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Articles by Yi Zhang in JoVE
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Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
Yuetian Zhang*1, Yi Pan*1, Hiroaki Matsunami2,3, Hanyi Zhuang1,4
1Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 2Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 3Department of Neurobiology, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 4Institute of Health Science, Chinese Academy of Science/Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Characterizing the function of odorant receptors serves an indispensable part in the deorphanization process. We describe a method to measure the activation of odorant receptors in real time using a cAMP assay.
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A Rat Model of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Using a Novel Magnetic Anastomosis Technique for Suprahepatic Vena Cava Reconstruction
Lifei Yang*1,2, Jianwen Lu*1,2,3, Yue Wang1,2,3, Mei Zhang1,2,3, Yuan Shi4, Shasha Wei1,2, Peng Liu1,2,3, Zheng Wu3, Yi Lv1,2,3, Rongqian Wu1,2
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The reconstruction of the suprahepatic vena cava (SHVC) remains a difficult step in rat orthotopic liver transplantation. In this article, we show a step-by-step protocol for SHVC reconstruction in rats using a novel magnetic anastomosis technique.
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Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Hongwei Ji1, Jing Xiong1, Shikai Yu1, Chen Chi1, Bin Bai1, Jiadela Teliewubai1, Yuyan Lu1, Yi Zhang1, Yawei Xu1
1Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine
This protocol describes a method to standardize the measurements of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity to evaluate arterial stiffness.
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Microhoneycomb Monoliths Prepared by the Unidirectional Freeze-drying of Cellulose Nanofiber Based Sols: Method and Extensions
Zheng-Ze Pan1,2, Hirotomo Nishihara3, Wei Lv1, Cong Wang1,2, Yi Luo1,2, Liubing Dong1,2, Houfu Song1,4, Wenjie Zhang2, Feiyu Kang1,2,4, Takashi Kyotani3, Quan-Hong Yang1,4,5
1Engineering Laboratory for Functionalized Carbon Materials and Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Graphene-based Materials, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, 2School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 3Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 4Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, 5School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University
Here, we present a general protocol to prepare a variety of microhoneycomb monoliths (MHMs) in which fluid can pass through with an extremely low pressure drop. MHMs obtained are expected to be used as filters, catalyst supports, flow-type electrodes, sensors and scaffolds for biomaterials.
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In Vitro Differentiation of Mouse Granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)-producing T Helper (THGM) Cells
Yi Lu1,2,3, Xin-Yuan Fu3, Yongliang Zhang1,2
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 2Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 3Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Here, we present a protocol to differentiate murine granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating-factor-producing T helper (THGM) cells from naive CD4+ T cells, including isolation of naive CD4+ T cells, differentiation of THGM, and analysis of differentiated THGM cells. This method can be applied to studies of the regulation and function of THGM cells.
Other articles by Yi Zhang on PubMed
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Effect of a Fixed Combination of Perindopril and Amlodipine on Blood Pressure Control in 6256 Patients with Not-at-goal Hypertension: the AVANT'AGE Study
Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH.
Mar-Apr, 2013 |
Pubmed ID: 23428412 In clinical practice, general practitioners are likely to face hypertensives with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), whose antihypertensive treatment need to be modified. In the present study, 710 general practitioners have each included the first 10 patients with not-at-goal hypertension, for whom they decided to modify their antihypertensive treatment with addition of a fixed combination of Perindopril and Amlodipine at either of its four dosages: 5/5, 5/10, 10/5, or 10/10 mg. In total, 6256 patients were included, with BP measured both at baseline and after 3 months. At the end of follow-up, a mean reduction of 20.3 ± 12.4 mm Hg in systolic BP and 11.3 ± 9.6 mm Hg in diastolic BP were observed, and 62.3% achieved successful BP control. Body mass index and waist circumference were significant determinants of both systolic and diastolic BP reductions (P ≤ .04). Moreover, in addition to baseline BP level, body mass index was the only significant determinant of BP control of systolic, diastolic BP, and of both (P ≤ .04). Addition of a fixed combination of Perindopril and Amlodipine to BP regimen was efficient, in terms of BP control, for 62.3% of those patients with not-at-goal hypertension. Furthermore, baseline BP level and obesity were important influential factors of BP control.
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Characteristics and Future Cardiovascular Risk of Patients with Not-at-goal Hypertension in General Practice in France: the AVANT'AGE Study
Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.).
