• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.273-276
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• 2014

Ellagic acid has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, our aim was to investigate whether ellagic acid inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells via regulation of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 signaling pathway. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were transfected with pEGFP-C3 or pEGFP-C3/Smad3 plasmids, and treated with ellagic acid alone or in combination with SIS3, a specific inhibitor of Smad3 phosphorylation. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, gene expression was detected by RT-PCR, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The MTT assay showed that SIS3 attenuated the inhibitory activity of ellagic acid on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry revealed that ellagic acid induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest which was mitigated by SIS3. Moreover, SIS3 reversed the effects of ellagic acid on the expression of downstream targets of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 pathway. In conclusion, ellagic acid leads to decreased phosphorylation of RB proteins mainly through modulation of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 pathway, and thereby inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.247-253
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• 2013

Neospora caninum is the etiologic agent of bovine neosporosis, which affects the reproductive performance of cattle worldwide. The transmembrane protein, NcSRS2, and dense-granule protein, NcGRA7, were identified as protective antigens based on their ability to induce significant protective immune responses in murine neosporosis models. In the current study, NcSRS2 and NcGRA7 genes were spliced by overlap-extension PCR in a recombinant adenovirus termed Ad5-NcSRS2-NcGRA 7, expressing the NcSRS2-NcGRA7 gene, and the efficacy was evaluated in mice. The results showed that the titer of the recombinant adenovirus was $10^9TCID_{50}/ml$. Three weeks post-boost immunization (w.p.b.i.), the IgG antibody titer in sera was as high as 1:4,096. IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 levels were significantly different from the control group (P<0.01). This research established a solid foundation for the development of a recombinant adenovirus vaccine against bovine N. caninum.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1171-1176
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• 2012

Objective: The current study aimedto screen for possible factors which affect prognosis of chondrosarcoma. Methods: Thirty seven cases were selected and analyzed statistically. The patients received surgical treatment at our hospital between December 2005 and March 2008. All of them had complete follow-up data. The survival rates were calculated by univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and tested by Log-rank. ${\chi}^2$ or Fisher exact tests were carried out for the numeration data. The significant indexes after univariate analysis were then analyzed by multivariate analysis using COX regression model. Based on the literature, factors of gender, age, disease course, tumor location, Enneking grades, surgical approaches, distant metastasis and local recurrence were examined. Results: Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in Enneking grades, surgical approaches and distant metastasis related to the patients' 3-year survival rate after surgery (P<0.001). No significant difference was not found in gender, age, disease course, tumor location or local recurrence (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that Enneking grade (P=0.007) and surgical approaches (P=0.010) were independent factors affecting the prognosis of chondrosarcoma, but distant metastasis was not (P=0.942). Conclusion: Enneking grades, surgical approaches and distant metastasis are risk factors for prognosis of chondrosarcoma, among which the former two are independent factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9661-9666
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• 2014

Background: A number of studies have identified a shared susceptibility locus in phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas (GCA). However, the results of PLCE1 expression in esophageal and gastric cancer remain inconsistent and controversial. Moreover, the effects on clinicopathological features remain undetermined. This study aimed to provide a precise quantification of the association between PLCE1 expression and the risk of ESCC and GCA through meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Eligible studies were identified from PubMed, Wanfang Data, ISI Web of Science, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Using RevMan5.2 software, pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to assess the association of PLCE1 expression with clinicopathological features relative to ESCC or GCA. Results: Seven articles were identified, including 761 esophageal and gastric cancer cases and 457 controls. Overall, we determined that PLCE1 expression was associated with tumor progression in both esophageal cancers (pooled OR=5.93; 95%CI=3.86 to 9.11) and gastric cancers (pooled OR=9.73; 95%CI=6.46 to 14.7). Moreover, invasion depth (pooled OR=3.62; 95%CI=2.30 to 5.70) and lymph node metastasis (pooled OR=4.21; 95%CI=2.69 to 6.59) were linked with PLCE1 expression in gastric cancer. However, no significant associations were determined between PLCE1 overexpression and the histologic grade, invasion depth, and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer. Conclusions: Our metaanalysis results indicated that upregulated PLCE1 is significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor progression in ESCC and GCA. Therefore, PLCE1 expression can be appropriately regarded as a promising biomarker for ESCC and GCA patients.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.615-639
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• 2016

Although the underlying mechanism of rain-wind induced vibrations (RWIVs) of stay cables has not been fully understood, some countermeasures have been successfully applied to mitigating this kind of vibration. Among these, installing dampers near the bridge deck was widely adopted, and several field observations have shown its effectiveness. In this study, the effectiveness of dampers to RWIVs of stay cables is numerically investigated comprehensively by means of finite difference method (FDM). Based on the free vibration analysis of a taut string, it is found that the 3-points triangle scheme, which can be easily implemented in FDM, can offer an excellent approximation of the concentrated damping coefficient (expressed as a Dirac delta function) at the location where the damper is installed. Then, free vibration analysis of a 3-D continuous stay cable attached with two dampers is carried out to study the relationship of modal damping ratio and damping coefficient of the dampers. The effects of orientation of the dampers and cable sag on the modal damping ratio are investigated in detail. Finally, the RWIV response of a 3-D continuous stay cable attached with two dampers is examined. The results indicate that 0.5% of damping ratio is sufficient to reduce the RWIV vibration of the Cable A20 on the No.2 Nanjing Bridge over Yangtze River.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2519-2522
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• 2012

