Wei Jiang

Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Sheng, China

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Publications (68)147.84 Total impact

  • Article: Aberration compensation of an ultrasound imaging instrument with a reduced number of channels.
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    ABSTRACT: Focusing and imaging qualities of an ultrasound imaging system that uses aberration correction were experimentally investigated as functions of the number of parallel channels. Front-end electronics that consolidate signals from multiple physical elements can be used to lower hardware and computational costs by reducing the number of parallel channels. However, the signals from sparse arrays of synthetic elements yield poorer aberration estimates. In this study, aberration estimates derived from synthetic arrays of varying element sizes are evaluated by comparing compensated receive focuses, compensated transmit focuses, and compensated b-scan images of a point target and a cyst phantom. An array of 80 x 80 physical elements with a pitch of 0.6 x 0.6 mm was used for all of the experiments and the aberration was produced by a phantom selected to mimic propagation through abdominal wall. The results show that aberration correction derived from synthetic arrays with pitches that have a diagonal length smaller than 70% of the correlation length of the aberration yield focuses and images of approximately the same quality. This connection between correlation length of the aberration and synthetic element size provides a guideline for determining the number of parallel channels that are required when designing imaging systems that employ aberration correction.
    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control 10/2012; 59(10):2210-25. · 1.80 Impact Factor
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    Article: Enhanced efficacy and specificity of epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis by embedding a DMBA-coated cloth strip in the ovary of rat.
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    ABSTRACT: Ovarian cancer is predominant of epithelial cell origin and often present at an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Most animal models of ovarian carcinoma yield thecal/granulose cell tumors, rather than adenocarcinomas. The best reported induction rate of adenocarcinoma in rats is 10-45% by an ovarian implantation of 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) coated silk suture. We provided an improved procedure to construct the model by the ovarian implantation of DMBA-coated cloth strip. A sterile suture (as S group) or a piece of cloth strip (as CS group) was soaked in DMBA before ovarian implantation in Wistar rats. Tumor size, incidence rate and pathological type were analyzed. Ovarian tumors in rats of CS group were first noted at 16 wk post implantation and reached a cumulative incidence of 75% (96/128) at 32 wk, while the tumor incidence rate in S group at 32 wk was only 46.25% (37/80). The tumor size in CS group (3.63 ± 0.89 cm) was larger than that of S group (2.44 ± 1.89 cm) (P < 0.05). In CS group, there were only two types of tumor formed: adenocarcinoma (90/96) and sarcoma (6/96). While in S group, there were different types, including adenocarcinoma (21/37), squamous carcinoma (3/37), granulosa cell tumor (3/37), sarcoma (4/37), undifferentiated carcinoma with no adeno character (2/37), benign ovarian tumor (2/37), and malignant teratoma (1/37). The model in our study yields much higher incidence and specificity of epithelial derived tumors and showed histological similarities to human ovarian cancers, which would be more suitable for therapeutic research.
    Journal of Ovarian Research 09/2012; 5(1):21. · 2.57 Impact Factor
  • Article: Experimental investigation on reconstruction of sound field based on spherical near-field acoustic holography.
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    ABSTRACT: This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the methodology of spherical near-field acoustic holography (spherical NAH) to reconstruct interior sound field. The experiment was carried out in a full anechoic chamber, in which the sound filed was generated with different combination of speakers at different positions, a rigid spherical array was used to collect the field acoustic pressures as input to the reconstruction calculation. There are three cases which were investigated. Case 1, a source was set near to the microphone array. Case 2, two sources were eccentrically set opposite to each other around the microphone array. And Case 3, two sources were placed on one side of microphone array on the same orbit, while they were positioned apart at a small angle. The accuracy of the reconstruction of sound field was examined and analyzed compared to the benchmarks and the results of the numerical simulations. The reconstructed results show that the methodology of Spherical NAH is capable to locate sources and reconstruct sound field within certain accuracy.
    The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 09/2012; 132(3):2075. · 1.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Discovery of serum biomarkers implicated in the onset and progression of serous ovarian cancer in a rat model using iTRAQ technique.
