Publications by authors named "Tong Tao"

Background/objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Effective interventions for the core autistic symptoms are currently limited.

Methods: This study employed a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD to assess the preventative effects of L-proline supplementation on ASD-like behaviors.

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  • The study investigates adrenomedullin's (ADM) role in protecting estrogen production in Leydig cells by targeting the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
  • Treatment with ADM via recombinant adenovirus (Ad-ADM) in Leydig cells improved cell viability and hormone production in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a compound that can induce cellular stress.
  • Results indicated that Ad-ADM not only maintained testosterone production and aromatase activity but also reduced the harmful effects of TGF-β1 and Smads, suggesting that ADM supports the overall hormone balance in Leydig cells.
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Odorant receptors (ORs) have long been thought to serve as chemosensors located on the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the olfactory epithelium, where they recognize odorant molecules and comprise the largest family of seven transmembrane-domain G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Over the last three decades, accumulating evidence has suggested that ORs are distributed in a variety of peripheral tissues beyond their supposed typical tissue expression in the olfactory epithelium. These ectopic ORs play a role in regulating various cellular, physiological, and pathophysiological phenomena in the body, such as regulation of hypertension, hepatic glucose production, cancer development, and chronic skin disease.

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Background: Our previous research has demonstrated that electroacupuncture (EA) has the potential to mitigate depression-like symptoms resulting from chronic stress. However, further investigation is required to fully understand the underlying mechanisms. The regulatory role of γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA) in synaptic plasticity and the involvement of NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated inflammation in the lateral habenula nucleus (LHb) are key factors in the development of depression.

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Depression is recognized globally as one of the most intractable diseases, and its complexity and diversity make treatment extremely challenging. Acupuncture has demonstrated beneficial effects in various psychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture's antidepressant action, particularly in depression, remain elusive.

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  • Adipsic arginine vasopressin deficiency (aAVP-D) is a rare condition that is hard to detect and manage in kids and teens, especially those with certain brain tumors called sellar germ cell tumors (GCTs).
  • In a study involving 260 patients, 25 were found to have aAVP-D, which was linked to larger tumors and more health problems like hormonal issues and high levels of certain substances in the blood.
  • After treatment, while some symptoms improved, aAVP-D patients still had higher levels of certain substances compared to those without the condition, showing that managing this syndrome remains challenging.
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Eugenol, a phenylpropanoid compound, is found in various dietary resources and medicinal plants. From a historical perspective, eugenol is widely employed as a flavoring agent in the food and fragrance industries. Here, this review mainly focuses on recent advances in eugenol with respect to its versatile physiological roles in health and disease and discusses the mechanisms.

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The projected increase in drought severity and duration worldwide poses a significant threat to crop growth and sustainable food production. Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) family is essential in cell wall modification through the construction and restructuring of xyloglucan cross-links, but their role in drought tolerance and stomatal regulation is still illusive. We cloned and functionally characterized HvXTH1 using genetic, physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches in barley.

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  • Eugenol (EU), found in clove oil, shows promise in preventing muscle loss associated with obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
  • Male C57BL/6J mice on a HFD supplemented with EU exhibited improved muscle strength and mass, alongside gene expression changes linked to muscle health.
  • EU also positively influenced gut bacteria and metabolic processes, suggesting its role as a functional dietary supplement for combating muscle atrophy.
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The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease (Cas) system allows precise and easy editing of genes in many plant species. However, this system has not yet been applied to any fern species through gametophytes due to the complex characteristics of fern genomes, genetics, and physiology. Here, we established a protocol for gametophyte-based screening of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) with high efficiency for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout in a model fern species, Ceratopteris richardii.

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Chronic UVB exposure poses a significant threat to both skin and visceral health. In recent years, the adverse role of chronic UVB exposure in liver health has been suggested but not fully elucidated. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the effects of chronic UVB exposure on liver health in male SKH-1 hairless mice and clarify potential mechanisms through multi-omics approaches.

