Publications by authors named "Qiwen Tan"

3D fluorescence super-resolution imaging technology can reconstruct the 3D structure of biological cells in space, which is crucial for observing the intricate internal structures of cells and studying the organization and function of tissues and organs. However, even with super-resolution imaging techniques that surpass the diffraction limit, the axial resolution typically only reaches one-third to one-half of the lateral resolution. Achieving true axial or 3D super-resolution imaging of samples remains a significant challenge.

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Liver health is integral to overall human well-being and the pathogenesis of various diseases. In recent years, kynurenine and its derivatives have gradually been recognized for their involvement in various pathophysiological processes, especially in the regulation of liver diseases, such as acute liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Kynurenine and its derivatives are derived from tryptophan, which is broken down by the enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), converting the essential amino acid tryptophan into kynurenine (KYN) and other downstream metabolites, such as kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), xanthurenic acid (XA), and quinolinic acid (QA).

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Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of aortic diseases and operative risks. Currently, there are no effective drugs available to prevent the occurrence and progression of aortic aneurysms or dissections. We investigated potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets using a multi-omics approach.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study reviews the impact of Candida colonization on mechanically ventilated ICU patients, finding that its prevalence ranges from 10% to 56% and is linked to worse patient outcomes.
  • It indicates that Candida colonization is associated with higher detection rates of harmful bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly in patients who develop ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
  • Despite the observed associations, Candida colonization did not significantly affect inflammatory markers, suggesting its role as a marker rather than a direct cause of inflammation.
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  • Endothelins and their receptors are crucial for vascular health and can be targeted for treating conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension.
  • Recent studies using cryo-electron microscopy reveal the structures of endothelin in complex with various PAH drugs, enhancing our understanding of how these drugs interact with receptors.
  • Key findings indicate specific residues that determine antagonist selectivity and suggest potential new strategies for designing drugs and antibodies targeting endothelin receptors.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The traditional Chinese herbal remedy Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz is renowned for its purported gastrointestinal regulatory properties and immune-enhancing capabilities. Atractylenolide III (ATL III), a prominent bioactive compound in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, has demonstrated significant pharmacological activities. However, its impact on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and therapeutic potential concerning Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain inadequately investigated.

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Bitter taste receptors, particularly TAS2R14, play central roles in discerning a wide array of bitter substances, ranging from dietary components to pharmaceutical agents. TAS2R14 is also widely expressed in extragustatory tissues, suggesting its extra roles in diverse physiological processes and potential therapeutic applications. Here we present cryogenic electron microscopy structures of TAS2R14 in complex with aristolochic acid, flufenamic acid and compound 28.

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Conjugated polymer chains in compact conformations or in films exhibit spectral features that can be attributed to interactions between individual conjugated segments of the chain, including formation of aggregates or excimers. Here, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) on single chains of the conjugated polymer polyfluorene (PFO) to control the intersegment interactions by mechanically unfolding the chain. Simultaneously with the force spectroscopy we monitor fluorescence from the single PFO chains using a fluorescence microscope.

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Taste sensing is a sophisticated chemosensory process, and bitter taste perception is mediated by type 2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs), or class T G protein-coupled receptors. Understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms behind taste sensation is hindered by a lack of experimental receptor structures. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of human TAS2R46 complexed with chimeric mini-G protein gustducin, in both strychnine-bound and apo forms.

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Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulation of the host response to infection. Acupuncture is used for treatment of inflammatory diseases; however, its effectiveness and safety as a complementary therapy for sepsis has not been fully explored.

Methods: Data were retrieved from eight databases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Acupuncture may help improve emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), although it's not more effective than sham acupuncture.
  • The study analyzed data from 2151 patients across 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating these symptoms.
  • Results showed that while acupuncture was not significantly better than sham treatments, it did outperform pharmacotherapy in relieving both anxiety and depression symptoms in FGID patients.
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Objective: To observe the effect of umbilical moxibustion on phlegm damp constitution and intestinal flora, and explore the mechanism of umbilical moxibustion in improving phlegm damp constitution.

