Associations Between Three Polymorphisms in the Interleukin-4 Receptor Gene and Risk of Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Wang, Jia-Yi,Zhou, Yu-Qiao,Li, Xiao-Xu,Jin, Xin,Wang, Li-Li,Lei, Lei,Zhou, Yu,Lu, Jiang,Zeng, Xin,Dan, Hong-Xia,Liao, Ga,Chen, Qian-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are implicated in cancer development. However, results from the published reports have remained inconclusive. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the association between polymorphisms in IL-4R gene and cancer risk. Pubmed, EMBASE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for case-control studies published up to October 30, 2012 that investigated IL-4R polymorphisms and cancer risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of any associations. Three IL-4R polymorphisms (Q576R, rs1801275; I75V, rs1805010; S503P, rs1805015) in 21 case-control studies were analyzed. Our meta-analysis indicated that these three polymorphisms are not associated with cancer risk when all studies were pooled together. In the subgroup analysis by tumor site, the results showed that Q576R G allele carriers were associated with a significantly decreased cervical cancer risk (recessive model: OR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.60-0.98; homozygote comparison: OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.58-0.98). I75V G allele carriers were associated with a decreased risk of renal cancer (dominant model = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.57-0.89, heterozygote comparison: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.55-0.87). When stratified by ethnicity, Q576R G allele carriers were associated with a decreased cancer risk in Caucasians (dominant model: OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.83-0.98; heterozygote comparison: OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.82-0.98). I75V G allele carriers were associated with a decreased cancer risk in Asians (heterozygote comparison: OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.62-0.94). S503P C allele carriers were also associated with a decreased cancer risk in Asians (CC VS TT: OR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.08-0.99). Our results suggest that Q576R, I75V and S503P may be associated with a decreased cancer risk for certain types of cancers and in some specific ethnic groups. Future case-control studies with large sample size are needed to evaluate these associations in detail.

The effect of the PLIN1 gene on the metabolism and mitochondria of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells

Wang Yi,Peng Yuehan,Yang Yuefei,Hu Yuemin,Wang Hao,Xu Lei,Ju Huiming 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.12

Background: Perilipin 1 (PLIN1) is a lipid droplet scaffolding protein that plays a regulatory role in fat decomposition and mitochondrial function. Objective: In this study, the effects of PLIN1 gene knockout (PLIN1-KO) and PLIN1 gene overexpression (PLIN1-EX) on cell metabolism and mitochondrial function in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells were assessed. Methods: Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells were used as the control group (NC). The expression of mitochondrial function-related proteins was detected by western blot. Apoptosis, cell cycle, mitochondrial function-related indices, mitochondrial structure, and morphology were measured by flow cytometry. Results: Our results demonstrated that stable expression of the PLIN1 gene in skeletal muscle satellite cells is critical to maintaining cell metabolism and mitochondrial function. After knockout and overexpression of the PLIN1 gene, the anti-apoptotic ability of cells was enhanced, and the metabolic activity of the cells was accelerated, but at the cost of mitochondrial structural damage, reduction in the number of mitochondria, and decreased mitochondrial function. Conclusion: This study explored the effect of the PLIN1 gene on the mitochondria and metabolism of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells and provided a theoretical basis for the subsequent study of the effects of PLIN1 on muscle tissue development and meat quality.

Albumin-to-Fibrinogen Ratio as an Independent Prognostic Parameter in Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Retrospective Study of 191 Cases

Yi-Xin Zou,Jia Qiao,Hua-Yuan Zhu,Rui-Nan Lu,Yi Xia,Lei Cao,Wei Wu,Hui Jin,Wen-Jie Liu,Jin-Hua Liang,Jia-Zhu Wu,Li Wang,Lei Fan,Wei Xu,Jian-Yong Li 대한암학회 2019 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.51 No.2

Purpose Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most frequent type of B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and chronic inflammation takes part in the development of CLL. However, there has been no valid immune biomarker to predict the prognosis of untreated CLL patients. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical correlations and prognostic value of albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) detected at diagnosis in 191 CLL patients. Results The cut-off value of AFR was 9.7 calculated by X-tile. Patients who were more than 65 years old were often accompanied by low level of AFR (p < 0.001). Survival analysis showed that patients with low level of AFR had shorter overall survival (OS) than patients with high level of AFR (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis illustrated that AFR had a negative impact on OS (p=0.003) and was independent of parameters involved in CLL international prognostic index and other prognostic markers such as CD38 and ZAP-70. Conclusion These data provide a comprehensive view of AFR and shows that AFR at diagnosis is an adverse prognostic factor in untreated CLL patients.

