Jia Fan

Diabetes is a complex metabolic syndrome that is characterized by prolonged high blood glucose levels and frequently associated with life-threatening complications1,2. Epidemiological studies have suggested that diabetes is also linked to an increased risk of cancer3–5. High glucose levels may be a prevailing factor that contributes to the link between diabetes and cancer, but little is known about the molecular basis of this link and how the high glucose state may drive genetic and/or ...

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there ...

In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), biomarkers for prediction of prognosis and response to immunotherapy such as interferon-α (IFN-α) would be very useful in the clinic. We found that expression of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I), an IFN-stimulated gene, was significantly downregulated in human HCC tissues. Patients with low RIG-I expression had shorter survival and poorer response to IFN-α therapy, suggesting that RIG-I is a useful prognosis and IFN-α response predictor for HCC ...

Poor detection of low-abundant proteins is a common problem in two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) for separation of proteins in a proteome analysis. This is attributed partially, at least, to the existence of high-abundant proteins, e.g. ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) in plants. They engage a large proportion of the whole-cell proteins and thus prevent low-abundant proteins from being up-taken by immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strip, consequently making the ...

The combination of a camera and a 2D laser rangefinder (LRF) is widely used in robotics, mapping, and unmanned driving to simultaneously obtain the 3D geometry and color texture of a scene. However, data misregistration between the camera and the LRF frequently occurs due to the difficulty of precise installation and alignment between them. Extrinsic calibration between the camera and the LRF is necessary. In this study, a photogrammetric control field is used to perform a robust and ...

The bystin-like (BYSL) gene was previously characterized to encode an accessory protein for cell adhesion that participates in early embryo implantation. It is also involved in 40S ribosomal subunit biogenesis and is found to be expressed in rapidly growing embryo and cancer cell lines. In order to explore the role of BYSL in cancer cell proliferation and growth, we used hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a model. Here, we report that BYSL is crucial for HCC cell growth both in vitro and ...

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate potential miRNAs and genes associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsWeighted co-expression network analysis was utilized to analyze the mRNA and miRNA sequencing data of HCC from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database. Significant network modules were identified, and then functions of genes in the gene network modules and target genes of miRNAs in the miRNA network modules were explored. Additionally, correlations ...

INTRODUCTION: Glucocorticoids (GCs), especially low-dose GCs, are commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although the risk/benefit ratio is controversial. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose oral GCs combined with methotrexate (MTX) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in early RA (ERA).

METHODS: Eighty untreated ERA patients were randomized into the trial (GCs + MTX + HCQ) and control (placebo + MTX + HCQ) groups, ...

Gallium oxide thin films were deposited by pulsed spray pyrolysis in air using ethanol solution of gallium trichloride as precursor. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that monoclinic gallium oxide thin films were formed. The optical band-gap of the film deposited on quartz substrates was 5.16eV, and the transmittance was greater than 80% for λ>275nm, as determined by UV–vis absorption spectrum. Photoconductivity of Ga2O3 film with inter-digital electrodes showed a weak sensitivity to ...

The liver is the most common anatomical site for hematogenous metastases from colorectal cancer. Therefore effective treatment of liver metastases is one of the most challenging elements in the management of colorectal cancer. However, there is rare available clinical consensus or guideline only focusing on colorectal liver metastases. After six rounds of discussion by 195 clinical experts of the Shanghai International Consensus Expert Group on Colorectal Liver Metastases (SINCE) from 29 ...

Recent advances in systemic and locoregional treatments for patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have resulted in improved response rates. This has provided an opportunity for selected patients with initially unresectable HCC to achieve adequate tumor downstaging to undergo surgical resection, a 'conversion therapy' strategy. However, conversion therapy is a new approach to the treatment of HCC and its practice and treatment protocols are still being ...

A simple, efficient, one-pot method has been developed for the synthesis of tetrahydro-4H-chromene derivatives by concurrent reaction of aryl aldehydes, active methylene compounds, and 1,3-cyclohexanedins using a catalytic amount of lithium bromide in aqueous media. The present approach offers several advantages such as shorter reaction times, good yields, low cost, recycling of the catalyst, and simple workup.

In this letter, in situ imaging of the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes for the degradation of an organic pollutant (i.e., Rhodamine B (RhB)) is realized with nanometer resolution using scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). Upon illumination, the separated electrons and holes at the nanotubes induce oxidation of RhB to produce the more positively charged Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123), which leads to increased ionic current through the capillary orifice and an ...

We studied the outcomes of children with APL treated by the Beijing Children's Hospital's (BCH) acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) 2005 protocol (BCH-APL2005). The clinical data of 77 patients enrolled from January 2005 to June 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The hematologic complete remission (CR) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were evaluated between standard-risk (SR) and high-risk (HR) groups. Prognostic factors and complications were investigated in these two groups. CR in ...