Apr, 2013 |
Pubmed ID: 23551730 Although many studies focus on patients with resistant hypertension, general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to face patients in clinical practice with not-at-goal hypertension, whose antihypertensive treatment needs to be modified. However, information regarding such patients is limited. In the present study, 710 GPs in France each included their first 10 not-at-goal hypertensive patients, ie, the patients for whom they decided to modify antihypertensive treatment. The study population was composed of 7032 patients (58% men, mean age 62.4±11.5 years). Anthropometric and biologic measurements and clinical data were collected, and vascular age and 10-year cardiovascular risk were estimated by standard formula. Of 7032 participants, cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent, with 15.1% current smokers, 26.1% obese, 22.8% with diabetes mellitus, 35.1% with dyslipidemia, 12.0% with left ventricular hypertrophy, and 4.9% with renal insufficiency. In the subgroup (n=4697) of patients aged between 30 and 74 years and undergoing primary cardiovascular prevention, vascular age was superior (13 to 28 years) when compared with chronological age in different subgroups. The patients' estimated 10-year cardiovascular global risk was 25.3±13.6%, with 16.0±10.5% for coronary heart disease, 8.7±6.8% for myocardial infarction, 5.8±4.5% for stroke, and 6.8±6.6% for cardiovascular mortality. Patients with not-at-goal hypertension in primary care bear a heavy burden of cardiovascular diseases.
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Meta-analysis of Genome-wide Association Studies in East Asian-ancestry Populations Identifies Four New Loci for Body Mass Index
Human Molecular Genetics.
Oct, 2014 |
Pubmed ID: 24861553 Recent genetic association studies have identified 55 genetic loci associated with obesity or body mass index (BMI). The vast majority, 51 loci, however, were identified in European-ancestry populations. We conducted a meta-analysis of associations between BMI and ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms among 86 757 individuals of Asian ancestry, followed by in silico and de novo replication among 7488-47 352 additional Asian-ancestry individuals. We identified four novel BMI-associated loci near the KCNQ1 (rs2237892, P = 9.29 × 10(-13)), ALDH2/MYL2 (rs671, P = 3.40 × 10(-11); rs12229654, P = 4.56 × 10(-9)), ITIH4 (rs2535633, P = 1.77 × 10(-10)) and NT5C2 (rs11191580, P = 3.83 × 10(-8)) genes. The association of BMI with rs2237892, rs671 and rs12229654 was significantly stronger among men than among women. Of the 51 BMI-associated loci initially identified in European-ancestry populations, we confirmed eight loci at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5.0 × 10(-8)) and an additional 14 at P < 1.0 × 10(-3) with the same direction of effect as reported previously. Findings from this analysis expand our knowledge of the genetic basis of obesity.
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Drosophila Muller F Elements Maintain a Distinct Set of Genomic Properties Over 40 Million Years of Evolution
G3 (Bethesda, Md.).
Mar, 2015 |
Pubmed ID: 25740935 The Muller F element (4.2 Mb, ~80 protein-coding genes) is an unusual autosome of Drosophila melanogaster; it is mostly heterochromatic with a low recombination rate. To investigate how these properties impact the evolution of repeats and genes, we manually improved the sequence and annotated the genes on the D. erecta, D. mojavensis, and D. grimshawi F elements and euchromatic domains from the Muller D element. We find that F elements have higher transposon density (25%-50%) than euchromatic reference regions (3%-11%). Among the F elements, D. grimshawi has the lowest transposon density (particularly DINE-1: 2% versus 11%-27%). F element genes have larger coding spans, more coding exons, larger introns, and lower codon bias. Comparison of the Effective Number of Codons with the Codon Adaptation Index shows that, in contrast to the other species, codon bias in D. grimshawi F element genes can be attributed primarily to selection instead of mutational biases, suggesting that density and types of transposons affect the degree of local heterochromatin formation. F element genes have lower estimated DNA melting temperatures than D element genes, potentially facilitating transcription through heterochromatin. Most F element genes (~90%) have remained on that element, but the F element has smaller syntenic blocks than genome averages (3.4-3.6 versus 8.4-8.8 genes per block), indicating higher rates of inversion despite lower rates of recombination. Overall, the F element has maintained characteristics that are distinct from other autosomes in the Drosophila lineage, illuminating the constraints imposed by a heterochromatic milieu.
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Using Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity to Screen for Metabolic Syndrome in Community Populations
Scientific Reports.
