Publications (13)34 Total impact
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Article: Keratin 17: A Critical Player in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis.
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ABSTRACT: Keratin 17 (K17) is an intermediate filament protein present in the basal cells of complex epithelia, such as nails, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and eccrine sweat glands. Studies have shown that it is expressed aberrantly in the suprabasal keratinocytes of psoriatic lesions, compared to in normal epidermis. K17 is also closely associated with the immune system and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In this review, we present our experimental findings concerning the role of K17 in psoriasis, and compare them to results published in the literature. Our results show that cytokines related to Th17 and IL-22-producing (where Th17 is T helper cells, type 17 and IL is interleukin) CD4(+) T cells, including IL-17A and IL-22, upregulate the expression of K17 in keratinocytes. In addition, K17 stimulates autoreactive T cells and promotes the production of psoriasis-associated cytokines. Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that a K17/T-cell/cytokine autoimmune loop is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We therefore review the current understanding of the K17 immunoregulation, including its expression and direct/indirect effects on immune responses. Pertinent strategies for the treatment of psoriasis are also discussed.Medicinal Research Reviews 05/2013; · 10.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Early, nonciliary role for microtubule proteins in left-right patterning is conserved across kingdoms.
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ABSTRACT: Many types of embryos' bodyplans exhibit consistently oriented laterality of the heart, viscera, and brain. Errors of left-right patterning present an important class of human birth defects, and considerable controversy exists about the nature and evolutionary conservation of the molecular mechanisms that allow embryos to reliably orient the left-right axis. Here we show that the same mutations in the cytoskeletal protein tubulin that alter asymmetry in plants also affect very early steps of left-right patterning in nematode and frog embryos, as well as chirality of human cells in culture. In the frog embryo, tubulin α and tubulin γ-associated proteins are required for the differential distribution of maternal proteins to the left or right blastomere at the first cell division. Our data reveal a remarkable molecular conservation of mechanisms initiating left-right asymmetry. The origin of laterality is cytoplasmic, ancient, and highly conserved across kingdoms, a fundamental feature of the cytoskeleton that underlies chirality in cells and multicellular organisms.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 07/2012; 109(31):12586-91. · 9.68 Impact Factor -
Article: Increased cyclin-dependent kinase 6 expression in bladder cancer.
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ABSTRACT: Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6) controls the cell cycle and aberrant expression of Cdk6 is involved in cancer progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Cdk6 in bladder cancer development. Cdk6 expression was examined in 31 cases of bladder cancer and 29 tissues adjacent to bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) using an immunohistochemistry assay. The correlation between Cdk6 expression and clinical characteristics was also analyzed. Compared with the adjacent tissues, cytoplasmic and nuclear Cdk6 expression levels were significantly increased in the invasive bladder cancer cases (P=0.005 and P<0.001, respectively), but not in the non-invasive superficial cases of bladder cancer (P>0.05 for both). Cytoplasmic and nuclear Cdk6 expression levels were correlated with bladder cancer stage (superficial vs. invasive, P=0.026 and P=0.006, respectively). The results therefore indicate that increased Cdk6 expression contributes to bladder cancer development and may serve as a biomarker for bladder cancer.Oncology letters 07/2012; 4(1):43-46. · 0.11 Impact Factor -
Article: [Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the thyroid, co-existing with papillary thyroid cancer: a case report].
Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery 04/2012; 47(4):343-4. -
Article: [Three kind of scoring system for proximal humeral fractures in patients with postoperative functional review of evaluation: a multicenter study].