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    ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and early tumor detection is the most promising approach for improving the EOC survival rate. The goal of this study was to identify the biomarkers underlying ovarian carcinogenesis. STUDY DESIGN: To mimic the onset and progression of human ovarian cancer, we established a rat model of ovarian neoplasm by implanting 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-coated silk cloth strips onto the ovaries. Sera collected from rats bearing serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after DMBA treatment and from controls were analyzed using iTRAQ combined with two-dimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The data were analyzed with ProteinPilot software for peptide matching, protein identification, and protein quantitation. Ingenuity pathway analysis software was used to identify the canonical pathways and biological interaction networks of differentially expressed proteins. RESULTS: The cumulative ovarian tumor incidence rate reached 75% at 32 weeks after DMBA treatment. Out of all tumors, 94% were EOC, and 51% of the EOC cases were SOC. A total of 225 unique, non-redundant proteins were identified with 95% confidence. Twenty-seven differentially expressed proteins were significantly up- or down-regulated during the early or advanced carcinogenesis of SOC. Fifteen proteins were previously reported to be involved in ovarian cancer, and 12 proteins, including MMRN1, SERPINC1, TLN1, AHSG, PLG, APOA2, HPX, APOC1, APOC2, FERMT3, FETUB and HBB, were identified for the first time in our study. CONCLUSION: The discovery of these differentially expressed proteins provides valuable clues for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the dynamic carcinogenic process of ovarian cancer. These proteins could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for early detection, disease monitoring and therapeutic targets.
    European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 07/2012; · 1.97 Impact Factor
  • Article: Novel preparation of PLGA/HP55 nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to develop the PLGA/HP55 nanoparticles with improved hypoglycemic effect for oral insulin delivery. The insulin-loaded PLGA/HP55 nanoparticles were produced by a modified multiple emulsion solvent evaporation method. The physicochemical characteristics, in vitro release of insulin, and in vivo efficacy in diabetic rats of the nanoparticles were evaluated. The insulin encapsulation efficiency was up to 94%, and insulin was released in a pH-dependent manner under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. When administered orally (50 IU/kg) to diabetic rats, the nanoparticles can decrease rapidly the blood glucose level with a maximal effect between 1 and 8 h. The relative bioavailability compared with subcutaneous injection (5 IU/kg) in diabetic rats was 11.3% ± 1.05%. This effect may be explained by the fast release of insulin in the upper intestine, where it is better absorbed by the high gradient concentration of insulin than other regions. These results show that the PLGA/HP55 nanoparticles developed in the study might be employed as a potential method for oral insulin delivery.
    Nanoscale Research Letters 06/2012; 7(1):299. · 2.73 Impact Factor
  • Article: Postoperative ascites of unknown origin after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a 5-year experience of 8 cases and review of the literature.
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    ABSTRACT: We performed an observational study over 5 years on patients with postoperative ascites who had undergone laparoscopic surgery in our hospital. Patients with postoperative ascites of unknown origin were monitored in the hospital from July 2006 to June 2010. Clinical manifestations, biochemical analysis, and treatment are discussed in the study. Of 21,380 laparoscopic surgeries, 8 cases of postoperative ascites of unknown origin were identified in otherwise healthy women. None of the patients revealed any definitive causes even after an extensive diagnostic work-up and recovered uneventfully with general supportive treatments. Postoperative ascites of unknown origin are a rare complication of laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. We surmised that the most likely cause of the ascites is a diffuse peritoneal injury by some substances used during the operation, and supportive therapy is very important.
    Surgical laparoscopy, endoscopy & percutaneous techniques 06/2012; 22(3):e129-31. · 1.23 Impact Factor
  • Article: Spectral accuracy of a new hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer: application to ranking small molecule elemental compositions.