Mar, 2015 |
Pubmed ID: 25820176 The aim of this study is to investigate the viability of using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as a primary tool to screen metabolic syndrome (MetS), and to explore the risk factors of MetS in community populations. A total of 1914 subjects completed medical examination in Shanghai. BaPWV was significantly associated with the components of MetS. The area under curve (AUC) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) in total group were 62.50% and 60.00%-65.30% with the appropriate cut-off point being 1435 cm/sec. The AUC (95%CI) of three subgroups (40-50 yrs, 50-60 yrs and over 60 yrs group) were 75.30% (67.48%-83.35%), 63.35% (58.96%-67.60%), 55.37% (51.19%-60.01%), respectively. A clear pattern surfaced in the process of investigation: the younger were the subjects group, the better receiver operating characteristic (ROC) efficacy would emerge; and the higher sensitivity was, the better negative predictive value (NPV) would be. Male gender, high baPWV values, elevated uric acid (UA) and excess hypersensitive C reaction protein (hs-CRP) levels were stayed in the two regression models as the independent risk factors for MetS. We conclude that baPWV may serve as a potential screening tool for MetS at the cut-off point of 1435 cm/sec.
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Genetic Vaccines to Potentiate the Effective CD103+ Dendritic Cell-mediated Cross-priming of Antitumor Immunity
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950).
Jun, 2015 |
Pubmed ID: 25972487 The development of effective cancer vaccines remains an urgent, but as yet unmet, clinical need. This deficiency is in part due to an incomplete understanding of how to best invoke dendritic cells (DC) that are crucial for the induction of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells capable of mediating durable protective immunity. In this regard, elevated expression of the transcription factor X box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) in DC appears to play a decisive role in promoting the ability of DC to cross-present Ags to CD8(+) T cells in the therapeutic setting. Delivery of DNA vaccines encoding XBP1 and tumor Ag to skin DC resulted in increased IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DC (pDC) from skin/tumor draining lymph nodes and the cross-priming of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell responses associated with therapeutic benefit. Antitumor protection was dependent on cross-presenting Batf3(+) DC, pDC, and CD8(+) T cells. CD103(+) DC from the skin/tumor draining lymph nodes of the immunized mice appeared responsible for activation of Ag-specific naive CD8(+) T cells, but were dependent on pDC for optimal effectiveness. Similarly, human XBP1 improved the capacity of human blood- and skin-derived DC to activate human T cells. These data support an important intrinsic role for XBP1 in DC for effective cross-priming and orchestration of Batf3(+) DC-pDC interactions, thereby enabling effective vaccine induction of protective antitumor immunity.
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Angiotensin System Blockade Combined With Calcium Channel Blockers Is Superior to Other Combinations in Cardiovascular Protection With Similar Blood Pressure Reduction: A Meta-Analysis in 20,451 Hypertensive Patients
Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.).
Aug, 2016 |
Pubmed ID: 26778747 The authors aimed to investigate the superiority of angiotensin system blockade (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]) plus a calcium channel blocker (CCB) (A+C) over other combination therapies in antihypertensive treatment. A meta-analysis in 20,451 hypertensive patients from eight randomized controlled trials was conducted to compare the A+C treatment with other combination therapies in terms of blood pressure (BP) reduction, clinical outcomes, and adverse events. The results showed that BP reduction did not differ significantly among the A+C therapy and other combination therapies in systolic and diastolic BP (P=.87 and P=.56, respectively). However, A+C therapy, compared with other combination therapies, achieved a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular composite endpoints, including cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke (risk ratio [RR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.91; P
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Hypertensive Target Organ Damage is Better Associated with Central Than Brachial Blood Pressure: The Northern Shanghai Study
Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.).
Dec, 2017 |
Pubmed ID: 29067767 To compare central and brachial blood pressure (BP) in the association of target organ damage (TOD) in a community-based elderly population, 1599 (aged 71.4 ± 6.1 years) participants in northern Shanghai were recruited. TOD included left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 1556), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (n = 1524), carotid plaque (n = 1558), arteriosclerosis (n = 1485), and microalbuminuria (n = 1516). Both central and brachial BP significantly correlated with TOD. In full-model regression, central BP was significantly associated with all TOD (P ≤ .04), whereas brachial BP was only significantly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and arteriosclerosis (P ≤ .01). Similarly, in stepwise regression, central BP was significantly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, and microalbuminuria (P ≤ .04), while brachial BP was not associated with any TOD. Receiver operating characteristic analyses indicated that central BP identified arteriosclerosis and microalbuminuria better than brachial BP (P ≤ .01). In conclusion, central BP showed superiority over brachial BP in the association of hypertensive TOD in a community-based elderly population.
