• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4129-4133
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• 2014

Background: The objective was to study the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extracts (SBGE) on immune and anti-oxidant function in U14 tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: U14 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, a cyclophosphamide (CTX) group, three dose groups of SBGEI (high, medium, low), and three dose groups of SBGEII (high, medium, low). After two weeks, the thymus and spleen weight indices of mice bearing U14 cervical cancer were calculated. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8, and PCNA. MDA activity and SOD activity in plasma were measured with detection kits. Results: In the SBGE groups, thymus weight and spleen weight indices of U14 tumor-bearing mice were significantly higher than in the control group or CTX group (p<0.05). Compared to control group, the levels of serum IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in U14 tumor-bearing mice increased significantly, whereas the contents of serum IL-8 and PCNA decreased (p<0.05). The activity of SOD increased with the growing dose of SBGE, while the activity of MDA decreased significantly in the highe-rdose groups of SBGE. Conclusions: These findings suggested that SBGE, especially at high dose, 1000 mg/kg, showed significant immune and anti-oxidant effects infU14 tumor-bearing mice, which might be the mechanisms of SBGE inhibition of tumor growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.367-372
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• 2013

Effects of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on cellular protein expression are essential for viral pathogenesis. To characterize the cellular response to EBV infection, differential proteomes of gastric epithelial AGS cells were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and liquid chromatography electrospray/ionization ion trap (LC-ESI-IT) mass spectrometry identification. Mass spectrometry identified 9 altered cellular proteins, including 5 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated proteins after EBV infection. Notably 2-DE analysis revealed that EBV infection induced increased expression of heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein, actin cytoplasmic 1, pyridoxine-5'-phosphate oxidase, caspase 9, and t-complex protein 1 subunit alpha. In addition, EBV infection considerably suppressed those cellular proteins of zinc finger protein 2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, macrophage-capping protein, and growth/differentiation factor 11. Furthermore, the differential expressional levels of partial proteins (cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and caspase 9) were confirmed by Western blot analysis.Thus, this work effectively provided useful protein-related information to facilitate further investigation of the mechanisms underlying EBV infection and pathogenesis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1975-1979
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the level of expression of proto-oncogene Wip1 and its physiological significance in colorectal cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to analyze Wip1 mRNA and protein expression in 120 cases of colorectal cancer and normal tissues to study relationships with clinical symptoms and disease prognosis. Results: The level of Wip1 protein expression was found to be significantly higher in colorectal cancer tissues (85% (102/120)) than in normal tissues (30% (36/120)) (P<0.05). The relative amount of Wip1 protein in colorectal cancer tissue was also found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) than in normal tissues ($1.060{\pm}0.02$ and $0.640{\pm}0.023$, respectively). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed average Wip1 mRNA expression levels to be $1.113{\pm}0.018$ and $0.658{\pm}0.036$ for colorectal cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05). The level of Wip1 protein expression was not correlated with age, gender, or tumor site, but appeared linked with lymph node metastasis, Dukes stage, histological grade, and liver metastasis. Individuals with high and low levels of Wip1 expression showed statistically significant differences in the five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates (P<0.05). Conclusion: Wip1 mRNA and protein are highly expressed in colorectal cancers and may be associated with colorectal cancer development and progression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2012

Background and Objective: The optimal resection extent for clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The objective was to investigate risk factors associated with occult contralateral carcinoma, and put emphasis on the predictive value of preoperative BRAF mutation. Materials and Methods: 100 clinically unilateral PTMC patients all newly diagnosed, previously untreated were analyzed in a prospective cohort study. We assessed the T1799A BRAF mutation status in FNAB specimens obtained from all PTMC patients before undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) and central lymph node dissection (CLND) for PTMC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to reveal the incidence of contralateral occult cancer, difference of risk factors and predictive value, with respect to the following variables: preoperative BRAF mutation status, age, gender, tumor size, multifocality of primary tumor, capsular invasion, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Results: 20 of 100 patients (20%) had occult contralateral lobe carcinoma. On multi-variate analysis, preoperative BRAF mutation (p = 0.030, OR = 3.439) and multifocality of the primary tumor (p = 0.004, OR = 9.570) were independent predictive factors for occult contralateral PTMC presence. However, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinomas and age, gender, tumor size, capsular invasion, Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: Total thyroidectomy, including the contralateral lobe, should be considered for the treatment of unilateral PTMC if preoperative BRAF mutation is positive and/or if the observed lesion presents as a multifocal tumor in the unilateral lobe.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6439-6443
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate whether the expression level of valosin-containing protein (VCP) is correlated with the prognosis of primary orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Methods: VCP expression in 58 samples from primary orbital MALT lymphoma patients was determined by immunohistochemisty using monoclonal antibodies. Correlations between VCP expression level and prognosis were clarified by statistical analysis. Results: It was found that the percentage of VCP positive cells in samples of primary orbital MALT lymphoma ranged from 32% to 95%. The samples were divided into two groups (level 1 and level 2) according to the median value (45%) of the percentage of VCP positive cells. It was found that the expression level of VCP was significantly correlated with recurrence (P=0.003) and tumor size (P=0.008). At the same time, the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate of patients of level 1 was significantly better than that of level 2 (P=0.001; P=0.032). There was no observed correlation between the expression level of VCP and other clinical features. Conclusion: VCP could be a useful marker for predicting the prognosis of primary orbital MALT lymphoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4205-4208
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore change and significance of serum carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) before and after gefitinib therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Forty patients with advanced NSCLCs in III~IV stages were selected as study objects given gefitinib therapy combined with routine local radiotherapy until tumor progression or intolerable toxicity. After treatment, all patients were divided into control and non-control groups according to the results of evaluation based on RECIST 1.1 (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors in 2009). Peripheral fasting blood from all patients was collected in the early morning and serum CEA was assessed by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) before and after treatment. Before treatment, patients were divided into high CEA group (CEA level > 50 ng/mL) and low CEA group (CEA level ${\leq}$ 50 ng/mL). Adverse reactions were noted and progression-free survival (PFS) in both groups was recorded after long-term follow-up that ended in December, 2012. Results: There was no difference between control and non-control groups in CEA level before treatment (P>0.05), whereas serum CEA decreased more markedly lower in the control group after treatment (P<0.01). All patients were divided into high CEA group (26) and low CEA group (14) according to serum CEA level. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in adverse reactions (P>0.05) but the rate in former group was lower. Additionally, survival rates at 9 and 12 months in high CEA group were clearly higher than in the low CEA group (P<0.01). Conclusions: Serum CEA level can serve as a biochemical index to evaluate the prognosis with gefitinib treatment for NSCLC.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1080-1085
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• 2006

