Publications by authors named "Dan-hua Li"
Previous studies have demonstrated strong associations between host genetic factors and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) VCA-IgA with the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the specific interplay between host genetics and EBV VCA-IgA on NPC risk is not well understood. In this two-stage case-control study (N = 4804), we utilized interaction and mediation analysis to investigate the interplay between host genetics (genome-wide association study-derived polygenic risk score [PRS]) and EBV VCA-IgA antibody level in the NPC risk.
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- Radiation-induced brain injury (RBI) significantly impacts the quality of life and survival rates for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), prompting the need for improved risk stratification tools.
- A large study involving 1189 NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy led to the development of a polygenic risk score (PRS) that effectively identifies individuals at high risk for RBI, with suggested adjusted radiation doses to minimize risk based on genetic predisposition.
- The integration of PRS with clinical factors enhanced prediction accuracy for RBI, indicating that personalized treatment strategies could be developed to optimize patient outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Large-scale genetic studies found several genetic loci linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), prompting further investigation into biological mechanisms behind these associations.
- A follow-up study involving nearly 7,000 NPC cases and over 10,000 controls identified two new susceptibility loci (9q22.33 and 17q12) and confirmed the role of two previously known loci linked to NPC risk.
- Functional analyses revealed that the genes PHF2 and CDKN2B-AS1 at these loci are crucial for NPC development, with risk alleles affecting their expression levels and consequently promoting NPC cell proliferation.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules that present Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens and the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
- Researchers analyzed 455 NPC patients and 463 healthy individuals, using HLA-target sequencing and predictive modeling to assess how EBV peptides bind to different HLA supertypes.
- Results showed that specific EBV peptides have different binding affinities related to NPC risk, with one HLA supertype associated with higher risk and another offering a protective effect, highlighting the complex relationship between EBV, HLA, and NPC development.
Article Synopsis
- - Chemoradiation-induced hearing loss (CRIHL) significantly impacts the long-term quality of life for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), with age, tumor stage, and cisplatin dosage being key risk factors identified in the study.
- - A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 777 NPC patients found a specific genetic variant (rs1050851) linked to a 5.46-fold increased risk of hearing loss, indicating a potential genetic predisposition associated with the condition.
- - The research suggests a genetic overlap between hereditary deafness and CRIHL, emphasizing the role of synaptic signaling in hearing loss development and allowing for improved risk prediction for personalized prevention strategies.
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- Various biomarkers, including oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS), are being tested for their effectiveness in detecting multiple cancer types through non-invasive methods, such as analyzing cell-free DNA and circulating proteins.
- In a study, an optimized ELISA was used to measure levels of ofCS in plasma, revealing that cancer patients had significantly elevated levels compared to non-cancer patients across six different cancer types.
- Further validation showed that individuals in the highest risk category had over 27 times greater likelihood of having cancer, with the potential for early detection based on elevated levels of ofCS.
The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by various microorganisms, including thousands of bacterial taxa that have yet to be cultured and characterized. In this report, we describe the isolation, cultivation, genotypic and phenotypic characterization and taxonomy of five novel anaerobic bacterial strains that were recovered during the massive cultivation and isolation of gut microbes from human faecal samples. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic results, we propose two novel genera and five novel species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Characteristics of climate change and its impacts on water resources in Qilian Mountains, China].
Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao
October 2022
Qilian Mountains, is an important ecological function area, an important ecological security barrier, the river runoff region in Northwest China, as well as a sensitive area to global climate change and fragile area of ecological environment. The ecological environment in this area played an important role in the economic development of Northwest China. Based on the observation data of temperature and precipitation in Qilian Mountains, MOD10A2 snow products and the flow data of Shiyang River, Heihe River and Shule River, we systematically analyzed the characteristics of climate change from 1961 to 2020, and the impacts of climate change on water resources under the scenario of climate warming.
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- The study aimed to create a polygenic hazard score (PHS) to predict who would benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- It involved a retrospective analysis of 1,395 stage I-II NSCLC patients and included a genome-wide association study to derive the PHS from 37 specific genetic markers.
- The results showed that patients with a low PHS had significantly better outcomes with ACT, particularly stage II patients, suggesting that the PHS could help identify those most likely to benefit from chemotherapy.
Whole-Exome Sequencing Study of Familial Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Implication for Identifying High-Risk Individuals.
J Natl Cancer Inst
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is linked to genetic factors and Epstein-Barr virus infection, making genetic counseling essential for high-risk families.
- A study involving whole-exome sequencing of 502 familial NPC patients revealed rare mutations in known cancer genes and identified 6 new susceptibility genes, with RAD54L showing the highest prevalence.
