Publications by authors named "Zhang Cai"

High atomic number elements-based X-ray computed tomography (CT) contrast agents offer a promising solution to address the inherent deficiencies of FDA-approved iodine contrast agents. However, they face substantial challenges in balancing imaging performance, safety, and large-scale production for clinical translation. Herein, inspired by the history of clinical gadolinium- and iodine-based contrast agents, we report a large-scale approach for synthesizing non-ionic bismuth (Bi) chelate for high-performance CT imaging in vivo.

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Cytochrome P450 plays key roles in the biotransformation of endogenous and exogenous chemicals including drugs and environmental pollutants. The inhibition and downregulation of P450s can have therapeutic effects, and/or modulate drug metabolism. P450s are largely inhibited by small molecules; however, this strategy is often hampered by intrinsic toxicity and drug-drug interactions.

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Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Guilong prescription (, GL) on chronic prostatitis (CP) and unravel the underlying mechanisms of its pharmacological effects.

Methods: The composition of GL was determined linear ion trap/electrostatic field orbital trap tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry, and the identified compounds were performed network pharmacological analysis to predict possible pathways of the effects of GL on CP. A CP rat model was established by carrageenan, and rats were randomly assigned into a Control group, Sham group, CP group, GL low dose (3.

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Acute liver injury is a common hepatic condition that, without timely diagnosis and treatment, can easily progress to life-threatening liver failure. Identifying key biomolecular changes in the pathogenesis of liver injury is critical for the precise diagnosis of hepatic injury. In this study, we identified novel molecular fingerprints associated with hepatic injury using artificial intelligence-assisted Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology.

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Tripartite motif-containing 47 (TRIM47) is a member of the TRIM family, which has E3 ligase activity and has been demonstrated to be involved in tumor development. In this work, we found that TRIM47 is highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) tissues. TRIM47 overexpression promoted HNSCC cell proliferation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Qingwen Zhike prescription (QWZK) is a traditional Chinese medicine developed for COVID-19 and has shown effectiveness, but its antiviral components and how they work are not fully understood.
  • A study identified 279 components in QWZK, finding that 49 were present in rat serum and lungs, with 26 in high abundance in the lungs.
  • The research discovered two alkaloids (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine) and five flavonoids that effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2, damaging the virus's structure and preventing it from infecting cells, suggesting these seven compounds are key in QWZK's antiviral action.
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Purpose: A considerable body of evidence indicated that interpersonal relationships were significantly associated with short-form video addiction (SFVA) among adolescents, but how they are related on a symptom level at different ages remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the central symptoms of SFVA and distinct associations between three primary interpersonal relationships (ie, teacher-student relationships, parent-child relationships, peer relationships) and SFVA symptoms in early and middle adolescence.

Participants And Methods: After completing scales of SFVA, teacher-student relationship, parent-child relationship and peer relationship in 2022, a sample of 1579 fourth-grade students (age range: 10-12; = 10.

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Radiotherapy (RT) can trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells and release adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to activate antitumor immunity. However, the formation of immunosuppressive adenosine (ADO) mediated by ectonucleotidases including CD39 and CD73, can exacerbate the immunosuppressive effects. Herein, a radiosensitizer-based metal-organic framework (MOF) composed of bismuth (Bi) and ellagic acid (EA) was synthesized in situ on the surface of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) to serve as a carrier for the CD39 inhibitor sodium polyoxotungstate (POM-1).

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  • LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) plays a crucial role in the immune response to invading pathogens, but its activation mechanisms are not fully understood.* -
  • The study identifies programmed cell death 6 (PDCD6) as a negative regulator of LAP; its absence enhances bactericidal activity and LAP formation in mice and macrophages.* -
  • The PDCD6-LDHA-lactate-RUBCN interaction influences innate immunity, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for improving defense against infections.*
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Dynamic real-time detection of dendritic cell (DC) maturation is pivotal for accurately predicting immune system activation, assessing vaccine efficacy, and determining the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The heterogeneity of cells underscores the significance of assessing the maturation status of each individual cell, while achieving real-time monitoring of DC maturation at the single-cell level poses significant challenges. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) holds great potential for providing specific fingerprinting information of DCs to detect biochemical alterations and evaluate their maturation status.

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Depression is characterized by both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Exosomes (Exo) have been shown to function as inhibitors of inflammation and promoters of neurogenesis. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid, can combat depression by increasing levels of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA).

