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Wu QH, Chen Q, Yang T, Chen J, Chen L, Xiang XL, Jia FY, Wu LJ, Hao Y, Li L, Zhang J, Ke XY, Yi MJ, Hong Q, Chen JJ, Fang SF, Wang YC, Wang Q, Li TY. [A survey on the current situation of serum vitamin A and vitamin D levels among children aged 2-<7 years of 20 cities in China]. Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2024; 62:231-238. [PMID: 38378284 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112140-20230923-00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate serum vitamin A and vitamin D status in children aged 2-<7 years in 20 cities in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 2 924 healthy children aged 2-<7 years were recruited from September 2018 to September 2019 from 20 cities in China, categorized by age groups of 2-<3 years, 3-<5 years, and 5-<7 years. The demographic and economic characteristics and health-related information of the enrolled children were investigated. Body weight and height were measured by professional staff members. The serum vitamin A and vitamin D levels were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Chi-square test and Logistic regression were applied to analyze the association between vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as well as their underlying impact factors. Results: The age of the 2 924 enrolled children was 4.33 (3.42, 5.17) years. There were 1 726 males (59.03%) and 1 198 females (40.97%). The prevalences of vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency in enrolled children were 2.19% (64/2 924) and 3.52% (103/2 924), respectively, and the insufficiency rates were 29.27% (856/2 924) and 22.20% (649/2 924), respectively. Children with both vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies or insufficiencies were found in 10.50% (307/2 924) of cases. Both vitamin A (χ2=7.91 and 8.06, both P=0.005) and vitamin D (χ2=71.35 and 115.10, both P<0.001) insufficiency rates were higher in children aged 3-<5 and 5-<7 years than those in children aged 2-<3 years. Vitamin A and vitamin D supplementation in the last 3 months was a protective factor for vitamin A and D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively (OR=0.68 and 0.22, 95%CI 0.49-0.95 and 0.13-0.40, both P<0.05). The rates of vitamin A and D insufficiency was higher in children with annual household incomes <60 000 RMB than in those with annual household incomes ≥60 000 RMB (χ2=34.11 and 10.43, both P<0.01). Northwest and Southwest had the highest rates of vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency in children aged 2-<7 yeas, respectively (χ2=93.22 and 202.54, both P<0.001). Conclusions: Among 20 cities in China, children aged 2-<7 years experience high rates of vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency, which are affected by age, family economic level, vitamin A and vitamin D supplementation, and regional economic level. The current results suggest that high level of attention should be paid to vitamin A and vitamin D nutritional status of preschool children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q H Wu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Q Chen
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - T Yang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - J Chen
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - L Chen
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - X L Xiang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - F Y Jia
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China
| | - L J Wu
- Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Y Hao
- Division of Child Healthcare, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - L Li
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Haikou 570206, China
| | - J Zhang
- Children Health Care Center, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an 710003, China
| | - X Y Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, the Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - M J Yi
- Department of Child Health Care, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Q Hong
- Department of Child Psychology and Behavior, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - J J Chen
- Department of Child Healthcare, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - S F Fang
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
| | - Y C Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Q Wang
- Department of Child Health Care, Deyang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Deyang 618000, China
| | - T Y Li
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing 400014, China
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Ong CSH, Law YXT, Kyaw L, Lim QY, Loke T, Wu QH, Tiong HY, Chiong E. Cardiovascular risks of androgen receptor targeted agents in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2024:10.1038/s41391-024-00792-5. [PMID: 38267540 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-024-00792-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Androgen receptor targeted agents (ARTA) have increasingly been incorporated into treatment regimens for various stages of prostate cancer. Patients are living longer with prostate cancer, and thus have a higher cumulative exposure to the treatment and its accompanying side effects, especially those of cardiovascular disease. We aim to assess the differences in the incidence of cardiac-related adverse events after treatment of prostate cancer with ARTA versus placebo. METHODS Three databases were thoroughly searched for relevant articles. The PICOS model was used to frame our clinical question, with which 2 independent authors went through several rounds of screening to select the final included studies. Meta-analysis was done using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel Method. Quality assessment was carried out with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB 2. RESULTS The use of ARTA in prostate cancer increases the incidence of cardiac-related adverse events (RR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.29-1.90, p < 0.00001), such as hypertension (RR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.46-1.97, p < 0.00001), ischaemic heart disease (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.36-2.50, p < 0.0001), and arrhythmia (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11-1.71, p = 0.004), although this did not manifest in an increased incidence of cardiac arrests/deaths (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.87-1.88, p = 0.21). DISCUSSION ARTA increases the risk of cardiac-related adverse events, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and arrhythmia. Armed with this knowledge, we will be better poised to manage cardiac risks accordingly and involve a cardiologist as required when starting patients on ARTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Shu Hui Ong
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Yu Xi Terence Law
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lin Kyaw
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qi Yang Lim
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tim Loke
- Division of Urology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Raffles Urology Centre, Raffles Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ho Yee Tiong
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Jin HM, Luo JT, Wu QH, Chen ZY, Liang HB, Miao JS, Sheng SR, Wang XY. [Imaging study on determining the rationality of atlantoaxial fixation angle based on the ratio of line segments between anatomical markers on lateral X-ray films]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2023; 103:3842-3847. [PMID: 38123226 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20230831-00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To propose a method to determine the unreasonableness of the fixed angle in posterior atlantoaxial fusion surgery based on the ratio of line segments between anatomical landmarks of the atlantoaxial joint. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. According to the inclusion criteria, a screening was performed on the database of asymptomatic volunteers who had full-spine lateral X-ray films taken at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from May 2016 to May 2021. A total of 207 volunteers were included, comprising 98 males with an age of (40.68±13.87) years and 109 females with an age of (42.64±14.45) years. On the lateral X-ray film, a line (L) parallel to the posterior margin of the odontoid process was drawn at the posterior edge of the lower articular surface of the axis (a), intersecting the atlas at points b, c, and d. The line segments ab, bd, bc, and the C1-C2 angle were measured, and the ratios of bd/ab and bc/ab were calculated. The ability of bd/ab and bc/ab to predict the unreasonable fixed angle of the atlantoaxial joint (≥22°) was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in both male and female. The areas under the ROC curves (AUC) were calculated, and the performance of the two prediction methods was compared using the Delong's test. The cutoff value for distinguishing the unreasonableness of the C1-C2 angle and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: The ROC curve analysis in the male group showed that the AUC of bc/ab for predicting the unreasonable C1-C2 angle was 0.791 (95%CI: 0.696-0.867, P<0.001), with a cutoff value of 0.449, sensitivity of 97.3%, and specificity of 70.0%. The performance was significantly better than that of bd/ab (cutoff value 1.100, AUC=0.532, 95%CI: 0.428-0.634, sensitivity 26.3%, specificity 83.3%, P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis in the female group showed that the AUC of bc/ab for predicting the unreasonable C1-C2 angle was 0.804 (95%CI: 0.745-0.852, P<0.001), with a cutoff value of 0.488, sensitivity of 90.5%, and specificity of 58.6%. The performance was significantly better than that of bd/ab (cutoff value 0.960, AUC=0.687, 95%CI: 0.624-0.748, sensitivity 90.5%, specificity 44.8%, P=0.041). Conclusions: The bc/ab value can be used as an effective indicator to predict the unreasonable C1-C2 angle in posterior atlantoaxial fusion surgery with high diagnostic accuracy. The cutoff value for males is<0.449, and for females is<0.488.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Jin
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - J T Luo
- the Second College of Clinical Medical, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Z Y Chen
- the Second College of Clinical Medical, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - H B Liang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - J S Miao
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - S R Sheng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - X Y Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
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Bai Y, Wu QH, Li FZ, Sun Y, Wang L, Jiao ZH, Kong XD. [Novel frameshift mutations in SALL4 in two Chinese families with Okihiro syndrome]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2023; 103:2006-2010. [PMID: 37438083 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20221206-02577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, clinical manifestations of two Chinese Okihiro syndrome families were analyzed, and genetic detections were performed on the two probands by exome sequencing and verified by Sanger sequencing for family members to determine the biological pathogenesis. Prenatal diagnoses were provided for three high-risk fetuses. The affected members exhibited a wildly spectrum of phenotypes, including ultrasound abnormalities of skeletal system (radius deformity and abnormal posture), and cardiac system (persistent common arterial trunk and ventricular septal defect) in the prenatal period of family 1, the severe phenotypes (grossly shortened and deformed forearm, Duane's anomaly and hearing loss), and the mild ones (usually only thenar dysplasia, or short radius styloid process). Two SALL4 variants, c.844delC p.(Q282Kfs*8) and c.2210delG p.(G737Vfs*23), have been identified respectively in two probands, and c.2210delG of SALL4 gene was unreported previously. The two variants were verified in all affected individuals, not in normal family members. Genotyping results of three fetuses indicated that one fetus was normal, and the two fetuses with heterozygous variation were affected. The two variants of SALL4 gene, c.844delC p.(Q282Kfs*8) and c.2210delG p.(G737Vfs*23), were the molecular pathological cause of Okihiro syndrome in the present study and enriched the spectrum of SALL4 variants. Our study provides accurate prenatal genetic diagnosis for the two families to avoid the birth of affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Bai
