Publications by authors named "Peng-Cheng Xu"
Transcriptional responses of three slc39a/zip members (zip4, zip5 and zip9) and their roles in Zn metabolism in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).
Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech
December 2024
In order to explore the regulatory mechanism of zip4, zip5 and zip9 in zinc metabolism of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), the effects of zinc (Zn) on the mRNA expression of zip4, zip5 and zip9 were investigated. Compared to the control, the mRNA levels of zip4 and zip9 were significantly reduced under low and high zinc in L8824 cells; the mRNA expression level of zip5 was significantly increased under low and high zinc incubation. Then, their promoter sequences were cloned, which were 2361 bp, 2004 bp and 2186 bp sequences for zip4, zip5 and zip9 promoters, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCyclopropanes are not only privileged motifs in many natural products, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, but also highly versatile intermediates in synthetic chemistry. As such, great effort has been devoted to the cyclopropane construction. However, novel catalytic methods for cyclopropanation with two abundant substrates, mild conditions, high functional group tolerance, and broad scope are still highly desirable.
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- The study investigates the link between tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels and the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
- A meta-analysis of 32 studies showed that patients with high TIL levels had a significantly higher pathologic complete response (pCR) rate (48.0%) compared to those with low TIL levels (27.7%).
- The research suggests TILs could be a useful predictor for how well TNBC patients respond to NAT, with high TIL levels consistently linked to better treatment outcomes across different NAT protocols.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the causal link between gut microbiota and Behçet's disease (BD), using advanced statistical methods from large-scale genetic data.
- Results indicate that certain gut bacteria, like Parasutterella and Lachnospiraceae, may protect against BD, while Intestinibacter could increase risk.
- The findings suggest that specific gut microbiota could serve as biomarkers and potential treatment targets for managing BD.
An electrochemical method is presented to construct 1,3-oxazines by the oxidative ring-opening of cyclopropylamides with alcohols. This method avoids the use of external oxidants and thus shows good functional group tolerance. The substrate scope covers primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols as well as (hetero)aryl amide-substituted cyclopropanes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSREBPs, such as SREBP1 and SREBP2, were the key transcriptional factors regulating lipid metabolism. The processing of SREBPs involved many genes, such as scap, s1p, s2p, cideb. Here, we deciphered the full-length cDNA sequences of scap, srebp1, srebp2, s1p, s2p, cideb and cidec from yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco.
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- Iron is crucial for organisms, and the study investigated the roles and expressions of specific iron metabolism-related genes in yellow catfish to understand how these genes respond to various dietary iron sources.
- Researchers used advanced molecular techniques to analyze the cDNA sequences of fifteen genes, assess mRNA distribution in multiple tissues, and evaluate how different dietary iron sources influenced gene expression in key organs like the heart, brain, kidney, and gill.
- Findings revealed that certain iron sources, particularly Fe-Gly and FeONPs, resulted in higher iron levels in the fish, with notable differences in gene expression across tissues; however, the need for more biological replicates in future studies was highlighted.
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates the roles of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 in patients with MPO-ANCA-positive vasculitis, focusing on their potential impact on disease progression and severity.
- - Researchers assessed blood and urine levels of these proteins in 42 AAV patients and discovered that higher levels were linked to more severe disease compared to inactive AAV or healthy controls.
- - The findings suggest that S100A8/A9 and S100A12 could be important biomarkers for AAV and may contribute to the disease's development through specific pathways in activated neutrophils.
Article Synopsis
- Water spray facilities are used for both aesthetic and functional purposes in public places, but they may pose health risks due to water aerosols, particularly from Legionella pneumophila bacteria.
- This study utilized molecular sieve adsorption and discrete phase modeling to analyze the distribution of water aerosols, finding that droplet sizes fit a specific distribution pattern and predicting their spatial spread effectively.
- Results indicated that aerosol concentration decreases sharply within 5 meters of a nozzle and recommended maintaining a safe distance of over 8 meters to minimize health risks associated with Legionella pneumophila exposure.
Article Synopsis
- Knowledge gaps in assessing exposure risks for recreational water activities complicate quantitative risk evaluations, particularly regarding Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection.
- A study involving ten cities in China examined participation rates and exposure frequencies for activities like swimming, boating, and interactive fountains, revealing variations based on age and gender.
- Overall, it was found that males had higher exposure rates in swimming and boating, while females had higher in playing with fountains; however, both groups showed significant annual infection risks from these activities, especially among northern urban residents.
Article Synopsis
- A study investigates the role of monomeric C-reactive protein (mCRP) in activating platelets in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), highlighting its connection to disease activity.
- Researchers found elevated levels of mCRP in AAV patients, which correlated with the presence of mCRP-positive platelets, contributing to the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
- The released mtDNA enhances inflammatory responses and activates the coagulation system, suggesting that mCRP plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of AAV.
Effects and mechanism of platelet-rich plasma on military drill injury: a review.
Mil Med Res
November 2020
Article Synopsis
- - Military drill injuries are a key focus in military medical research, influenced by increased training intensity and evolving training methods, which result in varied injury types.
- - Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is highlighted as a promising treatment option due to its rich growth factor content, facilitating rapid healing while being minimally invasive and cost-effective.
- - The article reviews PRP's effectiveness in treating common military injuries like plantar fasciitis and stress fractures, aiming to provide foundational support for military personnel's recovery and rehabilitation.
Article Synopsis
- * Elevated ND6 levels are linked to severe outcomes, such as the need for hemodialysis and pulmonary hemorrhage, with significant correlations to kidney damage and disease activity.
- * High ND6 levels in AAV patients predict poorer prognosis and increased mortality, indicating its potential as a biomarker for disease severity and organ injury.
