Publications by authors named "Zih-Ying Lu"

Saturated fatty acid (SFA) accumulation in liver decreases hepatocyte lipophagy, a type of selective autophagy that degrades intracellular lipid droplets, leading to hepatic insulin resistance (IR), which contributes to simultaneous increases in liver glucose production and fat synthesis, resulting in hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia traits of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1), a cytokine produced by hepatocytes, inhibits autophagy. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that SDF-1 promoted hepatic IR via inhibiting hepatocyte lipophagy during T2DM.

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The activation of the sirtuin1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway has been shown to mitigate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial damage by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Zhongfeng Xingnao Liquid (ZFXN) ameliorates post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). However, the underlying mechanism, particularly whether it involves protecting mitochondria and inhibiting apoptosis through the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, remains unclear.

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Arsenic speciation in freshwater fish is crucial for providing meaningful consumption guidelines that allow the public to make informed decisions regarding its consumption. While marine fish have attracted much research interest due to their higher arsenic content, research on freshwater fish is limited due to the challenges in quantifying and identifying arsenic species present at trace levels. We describe here a sensitive method and its application to the quantification of arsenic species in freshwater fish.

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We report here arsenic speciation in 1643 freshwater fish samples, representing 14 common fish species from 53 waterbodies in Alberta, Canada. Arsenic species were extracted from fish muscle tissue. Arsenic species in the extracts were separated using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS).

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Urban rivers are one of the main water sources for local residents. However, the rapid industrialization and urbanization caused serious heavy metals pollution in urban rivers, which posed harmful impact on human health and ecosystem. In this study, 134 sediment samples were collected from urban rivers in a typical Economic and Technological Development Zone (ETDZ) to evaluate the contamination status, ecological risk, biotoxicity, and potential source of 8 heavy metals including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), plumbum (Pb), and zinc (Zn).

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Persistent toxic substances (PTS) represent a paramount environmental issue in the 21st century. Understanding the concentrations and forms of PTS in the environment is crucial for accurately assessing their environmental health impacts. This article presents a concise overview of the components of PTS, pertinent environmental regulations, and conventional detection methodologies.

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Objective: To explore the influence of abietic acid on the autophagy and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: A rat model of AMI was built by ligation of the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery, and a model of hypoxic cardiomyocyte injury was constructed by treating cardiomyocytes with hypoxia. Western blot assay was used to detect the abundance of proteins related to autophagy and apoptosis, MTT assay was used to measure the viability of cardiomyocytes, and the expression level of miR-30a-5p was detected by qRT-PCR.

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-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCO) is a non-protein sulfur-containing amino acid with a variety of functions. There are few reports on the enzymes catalyzing the biosynthesis of SMCO from -methyl-L-cysteine (SMC). In this study, the flavin-containing monooxygenase gene derived from () was heterologously expressed in BL21(DE3) and the enzymatic properties of the expressed protein were analyzed.

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Biosensors have become powerful tools for real-time monitoring of specific small molecules and precise control of gene expression in biological systems. High-throughput sensors for 1, 4-butanediamine biosynthesis can greatly improve the screening efficiency of high-yielding 1, 4-butanediamine strains. However, the strategies for adapting the characteristics of biosensors are still rarely studied, which limits the applicability of 1, 4-butanediamine biosensors.

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Angiogenesis, a meticulously regulated process essential for both normal development and pathological conditions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the endothelial mechanisms governing its progression. Leveraging the zebrafish model and NgAgo knockdown system to identify target genes influencing angiogenesis, our study highlights the significant role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and its receptor (GIPR) in this process. While GIP has been extensively studied for its insulinotropic and glucagonotropic effects, its role in angiogenesis remains unexplored.

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Skeletal muscle atrophy, manifested by a reduction in muscle size and quantity, is primarily attributed to excessive protein catabolism. FAM129B, an antioxidant protein, has been previously implicated in muscle growth and development in cattle. Aim of this study is to elucidate the role of FAM129B in muscle atrophy.

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N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA is a critical post-transcriptional modification, that dynamically contributes to testicular development and spermatogenesis. Nevertheless, the investigation into the role of m6A in testicular development of sheep remains insufficient. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the m6A transcriptome landscape in the testes of F1 hybrid Southdown × Hu sheep across M0 (0 months old, newborn), M3 (3 months old, sexually immature), M6 (6 months old, sexually mature), and Y1 (1 years old, adult).

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Signaling responses to cytokines are disrupted in clonal hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancies. To better identify specific signaling response alterations in the presence or absence of TET2, we developed a 36-parameter CyTOF panel of both surface marker and phosphoprotein antigens in murine BM. We show diverse, cell-type specific inflammatory cytokine responses in healthy hematopoietic cells.

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Nitrogen heterocyclic antibiotics (NHAs) pollution poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Ozonation (O) pretreatment is beneficial for the removal of total nitrogen (TN) in antibiotics by facilitating subsequent biological treatment. However, nitrogen transformation and bacterial community responses when treating NHAs by O-coupled biological processes remain unclear.

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Despite the development of many effective immunoadjuvants (IAs), the therapeutic efficacy of in situ vaccines for anti-tumor applications remains limited. Inspired by the morphological changes occurring during apoptosis, this study aims to leverage the release process of autologous tumor antigens (ATAs) to enhance the anti-tumor activity of in situ vaccines. We developed five distinct liposomes, each with unique characteristics and functions, incorporating FDA-approved monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) adjuvants into their lipid bilayers.

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Objective: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively review patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and investigate its long-term outcomes, and a novel classification were presented across multiple institutions.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with PTS who underwent endovascular therapy at two institutions between January 2018 and September 2023. Baseline patient demographics, lesion characteristics, and in-hospital and follow-up outcomes were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

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Objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible and fatal interstitial lung disease, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion that disrupts normal alveolar structure. This study aims to explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the promotion of IPF development.

Methods: Firstly, we compared the transcriptome and single-cell sequencing data from lung tissue samples of patients with IPF and healthy individuals.

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Background & Aims: Hepatic ischemia‒reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a critical complication of liver surgery and transplantation that contributes significantly to severe organ failure. GRINA, a calcium-regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein, plays an essential role in controlling the unfolded protein response; however, its role in HIRI remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of GRINA in HIRI and explore its potential as a therapeutic target.

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Background & Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive subtype of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), has limited pharmacological treatment options. Therefore, we aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Methods: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and human liver tissues obtained from patients with MASH were used to identify differentially expressed genes in MASH.

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Background: Understanding gene-environment interactions associated with vitamin D status may refine nutrition and public health strategies for vitamin D deficiency. Recent methodological advances have enabled the identification of variance quantitative trait loci (vQTLs) where gene-environment interactions are enriched.

Objectives: To identify vQTLs for serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) concentrations and characterize potential gene-environment interactions of vQTLs.

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Background: Increasing evidence has documented cortical involvement at all stages of PD. The local vulnerabilities within certain brain regions in PD have been previously demonstrated, whereas its underlying genetic and neurochemical factors remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the spatial spectrum of cortical atrophy in Parkinson's disease (PD) and link these variances in gray matter properties and curvature respectively to putative molecular pathways and neurotransmitter factors.

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Introduction: Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) can cause necrotic enteritis and higher mortality rates in piglets, by impairing the intestinal barrier function. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 40 (BA40) has showed potential ability to reduce C.

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