    Wei Jiang, John C L Erve
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    ABSTRACT: Determining the elemental compositions of unknown molecules is an important goal of analytical chemistry. The isotope pattern revealed by a mass spectrometer provides valuable information regarding the elemental composition of a molecule. In order to employ spectral accuracy considerations for elemental composition determination, it is important to know how faithfully a mass spectrometer can record the isotope pattern and to understand the magnitude of the errors of the relative isotopic abundances. Twenty-four small molecule drugs and two natural products representing a diverse range of elemental compositions and ranging in molecular weight from 236 to 1663 Da were measured on a new hybrid orthogonal acceleration quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer by flow infusion analysis. The similarity between the observed profile isotope pattern and the theoretical isotope pattern, denoted spectral accuracy, was calculated using a computational algorithm in the program MassWorks. The spectral accuracy for all compounds averaged better than 98%. When using spectral accuracy to rank elemental compositions with the elemental constraints (C(1-100)H(0-200)N(0-50)O(0-50)F(0-5)S(0-5)Cl(0-5)Br(0-5)) further restricted by empirical rules and a mass tolerance ≤5 parts-per-million, the correct formula was ranked first over 80% of the time. In contrast, when using mass accuracy for ranking, only two compounds (8%) were ranked first. For quinidine and troglitazone, the initial spectral accuracy measurements were lower than expected and further analysis indicated that minor, structurally related components were present. Our work has determined the magnitude of spectral accuracy that can be expected on a new Q-TOF mass spectrometer. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of spectral accuracy measurements both for ranking elemental compositions and also for obtaining insight into the chemical nature of the analyte that might otherwise be overlooked.
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 05/2012; 26(9):1014-22. · 2.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ginkgo May Sensitize Ovarian Cancer Cells to Cisplatin: Antiproliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Ginkgolide B on Ovarian Cancer Cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Ginkgolide B (GB), the primary active component of Ginkgo biloba extracts, may have antitumor properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects and possible mechanisms of GB in ovarian cancer cells. In this study, human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and CAOV3) were treated with different concentrations of GB alone or in combination with Cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP). An MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed to determine cell viability. The apoptosis rates of cells were measured by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of apoptosis-associated and proliferation-associated proteins was detected by Western blot. The cytotoxicity of GB was analyzed using a lactate dehydrogenase assay. Treatment with 100 µM GB for 3 days significantly inhibited SKOV3 and CAOV3 cell proliferation by 57.3% and 63.1% compared with control cells, respectively, as determined by MTT assay. Similarly, the apoptotic cell population was increased when treated with GB in a dose-dependent manner both in SKOV3 and CAOV3 cells. These effects were characterized by the upregulation of p21, p27, cleaved capase-3, and cleaved caspase-8 and downregulation of cyclin D1. In addition, a combined treatment of low concentrations of GB and CDDP showed an additive effect on the inhibition of SKOV3 cell proliferation. Furthermore, GB had significantly less cytotoxicity than CDDP in normal human ovarian surface epithelial cells. This study suggests that GB can be proposed as an effective antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing agent with interesting translational application in ovarian cancers, used in addition to conventional chemotherapy.
    Integrative Cancer Therapies 04/2012; · 2.14 Impact Factor
  • Article: High Mobility, Air Stable, Organic Single Crystal Transistors of an n-Type Diperylene Bisimide
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    ABSTRACT: A new n-type organic semiconductor, i.e., C12-4CldiPBI, is synthesized by a simple and facile route. Single crystal ribbons of C12-4CldiPBI are grown facilely by a solvent vapor diffusion strategy. Organic field-effect transistors based on individual ribbons are fabricated by a new technique named “Au stripe mask” method. All devices exhibit excellent n-type transistor behavior with negligible hysteresis, and all devices give an electron mobility over 1.0 cm2 V−1 s−1 with the highest mobility of 4.65 cm2 V−1 s−1. Moreover, the devices exhibit excellent air stability.
    Advanced Materials 04/2012; 24(19):2626-2630. · 13.88 Impact Factor
  • Article: Effect of RhoA on transforming growth factor β1-induced rat hepatic stellate cell migration.
