BMB Reports : Over-expression of OsHsfA7 enhanced salt and drought tolerance in transgenic rice

( Ai Ling Liu ),( Jie Zou ),( Cui Fang Liu ),( Xiao Yun Zhou ),( Xian Wen Zhang ),( Guang Yu Luo ),( Xin Bo Chen ) 생화학분자생물학회 2013 BMB Reports Vol.46 No.1

Heat shock proteins play an important role in plant stress tolerance and are mainly regulated by heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs). In this study, we generated transgenic rice over-expressing OsHsfA7 and carried out morphological observation and stress tolerance assays. Transgenic plants exhibited less, shorter lateral roots and root hair. Under salt treatment, over-expressing OsHsfA7 rice showed alleviative appearance of damage symptoms and higher survival rate, leaf electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content of transgenic plants were lower than those of wild type plants. Meanwhile, transgenic rice seedlings restored normal growth but wild type plants could not be rescued after drought and re-watering treatment. These findings indicate that over-expression of OsHsfA7 gene can increase tolerance to salt and drought stresses in rice seedlings. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(1): 31-36]

Epidemiological Patterns of Cancer Incidence in Southern China: Based on 6 Population-based Cancer Registries

Liu, Jie,Yang, Xu-Li,Li, Ai,Chen, Wan-Qing,Ji, Lu,Zhao, Jun,Yan, Wei,Chen, Yi-Ying,Zhu, Li-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.3

Background: The epidemiological patterns of cancer incidence have been investigated widely in western countries. Nevertheless, information is quite limited in Jiangxi province, southern China. Materials and Methods: All data were reported by 6 population-based cancer registries in Jiangxi Province. The results were presented as incidence rates of cases by site (ICD-10), sex, crude rate (CR), age-standardized rates (ASRs) and truncated incidence rate (TR) per 100,000 person-years, using the direct method of standardization to the world population. Results: 8,765 new cancer cases were registered in our study during the period 2009-2011. Diagnosis of cancer was based on histopathology in 61.0%, clinical or radiology findings in 4.87% and death certificate only (DCO) in 3.0% of the cases. The median age at diagnosis was 62.0 years (mean, 61; standard deviation, 15). The ASRs were 170.8 per 100,000 for men and 111.2 for women. The ASRs for all invasive cancers from the urban areas (145.7 per 100,000) was higher than that of rural areas (137.1). Incidence rates for lung cancer were higher in rural (35.8) than in urban areas (27.0). Similarly, relatively high rates were observed for stomach cancer in rural (20.1) relative to urban areas (15.5). Conclusions: Our results reveal that the most common cancers were breast and lung in women and lung and liver in men. Interestingly, this study suggested a higher incidence rates for lung and stomach cancer in rural males than in urban population, which may suggest other potential causes, such as over-consumption of smoked meats and high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, respectively. Public education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles should be actively carried out.

Expression Profiles of Class A Rice Heat Shock Transcription Factor Genes Under Abiotic Stresses

Ai-Ling Liu,Jie Zou,Xian-Wen Zhang,Xiao-Yun Zhou,Wen-Fang Wang,Xing-Yao Xiong,Li-Yun Chen,Xin-Bo Chen 한국식물학회 2010 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.53 No.2

Expression profiles of 12 class A rice heat shock transcription factor genes (OsHsfAs) were analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The OsHsfA genes exhibited tissue-specific expressions under normal condition. OsHsfA1a, A2d, and A9 were predominantly expressed in young spike. Expression responses of the 12 OsHsfAs under abiotic stresses were analyzed in the shoots of rice seedling. Most OsHsfA genes responded quickly to heat stress except for OsHsfA1a, A3,and A9 which were almost unaffected. In particular,OsHsfA2a expression in response to heat stress was highest among the heat shock factors examined. However, the majority of the increased OsHsfAs expression responses to salt, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and cold treatments primarily occurred during the later stages (3 to 24 h) of stress exposure. Furthermore, most of OsHsfA gene expressions were little affected and only a few (OsHsfA3, A4d, A7,and A9) genes had slow responses to cold treatment. The results indicate that the transcript levels of OsHsfAs during heat stress exposure were distinct from those of plants subjected to salt, PEG, and cold stresses, suggesting that there might be different regulatory networks between heat and non-heat stress.

