Publications by authors named "S-J Zhao"

Background: Approximately half of the patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) do not achieve an excellent outcome. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) as a promising neuroprotective treatment may improve clinical outcomes in this population. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of RIC in patients with IVT.

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The advent of spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics have enabled profound insights into tissue organization to provide systems-level understanding of diseases. Both technologies currently remain largely independent, and emerging same slide spatial multi-omics approaches are generally limited in plex, spatial resolution, and analytical approaches. We introduce IN-situ DEtailed Phenotyping To High-resolution transcriptomics (IN-DEPTH), a streamlined and resource-effective approach compatible with various spatial platforms.

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Microsatellite instability (MSI) detection using tumor tissue is a well-established prognostic and predictive biomarker for certain types of cancers. However, tumor tissue samples are less convenient to obtain than blood plasma samples. The main challenge facing next-generation sequencing-based MSI detection in blood plasma samples is the ultralow signal/noise ratio in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

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Background: CDK4/6 inhibitors are highly valued, but the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) associated with CDK4/6 inhibitors is not clear.

Objective: Our aim was therefore to assess the risk of developing CVAEs associated with CDK4/6 inhibitors, by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), along with a pharmacovigilance study of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Methods: Eligible CVAEs were extracted from the ClinicalTrials.

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Hepatic steatosis is a central phenotype in multi-system metabolic dysfunction and is increasing in parallel with the obesity pandemic. We use a translational approach integrating clinical phenotyping and outcomes, circulating proteomics, and tissue transcriptomics to identify dynamic, functional biomarkers of hepatic steatosis. Using multi-modality imaging and broad proteomic profiling, we identify proteins implicated in the progression of hepatic steatosis that are largely encoded by genes enriched at the transcriptional level in the human liver.

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Base editors create precise genomic edits by directing nucleobase deamination or removal without inducing double-stranded DNA breaks. However, a vast chemical space of other DNA modifications remains to be explored for genome editing. Here, we harness the bacterial anti-phage toxin DarT2 to append ADP-ribosyl moieties to DNA, unlocking distinct editing outcomes in bacteria versus eukaryotes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tranexamic acid, an antifibrinolytic agent, was tested in a study on patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who had ongoing bleeding (spot signs) to assess its effect on hematoma growth when administered within 4.5 hours of onset.
  • A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, evaluating randomized trials comparing tranexamic acid to a placebo, specifically including 162 participants with follow-up imaging.
  • Results showed that tranexamic acid treatment did not significantly reduce hematoma growth compared to placebo, with a slightly lower growth rate in the treatment group, but overall outcomes suggested continued monitoring and assessment of safety was needed.
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Background: Physical literacy (PL) can positively affect the health of children, adolescents, and adults, and is closely related to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the relationship between overall physical literacy (PL) and CRF in children and adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional, cohort and experimental studies on the relationship between PL and CRF in children and adolescents were collected by searching the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases.

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Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) presents a major challenge for cancer patients. ecDNA renders tumours treatment resistant by facilitating massive oncogene transcription and rapid genome evolution, contributing to poor patient survival. At present, there are no ecDNA-specific treatments.

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Background: For patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, current guidelines recommend routine clinical surveillance every 6 to 12 months. Data from randomized trials examining whether early intervention with transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) will improve outcomes in these patients are lacking.

Methods: At 75 centers in the United States and Canada, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis to undergo early TAVR with transfemoral placement of a balloon-expandable valve or clinical surveillance.

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  • Lung transplantation (LTx) is a crucial option for patients with end-stage lung disease, but recovery often involves limited exercise tolerance, making pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) important for recovery, though its effectiveness in LTx patients is unclear.
  • A meta-analysis was conducted that reviewed 21 studies, showing significant improvements in exercise metrics such as 6-minute walking distance, maximum oxygen consumption, and muscle strength in patients undergoing PR after LTx.
  • The results suggest that PR is beneficial for enhancing exercise capacity post-transplant, but further research with larger, multi-center trials is needed to validate these findings in real-world settings.
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  • This study focused on creating a simpler diagnostic tool to identify mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) in patients with adrenal incidentalomas, which is often difficult to differentiate from non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFA).
  • Researchers used a large patient cohort and machine learning techniques, analyzing leukocyte-related parameters to assess their effectiveness in diagnosing MACS.
  • The results showed that the developed models improved diagnostic accuracy, with a CART model achieving high sensitivity and specificity, offering a reliable option for detection in clinical settings.
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Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease. However, the field of quantitative CT scan analysis in conjunction with pulmonary function test for IPF patients remains relatively understudied. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of features derived high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for patients with IPF and correlated them with pulmonary function tests.

