Publications by authors named "Mengru Zhu"

Neuropathic pain is a worldwide problem that causes physical and psychological pain to many patients. 3-acetylaconitine (AAC) is a kind of non-narcotic analgesic with long-lasting action, non-tolerant and non-addiction. However, it has some cardiac toxicity and can easily cause toxic organ damage.

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Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone mineral density and a heightened risk of fractures. Therapies for OP have primarily focused on balancing bone formation and bone resorption, but enhancing the remineralization of osteoporotic bone is also a key strategy for effective repair. Recent insights into biomineralization mechanisms have highlighted the essential role of mineral-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by osteoblasts in promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (BMSC) differentiation and initiating matrix mineralization.

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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry a variety of bioactive molecules and are becoming a promising alternative to cell therapy. Scale-up EV isolation is necessary for their functional studies and biological applications, while the traditional methods are challenged by low throughput, low yield, and potential damage. Herein, we developed an ion osmolarity-driven sequential concentration-enrichment strategy (IOSCE) for the EV isolation.

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3-Acetylaconitine (AAC) is a natural compound with strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, but the severely narrow safety range limited its clinical application. Two dissolvable microneedle (MN) systems, AAC-ORP-MN and AAC-MN, loaded with AAC liposomes (AAC-Lips) either mixed with or without Ostrea rivularis polysaccharide (ORP) were developed. The size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of AAC-Lips were 112.

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Background: Increasing evidence suggests a potential causal association between lipid levels and facial aging. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of specific lipids and facial aging via Mendelian randomization methods. Additionally, this study aimed to identify mediators and explore relevant genes and drug targets.

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Patients with diabetes often experience fragile fractures despite normal or higher bone mineral density (BMD), a phenomenon termed the diabetic bone paradox (DBP). The pathogenesis and therapeutics opinions for diabetic bone disease (DBD) are not fully explored. In this study, we utilize two preclinical diabetic models, the leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice (DB) mouse model and the streptozotocin-induced diabetes (STZ) mouse model.

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Scar tissue is the inevitable result of repairing human skin after it has been subjected to external destructive stimuli. It leads to localized damage to the appearance of the skin, accompanied by symptoms such as itching and pain, which reduces the quality of life of the patient and causes serious medical burdens. With the continuous development of economy and society, there is an increasing demand for beauty.

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The role of neutrophils in tumor initiation stage is rarely reported because of the lack of suitable models. We found that neutrophils recruited in early tumor nodules induced by subcutaneous inoculation of B16 melanoma cells were able to attack tumor cells by trogocytosis. The anti-tumor immunotherapy like peritoneal injection with TLR9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide combined with transforming growth factor β2 inhibitor TIO3 could increase the trogocytic neutrophils in the nodules, as well as CD8 T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and their interferon-γ production.

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Ubiquitination of the proteins is crucial for governing protein degradation and regulating fundamental cellular processes. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) have emerged as significant regulators of multiple pathways associated with cancer and other diseases, owing to their capacity to remove ubiquitin from target substrates and modulate signaling. Consequently, they represent potential therapeutic targets for cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

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In view of the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disturb the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), the repair of diabetic bone defects remains a great challenge. Herein, a factor-free hydrogel is reported with ROS scavenging and responsive degradation properties for enhanced diabetic bone healing. These hydrogels contain ROS-cleavable thioketal (TK) linkers and ultraviolet (UV)-responsive norbornene (NB) groups conjugated with 8-arm PEG macromers, which are formed via UV crosslinking-mediated gelation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Neutrophils can have both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects, but this study specifically investigates their role during the early stages of tumor formation.
  • Researchers discovered a subcutaneous tumor nodule in mice within 24 hours of tumor cell inoculation, which was populated by neutrophils, particularly those expressing the sTLR9 protein.
  • As tumors progressed, the percentage of sTLR9 neutrophils increased significantly, and reducing sTLR9 expression using a specific treatment led to a more favorable anti-tumor environment, highlighting the importance of sTLR9 neutrophils in early tumor development.
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Due to the specific structure of natural bone, most of the therapeutics are incapable to be delivered into the targeted site with effective concentrations. Nanotechnology has provided a good way to improve this issue, cell membrane mimetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been emerging as an ideal nanomaterial which integrates the advantages of natural cell membranes with synthetic NPs to significantly improve the biocompatibility as well as achieving long-lasting circulation and targeted delivery. In addition, functionalized modifications of the cell membrane facilitate more precise targeting and therapy.

