Publications by authors named "FangZhou Zhao"
Background: Environmental metal exposure has been implicated in the development of digestive tract cancers, although the specific associations remain poorly defined. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood metal levels and the risk of digestive tract cancers among U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCovalently branched DNA molecules are hybrid structures where a small molecule core is covalently linked to different DNA strands. They merge the programmability of DNA nanotechnology with synthetic molecules' functionality, offering enhanced stability over their non-covalent counterparts like double-crossover tiles. They enable the efficient assembly of stable DNA nanostructures with new geometries and functionalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraumatic ureteral injury is a rare and challenging condition of the urinary system. To summarize the clinical features of patients with traumatic ureteral injury and examine the literature on traumatic ureteral injuries from the past 20 years. The clinical data of 30 patients with traumatic ureteral injury in Peking University First Hospital, Beijing Jiangong Hospital, as well as Emergency General Hospital from August 2015 to August 2023 were retrospectively collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of this study was to report our technical experience and mid-term outcomes of robot-assisted redo ureteral reimplantation in adults following failed primary ureteral reimplantation.
Methods: Twelve patients underwent robot-assisted redo ureteral reimplantation from December 2020 to May 2022 at double centers. Surgical procedures included anti-reflux dismembered submucosal tunnel reimplantation, anti-reflux dismembered nipple reimplantation, and anti-reflux non-dismembered submucosal tunnel reimplantation.
Purpose: To examine the role and mechanism of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) in the development of fibrosis in diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED).
Materials And Methods: DMED was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. All rats were categorized into three groups: control group (n=8), DMED group (n=8) and DMED+Leu-Ser-Lys-Leu (LSKL) group (n=8).
Article Synopsis
- Bacterial blight, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycines (Psg), significantly affects soybean, with resistance genes Rpg1 to Rpg4 identified but lacking clarity on quantitative resistance mechanisms.
- A study phenotyped soybean association panels (573 and 213 lines) from 2014-2016 and used genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with FarmCPU and BLINK models to find 14 new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to Psg resistance across 12 chromosomes.
- The research also pinpointed 46 candidate resistance genes and highlighted a synteny region with potential resistance functions, offering valuable insights into the genetic basis of Psg resistance in soybeans.
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- Ureteral strictures (US) can impair kidney function, and this study focused on the effects of ureteral reconstruction surgery on renal health in patients with a solitary kidney (SK).
- Out of 61 SK patients treated, the surgery success rate was 90.16%, and while overall eGFR showed no significant change post-surgery, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) saw notable improvements in their eGFR.
- The study concluded that ureteral reconstruction surgery is effective in maintaining renal function and lowering systolic blood pressure in SK patients suffering from US.
Article Synopsis
- Acid-modified biochar is a highly adaptable material with a large surface area and complex pore structure, making it useful for purposes like removing heavy metals and improving soil quality.
- The study employed machine learning models, especially extreme gradient boosting (XGB), to predict key properties of biochar, finding that preparation conditions significantly influenced its effectiveness.
- The optimized biochar generated through the study's methods demonstrated impressive characteristics and affirmed the predictive strength of the XGB model, paving the way for better industrial applications of acid-modified biochar.
Background: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of dual-console telesurgery with the new KangDuo system in an animal experiment and clinical study.
Methods: Six canine models were performed radical prostatectomy with dual-console KanDuo surgical robot-1500 (KD-SR-1500-RARP). The perioperative outcomes, physical and mental workload of the surgeon were collected.
Article Synopsis
- A linear synthesis approach for the HIF-2 inhibitor belzutifan (PT2977) was developed, reproducing elements from previous methods detailed in various publications and patents.
- Belzutifan is an orally active small molecule approved by the FDA in 2021 for treating renal cell carcinoma linked to von Hippel-Lindau disease.
- The synthesis involved 13 steps, yielding high diastereoselectivity, with advantageous separation of diastereomeric mixtures at different stages, and the X-ray structure of belzutifan was determined.
The design of new protein structures is challenging due to their vast sequence space and the complexity of protein folding. Here, we report a new modular DNA-templated strategy to construct protein mimics. We achieve the spatial control of multiple peptide units by conjugation with DNA and hybridization to a branched DNA trimer template followed by covalent stapling of the preorganized peptides into a single unit.
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- - Pediatric urolithiasis is becoming more common, with a 10.6% annual increase, and managing this condition in infants and toddlers is notably more complex than in adults due to limited research and smaller sample sizes in existing studies.
- - This study analyzed data from 100 infants and toddlers who underwent retrograde ureteroscopy for ureteral stones, reporting a high stone-free rate (SFR) of 96%, with average operation times of about 35 minutes and hospital stays of around 6 days.
- - The research highlights effective management strategies for treating ureteric stones in young patients, noting that complications were primarily mild (15% had postoperative fever), and suggests that the complications may be linked to the
Recent evidence suggests that the protective effect of gut microbiota on intestinal inflammation can be achieved through a microbe-bile acids (BAs) mechanism. Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are a kind of prebiotic that alter gut microbiota composition. To verify whether GOS has a protective effect on intestinal inflammation through a microbe-BAs mechanism, this research was performed in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) porcine model with the presence or absence of GOS.
