Publications by authors named "YongChun Zhang"

Article Synopsis
  • Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with low survival rates, prompting research into targeted therapies like a combination of nimotuzumab, bevacizumab, radiotherapy, and temozolomide.
  • A study conducted on 18 GBM patients showed promising results with a one-year progression-free survival rate of 77.8% and an overall survival rate of 94.4% over a median follow-up of 23 months.
  • The treatment was found to be effective and safe, with manageable adverse events, although further studies are necessary to validate these findings.
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Long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2), caused by mutations in the KCNH2 gene, is an inherited ion channel disorder associated with sudden death in adolescents. In this study, we generated a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line XXMUFAi001-A using non-integrative Sendai reprogramming technology from an individual carrying a heterozygous point mutation (c.2690 A>C) in KCNH2.

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Yeast β-glucan exhibits dramatic potential as wound healing regent owing to its various biological properties including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. But, the poor water solubility of yeast β-glucan limits its application. In this study, some carboxymethylated yeast β-glucans (CMGs) with different substitution degree was prepared.

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The formation of transcription regulatory complexes by the association of Smad4 with Smad2 and Smad3 (Smad2/3) is crucial in the canonical TGFβ pathway. Although the central requirement of Smad4 as a common mediator is emphasized in regulating TGFβ signaling, it is not obligatory for all responses. The role of Smad2/3 independently of Smad4 remains understudied.

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This study investigated the expression of calretinin (CR) in the mouse cochlea from embryonic day 17 (E17) to adulthood through immunofluorescence. At E17, CR immunoreactivity was only detected in the inner hair cells (IHCs). At E19, the IHCs and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) begin to express CR.

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Airway mucous cell metaplasia is a significant feature of many chronic airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and asthma. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. Here, we employed in vivo mouse genetic models to demonstrate that Hippo and p53 (encoded by Trp53) cooperate to modulate the differentiation of club cells into goblet cells.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aberrant cell fate transitions can lead to cancer, and p63 is identified as a key factor in determining cell type in esophageal development, specifically between squamous and neuroendocrine lineages.
  • Deleting p63 in developing mice and human stem cells leads to increased neuroendocrine differentiation, suggesting that this transcription factor is crucial for maintaining proper cell identity.
  • In esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma, p63 is silenced by EZH2-mediated trimethylation, but reactivating p63 can promote a return to squamous cell characteristics, highlighting its role in cancer progression.
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Lilium 'Siberia' is a commercially significant cut flower worldwide with an elegant shape and appealing scent, originating from the release of monoterpenes. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying lily monoterpenes has been largely unexplored. Here, a MYB transcription factor from 'Siberia' petals, LiSRM1, whose expression was negatively associated with monoterpene release.

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Lilium spp. is a world-famous bulbous flower with outstanding ornamental, edible, and medicinal value. Evaluating the taste of edible lilies and identifying important active substances and genes are necessary for germplasm improvement, new variety breeding, and industrial application.

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Objective: To establish a predictive scoring model for bladder neck contracture (BNC) after laparoscopic enucleation of the prostate with preservation of the urethra (Madigan surgery) and explore the preventive measures against this postoperative complication.

Methods: We included 362 cases of BPH treated by laparoscopic Madigan surgery from January 2019 to March 2022 (45 with and 317 without postoperative BNC) in the training group and another 120 cases treated the same way in the verification group, collected the clinical data on the patients and evaluated the results of surgery. Using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression, we analyzed the risk factors for postoperative BNC and constructed a predictive scoring model for evaluation of the factors.

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Article Synopsis
  • * An eight-year study tested seven different fertilizer treatments, revealing that all treatments accelerated soil acidification, with N fertilization causing the most significant pH drop.
  • * Organic fertilizers showed the least impact on pH reduction, while also enhancing soil cation exchange and buffering capacity; the study identified nitrogen input and soil mineral content as key factors affecting pH changes.
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Bletilla striata, valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties, remains largely unexplored in terms of how light intensity affects its physiology, biochemistry, and polysaccharide formation. In this 5-month study, B. striata plants were exposed to three different light intensities: low light (LL) (5-20 μmol m·s), middle light (ML) (200 μmol m·s), and high light (HL) (400 μmol m·s).

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Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, and more than one-third of the patients have already developed to a locally advanced stage at initial diagnosis. After standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy, recurrence still occurs in 29-38% of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), and the 5-year survival rate of patients with recurrence is only 3.8-13.

