Publications by authors named "Zhenxi Li"

Luminal breast cancer exhibits a high incidence of bone recurrence when metastasizing to distant organs. The mechanisms underlying the organotropism of luminal breast cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of WWP1 (WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1)-PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten) interaction in bone tropism in luminal breast cancer.

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The ever-increasing demand for safe and high-energy-density batteries urges the exploration of ultrathin, lightweight solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high flexibility, reduced interfacial resistance and excellent processability have been attracting significant attentions. However, reducing the thickness of SPEs to be comparable with that of commercial separators increases the risk of short-circuiting.

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  • A new copper-based metal-organic framework called NH-Cu-MOF has been developed as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial material.
  • This framework is effective against various types of bacteria, including both gram-positive (like S. aureus) and gram-negative (like E. coli) strains.
  • Animal studies indicate that NH-Cu-MOF is biocompatible with no significant adverse effects, suggesting its potential use in treating infected wounds.
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Purpose: The present investigation focuses on Skin Cutaneous Melanoma (SKCM), a melanocytic carcinoma characterized by marked aggression, significant heterogeneity, and a complex etiological background, factors which collectively contribute to the challenge in prognostic determinations. We defined a novel classifier system specifically tailored for SKCM based on multiomics.

Methods: We collected 423 SKCM samples with multi omics datasets to perform a consensus cluster analysis using 10 machine learning algorithms and verified in 2 independent cohorts.

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Osteoclasts are over-activated as we age, which results in bone loss. Src deficiency in mice leads to severe osteopetrosis due to a functional defect in osteoclasts, indicating that Src function is essential in osteoclasts. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the targets for ∼35% of approved drugs but it is still unclear how GPCRs regulate Src kinase activity.

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Lithium (Li) metal is a highly promising anode material for next-generation high-energy-density batteries, while Li dendrite growth and the unstable solid electrolyte interphase layer inhibit its commercialization. Herein, a chemically grafted hybrid dynamic network (CHDN) is rationally designed and synthesized by the 4,4'-thiobisbenzenamine cross-linked poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate--glycidyl methacrylate) and (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane-functionalized SiO nanoparticles, which is utilized as a protective layer and hybrid solid-state electrolyte (HSE) for stable Li-metal batteries. The presence of a dynamic exchangeable disulfide affords self-heability and recyclability, and the chemical attachment between SiO nanoparticles and the polymer matrix enables the homogeneous distribution of inorganic fillers and mechanical robustness.

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  • - The study investigates large pneumothorax, a rare but serious complication after thoracic and lumbar tumor surgery, focusing on its characteristics and risk factors to develop a management strategy.
  • - Out of 118 patients analyzed, factors such as a history of spinal tumors and intraoperative blood loss were linked to the occurrence of large pneumothorax, with symptoms including chest pain and difficulty breathing.
  • - The authors suggest using specific surgical techniques to repair lung defects and recommend chest CT for diagnosis, emphasizing the need for chest drainage in cases of severe symptoms or large pneumothorax.
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Subclassification of tumors based on molecular features may facilitate therapeutic choice and increase the response rate of cancer patients. However, the highly complex cell origin involved in osteosarcoma (OS) limits the utility of traditional bulk RNA sequencing for OS subclassification. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) holds great promise for identifying cell heterogeneity.

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Bone metastasis is a frequent complication for cancers and an important reason for the mortality in cancer patients. After surviving in bone, cancer cells can cause severe pain, life-threatening hypercalcemia, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and even death. However, the underlying mechanisms of bone metastasis were not clear.

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Although numerous studies on polymeric protective films to stabilize lithium (Li)-metal electrodes have been reported, the construction of self-healing polymers that enables the long-term operation of Li-metal batteries (LMBs) at relatively low temperatures has rarely been demonstrated. Herein, a highly stretchable, autonomous self-healable, and ionic-conducting polymer network (SHIPN) is synthesized as an efficient protective film for LMBs. The network backbone, synthesized from copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)-mono-methacrylate (PEGMMA) and 2-[[(butylamino)carbonyl]oxy]ethyl acrylate (BCOE), is chemically cross-linked via diisocyanate.