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To examine the effect of mixed-frequency excitation conditions on the hysteresis and loss characteristics of ferromagnetic materials, this paper shows how to construct magnetic property test equipment for electrical steel using Epstein's square circle. Experiments were carried out to assess the hysteresis and loss properties of oriented silicon steel wafers under mixed-frequency sinusoidal operating conditions with different occupancy ratios. It used heterodyne extraction to investigate the effect of different occupancy ratios of industry and magnetization frequency on the hysteresis and loss characteristics of oriented silicon steel sheets.

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Diabetes has become a serious public health crisis, presenting significant challenges to individuals worldwide. As the largest organ in the human body, skeletal muscle is a significant target of this chronic disease, yet muscle wasting as a complication of diabetes is still not fully understood and effective treatment methods have yet to be developed. Here, we discuss the targets involved in inducing muscle wasting under diabetic conditions, both validated targets and emerging targets.

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Purpose: The impact of delayed diagnosis on tumor-related prognosis appears to be minimal in individuals with intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs). However, its effect on neuroendocrine functions remains unclear. We aimed to assess the effects of delayed diagnosis on neuroendocrine function in individuals with suprasellar GCTs.

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Previous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of oleuropein (OP) consumption on the early stage of diabetic nephropathy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the efficacy of OP on the long-course of these diabetes complications has not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the relieving effects of OP intake on these diseases, and to explore the underlying mechanisms, / mice (17-week-old) were orally administrated with OP (200 mg/kg bodyweight) for 15 weeks.

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Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and predictive factors associated with delayed diagnosis in patients with sellar germ cell tumors (GCTs), aiming for early diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 345 patients with sellar GCTs were retrospectively collected. Patients were classified into a delayed diagnosis group (> 6 months from onset to diagnosis) and a non-delayed diagnosis group (≤ 6 months).

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Photoaging, the primary cause of skin aging damage, results from chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure, leading to dryness and wrinkle formation. Nutritional intervention has emerged as a practical approach for preventing and addressing the effect of skin photoaging. The primary aromatic compound isolated from clove oil, isoeugenol (IE), has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities that work to effectively restrict skin cancer cell proliferation.

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Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure causes photoaging, which is primarily responsible for skin damage. Nutritional intervention is a viable strategy for preventing and treating skin photoaging. Eugenol (EU) presents anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, promotes wound healing, and provides contact dermatitis relief.

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Purpose: The coexistence of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) and Graves' disease (GD) is rare. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and thyroid function in patients with GHPA combined with GD and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Eleven patients with GHPA combined with GD during 2015-2022 were collected by searching the medical record system of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University.

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Photoaging is widely regarded as the most significant contributor to skin aging damage. It is triggered by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and typically manifests as dryness and the formation of wrinkles. Nutritional intervention is a viable strategy for preventing and treating skin photoaging.

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Background: The gut microbiota is intricate and susceptible to multiple factors, with diet being a major contributor. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of four commonly used laboratory animal control diets, namely Keao Xieli's maintenance diet (KX), HFK's 1025 (HF), Research Diets' D12450B (RD), and Lab Diet's 5CC4 (LD), on the gut microbiota of mice.

Results: A total of 40 mice were randomly assigned to four groups, and each group was fed one of the four diets for a duration of 8 weeks.

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Objective: Cosecreting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or prolactin (PRL) in patients with pituitary growth hormone (GH) adenomas has been rarely reported. Our study aimed to elucidate their clinical characteristics.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data of 22 cases of cosecreting GH and TSH pituitary adenomas [(GH+TSH)oma] and 10 cases of cosecreting GH and PRL pituitary adenomas [(GH+PRL)oma] from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2009 and January 2023.

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Background: The treatment of depression with acupuncture has been documented. The mechanism behind acupuncture's curative and preventative effects is still unknown.

Methods: The current study examined the effects of acupuncture on depression-like behaviors in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), while also exploring its potential mechanisms.

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