Publications by authors named "Keyun Zhang"

Objectives: This study aims to elucidate the role of circUSP9X (Circular RNA Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 9 X-Linked) in the development of venous thrombosis in the lower extremities.

Methods: An animal model of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and a hypoxic model of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) treated with Cobalt (II) Chloride (CoCl) were developed. The expression levels of circUSP9X, microRNA-148b-3p (miR-148b-3p), and SRC Kinase Signaling Inhibitor 1 (SRCIN1) were quantified using quantitative reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot analysis.

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Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint illness which leads to knee pain and functional limitation. In this study, we combined microfracture surgery with kartogenin (KGN), a small bioactive molecule used to promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and explored its impact on cartilage repair and possible latent mechanisms of action. The research offers a brand-new idea for the clinical cure of KOA.

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4‑Methoxydalbergione (4‑MD) can inhibit the progression of certain types of cancer; however, its effects on esophageal cancer (EC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of 4‑MD on EC and its molecular mechanism. ECA‑109 and KYSE‑105 cells were treated with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 4‑MD.

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A rhabditid entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), , has a stable symbiotic relationship with the bacterial strain S1 harbored in its intestines and drastically reduced viability when associated with a non-native strain (186) of the same bacterial species. This nematode is thus a good model for understanding the molecular mechanisms and interactions involved between a nematode host and a member of its intestinal microbiome. Transcriptome analysis and RNA-seq data indicated that expression levels of the majority (8797, 87.

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Objective: To investigate the clinical features and pathogenesis of progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) in children.

Methods: The clinical features and imaging findings of a child with POH are described, and family investigations and gene comparisons were performed, followed by a literature review.

Results: A 9-year-old female with no relevant family medical history initially presented with ectopic ossification of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the right face that developed slowly.

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Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) continue to be explored for their potential usefulness in biological control and pest management programs. As more insect-associated species of nematodes are discovered and described, it is possible that scavengers and kleptoparasites may be mischaracterized as EPNs. If a nematode species is truly an entomopathogen it should display similar infectivity, as well as behaviors and preferences, to those of established EPN species, such as Steinernema carpocapsae.

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The antigen-presenting ability of dendritic cells (DCs) plays an important and irreplaceable role in recognising and clearing viruses. Antiviral responses must rapidly defend against infection while minimising inflammatory damage, but the mechanisms that regulate the magnitude of response within an infected cell are not well understood. MicroRNAs (microRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, can regulate mouse or avian DCs to inhibit the infection and replication of avian influenza virus (AIV).

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Background: Avian infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a highly contagious, immunosuppressive disease of young chickens, which causes high mortality rates and large economic losses in the poultry industry. Dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells, have the unique ability to induce both innate and acquired immune responses and may significantly influence virus pathogenicity. To understand the interaction between IBDV and DCs, a microarray was used to analyse the response of DCs infected by IBDV.

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A new nematode species, Pristionchus entomophilus n. sp., was collected during a soil sample survey in Yixing of Jiangsu province, eastern China.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play pivotal roles in plant growth, development and stress response. Chromium (Cr) is one of common environmental contaminants possessing potential health hazards to living organisms. To date, little is known about the regulatory roles of miRNAs in response to Cr stress in radish.

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Cadmium (Cd) is a nonessential metallic trace element that poses potential chronic toxicity to living organisms. To date, little is known about the Cd-responsive regulatory network in root vegetable crops including radish. In this study, 31,015 unigenes representing 66,552 assembled unique transcripts were isolated from radish root under Cd stress based on de novo transcriptome assembly.

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Background: Salt stress is one of the most representative abiotic stresses that severely affect plant growth and development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well known for their significant involvement in plant responses to abiotic stresses. Although miRNAs implicated in salt stress response have been widely reported in numerous plant species, their regulatory roles in the adaptive response to salt stress in radish (Raphanus sativus L.

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Background: We report on two brothers with a distinct syndromic phenotype and explore the potential pathogenic cause.

Methods: Cytogenetic tests and exome sequencing were performed on the two brothers and their parents. Variants detected by exome sequencing were validated by Sanger sequencing.

