@article {239, title = {A novel gene expression-based prognostic scoring system to predict survival in gastric cancer.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul 11}, abstract = {

Analysis of gene expression patterns in gastric cancer (GC) can help to identify a comprehensive panel of gene biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes and to discover potential new therapeutic targets. Here, a multi-step bioinformatics analytic approach was developed to establish a novel prognostic scoring system for GC. We first identified 276 genes that were robustly differentially expressed between normal and GC tissues, of which, 249 were found to be significantly associated with overall survival (OS) by univariate Cox regression analysis. The biological functions of 249 genes are related to cell cycle, RNA/ncRNA process, acetylation and extracellular matrix organization. A network was generated for view of the gene expression architecture of 249 genes in 265 GCs. Finally, we applied a canonical discriminant analysis approach to identify a 53-gene signature and a prognostic scoring system was established based on a canonical discriminant function of 53 genes. The prognostic scores strongly predicted patients with GC to have either a poor or good OS. Our study raises the prospect that the practicality of GC patient prognosis can be assessed by this prognostic scoring system.

}, issn = {1949-2553}, doi = {10.18632/oncotarget.10533}, author = {Wang, Pin and Wang, Yunshan and Hang, Bo and Zou, Xiaoping and Jiang-Hua Mao} } @article {234, title = {Prognostic significance of FAM83D gene expression across human cancer types.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {7}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan 19}, pages = {3332-40}, abstract = {

The family with sequence similarity 83, member D (FAM83D) gene has been proposed as a new prognostic marker for breast cancer. Here we further evaluate the prognostic significance of FAM83D expression in different breast cancer subtypes using a meta-analysis. Patients with higher FAM83D mRNA levels have significantly decreased overall and metastatic relapse-free survival, particularly in the group of patients with ER-positive, or luminal subtype tumors. We also assessed FAM83D alterations and its prognostic significance across 22 human cancer types using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). FAM83D is frequently gained in the majority of human cancer types, resulting in the elevated expression of FAM83D. Higher levels of FAM83D mRNA expression are significantly associated with decreased overall survival in several cancer types. Finally, we demonstrate that TP53 mutation in human cancers is coupled to a significant increase in the expression of FAM83D, and that a higher level of FAM83D expression is positively correlated with an increase in genome instability in many cancer types. These results identify FAM83D as a potential novel oncogene across multiple human cancer types.

}, issn = {1949-2553}, doi = {10.18632/oncotarget.6620}, author = {Walian, Peter J and Hang, Bo and Jiang-Hua Mao} } @article {236, title = {Tobacco toxins deposited on surfaces (third hand smoke) impair wound healing.}, journal = {Clin Sci (Lond)}, volume = {130}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul 1}, pages = {1269-84}, abstract = {

Third hand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of second hand smoke (SHS) toxins on surfaces in homes, cars, clothing and hair of smokers. It is known that 88M US nonsmokers >=3~years old living in homes of smokers are exposed to THS toxicants and show blood cotinine levels of >=0.05~ng/ml, indicating that the toxins are circulating in their circulatory systems. The goal of the present study is to investigate the mechanisms by which THS causes impaired wound healing. We show that mice living under conditions that mimic THS exposure in humans display delayed wound closure, impaired collagen deposition, altered inflammatory response, decreased angiogenesis, microvessels with fibrin cuffs and a highly proteolytic wound environment. Moreover, THS-exposed mouse wounds have high levels of oxidative stress and significantly lower levels of antioxidant activity leading to molecular damage, including protein nitration, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage that contribute to tissue dysfunction. Furthermore, we show that elastase is elevated, suggesting that elastin is degraded and the plasticity of the wound tissue is decreased. Taken together, our results lead us to conclude that THS toxicants delay and impair wound healing by disrupting the sequential processes that lead to normal healing. In addition, the lack of elastin results in loss of wound plasticity, which may be responsible for reopening of wounds.

}, issn = {1470-8736}, doi = {10.1042/CS20160236}, author = {Dhall, Sandeep and Alamat, Raquelle and Castro, Anthony and Sarker, Altaf H and Jiang-Hua Mao and Chan, Alex and Hang, Bo and Martins-Green, Manuela} } @article {228, title = {Metabolomics reveals metabolic changes in male reproductive cells exposed to thirdhand smoke.}, journal = {Sci Rep}, volume = {5}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {15512}, abstract = {

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is a new term for the toxins in cigarette smoke that linger in the environment long after the cigarettes are extinguished. The effects of THS exposure on male reproduction have not yet been studied. In this study, metabolic changes in male germ cell lines (GC-2 and TM-4) were analyzed after THS treatment for 24 h. THS-loaded chromatography paper samples were generated in a laboratory chamber system and extracted in DMEM. At a paper: DMEM ratio of 50 μg/ml, cell viability in both cell lines was normal, as measured by the MTT assay and markers of cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis and ROS production were normal as measured by quantitative immunofluorescence. Metabolomic analysis was performed on methanol extracts of GC-2 and TM-4 cells. Glutathione metabolism in GC-2 cells, and nucleic acid and ammonia metabolism in TM-4 cells, was changed significantly by THS treatment. RT-PCR analyses of mRNA for enzyme genes Gss and Ggt in GC-2 cells, and TK, SMS and Glna in TM-4 cells reinforced these findings, showing changes in the levels of enzymes involved in the relevant pathways. In conclusion, exposure to THS at very low concentrations caused distinct metabolic changes in two different types of male reproductive cell lines.

}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/srep15512}, author = {Xu, Bo and Chen, Minjian and Yao, Mengmeng and Ji, Xiaoli and Mao, Zhilei and Tang, Wei and Qiao, Shanlei and Schick, Suzaynn F and Jiang-Hua Mao and Hang, Bo and Xia, Yankai} } @article {220, title = {[Thirdhand smoke: current research status and future prospects].}, journal = {Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi}, volume = {49}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Apr}, pages = {295-8}, abstract = {

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is defined as residual tobacco components that remain on indoor surfaces after tobacco has been smoked, such as walls furniture, and dust particles, which are re-emitted into the air. THS also includes secondary pollutants generated from the reaction of surface residual smoke compounds with reactive indoor air pollutants. THS is a new hidden health hazard, with infants and children being most at risk of higher exposure. This article summarized the aging process of secondhand smoke and the mechanism of generation of THS; reviewed the current status of research on THS regarding its chemical constituents, physical and chemical properties, biological toxicity, as well as degree of pollution in China and other countries; and finally provided the perspectives on the future study of THS.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Air Pollution, Indoor, Child, Child, Preschool, China, Dust, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Research, Smoke, Tobacco Smoke Pollution}, issn = {0253-9624}, author = {Hang, Bo and Cheng, Senping and Xia, Yankai and Jiang-Hua Mao} }