Publications by authors named "Guang-hui Zhang"

Article Synopsis
  • - This study presents the first comprehensive genome assembly of a significant plant in traditional Chinese medicine, revealing its edible and medicinal traits while addressing the lack of genomic resources.
  • - The genome assembly is high-quality at 679.20 Mb, anchored to 8 pseudo-chromosomes with a 96.5% anchoring rate and demonstrates high completeness at 97.6%, indicating a well-structured genomic framework.
  • - The research highlights the evolutionary history of the plant, including its polyploidization and gene family expansions, providing critical insights for conservation and sustainable utilization of the species.
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Background: Hemsleya Chinensis is a perennial plant in the Cucurbitaceae family containing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds. The lack of genetic transformation systems makes it difficult to verify the functions of genes controlling important traits and conduct molecular breeding in H. chinensis.

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Oxidative stress (OS) is believed to be a significant factor in the decline of semen quality, with mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) serving as a sensitive biomarker for both semen quality and mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from oxidative stress. While glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are commonly known as 'antioxidant' enzymes, there is ongoing debate regarding the relationship between GST genotypes and semen quality. In a study involving 568 male volunteers from the outpatient department of Puyang Reproductive Medicine Center, sperm mtDNAcn, semen quality, and GSTM1/GSTT1 genotypes were analyzed to investigate the potential link between GSTM1/GSTT1 gene variations and semen quality, as well as the impact of GSTs gene variations on the connection between sperm mtDNAcn and semen quality.

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Background: It remains unclear which early gestational biomarkers can be used in predicting later development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We sought to identify the optimal combination of early gestational biomarkers in predicting GDM in machine learning (ML) models.

Methods: This was a nested case-control study including 100 pairs of GDM and euglycemic (control) pregnancies in the Early Life Plan cohort in Shanghai, China.

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Background: At present, several cross-sectional studies have found that exposure to metal/metalloid elements is closely associated with male reproduction. However, the long-term effects of metal exposure on male reproduction have not been explored.

Methods: In 2013, 796 volunteers were recruited, followed by first and second follow-ups in 2014 and 2015.

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and are important economic plants that utilize dried roots for medicinal and food dual purposes; there is still insufficient research of their stems and leaves, which also contain triterpenoid saponins. The extraction process was developed with a total saponin content of 12.30 ± 0.

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Objective: This study explores how permissive hypercapnia, a key aspect of lung-protective ventilation, impacts postoperative delirium in elderly patients following thoracic surgery. Methods: A single-center trial at The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University involved 136 elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic esophageal cancer resection. Randomly assigned to maintain PaCO 2 35-45 mm Hg (group N) or 46-55 mm Hg (group H).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Six different oxidosqualene cyclases (OSC1-OSC6) were studied for their role in creating various triterpene structures, including both tetracyclic and pentacyclic forms from two starting materials: 2,3-oxidosqualene and 2,3:22,23-dioxidosqualene.
  • - OSC1 was particularly effective at producing rare (20)-epimers of oxacyclic triterpenes, and a mutant version of OSC1 (F731G) significantly enhanced the production of these (20)-epimers compared to the normal OSC1.
  • - The study utilized homology modeling and molecular docking techniques to explain how the (20)-configuration develops during the epoxide
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A stable genetic transformation system for Erigeron breviscapus was developed. We cloned the EbYUC2 gene and genetically transformed it into Arabidopsis thaliana and E. breviscapus.

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The oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) generating triterpenoid skeletons in Cyclocarya paliurus were identified for the first time, and two uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyzing the glycosylation of flavonoids were characterized. Cyclocarya paliurus, a native rare dicotyledonous plant in China, contains an abundance of triterpenoid saponins and flavonoid glycosides that exhibit valuable pharmaceutical effects in preventing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism explaining the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponin and flavonoid glycoside in C.

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Bergenin is a typical carbon glycoside and the primary active ingredient in antitussive drugs widely prescribed for central cough inhibition in China. The bergenin extraction industry relies on the medicinal plant species and as their resources. However, the bergenin biosynthetic pathway in plants remains elusive.

