Publications by authors named "Hao Zhen"

Article Synopsis
  • - Vitamin D may positively influence lipid levels and hormone balance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), even though previous studies showed mixed results.
  • - An umbrella meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials indicated that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, testosterone, and DHEA.
  • - Despite these benefits, the analysis found no significant effects of vitamin D on HDL cholesterol, insulin levels, or body mass index (BMI) in PCOS patients.
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Introduction: The Septin family of cytoskeletal proteins is abundant in platelets. When these proteins are functionally blocked using the compound forchlorfenuron (FCF), it hampers the normal activation processes of purified human platelets.

Objectives: To evaluate the in vivo effects of FCF on physiological haemostasis and pathological thrombosis in mice and to investigate possible molecular mechanisms.

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Obesity and related comorbidities have negative impacts on cognitive function. Weight loss seems to be associated with the improvement of cognitive function and the recovery of brain structure, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the status of cognitive function including memory, executive function, attention and language ability in patients with obesity, and to further investigate whether bariatric surgery can improve overall cognitive function in these patients.

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A series of Ru-Sn/γ-AlO catalysts were prepared by the immersion method for tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dione (TMCB) hydrogenation to prepare 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (CBDO). The effect of the preparation method and reaction technology on TMCB hydrogenation activity was discussed. The catalysts were analyzed by means of XRD, BET, H-TPR, XPS, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and it was found that the synthesized Ru was distributed on the surface of the carrier in the form of nanoparticles, showing a good catalytic effect.

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Background: DNA methylation plays an important role in life processes by affecting gene expression, but it is still unclear how DNA methylation is controlled and how it regulates gene transcription under high temperature stress conditions in Strongylocentrotus intermedius. The potential link between DNA methylation variation and gene expression changes in response to heat stress in S. intermedius was investigated by MethylRAD-seq and RNA-seq analysis.

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Background: HIV-infected individuals are known to be at higher risk for thrombotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may also be differentially affected by components of anti-HIV drugs. To identify the effects of a series of FDA-approved anti-HIV drugs on platelet aggregation in humans, focusing on the novel pharmacological effects of rilpivirine (RPV), a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, on platelet function both in vitro and in vivo and the mechanisms involved.

Methods And Results: In vitro studies showed that RPV was the only anti-HIV reagent that consistently and efficiently inhibited aggregation elicited by different agonists, exocytosis, morphological extension on fibrinogen, and clot retraction.

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The asymmetric total synthesis of vinorine, a polycyclic and cage-like alkaloid, has been realized in a flexible approach. Key features of the current synthesis include an aza-Achmatowicz rearrangement/Mannich-type cyclization to install the highly functional 9-azabicyclo-[3.3.

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Kopsia alkaloids represent a complex class of natural products bearing a polycyclic ring system with two or three consecutive quaternary carbon centers. In this article, we report the first total synthesis of Kopsaporine related alkaloids. Features of our structure-unit-based strategy are an intramolecular Pummerer rearrangement induced nucleophilic cyclization/aza-Prins cyclization to construct the highly functional hexahydrocarbazole skeleton, an olefin migration vinylogous alkylation to establish the C20 all-carbon quaternary center, an iridium complex mediated radical addition to fuse the aspidofractine framework, an unprecedented IBX oxidation to introduce the α-hydroxyketone moiety, and a bioinspired retro-Aldol/Aldol reaction to convert kopsaporine to kopsiloscine A.

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Nanoplastics (NPs) are abundant and widespread throughout the ocean, not only causing severe environmental pollution, but also worsening the aquatic organisms. To elucidate the mechanism of biological toxic effects underlying the responses of marine invertebrates to NPs, Strongylocentrotus intermedius was stressed with three different NPs concentrations (0 particles/L, 10 particles/L and 10 particles/L). Specific growth rates, enzyme activity, gut tissue section observation and structural characteristics of the gut bacterial community were analyzed.

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Brevilin A (BA), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from herb, has been identified to exhibit potent anticancer activity. However, the potential pharmacological effect and mechanism of BA in regulating endothelial cell (EC) angiogenesis, a key event in tumor growth, is poorly understood. In this study, BA was shown to significantly prevent vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced EC angiogenic capacities , and .

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This paper aims to examine the nexus among carbon dioxide (CO) emissions, urbanization level and industrial structure in North China over the period 2004-2019, according to an expanded Cobb-Douglas production function. The panel econometric techniques are employed to complete the empirical analysis, including cross-sectional correlation test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, and panel Granger causality test. The empirical results support the long-term equilibrium relationship among CO emissions, urbanization level and industrial structure in North China, and the urbanization level contributes most to CO emissions, followed by fossil energy consumption.

