Publications by authors named "Ke An"

Article Synopsis
  • The switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis is essential for activating microglia, particularly in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD).
  • Recent research shows that inhibiting glycolysis can reduce inflammation and protect dopaminergic neurons in PD mice by decreasing lactate levels.
  • The study identifies a significant role of histone lactylation, specifically H3K9, in promoting microglial activation, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for managing neuroinflammation in PD.
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  • Iron alloys, particularly steels and magnetic materials, are crucial in various industries but struggle with high thermal expansion, limiting their precision applications.
  • A new strategy has been developed to embed a nano-scale negative thermal expansion (NTE) phase within the iron matrix, effectively reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of an example alloy (Fe-Zr10-Nb6) to about half of standard iron.
  • This alloy demonstrates impressive mechanical properties, achieving 1.5 GPa compressive strength and 17.5% ultimate strain, while the NTE phase helps counterbalance the thermal expansion, indicating a promising method for creating low thermal expansion iron alloys with enhanced performance.
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  • Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) play a crucial role in the development of gastric cancer, but their clinical relevance is not fully understood due to technological limitations.
  • The study uses advanced methods like single-cell transcriptomics and artificial neural networks to analyze GCSCs and develop a new prognostic model based on their characteristics.
  • Findings reveal a specific stem-like tumor population linked to poor patient outcomes and suggest that these cells could be targeted for immunotherapy.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the primary forms of liver cancer and is currently the sixth most prevalent malignancy worldwide. In addition to surgical interventions, effective drug treatment is essential for treating HCC. With an increasing number of therapeutic drugs for liver cancer undergoing clinical studies, the therapeutic strategies for advanced HCC are more diverse than ever, leading to improved prospects for HCC patients.

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  • * A new strategy enhances the thermal conductivity and machinability of negative thermal expansion alloy (Zr,Nb)Fe by incorporating eutectic copper networks, resulting in over 200% increased thermal conductivity and improved mechanical strength.
  • * The addition of copper modifies the (Zr,Nb)Fe composition, leading to better thermal management and stability across a wider temperature range, while also improving bonding and stress handling capabilities of the alloy.
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Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a crucial endogenous gasotransmitter that plays a role in various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, accurate and rapid monitoring of HS in organisms is highly significant for understanding the underlying pathological mechanisms and facilitating early diagnosis of related diseases. In this study, we developed a novel fluorescent probe, B-CHO-NO, based on a bodipy fluorophore, which exhibits excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards HS.

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The G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a pivotal role in numerous biological processes as crucial cell membrane receptors. However, the dynamic mechanisms underlying the activation of GPR183, a specific GPCR, remain largely elusive. To address this, we employed computational simulation techniques to elucidate the activation process and key events associated with GPR183, including conformational changes from inactive to active state, binding interactions with the G protein complex, and GDP release.

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  • Scientists studied a protein called NSUN2 that is important for adding a chemical tag (mC) to RNA, which is linked to breast cancer development.
  • They discovered that NSUN2 affects a gene called HGH1, which helps cancer grow, by changing the way the gene works and interacts with proteins.
  • Their research showed that blocking NSUN2 can slow down breast cancer growth, highlighting its role in this disease.
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Homomeric dimerization of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) is essential for the modulation of their functions and represents a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to address central nervous system diseases. Yet, the scarcity of detailed molecular and energetic data on mGlu2 impedes our in-depth comprehension of their activation process. Here, we employ computational simulation methods to elucidate the activation process and key events associated with the mGlu2, including a detailed analysis of its conformational transitions, the binding of agonists, G protein coupling, and the guanosine diphosphate (GDP) release.

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Lysosomes, as crucial acidic organelles in cells, play a significant role in cellular functions. The levels and distribution of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) within lysosomes can profoundly impact their biological functionality. Hence, real-time monitoring of the concentration of HOCl in lysosomes holds paramount importance for further understanding various physiological and pathological processes associated with lysosomes.

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Craniomaxillofacial development involves a series of highly ordered temporal-spatial cellular differentiation processes in which a variety of cell signaling factors, such as fibroblast growth factors, play important regulatory roles. As a classic fibroblast growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) serves a wide range of regulatory functions. Previous studies have demonstrated that FGF7 regulates the proliferation and migration of epithelial cells, protects them, and promotes their repair.

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Background: Uterus transplantation (UTx) is an emerging treatment for uterine factor infertility. Determining the maximum tolerable cold ischemia time is crucial for successful UTx. However, the limit for cold ischemia in the uterus is unclear.