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The massive burning of fossil fuels has been important for economic and social development, but the increase in the CO concentration has seriously affected environmental sustainability. In industrial and agricultural production, light olefins are one of the most important feedstocks. Therefore, the preparation of light olefins by CO hydrogenation has been intensively studied, especially for the development of efficient catalysts and for the application in industrial production.

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Basal progenitor cells are crucial for maintaining foregut (the esophagus and forestomach) homeostasis. When their function is dysregulated, it can promote inflammation and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unclear.

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Background: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of different chemotherapy regimens concurrent with radiotherapy in treating locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

Methods: Retrospective data was collected from LACC patients who were treated at our institution. These patients were categorized into three groups: the single-agent cisplatin (DDP) chemoradiotherapy group, the paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP) chemoradiotherapy group, and the nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab-) paclitaxel combined with cisplatin (nPP) chemoradiotherapy group.

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Oxidative damage is an important cause of aging. The antioxidant and anti-aging activities of Longan polysaccharides, especially purified Longan polysaccharides, have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-aging activities and mechanisms of crude polysaccharides and purified polysaccharides from Longan.

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Background: Several plants are facing drought stress due to climate change in recent years. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of varying watering frequency on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Hosta 'Guacamole'. Moreover, we investigated the effect of high-nitrogen and -potassium fertilizers on alleviating the impacts of drought stress on the morphology, photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence, fast chlorophyll a fluorescence transient, JIP-test parameters, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging system for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this species.

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In recent years, overuse of chemical fertilization has led to soil acidification and decreased rice yield productivity in southern China. Biochar and manure co-application remediation may have positive effects on rice yield and improve acid paddy soil fertility. This study was conducted to understand the effects of co-application of wood biochar and pig manure on rice yield and acid paddy soil quality (0-40 cm soil layers) in a 5-year field experiment.

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Calcium nitrate addition is economically viable and highly efficient for the in-situ treatment of contaminated sediment and enhancement of surface water quality, particularly in rural areas. However, conventional nitrate addition technologies have disadvantages such as excessive nitrate release, sharp ammonium increase, and weakened sulfide oxidation efficiency owing to rapid nitrate injection into the sediment. To resolve these defects, we propose a piped-slow-release (PSR) calcium nitrate dosing method and investigate its treatment efficiency and underlying mechanisms.

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The incorporation of straw with decomposing inoculants into soils has been widely recommended to sustain agricultural productivity. However, comprehensive analyses assessing the effects of straw combined with decomposing inoculants on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, net primary production (NPP), the net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), and the carbon footprint (CF) in farmland ecosystems are scant. Here, we carried out a 2-year field study in a wheat cropping system with six treatments: rice straw (S), a straw-decomposing Bacillus subtilis inoculant (K), a straw-decomposing Aspergillus oryzae inoculant (Q), a combination of straw and Bacillus subtilis inoculant (SK), a combination of straw and Aspergillus oryzae inoculant (SQ), and a control with no rice straw or decomposing inoculant (Control).

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Basal progenitor cells serve as a stem cell pool to maintain the homeostasis of the epithelium of the foregut, including the esophagus and the forestomach. Aberrant genetic regulation in these cells can lead to carcinogenesis, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating the function of basal progenitor cells remain largely unknown.

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Background: Corneal alkali burns can lead to ulceration, perforation, and even corneal blindness due to epithelial defects and extensive cell necrosis, resulting in poor healing outcomes. Previous studies have found that chitosan-based in situ hydrogel loaded with limbal epithelium stem cells (LESCs) has a certain reparative effect on corneal alkali burns. However, the inconsistent pore sizes of the carriers and low cell loading rates have resulted in suboptimal repair outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Gut microbes, which are tiny organisms in our intestines, are really important for our health and can influence cancer development.
  • A specific compound called trans-3-indoleacrylic acid (IDA) from a microbe named Peptostreptococcus anaerobius can help colorectal cancer (CRC) grow by affecting certain proteins in our body.
  • The researchers found that targeting the way IDA works could be a new way to treat CRC by stopping the cancer cells from growing.
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Human pluripotent stem cell-derived tissue engineering offers great promise in designer cell-based personalized therapeutics. To harness such potential, a broader approach requires a deeper understanding of tissue-level interactions. We previously developed a manufacturing system for the ectoderm-derived skin epithelium for cell replacement therapy.

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