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the ASES, Constant and HSS score systems and their significance on postoperative function of the shoulder. Totally 172 cases of proximal humeral fracture of five affiliated hospital from September 2004 to September 2008 were analyzed. All the functional outcome of the involved shoulder were evaluated by ASES, Constant, HSS score and patient self score. The correlations and agreement of three shoulder scales were analyzed with Pearson correlation test and Bland-Altman plot in different age groups and fracture types. (1) The Constant score were lower than other two scores in the same age group and fracture type (F = 13.62 and 4.80, P < 0.05). (2) The correlations between three shoulder scales: ASES and Constant (r = 0.754, P = 0.0003), ASES and HSS (r = 0.755, P = 0.0001), Constant and HSS (r = 0.858, P = 0.0002). The correlations between three shoulder scales and patient self evaluation: ASES (r = 0.602, P = 0.0002), Constant (r = 0.705, P = 0.0001), HSS (r = 0.663, P = 0.0037). The Bland-Altman plot shows three shoulder scales have good agreement. (3)The correlation between Constant score and patient self evaluation decreased in the elder group and severe fracture type. ASES, Constant, HSS shoulder score systems are all fit to evaluate the functional outcome of the shoulder, they have good correlation and agreement. Constant score in recommended for its high correlation coefficient with patient self evaluation score. However, its age bias must be paid attention in clinical practice. ASES shoulder score can be used in remote follow-up.Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery] 04/2012; 50(4):318-22. -
Article: The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-22 up-regulates keratin 17 expression in keratinocytes via STAT3 and ERK1/2.
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the regulation of K17 expression by the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-22 in keratinocytes and its important role in our previously hypothesized "K17/T cell/cytokine autoimmune loop" in psoriasis. K17 expression was examined in the IL-22-treated keratinocytes by real-time quantitative PCR, ELISA, Western blot and Immunofluorescence. In addition, the signaling pathways involved in K17 regulation were investigated with related inhibitors and siRNAs. In addition, K17 expression was examined in the epidermis of IL-22-injected mouse skin. IL-22-induced K17 expression was confirmed in keratinocytes and the epidermis of IL-22-injected mouse skin at both mRNA and protein levels, which is an important complement to the autoimmune loop. We further investigated the regulatory mechanisms and found that both STAT3 and ERK1/2 were involved in the up-regulation of K17 expression induced by IL-22. IL-22 up-regulates K17 expression in keratinocytes in a dose-dependent manner through STAT3- and ERK1/2-dependent mechanisms. These findings indicated that IL-22 was also involved in the K17/T cell/cytokine autoimmune loop and may play an important role in the progression of psoriasis.PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(7):e40797. · 4.09 Impact Factor -
Article: Relative importance of spatial processes and environmental factors in shaping alpine meadow communities
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ABSTRACT: Aims Spatial processes and environmental control are the two distinct, yet not mutually exclusive forces of community structuring, but the relative importance of these factors is controversial due to the species-specific dispersal ability, sensitivity towards environmental variables, organism's abundance and the effect of spatial scale. In the present paper, we explored spatial versus environmental control in shaping community composition (i.e. β-diversity) and species turnover (i.e. change of β-diversity) at an alpine meadow along a slope aspect gradient on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau at different spatial scales of sampling (quadrats and plots), by taking account of seed dispersal mode and abundance.Methods We examined the relative importance of spatial processes and environmental factors using all species and four additional subsets of selected species. Moreover, we attempted to explore the effect of scale (quadrat refers to scale of ∼0.3 m and plot of ∼8 m) on their counter balance. The data were analyzed both by variation partitioning and multiple regressions on distance matrices. The spatial structure was modelled using Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM).Important Findings Both spatial processes and environmental factors were important determinants of the community composition and species turnover. The community composition in the alpine meadow was controlled by spatially structured environment (17.6%), space independent of environment (18.0%) and a negligible effect of environment independent of space (4.4%) at the scale of quadrats. These three components contributed 21.8, 9.9 and 13.9%, respectively, at the scale of plots. The balance between the forces at different spatial scales drove community structures along the slope aspect gradient. The importance of environmental factors on β-diversity at alpine meadow increased with scale while that of spatial processes decreased or kept steady, depending on dispersal mode and abundance of species comprising the subset. But the ‘pure’ effect of spatial processes on species turnover increased with scale while that of environmental factors decreased. This discrepancy highlights that β-diversity and species turnover were determined jointly by spatial processes and environmental factors. We also found that the relative roles of these processes vary with spatial scale. These results underline the importance of considering species-specific dispersal ability and abundance of species comprising the communities and the appropriate spatial scale in understanding the mechanisms of community assembly.Journal of Plant Ecology 01/2011; 4(4):249-258. · 1.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Relative importance of spatial processes and environmental factors in shaping alpine meadow communities
