Publications by authors named "Xue Chun Liu"
Metabolomics provide a promising tool for understanding dementia pathogenesis and identifying novel biomarkers. This study aimed to identify amino acid biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VD). By amino acid metabolomics, the concentrations of amino acids were determined in the serum of AD and VD patients as well as age-matched healthy controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntermittent hypoxia (IH), a major pathophysiologic alteration in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), is an important contributor to cognitive impairment. Increasing research suggests that melatonin has anti-inflammatory properties and improves functions related to synaptic plasticity. However, it is unclear whether melatonin has a protective effect against OSAS-induced cognitive dysfunction in aged individuals and the involved mechanisms are also unclear.
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- Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are essential for biological functions and are linked to various human diseases, making them important targets for drug development.
- The cGAS-STING pathway is crucial for regulating the immune system and is associated with several health issues, drawing significant research interest in its modulators.
- This review highlights recent progress in drug discovery related to cGAS-STING PPIs and suggests new strategies for developing potential treatments targeting this pathway.
Article Synopsis
- STING is an innate immune sensor that activates pathways leading to inflammation and type I interferon production, which can enhance the immune response against tumors.
- The article reviews various STING agonists (both CDN-like and non-nucleotide) developed as anticancer treatments from January 2021 to October 2023.
- Recent discoveries of diverse STING agonists have garnered interest in their potential as immune enhancers for cancer immunotherapy, despite facing some challenges.
Article Synopsis
- - Maternal sleep deprivation (MSD) negatively impacts learning and memory in offspring by causing inflammation and synaptic issues in the hippocampus; melatonin (Mel) is proposed as a potential remedy.
- - In a study, mice subjected to MSD received melatonin injections, and their cognitive abilities were assessed through the Morris water maze and inflammatory markers were measured.
- - Results showed that melatonin improved learning and memory in the affected mice by reducing inflammation and restoring synaptic plasticity markers, suggesting it could be a beneficial treatment for MSD-induced cognitive impairments.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the effects of Elamipretide (SS-31), a targeted antioxidant, on cognitive impairment caused by chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) in mice, highlighting its potential to address mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation.
- - Mice undergoing CSD for 21 days received SS-31 injections, and their cognitive functions were assessed through various tests, while biochemical assays analyzed the impact on mitochondrial and inflammatory markers.
- - Results showed that SS-31 improved cognitive function by enhancing levels of proteins linked to synaptic function and reducing inflammation, suggesting it combats CSD-related cognitive issues by boosting SIRT1 expression.
Article Synopsis
- Children with ADHD show significant difficulties in basic academic skills, particularly in Chinese reading, such as word recognition and character recognition compared to healthy controls.
- A study involving 302 ADHD children and 105 healthy controls revealed that ADHD affected reading performance, potentially linked to impaired sustained attention and lower IQ.
- Brain imaging indicated that ADHD children rely more on the default mode network (DMN) to support their reading skills, whereas healthy controls use the dorsal attention network (DAN), suggesting different cognitive strategies in reading.
Article Synopsis
- A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of using solid fuels on cognitive function in mid-elderly adults, revealing inconsistent results from previous studies.
- The analysis included 17 studies and found that solid fuel use is linked to cognitive function decline and cognitive disorders, especially among those who do not use ventilated cooking methods.
- Switching to cleaner fuels and utilizing improved ventilation can reduce risks associated with cognitive decline and disorders linked to the use of solid fuels.
Article Synopsis
- Early life stress from maternal sleep deprivation negatively impacts learning and memory in aged offspring mice, leading to cognitive decline and neuroinflammation.* -
- Environmental enrichment (EE) was found to improve cognitive function and reduce harmful changes in brain protein levels and inflammation caused by maternal sleep deprivation.* -
- The study suggests that EE may help counteract cognitive impairment in older offspring by activating the Sirt1/PGC-1α signaling pathway, indicating potential for clinical relevance.*
Background: Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not only a response to pathophysiological events, but also plays a causative role in neurodegeneration. Cytoplasmic cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS) is considered to be a stimulant for immune responses to diseases; however, it remains unknown whether CARS is involved in the pathogenesis of AD.
Methods: Postmortem human temporal cortical tissues at different Braak stages and AD patient-derived serum samples were used to investigate the changes of CARS levels in AD by immunocytochemical staining, real-time PCR, western blotting and ELISA.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between cognitive frailty (CF) and living in nursing homes versus community settings among older adults in Hefei, China, highlighting a higher prevalence of CF in institutionalized individuals.
- Researchers recruited 1,004 community residents and 111 nursing home residents aged 50 and older, assessing physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment through well-established scales and analyzing various associated factors like exercise and loneliness.
- Results showed that while community residents faced multiple risk factors for CF, nursing home residents primarily dealt with sedentary behavior, indicating that nursing homes may be better equipped to manage or mitigate these issues related to cognitive frailty.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to determine if sarcopenia (muscle loss) can predict postoperative outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer who also have malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM).
