Publications by authors named "Z John Zhang"

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a major neuropeptide in the brain that functions as a neurotransmitter, hormone, and growth factor. The peptide and its receptors are widely expressed in the brain. CCK signaling modulates synaptic plasticity and can improve or impair memory formation, depending on the brain areas studies and the receptor subtype activated.

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Tumor-specific antigens, also known as neoantigens, have potential utility in anti-cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), neoantigen-specific T cell receptor-engineered T (TCR-T), chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T), and therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs). After recognizing presented neoantigens, the immune system becomes activated and triggers the death of tumor cells. Neoantigens may be derived from multiple origins, including somatic mutations (single nucleotide variants, insertion/deletions, and gene fusions), circular RNAs, alternative splicing, RNA editing, and polymorphic microbiome.

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Purpose: Precise tumor excision is important in breast-conserving surgery (BCS). This study explores the safety and accuracy of fluorescence image-guided BCS (FIGS) using a lidocaine mucilage-ICG compound (L-ICG).

Methods: 54 patients who underwent BCS from August 2020 to September 2023 were enrolled.

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Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. In contrast to non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma is more invasive. Melanoma was distinguished by its rapid progression, high metastatic potential, and significant resistance to conventional therapies.

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a type of hemorrhagic stroke, and the neuroprotective effects of nimodipine following SAH have been well-documented. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, plays a significant role in mitigating oxidative stress in various neurodegenerative conditions. However, the role of SIRT3 in the neuroprotective mechanisms of nimodipine after SAH remains unclear.

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