Publications by authors named "Fan Zheng"

Background: Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (CKI) represents a severe renal dysfunction characterized by DNA damage and tubular injury. Fraxetin, derived from the Chinese herb Qinpi (Fraxinus bungeana A.DOC), is recognized for its neuroprotective effects and has been used for the prevention of various diseases.

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Introduction: (), a common pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in school-age children and adolescents, can cause epidemics worldwide. In late 2023, the incidence of infection among children reached a high level.

Methods: We investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility of 62 isolates obtained from children with pneumonia in Beijing between 2021 and 2023, and analyzed the correlation of antimicrobial susceptibility with molecular characteristics of isolates and clinical manifestations of patients.

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Rationale And Objectives: Mixed ground-glass nodules (mGGNs) are highly malignant and common nonspecific lung imaging findings. This study aimed to explore whether combining quantitative and qualitative spectral dual-layer detector-based computed tomography (SDCT)-derived parameters with serological tumor abnormal proteins (TAPs) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) expression enhances invasive mGGN diagnostic efficacy and to develop a joint diagnostic model.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included patients with mGGNs undergoing preoperative triple-phase contrast-enhanced SDCT with TAP and TK1 tests.

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We have previously reported that high-alcohol-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (HiAlc Kpn) in the gut can cause endo-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here, we discover that 91.2% of Kpn isolates from pulmonary disease samples also produce excess ethanol, which may be associated with respiratory disease severity.

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Microtubule assembly takes place at the centrosome and noncentrosomal microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs). However, the mechanisms controlling the activity of noncentrosomal MTOCs are poorly understood. Here, using the fission yeast as a model organism, we demonstrate that the kinesin-14 motor Klp2 interacts with the J-domain Hsp70/Ssa1 cochaperone Rsp1, an inhibitory factor of microtubule assembly, and that Klp2 is required for the proper localization of Rsp1 to microtubules.

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Polysomnography (PSG) measures brain activity during sleep via electroencephalography (EEG) using six leads. Artifacts caused by movement or loose leads distort EEG measurements. We developed a method to automatically identify such artifacts in a PSG EEG trace.

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Background: To explore the correlation between the levels of D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FIB), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and platelets (PLT) in peripheral blood of patients with lower limb fractures and the formation of deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs, and to establish a new thrombosis prediction model for patients with lower limb fractures.

Methods: The patients were divided into DVT group and non DVT group according to whether there was deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity. The differences in the levels of D-D, FIB, FDP and platelets between the two groups were analyzed and compared.

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Objective: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a deep-learning radiomics model for predicting surgical risk factors for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in young patients to assist clinicians in identifying surgical candidates, alleviating symptoms, and improving prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients from two medical centers was conducted. From sagittal and axial MR images, the regions of interest were handcrafted to extract radiomics features.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sleep spindles, which may play a role in glucose regulation, were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to healthy individuals.
  • A study of 952 T2DM patients and 952 matched controls revealed that T2DM patients had about half the spindle density during sleep, and this trend was confirmed in additional data from the Sleep Heart Health Study.
  • The reduction in spindle density in T2DM patients was associated with disease severity and glycemic control, suggesting a link between sleep disturbances and diabetes management.
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This work offers an ultrasonic structural health monitoring (SHM) approach for assessing the defects located on the same surface and at one side of piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer array. It is based on the analysis of ultrasonic bulk wave travelling in the thickness direction obtained from an enhanced full-skip configuration of the time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) technique. In contrast to existing TOFD setup only considering the direct paths between the ultrasonic transducer and defect, our ultrasound monitoring configuration involves twice reflected ultrasonic bulk wave (TRBW).

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  • - Recent research has identified cancer-associated microbiota in various cancers, influencing inflammation, tumor development, and treatment resistance, particularly in hepatoblastoma (HB), a common childhood cancer.
  • - A study using 16S rDNA sequencing revealed significant differences in microbiome diversity and abundance between HB tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues, with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes being prevalent in tumors.
  • - Specific bacterial communities showed potential correlations with HB development and associated markers, suggesting they could serve as indicators of the disease, warranting further investigation into the role of the microbiome in HB.
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Tuning the dimensions and molecular packing geometry of crystalline organic frameworks and polymers represents an important challenge for reticular chemistry. Here we show that for extended structures made of 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)pyrene (PyTTA) linked with methoxy group functionalized terephthalaldehyde aldehydes, simple substituents on the aldehyde linker can have profound structure directing effects due to noncovalent interactions. Specifically, reacting 2,3-dimethoxyterephthalaldehyde with PyTTA gives a 2D covalent organic framework with unique AA-inclined-AA stacking and bilayer pyrene motifs, whereas reacting 2,5-dimethoxyterephthalaldehyde with PyTTA gives a 1D crystalline polymer with AB stacking and isolated pyrene motifs.