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  • Childhood sleep quality is influenced by factors such as maternal stress during pregnancy and can predict later health outcomes.
  • The study examined data to understand how prenatal stress relates to sleep quality in children aged 4-8, finding that both prenatal and postnatal stress have significant effects.
  • Results indicate that postnatal stress mediates the impact of prenatal stress on sleep issues, highlighting the need for further research on maternal mental health and child sleep disturbances.
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  • The study investigates how achievement motivation influences the development of educational practice abilities among pre-service teachers, based on Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model.
  • A survey involving 1,225 pre-service teachers in Anhui Province, China, was conducted using multiple scales to measure achievement motivation, professional identity, learning engagement, and educational practice ability.
  • Results show that achievement motivation positively predicts educational practice ability and that professional identity and learning engagement mediate this relationship, indicating a chain effect in how motivation impacts teaching capabilities.
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  • Cancer immunotherapy uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer, but it often suffers from low response rates, limiting its effectiveness.
  • Recent studies focus on metal-based biomaterials that can boost anti-tumor immune responses without causing harmful side effects.
  • The review categorizes different bioactive metals, explores their immune regulatory mechanisms, and discusses their potential to improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes, while also addressing future challenges.
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Poultry meat, an essential source of animal protein, requires stringent safety and quality measures to address public health concerns and growing international attention. This review examines both direct and indirect factors that compromise poultry meat quality in intensive farming systems. It highlights the integration of rapid and micro-testing with traditional methods to assess meat safety.

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Understanding the dynamics of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) in the productive continental marginal sea surrounding Antarctica is crucial for elucidating the effect of this sea on the global carbon cycle. We analyzed 31 surface sediment samples and eight sediment cores collected from Prydz Bay (PB) and the adjacent basin area. The element and stable isotope compositions, grain size compositions, and biogenic silica and lithogenic minerals of these samples were used to evaluate the spatial variations in the sources, transport mechanisms, and preservation patterns of SOC, with a particular focus on the efficiency of the biological carbon pump (BCP).

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  • This study explores how miR-29 affects lipid metabolism in dairy cows by categorizing 32 cows into groups based on liver triglyceride content: healthy, mild fatty liver, and moderate fatty liver.
  • Dairy cows with moderate fatty liver exhibited increased lipid buildup and elevated liver enzyme levels, while healthy calves had isolated hepatocytes tested with sodium oleate under different conditions.
  • The results indicated that inhibiting miR-29 reduced lipid accumulation and liver enzyme levels, suggesting that miR-29 could be integral to understanding fatty liver disease in dairy cows.
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Recently discovered epigenetic modification lysine lactylation contributes to tumor development and progression in several types of cancer. In addition to the tumor-intrinsic effects, histone lactylation may mediate tumor microenvironment remodeling and immune evasion. In this study, we observed elevated pan-lysine lactylation and histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18la) levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues, which was positively correlated with poor patient prognosis.

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Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol substance contained in many plants, which has good antioxidant activity. This experiment aimed to explore the protective effects of CGA on hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced inflammatory response, apoptosis, and antioxidant capacity of bovine intestinal epithelial cells (BIECs-21) under oxidative stress and its mechanism. The results showed that compared with cells treated with HO alone, CGA pretreatment could improve the viability of BIECs-21.

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The prevalence of excessive drinking-related alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is rising, yet therapeutic options remain limited. High alcohol consumption and consequent oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) can lead to extremely high levels of reactive oxygen species, which overwhelm cellular defenses and harm hepatocytes. Our previous investigations showed that inhibiting using RNA interference reduced the incidence of ALD.

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Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of breast fibroadenoma in different studies.

Methods: Studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of US-guided HIFU in the treatment of histologically-proven FA with follow-up outcomes of more than 3 months were searched through MEDLINE/PubMed databases. Volume reduction rate (VRR) and side effects were extracted and compared for further analysis.

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The integrity of colonic gland cells is a prerequisite for normal colonic function and maintenance. To evaluate the underlying injury mechanisms in colonic gland cells induced by excessive fluoride (F), forty-eight female Kunming mice were randomly allocated into four groups and treated with different concentrations of NaF (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg F/L) for 70 days. As a result, the integrity of the colonic mucosa and the cell layer was seriously damaged after F treatment, as manifested by atrophy of the colonic glands, colonic cell surface collapse, breakage of microvilli, and mitochondrial vacuolization.

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