Publications by authors named "Dingji Zhu"

Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which mainly results from fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) dysfunction, is related to oxidative stress. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), which are proinflammatory mediators and a novel biomarker of oxidative stress, have been observed to accumulate significantly in the serum of RA patients. Here, we present the first investigation of the effects of AOPPs on RA-FLSs and the signalling pathway involved in AOPP-induced inflammatory responses and invasive behaviour.

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Dysregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is involved in various human diseases. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), which form the lining of the joint, are epigenetically imprinted with an aggressive phenotype and contribute to joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we identified a novel circRNA, Circ_0088194, which was upregulated in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) and correlated with the disease activity score in 28 joints.

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Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to play crucial roles in the development and progression of various types of cancers by serving as microRNA sponges to regulate the expression of target genes. Although in-depth studies of circRNAs have been conducted, their functional and pathological significance in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), remains unclear. Our previous study verified that hsa_circ_0088036 (circ0088036) is significantly elevated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with RA.

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Migration and invasion are important characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs), which are involved in joint damage and contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathology. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Because epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key mechanism related to migration and invasion in cancer cells, we investigated the relationship between EMT and RA-FLSs and explored whether the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway is involved.

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A number of short noncoding microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to be highly expressed in many kidney diseases such as renal cancer and lupus nephritis (LN); however, these results have not been extensively investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of miR‑198 in LN based on the previous studies. miR‑198 expression level in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was determined to determine its clinicopathological significance and effect on glomerular cell proliferation.

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Background/aims: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) compose a large class of RNAs that can be used as biomarkers in clinical blood samples. This study aimed to determine the expression of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to identify novel biomarkers for RA screening.

Methods: We started with a microarray screening of circRNA changes in PBMCs from 5 RA patients and 5 healthy controls.

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A new and sensitive analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of seven anticoagulant rodenticides in whole blood and urine samples by liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-LIT/MS) with on-line solid phase extraction (on-line SPE). The samples were treated with acetonitrile, followed by dilution, centrifugation, and filtration. The resulting solution was injected into the LC system directly and processed by on-line SPE column for enrichment and purification.

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Objective: Prospective cohort studies regarding job strain and the risk of stroke are controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between job strain and the risk of stroke.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched for prospective cohort studies with data on job strain and the risk of stroke.

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Background: The results of studies on the association between prehypertension (blood pressure 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg) and coronary heart disease (CHD) remain controversial. Furthermore, it is unclear whether prehypertension affects the risk of CHD in Asian and Western populations differently. This meta-analysis evaluated the risk of CHD associated with prehypertension and its different subgroups.

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Objective: To explore the prevalence and combined cardiovascular risk factors of prehypertension in southern China.

Design: A retrospective study; the logistic regression model was used to find the risk factors of prehypertension.

Setting: The study was conducted in Shunde District, southern China, using the community-based health check-up information.

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Article Synopsis
  • Myocardial energy expenditure (MEE) and 2-oxoglutarate levels are found to be higher in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting a link between these factors in heart health.
  • In a study involving 219 CHF patients, higher 2-oxoglutarate was correlated with various health metrics, including MEE and age, and was associated with poor outcomes like hospital admissions and mortality.
  • The findings indicate that 2-oxoglutarate could serve as a potential biomarker for assessing myocardial energy expenditure and predicting the severity of CHF.
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