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    ABSTRACT: Although the migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is essential to the hepatic fibrotic response, the intracellular and extracellular signals that regulate their migration are poorly understood. To investigate the role of Rho guanosine triphosphatase (Rho GTPase) signalling, specifically via RhoA, in transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-induced HSC migration. Both primary rat HSCs and the HSC-T6 rat hepatic stellate cell line were used in this study. Cell migration was evaluated using the Transwell Boyden Chamber assay, whereas cytoskeletal changes were observed using laser confocal microscopy. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Rho GTPases (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42) in HSCs, and their activation was determined using glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays. Finally, the specific effects of RhoA on TGFβ1-induced cell migration were analysed in HSC-T6 cells stably transfected with constitutively active (CA, Q63L) or dominant-negative (DN, T19N) RhoA mutants. Transforming growth factor β1 induced cytoskeletal remodelling and migration of rat HSCs following RhoA activation. The level of RhoA activation determined the motility of the HSCs. These findings broaden our understanding of the intracellular and extracellular signals that regulate HSC migration. Furthermore, RhoA may be a candidate therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.
    Liver international: official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver 04/2012; 32(7):1093-102. · 3.82 Impact Factor
  • Article: Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma combined with allograft bone in the management of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: a prospective cohort study.
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) when used with allograft bone improves the management outcome of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Over a 7-year period, all displaced type III calcaneal fractures admitted in our department (276 fractures in 254 patients) were randomly divided into three groups according to the plan of management: autograft alone (n = 101), allograft combined with PRP (n = 85), or allograft alone (n = 90). Radiographic imaging and three-dimensional computed tomography were used to assess the thalamic portion, Bohler's angle, the crucial angle of Gissane, and the height, width and length of the calcaneum. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind-foot scoring system was used to evaluate the hind foot function at 12, 24, and 72 months postsurgery. At 12 months no significant difference existed in outcome amongst the treatment groups (p > 0.05). However, at 24 and 72 months the results of the autograft, and the allograft combined with PRP, were similar and both were significantly better than that of the allograft alone (p < 0.05). PRP augmented the favorable outcome of allografts in the management of displaced calcaneal fractures, and matched that of autograft used alone. The findings of this study thus support the clinical use of PRP in conjunction with allograft in the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.
    Journal of Orthopaedic Research 04/2012; 30(10):1570-6. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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    Article: HP55-coated capsule containing PLGA/RS nanoparticles for oral delivery of insulin.
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    ABSTRACT: In this work, we designed and developed a two-stage delivery system composed of enteric capsule and cationic nanoparticles for oral delivery of insulin. The enteric capsule was coated with pH-sensitive hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HP55), which could selectively release insulin from nanoparticles in the intestinal tract, instead of stomach. The biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was selected as the matrix for loading insulin. Eurdragit(®) RS (RS) was also introduced to the nanoparticles for enhancing the penetration of insulin across the mucosal surface in the intestine. The nanoparticles were prepared with the multiple emulsions solvent evaporation method via ultrasonic emulsification. The optimized nanoparticles have a mean size of 285nm, a positive zeta potential of 42mV. The encapsulation efficiency was up to 73.9%. In vitro results revealed that the initial burst release of insulin from nanoparticles was markedly reduced at pH 1.2, which mimics the stomach environment. In vivo effects of the capsule containing insulin PLGA/RS nanoparticles were also investigated in diabetic rat models. The oral delivered capsules induced a prolonged reduction in blood glucose levels. The pharmacological availability was found to be approximately 9.2%. All the results indicated that the integration of HP55-coated capsule with cationic nanoparticles may be a promising platform for oral delivery of insulin with high bioavailability.
    International journal of pharmaceutics 04/2012; 425(1-2):1-8. · 2.96 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Therapeutic effect of ovarian intra-arterial infusion of GE7-delivery system-mediated HSVl-tk/ganciclovir gene therapy in a rat model of malignant ovarian tumor].