An Visual System for Humanoid Robot Mobile-Manipulation Based on Virtual and Real Video Fusion

Lei Wang,Lei Zhang,Junyan Yi,Xiaoyan Wen,Chuncheng Liao 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.8 No.5

A visual system based on virtual and real video for the humanoid robot manipulation is presented. 3D virtual model of humanoid robot is established. It has the same aspect and freedom setup as the real robot. Multiple feedback from the robot are fused and used to express the real robot status as text and images. The system also forecasts the operation order and displays the simulation result. In the data fusion module, a least-squares algorithm is adopted to calculate the real-time position and attitude of the robot. Experiments demonstrate that the system can offer good telepresence and a preview of the operation order. In this paper, we also propose an adaptive Elastic Net method for edge linking of images from the robot cameras to understand the situation of the task. In the proposed method, an adaptive dynamic parameter strategy and a stochastic noise strategy are introduced into the Elastic Net, which enables the network to have superior ability for escaping from local minima and converge sooner to optimal or near-optimal solutions

A Survey of the Geographic Distribution of Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Yi Li,Xiao-Liang Wang,Lei Jiao,Yi Jiang,Hui Li,Si-Ping Jiang,Ngarong Lhosumtseiring,Shen-Zhan Fu,Cai-Hong Dong,Yu Zhan,Yi-Jian Yao 한국미생물학회 2011 The journal of microbiology Vol.49 No.6

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is one of the best known fungi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many efforts have been devoted to locating the production areas of this species resulting in various reports; however, its geographic distribution remains incompletely understood. Distribution of O. sinensis at the county level is clarified in this work based on both a literature search and fieldwork. More than 3600 publications related to O. sinensis were investigated, including scientific papers, books, and online information. Herbarium specimens of O. sinensis and field collections made by this research group during the years 2000-2010 were examined to verify the distribution sites. A total of 203 localities for O. sinensis have been found, of which 106 are considered as confirmed distribution sites, 65 as possible distribution sites, 29 as excluded distribution sites and three as suspicious distribution sites. The results show that O. sinensis is confined to the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding regions, including Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China and in certain areas of the southern flank of the Himalayas, in the countries of Bhutan, India and Nepal, with 3,000 m as the lowest altitude for the distribution. The fungus is distributed from the southernmost site in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in northwestern Yunnan Province to the northernmost site in the Qilian Mountains in Qilian County, Qinghai Province, and from the east edge of the Tibetan Plateau in Wudu County, Gansu Province to the westernmost site in Uttarakhand, India. The clarification of the geographic distribution of O. sinensis will lay the foundation for conservation and sustainable use of the species.

Susceptibility Loci Associations with Prostate Cancer Risk in Northern Chinese Men