Efficacy and safety of herbal medicine (Binafuxi granules) for the common cold with fever: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial

Liu Xuemei,Min Jie,She Bin,Chen Yang,Li Jun,Huang Lei,Chen Ju,Luo Ai,Mei Yang,Li Ting,Wu Yanqing,Chen Daohong,Hongli Zhong,Liu Wei,Mao Bing,Jiang Hongli 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.3

Background: Binafuxi granules are a traditional Uighur medicine (TUM) for treating the common cold with fever. However, high-quality clinical studies supporting its efficacy and safety are lacking. Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial, patients with common cold and fever were randomly assigned to a high-dose group, low-dose group, and placebo group in a 1:1:1 ratio. Outcomes were time to fever relief, time to fever clearance, proportion of afebrile patients, time to symptom disappearance, rate of symptom disappearance, effective rate, emergency drug usage and safety assessment. Results: A total of 235 patients were recruited. Of these, 234 were included in the full analysis set (FAS), and 217 were included in the per-protocol set (PPS). In the FAS analysis, the median time to fever relief was 6.00 h, 5.54 h and 10.65 h (P = 0.31) in the high-dose group, low-dose group and placebo group, respectively. The median time to fever clearance was 18.29 h, 20.08 h and 25.00 h (P = 0.0018), respectively, and the proportion of afebrile patients was 92.4%, 89.7% and 71.4% (P = 0.0002), respectively. There was a significant difference in the disappearance time and disappearance rate of all symptoms and of individual symptoms. No serious adverse events were found. Conclusions: Binafuxi granules can dose-dependently shorten the fever course and improve clinical symptoms in patients suffering from the common cold with fever.

The long non-coding RNA UPAT promotes gastric cancer cell progression via UHRF1

Liu Chaoyong,Hao De,Ai Minghua,Zhang Yan,Li Jie,Xu Chao 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.10

Background: LncRNA ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) protein associated transcript (UPAT) regulates the progression of many cancers. However, its role in gastric cancer (GC) is less frequently reported. Objective: In the context of the promoting effect of lncRNA on modulating GC progression, detailed insights into the role and underlying mechanism of UPAT in GC are the foothold in this study. Methods: Overall survival was calculated. The mRNA expressions of UPAT and UHRF1 were measured by qRT-PCR, and the protein expressions of UHRF1, Cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by western blot. Cell viability, growth, migration and invasion were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Apoptosis rate and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. Results: UPAT was overexpressed in GC tissue and cell lines. Decreased UPAT level was associated with higher overall survival. Down-regulation of UPAT diminished cell proliferation, Cyclin D1 expression, and migration and invasion rates, increased apoptosis rate and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and blocked cell cycle in AGS and NCI-N87 cells. UPAT expression in GC was positively correlated with UHRF1 expression. UHRF1 overexpression offset the inhibitory effects of UPAT down-regulation on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle, and partially reversed the positive effect of UPAT down-regulation on apoptosis. Conclusion: UPAT might positively regulate the progression of GC via interacting with UHRF1. The UHRF1/UPAT axis revealed in the present study may provide a promising approach to intervene in the progression of GC.

Comparison of Vinorelbine, Ifosfamide and Cisplatin (NIP) and Etoposide and Cisplatin (EP) for Treatment of Advanced Combined Small Cell Lung Cancer (cSCLC) Patients: A Retrospective Study

Luo, Jie,Wu, Feng-Ying,Li, Ai-Wu,Zheng, Di,Liu, Jin-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety profile of vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin (NIP) with etoposide and cisplatin (EP) in the treatment of advanced combined small cell lung cancer (c-SCLC). Methods: From January 2006 to December 2010, 176 patients with advanced c-SCLC were enrolled. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and the secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) and toxicity. Results: Overall RR was 30.0% in the NIP and 38.5% in the EP group; there was no significant difference (P=0.236). The PFS in the EP group was little longer than that of NIP group, with 6.5 months for EP and 6.0 months for NIP group, but the difference was statistically non-significant (P=0.163). The median OS and one year survival rates were 10.4 months and 36.3% for NIP group, and 10.8 months and 49.0% for EP respectively, EP showing a survival benefit, although this was not statistically significant. Both groups well tolerated the adverse effects. The incidence of grade I-II leucopenia and alopecia in the NIP group was significantly higher than that of EP group (32.5% vs. 10.4% (P<0.001, 35.0% vs. 12.5%, P<0.001). Conclusion: the ORR, PFS and OS in NIP were slightly inferior to traditional regimen EP. The toxicity of NIP can be considered tolerable. The usage of three drugs combination in the treatment of mixed SCLC remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the results need to be further confirmed by large, prospective clinical trials.

