Publications by authors named "Zi Yi Wu"
Background: Early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses a significant challenge. The absence of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma contributes to the unfavourable prognosis of NPC patients. Here, we aimed to establish a non-invasive approach for detecting NPC using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA).
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- * A study with 274 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients showed that high levels of ofCS-modified CD44 were associated with worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
- * Prognostic nomograms created from these plasma levels can predict patient survival more accurately, indicating that ofCS-modified CD44 could be a valuable independent prognostic marker in lung cancer treatment.
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- The study investigates the reliability and mental health associations of single-item self-rated mental health (SRMH) measures in Chinese populations, using data from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and psychiatric inpatients.
- It found that SRMH demonstrated moderate to good reliability, with a high positive correlation with self-esteem and a negative correlation with depression and other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder and PTSD.
- Overall, the findings support the effectiveness of using single-item SRMH assessments for understanding mental health perceptions in Chinese communities.
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- Various biomarkers, including oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS), are being tested for their effectiveness in detecting multiple cancer types through non-invasive methods, such as analyzing cell-free DNA and circulating proteins.
- In a study, an optimized ELISA was used to measure levels of ofCS in plasma, revealing that cancer patients had significantly elevated levels compared to non-cancer patients across six different cancer types.
- Further validation showed that individuals in the highest risk category had over 27 times greater likelihood of having cancer, with the potential for early detection based on elevated levels of ofCS.
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- Recent research highlights the role of oral microbiota in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a cancer notably linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
- A study involving 303 NPC patients showed that those with the disease had a distinct microbiota profile characterized by lower diversity and specific bacteria like Streptococcus sanguinis, which is associated with increased EBV activity.
- Findings suggest that by producing hydrogen peroxide, S. sanguinis may activate EBV, influencing host cell signaling pathways and potentially contributing to tumor development in NPC patients.
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- The study aimed to create a polygenic hazard score (PHS) to predict who would benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- It involved a retrospective analysis of 1,395 stage I-II NSCLC patients and included a genome-wide association study to derive the PHS from 37 specific genetic markers.
- The results showed that patients with a low PHS had significantly better outcomes with ACT, particularly stage II patients, suggesting that the PHS could help identify those most likely to benefit from chemotherapy.
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- Researchers aimed to find genetic mutations that contribute to the risk of familial nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by studying 13 families with multiple cases of the disease.
- Whole-exome sequencing identified three rare mutations in the POLN gene that showed a strong association with familial NPC and affected the gene’s ability to support viral replication.
- The study concluded that the POLN gene is a susceptibility factor for familial NPC, with mutations leading to decreased protein stability and impaired viral function, highlighting its role in the disease's biology.
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- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is linked to genetic factors and Epstein-Barr virus infection, making genetic counseling essential for high-risk families.
- A study involving whole-exome sequencing of 502 familial NPC patients revealed rare mutations in known cancer genes and identified 6 new susceptibility genes, with RAD54L showing the highest prevalence.
- Findings suggest that individuals with both rare and common genetic variants face significantly higher NPC risk, paving the way for better risk assessment and prevention strategies for those with a family history of the disease.
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- - The paper explores the connection between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and pathological dissociation, highlighting that a significant number of patients with SSDs may also experience dissociative symptoms.
- - In a study of 100 hospitalized SSD patients in Taiwan, over 60% displayed signs of pathological dissociation, with 54% meeting criteria for a dissociative disorder, including three individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.
- - Findings suggest that individuals with dissociative disorders often report more severe trauma and psychotic symptoms, indicating the need for clinical assessments to include dissociative measures for better early identification and treatment.
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- - The study uses a multicomponent multiphase thermal lattice Boltzmann model to analyze how droplets condense in the presence of non-condensable gases, focusing on how interactions among droplets create asymmetric condensation patterns.
- - Findings show that isolated droplet growth exhibits symmetric characteristics, but when droplets grow in patterns, their competition for vapor creates overlapping concentration profiles, leading to asymmetric temperature and flow patterns.
- - Asymmetric condensation not only alters the droplet's surface conditions but can also induce droplet motion, with the degree of this interaction heavily depending on droplet size and distance from one another; the growth rate follows a power law influenced by these interactions.
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- - The study analyzed the EBV genomes of 38 patients with a family history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 47 healthy controls to investigate the viral characteristics associated with familial NPC.
- - Researchers found mutation hotspots in the EBV latent gene regions of familial NPC cases and identified a specific genetic cluster that was significantly more common in these cases compared to controls.
- - Genome-wide association analysis revealed four variants linked to familial NPC, and a set of 34 high-risk EBV haplotypes correlated with an increased risk of familial NPC, suggesting EBV subtypes may play a role in the hereditary nature of the disease.
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- The study investigates the role of oncofetal chondroitin sulfate in tumor development and malaria during pregnancy, focusing on its biosynthesis and tissue-specific expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the placenta.
- Researchers identified significant changes in the expression of chondroitin sulfate biosynthetic enzymes in colorectal adenocarcinomas compared to normal tissues, with specific enzymes upregulated in both cancer and placenta, suggesting potential links to disease outcomes.
- The findings highlight the correlation between chondroitin sulfate enzyme levels, immune response, and key cellular pathways, providing new insights into its role in cancer prognosis and malaria pathogenesis.
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- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (pLELC), a rare lung cancer, but its genomic characteristics in relation to this cancer are not fully understood.
- A study analyzed whole-genome data from EBV isolated in 78 pLELC patients and 37 healthy controls, revealing 3,995 variations, particularly in latent genes, and identified 32 variations significantly associated with pLELC.