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - F Z Li
- Ophthalmology Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Y Sun
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - L Wang
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Z H Jiao
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - X D Kong
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
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Wang Z, Wang K, Ong HY, Tsang WC, Wu QH, Chiong E. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and MRI prostates: actively reducing prostate sizes and ambiguity. BMC Urol 2023; 23:61. [PMID: 37061671 PMCID: PMC10105450 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-023-01235-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are increasingly first-line investigations for suspected prostate cancer, and essential in the decision for biopsy. 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) use has been shown to reduce prostate size and prostate cancer risk. However, insufficient data exists on how 5-ARI use affects MRI findings and yield of biopsy. This study explores the differences in imaging and prostate cancer diagnoses between patients receiving and not receiving 5-ARI therapy. METHODS From 2015 to 2020, we collected retrospective data of consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsy at one centre. We included patients who were biopsy-naïve, had prior negative biopsies, or on active surveillance for low-grade prostate cancer. Clinical and pathological data was collected, including 5-ARI use, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) classification and biopsy results. RESULTS 351 men underwent saturation biopsy with or without targeted biopsies. 54 (15.3%) had a history of 5-ARI use. On mpMRI, there was no significant difference between the 5ARI and non-5-ARI groups in PIRADS distribution, number of lesions, and lesion location. Significantly fewer cancers were detected in the 5-ARI group (46.3% vs. 68.0%; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in PIRADS distribution in 5-ARI patients with positive and negative biopsy. CONCLUSION Our study found significant differences in biochemical, imaging and biopsy characteristics between 5-ARI and non-5-ARI groups. While both groups had similar PIRADS distribution, 5-ARI patients had a lower rate of positive biopsies across all PIRADS categories, which may suggest that the use of 5ARI may confound MRI findings. Further studies on how 5-ARI therapy affects the imaging characteristics of prostate cancer should be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziting Wang
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kaiying Wang
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Han Yang Ong
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woon Chau Tsang
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Surgery, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Lotan Y, Raman JD, Konety B, Daneshmand S, Schroeck F, Shariat SF, Black P, de Lange M, Asroff S, Goldfischer E, Efros M, Chong KT, Huang E, Chua HL, Wu QH, Yeow S, Lau W, Yong J, Eng M. Urinary Analysis of FGFR3 and TERT Gene Mutations Enhances Performance of Cxbladder Tests and Improves Patient Risk Stratification. J Urol 2023; 209:762-772. [PMID: 36583640 DOI: 10.1097/ju.0000000000003126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cxbladder tests are urinary biomarker tests for detection of urothelial carcinoma. We developed enhanced Cxbladder tests that incorporate DNA analysis of 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms for the FGFR3 and TERT genes, in addition to the current 5 mRNA biomarkers and clinical risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two multicenter, prospective studies were undertaken in: (1) U.S. patients with gross hematuria aged ≥18 years and (2) Singaporean patients with gross hematuria or microhematuria aged >21 years. All patients provided a midstream urine sample and underwent cystoscopy. Samples were retrospectively analyzed using enhanced Cxbladder-Triage (risk stratifies patients), enhanced Cxbladder-Detect (risk stratifies patients and detects positive patients), and the combination enhanced Cxbladder-Triage × Cxbladder-Detect. RESULTS In the pooled cohort (N=804; gross hematuria: n=484, microhematuria: n=320), enhanced Cxbladder-Detect had a sensitivity of 97% (95% CI 89%-100%), specificity of 90% (95% CI 88%-92%), and negative predictive value of 99.7% (95% CI 99%-100%) for detection of urothelial carcinoma. Overall, 83% of patients were enhanced Cxbladder-Detect-negative (ie, needed no further work-up). Of 133 enhanced Cxbladder-Detect-positive patients, 59 had a confirmed tumor, of which 19 were low-grade noninvasive papillary carcinoma or papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential. In total, 40 tumors were high-grade Ta, T1-T4, Tis, including concomitant carcinoma in situ. Of the 74 patients with normal cystoscopy, 41 were positive by single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Enhanced Cxbladder-Triage and enhanced Cxbladder-Detect had significantly better specificity than the first-generation Cxbladder tests (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study in ethnically diverse patients with hematuria showed the analytical validity of the enhanced Cxbladder tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yair Lotan
- University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jay D Raman
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Siamak Daneshmand
- Department of Urology, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Florian Schroeck
- White River Junction Veteran Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
| | - Shahrokh F Shariat
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
- Department of Urology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Peter Black
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Scott Asroff
- New Jersey Urology, Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey
| | | | | | - Kian Tai Chong
- Surgi-TEN Specialists, Farrer Park Hospital, Singapore
- PanAsia Surgery, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore
| | - Eugene Huang
- Department of Urogynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Hong Liang Chua
- Department of Urogynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Siying Yeow
- Department of Urology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
| | - Weida Lau
- Department of Urology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
| | - Jin Yong
- Department of Urology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Molly Eng
- Department of Urology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
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Sng CMN, Wee LMC, Tang KC, Lee KCJ, Wu QH, Yeo JC, Bhagat AAS. Wearable Soft Microtube Sensors for Quantitative Home-Based Erectile Dysfunction Monitoring. Sensors (Basel) 2022; 22:9344. [PMID: 36502045 PMCID: PMC9738815 DOI: 10.3390/s22239344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Quantifiable erectile dysfunction (ED) diagnosis involves the monitoring of rigidity and tumescence of the penile shaft during nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). In this work, we introduce Erectile Dysfunction SENsor (EDSEN), a home-based wearable device for quantitative penile health monitoring based on stretchable microtubular sensing technology. Two types of sensors, the T- and R-sensors, are developed to effectively measure penile tumescence and rigidity, respectively. Conical models mimicking penile shaft were fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material, using different base to curing agent ratios to replicate the different hardness properties of a penile shaft. A theoretical buckling force chart for the different penile models is generated to determine sufficiency criteria for sexual intercourse. An average erect penile length and circumference requires at least a Young's modulus of 179 kPa for optimal buckling force required for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The conical penile models were evaluated using EDSEN. Our results verified that the circumference of a penile shaft can be accurately measured by T-sensor and rigidity using the R-sensor. EDSEN provides a private and quantitative method to detect ED within the comfortable confines of the user's home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Ming Noel Sng
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Li Min Camillus Wee
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Kum Cheong Tang
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - King Chien Joe Lee
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Joo Chuan Yeo
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Ali Asgar S. Bhagat
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
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Luo ZZ, Chen WY, Ding Y, Chen JH, Wu QH, Tang WM, Tian LS, Li B. [Effect of behavioral intervention based on social media to promote HIV/syphilis testing in young men who have sex with men]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2022; 43:892-897. [PMID: 35725347 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20211101-00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of social media based behavioral intervention on promoting joint testing of HIV and syphilis in young men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: After the recruitment, the participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided (1∶1) into two groups, i.e. social media intervention group and control group. The control group was given routine voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. The intervention group was also given VCT services, besides; the comprehensive strategies through social media, including regular health education message and testing information sending, were given to them to strengthen the behavioral intervention. Follow up was conducted for the participants for 12 months after the intervention. The number and the proportion of young MSM receiving HIV and syphilis testing, and the reported proportion of the young MSM with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) symptoms between the intervention group and the control group were compared to evaluate the effect of the intervention. Results: A total of 315 young MSM were recruited (158 in the intervention group and 157 in the control group), in whom 248 young MSM completed the follow up. The follow-up rate was 78.7%. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the intervention group and the control group (all P>0.05). The proportion of young MSM receiving more than one joint testing in the intervention group was slightly higher than that in the control group (53.2% vs. 48.4%, rate difference (RD): 4.8%, 95%CI: -7.5%-17.0%, P=0.448) without significant difference. However, in the young MSM who used condoms in the last anal sex, the proportion of those receiving more than one joint testing in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (63.8% vs. 46.1%, RD: 17.7%, 95%CI: 1.5%-32.6%, P=0.035). In addition, the reported proportion of young MSM with STD symptoms in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (6.3% vs. 18.0%,RD: -11.7%, 95%CI: -20.6%- -3.0%, P=0.005). Conclusion: Compared with routine VCT, social media based behavioral intervention might promote joint HIV and syphilis testing in the young MSM who used condom in the study. It could significantly reduce the reporting proportion of STD symptoms, suggesting that this method can promote the AIDS and STD prevention related behaviors in young MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Z Luo
