Publications by authors named "Nana Zheng"

A lipophilic piceid lipoate (PIL) was synthesized by enzymatic method to enhance the antioxidant activity of piceid and improve its state in oil system. The highest substrate conversion of 93.71 % was obtained in γ-valerolactone using Novozym 435 as a catalyst, with a piceid/lipoic acid ratio of 1:15 (mM/mM), an enzyme dosage of 40 mg/mL, and 4 Å molecular sieves at 400 mg/mL.

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Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and the pathogenesis of acne induced by Cutibacterium acnes (C.acnes) is not well understood. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have attracted much attention because of its involvement in various diseases.

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Background: The treatment of acne vulgaris is often challenging due to the antibiotic resistance frequently observed in Cutibacterium acnes (C.acnes), a prevalent bacterium linked to this condition.

Objective: The objective of this research was to examine the impact of curcumin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the survival of C.

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Introduction: CircRNAs are closely related to many human diseases; however, their role in acne remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the role of hsa_circ_0102678 in regulating inflammation of acne.

Methods: First, microarray analysis was performed to study the expression of circRNAs in acne.

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Aspergillus fumigatus biofilm development results in enhanced pathogenicity and treatment resistance. Most contemporary antibiotics, however, are unable to eliminate biofilms. In recent years, with the application of new photosensitizers and the development of treatment, ALA-PDT (5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic treatment) has achieved remarkable curative effect in the treatment of fungal infectious diseases; however, no research has been conducted on ALA-PDT against A.

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3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is considered as master kinase regulating AGC kinase family members such as AKT, SGK, PLK, S6K and RSK. Although autophosphorylation regulates PDK1 activity, accumulating evidence suggests that PDK1 is manipulated by many other mechanisms, including S6K-mediated phosphorylation, and the E3 ligase SPOP-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. Dysregulation of these upstream regulators or downstream signals involves in cancer development, as PDK1 regulating cell growth, metastasis, invasion, apoptosis and survival time.

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Background: Retinoic acid (RA) plays important role in the maintenance and differentiation of the Müllerian ducts during the embryonic stage via RA receptors (RARs). However, the function and mechanism of RA-RAR signaling in the vaginal opening are unknown.

Method: We used the Rarα knockout mouse model and the wild-type ovariectomized mouse models with subcutaneous injection of RA (2.

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Porcine spermatozoa are stored in the oviductal isthmus after natural mating, and the number of spermatozoa is increased in the oviductal ampulla when the mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) are transferred into the ampulla. However, the mechanism is unclear. Herein, natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) was mainly expressed in porcine ampullary epithelial cells, whereas its cognate receptor natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) was located on the neck and the midpiece of porcine spermatozoa.

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Article Synopsis
  • There is increasing research on how the timing of daily activities can enhance health, particularly regarding physical activity's impact on mortality rates.
  • A study with over 92,000 UK Biobank participants found that engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at any time reduces risks of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer-related deaths.
  • Participants who did MVPA in the midday-afternoon range (11:00-17:00) had lower mortality risks compared to those who exercised in the morning or evening, especially among older adults and those with preexisting health conditions.
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Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening infection of soft tissue characterised by rapid and extensive destruction of the skin, subcutaneous fat, and fascia. Early diagnosis of NF is challenging, and it can be very difficult to distinguish NF from other infectious diseases of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Imaging studies and laboratory investigations are crucial diagnostic means for NF.

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Background: Curcumin has been employed as a photosensitizer agent during photodynamic therapy (PDT). Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) can cause an inflammatory response in human keratinocytes; however, no research has been conducted to determine whether curcumin and its photodynamic properties can prevent this inflammatory reaction.

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Aspergillus spp. is the most common clinical pathogen of invasive fungal infection with high mortality. Existing treatments for Aspergillus spp.

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In mammals, dormant primordial follicles represent the ovarian reserve throughout reproductive life. In vitro activation of dormant primordial follicles has been used to treat patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, there remains a lack of effective strategies to stimulate follicle activation in vivo.

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In mammals, nonrenewable primordial follicles are activated in an orderly manner to maintain the longevity of reproductive life. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-KIT ligand (KITL) signaling in pre-granulosa cells and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)-forkhead Box O3a (FOXO3a) signaling in oocytes are important for primordial follicle activation. The activation process is accompanied by the enhancement of energy metabolism, but the causal relationship is unclear.

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Background: 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) acts as a master kinase of protein kinase A, G, and C family (AGC) kinase to predominantly govern cell survival, proliferation, and metabolic homeostasis. Although the regulations to PDK1 downstream substrates such as protein kinase B (AKT) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta (S6K) have been well established, the upstream regulators of PDK1, especially its degrader, has not been defined yet.

Method: A clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based E3 ligase screening approach was employed to identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase for degrading PDK1.

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Copper plays pivotal roles in metabolic homoeostasis, but its potential role in human tumorigenesis is not well defined. Here, it is revealed that copper activates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (PKB, also termed AKT) oncogenic signaling pathway to facilitate tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, copper binds 3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), in turn promotes PDK1 binding and subsequently activates its downstream substrate AKT to facilitate tumorigenesis.

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In mammals, progressive activation of primordial follicles is essential for maintenance of the reproductive lifespan. Several reports have demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein kinases 3 and 1 (MAPK3/1)-mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling in pre-granulosa cells promotes primordial follicle activation by increasing KIT ligand (KITL) expression and then stimulating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase signaling in oocytes. However, the mechanism of mTORC1 signaling in the promotion of KITL expression is unclear.

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EZH2, a histone methylase, plays a critical role in the tumor progression via regulation of progenitor genes. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of EZH2 in cancer malignant progression remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how EZH2 is regulated in human cancer.

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Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a well-established clinical problem with potential severe personal and socioeconomic implications. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) gene, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis, has been strongly implicated to be associated with neuropathic pain in previous animal and human studies. The rs3783641 (T > A) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the GCH1 gene is functional.

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Aberrant activation of AKT disturbs the proliferation, survival and metabolic homeostasis of various human cancers. Thus, it is critical to understand the upstream signalling pathways governing AKT activation. Here, we report that AKT undergoes SETDB1-mediated lysine methylation to promote its activation, which is antagonized by the Jumonji-family demethylase KDM4B.

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Rottlerin as a natural agent, which is isolated from Mallotus philippinensis, has been identified to play a critical role in tumor inhibition. However, the molecular mechanism of rottlerin-mediated anti-tumor activity is still ambiguous. It has been reported that EZH2 exhibits oncogenic functions in a variety of human cancers.

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Recent studies have revealed that rottlerin is a natural chemical drug to exert its anti-cancer activity. However, the molecular mechanisms of rottlerin-induced tumor suppressive function have not been fully elucidated. Notch signaling pathway has been characterized to play a crucial role in tumorigenesis.

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