TSHR Variant Screening and Phenotype Analysis in 367 Chinese Patients With Congenital Hypothyroidism

Zhang Hai-Yang,Wu Feng-Yao,Li Xue-Song,Tu Ping-Hui,Zhang Cao-Xu,Yang Rui-Meng,Cui Ren-Jie,Wu Chen-Yang,Fang Ya,Yang Liu,Song Huai-Dong,Zhao Shuang-Xia 대한진단검사의학회 2024 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.44 No.4

Background: Genetic defects in the human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) gene can cause congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, the biological functions and comprehensive genotype–phenotype relationships for most TSHR variants associated with CH remain unexplored. We aimed to identify TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH, analyze the functions of the variants, and explore the relationships between TSHR genotypes and clinical phenotypes. Methods: In total, 367 patients with CH were recruited for TSHR variant screening using whole-exome sequencing. The effects of the variants were evaluated by in-silico programs such as SIFT and polyphen2. Furthermore, these variants were transfected into 293T cells to detect their Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling activity. Results: Among the 367 patients with CH, 17 TSHR variants, including three novel variants, were identified in 45 patients, and 18 patients carried biallelic TSHR variants. In vitro experiments showed that 10 variants were associated with Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling pathway impairment to varying degrees. Patients with TSHR biallelic variants had lower serum TSH levels and higher free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels at diagnosis than those with DUOX2 biallelic variants. Conclusions: We found a high frequency of TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH (12.3%), and 4.9% of cases were caused by TSHR biallelic variants. Ten variants were identified as loss-of-function variants. The data suggest that the clinical phenotype of CH patients caused by TSHR biallelic variants is relatively mild. Our study expands the TSHR variant spectrum and provides further evidence for the elucidation of the genetic etiology of CH.

Analysis of the Interference Effects in CMOS Image Sensors Caused by Strong Electromagnetic Pulses

Yang Zhikang,Wen Lin,Li Yudong,Zhou Dong,Wang Xin,Ding Rui,Zhong Meiqing,Meng Cui,Fang Wenxiao,Guo Qi 한국전자파학회 2024 Journal of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science Vol.24 No.2

With the electromagnetic environment becoming increasingly complex, it is crucial to address the risk posed by electromagnetic pulse, which critically impairs the performance and reliability of electronic systems based on complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. In this context, research on the failure types of CMOS image sensors in a high-power electromagnetic environment, caused by strong electromagnetic pulses and the rapid evaluation method of interference immunity, has garnered significant interest. This paper conducts electromagnetic pulse simulation experiments on CMOS image sensors to first study their failure types, such as image abnormalities and functional interruption, and then identify the corresponding failure criteria. Furthermore, this study builds on the small sample test evaluation method to investigate the interference threshold of functional interruptions in CMOS image sensors by calculating the failure probability at different field strengths. The obtained data were combined with the Weibull distribution function for fitting, the results of which found the interference threshold to be at 40.4 kV/m. The findings of this study provide a basis for evaluating the survivability of CMOS image sensors and their associated reinforcement technology in high-power electromagnetic environments.

Comparison of Microbial Diversity and Composition in the Jejunum and Colon of Alcohol-Dependent Rats

( Yang Fan ),( Zhao Ya-e ),( Wei Ji-dong ),( Lu Yu-fan ),( Zhang Ying ),( Sun Ya-lun ),( Ma Meng-yu ),( Zhang Rui-ling ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2018 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.28 No.11

Alcohol dependence is a global public health problem, yet the mechanisms of alcohol dependence are incompletely understood. The traditional view has been that ethanol alters various neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain and causes the addiction. However, an increasing amount of experimental evidence suggests that gut microbiota also influence brain functions via gut-to-brain interactions, and may therefore induce the development of alcohol use disorders. In this study, a rat model of alcohol dependence and withdrawal was employed, the gut microbiota composition was analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the metagenome function was predicted by PICRUSt software. The results suggested that chronic alcohol consumption did not significantly alter the diversity and richness of gut microbiota in the jejunum and colon, but rather markedly changed the microbiota composition structure in the colon. The phyla Bacteroidetes and eight genera including Bacteroidales S24-7, Ruminococcaceae, Parabacteroides, Butyricimonas, et al were drastically increased, however the genus Lactobacillus and gauvreauii in the colon were significantly decreased in the alcohol dependence group compared with the withdrawal and control groups. The microbial functional prediction analysis revealed that the proportions of amino acid metabolism, polyketide sugar unit biosynthesis and peroxisome were significantly increased in the AD group. This study demonstrated that chronic alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on the microbiota composition structure in the colon but few effects on the jejunum. Inducement of colonic microbiota dysbiosis due to alcohol abuse seems to be a factor of alcohol dependence, which suggests that modulating colonic microbiota composition might be a potentially new target for treating alcohol addiction.