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - W Y Chen
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523109, China
| | - Y Ding
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - J H Chen
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - W M Tang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, China
| | - L S Tian
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - B Li
- Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518000, China
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9
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Wang Z, So WZ, Loh KY, Lim YK, Mahendran R, Wu QH, Chiong E. Predictive biomarkers of response to bacillus Calmette‐Guérin immunotherapy and bacillus Calmette‐Guérin failure for non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer. Int J Urol 2022; 29:807-815. [PMID: 35598896 PMCID: PMC9543886 DOI: 10.1111/iju.14921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Within the heterogeneous population of patients with bacillus Calmette‐Guérin failure, there are clear differences in prognosis and therapy with regard to the timeline when bacillus Calmette‐Guérin failure occurred. There are a variety of classifications which include bacillus Calmette‐Guérin refractory disease, relapsing, unresponsive, and intolerant. Further profiling of these patients may help to shed light on other forms of therapy that are less radical. We hereby summarize the different biomarkers that predicts for response to bacillus Calmette‐Guérin immunotherapy and bacillus Calmette‐Guérin failure for non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziting Wang
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
| | - Wei Zheng So
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
| | - Kep Yong Loh
- Department of Internal Medicine Singapore General Hospital Singapore
| | - Yew Koon Lim
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
| | - Ratha Mahendran
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Urology National University Hospital Singapore
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10
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Ren SM, Wu QH, Jiao ZH, Chen YB, Chen C, Kong XD, Qin ZB. [Analysis of MYO15A variation in children with DFNB3]. Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2020; 58:818-823. [PMID: 32987461 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112140-20200220-00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the genetic and clinical characteristics of MYO15A variants associated non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness3 (DFNB3). Methods: The hearing test and high-throughput sequencing data of 108 families with non-syndromic hearing loss, who visited the Center of Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from November 2016 to February 2019, were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the characteristics of MYO15A variation. Results: Compound heterozygous MYO15A variations were detected in nine patients from eight families, accounting for 7.4% of all 108 families. The variants were c.5910+1G>A/c.9417_9418insTA, c.4234T>G/c.8324G>T, c.3926A>T/c.5002delC, c.9690+1G>A/c.10257_10259delCTT, c.8324G>T/c.10419_10423delCAGCT, c.4519C>T/c.6454G>C, c.6177+1G>T/c.10257_10259delCTT and c.5692C>T/c.7396-1G>A. All patients had severe to profound hearing loss. Among the 14 variations, 12 variations were located in the main structural domains, including 5 in motor domain, 3 in FERM domain, 3 in MyTH4 domain and 1 in IQ motif. The c.3926A>T, c.4234T>G, c.4519C>T, c.5002delC, c.6454G>C, c.8324G>T, c.9417_9418insTA and c.10419_10423delCAGCT had not been reported in the Human Gene Mutation Database up to February 2020. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), 6 reported variants and the first reported c.4519C>T, c.5002delC, c.9417_9418insTA and c.10419_10423delCAGCT were identified as pathogenic variants, while c.8324G>T was likely pathogenic variant, and c.3926A>T, c.4234T>G and c.6454G>C were variants of uncertain significance. Conclusions: The variations of MYO15A in patients with DFNB3 are mainly complex heterozygous. The clinical phenotypes are mostly severe to profound hearing loss, and the mutation loci are mainly in the motor, FERM and MyTH4 domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Ren
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Z H Jiao
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Y B Chen
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - C Chen
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - X D Kong
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Z B Qin
- Department of Otology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
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11
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Lee SH, Mahendran R, Tham SM, Thamboo TP, Chionh BJ, Lim YX, Tsang WC, Wu QH, Chia JY, Tay MHW, Goh BYS, Chen KW, Mallari JZ, Periaswami R, Raman L, Choo SN, Kioh DYQ, Chiong E, Esuvaranathan K, Chan ECY. Tryptophan-kynurenine ratio as a biomarker of bladder cancer. BJU Int 2020; 127:445-453. [PMID: 32794357 DOI: 10.1111/bju.15205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate plasma and urinary kynurenine (KYN)-tryptophan (TRP) ratios in bladder cancer, expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in relation to tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2) in bladder tumour, and the correlation of KYN-TRP ratio with bladder tumour burden. METHODS Metabotyping of the TRP-KYN metabolic axis was performed via a clinical case-control study. Expression of IDO1 and TDO2 was measured in human biopsied tissues. Correlational experiments between KYN-TRP ratio and bladder tumour were performed using a murine orthotopic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-secreting MB49 bladder cancer model. RESULTS We established for the first time that plasma TRP level was significantly decreased, while both plasma and urinary KYN-TRP ratios were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients, and expression level of IDO1 but not TDO2 was increased in human bladder tumour. We reported the positive correlation between IDO1 expression, KYN-TRP ratio, normalized PSA to creatinine, and bladder tumour burden in the murine model. CONCLUSION Kynurenine-tryptophan ratio is a promising surveillance biomarker for bladder cancer, but would require further validation before clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Han Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Ratha Mahendran
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Sin Mun Tham
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | | | - Billy Jianhao Chionh
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Yi Xin Lim
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Woon Chau Tsang
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Jun Yang Chia
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Melissa Hui Wen Tay
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Yen Seow Goh
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Kelven Weijing Chen
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Jeane Zepeda Mallari
- Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Revathi Periaswami
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Lata Raman
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Shoa Nian Choo
- Department of Urology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Dorinda Yan Qin Kioh
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Kesavan Esuvaranathan
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Eric Chun Yong Chan
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
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12
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Wang CX, Wu D, Yang PP, Wu QH. [Efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist versus vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disease in active cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials]. Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2020; 48:689-696. [PMID: 32847326 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112148-20200630-00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Object We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in the prevention and treatment of thrombotic diseases in patients with active cancer. Methods: To find randomized controlled trials (RCT) in which NOACs were compared VKAs in active cancer, we searched the electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Clinical Trials) up to May 2019 and and languages restricted to Chinese and English. According to the screening strategy, two researchers independently screened and extracted literature, evaluated the quality of literature, the suitability of collected cross study data for analysis, and tested the heterogeneity. The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of major bleeding, clinically related non-major bleeding, VTE, stroke and all-cause mortality in active cancer patients with VTE, active cancer patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) was calculated and the results were compared between NOAC with VKA. Results: A total of 9 RCTs were included, including 5 cancers with VTE (5/9) and 4 cancers with NVAF (4/9). A total of 5 867 patients were included. After excluding 1 818 (30.99%) patients with cancer history, 4 049 (68.86%) patients with active cancer were statistically analyzed. Among them, 2 278 (56.26%) received NOAC treatment, 1 771 patients (43.74%) received VKA treatment. The quality of the included documents was high (all scores were>5 points), and the data of each included document could be summarized and analyzed (P>0.05). The heterogeneity of main outcome events was very low (I2 = 0). In VTE patients with active cancer, NOACs were more effective in reducing recurrence of VTE (RR=0.55, 95%CI 0.36 -0.84; P = 0.005) and clinically related non-major bleeding (RR=0.77, 95%CI 0.60 -0.98; P = 0.03) than VKAs. In NVAF patients with active cancer, efficacy of NOACs and VKAs was similar in terms of reducing VTE, stroke, clinically related non-major bleeding, major bleeding and all-cause mortality events (P>0.05). Conclusions: For patients with active cancer accompanied by VTE, NOAC may has more advantages in efficacy and safety compared to VKA in the prevention and treatment of thrombotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- C X Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - D Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330008, China
| | - P P Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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13
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Ren SM, Wu QH, Chen C, Kong XD. [Mutational analysis and prenatal diagnosis of TMPRSS3 gene in two Chinese families affected with deafness]. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020; 55:344-349. [PMID: 32306631 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115330-20190907-00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To detect potential mutations in two Chinese families affected with deafness, so as provide prenatal diagnosis for them. Methods: Two Chinese families affected with deafness were identified at the genetic and prenatal diagnosis center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2018 to December 2018.Mutation analyses were carried out by next generation sequencing (NGS),suspected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing in the probands, unaffected relatives. Prenatal diagnosis for high-risk fetus were carried out through Sanger sequencing. Results: The proband of family 1 carried a c.432delA and a c.617-2_617-1insTC mutation of the TMPRSS3 gene, the proband of family 2 carried a c.271C>T(p.R91X) and a c.147dupTmutation ofthe TMPRSS3 gene, both parents of the two probands were carriers of heterozygous variants. Conclusions: Mutations in the TMPRSS3 gene are the suspected cause of deafness in two families. Application of next generation sequencing technologies make gene diagnosis of deafness efficiently and accurately and the molecular findings increase our understanding of the function of TMPRSS3 gene and enrich the human gene mutation database. It is helpful for recurrent genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for these families.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Ren