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  • The study emphasizes the importance of identifying specific molecules linked to heart failure (HF) among numerous human disease associations, focusing on the circulating proteome.
  • It explores key biological pathways connected to HF, such as fibrosis, inflammation, metabolism, and hypertrophy, using clinical evaluations and patient outcomes.
  • Additionally, the research uncovers a variety of genes involved in HF that have not previously been highlighted in large genomic studies, showcasing the need for proteomic analysis alongside transcriptomic approaches to better inform understanding and treatment of heart conditions.
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Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SinoMed, and CNKI databases from inception to March 2024. For meta-analysis, data on clinical outcomes were measured using visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and data on cartilage repair were measured using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS); data on safety were evaluated by the incidence of adverse events.

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  • Plasmodium falciparum's RH5 protein is a promising candidate for a malaria vaccine, and understanding the antibody response during natural infections is crucial for optimizing vaccine efficacy.
  • Researchers found that B cells reacting to RH5 were uncommon, and the IgG responses in malaria-exposed individuals were short-lived despite multiple infections.
  • Some antibodies from malaria-exposed individuals showed strong neutralizing ability and targeted similar sites as the most effective vaccine-induced antibodies, indicating that natural infections might enhance the effectiveness of RH5 vaccines in the future.
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  • Therapeutic HPV vaccines are needed to induce strong cellular immunity and treat existing infections but face challenges, particularly with current delivery methods like electroporation (EP), which can cause pain and muscle damage.
  • DNA-based HPV vaccines appear promising with good safety and efficacy, but EP's complexity and cost limit their clinical use.
  • In preclinical tests, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) significantly improved the immune response from DNA vaccines compared to EP, with SM-102 LNP M showing the best results, suggesting LNPs could offer a better delivery method.
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Spaceflight induces molecular, cellular and physiological shifts in astronauts and poses myriad biomedical challenges to the human body, which are becoming increasingly relevant as more humans venture into space. Yet current frameworks for aerospace medicine are nascent and lag far behind advancements in precision medicine on Earth, underscoring the need for rapid development of space medicine databases, tools and protocols. Here we present the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA), an integrated data and sample repository for clinical, cellular and multi-omic research profiles from a diverse range of missions, including the NASA Twins Study, JAXA CFE study, SpaceX Inspiration4 crew, Axiom and Polaris.

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Background: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) has endocrine-disrupting properties and may affect blood pressure. Endogenous hormones also play a crucial role in the progression of hypertension. However, their interaction with hypertension remains to be explored.

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Glycosylation is a ubiquitous modification present across all of biology, affecting many things such as physicochemical properties, cellular recognition, subcellular localization, and immunogenicity. Nucleotide sugars are important precursors needed to study glycosylation and produce glycosylated products. is a potentially powerful platform for producing glycosylated biomolecules, but it lacks nucleotide sugar diversity.

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Objective: To compare the effect of balanced multielectrolyte solutions (BMESs) versus normal saline (NS) for intravenous fluid on chloride levels and clinical outcomes in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (pSAP).

Background: Isotonic crystalloids are recommended for initial fluid therapy in acute pancreatitis, but whether the use of BMES in preference to NS confers clinical benefits is unknown.

Methods: In this multicenter, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial, we enrolled patients with pSAP (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score ≥8 and C-reactive protein >150 mg/L) admitted within 72 hours of the advent of symptoms.

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Background: Time-restricted eating (TRE) lowers body weight in many studies. Whether TRE induces weight loss independent of reductions in calorie intake, as seen in rodent studies, is unknown.

Objective: To determine the effect of TRE versus a usual eating pattern (UEP) on body weight in the setting of stable caloric intake.

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Background And Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease whose pathobiology associates with peripheral blood immune cell levels and activation patterns in an age and sex-dependent manner. This study's objective was to identify immune profile associations with ALS progression, whether the associations are age and sex-specific, and whether immune profiles can predict a future disease course.

Methods: Flow cytometry immune profiles (a combination of 22 peripheral blood immune markers) were generated for 241 participants with ALS and linked to ALS progression, using progression-free survival, which is a composite combining the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale and survival.

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Understanding intracellular phase separation is crucial for deciphering transcriptional control, cell fate transitions, and disease mechanisms. However, the key residues, which impact phase separation the most for protein phase separation function have remained elusive. We develop PSPHunter, which can precisely predict these key residues based on machine learning scheme.

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Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to facilitate an automatic analysis and monitoring of heart sounds has increasingly attracted tremendous efforts in the past decade. Nevertheless, lacking on standard open-access database made it difficult to maintain a sustainable and comparable research before the first release of the PhysioNet CinC Challenge Dataset. However, inconsistent standards on data collection, annotation, and partition are still restraining a fair and efficient comparison between different works.

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