- Data from 310 colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery showed that 46.77% had sarcopenia. Those with sarcopenia experienced higher rates of complications, longer hospital stays, and greater costs compared to those without.
- The findings indicate that sarcopenia is a significant predictor for both postoperative complications and survival rates, highlighting the importance of assessing sarcopenia before surgery, even when nutritional status has been evaluated.
Article Synopsis
- Early-life stress and maternal sleep deprivation in rodents negatively impact the development of the central nervous system, leading to risks of neuropsychiatric disorders in their offspring, even into old age.
- A study examined the effects of maternal sleep deprivation on depression and cognitive function in older CD-1 mice, finding that these mice displayed heightened depression-like behaviors and impaired cognition due to increased proinflammatory markers in the brain.
- However, long-term exposure to an enriched environment was shown to reverse these negative effects, improving neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity, suggesting that environmental enrichment can mitigate the adverse impacts of maternal sleep deprivation.
Article Synopsis
- ABCB1 and ABCG2 are crucial transporters linked to multidrug resistance (MDR), and this study developed imidazo[1,2-]pyridine derivatives aimed at inhibiting both targets.
- One of the compounds demonstrated significant inhibition of the efflux function of both transporters without causing noticeable cytotoxicity and improved the effects of antiproliferative drugs in the lab.
- The compound worked by slightly reducing ATPase activity and not altering the expression of the transporters, suggesting it could be a useful addition to standard chemotherapy treatments in overcoming resistance.
Article Synopsis
- The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is an important predictor for cancer outcomes, but its specific role in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients was unclear, prompting a meta-analysis.
- Researchers analyzed multiple studies to assess the relationship between preoperative SII levels and survival rates in CCA patients.
- The findings revealed that higher preoperative SII scores are linked to poorer overall survival rates in CCA patients following surgery, confirming SII's value as a survival indicator.
[Quality value transfer of substance benchmarks in Sanpian Decoction].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi
April 2022
Article Synopsis
- Two fingerprints were established for Sanpian Decoction based on the polarity of its components, leading to the preparation of freeze-dried powder from 15 batches for analysis.
- The results showed high similarities (greater than 0.900) between the fingerprints and reference, revealing a total of 20 characteristic peaks in fingerprint 1 and 16 in fingerprint 2 associated with specific ingredients from the decoction.
- The study also calculated the average dry extract rate (18.25% with a range of 16.28%-20.76%) and detailed content/transfer rates of key components like ferulic acid and glycyrrhizic acid, contributing to a stable quality evaluation method for Sanpian Decoction
[Application progress on taste evaluation methods for oral preparations].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi
January 2022
Article Synopsis
- * Current methods for taste evaluation include human taste panels, electronic tongues, animal tests, in vitro release studies, and electrophysiological tests, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
- * The study reviews these taste assessment methods to help improve oral preparation designs, patient compliance, and the overall success of pharmaceutical products in the market.
Article Synopsis
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, featuring harmful protein accumulations in the brain like senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
- The study focused on Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), which protects against ER stress and is expressed in neurons, but its role in AD had not been previously investigated.
- Research findings indicated that MANF levels were significantly higher in neurons of patients with preclinical and clinical AD compared to non-dementia controls, suggesting its potential as an early diagnostic marker for the disease.
[Analysis on quality value transmitting of substance benchmark of Houpo Wenzhong Decoction].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi
February 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study involved preparing 15 batches of lyophilized powder from a substance benchmark in Houpo Wenzhong Decoction to analyze its quality through fingerprinting, component content, and extract rates.
- Results showed a high similarity (over 0.90) between the fingerprint of the benchmark substance and a reference map, with specific characteristic peaks identified from various herbs in the decoction.
- The research established content ranges for key components (e.g., hesperidin, glycyrrhizic acid) and helped set initial quality standards for the decoction, contributing to future studies on similar herbal prescriptions.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the impact of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) transplantation on brain metabolism and neuron health in rabbits with induced ischemic stroke (MCAO).
- Results showed that rabbits receiving hUCB-MSC showed significantly lower neurological severity scores and reduced infarct volume compared to those in the MCAO and saline groups, indicating improved recovery.
- Additionally, the hUCB-MSC group displayed favorable changes in neuronal metabolites, such as increased ratios of N-acetylaspartate and choline to creatine, suggesting enhanced neuronal health, along with higher neuronal density and optical density of MAP2-positive cells.
[The characteristics and influence of the health culture of tibetan medicine].
Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi
May 2012
Article Synopsis
- Tibetan medical culture emphasizes health preservation, shaped by the unique cold, high-altitude conditions of the Tibetan plateau.
- The Tibetan people's devout Buddhist practices contribute to a variety of folk customs that promote health and well-being.
- The influence of Tibetan health culture, rooted in Buddhism, extends beyond their communities and highlights the importance of exploring and sustaining these practices.