Publications by authors named "Zhengdong Zhang"
Article Synopsis
- * A study comparing C. tachangensis and C. sinensis found 1056 metabolites, with 256 being differentially abundant, revealing distinct metabolic profiles and unique flavors between the two species.
- * Transcriptomic analysis showed that C. sinensis has more amino acids due to its genetic makeup, while variations in flavonoid levels suggest differences in taste and health benefits between the two types of tea.
Background: The modified Dietary Inflammation Index Score (M-DIS) is a scoring system used to quantify the inflammatory effects of nutrients and foods. Inflammation may affect Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. The purpose of this study was to utilize data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate the relationship between M-DIS and lumbar vertebrae BMD in patients with hypertension.
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- Around 40% of older adults (65+) face memory loss, particularly in episodic memory, raising the need to explore its genetic reasons.* -
- A study of 742 Ashkenazi Jewish individuals revealed links between episodic memory decline and rare genetic variants in the ITSN1 and CRHR2 genes, alongside common Alzheimer's polygenic risk.* -
- The findings suggest that different memory-related issues can arise from rare variants, highlighting new genetic risk factors and the need to understand the biological processes behind them.*
Background: Breast cancer with lung metastases (BCLM) is a serious condition that often leads to early death. This study aims to screen the risk factors of early death in BCLM patients and establish a simple and accurate nomogram prediction model. Identifying prognostic markers and developing accurate prediction models can help guide clinical decision-making.
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- Researchers examined the impact of rare loss-of-function mutations on longevity, focusing on Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians using whole-exome sequencing.
- Centenarians showed a significantly lower burden of LOF mutations (11-22%) compared to control individuals, and this effect was also seen in their offspring.
- The study identified 35 genes with fewer LOF mutations in centenarians, highlighting RGP1, PCNX2, and ANO9 as key longevity genes that positively affect aging-related traits and gene expression changes over time.
Diminished signaling via insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis is associated with longevity in different model organisms. IGF-1 gene is highly conserved across species, with only few evolutionary changes identified in it. Despite its potential role in regulating lifespan, no coding variants in IGF-1 have been reported in human longevity cohorts to date.
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- Escherichia albertii is identified as a new foodborne pathogen linked to diarrhea, primarily transmitted from animals, particularly poultry, but its exact transmission routes to humans are still not fully understood.
- The study involved an E. albertii infected infant with recent poultry exposure, and samples were taken from the infant's contacts, poultry, and the surrounding environment to analyze the transmission dynamics.
- The findings revealed multiple E. albertii strains with genetic similarities primarily between poultry and environmental samples, suggesting that family-breeding poultry could be a significant reservoir, thus highlighting the need for increased surveillance of poultry to assess potential health risks to humans.
Introduction: Major Depression (MD) is a common mental disorder. In East Asian ancestry, the association, causality, and shared genetic basis between blood-based biomarkers and MD remain unclear.
Methods: We investigated the relationships between blood-based biomarkers and MD through a cross-sectional study and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Fine particulate matter (PM) has been identified as a significant contributing factor to the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been observed that PM may induce lung fibrosis in COPD, although the precise molecular mechanism behind this remains unclear. In a previous study, we demonstrated that PM upregulates oxidative stress induced growth inhibitor 1 (OSGIN1), which in turn leads to injury in airway epithelial cells, thereby, suggesting a potential link between PM exposure and COPD.
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- Cigarette smoking directly increases mutation burden in bladder cancer, specifically affecting driver mutations like RB1, which sees a twofold increase in mutation rates among smokers under 65 years.
- The study utilized various genomic databases and experiments to analyze how these mutations influence tumor growth and the immune environment in bladder cancer patients.
- Findings indicate that RB1 mutations hinder the cytochrome P450 pathway and alter immune cell interactions, potentially enhancing cancer development linked to smoking.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how multiple genetic variants, influenced by pleiotropy (where one gene affects multiple traits), contribute to human longevity by analyzing factors like lipid metabolism, BMI, and cognitive performance through genetic data from the UK Biobank.
- - Researchers created an integrated longevity genetic score (iLGS) to identify individuals with exceptional longevity, and their model showed that those in the highest decile could live an average of 4.8 years longer than others.
- - The study also found protein markers linked to exceptional longevity and suggested potential drug repurposing for aging therapies, offering a new way to assess longevity and identify individuals at risk of early mortality.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), particularly PCB153, and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.