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - C Chen
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - X D Kong
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
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14
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Tan YQ, Wang Z, Tiong HY, Chua WJ, Wu QH, Chiong E. The START (Surgical Triage And Resource Allocation Tool) of Surgical Prioritization During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Urology 2020; 142:32-35. [PMID: 32445764 PMCID: PMC7238979 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Quan Tan
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
| | - Ziting Wang
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Ho Yee Tiong
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Wei Jin Chua
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS)
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15
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Tham SM, Mahendran R, Chiong E, Wu QH, Esuvaranathan K. Gmcsf and Ifnα gene therapy improves the response to BCG immunotherapy in a murine model of bladder cancer. Future Oncol 2020; 16:1179-1188. [PMID: 32351129 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To develop a strategy to improve response to bacillus Calmette-Gueri (BCG) using cytokine gene therapy (Gmcsf + Ifnα). Materials & methods: MB49-PSA tumor-bearing C57BL/6N mice were assigned into four groups: control; Gmcsf + Ifnα therapy; BCG therapy or combined therapy (Gmcsf + Ifnα and BCG). In schedule 1, cytokine gene therapy was delivered before BCG therapy (eight instillations). In schedule 2, cytokine gene and BCG therapy were instilled alternatively (eight instillations). Tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and mRNA analysis and urinary immune cells by flow cytometry. Results: Combined therapy in schedule 2 reduced tumor growth, increased immune cell recruitment and was associated with reduced inflammation when compared with BCG therapy. Conclusion: Alternating cytokine gene delivery with BCG therapy modulates the tumor environment increasing receptivity to BCG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin Mun Tham
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Ratha Mahendran
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.,Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Kesavan Esuvaranathan
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.,Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
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16
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Tan YQ, Wu QH, Chiong E. Preserving Operational Capability While Building Capacity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tertiary Urology Centre's Experience. Urology 2020; 142:36-37. [PMID: 32360121 PMCID: PMC7188658 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.04.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Quan Tan
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
| | - Qing Hui Wu
- Department of Urology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Edmund Chiong
- Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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17
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Ren SM, Kong XD, Wu QH, Jiao ZH, Chen C, Qin ZB. [Analysis of genetic variation in patients with Waardenburg syndrome type Ⅱ by next generation sequencing]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020; 100:853-858. [PMID: 32234158 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20190730-01692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To detect gene mutation sassociated with deafness in four Waardenburg syndrome (WS) type Ⅱ patients, and to explore the possible mechanism of molecular genetics. Methods: All patients with WS were identified at the genetic and prenatal diagnosis center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2015 to December 2018.Clinical materials and peripheral blood were collected from patients and family members. The genes associated with deafness of the patients were tested by next generation sequencing(NGS). And suspected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results: All patients carried heterozygous mutations in SOX10, they were c.355_356insTCAGGCAGCGC, c.1106_1107insTGGGGCCCCCCACACTA, c.511T>C (p.Y171H), c.91_100del. According to the guidelines for genetic variation of the Amercian College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), three frameshift mutations were pathogenic mutations, one missense mutation was likely pathogenic mutation. Conclusion: Application of next generation sequencing technologies make gene diagnosis of Waardenburg syndrome efficiently and accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Ren
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - X D Kong
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Z H Jiao
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - C Chen
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Z B Qin
- Department of Otology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
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18
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Huang MX, Liu YN, Wang CX, Wu QH. [A case of pseudo heart disease]. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2019; 58:217-219. [PMID: 30803183 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0578-1426.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M X Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Y N Liu
- Department of Ultrasonography, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - C X Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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19
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Durai P, Wu QH, Chiong E. Clinical Aspects and Investigations in Genitourinary Cancer. Urol Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42623-5_46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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20
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Dong QB, Tang YH, Wang WX, Wu YB, Han L, Li JX, Hong K, Wu YQ, Wu QH, Cheng XS. [Relationship between FGF23/FGFR4 expression in atrial tissue and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018; 98:1003-1007. [PMID: 29690710 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2018.13.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To observe the expression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and FGFR4 in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and its relationship with atrial fibrosis. Methods: Fifty-one patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from October 2016 to April 2017 were divided into two groups according to whether they were complicated with atrial fibrillation: 39 patients with persistent AF(AF group), and 12 patients with sinus rhythm (SR group). The right atrial appendage was cut out during cardiac surgery. The expression of FGF23 and FGFR4 mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of FGFR4 protein was detected by Western blot. Atrial structure was evaluated by echocardiography. Masson staining was used to evaluate the degree of atrial fibrosis. The expression of FGF23 and FGFR4 was compared between the two groups.Additionally, the relationship between FGF23 and FGFR4 expression and atrial fibrosis was evaluated. Results: AF group had significantly higher right and left atrial diameter than SR group((40.1±1.6 )mm vs (34.1±1.5)mm, (52.4±2.9)mm vs (41.3±2.4)mm, all P<0.05) . There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, ejection fraction between the two groups. The expression of FGF23 and FGFR4 mRNA in AF group were significantly higher than those in SR group (1.93±0.32 vs 0.93±0.14, 1.89±0.17 vs 0.91±0.11, both P<0.05). Compared with the SR group, the protein expression of FGFR4 in the AF group was significantly higher(1.76±0.21 vs 0.84±0.12). In AF group, there was no correlation between FGF23 mRNA and atrial diameter (r=0.274 (left atrial), r=0.238 (right atrium), both P>0.05). Meanwhile, FGFR4 mRNA and protein expression had no correlation with atrial diameter either. There was positive correlation between FGF23 mRNA and atrial collagen volume fraction in AF group (r=0.42, P<0.05). The expression of FGFR4 mRNA and protein were positively correlated with the atrial collagen volume fraction (r=0.573, r=0.478, all P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of FGF23 and FGFR4 in atrial fibrillation patients is increased, which is positively correlated with atrial fibrosis, suggesting that FGF23/FGFR4 pathway may play an important role in atrial fibrillation by promoting atrial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q B Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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Zhou W, Zhang B, Huang X, You CJ, Zhan BM, Yang RQ, Dong YF, Li JX, Li P, Hong K, Wu YQ, Wu QH, Su H, Bao HH, Cheng XS. [Prevalence and influential factors of stroke in Jiangxi Province in 2014]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018; 52:79-84. [PMID: 29334713 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-9624.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To discuss the prevalence and influential factors of stroke among population in Jiangxi Province. Methods: Four cities in urban areas and four counties in rural areas were selected firstly, in which two districts or townships were selected; and then three communities or villages were chosen from each district and township, respectively, using the simple random sampling (SRS) method. Finally 15 269 subjects aging 15 years old or above, living in Jiangxi Province ≥6 months were randomly selected to participate in this survey from November 2013 to August 2014. Information of population characteristics, life behavior way, individual disease history were collected through questionnaire survey, and height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, body fat rate, visceral fat index and so on were measured by instruments. Risk factors of stroke prevalence were analyzed by the unconditioned logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 15 269 participants (6 267 males) from 15 364 eligible participants were included in the statistical analysis. Out of which, 7 793 participants came from urban areas, and their average age was (53.04±17.91) years old. In this study, 226 stroke patients (117 males) were found among15 269 participants, including 122 urban participants and 104 rural participants, whose average age was (67.76±9.74) years old. The prevalence of stroke was 1 480.12/100 000 in 2014, which was separately 1 866.92/100 000 and 1 210.84/100 000 among males and females. The prevalence of people aging (45-49) years old was 413.79/100 000 (6/1 450) , while which among people aging 75 years old and above was 3 311.62/100 000 (61/1 842) . The prevalence of stroke among residents in Jiangxi presented an uprising tendency with age increasing (linear-by-linear association χ(2)=62.23, P<0.01). The research showed that when other influencing factors including gender, BMI, waist circumference, pulse-pressure difference, VAI, and sleeping time in non-working days were controlled, hypertensive patients had a higher risk of stroke than people without hypertension (OR=6.88, 95%CI: 4.90-9.67), drinkers had a higher risk of stroke than non-drinkers (OR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.17-2.08), compared with people <65 years old, people aged 65-74 years old and ≥75 years old had a higher risk of stroke, the value of OR (95%CI) were 1.88 (1.36-2.59) and 1.97 (1.39-2.80), respectively, compared with people with normal body fat percentage, people whose body fat percentage on high side and people who with high body fat percentage had a higher risk of stroke, the value of OR (95%CI) were 1.71 (1.18-2.48) and 1.74 (1.18-2.56), respectively, people with sleep time >8 h had a higher risk of stroke than those with sleep time of 6-8 h. Conclusion: There was a high stroke prevalence among residents in Jiangxi province. Hypertension, drinking, age, BFP and sleep duration were associated with stroke prevalence. Corresponding measures for high-risk population and risk factors should be strengthened to prevent and control the stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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Lin HJ, Zhang YC, Shen WW, Wu QH, Xu YY, Qiu DH, Ding YY, He N. [Investigation of group sex in men who have sex with men in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, 2013-2015]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2017. [PMID: 28651401 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-6450.2017.