Wang, Na-Na,Xu, Yong,Yang, Kuo,Wei, Dong,Zhang, Yao-Guang,Liu, Ming,Shi, Xiao-Hong,Liang, Si-Ying,Sun, Liang,Zhu, Xiao-Quan,Yang, Yi-Ge,Tang, Lei,Zhao, Cheng-Xiao,Wang, Xin,Chen, Xin,Hui, Juan,Zhang, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Background: KLK3 gene products, like human prostate-specific antigen (PSA), are important biomarkers in the clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). G protein-coupled receptor RFX6, C2orf43 and FOXP4 signaling plays important roles in the development of PCa. However, associations of these genes with PCa in northern Chinese men remain to be detailed. This study aimed to investigate their impact on occurrence and level of malignancy. Methods: All subjects were from Beijing and Tianjin, including 266 cases with prostate cancer and 288 normal individuals as controls. We evaluated associations between clinical covariates (age at diagnosis, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score, tumor stage and aggressive) and 6 candidate PCa risk loci, genotyped by PCR- high resolution melting curve and sequencing methods. Results: Case-control analysis of allelic frequency of PCa associated with PCa showed that one of the 6 candidate risk loci, rs339331 in the RFX6 gene, was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.57-0.94, P = 0.013) in northern Chinese men. In addition, subjects with CX (CC+TC) genotypes had a decreased risk for prostrate cancer compared to those carrying the TT homozygote (OR =0.64, 95% CI = 0.45- 0.90, P = 0.008). The TT genotype of 13q22 (rs9600079, T) was associated with tumor stage (P=0.044, OR=2.34, 95% CI=0.94-5.87). Other SNPs were not significantly associated with clinical covariates in prostate cancer (P > 0.05). Conclusions. rs339331 in the RFX6 gene may be associated with prostate cancer as a susceptibility locus in northern Chinese men.

Emodin ameliorates high-glucose induced mesangial p38 over-activation and hypocontractility via activation of PPARγ

Yi Liu,Lei Jia,Zun Chang Liu,Hong Zhang,Peng Ju Zhang,Qiang Wan,Rong Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2009 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.41 No.9

Early stage diabetic nephropathy is characterized by elevated glomerular filtration. Recent studies have identified high-glucose induced p38 MAPK (p38) over-activation in mesangial cells. Mesangial hypocontractility is the major underlying mechanism, however, no ameliorating agents are currently available. We investigated the protective effects of emodin on high-glucose induced mesangial cell hypocontractility. Mesangial cells were cultured under normal (5.6 mM) and high glucose (30 mM) conditions. Emodin was administrated at doses of 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l. Angiotension II stimulated cell surface reductions were measured to evaluate cell contractility. p38 activity was detected using Western blotting. To further explore the possible mechanism of emodin, expression of the peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was measured and its specific inhibitor, gw9662, was administrated. Our results showed: (1) high-glucose resulted in a 280% increase in p38 activity associated with significant impairment of mesangial contractility; (2) emodin treatment dose-dependently inhibited high-glucose induced p38 over-activation (a 40% decrease for 50 mg/l emodin and a 73% decrease for 100 mg/l emodin), and mesangial hypocontractility was ameriolated by emodin; (3) both the PPARγ mRNA and protein levels were elevated after emodin treatment; (4) inhibition of PPARγ using gw9662 effectively blocked the ameliorating effects of emodin on high-glucose induced p38 over-activation and mesangial hypocontractility. Emodin effectively ameliorated p38 over-activation and hypocontractility in high-glucose induced mesangial cells, possibly via activation of PPARγ. Early stage diabetic nephropathy is characterized by elevated glomerular filtration. Recent studies have identified high-glucose induced p38 MAPK (p38) over-activation in mesangial cells. Mesangial hypocontractility is the major underlying mechanism, however, no ameliorating agents are currently available. We investigated the protective effects of emodin on high-glucose induced mesangial cell hypocontractility. Mesangial cells were cultured under normal (5.6 mM) and high glucose (30 mM) conditions. Emodin was administrated at doses of 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l. Angiotension II stimulated cell surface reductions were measured to evaluate cell contractility. p38 activity was detected using Western blotting. To further explore the possible mechanism of emodin, expression of the peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was measured and its specific inhibitor, gw9662, was administrated. Our results showed: (1) high-glucose resulted in a 280% increase in p38 activity associated with significant impairment of mesangial contractility; (2) emodin treatment dose-dependently inhibited high-glucose induced p38 over-activation (a 40% decrease for 50 mg/l emodin and a 73% decrease for 100 mg/l emodin), and mesangial hypocontractility was ameriolated by emodin; (3) both the PPARγ mRNA and protein levels were elevated after emodin treatment; (4) inhibition of PPARγ using gw9662 effectively blocked the ameliorating effects of emodin on high-glucose induced p38 over-activation and mesangial hypocontractility. Emodin effectively ameliorated p38 over-activation and hypocontractility in high-glucose induced mesangial cells, possibly via activation of PPARγ.

