Publications by authors named "Zhijian Wei"
Due to the uncertain differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), replenishing lost neurons by endogenous neural differentiation to repair spinal cord injury (SCI) remains challenging. The electrical stimulation-induced drug release is a promising approach for the localized and controlled release of drugs to regulate the differentiation of NSCs into neurons. Here, we developed Zn-PDA@BT nanoparticles acted as Trojan Horse to enter cells through endocytosis for Zn-controlled release therapy by the potentials generated by the piezoelectric effect.
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- * Senescent cells produce various factors (the SASP) that impact nearby cells and immune activity, particularly in the central nervous system.
- * The text discusses how senescence relates to central nervous system development, aging, degeneration, and injury, suggesting it could inform new treatment approaches for related diseases.
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- - Infected bone defects are challenging to treat, as traditional methods often lack effective materials that combine anti-infection properties with mechanical strength and promote bone growth.
- - The study developed a new treatment using a vancomycin-encapsulated hydrogel paired with a 3D-printed titanium implant that has microscopic pores to enhance healing and drug release.
- - Tests on infected rabbit bone defects showed that this innovative approach possesses strong antibacterial properties and can effectively support bone integration, making it a promising solution for treating infected bone defects.
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- Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor, and the study investigates the role of CASC19, a new biomarker, in promoting tumor invasion and metastasis via its interaction with miR-491-5p and HMGA2.
- The research involved analyzing clinical samples and various cellular assays to understand how inhibiting CASC19 affects GC cell functions such as proliferation and invasion, as well as to clarify the regulatory relationships between CASC19, miR-491-5p, and HMGA2.
- Results indicated that CASC19 is linked to tumor progression factors, and its knockdown suppresses GC cell growth and promotes apoptosis, while miR-491-5p can inhibit GC cell proliferation and EMT
Background: Acute respiratory failure is the main clinical manifestation and a major cause of death in patients with COVID-19. However, few reports on its prevention and control have been published because of the need for laboratory predictive indicators. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of hematocrit level, serum albumin level difference, and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory failure.
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- - The rapid growth of large AI models and the need for advanced computing, fueled by fields like quantum computing, highlight the limitations of traditional computing methods as Moore's Law nears its end.
- - Neuromorphic computing, which mimics brain function with artificial neurons, is gaining attention as a promising alternative, particularly through innovations in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that enable supersonic artificial neural networks with low heat and high efficiency.
- - Despite the promise of neuromorphic photonic systems, they currently face challenges in achieving the necessary speed and energy efficiency, prompting explorations into new technologies and materials to ultimately enhance their viability against conventional computers.
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- Activation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) can promote healing after spinal cord injuries, but methods to regulate these cells are limited.
- This study found that nicotinamide riboside enhances the growth of NSCs and helps them differentiate into neurons, leading to improved lower limb motor function after injury.
- The mechanism behind this involves the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway through the LGR5 gene, as blocking this pathway hinders the effects of nicotinamide riboside on NSC proliferation.
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- Neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation offers a promising method for treating spinal cord injuries (SCI), but challenges like inflammation and NSC differentiation hinder its effectiveness.
- A novel delivery system combining magnetic nanoparticles and methylprednisolone is designed to enhance NSC function by managing inflammation and promoting neuron formation.
- Experiments show that this system improves recovery in SCI mice, leading to reduced inflammation and increased functional neurons, paving the way for better clinical applications in SCI treatment.*
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- Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a challenging condition due to complex inflammation and limited natural healing, making recovery of neurological function difficult.
- A new double-crosslinked conductive hydrogel (BP@Hydrogel) containing black phosphorus can generate electrical signals when placed in a rotating magnetic field, which helps simulate the spinal cord's electrical environment and aids in nerve repair.
- The BP@Hydrogel demonstrates good compatibility with cells, reduces inflammation, and promotes the growth of new neurons in laboratory and animal studies, showing promise for enhancing recovery in SCI.
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- Early detection and treatment are vital for improving outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC), but current screening methods lack accuracy, prompting researchers to analyze folate receptor-positive circulating tumor cells (FR + CTC) as a potential screening tool.* -
- The study analyzed data from 103 CRC patients and 54 patients with benign colorectal conditions, finding that FR + CTC levels were significantly higher in CRC patients and correlated with various tumor characteristics, achieving a sensitivity of 85.4% and specificity of 74.1% for CRC diagnosis.* -
- The research suggests that FR + CTC counting is not only effective for CRC screening but also helpful in predicting tumor stages and informing treatment decisions, particularly showing strong
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- Spinal cord injuries result in lasting loss of sensory and motor functions, and existing treatments are ineffective, highlighting the need for new therapies.
- A novel composite patch made of a nanofiber scaffold and hyaluronic acid hydrogel was developed to deliver exosomes and methylprednisolone non-invasively to injured spinal cords, showing good stability and low toxicity.
- In both lab and animal studies, this patch improved nerve function and reduced inflammation by promoting beneficial macrophage activity and decreasing nerve cell death, suggesting its potential as a clinical treatment for spinal cord injuries.
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- Surgical resection is the primary treatment for breast cancer, but leftover tumor cells and a suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) can lead to recurrence and metastasis after surgery.
- A new injectable zwitterionic hydrogel system has been developed to deliver drugs locally, enhance immune responses, and reduce tumor recurrence by combining a chemotherapy drug (doxorubicin) with nanoparticles and a STING pathway activator.
- This hydrogel system releases the STING agonist to stimulate immune signaling before targeting leftover cancer cells, leading to better tumor cell death and improved immune cell activation, which helps prevent the return of cancer post-surgery.
