Raman signature from brain hippocampus could aid Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.

Chen, Pu,Shen, Aiguo,Zhao, Wei,Baek, Seong-Joon,Yuan, Hua,Hu, Jiming Optical Society of America 2009 Applied Optics Vol.48 No.24

<P>Micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) is used for the first time to our knowledge to investigate brain hippocampus tissue from Alzheimer's disease (AD) infected rats. In situ Raman analysis of tissue sections provides distinct spectra useful for distinguishing AD from normal state. The biochemical changes of brain hippocampus tissue including the deposit of beta-amyloid (Abeta) protein, the increase of cholesterol, and hyperphosphorylated tau are observed through MRS when AD occurs. A more convincing multi-Raman criterion based on single Raman peaks, and further in combination with statistical analysis of the entire Raman spectrum, is found capable of classifying brain hippocampus tissues with different pathological features. This study demonstrates the brain hippocampus is an important candidate for considering the early pathological state of AD, and Raman signatures from the brain hippocampus could aid AD diagnosis. In addition, Raman results undoubtedly confirm simultaneous changes of cholesterol and Abeta in the progression of AD.</P>

Ultrasound Score to Select Subcentimeter-sized Thyroid Nodules Requiring Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Eastern China

Cheng, Pu,Chen, En-Dong,Zheng, Hua-Min,He, Qiu-Xiang,Li, Quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a costly diagnostic item with a low yield in identifying the tiny proportion of nodules that actually represent malignant disease. Our aim through this study was to obtain an ultrasound (US) score for selecting subcentimeter-sized thyroid nodules requiring FNAB in eastern China. Some 248 patients for a total of 270 thyroid nodules less than 1 cm in diameter underwent FNAB and subsequent surgery from January 2006 to March 2012 at our hospital. The clinicopathological and US data from all the nodules were analyzed retrospectively. An US score was developed on the basis of independent predictive factors for malignancy. Irregular shape, hypoechogenicity, no well-defined margin, presence of calcifications and ratio between antero-posterior and transversal diameters (AP/TR) ${\geq}1$ were independent predictive factors for malignancy on logistic regression analysis. US score were statistically significant, with ${\leq}2$ favoring benignancy with an 80.3% sensitivity and a 72.7% specificity. US score is useful for differentiating between malignant and benign subcentimeter-sized thyroid nodules. We suggest FNAB for nodules when the US score is higher than 2.

Nonlinear free vibration analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced fluid-conveying pipe in thermal environment

Xu Chen,Jing-Lei Zhao,Gui-Lin She,Yan Jing,Hua-Yan Pu,Jun Luo 국제구조공학회 2022 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.45 No.5

Fluid-conveying tubes are widely used to transport oil and natural gas in industries. As an advanced composite material, functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) have great potential to empower the industry. However, nonlinear free vibration of the FG-CNTRC fluid-conveying pipe has not been attempted in thermal environment. In this paper, the nonlinear free vibration characteristic of functionally graded nanocomposite fluid-conveying pipe reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in thermal environment is investigated. The SWCNTs gradient distributed in the thickness direction of the pipe forms different reinforcement patterns. The material properties of the FGCNTRC are estimated by rule of mixture. A higher-order shear deformation theory and Hamilton’s variational principle are employed to derive the motion equations incorporating the thermal and fluid effects. A two-step perturbation method is implemented to obtain the closed-form asymptotic solutions for these nonlinear partial differential equations. The nonlinear frequencies under several reinforcement patterns are presented and discussed. We conduct a series of studies aimed at revealing the effects of the flow velocity, the environment temperature, the inner-outer diameter ratio, and the carbon nanotube volume fraction on the nature frequency.

Foxl2 of the Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus): cDNA cloning, tissue distribution and changes in gene expression towards methyltestosterone, estradiol and letrozole exposure of the fries during gonadal differentiation

Si-ping Deng,Chun-hua Zhu,Jing Sun,Wen-da Wang,Tian-li Wu,Hua-pu Chen,Shang-li Shi,Guang-li Li 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.8

Winged helix/forkhead transcription factor gene 2 (Foxl2) plays a crucial role during early ovarian development in fish. Sex steroids and aromatase inhibitors can regulate gonadal differentiation in teleosts. To address the role of Foxl2 in gonadal differentiation, foxl2 was isolated and characterized from the Hong Kong catfish, Clarias fuscus. Tissue distribution analysis by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) showed that the foxl2 mRNA was highest in the ovaries; moderate in the female pituitary and hypothalamus; but weak in the forebrain, liver, testis and male pituitary, with a sexually dimorphic pattern in which there was higher expression overall in females versus males. Treatment of the fries during the period of gonadal differentiation [2–30 days post hatching (dph)] with 17amethyltestosterone (MT), an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) and 17b-estradiol (E2) affected the expression of foxl2. The expression of foxl2 was highest before gonadal differentiation (12 dph), but decreased significantly after gonadal differentiation (18-30 dph). In addition, MT and letrozole were able to down-regulate foxl2, but E2 up-regulated foxl2 during gonadal morphological differentiation. These results indicate the significant roles of Foxl2 in the gonadal differentiation of C. fuscus.