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ABSTRACT: Aims Spatial processes and environmental control are the two distinct, yet not mutually exclusive forces of community structuring, but the rel-ative importance of these factors is controversial due to the species-specific dispersal ability, sensitivity towards environmental variables, organism's abundance and the effect of spatial scale. In the present paper, we explored spatial versus environmental control in shaping community composition (i.e. b-diversity) and species turnover (i.e. change of b-diversity) at an alpine meadow along a slope aspect gra-dient on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau at different spatial scales of sampling (quadrats and plots), by taking account of seed dispersal mode and abundance. Methods We examined the relative importance of spatial processes and envi-ronmental factors using all species and four additional subsets of selected species. Moreover, we attempted to explore the effect of scale (quadrat refers to scale of ;0.3 m and plot of ;8 m) on their counter balance. The data were analyzed both by variation partition-ing and multiple regressions on distance matrices. The spatial struc-ture was modelled using Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM). Important Findings Both spatial processes and environmental factors were important determinants of the community composition and species turnover. The community composition in the alpine meadow was controlled by spatially structured environment (17.6%), space independent of environment (18.0%) and a negligible effect of environment inde-pendent of space (4.4%) at the scale of quadrats. These three components contributed 21.8, 9.9 and 13.9%, respectively, at the scale of plots. The balance between the forces at different spatial scales drove community structures along the slope aspect gradient. The importance of environmental factors on b-diversity at alpine meadow increased with scale while that of spatial processes de-creased or kept steady, depending on dispersal mode and abundance of species comprising the subset. But the 'pure' effect of spatial pro-cesses on species turnover increased with scale while that of envi-ronmental factors decreased. This discrepancy highlights that b-diversity and species turnover were determined jointly by spatial processes and environmental factors. We also found that the relative roles of these processes vary with spatial scale. These results under-line the importance of considering species-specific dispersal ability and abundance of species comprising the communities and the appropriate spatial scale in understanding the mechanisms of com-munity assembly. Keywords: alpine meadow d dispersal d environmental factor d slope aspect d spatial process d spatial scaleJournal of Plant Ecology 12/2010; 4(4):249-258. · 1.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of resource additions on species richness and ANPP in an alpine meadow community
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ABSTRACT: AimsTheories based on resource additions indicate that plant species richness is mainly determined by the number of limiting resources However, the individual effects of various limiting resources on species richness and aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) are less well understood Here, we analyzed potential linkages between additions of limiting resources, species loss and ANPP increase and further explored the Underlying mechanismsMethodsResources (N, P, K and water) were added in a completely randomized block design to alpine meadow plots in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Plant aboveground biomass, species composition, mean plant height and light availability were measured in each plot Regression and analysis of variance were used to analyze the response of these measures to the different resource-addition treatmentsImportant FindingsSpecies richness decreased with increasing number of added limiting resources, suggesting that plant diversity was apparently determined by the number of limiting resources Nitrogen was the most Important limiting resource affecting species richness, whereas Pand K alone had negligible effects The largest reduction in species richness occurred when all three elements were added in combination Water played a different role compared with the other limiting resource Species richness increased when water was added to the treatments with N and P or with N, P and K The decreases in species richness after resource additions were paralleled by increases in ANPP and decreases in light penetration into the plant canopy, suggesting that increased light competition was responsible for the negative effects of resource additions on plant species richnessJournal of Plant Ecology 01/2010; 3(1, Sp. Iss. SI):25-31. · 1.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of nitrogen addition on species richness and relationship between species richness and aboveground productivity of alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China