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To understand the prevalence of group sex in men who have sex with men (MSM) and related factors in Taizhou, Zhejiang province. Methods: From March 2013 to September 2015, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM recruited from gay bars or bath houses in Taizhou by using questionnaire to collect the information about their sexual behavior and HIV test. Results: A total of 1 435 MSM were recruited, 179 of them (12.5%) were HIV infected, 231 (16.1%) reported group sex during the past year. Compared with MSM without group sex, more MSM with group sex had more than ten male sexual partners (53.7% vs. 19.0%, χ(2)=125.527, P<0.01), had both male and female sexual partners (86.6% vs. 68.2%, χ(2)=31.935, P<0.01), used no condom at sex with female partners during the past year (28.1% vs. 19.8%, χ(2)=6.540, P<0.05). After adjusted for educational level and occupation, group sex was associated with age[≥50 years old vs. ≤24 years old, adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.25, P=0.027], marriage with female (divorced or widowedvs. unmarried, aOR=0.29, P=0.001), census registering (local resident vs. non-local resident, aOR=1.56, P=0.023), number of male seuxal partners (≥21 vs. 2-5, aOR=8.06, P<0.001; 11-20 vs. 2-5, aOR=3.25, P<0.001) and number of female seuxal partners (≥6 vs. 0, aOR=2.63, P=0.005; 2-5 vs. 0, aOR=2.58, P=0.001; 1 vs. 0, aOR=2.01, P=0.010). Conclusion: The prevalence of group sex in MSM was high in Taizhou, and their poor condom use and complex sex behaviors would result in higher HIV infection rate and risk of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Lin
- Taizhou Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Y C Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, and the Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - W W Shen
- Taizhou Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Taizhou Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Y Y Xu
- Taizhou Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - D H Qiu
- Taizhou Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Y Y Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, and the Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - N He
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, and the Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Liu N, Zhao DH, Li XL, Cui LX, Wu QH, Jiang M, Kong XD. [PTPS gene analysis and prenatal diagnosis in patients with 6-pyruvoyl-tetra hydropterin synthase deficiency]. Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2016; 51:890-894. [PMID: 28057123 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0529-567x.2016.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the variations of PTPS gene in patients with suspected 6-pyruvoyl-tetra hydropterin synthase deficiency (PTPSD) and to make prenatal diagnosis in high-risk families. Methods: Chemiluminescence was used for phenylalanine detection in blood or dried blood spots.Patients with phenylalanine concentration over 120 μmol/L were detected by urine pterin analysis, and the activity of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) was detected. tetrahydrobiopterin loading tests were performed in suspected patients with abnormal urinary pterin profiles. PTPS gene variation analysis was performed by direct Sanger sequencing based on PCR amplification. Prenatal diagnosis in 7 high-risk families was performed by chorionic villus sampling when the genotype was identified. Results: In 656 patients with hyperphenylalanine, 22 cases were diagnosed as PTPSD clinically. 16 variations were detected in the 22 PTPSD cases. The 5 variations, p.Lys77Arg, p.Ile84Phe, c.315-2A>G, c.244-2A>T, c.187-1G>T, were identified as novel variations. Two fetuses carried the same mutation with the proband and therefore were thought to be PTPSD fetuses. Three fetuses carried only one mutant allele and thus were thought to be PTPSD carriers. The other 2 fetuses carried no mutations and were presumed normal. Conclusions: PTPS gene variation analysis is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Prenatal diagnosis could help avoiding the defect birth in PTPSD families.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Liu
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
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Wu QH, Wang S, Cong XL, Zhou JH, Cui AL, Xu WW, Xu ST. [Genetic characterization of varicella zoster virus in Jilin province in 2014, China]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2016; 50:738-742. [PMID: 27539529 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-9624.2016.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To clarify the genotype of wild-type strains of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in Jilin province in 2014, and to discriminate between v-Oka vaccine strains and wild-type strains. METHODS Vesicle fluid and throat swab samples were collected from 13 individuals with suspected VZV in Jilin province from January to December 2014. Viral DNA was extracted, the fragments of 15 open reading fragments (ORFs) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and viral genotypes were determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to distinguish between wild-type strains and v-Oka vaccine strains. The results were analyzed with MEGA5 software, using the VZV reference strain sequences from GenBank. RESULTS The 13 suspected samples included 5 males and 8 females, aged 11-27 years (mean: (16.69±5.48) years). Sampling was performed on days 0 to 3 of suspected infection. VZV strains were detected in 8 samples, all belonging to Clade 2. There was a synonymous mutation (T>C) in SNP18082 compared with the v-Oka vaccine strain. Analysis of PCR-RFLPs showed that all 8 positive samples were wild-type strains (PstⅠ(+)BglⅠ(+)SmaⅠ(-)). CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that the VZV strains circulating in Jilin province in 2014 were wild-type strains belonging to Clade 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q H Wu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - S Wang
- Department of measles, Jilin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun 130062, China
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Kong XD, Shi HR, Liu N, Wu QH, Xu XJ, Zhao ZH, Lu N, Li-Ling J, Luo D. Mutation analysis and prenatal diagnosis for three families affected by isolated methylmalonic aciduria. Genet Mol Res 2014; 13:8234-40. [PMID: 25299208 DOI: 10.4238/2014.october.8.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Isolated methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder caused mainly by deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. In the present study, we analyzed MUT gene mutations in 3 Chinese couples with a birth history of isolated MMA. We also provided prenatal diagnoses for the detected mutation. Exons and exon-intron boundaries of the MUT gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Prenatal genetic diagnoses were performed by chorionic villus sampling after the genotypes of parents were determined. Six heterozygous mutations in the MUT gene were identified in the 3 families, including c.1880A>G (p.H627R) and IVS9-1G>A for family 1, c.1741C>T (p.R581X) and c.729insTT (p.D244fX39) for family 2, and c.616C>T (p.Q206X) and c.1280G>A (p.G427D) for family 3. Among these, c.616C>T (p.Q206X), c.1280G>A (p.G427D), IVS9-1G>A, and c.1741C>T (p.R581X) were novel mutations. These mutations were not detected in 100 normal controls. The fetus in pedigree 3 was free of the mutations carried by the parents, while the fetuses in pedigrees 1 and 2 were heterozygous mutation carriers. All 3 families decided to continue with their pregnancies and the neonates did not show any symptoms of MMA after birth. Our results indicated that mutations in the MUT gene are the primary cause of isolated MMA, and that most mutations were novel. For families with early-onset isolated MMA, direct sequencing of the MUT gene is crucial for genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and identification of carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- X D Kong
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - H R Shi
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - N Liu
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Q H Wu
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - X J Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Z H Zhao
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - N Lu
- Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - J Li-Ling
- Sino-Dutch Biomedical and Information Engineering School, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - D Luo
- Department of Anesthesia, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Foo SL, Ng KW, Goh JQ, Ting PH, Lee TK, Esuvaranathan K, Wu QH, Chiong E. A model of optimising the needle insertion through deflection studies. IJBET 2014. [DOI: 10.1504/ijbet.2014.065654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ji TY, Wu QH. Broadband noise suppression and feature identification of ECG waveforms using mathematical morphology and embedding theorem. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 2013; 112:466-480. [PMID: 24094825 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2013.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The paper presents an adaptive morphological filter developed using multiscale mathematical morphology (MM) to reject broadband noise from ECG signals without affecting the feature waveforms. As a pre-processing procedure, the adaptive morphological filter cleans an ECG signal to prepare it for further analysis. The noiseless ECG signal is embedded within a two-dimensional phase space to form a binary image and the identification of the feature waveforms is carried out based on the information presented by the image. The classification of the feature waveforms is implemented by an adaptive clustering technique according to the geometric information represented by the image in the phase space. Simulation studies on ECG records from the MIT-BIH and BIDMC databases have demonstrated the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Y Ji
- School of Electric Power Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