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    ABSTRACT: To observe the gene expression of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSVl-tk) in rat malignant ovarian tumor tissues and the therapeutic effect of ganciclovior (GCV) after intra-arterial infusion of HSVl-tk gene therapy mediated by GE7-delivery system. A GE7-polylysine/pCMV-HSV1-tk/polylysine-HA20 4-element complex was constructed. Eighteen rats with DMBA-induced ovarian tumor were divided into 3 groups as Atk, ANS and Vtk groups. The 4-element complex GE7-polylysine/pCMV-HSV1-tk/polylysine-HA20 was injected via the ovarian artery into the rats of Atk group, saline buffer was injected in the ANS groups, and the 4-element complex was injected via the tail vein into the rats of Vtk group. All rats received intraperitoneal injection of GCV in a dose of 50 mg/kg daily for 10 days. The rats were sacrificed 3 days after the final dose of GCV, and the tumor weight was measured and tumor growth inhibition rate was calculated. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cell cycle and apoptosis. The tumor weight in the rats of Atk group was (4.77 ± 2.31) g, significantly lower than that of ANS group [(14.66 ± 6.26) g, P < 0.01] and Vtk group [(17.53 ± 7.19) g, P < 0.01]. The tumor growth inhibition rate of the Atk group was 67.5%, while that of Vtk group was -19.6%. The flow cytometry showed that S-phase tumor cells in the Atk group were (54.32 ± 9.65)%, significantly higher than that in the ANS (27.43 ± 9.22)% and (30.16 ± 11.57)% in the Vtk group (both P < 0.01). The tumor cell apoptosis rate in the Atk group was (39.15 ± 12.16)%, significantly higher than that in the ANS group [(11.86 ± 5.28)%, P < 0.01] and Vtk group [(14.32 ± 6.43)%, P < 0.01]. HSV1-tk/GCV gene therapy system mediated by GE7 non-viral delivery system via ovarian arterial infusion effectively causes cell cycle arrest at S phase and enhances cell apoptosis, therefore, exerts an inhibitory effect on tumor growth.
    Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] 04/2012; 34(4):245-8.
  • Article: Expression of High Mobility GroupA2 is Associated with Poor Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
    Pathology & Oncology Research 03/2012; 18(4):983-7. · 1.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Growth hormone synergizes with BMP9 in osteogenic differentiation by activating the JAK/STAT/IGF1 pathway in murine multilineage cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Growth hormone (GH) is usually released by somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary in response to the GH-releasing hormone and plays an important role in skeleton development and postnatal growth. However, it is unclear if extrapituitary GH exerts any effect on murine multilineage cells (MMCs). MMCs are multipotent progenitors that give rise to several lineages, including bone, cartilage, and fat. We have identified bone morphogenic protein 9 (BMP9) as one of the most osteogenic BMPs in MMCs by regulating a distinct set of downstream mediators. In this study, we find that GH is one of the most significantly upregulated genes by BMP9 in mouse MMCs through expression-profiling analysis. We confirm that GH is a direct early target of and upregulated by BMP9 signaling. Exogenous GH synergizes with BMP9 on inducing early and late osteogenic markers in MMCs. Furthermore, BMP9 and GH costimulation leads to a significant expansion of growth plate in cultured limb explants. Although GH alone does not induce de novo bone formation in an ectopic bone formation model, BMP9 and GH costimulated MMCs form more mature bone, which can be inhibited by silencing GH expression. The synergistic osteogenic activity between BMP9 and GH can be significantly blunted by JAK/STAT inhibitors, leading to a decrease in GH-regulated insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) expression in MMCs. Our results strongly suggest that BMP9 may effectively regulate extrapituitary GH expression in MMCs. Thus, it is conceivable that the BMP9-GH-IGF axis may be exploited as an innovative strategy to enhance osteogenesis in regenerative medicine.
    Journal of bone and mineral research: the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 03/2012; 27(7):1566-75. · 6.04 Impact Factor
  • Article: A singular-value method for reconstruction of nonradial and lossy objects.