Vibration characteristics of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite double-beams in thermal environments

Jing-Lei Zhao,Xu Chen,Gui-Lin She,Yan Jing,Ru-Qing Bai,Jin Yi,Hua-Yan Pu,Jun Luo 국제구조공학회 2022 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.43 No.6

This paper presents an investigation on the free vibration characteristics of functionally graded nanocomposite double-beams reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The double-beams coupled by an interlayer spring, resting on the elastic foundation with a linear layer and shear layer, and is simply supported in thermal environments. The SWCNTs gradient distributed in the thickness direction of the beam forms different reinforcement patterns. The materials properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) are estimated by rule of mixture. The first order shear deformation theory and Euler-Lagrange variational principle are employed to derive the motion equations incorporating the thermal effects. The vibration characteristics under several patterns of reinforcement are presented and discussed. We conducted a series of studies aimed at revealing the effects of the spring stiffness, environment temperature, thickness ratios and carbon nanotube volume fraction on the nature frequency.

cDNA cloning, expression, and immunolocalization of gonadinhibiting hormone (GIH) in Litopenaeus vannamei

Guang-li Li,Si-ping Deng,Shu-na Jiang,Man Ye,Hua-pu Chen,Siuming F. Chan,Chun-hua Zhu 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.10

In this study, the full-length GIH cDNA sequence from Litopenaeus vannamei was cloned from the eyestalk by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The fulllength GIH cDNA was 865 bp with a 288 bp open-reading frame, which encoded a 96 amino acid prepro-GIH with 17 amino acid signal peptide. L. vannamei GIH (LvGIH) can be classified as a member of type-II crustacean hyperglycemic hormone polypeptide family. LvGIH shares 93.8 and 66.7 % amino acid sequence identity with GIH from Penaeus monodon, and the molt-inhibiting hormone from Marsupenaeus japonicas, respectively. By quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), LvGIH mRNA transcripts were detected in fertilized eggs, nauplius, zoea, mysis and juveniles of 25, 35 and 40 days old. LvGIH transcript levels increased significantly with the development from fertilized eggs to juveniles. LvGIH transcript levels were highest in juveniles at 35 days old. By RT-PCR, LvGIH mRNA transcripts were detected only in the eyestalks and brains but not in the muscles, intestines, gills, heart, hepatopancreas, ovaries and testes of adults, and there was no difference in the expression level of LvGIH between males and females. Using the P. monodon anti-GIH antibody, we showed that LvGIH was located mainly in the XO-SG and slightly in axon, with similar fluorescence intensity found in XO and SG. To summarize, we have cloned and characterized the GIH of the shrimp L. vannamei. In addition to the GIH properties described in other crustaceans, a peak of LvGIH expression was identified at the time of sexual differentiation (i.e., day 35 larvae) suggesting that LvGIH may also be involved in the control of this process.

Core prescription pattern of Chinese herbal medicine for depressive disorders in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study

Diem Ngoc Hong Tran,I-Hsuan Hwang,Fun-Jou Chen,Yuan-Pu Tseng,Ching-Mao Chang,Shih-Jen Tsai,Jen-Lin Yang,Ta-Peng Wu,Chung-Hua Hsu,Fang-Pey Chen,Yen-Ying Kung 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.3

Background: Depressive disorders (DD) affect not only mood and behavior but also various physical functions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to have some benefits in treating DD. However, one formula or one single herb might be not show high efficacy when used to treat depression. Thus, this study aimed to examine the core prescription pattern of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) among patients with DD in Taiwan as a reference for related research and clinical applications. Methods: All patients, who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or minor depression or dysthymia without any other baseline diseases and had at least one CHM outpatient clinical visit from 2002 to 2011, were extracted from three randomly sampled cohorts, namely the 2000, 2005 and 2010 cohorts of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. The collected data was analyzed to explore the patterns of herbal products. Results: There were 197,146 patients with a diagnosis of DD and of these 1806 subjects had only a diagnosis of DD and utilized CHM. The most common formula was Gan-Mai-Da-Zao-Tang (12.19%), while Suan-Zao-Ren (3.99%) was the most commonly prescribed single herb. The core pattern of prescriptions consisted of a combination of Gan-Mai-Da-Zao-Tang, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, Chai-Hu-Jia-Long-Gu-Mu-Li-Tang, He-Huan-Pi, Yuan-Zhi and Shi-Chang-Pu. Conclusions: This study describes the CHM core prescription pattern used to treat patients in Taiwan with DD and it is a potential candidate for study in future pharmacological or clinical trials targeting DD.