[Sorption of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers by Virgin and Aged Microplastics].
Huan Jing Ke Xue
March 2020
Article Synopsis
- The study examined how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), specifically BDE-47, are absorbed by virgin and aged microplastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS), particularly under ultraviolet light.
- Virgin and aged PE showed surface sorption and external liquid film diffusion mechanisms for PBDE adsorption, while both forms of PS exhibited solely surface sorption.
- The results indicated that the sorption capacity of aged PS dropped by over 42% compared to virgin PS, with dissolved organic matter negatively impacting PBDE absorption, while salinity had little effect.
Article Synopsis
- This study focuses on sulfate-related water quality and its impact on the health of river-lake ecosystems in eastern China, specifically examining Dongping Lake, Weishan Lake, and the Hanzhuang trunk canal.
- It found that Weishan Lake had higher sulfate levels in both its surface water and sediments, while Hanzhuang and Weishan had greater biodiversity compared to Dongping.
- Key bacteria like Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Thiobacillus were prevalent, with specific genera serving as indicators of environmental conditions related to sulfur levels in these aquatic systems.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the significance of urinary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as a marker for kidney injury in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) by analyzing 39 patients with confirmed kidney biopsies.! -
- Results showed that patients had significantly higher urinary mtDNA levels compared to healthy controls, and those requiring dialysis at onset had the highest levels, indicating a strong correlation with kidney damage severity.! -
- The findings suggest that elevated urinary mtDNA levels in AAV patients correlate with neutrophil presence in kidney tissues and the extent of kidney injury, making it a potentially useful biomarker for assessing kidney health in these patients.!
Article Synopsis
- Many patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) experience severe kidney injury requiring dialysis when diagnosed; assessing their potential to become dialysis independent is critical.
- A study of 40 patients with biopsy-confirmed MPO-ANCA AAV found that 25 achieved dialysis independence within three months, while 15 remained dependent, with renal recovery rates lower in those with mixed class diagnoses compared to crescentic class.
- Key indicators of dialysis dependence included high levels of fibrous crescent+global glomerulosclerosis, with platelet counts inversely related; plasma exchange was found to improve recovery times compared to methylprednisolone therapy.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated the effectiveness of metallic stents versus ordinary polymer stents in treating malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) in 76 patients by comparing operation success rates, duration, patency, serum creatinine levels, postoperative complications, and quality of life (QOL) scores.
- - Results showed similar success rates for both types of stents, but the metallic stent group had a significantly longer operation time, lower post-procedural complications, and consistently better QOL scores after 6 months and 1 year.
- - Though there were no significant differences in serum creatinine levels between groups post-operation, the metallic stent patients maintained stable creatinine levels, while patients with polymer stents showed an increase
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the relationship between serum hepcidin levels and anemia in patients newly diagnosed with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).
- Out of 64 patients, 23 were found to have anemia, which was linked to higher disease activity scores, lower serum iron levels, and elevated ferritin compared to non-anemic patients.
- Results indicated that higher hepcidin levels were associated with anemia, and treatment with immunosuppressives improved iron levels quickly but resulted in slower recovery of hemoglobin.
Severe acute interstitial nephritis induced by valsartan: A case report.
Medicine (Baltimore)
February 2019
Rationale: Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) can increase serum creatinine or potassium levels in patients with renal insufficiency, renal artery stenosis, heart failure or hypovolemia, but hardly cause severe kidney injury in patients without any risk factors. A case of severe acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) induced by valsartan was reported here.
Patient Concerns: A 62-year-old female with nausea for 1 month and acute deterioration of kidney function for 2 weeks was admitted.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the characteristics of nephrotic proteinuria in patients with pauci-immune ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (GN), which is rare and not well-studied.
- It compares clinical and pathological features of 20 patients with nephrotic proteinuria to those without, revealing higher rates of acute kidney injury and gross hematuria, but similar severity of other complications.
- Despite having better initial responses to treatment, patients with nephrotic proteinuria showed poorer long-term renal outcomes and more common crescentic changes in kidney pathology.
Background peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common complication in patients undergoing dialysis, which reduces the quality of life and increases the risk of mortality. Recent literature has documented an association between increased visceral fat (VF) content and a proatherogenic factors in end-stage renal disease. The present study investigated the prevalence of PAD in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
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- The case discusses a 64-year-old female patient who initially presented with kidney issues and was found to have ANCA-negative renal-limited vasculitis, later evolving into ANCA-positive vasculitis over 18 months.
- The transformation from ANCA-negative to ANCA-positive vasculitis was confirmed through subsequent kidney biopsies and detection of antibodies, highlighting a potential process known as epitope spreading.
- The patient responded well to glucocorticoid treatment, showed improvement in kidney function with no relapses during a 6-month follow-up, emphasizing the importance of thorough ANCA testing in diagnosis and management.
[Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits metastasis and invasion of breast cancer via regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition].
Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao
January 2018
Objective: To investigate whether pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) inhibits invasion and metastasis of breast cancer through regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Methods: The expressions of PEDF, vimentin, and E-cadherin were detected in 119 breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry. SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell models of PEDF knockdown and PEDF overexpression were established by transfecting the cells with a PEDF-siRNA vector and a lentivirusPEDF vector, respectively.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how low levels of albumin (hypoalbuminaemia) act as a predictor of poor outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), focusing on a sample of 117 patients.
- Results show that patients with hypoalbuminaemia experience more severe kidney damage, higher inflammation levels, and increased risk of infections and mortality compared to those with normal albumin levels, despite no significant differences in urinary protein.
- The findings suggest that serum albumin may help inhibit harmful interactions between ANCA antibodies and neutrophils, indicating that addressing hypoalbuminaemia could improve treatment outcomes in AAV patients.