Spatial analysis of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Shanghai: implications for tuberculosis control

Zhang Jing,Shen Xin,Yang Chongguang,Chen Yue,Guo Juntao,Wang Decheng,Zhang Jun,Lynn Henry,Hu Yi,Pan Qichao,Zhang Zhijie 한국역학회 2022 Epidemiology and Health Vol.44 No.-

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes are a key indicator in the assessment of TB control programs. We aimed to identify spatial factors associated with TB treatment outcomes, and to provide additional insights into TB control from a geographical perspective.METHODS: We collected data from the electronic TB surveillance system in Shanghai, China and included pulmonary TB patients registered from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016. We examined the associations of physical accessibility to hospitals, an autoregression term, and random hospital effects with treatment outcomes in logistic regression models after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and treatment factors.RESULTS: Of the 53,475 pulmonary TB patients, 49,002 (91.6%) had successful treatment outcomes. The success rate increased from 89.3% in 2009 to 94.4% in 2016. The successful treatment outcome rate varied among hospitals from 78.6% to 97.8%, and there were 12 spatial clusters of poor treatment outcomes during the 8-year study period. The best-fit model incorporated spatial factors. Both the random hospital effects and autoregression terms had significant impacts on TB treatment outcomes, ranking 6th and 10th, respectively, in terms of statistical importance among 14 factors. The number of bus stations around the home was the least important variable in the model.CONCLUSIONS: Spatial autocorrelation and hospital effects were associated with TB treatment outcomes in Shanghai. In highly-integrated cities like Shanghai, physical accessibility was not related to treatment outcomes. Governments need to pay more attention to the mobility of patients and different success rates of treatment among hospitals.

Telomere-Mitochondrion Links Contribute to Induction of Senescence in MCF-7 Cells after Carbon-Ion Irradiation

Miao, Guo-Ying,Zhou, Xin,Zhang, Xin,Xie, Yi,Sun, Chao,Liu, Yang,Gan, Lu,Zhang, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.4

The effects of carbon-ion irradiation on cancer cell telomere function have not been comprehensively studied. In our previous report cancer cells with telomere dysfunction were more sensitive to carbon-ion irradiation, but the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Here we found that telomerase activity was suppressed by carbon-ion irradiation via hTERT down-regulation. Inhibition of telomere activity by MST-312 further increased cancer cell radiosensitivity to carbon-ion radiation. hTERT suppression caused by either carbon-ion irradiation or MST-312 impaired mitochondrial function, as indicated by decreased membrane potential, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial mass, total ATP levels and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). PGC-$1{\alpha}$ expression was repressed after carbion-ion irradiation, and hTERT inhibition by MST-312 could further exacerbate this effect. Lowering the mitochondrial ROS level by MitoTEMPO could partially counteract the induction of cellular senescence induced by carbon-ion radiation and MST-312 incubation. Taken together, the current data suggest that telomere-mitochondrion links play a role in the induction of senescence in MCF-7 cells after carbon-ion irradiation.

Codelivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs in a microneedle patch for the treatment of skin pigmentation

Li Qin Zhang,Xiao Peng Zhang,Yu Ying Hao,Bao Li Zhang,Xin Dong Guo 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.88 No.-

When overexposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, skin can cause a series of abnormal reactions, suchas excessive pigmentation and solar elastosis. In order to better treat the skin after overexposed to UVB,we designed a dissolving microneedles (MNs) loading hydrophilic ascorbic acid and hydrophobic vitaminA palmitate to achieve codelivery. Here, we confirmed that MNs had enough mechanical strength toinsert the skin and two drugs were delivered subcutaneously in sequence in vitro. In white guinea pigs,surface observation and histological observation results confirmed that two drugs by MNs transdermaldelivery were better than topical administration in the treatment of UVB-damaged skin. The MNs providea method of loading different drugs into the needles and advance the development of transdermal drugdelivery.

Electrospun Polyphenylquinoxaline Ultrafine Non-woven Fibrous Membranes with Excellent Thermal and Alkaline Resistance: Preparation and Characterization

Chen-yu Guo,Lu-meng Yin,Jin-gang Liu,Xin-ke Wang,Na Zhang,Lin Qi,Yan Zhang,Xiao Wu,Xiu-min Zhang 한국섬유공학회 2019 Fibers and polymers Vol.20 No.12