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of SnS Decorated Graphene Nanocomposite with Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Applications

Wang, Jun-Hui,Zeng, Yi-Kai,Gu, Hao,Zhu, Lei,Oh, Won-Chun Materials Research Society of Korea 2020 한국재료학회지 Vol.30 No.12

A facile microwave assisted solvothermal process is designed for fabricating SnS nanoparticles decorated on graphene nanosheet, which used as visible light driven photocatalyst. Some typical characterization techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, SEM with EDX analysis, and TEM and BET analysis are used to analyse the physical characteristics of as-prepared samples. Spherical SnS nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on the surface of graphene nanosheet due to ammonia, which can prevent the aggregation of graphene oxide. Meanwhile, microwave radiation provides fast energy that promotes the formation of spherical SnS nanoparticles within a short time. The visible light photocatalytic activity of as-prepared SnS-GR nanocomposites is analysed through photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue with high concentration. According to the higher photocatalytic property, the as-prepared SnS-GR nanocomposites can be expected to be an efficient visible light driven photocatalyst. After five cycles for decolorization, the rate decreases from 87 % to 78 % (about 9 %). It is obvious that the photocatalytic activity of SnS-GR nanocomposite has good repeatability.

Shear Behavior of Corroded Post-Tensioned Prestressed Concrete Beams with Full/Insufficient Grouting

Lei Wang,Zhuo Hu,Ju Yi,Lizhao Dai,Yafei Ma,Xuhui Zhang 대한토목학회 2020 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.24 No.6

This paper experimentally studied the shear behavior of corroded post-tensioned prestressed concrete beams with full grouting. The effects of insufficient grouting in shear span on the shear behavior were also investigated. Eight beams were fabricated and divided into two groups: four beams with full grouting and four beams with insufficient grouting. Three beams in each group were subjected to accelerated corrosion. All beams were tested to failure in four-point loading. Experimental data on shear cracking, load-deflection response, shear strength and failure modes were presented. Results showed that strand corrosion accelerated the formation and propagation of diagonal crack. Insufficient grouting decreased the number of diagonal cracks. Strand corrosion degraded the post-cracking stiffness and shear strength. Insufficient grouting aggravated the propagation of diagonal crack and the degradation of post-cracking stiffness. The shear strength of corroded beam with 31.7% corrosion loss decreased by 15.44% as compared to that of the uncorroded beam. Strand corrosion loss less than 31.7% did not change the shear compression failure mode in fully grouted beams. The failure modes of locally ungrouted beams changed from shear compression failure to rupture of wires as the corrosion loss exceeded 39.6%.

Prevalence and Phylogenetic Analyses of Trichuris suis in Pigs in Hunan Province, Subtropical China

Lei Tan,Aibing Wang,Jing Yi,Jiayu Li,Wei Liu 대한기생충학열대의학회 2018 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.56 No.5

Trichuris suis infection in pigs is ubiquitous in intensive and extensive farms, which causes potential threat to human health. The objective of this research was to investigate the prevalence of T. suis in pigs in Hunan province. Total 2,267 fresh fecal samples distributed in 28 pig farms from 7 different administrative regions (Hunan province) were evaluated for the existence of T. suis eggs using saturated NaCl floating method. The average infection rate of T. suis in pigs was 8.91% in Hunan province. To determine genetic variation of the gained T. suis isolates in the present study, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions from nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of 7 T. suis isolates were cloned and analyzed. Nucleotide diversities were 1.0-3.5% and 0-3.8% for ITS-1 and ITS-2, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all isolates collected in the present study and T. suis available in Genbank generated a monophyletic clade. The present investigation revealed high infection rates of T. suis in pigs in Hunan province, which shed light on making effective measures to prevent and control T. suis infection in pigs in Hunan province.