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Mo HZ, Zhang H, Wu QH, Hu LB. Inhibitory effects of tea extract on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus. Lett Appl Microbiol 2013; 56:462-6. [PMID: 23573983 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Aflatoxins, one of the most carcinogenic substances, have been implicated as a potential threat to the safety of tea beverages. In this study, we studied the inhibitory effects of the aqueous extracts from several Chinese traditional teas, such as green tea, black tea, flower tea, raw Puer tea (naturally fermented Puer tea) and Puer tea (inoculated Puer tea), on the growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus. All the tested extracts inhibited the production of aflatoxin B1, whereas they did not inhibit mycelial growth of A. flavus. Considering the highest inhibitory effect of Puer tea extract on aflatoxin production, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR was designed to detect its impacts on the expression of genes responsible for the regulation of aflatoxin synthesis. The results showed that the transcriptions of both aflS and aflR were down-regulated to undetectable levels by the addition of Puer tea extract. This study indicated that most tea contained molecules inhibitory to aflatoxin production, which were very important factors for the risk assessment of tea exposed to aflatoxin. Some tea extracts could be developed as antiaflatoxin agents in food preservation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Recently, safety concerns of the popular Puer tea have arisen because of aflatoxin contamination. In this study, we analysed the inhibitory effect of 30 tea aqueous extracts on the growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus. Our results indicated that most tea inhibited aflatoxin production by down-regulating the transcription of aflR and aflS. The findings could contribute to the safety assessment of tea exposed to aflatoxin and provide some useful data concerning a new approach for controlling aflatoxin contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Z Mo
- Department of Food Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China
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Nikolaidis K, Rodriguez-Martinez E, Goulermas JY, Wu QH. Spectral graph optimization for instance reduction. IEEE Trans Neural Netw Learn Syst 2012; 23:1169-1175. [PMID: 24807143 DOI: 10.1109/tnnls.2012.2198832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The operation of instance-based learning algorithms is based on storing a large set of prototypes in the system's database. However, such systems often experience issues with storage requirements, sensitivity to noise, and computational complexity, which result in high search and response times. In this brief, we introduce a novel framework that employs spectral graph theory to efficiently partition the dataset to border and internal instances. This is achieved by using a diverse set of border-discriminating features that capture the local friend and enemy profiles of the samples. The fused information from these features is then used via graph-cut modeling approach to generate the final dataset partitions of border and nonborder samples. The proposed method is referred to as the spectral instance reduction (SIR) algorithm. Experiments with a large number of datasets show that SIR performs competitively compared to many other reduction algorithms, in terms of both objectives of classification accuracy and data condensation.
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Han LY, Wu QH, Jiao ML, Hao YH, Liang LB, Gao LJ, Legge DG, Quan H, Zhao MM, Ning N, Kang Z, Sun H. Associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (+45T>G, +276G>T, -11377C>G, -11391G>A) of adiponectin gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia 2011; 54:2303-14. [PMID: 21638131 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-011-2202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS The associations between adiponectin polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes have been studied widely; however, results are inconsistent. METHODS We searched electronic literature databases and reference lists of relevant articles. A fixed or random effects model was used on the basis of heterogeneity. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS There were no statistically significant associations between +45T>G (rs2241766), +276G>T (rs1501299), -11391G>A (rs17300539) and type 2 diabetes risk. However, for -11377C>G (rs266729), the pooled OR (95% CI) for G vs C allele was 1.07 (1.03-1.11, p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis by study design revealed that -11377C>G (rs266729) dominant model (CG+GG vs CC, p = 0.0008) and G vs C allele (p = 0.0004) might be associated with type 2 diabetes risk in population-based case-control studies. After stratification by ethnicity, we found that -11377C>G (rs266729) dominant model (CG+GG vs CC, p = 0.004) and G vs C allele (p = 0.001) might be associated with type 2 diabetes risk in white individuals. In individuals with a family history of diabetes, the presence of -11391G>A (rs17300539) dominant model (GA+AA vs GG) and A vs G allele might be associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The presence of +45T>G (rs2241766), +276G>T (rs1501299) and -11391G>A (rs17300539) do not appear to influence the development of type 2 diabetes. However, G vs C allele of -11377C>G (rs266729) might be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Y Han
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, People's Republic of China
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Pasikanti KK, Esuvaranathan K, Ho PC, Mahendran R, Kamaraj R, Wu QH, Chiong E, Chan ECY. Noninvasive urinary metabonomic diagnosis of human bladder cancer. J Proteome Res 2010; 9:2988-95. [PMID: 20337499 DOI: 10.1021/pr901173v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cystoscopy is considered the gold standard for the clinical diagnosis of human bladder cancer (BC). As cystoscopy is expensive and invasive, it may compromise patients' compliance and account for the failure in detecting recurrent BC in some patients. In this paper, we investigated the role of urinary metabonomics in the diagnosis of human BC. Gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied for the urinary metabolic profiling of 24 BC patients and 51 non-BC controls. The acquired data were analyzed using multivariate principal component analysis followed by orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Model validity was verified using permutation tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. BC patients were clearly distinguished from non-BC subjects based on their global urinary metabolic profiles (OPLS-DA, 4 latent variables, R(2)X = 0.420, R(2)Y = 0.912 and Q(2) (cumulative) = 0.245; ROC AUC of 0.90; 15 marker metabolites). One-hundred percent sensitivity in detecting BC was observed using urinary metabonomics versus 33% sensitivity achieved by urinary cytology. Additionally, urinary metabonomics exhibited potential in the staging and grading of bladder tumors. In summary, urinary metabonomics is amenable for the noninvasive diagnosis of human BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore Kumar Pasikanti
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore
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Vlachos C, Gregory R, Paton RC, Saunders JR, Wu QH. Individual-based modelling of bacterial ecologies and evolution. Comp Funct Genomics 2010; 5:100-4. [PMID: 18629041 PMCID: PMC2447324 DOI: 10.1002/cfg.368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2003] [Revised: 11/18/2003] [Accepted: 11/27/2003] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents two approaches to the individual-based modelling of bacterial
ecologies and evolution using computational tools. The first approach is a fine-grained
model that is based on networks of interactivity between computational objects
representing genes and proteins. The second approach is a coarser-grained, agent-based
model, which is designed to explore the evolvability of adaptive behavioural
strategies in artificial bacteria represented by learning classifier systems. The
structure and implementation of these computational models is discussed, and some
results from simulation experiments are presented. Finally, the potential applications
of the proposed models to the solution of real-world computational problems, and
their use in improving our understanding of the mechanisms of evolution, are briefly
outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Vlachos
- BioComputing and Computational Biology Research Group, Department of Computer Science. University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach Street Liverpool L69 7ZF, UK
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Vlachos C, Paton RC, Saunders JR, Wu QH. A rule-based approach to the modelling of bacterial ecosystems. Biosystems 2005; 84:49-72. [PMID: 16386355 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2005.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2005] [Revised: 06/30/2005] [Accepted: 07/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents an approach to ecological/evolutionary modelling that is inspired by natural bacterial ecosystems and bacterial evolution. An individual-based artificial ecosystem model is proposed, which is designed to explore the evolvability of adaptive behavioural strategies in artificial bacteria represented by rule-based learning classifier systems. The proposed ecosystem model consists of a n-dimensional environmental grid, which can contain different types of artificial resources in arbitrary arrangements. The resources provide the energy that is necessary for the organisms to sustain life, and can trigger different types of behaviour in the organisms, such as movement towards nutrients and away from toxic substances, growth, and the controlled release of signalling resources. The balance between energy and material is modelled carefully to ensure that the ecosystem is dissipative. Those organisms that are able to efficiently exploit the available resources gradually accumulate enough energy to reproduce (by binary fission) and generate copies of themselves in the environment. Organisms are also able to produce their own resources, which can potentially be used as markers to send signals to other organisms (a behaviour known as quorum sensing). The complex relationships between stimuli and actions in the organisms are stochastically altered by means of mutations, thus enabling the organisms to adapt to their environment and maximise their lifespan and reproductive success. In this paper, the proposed bacterial ecosystem model is defined formally and its structure is discussed in detail. This is followed by results from simulation experiments that illustrate the model's operation and how it can be used in evolutionary modelling/computing scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Vlachos
- BioComputing and Computational Biology Research Group, Department of Computer Science, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
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35
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Gregory R, Paton R, Saunders J, Wu QH. Parallelising a model of bacterial interaction and evolution. Biosystems 2005; 76:121-31. [PMID: 15351136 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2003] [Revised: 07/11/2003] [Accepted: 08/01/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Large simulations of bacterial colonies require huge amounts of computational time, the only way to achieve the necessary level of performance is with parallel computers and a suitably designed implementation that maps the problem onto the hardware. For real problems this mapping can be a non-trivial problem requiring careful consideration of the constraints in both the system being modelled and the hardware that executes that model. Here we describe an implementation of a system for modelling bacterial evolution that encompasses many physical scales. This system is composed entirely of individual entities all playing out a complex series of interactions. These individuals exist at the scale of the population of bacterial and at the gene product scale. This paper reports that it is possible to map a dynamic problem such as this onto fixed resources, for the most part making use of implicit multiplexing of resources provided by the OS and partitioning the problem to reduce communication time. Through this an efficient simulation can be created, making maximal use of the available hardware without constraining the model to require excessively specific resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gregory
- Department of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach Street, Liverpool L69 7ZF, UK.