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Therapeutics targeting osteoclasts are commonly used treatments for bone metastasis; however, whether and how osteoclasts regulate premetastatic niche and bone tropism are largely unknown. In this study, we report that osteoclast precursors (OPs) can function as a premetastatic niche component that facilitates breast cancer (BCa) bone metastasis at early stages. At the molecular level, unbiased GPCR ligand/agonist screening in BCa cells suggested that R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) and RANKL, through interaction with their receptor LGR4, promoted osteoclastic premetastatic niche formation and enhanced BCa bone metastasis.

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Cancer metastasis, a process that primary tumor cells disseminate to secondary organs, is the most lethal and least effectively treated characteristic of human cancers. Kisspeptins are proteins encoded by the KISS1 gene that was originally described as a melanoma metastasis suppressor gene. Then, Kisspeptins were discovered as the natural ligands of the G-protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) that is also called KISS1R.

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The detection of multiple pesticides in food and environment is of great importance for human health and safety. In this study, the DNA backbone structure and Ag@Au nanoparticles (NPs) to construct a nano-tetrahedron with the help of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect by controlling the formation of SERS hotspots and subsequently realized the simultaneous detection of multiple pesticides. The DNA aptamers corresponding to the three pesticides of profenofos, acetamiprid and carbendazim were embedded into the three edges of the DNA tetrahedral skeleton, and the tetrahedral corners were connected to modify the Ag@Au NPs with different Raman signaling molecules.

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  • - The text discusses the genome sequence of a strain (GD82) of the pathogen *pv.*, responsible for citrus canker, a significant threat to global citrus production.
  • - This particular strain was isolated from a 1982 formalin-fixed citrus leaf with canker lesions from Guangdong Province, China, and has a genome size of over 5 million base pairs with specific G+C content and four circular plasmids.
  • - The GD82 genome is the oldest sequenced from historical specimens in China, contributing valuable information to the existing genome database and aiding research into the evolutionary patterns of *pv.*.
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  • Breast cancer is common and often leads to bone metastasis, particularly in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks specific treatment targets.
  • Betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative SH-479 have shown promise in inhibiting TNBC proliferation and bone metastasis, with SH-479 proving effective against the TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 while sparing normal and other cancer cells.
  • The study found that SH-479 affects cellular behavior by disrupting actin structures, reducing cell migration, and influencing immune cell proliferation in the bone marrow, highlighting its potential as a targeted therapy for TNBC.
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Chlorothalonil (CHL), imidacloprid (IMI) and oxyfluorfen (OXY) are commonly used in combination to increase crop yield. However, these three pesticides are toxic to aquatic organisms and do not easily degrade. In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based lateral flow assay (SERS-LFA) test strip was prepared by combining antibodies with SERS nanotags, and then competitive immune binding was used to detect the three pesticides simultaneously.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease mainly characterized as chronic inflammation of joint. Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in RA progression. G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) and Kisspeptins (KPs), the natural GRP54 ligands encoded by Kiss-1 gene are known to play important roles in immune regulation but the precise role of KP-10/GPR54 in RA remains elusive.

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  • Spinal schwannoma is the most prevalent primary spinal tumor, but its genetic causes and mechanisms are not well understood.
  • This study utilized whole genome sequencing on nine different spinal schwannomas along with paired blood samples to investigate potential molecular mechanisms.
  • Key findings included frequently mutated cancer-related genes and significant somatic copy number alterations, with the Hippo signaling pathway emerging as a likely critical factor in the tumor's development.
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  • Breast cancer has various subtypes, and luminal breast cancer (LBC) is particularly prone to spreading to bones, but the exact reasons are still unclear.
  • Bioinformatics revealed that N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) is highly expressed in LBC and is linked to increased bone metastasis, which includes promoting cell migration and bone-destroying activities.
  • Experiments showed that inhibiting NAT1 can stop these harmful effects, indicating that NAT1 could be a potential target for new treatments and understanding how LBC spreads to bones.
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