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- Complete transverse peripheral nerve injuries are tough to treat, but exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells may enhance tissue regeneration and nerve repair.
- A 3D composite conduit, combining a collagen/hyaluronic acid sponge with a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) tube, has previously shown promise in promoting nerve cell growth.
- This study found that using the 3D conduit loaded with exosomes significantly improved nerve regeneration and motor function in rats, suggesting it might be a viable alternative to traditional grafting methods.
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- Drug resistance significantly impacts chemotherapy outcomes for gastric cancer, making it crucial to explore how meiosis-related genes, specifically MND1, influence this resistance.
- Research shows that MND1 is overexpressed in platinum-resistant gastric cancer samples and its interference can slow cancer progression and enhance sensitivity to oxaliplatin.
- The study reveals FOXA1 as a negative regulator of MND1, which interacts with transketolase (TKT) to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway, leading to increased glucose uptake and promoting cancer progression.
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- After spinal cord injury (SCI), the immune system becomes activated, leading to an influx of immune cells into the injured area; however, there is a lack of research on immune subtypes and markers using advanced single-cell sequencing.
- Researchers analyzed spinal cord samples over three time points post-SCI to identify differentiation-related genes and molecular subtypes using various bioinformatics techniques, including pseudo-time analysis and consensus clustering.
- The study discovered two main molecular subtypes (C1 and C2) with differing immune responses and identified three potential biomarkers (C1qa, Lgals3, and Cd63) that could help with diagnostics following SCI.
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- The gut microbiota influences the development and progression of central nervous system diseases through the brain-gut axis, including a potential link to spinal cord injury.
- Studies show that spinal cord injury patients often experience intestinal issues and gut dysbiosis, which can disrupt the intestinal barrier and lead to inflammatory responses.
- Research highlights that targeting the gut microbiota through therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, and dietary changes could enhance recovery and address complications related to spinal cord injury.
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- Preinjury of peripheral nerves enhances axon regeneration in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), with young mice showing a stronger response than older mice, though the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.
- Researchers analyzed gene expression data to identify genes linked to axon regeneration and constructed various networks to investigate potential therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injuries.
- They found significant differences in gene expression between young and old mice, with several genes identified as important for regeneration, and the drug telmisartan was shown to improve axon regeneration by targeting AGTR1.
Article Synopsis
- * It analyzed data from 1,235 patients and identified key independent prognostic factors such as tumor size and specific tumor markers (CEA, CA125, CA19-9).
- * The new score model demonstrated improved predictive accuracy (higher AUC) compared to existing systems, providing a reliable tool for evaluating patient outcomes post-surgery.
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- The study investigates the significance of post-preoperative tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 in predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) following surgery, finding their post-operative increments relate to poorer outcomes.* -
- A total of 562 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were analyzed, revealing that higher increments in these tumor markers after surgery are linked to decreased overall survival rates.* -
- Results indicate that the post-preoperative increments of CEA/CA19-9 are a more reliable prognostic factor than preoperative levels and can improve prognostic models for GC.*
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- Gastric cancer (GC) has a high incidence and mortality rate globally, prompting the exploration of combining traditional medicines like cryptotanshinone (CTS) with the anti-cancer drug trifluorothymidine (FTD) to improve treatment outcomes.
- The study utilized assays to assess how FTD and CTS affect the growth and apoptosis of GC cells and analyzed specific cell cycle phases, DNA incorporation, and protein expression to determine their mechanisms of action.
- Results revealed that both FTD and CTS inhibited GC cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, with their combination showing a synergistic anticancer effect, particularly by manipulating cell cycle phases and enhancing apoptotic processes in the cells.
Background: For the prognosis of patients with early gastric cancer (EGC), lymph node metastasis (LNM) plays a crucial role. A thorough and precise evaluation of the patient for LNM is now required.
Aim: To determine the factors influencing LNM and to construct a prediction model of LNM for EGC patients.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes motor, sensory and automatic impairment due to rarely axon regeneration. Developing effective treatment for SCI in the clinic is extremely challenging because of the restrictive axonal regenerative ability and disconnection of neural elements after injury, as well as the limited systemic drug delivery efficiency caused by blood spinal cord barrier. To develop an effective non-invasive treatment strategy for SCI in clinic, we generated an autologous plasma exosome (AP-EXO) based biological scaffold where AP-EXO was loaded with neuron targeting peptide (RVG) and growth-facilitating peptides (ILP and ISP).
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- Gastric cancer (GC) often leads to recurrence and peritoneal dissemination even after surgical resection, making it crucial to remove residual cancer cells during surgery.
- A study evaluated the long-term effects of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) combined with chemotherapy in 150 patients with advanced GC, comparing outcomes with a standard procedure.
- Results showed that patients who underwent EIPL had better overall survival rates (71.0% at 1 year and 26.5% at 3 years) and fewer complications compared to those who had standard lavage, highlighting EIPL as an important prognostic factor.
Background: Nearly 66% of occurrences of gastric cancer (GC), which has the second-highest death rate of all cancers, arise in developing countries. In several cancers, the predictive significance of inflammatory markers has been established.
Aim: To identify clinical characteristics and develop a specific nomogram to determine overall survival for GC patients.
Article Synopsis
- The inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI) can worsen the condition due to inflammatory factors and macrophage polarization towards an unhealthy M1 type.
- Ang-(1-7), generated from Ang II, interacts with the Mas receptor (MasR) to help modulate inflammation and reduce oxidative stress.
- Research on rats indicates that activating the Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis enhances recovery from inflammation and injury by shifting macrophage polarization towards a healthier M2 type and improving functional outcomes through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.