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36
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He S, Wu QH, Wen JY, Saunders JR, Paton RC. A particle swarm optimizer with passive congregation. Biosystems 2004; 78:135-47. [PMID: 15555764 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2004] [Revised: 08/25/2004] [Accepted: 08/25/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a particle swarm optimizer (PSO) with passive congregation to improve the performance of standard PSO (SPSO). Passive congregation is an important biological force preserving swarm integrity. By introducing passive congregation to PSO, information can be transferred among individuals of the swarm. A particle swarm optimizer with passive congregation (PSOPC) is tested with a set of 10 benchmark functions with 30 dimensions and compared to a global version of SPSO (GSPSO), a local version of SPSO (LSPSO), and PSO with a constriction factor (CPSO), respectively. Experimental results indicate that the PSO with passive congregation improves the search performance on the benchmark functions significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- S He
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, UK
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37
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Abstract
This paper describes an improved morphological approach to remove baseline wander from neonatal electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, with particular emphasis on preserving the ST segment of the original signal. The algorithm consists of two stages of morphological processing. First, the QRS complex and impulsive noise component due to skeletal muscle contractions etc., are detected and removed from the input signal. Second, the corrected QT interval (QTc) and RR interval are used to determine a structuring element. With this structuring element, the same morphological operation as in the first stage is then applied to the QRS-removed signal to obtain and remove the baseline wander. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated with simulated and real ECGs. Compared with an existing morphological method, there is a substantial improvement, especially in reducing distortion of the baseline waveform within the PR and QT intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sun
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, U.K
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38
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Abstract
We consider the application of the Bragg-Pippard (BP) equations for form birefringence to a tilted-columnar biaxial thin film with columns of index n(c) and voids of known index n(v). In such a situation the three forward BP equations that express the principal refractive indices n1, n2, and n3 as functions of n(c), n(v), the packing fraction p(c), and the depolarization factors L1, L2, and L3 can be inverted. The procedure described for adding dispersion to the principal indices involves entry to the BP model via the inverted equations, modification of n(c) to allow for dispersion, and then exit from the model via the forward BP equations. We discuss the introduction of composite columns to the model to allow for angular dependence of n(c) and the selection of suitable dispersion functions for bulk tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide. Theory and experiment both show that the dispersion of the normal-incidence birefringence Deltan of the thin films is several times larger than the dispersion of the individual principal refractive indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hodgkinson
- Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Abstract
A mixture of soybean oil and/or water, sugar and/or monosodium glutamate (MSG) was water-boiled or oil-heated at 100, 120, 140, 160, or 170 degrees C, respectively, and volatile compounds produced were isolated by solid-phase microextraction and then identified by GC and GC/MS. Oxidative thermal degradation products of fatty acids (OTDPFA) were the major volatile compounds detected for all water-boiled samples. When MSG and sugar were heated together, 2, 5-dimethyl pyrazine and methyl pyrazine were also detected at or after 160 min heating. Water added in soybean oil increased OTDPFA production. In oil-heated samples of soybean oil alone, soybean oil with MSG, and soybean oil with sugar, OTDPFA were also the major compounds found. The samples containing MSG also produced 2-pyrrolidone, and the samples containing sugar also produced furfural and 5-hydroxy methyl furfural. The samples containing soybean oil, sugar, and MSG produced 23 pyrazines, OTDPFA, and gamma-butyrolactone as the major volatile compounds. The contents of OTDPFA were lower in MSG plus sugar and MSG-added samples, and it is postulated that antioxidant activities were produced in cooking.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Wu
- Tingyi (Cayman Island) Holding Corp., TEDA Tianjin, China.
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Hodgkinson I, Wu QH, Knight B, Lakhtakia A, Robbie K. Vacuum deposition of chiral sculptured thin films with high optical activity. Appl Opt 2000; 39:642-9. [PMID: 18337937 DOI: 10.1364/ao.39.000642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We present the technique of bideposition to realize thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic mediums (TFHBM's) that exhibit high optical activity. We show, by experiment as well as by simulation, that the optical rotation produced by these chiral sculptured thin films is roughly proportional to the square of the local linear birefringence. Experimental measurements on bideposited TFHBM's of titanium oxide yield a typical value of 5 degrees /mum for the effective specific rotation in the short-wavelength regime; the corresponding value determined for the standard unideposited TFHBM's is 1 degrees /mum. Both types of TFHBM's are highly optically active in comparison with quartz, fluorite films, and cholesteric liquid crystals. Bideposited TFHBM's will lend themselves to many different types of optical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hodgkinson
- Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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41
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Abstract
We describe a serial bideposition technique in which a tilted substrate is rotated stepwise by half a turn about a normal axis during the evaporation of a metal oxide from a single electron-beam source. Coatings formed by the new method develop a columnar nanostructure that is perpendicular to the substrate and has greatest width or bunching perpendicular to the common deposition plane. With appropriate choice of deposition parameters, the method produces biaxial films with large birefringence, principal axes aligned parallel and perpendicular to the substrate, and improved uniformity. Measured phase retardances for light incident normally on the films are double the corresponding values for tilted-columnar films.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hodgkinson
- Department of Physics, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Hodgkinson I, Wu QH. Anisotropic antireflection coatings: design and fabrication. Opt Lett 1998; 23:1553-1555. [PMID: 18091844 DOI: 10.1364/ol.23.001553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We discuss the design and fabrication of coatings that are antireflecting for p -polarized light at normal incidence and are purposely reflecting for s -polarized light. A single birefringent material, such as obliquely deposited zirconium oxide, forms the layers of the coating. Typical experimental results for a six-layer zirconium oxide anisotropic antireflection coating are R(p) = 0.2% and R(s) = 4.9%. Potential applications of the coatings include polarization-selection devices for lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hodgkinson
- Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Hodgkinson I, Wu QH, Hazel J. Empirical equations for the principal refractive indices and column angle of obliquely deposited films of tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide. Appl Opt 1998; 37:2653-2659. [PMID: 18273207 DOI: 10.1364/ao.37.002653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Values of the transmittance T(s) and the phaseretardation D were recorded in situ at two angles duringthe growth of thin films of tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, andzirconium oxide for deposition angles theta(nu) in the range40 degrees -70 degrees . Column angles for the same films were determinedex situ from scanning electron microscopy photographs ofdeposition-plane fractures. We show that the experimental columnangles are smaller than the corresponding values predicted by thetangent-rule equation psi = tan(-1)(0.5 tan theta(nu)) and that the experimental values fit a modifiedform of the equation psi = tan(-1)(E(1) tan theta(nu)) where E(1) is less than 0.5. We also show that theprincipal refractive indices are represented well by quadraticfunctions of the deposition angle, for example, n(1)(theta(nu)) = A(0) + A(2) theta(nu)(2).
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Hodgkinson I, Cloughley S, Wu QH, Kassam S. Anisotropic scatter patterns and anomalous birefringence of obliquely deposited cerium oxide films. Appl Opt 1996; 35:5563-5568. [PMID: 21127558 DOI: 10.1364/ao.35.005563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cerium oxide films formed by electron-beam evaporation onto oblique substrates are shown to scatter light strongly into spatially anisotropic distributions and to exhibit large normal-incidence birefringence Δ n = n(s) - n(p). The apparatus for direct recording of a useful projection of the scatter distributions is described. Characteristic differences in scatter patterns recorded for cerium oxide, relative to those from tilted columnar titania and zirconia films, are believed to be associated with unusual microstructures recorded for cerium oxide films by scanning electron microscopy. With increasing angle of deposition, the microstructure of cerium oxide was observed to change from densely packed columns to partially isolated needlelike columns at angles that do not obey the tangent rule. In particular, deposition at 55° yielded columns nearly perpendicular to the substrate, yet the normal-incidence birefringence was large. The retardation of the films was recorded as a function of angle of incidence for propagation in the deposition plane. A turning point near 0° incidence for the 55° film confirmed that one principal axis is perpendicular to the substrate. Significant bunching of columns into rows running perpendicular to the deposition plane was recorded by scanning electron microscopy and may account for both the scatter and the birefringence.