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Mechanisms of Pulse Pressure Amplification Dipping Pattern During Sleep Time: the SAFAR Study
Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH.
Feb, 2018 |
Pubmed ID: 29287945 The difference in pulse pressure (PP) between peripheral arteries and the aorta, called pulse pressure amplification (PPamp), is a well-described physiological phenomenon independently associated with cardiovascular events. Recent studies suggest that it exhibits circadian variability. Our aim was to detect the factors associated with the circadian variability of PPamp. In 497 consecutive subjects (aged 54 years, 56.7% male, 79.7% hypertensives), we assessed the circadian pattern of peripheral and central arterial hemodynamics by 24-hour evaluation of brachial and aortic blood pressure (BP), augmentation index (AI), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) using a validated oscillometric device (Mobil-O-Graph). All parameters exhibited a circadian variation. Sleep dipping (decrease) pattern was observed for PPamp, brachial and aortic systolic BP, mean BP, and PWV, whereas a rising pattern (higher sleep than wake values) was observed for brachial PP, aortic PP, and AI. The factors independently associated with the less sleep dipping in PPamp were older age, lower height, the use of antihypertensive medication, and sleep decrease in arterial stiffness (PWV), whereas female gender, the presence of hypertension, sleep increase of pressure wave reflections (AI), sleep decrease in heart rate, and mean BP were associated with a greater sleep-dipping in PPamp. These data provide further pathophysiological understanding of the mechanisms leading to PPamp dipping. Several implications regarding the clinical use of the aortic and brachial BP, especially during sleep time, are raised that should be addressed in future research.
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The Prevalence of Central Hypertension Defined by a Central Blood Pressure Type I Device and Its Association with Target Organ Damage in the Community-dwelling Elderly Chinese: The Northern Shanghai Study
Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH.
Mar, 2018 |
Pubmed ID: 29396106 We aimed to investigate the prevalence of central hypertension and its association with target organ damage (TOD). 1983 community-dwelling elderly Chinese people were recruited for this analysis. Brachial and central blood pressure (BP) were measured by an oscillometric device and SphygmoCor (type I device), respectively. Brachial hypertension was defined by brachial systolic BP/diastolic BP ≥140/90 mmHg or using antihypertensive medications. Central hypertension was defined by central systolic BP/diastolic BP ≥130/90 mmHg or using antihypertensive medications. TOD included left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio. In this cohort, there were 563 (28.4%) brachial and central consistent normotension, 46 (2.3%) isolated brachial hypertension, 27 (1.4%) isolated central hypertension, and 1347 (67.9%) brachial and central combined hypertension (BCCH). In analysis of variance, BCCH showed significantly higher levels in all TOD than brachial and central consistent normotension. In multiple logistic regression, all TOD were significantly associated with BCCH (left ventricular hypertrophy: adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence interval] = 2.03 [1.55, 2.68]; left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: 2.29 [1.53, 3.43]; carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity >10 m/s: 3.41 [2.55, 4.58]; urinary albumin-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g: 1.97 [1.58, 2.44]), rather than isolated brachial hypertension or isolated central hypertension. In conclusion, central hypertension was prevalent (69.3%) in this elderly cohort. BCCH was independently and significantly associated with cardiac, arterial, and renal damage. This finding implies that both brachial and central BPs need to be considered for managing hypertension.
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Comparison of Pulse Wave Velocity and Pulse Pressure Amplification in Association with Target Organ Damage in Community-dwelling Elderly: The Northern Shanghai Study
Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension.
Mar, 2018 |
Pubmed ID: 29535455 This study aimed to investigate the discrepancy between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse pressure amplification (PPA) in association with hypertensive target organ damage (TOD) in the elderly. From June 2014 to August 2015, 1599 participants aged >65 years old from communities located in northern Shanghai were recruited. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), peripheral blood pressure (BP), central BP and other TOD indicators, including the ratio of the early ventricular filling velocity (E) to the peak velocity of the tissue Doppler velocity of septal mitral annulus (E/Ea), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima-medium thickness (CIMT), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), were determined for each participant. PPA was defined as the peripheral-to-central pulse pressure ratio. In multivariable linear regression analysis, cfPWV was significantly associated with CIMT (β = 12.83 ± 4.28 μm per SD; P = 0.003) and eGFR (β = -1.85 ± 0.69 ml/min/1.73 m per SD; P = 0.007), whereas PPA was significantly associated with E/Ea (β = -0.25 ± 0.10 per SD; P = 0.01) and LVMI (β = -3.00 ± 0.78 g/m per SD; P
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