Publications by authors named "Pengfei Zhang"

Accumulating evidences have indicated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) can initiate tumor progression and cause recurrence after therapy. However, specific markers of gastric CSCs (GCSCs) from different origins have not been comprehensively revealed. Here, we further detected whether cell populations labelled with CD44 and Lgr5, well-recognized stem markers for gastric cancer (GC), can better emphasize cancer initiation, therapeutic resistance and recurrence.

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Ultraviolet-assisted Direct Ink Writing(UV-DIW), an extrusion-based additive manufacturing technology, has emerged as a prominent 3D printing technique and is currently an important topic in bone tissue engineering research. This study focused on the printability of double-network (DN) bioink (Nano-hydroxyapatite/Polyethylene glycol diacrylate(nHA/PEGDA)). Next, we search for the optimal UV-DIW printing parameters for the scaffold formed by nHA-PEGDA.

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Drought has intensified in China in recent years, and it is urgent to clarify the characteristics of drought evolutions in different regions and its influencing factors. To this end, we selected six main influencing factors and analyzed their impact on drought patterns. The results show that drought is increasing in 78.

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Prolonged exposure to high-altitude environments may increase the risk of cognitive decline in young migrants. Recent studies suggest that hypobaric hypoxia-induced alterations in gut microbial composition could partly contribute to this risk. However, the absence of direct evidence from cohort studies and an unclear mechanism hinder intervention development based on this hypothesis.

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Synapse has been considered a critical neuronal structure in the procession of Alzheimer's disease (AD), attacked by two pathological molecule aggregates (amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau) in the brain, disturbing synaptic homeostasis before disease manifestation and subsequently causing synaptic degeneration. Recently, evidence has emerged indicating that soluble oligomeric amyloid-β (AβO) and tau exert direct toxicity on synapses, causing synaptic damage. Synaptic degeneration is closely linked to cognitive decline in AD, even in the asymptomatic stages of AD.

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Spermatogenesis is a highly complex and tightly regulated cellular differentiation process closely related to the productive performance of male livestock. We do not yet have a clear understanding of the spermatogenesis mechanism of buffalo. In this study, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids were analysed by flow cytometry.

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Myocardial fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, primarily collagen, within the myocardium. Early symptoms of myocardial fibrosis are often subtle, leading to late detection. As the disease progresses, it is often associated with life-threatening complications.

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Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is heterogeneous and refractory with multidimensional features. This study aims to investigate its molecular classifications based on multidimensional molecular features scores (FSs) and support classification-guided precision medicine.

Methods: Data of bulk RNA sequencing, single nucleotide variation, and single-cell RNA sequencing were collected.

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Objective: The goal is to provide an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methodology and appraisal tailored to clinicians and researchers in the headache field to facilitate interdisciplinary communications and research.

Background: The application of AI to the study of headache and other healthcare challenges is growing rapidly. It is critical that these findings be accurately interpreted by headache specialists, but this can be difficult for non-AI specialists.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on improving the detection of low-abundance protein biomarkers in biological fluids, which is crucial for diagnosing diseases and monitoring treatments.
  • Traditional magnetic bead-based immunoassays have limitations such as complex processes of bead blocking and washing to avoid non-specific binding, which can increase the chance of errors.
  • The researchers introduce a new method called magnetic proximity extension assay (MagPEA) employing POEGMA-coated beads, which eliminates the need for blocking and washing while maintaining high sensitivity in detecting proteins like IL-8.
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Background: Due to the rapid increase in Internet penetration in rural areas of China in recent years, Internet usage among middle-aged and older adults in these areas has also increased dramatically. This has facilitated their engagement in more online shopping, entertainment, and learning activities. Consequently, the construction of digital villages is inevitably and closely linked to the depressive symptoms of rural middle-aged and older adults.

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Background: The occurrence of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is closely related to the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. The role of SGK1 (serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1) in VSMC phenotypic transformation and TAD occurrence is unclear.

