo, Nam,Jae-Min, Han,Yong-Woo, Rhee,Kwon-Hae, Yea,Jia-Bin, Chen,Hong-Bin, Wang,Chun-Ye, Jiao,Ying-Ling, He,Tian-Shu, Wen,Xia ALLERTON PRESS INC 2007 CHINESE PHYSICS LETTERS Vol.24 No.2

<P>Neutrons (2.45 MeV) from deuterium cluster fusion induced by the intense femtosecond (30 fs) laser pulse are experimentally demonstrated. The average neutron yield 10<SUP>3</SUP> per shot is obtained. It is found that the yield slightly increases with the increasing laser spot size. No neutron can be observed when the laser intensity I < 4.3×10<SUP>15</SUP> W/cm<SUP>2</SUP>.</P>

Molecular Biology and Omics : Construction of a Shuttle Vector for Protein Secretory Expression in Bacillus subtilis and the Application of the Mannanase Functional Heterologous Expression

( Su Guo ),( Jia Jie Tang ),( Dong Zhi Wei ),( Wei Wei ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.4

We report the construction of two Bacillus subtilis expression vectors, pBNS1/pBNS2. Both vectors are based on the strong promoter P43 and the ampicillin resistance gene expression cassette. Additionally, a fragment with the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and a multiple cloning site (BamHI, SalI, SacI, XhoI, PstI, SphI) were inserted. The coding region for the amyQ (encoding an amylase) signal peptide was fused to the promoter P43 of pBNS1 to construct the secreted expression vector pBNS2. The applicability of vectors was tested by first generating the expression vectors pBNS1-GFP/pBNS2-GFP and then detecting for green fluorescent protein gene expression. Next, the mannanase gene from B. pumilus Nsic-2 was fused to vector pBNS2 and we measured the mannanase activity in the supernatant. The mannanase total enzyme activity was 8.65 U/ml, which was 6 times higher than that of the parent strain. Our work provides a feasible way to achieve an effective transformation system for gene expression in B. subtilis and is the first report to achieve B. pumilus mannanase secretory expression in B. subtilis.

Serum Tumor Marker Levels might have Little Significance in Evaluating Neoadjuvant Treatment Response in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Wang, Yu-Jie,Huang, Xiao-Yan,Mo, Miao,Li, Jian-Wei,Jia, Xiao-Qing,Shao, Zhi-Min,Shen, Zhen-Zhou,Wu, Jiong,Liu, Guang-Yu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.11

Background: To determine the potential value of serum tumor markers in predicting pCR (pathological complete response) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively monitored the pro-, mid-, and post-neoadjuvant treatment serum tumor marker concentrations in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (stage II-III) who accepted pre-surgical chemotherapy or chemotherapy in combination with targeted therapy at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between September 2011 and January 2014 and investigated the association of serum tumor marker levels with therapeutic effect. Core needle biopsy samples were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) prior to neoadjuvant treatment to determine hormone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2), and proliferation index Ki67 values. In our study, therapeutic response was evaluated by pCR, defined as the disappearance of all invasive cancer cells from excised tissue (including primary lesion and axillary lymph nodes) after completion of chemotherapy. Analysis of variance of repeated measures and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed for statistical analysis of the data. Results: A total of 348 patients were recruited in our study after excluding patients with incomplete clinical information. Of these, 106 patients were observed to have acquired pCR status after treatment completion, accounting for approximately 30.5% of study individuals. In addition, 147patients were determined to be Her-2 positive, among whom the pCR rate was 45.6% (69 patients). General linear model analysis (repeated measures analysis of variance) showed that the concentration of cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 increased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in both pCR and non-pCR groups, and that there were significant differences between the two groups (P=0.008). The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of pre-, mid-, and post-treatment CA15-3 concentrations demonstrated low-level predictive value (AUC=0.594, 0.644, 0.621, respectively). No significant differences in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or CA12-5 serum levels were observed between the pCR and non-pCR groups (P=0.196 and 0.693, respectively). No efficient AUC of CEA or CA12-5 concentrations were observed to predict patient response toward neoadjuvant treatment (both less than 0.7), nor were differences between the two groups observed at different time points. We then analyzed the Her-2 positive subset of our cohort. Significant differences in CEA concentrations were identified between the pCR and non-pCR groups (P=0.039), but not in CA15-3 or CA12-5 levels (p=0.092 and 0.89, respectively). None of the ROC curves showed underlying prognostic value, as the AUCs of these three markers were less than 0.7. The ROC-AUCs for the CA12-5 concentrations of inter-and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the estrogen receptor negative HER2 positive subgroup were 0.735 and 0.767, respectively. However, the specificity and sensitivity values were at odds with each other which meant that improving either the sensitivity or specificity would impair the efficiency of the other. Conclusions: Serum tumor markers CA15-3, CA12-5, and CEA might have little clinical significance in predicting neoadjuvant treatment response in locally advanced breast cancer.