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miRNA-223 has been previously reported to play an essential role in hepatic cholesterol homeostasis. However, its role in regulation of biliary cholesterol secretion and gallstone formation remains unknown. Hence, mice with conventional knockout (KO), hepatocyte-specific knockout (ΔHepa) / knockdown (KD) or gain expression of miRNA-223 were included in the study and were subjected to lithogenic diet (LD) for various weeks.

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We report the achievement of continuous-wave (CW)-pumped second-harmonic generation (SHG) and sum frequency generation (SFG) in a layered indium selenide (InSe)-integrated microfiber. As a result of the strong interaction between the InSe nanosheets and the evanescent field, the second-order nonlinear processes are greatly enhanced in the InSe-integrated microfiber pumped by a few milliwatt CW lasers. The experimental results reveal that the intensities of SHG and SFG are quadratic and linear dependencies with the incident pump power, respectively, which is consistent with theoretical predictions.

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Background: To evaluate the bioequivalence between test and reference formulations of perindopril tert-butylamine under fasting and fed conditions and to assess their pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety profiles.

Method: A randomized, open-label, single-dose, crossover trial was conducted in healthy Chinese subjects. Test or reference perindopril tert-butylamine tablets (4 mg) were randomly given to subjects under fasting (2-period crossover, with an administration sequence of test tablet (T), reference tablet (R) or RT) and fed (4-period crossover, with an administration sequence of TRTR or RTRT) conditions, while each single administration was followed by a 14-day washout period.

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Background: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of needle-knife fistulotomy (NKF) to that of conventional cannulation methods (CCMs) when used for primary biliary access in patients with duodenal papillary tumors.

Methods: Consecutive patients who had duodenal papillary tumors and who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were retrospectively enrolled. Successful cannulation rates, cannulation and procedure times, and the prevalence of adverse events were compared between the NKF and CCM groups.

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Addressing pancreaticobiliary disorders concomitant with gastroesophageal varices remains challenging. The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with gastroesophageal varices.We retrospectively analyzed the data of consecutive patients with gastroesophageal varices who underwent ERCP.

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Formaldehyde (FA), as one of the simplest reactive carbonyl species (RCS), is widely known as an environmental toxin and carcinogen. In this work, a new ZIF-90 type material (ZIF-90-LW) was synthesized and investigated, which combines the two strategies of "2-aza-Cope rearrangement" and "MOF structure", by the combination of a pre-functionalized 2-allylaminoimidazole ligand and Zn salt under solvothermal conditions. From this, the hurdle of selectivity over other carbonyl compounds (RCS) could be overcome despite their similar electrophilic reactivities to FA, and a prominent fluorescence turn-on type signal was realized through the 2-aza-Cope rearrangement mechanism.

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The centrosymmetric nature of silica fibre precludes the realisation of second-order nonlinear processes in optical fibre systems. Recently, the integration of 2D materials with optical fibres has opened up a great opportunity to develop all-fibre active devices. Here, we demonstrate high-efficiency second-order nonlinear frequency conversions in an optical microfibre assisted with few-layer gallium selenide (GaSe) nanoflakes.

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It remains challenging for endoscopists to manage pancreaticobiliary diseases in patients with ectopic papilla of Vater by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ERCP for this issue.Consecutive patients with ectopic papilla of Vater who underwent initial ERCP due to pancreaticobiliary diseases were retrospectively analyzed.

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Toxoplasma gondii infects almost all the warm-blooded animals. ROP20 protein is expressed in the rhoptry of Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, the secondary structure of ROP20 was analyzed using SMART software.

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Bacterial interactions with animals and plants have been examined for over a century; by contrast, the study of bacterial-fungal interactions has received less attention. Bacteria interact with fungi in diverse ways, and endobacteria that reside inside fungal cells represent the most intimate interaction. The most significant bacterial endosymbionts that have been studied are associated with Mucoromycota and include two main groups: Burkholderia-related and Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE).

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Drawing on classic social identity theorizing (Tajfel, Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations, London, UK, Academic Press, 1978), we propose that low-status minority group members' self-efficacy and performance on intellectual tasks can be enhanced by prompting them to believe in a better future for their group (i.e., increasing awareness of cognitive alternatives to the existing low-status position).

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Genipin, an aglycon of geniposide, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect. However, the anti-inflammatory activity of genipin on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of genipin both in vivo and in vitro.

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Background: A widely prevalent disease, toxoplasmosis poses serious health threats to both humans and animals; therefore, development of an ideal DNA vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii is needed eagerly. The purpose of the present study is to assess the protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding the T. gondii toxofilin gene (pEGFP-toxofilin).

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