pH-Sensitive Degradable Hydrophobe Modified 1.8 kDa Branched Polyethylenimine as “Artificial Viruses” for Safe and Efficient Intracellular Gene Transfection

Meng Zheng,Zhiyuan Zhong,Chunmei Yang,Fenghua Meng,Rui Peng 한국고분자학회 2012 Macromolecular Research Vol.20 No.3

1.8 kDa branched polyethylenimine (PEI) was modified with pH-sensitive degradable acetal containing hydrophobe, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzylidene-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (TMB-THME), to enhance its DNA condensation under extracellular conditions as well as to achieve active DNA release inside cells. PEI-(TMBTHME)n conjugates in the amount of 1.8 kDa were prepared with varying degrees of substitution (DS) from 3.0, 5.7 to 10.1. Notably, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed that all three 1.8 kDa PEI-(TMB-THME)n conjugates could effectively condense DNA into nano-sized particles (189-197 nm) at N/P ratios ranging from 20/1 to 80/1. The surface charges of PEI-(TMB-THME)n polyplexes depending on DS and N/P ratios varied from +22 to +28 mV,which were comparable to or slightly higher than the unmodified 1.8 kDa PEI counterparts (~+22 to +23 mV). Under a mildly acidic condition mimicking that of endosomes, interestingly, 1.8 kDa PEI-(TMB-THME)n polyplexes were quickly unpacked to release DNA because of the pH-induced acetal degradation that transforms hydrophobic modification into hydrophilic modification. MTT assays demonstrated that all PEI-(TMB-THME)n polyplexes displayed low cytotoxicity (>80%) to 293T, and HeLa cells at N/P ratios ranging from 20/1 to 60/1. The in vitro gene transfection studies showed that the transfection activity of 1.8 kDa PEI was significantly enhanced by modifications with TMBTHME,in which transfection efficiencies increased with increasing DS. For example, 1.8 kDa PEI-(TMBTHME)10.1 polyplexes displayed 250-fold and 80-fold higher transfection efficiencies than those of the unmodified 1.8 kDa PEI counterparts in 293T and HeLa cells, respectively, which were approximately 4-fold and 2-fold higher than that of 25 kDa PEI control. The superior transfection activity of 1.8 kDa PEI-(TMB-THME)10.1 polyplexes was also confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which showed efficient delivery of DNA into the nuclei of 293T cells following 4 h transfection. Modification of low molecular weight PEI with pH-sensitive degradable hydrophobe has appeared to be highly promising in the development of “artificial viruses” for safe and efficient gene transfer.

Port four: Others : Estimation of the effect for the Chinese Version of WHO Quality of Life Scale when used to measure the quality of life for the minority in Yunnan

( Qiong Meng ),( Chong Hua Wan ),( Mei Hua Guo ),( Zhi Hou Gao ),( Rui Xue Yang ) 한국환경보건학회(구-한국환경위생학회) 2004 Current Challenges and Advances in Environmental H Vol.- No.-

Effect of Ligustilide Supplement on Physical Fitness of Athletes

Xiaojuan Gao,Shuai Yang,Meng Liu,Yawen Jiang,Li Wenyan,Rui Ma,Zijian Zhao,Xuelin Zhang 아시아건강운동학회 2020 Journal of Asian Society for Health & Exercise Vol.2 No.2

PURPOSE: In this study, high content ligustilide plant extract was supplemented to monitor the changes of physical fitness and physiological function of athletes, and to explore the effect of ligustilide plant extract on physical function and physical fitness of athletes. METHODS: Thirty five high-level basketball players from Zhengzhou University were selected and divided into two groups randomly: nutritional supplement group (S, n = 18) and control group (C, n=17). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou University. Informed consent was obtained from each subject. The intervention period was 8 weeks, six days per week. The training method adopted the small cycle plate training scheme. We measured changes of the scores of rating of perceived exertion (RPE), physical fitness test (15m running, 30m running, 400m running) and routine blood test (mainly including red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and average erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration, etc.) before and after training. RESULTS: In group S, the percentage of RPE (grade 6-11) and RPE (grade 12-18) before experiment was 37.5% and 62.5%. After 8 weeks of experiment, 62.5% of RPE (grade 6-11) and 37.5% of RPE (grade 12-18). In group C, 14% of RPE (grade 6-11), 86% of slight RPE (grade 12-18), and 100% of RPE (grade 12-18) after 8 weeks of experiment. It was found that after 8 weeks of training, the number of red blood cells, the concentration of hemoglobin and the average concentration of red blood cell hemoglobin in group S were significantly higher than those before the experiment (p <0.05). According to the comparison of the physical fitness test results of the athletes in group S, it was found that the performance of 400m after 4 weeks and 8 weeks was significantly higher compared with pre-experiment (p<0.05). The changes of 30m and 15m were not significant different (p>0.05). The 400-meter test performance of athletes in group C was significantly higher than that before the experiment only after 8 weeks of training (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ligustilide supplementation can increase the number of red blood cell and hemoglobin concentration of athletes and has a positive impact on the physical fitness of athletes and the recovery of fatigue.

Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Lignans from the Fruits of Schisandra rubriflora

Wei-Lie Xiao,Rui-Rui Wang,Wei Zhao,Ren-Rong Tian,Shan-Zhai Shang,Liu-Meng Yang,Jian-Hong Yang,Jian-Xin Pu,Yong-Tang Zheng,Han-Dong Sun 대한약학회 2010 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.33 No.5

This study investigated the 70% aqueous acetone extract of the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora which led to the isolation of eight lignans, including a new isolate, rubrisandrin C (1), and seven known lignans (2-8) . The structure of 1 was established by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and its absolute stereochemistry was determined by CD spectrum. Compounds 1-5 and 7-8 were evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activity that showed inhibitory activity on HIV-1IIIB induced syncytium formation with EC50 values in the range of 2.26~20.4 μg/mL. Compounds 1 and 7 exerted their obvious protection of HIV-1IIIB inducted MT-4 host cells lytic effects with a selectivity index of 15.4 and 24.6, respectively.

Using three-dimensional theory of elasticity for vibration analysis of laminated sectorial plates

Liyuan Zhao,Man Wang,Rui Yang,Meng Zhao,Zenghao Song,N. Bohlooli 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.48 No.1

The main goal of this paper is to study vibration of damaged core laminated sectorial plates with Functionally graded (FG) face sheets based on three-dimensional theory of elasticity. The structures are made of a damaged isotropic core and two external face sheets. These skins are strengthened at the nanoscale level by randomly oriented Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and are reinforced at the microscale stage by oriented straight fibers. These reinforcing phases are included in a polymer matrix and a three-phase approach based on the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka scheme and on the Halpin-Tsai approach, which is developed to compute the overall mechanical properties of the composite material. Three complicated equations of motion for the sectorial plates under consideration are semi-analytically solved by using 2-D differential quadrature method. Using the 2-D differential quadrature method in the r- and z-directions, allows one to deal with sandwich annular sector plate with arbitrary thickness distribution of material properties and also to implement the effects of different boundary conditions of the structure efficiently and in an exact manner. The fast rate of convergence and accuracy of the method are investigated through the different solved examples. The sandwich annular sector plate is assumed to be simply supported in the radial edges while any arbitrary boundary conditions are applied to the other two circular edges including simply supported, clamped and free. Several parametric analyses are carried out to investigate the mechanical behavior of these multi-layered structures depending on the damage features, through-the-thickness distribution and boundary conditions.

Synthesis, Antibacterial Activity, and Structure–Activity Relationship of Fusaric Acid Analogs

Qing-Yan Zhang,Yang Fei‐Yu,Liao Shang‐Gao,Wang Bing,Li Rui,Dong Yong‐Xi,Zhou Meng,Yang Yuan‐Yong,Xu Guo‐Bo 대한화학회 2021 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.42 No.4

Forty-one fusaric acid analogs possessing a pyridine carboxylic acid scaffold have been synthesized. The antibacterial activity results demonstrated that compounds 5b, 7b, 8c, and 8d displayed strong antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4–16 μg/mL. Molecular docking study indicated that these compounds have strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with TyrRS. Meanwhile, 8c and 8d showed promising antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027. Compound 4 exhibited pronounced antibacterial activities against a clinically isolated multidrug-resistant strain of Escherichia coli (MIC: 64 μg/mL as compared 64 μg/mL of levofloxacin and 1024 μg/mL of ceftriaxone sodium). Moreover, compound 17e displayed strong synergistic antibacterial effect with levofloxacin against the multidrug-resistant strain, decreasing the MIC value of levofloxacin to 1/16 of its original MIC. No obvious cytotoxic activities against LO2 was observed for compounds 4, 5b, 8c, 8d, 17d, and 17e at 50 μM. The preliminary structure–activity relationship of fusaric acid analogs was also discussed.

S-benzyl-cysteine-mediated Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis Involving Activation of Mitochondrial-dependent Caspase Cascade through the p53 Pathway in Human Gastric Cancer SGC-7901 Cells

Sun, Hua-Jun,Meng, Lin-Yi,Shen, Yang,Zhu, Yi-Zhun,Liu, Hong-Rui Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.