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A hallmark feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is massive intratumoral fibrosis, designated as desmoplasia. Desmoplasia is characterized by the expansion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and a massive increase in extracellular matrix (ECM). During fibrogenesis, distinct genes become reactivated specifically in fibroblasts, e.

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Aqueous manganese-ion batteries (AMIBs) are becoming more noticeable because of their excellent theoretical capacity, outstanding safety profile, and cost-effectiveness. However, there aren't many studies on cathode materials appropriate for AMIBs, and the manganese-ion storage mechanisms within these materials have not been thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of existing cathode materials remains suboptimal.

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Aims: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family proteins involve in various cellular processes via regulating the cell cycle; however, their expression during osteogenic differentiation and postmenopausal osteoporosis remains poorly understood.

Main Methods: Using bioinformatics, we screened for CDK14 bound to Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) and explored its expression in vitro with time-gradient model and in a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis, building on prior research. Subsequently, we investigated its effect on osteoblast proliferation, cell cycle dynamics, and osteogenic differentiation by administering CDK14 siRNA and the covalent inhibitor FMF-04-159-2.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A new bacteriophage called pK3-24 was discovered, which specifically targets and can effectively kill ST447 K. pneumoniae, showing potential as an alternative to antibiotics.
  • * Phage pK3-24 has a stable double-stranded DNA genome, does not carry antibiotic resistance genes, and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing biofilm production and mortality in infected larvae.
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Background: Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common feature of chronic kidney diseases (CKD), with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) being one of its important mechanisms. S100A2 is a protein associated with cell proliferation and differentiation, but its specific functions and molecular mechanisms in RIF remain to be determined.

Methods: S100A2 levels were evaluated in three mouse models, including unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), as well as in TGF-β1- treated HK-2 cells and in kidney tissue samples.

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  • Therapeutic strategies focusing on disrupting dysregulated transcription have shown promise for treating cancers like leukaemias using small molecule inhibitors that target key proteins involved in gene expression.* -
  • Research indicates that the effectiveness of these inhibitors is influenced not just by their ability to stop mRNA production, but also by how quickly mRNA is produced and degraded.* -
  • Findings suggest that modifying post-transcriptional processes, such as targeting specific proteins, can enhance the effects of transcriptional inhibitors, offering potential new combination therapies for leukaemia.*
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  • This study examines the relationship between blood metabolites and atopic dermatitis (AD) using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to understand how plasma metabolites may influence AD.
  • The research involved a large sample size from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and data from various genetic databases to establish causal relationships between specific blood metabolites and the risk of developing AD.
  • Results highlighted nine blood metabolites that showed a significant connection with AD, where some metabolites were associated with reduced risk, while others indicated an increased risk of developing the condition.
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment, but limited oxygen supply in tumors (hypoxia) can hinder its effectiveness. This is because traditional PDT relies on Type-II reactions that require oxygen. Type-I photosensitizers (PSs) offer a promising approach to overcome the limitations of tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) in hypoxic environments.

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  • A study analyzed respiratory specimens from 128 children with pneumonia in Beijing, revealing that 77.3% tested positive for a specific pathogen, particularly affecting younger patients.
  • The most common strains were identified through gene typing, showing a notable increase in macrolide-resistant mutations, especially in children under three years old.
  • Severe pneumonia was observed in 56.2% of analyzed cases, with longer fever durations and higher complication rates, highlighting the necessity for clinicians to recognize the severity linked to macrolide-resistant infections.
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  • Fat grafting and repositioning is a potentially effective method for addressing lower eyelid issues like tear trough deformities, but there's a lack of comprehensive studies on its complications.
  • This research involved analyzing 33 studies with 4671 patients to evaluate the complications associated with this surgical technique.
  • The findings indicated a total complication rate of 11.2%, with specific complications like unsatisfactory correction and hematoma also noted, highlighting the importance of monitoring these risks and communicating effectively with patients.
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Background: Programmed death ligand-1 () expression serves a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LA). However, only a limited number of studies have explored the relationship between expression and spectral dual-layer detector-based computed tomography (SDCT) quantification, qualitative parameters, and clinical biomarkers. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify this relationship in stage I LA and to develop a nomogram to assist in preoperative individualized identification of -positive expression.

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