A series of polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) ultrafine non-woven fibrous membranes have been first successfullyprepared via the electrospinning procedure with the soluble PPQ solutions as the starting materials. For this purpose, variousorgano-soluble PPQ resins were synthesized via the one-step high temperature polycondensation procedure from thearomatic ether-bridged bis(α-diketone) and bis(o-diamine) monomers. Flexible ether linkages and pendant bulky phenylsubstituents endowed the PPQ resins good solubility in polar aprotic solvents. The high-molecular-weight PPQ resins weredissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to afford the PPQ electrospinning solution except PPQ-Ia derived from 4,4'-oxydibenzil (ODB) and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) due to the limited solubility in the solvent. All the derived PPQultrafine non-woven fibrous membranes maintained good structure integrity after hydrolysis aging either at room temperature(25 oC) for 72 h or at refluxing temperature (100 oC) for 24 h in an aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at a solidcontent of 20 wt%. Comparatively, the polyimide (PI) reference electrospun membrane (PI-ref) derived from 1,2,4,5-pyrromellitic anhydride (PMDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) lost its original structure only after boiling in the same NaOHsolution within 3 h. In addition, the developed PPQ ultrafine non-woven fibrous membranes exhibited good thermal stabilitywith the 5 % weight loss temperatures (T5%) higher than 555.0 oC in nitrogen and glass transition temperatures (Tg) in therange of 248.1-266.1 oC, respectively.

Comparison of Liver Transplantation and Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Type I and Type II

Jia-Yu Lv,Ning-Ning Zhang,Ya-Wei Du,Ying Wu,Tian-Qiang Song,Ya-Min Zhang,Yan Qu,Yu-Xin Liu,Jie Gu,Ze-Yu Wang,Yi-Bo Qiu,Bing Yang,Da-Zhi Tian,Qing-Jun Guo,Li Zhang,Ji-San Sun,Yan Xie,Zheng-Lu Wang,Xin 연세대학교의과대학 2021 Yonsei medical journal Vol.62 No.1

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involvedand divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were comparedbefore and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR(p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longermedian RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335,respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion: LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels>200 ng/mL.

Identification of a Cancer Stem-like Population in the Lewis Lung Cancer Cell Line

Zhang, An-Mei,Fan, Ye,Yao, Quan,Ma, Hu,Lin, Sheng,Zhu, Cong-Hui,Wang, Xin-Xin,Liu, Jia,Zhu, Bo,Sun, Jian-Guo,Chen, Zheng-Tang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Objective: Although various human cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been defined, their applications are restricted to immunocompromised models. Developing a novel CSC model which could be used in immunocompetent or transgenic mice is essential for further understanding of the biomolecular characteristics of tumor stem cells. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed murine lung cancer cells for the presence of CSCs. Methods: Side population (SP) cells were isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting, followed by serum-free medium (SFM) culture, using Lewis lung carcinoma cell (LLC) line. The self-renewal, differentiated progeny, chemosensitivity, and tumorigenic properties in SP and non-SP cells were investigated through in vitro culture and in vivo serial transplantation. Differential expression profiles of stem cell markers were examined by RT-PCR. Results: The SP cell fraction comprised 1.1% of the total LLC population. SP cells were available to grow in SFM, and had significantly enhanced capacity for cell proliferation and colony formation. They were also more resistant to cisplatin in comparison to non-SP cells, and displayed increased tumorigenic ability. Moreover, SP cells showed higher mRNA expression of Oct-4, ABCG2, and CD44. Conclusion: We identified SP cells from a murine lung carcinoma, which possess well-known characteristics of CSCs. Our study established a useful model that should allow investigation of the biological features and pharmacosensitivity of lung CSCs, both in vitro and in syngeneic immunocompetent or transgenic/knockout mice.

Expression of Fas/FasL in CD8⁺ T and CD3⁺ Foxp3⁺ Treg Cells - Relationship with Apoptosis of Circulating CD8⁺ T Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Guo, Cun-Li,Yang, Xiu-Hua,Cheng, Wen,Xu, Yi,Li, Jie-Bing,Sun, Yi-Xin,Bi, Yu-Mei,Zhang, Lei,Wang, Qiu-Cheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Aims: Dysfunction of the host immune system in cancer patients can be due to a number of factors, including lymphocyte apoptosis. Several studies showed that $Foxp3^+T$ cells take part in inducing this process by expressing FasL in tumor patients. However, the relationship between apoptosis, $CD8^+T$ cells and $Foxp3^+T$ cells in HCC patients is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between apoptosis levels and Fas/FasL expression in $CD8^+T$ lymphocytes and $Foxp3^+T$ cells in patients with HCC. Methods: $CD8^+T$ cells and $CD3^+Foxp3^+T$ cells were tested from peripheral blood of HCC patients and normal controls and subjected to multicolor flow cytometry. The expression of an apoptosis marker (annexin V) and the death receptor Fas in $CD8^+T$ cells and FasL in $CD3^+Foxp3^+T$ cells were evaluated. Serum TGF-${\beta}1$ levels in patients with HCC were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between apoptosis and Fas expression, as well as FasL expression in $CD3^+Foxp3^+T$ cells was then evaluated. Results: The frequency of $CD8^+T$ cells binding annexin V and Fas expression in $CD8^+T$ cells, were all higher in HCC patients than normal controls and the proportion of apoptotic $CD8^+T$ cells correlated with their Fas expression. Serum TGF-${\beta}1$ levels correlated inversely with $CD3^+Foxp3^+T$ cells. Conclusions: Fas/FasL interactions might lead to excessive turnover of $CD8^+T$ cells and reduce anti-tumor immune responses in patients with HCC. Further investigations of apoptosis induction in $Fas^+CD8^+T$ cells in vitro are required.