A series of 8-alkoxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazole[4,3-a]quinoline-1-one derivatives were synthesized using 7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolone as the starting material. Their anticonvulsant activities were evaluated by the maximal electroshock test (MES) and the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole test (sc-PTZ), and their neurotoxicities were measured by the rotarod neurotoxicity test (Tox). The tests demonstrated that 8-hexyloxy-4,5-dihydro-[1.2.4]triazole[4.3-a]quinoline-1-one (4e) and 8-heptyloxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazole[4, 3-a]quinoline-1-one (4f) were the most potent anticonvulsants, with 4e having $ED_{50}$ values of 17.17 mg/kg and 24.55 mg/kg and protective index ($PI=TD_{50}/ED_{50}$) values of 41.9 and 29.3 in the MES and sc-PTZ tests, respectively, and 4f having $ED_{50}$ values of 19.7 mg/kg and 21.2 mg/kg and PI values of 36.5 and 33.9 in the MES and sc-PTZ tests, respectively. The PI values of 4e and 4f were many fold better than that of the marketed drugs phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and valproate, which have PI values in the range of 1.6-8.1 in the MES test and <0.22-5.2 in the sc-PTZ test. Structure-activity relationships were also discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.395-404
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• 2017

In this paper, the mechanical property of CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and their hybrid FRP was experimentally studied. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and their hybrid FRP were tested. The experimental results showed that the elastic modulus of hybrid FRP agreed well with the theoretical rule of mixture, which means the property of hybrid composites are linear with the volumes of the corresponding components while the tensile strength did not. The bearing capacity, peak strain, stress-strain relationship of circular concrete columns confined by CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and hybrid FRP subjected to axial compression were recorded. And the confinement effect of hybrid FRP on concrete columns was analyzed. The test results showed that the bearing capacity and ductility of concrete columns were efficiently improved through hybrid FRP confinement. A strength model and a stress-strain relationship model of hybrid FRP confined concrete columns were proposed. The proposed stress-strain model was shown to be capable of providing accurate prediction of the axial compressive strength of hybrid FRP confined concrete compared with Teng et al. (2002) model, Karbhari and Gao (1997) model and Miyachi et al. (1999) model. The modified stress-strain model was also suitable for single FRP confinement cases and it was so concise in form and didn't have piecewise fitting, which would be easy for use in structural design.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6021-6024
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• 2014

Background: The STK15 gene located on chromosome 20q13.2 encodes a centrosome-associated kinase critical for regulated chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Recent studies have demonstrated STK15 to be significantly associated with many tumors, with aberrant expression obseved in many human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate expression of STK15 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) in a Mongolian population. Methods: Two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding region of STK15, rs2273535 (Phe31Ile) and rs1047972 (Val57Ile) were assessed in 380 ESCC patients and 380 healthy controls. We also detected STK15 mRNA expression in 39 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and corresponding adjacent tissues by real time PCR. Results: rs2273535 showed a significant association with ESCC in our Mongolian population (rs227353, P allele = 0.0447, OR (95%CI) = 1.259 (1.005~1.578)). Real time PCR analysis of ESCC tissues showed that expression of STK15 mRNA in cancer tissues was higher than in normal tissues (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Our study showed that functional SNPs in the STK15 gene are associated with ESCC in a Mongolian population and up-regulation of STK15 mRNAoccurs in ESCC tumors compared adjacent normal tissues. STK15 may thus have an important role in the prognosis of ESCC and be a potential therapeutic target.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5389-5393
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• 2014

Background: A clinical pathway (CP) can standardize and improve perioperative care for a number of interventions. In hepatic surgery, however, pertinent evidence is very limited. This study was conducted to implement a CP for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy, and to evaluate its effects on hospital costs, length of hospital stay (LOHS) and early clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Medical records for HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy were retrospectively reviewed before implementation of a CP (the non-CP group) from March 2012 to August 2012. This information was compared with the data collected prospectively from patients after implementation of the CP (the CP group) between September 2012 and April 2013. Hospital costs, LOHS and early clinical outcomes were evaluated and compared between groups. Results: There were no significant differences in terms of patient clinical characteristics between the two groups. For clinical outcome measures, no significant differences were found in postoperative complications, mortality and readmission rate. The hospital costs were significantly reduced from 24,844 RMB in the non-CP group to 19,761 RMB in the CP group (p<0.01). In addition, patients of the CP group also had shorter LOHS compared with the non-CP group (8.3 versus 12.3 days, p<0.001). Conclusions: The CP proved to be an effective approach to minimize hospital costs and LOHS with hepatectomy for HCC without compromising patient care.