- Findings suggest that individuals with both rare and common genetic variants face significantly higher NPC risk, paving the way for better risk assessment and prevention strategies for those with a family history of the disease.
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- The study examined breast cancer (BC) trends and risk factors in China, Japan, and South Korea from 1990 to 2019, with predictions extending to 2034.
- In 2019, China had the highest BC burden, with significant increases in incident cases and deaths expected through 2034, especially among males.
- High body mass index was the main risk factor for female BC in China, while alcohol consumption posed the greatest risk for males in all three countries, indicating a need for targeted prevention strategies.
A strictly anaerobic, motile bacterium, designated as strain NSJ-9, was isolated from human faeces. Cells were Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, non-pigmented, and spiral-shaped or slightly curved rods with flagella. Optimal growth in M2GSC medium was observed at 37 °C (growth range 30-45 °C) and pH 6.
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- - The study analyzed the EBV genomes of 38 patients with a family history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 47 healthy controls to investigate the viral characteristics associated with familial NPC.
- - Researchers found mutation hotspots in the EBV latent gene regions of familial NPC cases and identified a specific genetic cluster that was significantly more common in these cases compared to controls.
- - Genome-wide association analysis revealed four variants linked to familial NPC, and a set of 34 high-risk EBV haplotypes correlated with an increased risk of familial NPC, suggesting EBV subtypes may play a role in the hereditary nature of the disease.
Non-human primates harbour diverse microbiomes in their guts. As a part of the China Microbiome Initiatives, we cultivated and characterized the gut microbiome of cynomolgus monkeys (). In this report, we communicate the characterization and taxonomy of eight bacterial strains that were obtained from faecal samples of captive cynomolgus monkeys.
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- The study investigates the role of oncofetal chondroitin sulfate in tumor development and malaria during pregnancy, focusing on its biosynthesis and tissue-specific expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the placenta.
- Researchers identified significant changes in the expression of chondroitin sulfate biosynthetic enzymes in colorectal adenocarcinomas compared to normal tissues, with specific enzymes upregulated in both cancer and placenta, suggesting potential links to disease outcomes.
- The findings highlight the correlation between chondroitin sulfate enzyme levels, immune response, and key cellular pathways, providing new insights into its role in cancer prognosis and malaria pathogenesis.
Article Synopsis
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus and is particularly common in southern China; the study examines the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variants in influencing EBV reactivation, a key factor in NPC development.
- A research team analyzed HLA alleles of 1,078 healthy males in the region and assessed EBV Zta-IgA levels, using logistic regression to examine the relationship between HLA variants and EBV activation, considering smoking as a factor.
- Results show that the HLA-DRB1*09:01 allele is associated with increased risk for Zta-IgA positivity, especially in smokers, indicating the need for smoking cessation efforts
Background: In gut microbiome studies, the cultured gut microbial resource plays essential roles, such as helping to unravel gut microbial functions and host-microbe interactions. Although several major studies have been performed to elucidate the cultured human gut microbiota, up to 70% of the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome species have not been cultured to date. Large-scale gut microbial isolation and identification as well as availability to the public are imperative for gut microbial studies and further characterizing human gut microbial functions.
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- * Recent studies showed that higher EBV levels in the nasopharynx are linked to NPC development, prompting investigations within families at high risk for the disease.
- * Findings revealed significant hereditary contributions to EBV loads, with a heritability estimate of 56.41%, suggesting that genetic factors may play a critical role in NPC susceptibility, especially in families with three or more cases.
Mice are widely used as experimental models for gut microbiome (GM) studies, yet the majority of mouse GM members remain uncharacterized. Here, we report the construction of a mouse gut microbial biobank (mGMB) that contains 126 species, represented by 244 strains that have been deposited in the China General Microorganism Culture Collection. We sequence and phenotypically characterize 77 potential new species and propose their nomenclatures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms underlying high-glucose-induced atherosclerosis remain unclear. This study was designed to observe the effects of high-glucose stimulation on the permeability of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to explore the effects of RhoA-Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signal transduction pathway activation and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the effects of molecular subtypes on the prognosis of breast cancer patients after BCT (breast-conserving therapy).
Methods: From January 1999 to December 2007, a total of 699 female patients on BCT were analyzed retrospectively. They were grouped according to the results of immunohistochemistry, they were grouped as Luminal A (ER+/PR+/HER2-, Ki-67 < 14%), Luminal B (ER+/PR+/HER2 ± , Ki-67 > 14%), HER2 (ER-/PR-/HER2+) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (ER-/PR-/HER2-).