CT Findings of Persistent Pure Ground Glass Opacity: Can We Predict the Invasiveness?

Liu, Li-Heng,Liu, Ming,Wei, Ran,Jin, Er-Hu,Liu, Yu-Hui,Xu, Liang,Li, Wen-Wu,Huang, Yong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.5

Background: To investigate whether CT findings can predict the invasiveness of persistent cancerous pure ground glass opacity (pGGO) by correlating the CT imaging features of persistent pGGO with pathological changes. Materials and Methods: Ninety five patients with persistent pGGOs were included. Three radiologists evaluated the morphologic features of these pGGOs at high resolution CT (HRCT). Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between CT findings and histopathological classification (pre-invasive and invasive groups). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of diameters. Results: A total of 105 pGGOs were identified. Between pre-invasive (atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, AAH, and adenocarcinoma in situ, AIS) and invasive group (minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, MIA and invasive lung adenocarcinomas, ILA), there were significant differences in diameter, spiculation and vessel dilatation (p<0.05). No difference was found in air-bronchogram, bubble-lucency, lobulated-margin, pleural indentation or vascular convergence (p>0.05). The optimal threshold value of the diameters to predict the invasiveness of pGGO was 12.50mm. Conclusions: HRCT features can predict the invasiveness of persistent pGGO. The pGGO with a diameter more than 12.50mm, presences of spiculation and vessel dilatation are important factors to differentiate invasive adenocarcinoma from pre-invasive cancerous lesions.

Binary Structured Polypropylene/Polyethylene Glycol Micronanofibrous Membranes with Enhanced Water and Air Permeability

Heng Zhang,Qi Zhen,Jing-Qiang Cui,Huan-Wei Sun,Rang-Tong Liu,Yi-Feng Zhang,Yong Liu 한국섬유공학회 2021 Fibers and polymers Vol.22 No.1

As a stable chemical material, polypropylene (PP) micro-nanofibrous membranes are widely used in medical andhealth care. However, PP fibrous membranes with single nano scale diameter are conducive to high packing density, whichresults in large flow resistance across the membrane. Therefore, to improve the material’s water and air permeability,polyethylene glycol (PEG), an incompatible polymer with PP, was introduced by blending in a modified method using a meltblowing process. This proposed approach allows large 10 μm diameter fibers to be entangled with fine 300 nm diameterfibers to produce highly porous binary structured fibrous membranes with small pore size. Because of its binary structure, theair permeability in the material reached 569.56 mm/s and the water vertical velocity was 70.15 mm/s. Additionally, the threedimensionalnumerical calculations suggested that the high porosity and binary structure were key to enhancing waterpermeability in the fibrous membranes. These binary structured micro-nanofibrous membranes are expected to be used forfiltration, separation, health care, oil/water separation, medical wound dressings, and other applications.

Homoisoflavanones from Polygonatum odoratum Rhizomes Inhibit Advanced Glycation End Product Formation

Wei Dong,Hai Bo Shi,Heng Ma,Yan Bo Miao,Tong Jun Liu,Wei Wang 대한약학회 2010 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.33 No.5

Protein glycation inhibitors from Polygonatum odoratum rhizomes were investigated using a bioassay-guided procedure to characterize active compounds for preventing and treating diabetic complications. The EtOH extract and soluble fractions were evaluated using an in vivo model of renal advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and an in vitro bovine serum albumin-glucose assay. Three homoisoflavanones 3-(4’-hydroxybenzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-methoxychroman-4-one (1), 3-(4’-hydroxybenzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethylchroman-4-one (2), and 3-(4’-methoxybenzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-methoxychroman-4-one (3), isolated from the active CHCl3-soluble fraction of the EtOH extract, were subjected to in vitro bioassays to evaluate their inhibitory activities against AGE formation. All the isolates inhibited AGE formation more effectively than the positive control, aminoguanidine. These results indicate that pending further study these compounds could be used as novel natural product drug for mitigating diabetic complications.

Fracture toughness improvement of epoxy resins with short carbon fibers

Wei Dong,Fan-Long Jin,박수진,Heng-Chang Liu 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.4

This study examined the thermal stability and fracture toughness of diglycidylether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/short carbon fiber (SCF) composites using several techniques. The thermal stability of the DGEBA/SCF composites was similar to that of neat epoxy resin. The fracture toughness of the composites was significantly improved relative to the neat resin. The SEM micrographs indicated that a relatively rough surface with shear deformation and tortuous cracks was formed, thereby preventing deformation and crack propagation and inducing higher fracture toughness in the DGEBA/SCF composites.