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- Trap-assisted nonradiative recombination (TAAM) significantly reduces optoelectronic device efficiency, especially in wide-band-gap materials where conventional models like multiphonon emission (MPE) don't fully explain the losses.
- This study introduces a new methodology to calculate TAAM rates caused by defects or impurities and evaluates its effects on light emitter efficiency, highlighting the importance of considering both TAAM and MPE in recombination cycles.
- Specifically examining the impact of a calcium impurity in InGaN, the findings indicate that for materials with band gaps over 2.5 eV, TAAM can drastically increase recombination rates, making it a key factor in nonradiative processes in wide-band-gap semiconductors.
Article Synopsis
- * Four AI models were tested to predict Q, with the gradient boosting decision tree model performing the best, indicating that hydrochar properties play a significant role in metal adsorption.
- * Optimal hydrochar characteristics were identified, suggesting that higher temperatures and longer preparation times enhance its ability to adsorb heavy metals, making it potentially useful for industrial pollution treatment.
Article Synopsis
- Gut microbiota may play a role in the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), but the specific mechanisms are still unclear.
- A study comparing fecal samples from 30 ccRCC patients and 30 healthy controls found significant differences in the overall gut microbiota structures, although the overall diversity was similar.
- Specific bacterial species were identified as more or less abundant in ccRCC patients, and changes in serum taurine levels and macrophage-related gene expression may indicate potential risk factors for the disease.
Article Synopsis
- Agricultural pollution is a major global environmental issue that directly impacts human health and survival.
- Microbial remediation is a method to treat heavy metal pollution in agriculture, but evaluating its effectiveness has been challenging.
- Machine learning can enhance the assessment of microbial remediation by analyzing data on microbes, their actions, and ecological benefits, making it a promising tool for improving agricultural pollution management.
Article Synopsis
- - This study explored how m6A RNA methylation is linked to kidney damage caused by calcium oxalate crystals (CaOX) using a cell model of renal tubular injury.
- - Researchers conducted microarray analyses, uncovering 5,967 differentially expressed mRNAs and 6,853 differentially methylated mRNAs between the injured cells and controls, categorized into four distinct clusters.
- - The findings indicated that m6A methylation is significant in CaOX-induced injury, affecting processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death, while providing a comprehensive m6A profile of affected renal tubular cells.
Article Synopsis
- Camelina is a versatile oilseed crop that has been genetically engineered to enhance its yield, fatty acid composition, protein profiles, and resistance to drought.
- Concerns arise regarding the risk of transgenic traits transferring to non-transgenic camelina and wild relatives, prompting the need for effective bioconfinement strategies to prevent pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF).
- The study successfully implemented a gene from peach to promote cleistogamy (closed flowers) in transgenic camelina, which significantly reduced PMGF in field trials, making it a promising bioconfinement approach for this and potentially other crop species.
Article Synopsis
- Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) are crucial for understanding the survival and prognosis of prostate cancer patients, leading to the development of a predictive model to assess overall and disease-free survival based on immune cell infiltration characteristics.
- A comprehensive analysis involving 268 FRGs revealed differentially expressed genes using the TCGA database, employing various bioinformatics methods including Cox regression to create prognostic models linked to clinicopathological features.
- The established models indicated that advanced cancer stages (T3-4) and N0 stages showed better predicted survival rates; additionally, distinct patterns of immune cell infiltration associated with ferroptosis were identified, highlighting the role of specific immune cells in high- and low-risk groups.
Defects in cellular proteostasis and mitochondrial function drive many aspects of infertility, cancer, and other age-related diseases. All of these conditions rely on quiescent cells, such as oocytes and adult stem cells, that reduce their activity and remain dormant as part of their roles in tissue homeostasis, reproduction, and even cancer recurrence. Using a multi-organism approach, we show that dynamic shifts in the ubiquitin proteasome system drive mitochondrial remodeling during cellular quiescence.
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- The study evaluates the learning curves and outcomes of pediatric flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) performed by a surgeon experienced in adult procedures.
- Data from children treated for nephrolithiasis between June 2014 and April 2019 showed stone-free rates (SFR) of 88.1% for FURS and 89.5% for PCNL, with complication rates at 19.8% and 35.1%, respectively.
- The findings indicate that surgical experience enhances SFRs for both procedures, with about 60 PCNL cases needed to achieve competence, while favorable outcomes for FURS can be reached early in the learning phase.
Article Synopsis
- Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat upper urinary stones in children, but a predictive system for evaluating post-surgery outcomes is lacking.
- The study aimed to validate the effectiveness of various RIRS scoring systems by analyzing clinical data from 137 pediatric patients who underwent the procedure between 2014 and 2021.
- Results showed a significant stone-free rate (79.6%) and revealed that the RIRS nomogram scoring system had the highest predictive power for surgical outcomes compared to other models, indicating a need for a dedicated predictive tool for pediatric patients in the future.*
Introduction: The recurrence rate of paediatric urolithiasis was less reported, especially in Asians. Our aim was to verify the symptomatic recurrence rate of Chinese paediatric urolithiasis and to determine the predictive factors for stone recurrence.
Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of children who presented with first upper urinary tract calculi from June 2014 to September 2019.