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ABSTRACT: Aims Competition for different limiting resources among plant species is the main factor that influences plant community composition, diversity and productivity. Our objective was to investigate the effects of different levels of nitrogen addition on species richness and aboveground productivity of alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China.Methods We added nitrogen in a completely randomized block design and measured plant aboveground biomass, species composition, vegetation light penetration and soil pH and NO3–-N content in each plot. Regression and analysis of variance were used to analyze the responses of these measures to different levels of nitrogen addition.Important findings Nitrogen addition changed the soil physical and chemical properties, enhancing the content of NO3–-N available resources in the soil, increasing plant cover and reducing vegetation light penetration. With increasing N addition, species richness decreased sharply (p < 0.001). N addition changed aboveground productivity significantly (p < 0.05). With increasing N addition, aboveground productivity increased first then decreased,and grass biomass increased while forb and legume biomasses decreased. There was a significant linear positive relationship between species richness and vegetation light penetration (p < 0.05) and also between aboveground productivity and soil NO3–-N content (p < 0.05). The relationship between aboveground productivity and species richness was negative. We suggested that the short term effects of nitrogen addition on community composition and aboveground productivity were determined by the changed soil NO3–-N content.Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. 01/2010; -
Article: The responses of photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content of nectarine (Prunus persica var. Nectarina Maxim) to greenhouse and field grown conditions
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ABSTRACT: Three nectarine (Prunus persica var. Nectarina Maxim.) cultivars grown under solar-heated greenhouse and open-field in northwest China, were tested to evaluate their photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence response to both growth conditions, and whether nectarine plants acclimate to the solar-heated greenhouse growth condition. Comparisons of light-saturated photosynthetic capacity (Amax) and CO2-saturated photosynthetic capacity (RuBPmax) indicated that each cultivar (Z, Zao-Hongzhu; H, Hua-Guang; Y, Yan-Guang) maintained similar rates of light-saturated and CO2-saturated carbon assimilation when grown in both conditions. The curve of diurnal variation of net photosynthetic (PN) rate showed double peaks in open-field but single when grown in greenhouse. Compared with open-field-grown plants, a significant increase of daily average PN was found in Z but decreased in Y in greenhouse. The diurnal variation of Fv/Fm indicate that plants grown in greenhouse experience less photoinhibition than in open-field condition. A reduction in chlorophyll (chl) a/b ratio in leaves of greenhouse grown plants with significant increase in chlorophyll (chl) b content were obtained. The results suggest that some nectarine cultivars have the ability to acclimate to the solar-heated greenhouse growth condition.Scientia Horticulturae 112(1):66-72. · 1.53 Impact Factor -
Article: Synthesis and spectroelectrochemical properties of two new dithienylpyrroles bearing anthraquinone units and their polymer films
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ABSTRACT: Two new kinds of dithienylpyrroles bearing anthraquinone units have been prepared by the Knorr–Paal condensation between 1,4-di(thiophen-2-yl)butane-1,4-dione and 1-/2-amino-anthraquinone. The corresponding polymer films were successfully synthesized via electropolymerization. The electrochemical, electro-optical properties and electrochromic behavior of the two polymer films were further investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry and UV–vis absorption spectra. The results demonstrated that the two polymer films were thermally stable up to nearly 300 °C. Both the two electroactive polymer films presented a stable and well-defined reversible redox process as well as multicolor electrochromic change from yellow (in the reduced state) to grey (in the neutral state) and then to blue (in the oxidized state).Electrochimica Acta. 55(23):6933-6940. -
Article: Compensation of electrode orbiting in electrical discharge machining based on non-uniform offsetting
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ABSTRACT: In orbiting EDM, the orbital motion of electrode makes the cavity dimension in the workpiece deviate from the design objective. This paper presents a compensation method for electrode orbiting. The presented techniques are used to modify the geometric shape of free-form electrode, so as to eliminate the effects to the cavity dimension that arise from the electrode orbiting. The basic approach consists of three steps: (1) NURBS parameters extraction of electrode surfaces and surface adaptive sampling; (2) non-uniform offsetting of the sampled points according to the orbiting patterns; (3) approximation of non-uniform offset surface under error control. And the method to handle trimmed surface in compensation is also discussed. Quite a few implemented examples and machining results show that the developed techniques can compensate the orbital motion and improve the machining precision effectively.International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture 45(14):1628-1634. · 2.17 Impact Factor
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Institutions
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2012
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Hangzhou First People's Hospital
Hangzhou, Zhejiang Sheng, China -
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA -
Fourth Military Medical University
- Department of Dermatology
Xi’an, Liaoning, China
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