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Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) alloys with high mechanical response are crucial for their practical usage. Yet, unifying the ZTE behavior and mechanical response in one material is a grand obstacle, especially in multicomponent ZTE alloys. Herein, we report a near isotropic zero thermal expansion (α = 1.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A systematic analysis revealed that these mutations improve the spike protein's binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor, explaining omicron's heightened transmissibility, supported by structural and energy correlation studies.
  • * The research categorized mutations, assessed their effects on neutralizing antibodies, and established a framework for analyzing future variants, combining theoretical insights with experimental findings for greater understanding.
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[Latest Findings on Ferroptosis and Osteoarthropathy].

Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban

November 2023

Ferroptosis, a newly-discovered mode of programmed cell death, is closely associated with the development of various diseases throughout the human body, such as tumors of the digestive system, ischemia-reperfusion injury, osteoarthropathy, etc. Therefore, ferroptosis has become a hot research topic in many fields of study in recent years, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of relevant diseases. Among them, structural lesions in osteoarthropathies involving articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovial tissue have been found to be associated with iron overload, as well as oxidative stress, which suggests that inhibition of ferroptosis in relevant joint tissue cells may have a positive effect in halting the development of osteoarthropathy.

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  • Adjuvant chemotherapy is a common treatment for Stage II/III colorectal cancer, but determining which patients need it based on recurrence risk is complicated due to limitations in the traditional staging system.
  • Researchers analyzed genetic factors related to recurrence risk by studying the whole-exome sequencing of 47 Stage II/III CRC patients, finding critical mutations that help predict outcomes.
  • The G8plus score, developed from specific gene mutations and tumor characteristics, showed high accuracy in predicting recurrence risk and can aid in selecting patients for chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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  • CCL5 is linked to the progression of Parkinson's disease by promoting Th17 cell differentiation and increasing their infiltration into the substantia nigra (SN), which is critical for dopamine neuron survival.
  • The study shows that CCL5 enhances LFA-1 expression on Th17 cells and that this process is mediated by activating tyrosine kinases LCK and ZAP70 in naive CD4 T cells.
  • Inhibiting these kinases significantly reduces Th17 cell numbers and LFA-1 expression, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for mitigating dopamine neuron loss in Parkinson's disease.
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Background: Identifying effective immunosuppressive strategies is critical for addressing immunological rejection following organ transplantation. This study explores the potential immunosuppressive effects and mechanisms of temsirolimus, a rapamycin derivative, in organ transplantation.

Methods: A mouse cardiac allograft model was established using a cervical cannula technique with BALB/c donors and C57BL/6 recipients.

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Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine and reproductive disorder, lacks precise diagnostic strategies. Necroptosis was found to be crucial in reproductive and endocrine disorders, but its function in PCOS remains unclear. We aimed to identify differentially diagnostic genes for necroptosis (NDDGs), construct a diagnostic model to assess the progression of PCOS and explore the potential therapeutic drugs.

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Coarse-grained materials are widely accepted to display the highest strain hardening and the best tensile ductility. We experimentally report an attractive strain hardening rate throughout the deformation stage at 77 kelvin in a stable single-phase alloy with gradient dislocation cells that even surpasses its coarse-grained counterparts. Contrary to conventional understanding, the exceptional strain hardening arises from a distinctive dynamic structural refinement mechanism facilitated by the emission and motion of massive multiorientational tiny stacking faults (planar defects), which are fundamentally distinct from the traditional linear dislocation-mediated deformation.

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Purpose: Patients with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) need to be placed in Trendelenburg position, which results in cranial displacement of the diaphragm and decreases functional residual capacity and pulmonary compliance. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can increase ventilation in the dorsal area, reduce the occurrence of atelectasis and improve oxygenation. However, due to individual differences, inappropriate PEEP will cause lung injury and even hemodynamic instability.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Eight patients were treated using a combination of internal pudendal artery perforator (IPAP) flaps and inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) flaps, with no functional limitations observed during a 6-month follow-up.
  • * The findings suggest that this method of using multiple perforator flaps is a viable option for repairing deep perineal defects following rectal cancer surgery.
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  • Colon cancer is a major global health issue, requiring more research into its underlying molecular mechanisms and potential biomarkers like E2F3, which acts as an oncogene in various cancers.
  • The study investigated the role of E2F3 in colon cancer using various assays to assess self-renewal, tumorigenic ability, protein expression, and response to drugs, ultimately finding that E2F3 is highly expressed in colon cancer.
  • Results indicated that E2F3 enhances stemness, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells by affecting the STAT3 pathway, suggesting it could serve as a valuable biomarker for future cancer treatments.
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