Publications by authors named "Fuli Zheng"

Article Synopsis
  • Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are harmful substances that accumulate in organisms and cause neurotoxicity, although the specific mechanisms behind this toxicity are not well understood.
  • In a study using nematodes, researchers found that PS-NPs lead to behavioral damage and harm to specific types of neurons, with significant reductions in neurotransmitter levels observed.
  • The study identified that PS-NPs increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decrease the Sod-2 protein, and showed that using the mitochondrial ROS scavenger Mitoquinone can help reduce these toxic effects.
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Paraquat (PQ), a commonly used herbicide, is a potent environmental neurotoxin associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). While the involvement of various brain cell types in the etiology of each disorder is well recognized, the specific cell subtypes implicated in the comorbidity of PD and MDD, especially under PQ neurotoxicity, remain poorly understood. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze brain tissues from mice with PQ-induced PD with MDD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) from industries and medical devices are linked to neurotoxicity, but a full assessment of their effects on the central nervous system is missing.
  • Research shows CoNPs cause neurodegenerative damage, cognitive issues, and toxic protein buildup by disrupting autophagy processes in brain cells.
  • Long noncoding RNA NR_030777 helps counteract CoNPs-induced neurodegeneration by stabilizing a key transcription factor (TFEB), suggesting a potential therapeutic target for preventing CNS toxicity from CoNPs.
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The utilization of Cobalt (Co) has surged due to it is critical role in renewable energy technologies and other high-tech applications. Concurrently, the potential health risks associated with Co exposure have raised concerns. Previous studies, including our own, have shown that Co can impair learn and memory functions as an epigenetic hazard, even at low concentrations.

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease and approximately one third of patients with PD are estimated to experience depression. Paraquat (PQ) is the most widely used herbicide worldwide and PQ exposure is reported to induce PD with depression. However, the specific brain region and neural networks underlying the etiology of depression in PD, especially in the PQ-induced model, have not yet been elucidated.

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Bilirubin-induced brain damage is a serious clinical consequence of hyperbilirubinemia, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, is characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxidation. Here, we report a novel regulatory mechanism of demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) in acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4)-mediated ferroptosis in hyperbilirubinemia.

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The exact mechanisms underlying the initiation and exacerbation of Parkinson's disease (PD) by paraquat remain unclear. We have revealed that exosomes mediate neurotoxicity induced by low dose paraquat exposure by transmitting intercellular signaling. Exposure to 40 μM paraquat promoted exosome release from mouse microglia cells (BV2) in vitro.

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With the evidence emerging that abnormal expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in onset of Parkinson's disease (PD), the role of NR_030777 contributing to this disease is of great interest. We recently found that a novel lncRNA "NR_030777" demonstrates protective effects on PQ-induced neurodegeneration. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of NR_030777 in the regulation of mitochondrial fission and mitophagy involved in PQ-induced neuronal damage remain to be explored.

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, and approximately one third of patients with PD are estimated to have depression. Paraquat (PQ) exposure is an important environmental risk factor for PD. In this study, we established a mouse model of PQ-induced PD with depression to comprehensively investigate cellular heterogeneity and the mechanisms underlying the progression of depression in the context of PD.

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Background: As the demand and application of engineered nanomaterials have increased, their potential toxicity to the central nervous system has drawn increasing attention. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are novel cell-cell communication that plays a crucial role in pathology and physiology. However, the relationship between TNTs and nanomaterials neurotoxicity remains unclear.

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Excessive nitrogen (N) application in wheat-maize cropping systems was adjusted towards more sustainable practices to reduce hydrological N losses while maintaining crop yield. In comprehensive quantification of N management effects on crop yield, N use efficiency (NUE), hydrological N losses, and soil nitrate residual across eight seasons, we have added to growing evidence of strategies beneficial for sustainable crop production with lower hydrological N losses. The results show that adjusted N practices enhanced crop yield and NUE, as compared to farmer's practices, but benefits varied with N rates and types.