Methods: A total of 60 subjects with phlegm damp constitution were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The control group was given TCM health guidance, such as diet and exercise; on the basis of the control group, umbilical moxibustion was applied in the observation group, 7 moxa cones each time, 2 times a week for 8 weeks.

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Background: Melasma is a common acquired hyperpigmentation of the skin. The clinical manifestations are light brown or dark brown patches symmetrically distributed on the cheeks, forehead, and mandibular with different shades and unclear borders. The treatment of melasma is extremely challenging due to its easy relapse and hard to cure.

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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease which making people difficult to breathe and often accompanied with headache. Acupuncture have been proved the therapeutic effect on headache, but there has been no high-quality evidence on acupuncture for the headache in COVID-19. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for headache in COVID-19.

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A combination of conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to measure photocurrents passing through single trimeric photosytem I (PSI) complexes located in the vicinity of single gold nanorods (AuNRs). Simultaneous excitation of PSI and of the AuNR longitudinal plasmon mode and detection of photocurrents from individual PSI in relation to the position of single AuNRs enable insight into plasmon-induced phenomena that are otherwise inaccessible in ensemble experiments. We have observed photocurrent enhancement by the localized plasmons by a factor of 2.

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Background: Acupuncture preconditioning was able to reduce the extent of ischaemia reperfusion (/) injury. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints had cardioprotective effects against myocardial / injury. However, the molecular mechanism remains inconclusive.

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Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease, which may develop gradually into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. As a classical method of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been used to treat NAFLD in clinical practice. However, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture on NAFLD.

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Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) efficiently hydrolyzes acetylcholine (ACh) at high concentrations when acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is substrate-inhibited. Recent studies have shown that BChE also has a function that is independent of ACh, but it has not been fully explored. Low BChE expression is accompanied with higher stress-induced aggression and ghrelin levels in stress models, and BChE knockout mice exhibit cognitive and memory impairments.

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We report optical characterization and theoretical simulation of plasmon enhanced methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) thin-film perovskite solar cells. Specifically, various nanohole (NH) and nanodisk (ND) arrays are fabricated on gold/MAPbI 3 interfaces. Significant absorption enhancement is observed experimentally in 75 nm and 110 nm-thick perovskite films.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sepsis is a serious condition caused by infection, and this systematic review evaluates whether acupuncture can be an effective and safe complementary treatment for it.
  • The review will analyze various databases to find randomized controlled trials, focusing on primary outcomes like 28-day mortality and other health indicators, while excluding less rigorous study designs.
  • The study will assess bias using standard tools and intends to publish findings in a peer-reviewed journal without needing ethical approval, as it involves no personal information.
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Recent studies have shown that transforming microglia phenotype from pro-inflammation of M1 phenotype to anti-inflammation and tissue-repairing M2 phenotype may be an effective therapeutic strategy for preventing ischemic stroke brain injury. Isosteviol Sodium (STV-Na) has shown promise as a neuroprotective agent in cerebral ischemia model, although its effect on microglial polarization and chronic recovery after stroke is not clear. Here, we demonstrated that STV-Na treatment significantly reduced cerebral ischemic damage at both acute and chronic time points.

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We unveiled an underside binding site on smoothened receptor (SMO) by a colocalization strategy using two structurally complementary photoaffinity probes derived from a known ligand Allo-1. Docking study and structural dissection identified key interactions within the site, including hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and hydrophobic interactions between Allo-1 and its contacting residues. Taken together, our results reveal the molecular base of Allo-1 binding and provide a basis for the design of new-generation ligands to overcome drug resistance.

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Disulfide-containing detergents (DCDs) are introduced, which contain a disulfide bond in the hydrophobic tail. DCDs form smaller micelles than corresponding detergents with linear hydrocarbon chains, while providing good solubilization and reconstitution of membrane proteins. The use of this new class of detergents in structural biology is illustrated with solution NMR spectra of the human G protein-coupled receptor A AR, which is an α-helical protein, and the β-barrel protein OmpX from E.

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