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Hodgkinson I, Kassam S, Hazel J, Cloughley S, Wu QH. Modal contours for biaxial thin-film waveguides. Appl Opt 1996; 35:5569-5572. [PMID: 21127559 DOI: 10.1364/ao.35.005569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The modal characteristics of a general tilted columnar biaxial thin-film waveguide are displayed by the plots of both Snell's law quantity β = n sin θ and the polarization of the evanescent field at the cover interface on a polar diagram. The association of characteristic features in the modal diagram with the basis fields is demonstrated, and the mechanism that allows p and s modes propagating in the deposition plane to overlap, without the modal contours crossing, is explored.
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Hodgkinson IJ, Bowmar PI, Wu QH. Scatter from tilted-columnar birefringent thin films: observation and measurement of anisotropic scatter distributions. Appl Opt 1995; 34:163-168. [PMID: 20963097 DOI: 10.1364/ao.34.000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
<p>We show that the angular distribution of scattered light (haze) from tilted-columnar birefringent thin films is highly anisotropic. When a narrow laser beam is incident normally upon a substrate coated with a tilted-columnar film, such as titania deposited at 60° to a thickness of ≈2 µm, the distribution of light scattered into the surrounding transmission and reflection air spaces has the form of one or more arcs. Scatter of light into the substrate is also highly anisotropic, and secondary scatter from the trapped substrate flux produces characteristic bright patterns that appear superposed on the coating.</p><p>When viewed in transmission the bright pattern typically consists of two strong lobes and in reflection four weaker lobes that make a cross. The various anisotropic distributions are shown to be consistent with interference of light from scattering centers that are correlated along the column direction and hence can be described as reflections from the tilted-columnar thin-film microstructure.</p>
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Wu QH, Trymbulak W, Tatake RJ, Forman SJ, Zeff RA, Shanley JD. Replication of human cytomegalovirus in cells deficient in beta 2-microglobulin gene expression. J Gen Virol 1994; 75 ( Pt 10):2755-9. [PMID: 7931162 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-75-10-2755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
To study the roles of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the ability of HCMV strain AD-169 to infect and replicate in a human melanoma cell line (FO-1), which is beta 2-m-deficient and cannot express MHC class I on its cell surface, was examined. Susceptibility of FO-1 cells was compared with human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) and FO-1H cells (FO-1 cells that have been transfected with the human beta 2-m gene, restoring MHC I expression on the cell surface). As judged by the HCMV immediate early 1 (IE-1) antigen expression, HCMV was able to infect FO-1 cells, although somewhat less efficiently than HFF. However, the expression of HCMV late (L) antigen and the production of virus was significantly less for FO-1 cells than for HFF. Analysis of the FO-1H transfectants revealed that expression of IE-1 and L HCMV antigens was comparable to FO-1 cells, which lack MHC I. Treatment of FO-1 and FO-1H cells with sodium butyrate prior to inoculation did not alter the expression of MHC I in either cell type, but did increase susceptibility of both cell types to HCMV infection, as well as the expression of L antigens and production of virus. These studies indicate that HCMV infection of FO-1 cells is independent of beta 2-m and MHC class I expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q H Wu
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
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Li YH, Deng XC, Wu QH, Liang Q, Han J, Liu ZC, Bei ML. [Effects of wuzi yanzong pills on lipid in rats with alcohol-induced liver injury]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1994; 19:300-2, inside backcover. [PMID: 7945873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Experiments showed that in the rat model of alcohol-induced liver injury, a dosage of the pills (1-2g/kg, ig) could increase the cholesterol level, lower the triglyceride level, and improve the fatty degeneration and necrosis of liver (P < 0.05-0.01). The results suggest that the important mechanism of the pills in protecting and treating alcoholic fatty liver, lies in the regulation of metabolism of the lipid, especially of the triglyceride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Wu QH, Ascensao J, Almeida G, Forman SJ, Shanley JD. The effect of short-chain fatty acids on the susceptibility of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to human cytomegalovirus infection. J Virol Methods 1994; 47:37-50. [PMID: 8051232 DOI: 10.1016/0166-0934(94)90064-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We have compared the replication of three strains of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), HCMV AD-169, HCMV Towne, or HCMV RC-256, an insertional mutant of Towne containing the LacZ gene of E. coli, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human forskin fibroblasts (HFF). We also examine the effects of salts of short-chain fatty acids on the susceptibility of HUVEC to infection by HCMV. All three virus strains replicated in both cell types, but 10-to 100-fold less virus was produced in HUVEC cells than HFF. For all virus strains, expression of HCMV IE-1 antigen in HFF was > 70% 24 h after inoculation. In contrast, the number of HUVEC exhibiting IE-1 antigen at 24 h was < 15%. Treatment of HUVEC with sodium butyrate, sodium hexanoate, or sodium propionate prior to virus inoculation increased the IE-1 and late HCMV antigen expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Virus yield was also increased. This increased susceptibility was inhibited by cycloheximide and tunicamycin, indicating a requirement for new cellular protein synthesis. Treatment with both sodium hexanoate and propionate after virus inoculation increased HUVEC susceptibility to HCMV infection. Treatment of HUVEC with sodium butyrate after virus inoculation also increased HCMV IE-1 antigen expression, but only after removal of the drug. These studies demonstrate that the susceptibility of HUVEC to HCMV infection can be increased by the treatment of the host cell with salts of short-chain fatty acids, such as sodium butyrate, before or after virus inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q H Wu
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030
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Elmore JR, Gloviczki P, Harper CM, Murray MJ, Wu QH, Bower TC, Pairolero PC, Naessens JM, Daube JR. Spinal cord injury in experimental thoracic aortic occlusion: investigation of combined methods of protection. J Vasc Surg 1992; 15:789-98; discussion 798-9. [PMID: 1578534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of combined methods of spinal cord protection during thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction was evaluated because a recent clinical study failed to substantiate the value of cerebrospinal fluid drainage when used alone in the prevention of paraplegia. The effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage and aortofemoral shunting were analyzed with regard to neurologic outcome and spinal cord blood flow in a model of thoracic aortic occlusion. In addition, we studied the use of motor-evoked potentials as compared with somatosensory-evoked potentials in monitoring cord perfusion. Thirty-two dogs underwent proximal and distal thoracic aortic occlusion for 60 minutes. The control group (n = 8) underwent thoracic aortic cross-clamping only. Spinal cord protection was used in three groups: cerebrospinal fluid drainage alone (n = 8), aortofemoral shunting alone (n = 8), and cerebrospinal fluid drainage and aortofemoral shunting (n = 8). Neurologic outcome improved in all treatment groups as compared with controls (p less than 0.001). The addition of cerebrospinal fluid drainage to aortofemoral shunting did not further improve neurologic outcome. Spinal cord blood flow measured with microspheres in the lumbar gray matter was significantly higher in the dogs with aortofemoral shunting (+/- cerebrospinal fluid drainage) as compared with those with cerebrospinal fluid drainage alone (p less than 0.05) or the controls (p less than 0.001). Aortofemoral shunting also prevented the development of acidosis and hyperglycemia. Loss or changes in amplitude and latency of motor-evoked potentials did not distinguish between the groups. Loss of somatosensory-evoked potentials had a high sensitivity (92%) but lower specificity (68%) in predicting neurologic injury, whereas loss of motor-evoked potentials had a high specificity (100%) but a very low sensitivity (16%). We conclude that cerebrospinal fluid drainage or aortofemoral shunting significantly improve spinal cord blood flow and neurologic outcome. The greatest increase in spinal cord blood flow was seen with aortofemoral shunting, which also prevented metabolic disturbances of reperfusion. Although the addition of cerebrospinal fluid drainage to aortofemoral shunting was the only group in which no neurologic injury occurred, this group did not have a significant improvement in outcome when compared with aortofemoral shunting alone. Spinal cord ischemia was more accurately detected with somatosensory-evoked potentials when aortofemoral shunting was used, whereas motor-evoked potentials recorded from the spinal cord were not sensitive enough to predict neurologic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Elmore
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905
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