Methods: Four-week-old male Sgk1 ( floxed) and Sgk1;Tagln (smooth muscle cell-specific knockout) mice were administered β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate for 4 weeks to model TAD.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The research is a phase II trial involving 37 patients, aiming to assess various outcomes like tumor response rates and survival rates after receiving a specific chemotherapy regimen along with cadonilimab before surgery.
  • * The study has received ethical approval, requires informed consent from participants, and aims to contribute valuable data on the safety and effectiveness of this combined therapy over the course of the trial, which runs until mid-2025.
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Spermatogenesis is a highly unique and intricate process, finely regulated at multiple levels, including post-transcriptional regulation. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic mRNA, plays a significant role in transcriptional regulation during spermatogenesis. Previous research indicated extensive m6A modification at each stage of spermatogenesis, but depletion of Mettl3 and/or Mettl14 in spermatogenic cells with Stra8-Cre did not reveal any detectable abnormalities up to the stage of elongating spermatids.

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Various oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been adopted as therapeutic tools to increase the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells against solid tumors. However, the therapeutic effect of OVs has been limited by pre-existing neutralizing antibodies and poor targeting delivery for systemic administration. Herein, we propose using bioorthogonal OV nanovesicles to boost the antitumor effects of CAR-T cells in solid tumors by reshaping the tumor microenvironment.

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Article Synopsis
  • * It involves a prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial split into two phases: phase Ib will evaluate different radiation doses with 5 patients per group, while phase II aims to enroll 44 patients with a focus on the rate of pathological complete response (pCR) as the primary endpoint.
  • * The study will also assess secondary outcomes such as R0 resection rates, event-free and overall survival rates, safety, and potential molecular markers, highlighting its novelty
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Strain sensors utilizing mechanoluminescent (ML) materials have garnered significant attention and application due to their advantages, such as self-powering, non-contact operation, and real-time response. However, ML-based strain sensing techniques typically rely on the establishing of a mathematical relationship between ML intensity and mechanical parameters. The absolute ML intensity is vulnerable to environmental factors, which can result in measurement errors.

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Membrane proteins are crucial for various cellular processes and are key targets in pharmacological research. Their interactions with ligands are essential for elucidating cellular mechanisms and advancing drug development. To study these interactions without altering their functional properties in native environments, several advanced optical imaging methods have been developed for in situ and label-free quantification.

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Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors are extensively utilized for analyzing molecular interactions due to their high sensitivity and label-free detection capabilities. Recent innovations in surface-sensitive biosensors with dielectric surfaces address the inherent limitations associated with traditional gold surfaces, such as thermal effects and biocompatibility issues, which can impede broader applications. This review examines state-of-the-art biosensor configurations, including total internal reflection, optical waveguide, photonic crystal resonators, Bloch surface wave biosensors, and surface electrochemical biosensors, which can enhance analyte signals and augment the molecular detection efficiency at the sensor interface.

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Article Synopsis
  • Non-equilibrium quantum transport is essential for advancing technologies like nanoelectronics and thermal management, focusing on energy and particle transfer through quantum channels.
  • Using a superconducting quantum processor, researchers demonstrated non-equilibrium steady quantum transport by creating "baths" with qubit ladders, showing that particle currents were consistent regardless of how the baths were initialized.
  • This study provides experimental support for theories in statistical mechanics and prethermalisation, while also allowing precise control over variables that affect steady currents, opening new avenues for exploring quantum transport in complex quantum systems.
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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have gained widespread application in the treatment of malignant tumors. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a systemic inflammatory response triggered by various factors, including infections and immunotherapy. We present a case of CRS occurring in a gastric cancer patient after receiving combination therapy of tislelizumab, anlotinib and combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC), as two of the major human intestinal diseases, provide challenges for the medical field. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), a protein molecule that negatively regulates cytokine signaling through multiple pathways, is involved in the regulation of various inflammatory diseases and tumors. In IBD, SOCS3 acts on a variety of cells to repair mucosal damage and balance the immune response, including epithelial cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and T cells.

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Compact and adaptable CRISPR-Cas systems enable genome engineering applications in various contexts via high-efficiency delivery. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a widely used delivery system. One of the most compact type II-C Cas9 orthologs-CjCas9, derived from is particularly appealing for AAV delivery.

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