- It employs gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to measure plasma levels of 24 POPs, finding that colorectal cancer patients have higher levels of these pollutants.
- The research identifies a genetic variant (rs67734009) that is linked to lower colorectal cancer risk and PCB153 levels, highlighting the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in how POPs may influence cancer risk.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and their genetic variants in the risk and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) using data from over 85,000 PCa cases and 166,000 controls.
- A specific genetic variant, rs17201241, is linked to increased expression of PROPER, a piRNA associated with higher risk and severity of PCa, which works by affecting mRNA interactions and promoting cancer progression through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
- Targeting PROPER has shown potential in suppressing tumor growth in experimental models, suggesting it could be a valuable target for new PCa treatments.
Background: Healthcare settings may amplify transmission of respiratory pathogens, however empirical evidence is lacking. We aimed to describe the spectrum and distribution of respiratory pathogens among healthcare workers in eastern China.
Methods: Healthcare workers were recruited from October 2020 to November 2021 in Jiangsu province.
Article Synopsis
- - Approximately 40% of individuals over 65 experience memory loss, particularly affecting episodic memory, emphasizing the need to understand the genetic factors behind this decline.
- - The research involved analyzing genetic variants in 742 older Ashkenazi Jewish participants, employing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to explore the mechanisms associated with episodic memory decline.
- - Findings revealed both common genetic risks for Alzheimer's Disease and unique rare variants linked to memory issues, highlighting different underlying mechanisms that could lead to varying memory pathologies.
Article Synopsis
- Most patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have a favorable outcome, but lymph node metastasis (LNM) can worsen prognosis, prompting this study to explore its underlying mechanisms.
- Researchers identified 9,000 exosomal circRNAs that were abnormally expressed in PTC patients with LNM, with significant numbers showing upregulation and downregulation, highlighting their potential role in disease progression.
- The study also uncovered specific circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks and key genes that could serve as biomarkers, providing a new perspective for understanding how these exosomal circRNAs impact LNM in PTC patients.
Article Synopsis
- The gene C1GALT1 is linked to gastric cancer, with specific genetic variant rs35999583 G>C shown to potentially influence cancer risk based on a study using genetic data.
- Higher C1GALT1 mRNA levels were found in gastric tumors compared to normal tissues, linked to poorer patient survival rates.
- The research suggests that variations in C1GALT1 could serve as a predictor for gastric cancer risk and may also relate to immune cell activity in the tumor environment.
Article Synopsis
- - The research highlights that left and right colon cancers have unique clinical and molecular traits influenced by their specific tumor environments and cancer cell characteristics.
- - By analyzing over 426,000 single cells from colon cancer patients, two distinct gene expression patterns were identified for left- and right-sided tumors.
- - Left-sided cancers show a strong focus on cell growth and metabolism, while right-sided cancers are linked to immune evasion mechanisms, particularly in smokers, revealing how these tumors interact with their surroundings.
Article Synopsis
- * The created scaffold, made from a Germanium Selenium co-doped polylactic acid and tricalcium phosphate, has both piezoelectric and photothermal capabilities, aiding in nerve and bone regeneration when activated by ultrasound.
- * In tests on rabbits with significant bone defects, the scaffold showed promising results in encouraging bone growth and nerve ingrowth while also releasing anti-tumor selenium to combat osteosarcoma effectively.
Tobacco carcinogens metabolism-related genes (TCMGs) could generate reactive metabolites of tobacco carcinogens, which subsequently contributed to multiple diseases. However, the association between genetic variants in TCMGs and bladder cancer susceptibility remains unclear. In this study, we derived TCMGs from metabolic pathways of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and then explored genetic associations between TCMGs and bladder cancer risk in two populations: a Chinese population of 580 cases and 1101 controls, and a European population of 5930 cases and 5468 controls, along with interaction and joint analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJet fuel is the primary fuel used in the aviation industry, and its quality has a direct impact on the safety and operational efficiency of aircraft. The accurate quantitative detection and analysis of various physicochemical property indicators are important for improving and ensuring the quality of jet fuel in the domestic market. This study used near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to establish a suitable model for the simultaneous and rapid detection of multiple physicochemical properties in jet fuel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of an effective survival prediction tool is key for reducing colorectal cancer mortality. Here, we apply a three-stage study to devise a polygenic prognostic score (PPS) for stratifying colorectal cancer overall survival. Leveraging two cohorts of 3703 patients, we first perform a genome-wide survival association analysis to develop eight candidate PPSs.
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