Orthosteric and allosteric action of the C5a receptor antagonists

Liu, Heng,Kim, Hee Ryung,Deepak, R. N. V. Krishna,Wang, Lei,Chung, Ka Young,Fan, Hao,Wei, Zhiyi,Zhang, Cheng Nature Publishing Group 2018 Nature Structural and Molecular Biology Vol. No.

The roles of interleukin-17A in risk stratification and prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

Heng Jin,Wei Wei,Yibo Zhao,Ai Ma,Keke Sun,Xiaoxi Lin,Qihui Liu,Songtao Shou,Yan Zhang 대한신장학회 2023 Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Vol.42 No.6

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of interleukin (IL)-17A in risk stratification and prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SAKI). Methods: We enrolled 146 sepsis patients (84 non-SAKI and 62 SAKI patients) admitted to the emergency department from November 2020 to November 2021. Patients with SAKI were differentiated based on the severity of acute kidney injury. All clinical parameters were evaluated upon admission before administering antibiotic treatment. Inflammatory cytokines were assessed using flow cytometry and the Pylon 3D automated immunoassay system (ET Healthcare). In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to determine the prognostic values of IL-17A in SAKI. Results: The levels of creatinine, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in the SAKI group than in the non-SAKI group (p < 0.05). The level of IL-17A revealed significant differences among stages 1, 2, and 3 in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). The mean levels of PCT, IL-4, and IL-17A were significantly higher in the non-survival group than in the survival group in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). In addition, the area under the ROC curve of IL-17A was 0.811. Moreover, the IL-17A cutoff for differentiating survivors from non-survivors was 4.7 pg/mL, of which the sensitivity and specificity were 77.4% and 71.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Elevated levels of IL-17A could predict that SAKI patients are significantly prone to worsening kidney injury with higher mortality. The usefulness of IL-17A in treating SAKI requires further research.

An optimization design study of producing transuranic nuclides in high flux reactor

Xu Wei,Li Jian,Zhao Jing,She Ding,Liu Zhihong,Xie Heng,Shi Lei 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.8

Transuranic nuclides (such as 238Pu, 252Cf, 249Bk, etc.) have a wide range of application in industry, medicine, agriculture, and other fields. However, due to the complex conversion chain and remarkable fission losses in the process of transuranic nuclides production, the generation amounts are extremely low. High flux reactor with high neutron flux and flexible irradiation channels, is regarded as the promising candidate for producing transuranic nuclides. It is of great significance to increase the conversion ratio of transuranic nuclides, resulting in higher efficiency and better economy. In this paper, we perform an optimization design evaluation of producing transuranic nuclides in high flux reactor, which includes optimization design of irradiation target and influence study of reactor core loading. It is demonstrated that the production rate increases with appropriately determined target material and target structure. The target loading scheme in the irradiation channel also has a significant influence on the production of transuranic nuclides

Increased Serotonin Signaling Contributes to the Warburg Effect in Pancreatic Tumor Cells Under Metabolic Stress and Promotes Growth of Pancreatic Tumors in Mice

Jiang, Shu-Heng,Li, Jun,Dong, Fang-Yuan,Yang, Jian-Yu,Liu, De-Jun,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Min-Wei,Fu, Xue-Liang,Zhang, Xiao-Xin,Li, Qing,Pang, Xiu-Feng,Huo, Yan-Miao,Li, Jiao,Zhang, Jun-Feng Elsevier 2017 Gastroenterology Vol.153 No.1