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Hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (HPND) is a highly lethal disease that first emerged in 2015 in Jiangsu Province, China. So far, most researchers believe that this disease is caused by abiotic factors. However, its true pathogenic mechanism remains unknown.

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Atg14 (autophagy-related gene 14), also known as Atg14L or Barkor (Beclin-1 associated autophagy-related key regulator), plays an important role in a variety of biological processes including immunity, development, tumor inhibition, longevity, and protection against some cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases. However, very few studies have characterized Atg14 expression in invertebrates, particularly crustaceans. Here, a novel Atg14 gene from Procambarus clarkii (named PcAtg14) was characterized via RACE technology.

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Hepatopancreas necrosis disease (HPND) is a highly fatal disease that first appeared in Jiangsu Province, China, in 2015, and later spread to many other provinces, which had a severe impact on the culture of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Here, changes in the intestinal flora of healthy and HPND-affected Chinese mitten crabs were compared via 16S rRNA sequencing. Our findings indicated that Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria were the three dominant phyla in both healthy and HPND-affected crabs and exhibited no significant differences in α-diversity (richness p = 0.

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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of polysaccharides from Ostrea rivularis (ORP) relieving reproductive damage by regulating autophagy. The results showed that ORP intervention could alleviate the pathological changes of the testis and alleviate oxidative stress which were caused by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in vivo, including improve sperm symptoms and rise testosterone level. Reduced level of autophagy after ORP intervention was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which implied that ORP might regulate cell autophagy.

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Correction for 'Fucoidans from ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway' by Zhuoyue Song , , 2022, , 1168-1179, DOI: 10.1039/D1FO03067A.

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The effects of polysaccharides (CFPs) on renal interstitial fibrosis by regulating the phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxykinase/protein kinase-B/nuclear factor-κB (PI3K/AKT/NF-κB) signaling pathway were investigated and in this research. The common unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO) model was used to examine the renoprotective effect and its mechanism . Compared to the UUO group, CFP administration could ameliorate renal function, inhibit inflammation and fibrosis, and reduce the deposition of the extracellular matrix and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

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Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is strictly regulated by a series of related genes and is of great importance in resisting pathogen invasion and maintaining cell environment homeostasis. Among apoptotic proteins, the voltage-dependent anion channel protein (VDAC) plays a key role in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway because of its close connection with changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. However, the role of VDAC in apoptosis and immune regulation in Procambarus clarkii is poorly understood.

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Trichlorphon, a common organophosphorus pesticide (OPs), is widely used in aquaculture to prevent aquatic insects from infecting cultured objects as well as to control the excessive proliferation of plankton in water bodies. However, its repeated use time can contaminate water bodies and impart direct/indirect toxicity to beneficial aquatic species. However, the underlying mechanism regarding toxicity and cellular metabolism remains unclear.

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The peak period of morbidity and death in cultured Procambarus clarkii is around May each year and is called the "Black May" disease. The pathogen causing "Black May" disease is believed to be a white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In 2018, a significant number of P.

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Exosomes exhibit great therapeutic potential in bone tissue engineering. The study aimed to investigate whether the exosomes derived from human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs-Exos) during different time-span of osteogenic differentiation could promote osteogenesis. The appropriate concentrations of hADSCs-Exos to enhance the proliferation, migration and osteogenesis of hADSCs-Exos were also examined.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how neuropeptides and their GPCRs influence crustacean physiological responses, focusing on the oriental river prawn's eyestalk transcriptome.
  • A total of 162,250 unigenes were assembled, revealing 1,392 and 1,409 genes that were differentially expressed in response to low and high salinity, respectively.
  • The research identified 148 GPCR-encoding transcripts, validating the expression of seven neuropeptides and one GPCR, contributing to a greater understanding of neural signaling related to salinity acclimation in crustaceans.
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(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most widely studied catechin in green tea and has been identified to regulate immune function. The objective of the present study was to explore the possible application of EGCG in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by examining its effects on the peripheral immune system in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‑induced PD mouse model. The results demonstrated that EGCG treatment restored the movement behavior of the mice impaired by MPTP, and protected tyrosine hydroxylase‑positive cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta region from MPTP toxicity.

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