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    ABSTRACT: Efficient inverse scattering algorithms for nonradial lossy objects are presented using singular-value decomposition to form reduced-rank representations of the scattering operator. These algorithms extend eigenfunction methods that are not applicable to nonradial lossy scattering objects because the scattering operators for these objects do not have orthonormal eigenfunction decompositions. A method of local reconstruction by segregation of scattering contributions from different local regions is also presented. Scattering from each region is isolated by forming a reduced-rank representation of the scattering operator that has domain and range spaces comprised of far-field patterns with retransmitted fields that focus on the local region. Methods for the estimation of the boundary, average sound speed, and average attenuation slope of the scattering object are also given. These methods yielded approximations of scattering objects that were sufficiently accurate to allow residual variations to be reconstructed in a single iteration. Calculated scattering from a lossy elliptical object with a random background, internal features, and white noise is used to evaluate the proposed methods. Local reconstruction yielded images with spatial resolution that is finer than a half wavelength of the center frequency and reproduces sound speed and attenuation slope with relative root-mean-square errors of 1.09% and 11.45%, respectively.
    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control 03/2012; 59(3):590-604. · 1.80 Impact Factor
  • Article: miR-301a is a candidate oncogene that targets the homeobox gene Gax in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a group of noncoding small RNAs that repress mRNA expression or induce mRNA degradation by binding to the 3'-untranslated regions of mRNAs. MiRNAs have been connected closely with the development of cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the overexpression of microRNA-301a (miR-301a) has seldom been connected with tumorigenesis in HCC. This study aims to characterize the function of upregulated miR-301a in HCC and show how the downstream growth arrest-specific homeobox (Gax) is negatively regulated by miR-301a. The expression of miR-301a and Gax was detected using real-time PCR on HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The luciferase reporter assay was used to assess Gax as a target of miR-301a. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was measured by western blot after inhibiting miR-301a and enhancing Gax. The functions of miR-301a in vivo in HCC cells were measured by migration and invasion assays and flow cytometry. MiR-301a was significantly upregulated and Gax was downregulated in HCC samples compared with in the matching nontumoral tissues. Inhibiting miR-301a expression caused the upregulation of Gax and repressed NF-κB expression. We have shown that miR-301a plays an important role in increasing proliferation, migration and invasion and in inhibiting apoptosis of HCC cells. miR-301a is frequently upregulated in HCC and modulates NF-κB expression by negatively regulating Gax.
    Digestive Diseases and Sciences 02/2012; 57(5):1171-80. · 2.12 Impact Factor
  • Article: Vitamin A deficiency impairs postnatal cognitive function via inhibition of neuronal calcium excitability in hippocampus.
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    ABSTRACT: Vitamin A (VA) is important for postnatal brain development, and VA deficiency (VAD) can cause learning and spatial memory deficits in rats. Most of the biological functions of VA are mediated by retinoic acid (RA). To investigate the mechanisms underlying VA deficits, mother rats were fed elemental diets to achieve blood VA levels classified as normal, deficient or severely deficient. Shuttle box and Morris water maze tests revealed impairments in learning ability and spatial memory, respectively, in adolescent VAD rats (p 30-35). Electrophysiology showed weaker long-term potentiation in VAD rats compared to VA normal rats. Examination of NMDA-induced calcium (Ca(2+) ) excitability revealed decreased excitability in hippocampal slices from VAD rats during postnatal development. Relative to VA normal rats, VAD rats also had decreased NMDA receptor NR1 mRNA and protein expression in later stages of postnatal development (p 10-30), as well as differences in retinoic acid receptor (RARα) mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, primary hippocampal neurons in culture showed increased neuronal Ca(2+) excitability in response to all-trans-RA or 9-cis-RA, coupled with increases in RARα and NR1 expression similar to those observed in vivo. We also found weaker calcium excitability and lower expression of NR1 mRNA and protein after specific silencing of RARα. Finally, we found that RA signals affected the expression of NR1 do not directly through transcriptional regulation. These data support the new idea that continuous postnatal VAD inhibits RARα expression, which decreases NR1 expression via no direct transcriptional regulation and then inhibits hippocampal neuronal Ca(2+) excitability which affects long-term potentiation, finally producing deficits in active learning and spatial memory in adolescence.