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Early growth has long-lasting associations with adult metabolic health. However, the association of adiposity with cardiometabolic risk factors in toddlers remains poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the association of maternal prenatal factors and child adiposity with child cardiometabolic risk factors among boys and girls aged 2 years.

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is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese herbs. The main active ingredients, dammarane-type ginsenosides, show multiple pharmacological activities. Recently, the key UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) involved in the biosynthesis of common ginsenosides have been widely studied.

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Objective: To evaluate the value of high-resolution ultrasound the diagnosis and prognosis of cubital tunnel syndrome.

Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, 47 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were treated with ulnar nerve release and anterior subcutaneous transposition. There were 41 males and 6 females, aged from 27 to 73 years old.

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Aim: Adverse (poor or excessive) fetal growth "programs" an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been implicated in regulating insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism relevant to fetal growth. We sought to determine whether FABP4 is associated with poor or excessive fetal growth and fetal lipids.

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is a Chinese traditional medicinal plant, containing cucurbitacin IIa (CuIIa) and cucurbitacin IIb (CuIIb), both of which have a wide range of pharmacological effects, including antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, few studies have been explored on the key enzymes that are involved in cucurbitacins biosynthesis in . Oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) is a vital enzyme for cyclizing 2,3-oxidosqualene and its analogues.

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Background: The effects of metal exposure on semen quality and the role of oxidative damage in this process remain unclear.

Methods: We recruited 825 Chinese male volunteers, and 12 seminal metals (Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Ni, Cd, Pb, Co, Ag, Ba, Tl, and Fe), the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and reduced glutathione were measured. Semen parameters and GSTM1/GSTT1-null genotypes were also detected.

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Article Synopsis
  • Flavonoids in tea plants, particularly in purple tender shoots, contribute to the flavor and health benefits of tea, with higher anthocyanin levels compared to green leaves.
  • A study compared the flavonoid profiles and underlying mechanisms in two tea cultivars, "Zijuan" and "Yunkang10," revealing significant differences in 34 flavonoids and identifying key marker metabolites.
  • The research included metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses, establishing a model for flavonoid biosynthesis in tea shoots, highlighting specific enzymes linked to flavonoid differences between the cultivars.
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The genus is a valuable natural medicinal source used worldwide that contains high levels of triterpenoid saponins with extensive pharmacological activities. In past decades, molecular biotechnology and breeding techniques have been respectively used to generate omics data and information on cultivars primarily from (ginseng), (American ginseng), and (Sanqi) to biosynthesize valuable saponins, improve product quality, and conduct cost-controlled cultivation. Although much data have been produced, there are concerns that redundant data might be generated and that relatively scattered data might be overlooked.

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Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has been implicated in glucose homeostasis. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) enhances fetal insulin secretion and fetal growth. Girls weigh less and are more insulin resistant than boys at birth.

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Environmental exposure to metals, including essential and nonessential elements, may be related to semen quality. Our goal was to explore the continuous relationship between seminal metals and sperm parameters. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was applied to automatic selection criteria to ascertain the optimal smoothing degree.

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R2 R3-MYB transcription factors are ubiquitous in plants, playing a role in the regulation of plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism. In this paper, the R2 R3-MYB transcription factors were identified by bioinformatics analysis of the genomic data of Erigeron breviscapus, and their gene sequences, structures, physical and chemical properties were analyzed. The functions of R2 R3-MYB transcription factors were predicted by cluster analysis.

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Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been associated with insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) impairs fetal insulin sensitivity. Female newborns are more insulin resistant than male newborns.

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Background: Pyroptosis plays a dual role in the development of cancer and malignancy; as such, it may potentially be a new target for cancer treatment. However, the inflammatory response to pyroptosis may have adverse effects on the body. The roles of gasdermin E (GSDME), caspases, and related proteins associated with pyroptosis in cancer remain controversial.

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Objective: To determine the effect of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) as a biomarker of benzene exposure.

Methods: A total of 294 benzene-exposed workers and 102 controls were recruited. Biomarkers of mtDNAcn, cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) frequency, and peripheral blood white blood cells (WBC) were detected.

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