<P><B>Background & Aims</B></P> <P>Desmoplasia and poor vascularity cause severe metabolic stress in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator with neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine functions that contributes to tumorigenesis. We investigated the role of 5-HT signaling in the growth of pancreatic tumors.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>We measured the levels of proteins that regulate 5-HT synthesis, packaging, and degradation in pancreata from Kras<SUP>G12D/+</SUP>/Trp53<SUP>R172H/+</SUP>/Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice, which develop pancreatic tumors, as well as in PDAC cell lines and a tissue microarray containing 81 human PDAC samples. We also analyzed expression levels of proteins involved in 5-HT synthesis and degradation by immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray containing 311 PDAC specimens, and associated expression levels with patient survival times. 5-HT level in 14 matched PDAC tumor and non-tumor tissues were analyzed by ELISA. PDAC cell lines were incubated with 5-HT and cell survival and apoptosis were measured. We analyzed expression of the 5-HT receptor HTR2B in PDAC cells and effects of receptor agonists and antagonists, as well as HTR2B knockdown with small hairpin RNAs. We determined the effects of 5-HT stimulation on gene expression profiles of BxPC-3 cells. Regulation of glycolysis by 5-HT signaling via HTR2B was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analyses, as well as by determination of the extracellular acid ratio, glucose consumption, and lactate production. Primary PDACs, with or without exposure to SB204741 (a selective antagonist of HTR2B), were grown as xenograft tumors in mice, and SB204741 was administered to tumor-bearing KPC mice; tumor growth and metabolism were measured by imaging analyses.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>In immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray of PDAC specimens, increased levels of TPH1 and decreased level of MAOA, which regulate 5-HT synthesis and degradation, correlated with stage and size of PDACs and shorter patient survival time. We found levels of 5-HT to be increased in human PDAC tissues compared with non-tumor pancreatic tissues, and PDAC cell lines compared with non-transformed pancreatic cells. Incubation of PDAC cell lines with 5-HT increased proliferation and prevented apoptosis. Agonists of HTR2B, but not other 5-HT receptors, promoted proliferation and prevented apoptosis of PDAC cells. Knockdown of HTR2B in PDAC cells, or incubation of cells with HTR2B inhibitors, reduced their growth as xenograft tumors in mice. We observed a correlation between 5-HT and glycolytic flux in PDAC cells; levels of metabolic enzymes involved in glycolysis, the phosphate pentose pathway, and hexosamine biosynthesis pathway increased significantly in PDAC cells following 5-HT stimulation. 5-HT stimulation led to formation of the HTR2B–LYN–p85 complex, which increased PI3K–Akt–mTOR signaling and the Warburg effect by increasing protein levels of MYC and HIF1A. Administration of SB204741 to KPC mice slowed growth and metabolism of established pancreatic tumors and prolonged survival of the mice.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>Human PDACs have increased levels of 5-HT, and PDAC cells increase expression of its receptor, HTR2B. These increases allow for tumor glycolysis under metabolic stress and promote growth of pancreatic tumors and PDAC xenograft tumors in mice.</P>

A New Triterpenoid from Brucea javanica

Jian Hua Liu,Jiang Jiang Qin,Hui Zi Jin,Xiao Jia Hu,Ming Chen,Yun Heng Shen,Shi Kai Yan,Wei Dong Zhang 대한약학회 2009 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.32 No.5

A new triterpenoid, bruceajavanin C (1), together with bruceosides A and B (2 and 3), bruceines D and E (4 and 5), yadanziosides A and G (6 and 7), (20R)-O-(3)-α-L-arabinopyranosylpregn- 5-ene-3β,20-diol (8), and α-D-glucopyranoside, (3β, 20R)-3-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-yl (9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Brucea javanica. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis. In addition, compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 exhibited mild inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

Learning Curve of ROSA ONE Spine System for Transpedicular Screw Placement

Bing-Hung Hsu,Heng-Wei Liu,Kha-Liang Lee,Ming-Chin Lin,Gao Chen,Jang Yu,Chiao-Ling Chen,I-Chang Su,Chien-Min Lin 대한척추신경외과학회 2022 Neurospine Vol.19 No.2

Objective: The study investigated our institutional learning curve for the ROSA ONE spine system (ROSA) based on ROSA usage time. Methods: ROSA was designed to provide high accuracy for spinal pedicle screw placement through a built-in tracking technique. This study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2021. The time taken to complete each step of the robotic workflow was recorded. Patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical indications, and number of screw placements were examined in subgroup analysis. The Curve Fitting-General package (a part of NCSS 2021 software) was used to fit a mathematical model to the learning curve. Patient demographics, imaging data, and surgical time were reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 167 patients who had undergone surgery were included. The mean total ROSA usage time was 107.1 ± 27.3 minutes. The estimated learning rate was 90.4%, and the largest slope change occurred close to the time of the 20th surgery. The observed overall learning trend in the 4-screw group could be attributed to screw planning. The presence of scoliosis (p = 0.73) or spondylolisthesis (p = 0.70) did not significantly influence the mean total time (TT) for all patients; however, the mean TT differed significantly (p < 0.01) among subgroups stratified by body mass index, screw number placement, and thoracic spine involvement. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the learning curve for the various crucial steps of ROSA-guided pedicle screw placement. The indicative learning curve involved 20 patients who had undergone surgery.