TGF-β1 Protein Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers is Correlated with Prognosis

Huang, Ai-Li,Liu, Shu-Guang,Qi, Wen-Juan,Zhao, Yun-Fei,Li, Yu-Mei,Lei, Bin,Sheng, Wen-Jie,Shen, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.19

To investigate the expression intensity and prognostic significance of TGF-${\beta}1$ protein in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immunohistochemistry was carried out in 194 cases of NSCLC and 24 cases of normal lung tissues by SP methods. The PU (positive unit) value was used to assess the TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression in systematically selected fields under the microscope with Leica Q500MC image analysis. We found that the TGF-${\beta}1$ PU value was nearly two-fold higher in NSCLC than in normal lung tissues (p=0.000), being associated with TNM stages (p=0.000) and lymph node metastases (p=0.000), but not to patient age, gender, smoking history, tumor differentiation, histological subtype and tumor location (P>0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that patients with high TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression and lymph node metastases demonstrated a poor prognosis (both p=0.000,). Multivariate analysis showed that TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression (RR = 2.565, p=0.002) and lymph node metastases (RR=1.874, p=0.030) were also independent prognostic factors. Thus, TGF-${\beta}1$ protein expression may be correlated to oncogenesis and serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for NSCLC.

Expression of ERCC1, MSH2 and PARP1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Prognostic Value in Patients Treated with Platinum-based Chemotherapy

Xie, Ke-Jie,He, Hong-Er,Sun, Ai-Jing,Liu, Xi-Bo,Sun, Li-Ping,Dong, Xue-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of the expression of excision repair cross-complementation group l (ERCC1), MutS protein homolog 2 (MSH2) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) in non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of ERCC1, MSH2 and PARP1 in 111 cases of non-small cell lung cancer paraffin embedded surgical specimens. Through og-rank survival analysis, we evaluated the prognostic value of the ERCC1, MSH2, PARP1 and the related clinicopathological factors. COX regression analysis was used to determine whether ERCC1, MSH2 and PARP1 were independent prognostic factors. Results: In the enrolled 111 non-small cell lung cancer patients, the positive expression rate of ERCC1, MSH2 and RARP1 was 33.3%, 36.9% and 55.9%, respectively. ERCC1 (P<0.001) and PARP1 (P=0.033) were found to be correlated with the survival time while there was no correlation for MSH2 (P=0.298). Patients with both ERCC1 and PARP1 negative cancer had significantly longer survival time than those with ERCC1 (P=0.042) or PARP1 (P=0.027) positive alone. Similalry, the survival time of patients with both ERCC1 and PARP1 positive cancer was shorter than those with ERCC1 (P=0.048) or PARP1 (P=0.01) positive alone. Conclusion: Patients with ERCC1 or PARP1 negative non-small cell lung cancer appear to benefit from platinum-based postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Effects of pigment and citrinin biosynthesis on the metabolism and morphology of Monascus purpureus in submerged fermentation

Xueying Chai,Zhilu Ai,Jun Liu,Ting Guo,Jingyan Wu,Jie Bai,Qinlu Lin 한국식품과학회 2020 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.29 No.7

The effects of the secondary metabolite biosynthesison the metabolism and morphology of the Monascuspurpureus were investigated in this study. Hypha andseptum length became longer after deletion of genes pigRand pksCT in M. purpureus LQ-6 by Agrobacteriumtumefaciens-mediated transformation technology, highlybranched hyphae, much smaller and freely dispersedmycelial pellets were observed in M. purpureus. Comparedwith that in the wild-type, the level of intracellular NADHand NADPH was almost constant in M. purpureus DpigRat 4 days, but the NADH and NADPH levels decreased by1.58-fold and 3.71-fold in M. purpureus DpksCT. Thepresent study can not only provide a kind of strategy toimprove the Monascus pigments production, but also providetheoretical support for the further study of relationshipbetween the secondary metabolites, metabolism and morphologicalchange.

Influence of Vanadium Substitution on Phase Structure, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of BiFeO₃ Ceramics

Qiang Li,Shengxiang Bao,Tao Hong,Libo Ai,Yingli Liu,Yulan Jing,Jie Li 한국자기학회 2018 Journal of Magnetics Vol.23 No.1

BiFe1-xVxO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09) ceramics were prepared by solid-sate reaction method. The effect of V<SUP>5+</SUP> substitution on phase structure, morphology, magnetic and dielectric properties had been investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the X-Ray diffraction data from the BiFe1-xVxO₃ (BFVO) ceramics showed samples with rhombohedral structure (R3c) for x = 0.00-0.07. When x = 0.09, partial phase structural be translated to orthorhombic phase (Pnma). Morphology showed two kinds of crystal and proved the phase to be transition. Magnetic measurements exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior of sample. BiFe0.93V0.07O₃ ceramic exhibited the highest value of saturation magnetization. Due to V<SUP>5+</SUP> substitution, maybe BFVO attributed weak ferromagnetism to structure distortion and phase transition. Dielectric constant kept a stable value in a wide range frequency of 1 MHz to 1 GHz. With V<SUP>5+</SUP> ions increasing, dielectric constant increased significantly, while dielectric loss kept a low value. These results indicated that BFVO may be promising for application in magneto-electric devices.