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Five 4-arylcoumarins (1c-g) and twelve 3,4-dihydro-4-arylcoumarins (2a-l) were synthesized and tested for antioxidant activity, antitumor activity, toxicity and structure-activity relationships analysis. 4-Arylcoumarins and 3,4-dihydro-4-arylcoumarins that possess two hydroxyl groups in ortho position, such as 1d, 1f, 2a, 2f, 2g and 2h had stronger radical scavenging properties than that of vitamin C (Vit C) in ABTS(+) assay. Kinetic traces of scavenging ABTS(+) and DPPH radicals showed that all the reaction could reached endpoint in 1 min, which was similar with Vit C.

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Five novel antimicrobial peptides (temporin-LK1, rugosin-LK1, rugosin-LK2, gaegurin-LK1, and gaegurin-LK2) are purified and characterized from Kuhl's wart frog skin secretions, Limnonectes kuhlii. They share obvious similarity to temporin, rugosin, and gaegurin antimicrobial peptide family, respectively. Their amino acid sequences were determined by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry, and further confirmed by cDNA cloning.

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A novel cathelicidin-like antimicrobial peptide was identified by mining genome of panda. This peptide (cathelicidin-AM) was synthesized. It showed potential antimicrobial activities against wide spectrum of microorganisms including Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, and fungi.

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Two antimicrobial peptides (piceain 1 and 2) derived from sequences encoded Picea sitchensis are identified. Their amino acid sequences are KSLRPRCWIKIKFRCKSLKF and RPRCWIKIKFRCKSLKF, respectively. One intra-molecular disulfide bridge is formed by these two half-cysteines in both piceain 1 and 2.

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Two novel antimicrobial peptides with similarity to brevinin-2 family are purified and characterized from the skin secretions of the frog, Rana nigrovittata. Their amino acid sequences were determined as GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLSGTC (brevinin-2-RN1) and GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLFGTC (brevinin-2-RN2), respectively, by Edman degradation. Different from brevinin-2, which is composed of 33 amino acid residues (aa), both brevinin-2-RN1 and -RN2 contain 30 aa.

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Objective: To investigate the independent risk factors for cerebral infarction so as to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of cerebral infarction after total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 571 patients for hip arthroplasty was conducted from January 2003 to September 2008. Twenty-three patients were found with cerebral infarction postoperatively.

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Strain LXD30(T) was isolated from rhizosphere soil of a plant of the species Camptotheca acuminata Decne which is native to warm, humid stream banks in southern China. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium fell within the realm of the genus Rhizobium and was most closely related to Rhizobium huautlense SO2(T) (96.4% sequence similarity) and Rhizobium cellulosilyticum LMG 23642(T) (96.

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More than ten bradykinin-related peptides and their cDNAs have been identified from amphibians, but their genes are unknown. In present study, four cDNAs encoding one, two, four and six copies of bradykinin-related peptides were cloned from the frog (Odorrana grahami) skin cDNA library, respectively. Three bradykinin-related peptides (bradykinin, Thr6-bradykinin, Leu5Thr6-bradykinin) were deduced from these four cDNA sequences.

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A novel red-pigmented, Gram-negative, motile, fluorescent, rod-shaped strain, DZ0503SBS1(T), with a single lateral flagellum, was isolated from the intestine of the nematode Heterorhabditidoides chongmingensis. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strain is a member of the genus Serratia, sharing highest sequence similarities with Serratia marcescens subsp. sakuensis JCM 11315(T) (99.

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While investigating the innate defense of brackish water-living amphibian and its comparison with freshwater-living amphibians, two novel 12-residue antimicrobial peptides were purified from the skin secretions of the crab-eating frog, Fejervarya cancrivora which typically inhabits brackish water of mangrove forests of Southeast Asia. These two antimicrobial peptides, tigerinin-RC1 and -RC2 share significant structural similarity with tigerinins found in the skin of Indian frog, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus. cDNAs encoding tigerinin-RC1 and -RC2 were also cloned from the skin cDNA library of F.

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A novel Gram-positive, motile, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a saline soil in China was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain, designated YC1(T), was halotolerant [tolerating up to 15 % (w/v) NaCl] and alkaliphilic (growing at a broad pH range of 5-13). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Bacillus, showing highest similarity to Bacillus macauensis JCM 13285(T) (98.

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