Design, Synthesis and Antifungal Activities of Novel Strobilurin Derivatives Containing Pyrimidine Moieties

Zhang, Xiang,Gao, Yong-Xin,Liu, Hui-Jun,Guo, Bao-Yuan,Wang, Hui-Li Korean Chemical Society 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.8

Strobilurins are one of the most important classes of agricultural fungicides. To discover new strobilurin derivatives with high activity against resistant pathogens, a series of novel ${\beta}$-methoxyacrylate analogues were designed and synthesized by integrating substituted pyrimidine with a strobilurin pharmacophore. The compounds were confirmed and characterized by infrared, $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis and mass spectroscopy. The bioassays indicated that most of the compounds (1a-1h) exhibited potent antifungal activities against Colletotrichum orbiculare, Botrytis cinerea Pers and Phytophthora capsici Leonian at the concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. Exhilaratingly, compound 1d (R=3-trifluoromethylphenyl) showed better antifungal activity against all the tested fungi than the commercial strobilurin fungicide azoxystrobin.

Association of Polymorphisms in the Calpain I Gene with Meat Quality Traits in Yanbian Yellow Cattle of China

Xin, Jin,Zhang, Li-Chun,Li, Zhao-Zhi,Liu, Xiao-Hui,Jin, Hai-Guo,Yan, Chang-Guo Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.1

The calpain I (CAPN1) gene is an important marker for meat tenderness and marbling score in the bovine, but there were no studies to determine whether the CAPN1 gene had an association with other meat quality traits. In this study, we examined the relation between genetic polymorphisms of the CAPN1 gene and some meat quality traits in Yanbian Yellow Cattle of China. By PCRSSCP and gene sequencing in 321 unrelated Yanbian yellow cattle, twenty seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in CAPN1, two existed SNPs in exon 8 and exon 17 resulted in the change of AA at F311S and M599V, respectively, and the otherpolymorphisms were at intron 7, 8, 14, 16 and 17. There were different preponderant genotypes at the corresponding gene locus and all genotypes were not associated with tenderness but other meat traits. This is the first study of the relationship between CAPN1 and meat quality besides tenderness in Yanbian yellow cattle of China.

Efficacy and Safety of Endostar^® Combined with Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Zhang, Lu-Ping,Liao, Xing-Yun,Xu, Yan-Mei,Yan, Lv-Jun,Yan, Gui-Fang,Wang, Xin-Xin,Duan, Yu-Zhong,Sun, Jian-Guo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of tumors, and approximately 40-50% of patients with STS develop metastatic disease. The median overall survival of those patients was 12 months and their 5-year survival rate was 8%. Therefore, study on more effective treatment, especially the targeting therapies, is urgently needed. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Endostar$^{(R)}$ combined with chemotherapy in patients with advanced STS. Methods: A retrospective case-series study was conducted in Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital. A total of 71 patients suffering from advanced STS (IIB - IV) were included, of whom 49 cases treated with chemotherapy alone were defined as the control group and the rest 22 cases treated with the traditional chemotherapy combined with Endostar$^{(R)}$ were defined as the test group. The short-term therapeutic effects including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety were evaluated in the two groups. In the follow-up, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also observed. Results: In the test and control groups, the ORR was 18.2% and 12.2%, respectively (P=0.767), and the DCR was 86.4% and 61.2%, respectively (P=0.034). The median time to progression in the test and control groups was 120 days and 70 days with significant difference (P = 0.017), while the median overall survival was 452 days and 286 days without significant difference (P=0.503). The one-year survival rate in the test group and control group was 56.2% and 35.4%, respectively, while the two-year survival rate was 30.2% and 26.5%, respectively. No significant difference in the side effects was found between the two groups. Conclusions: Endostar$^{(R)}$ combined with chemotherapy resulted in a higher DCR and longer PFS in the patients with advanced STS, and the toxicity was tolerable.