    Journal of Neurochemistry 02/2012; 121(6):932-43. · 4.06 Impact Factor
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    Article: Association analysis of IL-17A and IL-17F polymorphisms in Chinese Han women with breast cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: Research into the etiology of breast cancer has recently focused on the role of the immunity and inflammation. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F can mediate inflammation and cancer. To evaluate the influences of IL-17A and IL-17F gene polymorphisms on the risk of sporadic breast cancer, a case-control study was conducted in Chinese Han women. We genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-17A (rs2275913, rs3819025 and rs3748067) and five SNPs in IL-17F (rs7771511, rs9382084, rs12203582, rs1266828 and rs763780) to determine the haplotypes in 491 women with breast cancer and 502 healthy individuals. The genotypes were determined using the SNaPshot technique. The differences in the genotypic distribution between breast cancer patients and healthy controls were analyzed with the Chi-square test for trends. For rs2275913 in IL-17A, the frequency of the AA genotype was higher in patients than controls (P = 0.0016). The clinical features analysis demonstrated significant associations between IL-17 SNPs and tumor protein 53 (P53), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) and triple-negative (ER-/PR-/Her-2-) status. In addition, the haplotype analysis indicated that the frequency of the haplotype A(rs2275913)G(rs3819025)G(rs3748067), located in the IL-17A linkage disequilibrium (LD) block, was higher in patients than in controls (P = 0.0471 after correction for multiple testing). Our results suggested that SNPs in IL-17A but not IL-17F were associated with the risk of breast cancer. Both IL-17A and IL-17F gene polymorphisms may provide valuable information for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer in Chinese women.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(3):e34400. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: A miRNA Binding Site Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in the 3'-UTR Region of the IL23R Gene Is Associated with Breast Cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: Research into the etiology of breast cancer has recently focused on the role of the immunity and inflammation. Interleukin-23 and its receptor (IL23R) guide T cells towards the Th17 phenotype. IL23R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be associated with digestive system cancers. To evaluate the influences of IL23R gene polymorphisms on the risk of sporadic breast cancer, a case-control study was conducted in Chinese Han women. We genotyped two tag SNPs (rs10889677 in the 3'-UTR region and nonsynonymous variants rs1884444 in exon 2) in IL23R gene of 491 breast cancer patients and 502 matched healthy controls. The genotypes were determined using the SNaPshot technique. The differences in the genotypic distribution between breast cancer patients and healthy controls were analyzed with the Chi-square test for trends. For rs10889677 in IL23R, the frequencies of the AA genotype and the A allele were statistical significant higher in breast cancer patients than in controls (P = 0.0084 and P = 0.0171, respectively), whereas the C allele was associated with an earlier age of breast cancer onset (50.6 years for AA, 48.7 years for AC and 46.0 years for CC (P = 0.0114)) in case-only study. The clinical features analysis demonstrated significant associations between rs1884444 in IL23R and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) and tumor size status. Our results suggest that a miRNA binding site SNP in the 3'-UTR region of the IL23R gene may be associated with the risk of breast cancer and contribute to the early development of breast cancer in Chinese women.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(12):e49823. · 4.09 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2012
    • Zhejiang University of Technology
      Hangzhou, Zhejiang Sheng, China
    • University of Rochester
      • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
      Rochester, NY, USA
    • Chongqing Medical University
      Chongqing, Chongqing Shi, China
    • Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
      Cambridge, MA, USA
  • 2004–2012
    • Fudan University
      • • Institutes of Biomedical Sciences
      • • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
      Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
  • 2010
    • Peking University People's Hospital
      Beijing, Beijing Shi, China
  • 2003–2009
    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
      • • Graduate School
      • • State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry (IC)
      Beijing, Beijing Shi, China
  • 2008
    • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
      Boston, MA, USA
    • Jilin University
      Jilin, Jilin Sheng, China