- The study established a global overview of EBV genomic profiles in pLELC patients, indicating that the EBV strains from pLELC are more similar to those found in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and showed
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- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer fatalities globally, and effective screening can help reduce its incidence and mortality.
- This study focused on identifying a noninvasive fecal test using specific DNA and bacterial markers to detect CRC and advanced adenomas (AA) more accurately than current methods.
- The newly developed prediction score (pd-score) demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing CRC and AA, showing significant improvement over traditional screening tests like the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
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- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to several cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and gastric cancer, with specific subtypes found predominantly in infected individuals from endemic regions, particularly China.
- A comprehensive analysis of 22 critical viral proteins was conducted using the largest dataset of EBV genomes, revealing a unique 'Chinese-unique' EBV cluster that is significantly more common in NPC patients.
- Newly identified EBV subtypes with specific amino acid changes show a strong association with NPC risk in China, suggesting that certain mutations may help the virus evade the host immune system, contributing to cancer development.
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- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus and is particularly common in southern China; the study examines the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variants in influencing EBV reactivation, a key factor in NPC development.
- A research team analyzed HLA alleles of 1,078 healthy males in the region and assessed EBV Zta-IgA levels, using logistic regression to examine the relationship between HLA variants and EBV activation, considering smoking as a factor.
- Results show that the HLA-DRB1*09:01 allele is associated with increased risk for Zta-IgA positivity, especially in smokers, indicating the need for smoking cessation efforts
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- Distant metastasis significantly contributes to the mortality of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and ATAD2, a member of the bromodomain protein family, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target due to its underexplored role in cancer development.
- The study evaluated the clinical impact of ATAD2 in 187 ESCC patients and found that higher ATAD2 levels were linked to more aggressive cancer characteristics and poorer patient survival, while silencing ATAD2 led to reduced cell migration, invasion, and tumor growth.
- Mechanistically, ATAD2 was shown to interact with the cofactor C/EBPβ, facilitating its activation of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, which ultimately promoted
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- Capecitabine, an oral prodrug used for colon cancer treatment, often causes hand-foot syndrome (HFS), and this study aims to find genetic predictors of CAP-HFS in Chinese colorectal cancer patients.
- Researchers sequenced the TYMS gene in 288 patients, including those with severe HFS and controls without HFS, to analyze any associations between genetic variations and the syndrome.
- The study discovered a new risk mutation and several variants significantly linked to severe HFS, highlighting the potential for these genetic markers to predict HFS risk and clarify its underlying mechanisms.
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- Previous research indicates that sevoflurane postconditioning offers neuroprotective benefits and enhances learning and memory in newborn rats following brain injury due to lack of oxygen.
- In an experiment using the Rice-Vannucci model, rats treated with sevoflurane showed improved cognitive functions and reduced brain damage effects such as astrogliosis and glial scars.
- The mechanism behind these effects involves changes in protein expressions, particularly decreased hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and increased DJ-1, suggesting sevoflurane helps stabilize brain function post-injury.
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- Microglia/macrophages show different polarization patterns after ischemic events, which can influence recovery based on the disease context; this study focuses on how sevoflurane post-conditioning affects these immune cells following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats.
- Using a HIBI model, researchers examined the impact of sevoflurane on microglial/macrophage polarization and identified mechanisms linked to autophagy and the enzyme cathepsin B, analyzing various cell markers to assess neuroprotection and neuronal health.
- Results indicated that sevoflurane treatment reduced inflammatory markers and neuronal cell death after HIBI, leading to improved long-term cognitive outcomes
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- * Recent studies showed that higher EBV levels in the nasopharynx are linked to NPC development, prompting investigations within families at high risk for the disease.
- * Findings revealed significant hereditary contributions to EBV loads, with a heritability estimate of 56.41%, suggesting that genetic factors may play a critical role in NPC susceptibility, especially in families with three or more cases.
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- The study examines the effects of sevoflurane post-conditioning (SPC) on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats, focusing on autophagy's role and the Ezh2-regulated Pten/Akt/mTOR pathway.
- Inhibition of excessive autophagy was found to provide neuroprotection, as evidenced by improved neuronal density and morphology following SPC treatment.
- The research concluded that SPC protects against HIBI by modulating the Pten/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway through Ezh2, which helps reduce over-activated autophagy in the hippocampus.
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- A new method based on correlation coefficients and auto-regression models was proposed to evaluate the significance of hydrological dependence and categorize it into different variability levels.
- Monte-Carlo experiments validated the method, showing that hydrological processes have both random and dependent traits when analyzing observed hydrological time series.
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- Global climate change and human activities are causing increased variability in hydrological data, making traditional analysis methods, which focus only on mean values, ineffective.
- The study proposes a new synthetic duration curve method that accounts for both mean and variance variations when designing the lowest navigable water levels, particularly in dry seasons.
- Results from the Yunjinghong Station in the Lancang River Basin show significant differences in designed water levels when considering variance variation, highlighting its importance for accurate channel planning and design.
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- - Abrupt changes in hydrological processes are significant indicators of climate change, and recognizing these changes accurately is crucial for managing water resources effectively.
- - Traditional methods for detecting change points in hydrology are often unreliable and produce inconsistent results, prompting the need for a new approach.
- - The proposed comprehensive weighted recognition method compares 12 existing change point methods, assigning weights based on their performance; it identified noticeable changes at Jiajiu station in 2004, confirming the method's reliability and alignment with physical hydrological changes.