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Paraquat (PQ) is an environmental poison that causes clinical symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease (PD) in vitro and in rodents. It can lead to the activation of microglia and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons. However, the exact role and mechanism of microglial activation in PQ-induced neuronal degeneration remain unknown.

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The widespread use of nanomaterials in daily life has led to increased concern about their potential neurotoxicity. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish a simple and reproducible assessment system. Representative nanomaterials, including cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were compared in terms of their neurotoxicity and underlying mechanisms.

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Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) are required in small concentrations for metabolic functions, but are also toxic. There is a great concern about soil pollution by heavy metals, which may exposure the population to these toxicants, either by inhalation of dust or exposure to toxicants through ingestion of food derived from contaminated soils. In addition, the toxicity of metals in combination is questionable, as soil quality guidelines only assess them separately.

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Cobalt exposure, even at low concentrations, induces neurodegenerative damage, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The specific underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that mA methylation alteration is involved in cobalt-induced neurodegenerative damage, such as in AD.

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Cobalt is the most widely used heavy metal pollutant in medicine and industry. Excessive cobalt exposure can adversely affect human health. Neurodegenerative symptoms have been observed in cobalt-exposed populations; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.

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Paraquat (PQ) has been widely acknowledged as an environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the interaction between splicing factor and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the process of PQ-induced PD has rarely been studied. Based on previous research, this study focused on splicing factor 3 subunit 3 (SF3B3) and lncRNA NR_030777.

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Exposure to cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, while the mitochondrial-associated mechanisms that mediate their neurotoxicity have yet to be fully characterized. In this study, we reported that CoNPs exposure reduced the survival and lifespan in the nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans).

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Cobalt is an environmental toxicant, and excessive bodily exposure can damage the nervous system. Particularly, our previous study reported that low-dose cobalt (significantly less than the safety threshold) is still able to induce neurodegenerative changes. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still insufficient revealed.

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To illustrate the effects of long-term straw returning on the fungal community, soil enzyme activity, and crop yield in a fluvo-aquic soil area typical of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, a 10-year field experiment (established in 2010) located in Dezhou City, Shandong province, was performed, including three fertilization regimes (NF, no fertilization control; NPK, fertilization with chemical N, P, and K fertilizers; NPKS, straw returning combined with chemical N, P, and K fertilizers). This study aimed to explore the regulation mechanisms of fungal communities on soil fertility, enzyme activities, and crop yield by employing co-occurrence network and structural equation model analyses. Our results showed that long-term straw returning significantly improved soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and wheat yield.

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Nanomaterials are broadly used in a variety of industries and consumer products. However, studies have demonstrated that many nanomaterials, including metal-containing nanoparticles and nanoplastics, have neurotoxic effects. Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

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Article Synopsis
  • - L-tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid important for various metabolic functions and can help diagnose metabolic disorders.
  • - A new sensor using 3D peony-like bimetallic conductive MOFs (Co-Ni-MOFs) was developed for accurate electrochemical detection of Trp, showing excellent performance due to the combination of nickel and cobalt ions.
  • - The sensor offers a wide detection range and low limits for Trp levels, demonstrating high selectivity and stability, and has successfully measured Trp levels in mouse plasma after cadmium exposure.
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Natural products are small molecules naturally produced by multiple sources such as plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and archaea. They exert both beneficial and detrimental effects by modulating biological targets and pathways involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant response. Natural products' oxidative or antioxidative properties are usually investigated in preclinical experimental models, including virtual computing simulations, cell and tissue cultures, rodent and nonhuman primate animal models, and human studies.

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Paraquat (PQ) is a ubiquitously applied herbicide. Long-term PQ exposure with low dose has been reported to induce abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in brain nerve cells, which could further lead to Parkinson's disease (PD). N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification has recently been identified as having an important role in regulating the function of lncRNAs.

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