Objective: Data from a recent genome-wide association studiesy of gastric cancer (GC) and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Chinese living in the Taihang Mountains of north-central China suggest that 1q22 and 10q23 are susceptibility-associated regions for GC. However, this has not been confirmed in southern Chinese populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these polymorphisms at 1q22 and 10q23 are associated with the risk of GC in a southern Chinese population. Methods: We selected seven top significant associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 1q22 and 10q23 and conducted a population-based case-control study in a southern Chinese population. Genotypes were determined using MassARRAYTM system (Sequenome, San Diego, CA). Results: Two SNPs at 1q22, rs4072037 and rs4460629, were significantly associated with a reduced risk of GC, best fitting the dominant genetic model. Logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex showed that rs4072037 AG and GG (OR=0.64, P=0.017, compared with AA) and rs4460629 CT and TT (OR=0.54, P=0.0016, compared with TT) significantly reduced the risk of GC. However, no significant results for the five SNPs at 10q23 were obtained in this study. Conclusion: These outcomes indicate that 1q22 is associated with GC susceptibility in this southern Chinese population, while an association for the locus at 10q23 was not confirmed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6475-6479
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• 2013

Objectives: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes play important roles in resistance to cell apoptosis and carcinogenesis. We aimed to establish the relationship between GST expression and the prognosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTT-UC) in Taiwan. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 46 patients with pathologically confirmed UUT-UC at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. In each patient, expression of GSTT1 and GSTP1 was compared between urothelial carcinoma and normal urothelial cells by Western blotting. Results: GSTP1 expression in the UUT-UC cells was significantly higher than that in normal urothelial cells (1.6 fold, p<0.001). Expression of GSTT1 was significantly associated with the invasiveness of the carcinoma (p=0.006). Conclusions: In UUT-UC, GSTP1 might be a potential tumor marker, whereas high GSTT1 expression could be used as an indicator of cancer progression. This study is the first to demonstrate potential applications of different GST isoenzymes for biomolecular analysis of UUT-UCs in Taiwan.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.975-988
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• 2022

Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that play important roles in starvation stress, analyze their functions, and discover potential molecular targets to alleviate starvation stress to provide a theoretical reference for subsequent in-depth research. Methods: We generated a piglet starvation stress animal model. Nine Yorkshire weaned piglets were randomly divided into a long-term starvation stress group (starved for 72 h), short-term starvation stress group (starved for 48 h), and the control group. LncRNA libraries were constructed using high-throughput sequencing of piglet ileums. Results: We obtained 11,792 lncRNAs, among which, 2,500 lncRNAs were novel. In total, 509 differentially expressed (DE)lncRNAs were identified in this study. Target genes of DElncRNAs were predicted via cis and trans interactions, and functional and pathway analyses were performed. Gene ontology functions and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed that lncRNA-targeted genes mainly participated in metabolic pathways, cellular processes, immune system processes, digestive systems, and transport activities. To reveal the mechanism underlying starvation stress, the interaction network between lncRNAs and their targets was constructed based on 26 DElncRNAs and 72 DEmRNAs. We performed an interaction network analysis of 121 DElncRNA-DEmRNA pairs with a Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. Conclusion: We found that MSTRG.19894.13, MSTRG.16726.3, and MSTRG.12176.1 might play important roles in starvation stress. This study not only generated a library of enriched lncRNAs in piglets, but its outcomes also provide a strong foundation to screen key lncRNAs involved in starvation stress and a reference for subsequent in-depth research.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.160-174
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• 2003

This study researched an enterprise resources planning (ERP) implementation project at a printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer. In depth research was achieved by participating and observing in an implementation project at an actual PCB manufacturer. It is hoped that this study will contribute a valuable reference resource for future PCB manufacturers that wish to select or implement ERP systems. The first step in implementing ERP software is to set a clear target. At the same time, the tasks of each department and the system of cooperation between departments must be clearly defined. In this way, the cycle time of each flow and the accuracy of data will both be improved. In order to ensure smooth implementation of an ERP project, the followings are key factors: (1) an ERP system that suits the PCB industry; (2) effective project management; (3) effective project cost/budget control; (4) project problem management system; (5) comprehensive implementation method and information technology (IT), etc. By keeping to these principals, Company A achieved rapid transactions, and lower total cycle times and inventory levels, and other such benefits that had been predicted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5861-5865
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• 2014

High risk forms of the human papilloma virus (HPV) are generally accepted as necessary causative agents for cervical cancer. Recently, a possible relation between HPV and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has also been noticed. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection in OSCCs in Wuhan city. DNA samples were collected from fresh tissues in 200 patients with OSCC and 68 normal controls. The polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to identify the HPV types in the samples. The prevalence of HPV of all types in the OSCC group was higher than in the control group (55/200 vs 2/68, OR=11.5, 95% CI=2.6-50.2). HPV16 and HPV18 were the main types detected, with HPV6 was the only low-risk type identified. High-risk HPV types HPV16 and HPV18 are prevalent in OSCC patients and may participate in the development of OSCC with traditional risk factors, tobacco and alcohol, possibly exerting synergistic effects. The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that those who smoked, consumed alcohol and with HPV infection have the highest risk of developing oral cancer (OR=13.3, 95% CI=3.1-56.8). Adjusted for age, smoking and alcohol use, HPV infection was independently associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma.