Biomedical subjects

Xinyu Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Xinyu Zhao.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus acupressure on the trajectories of multidimensional adverse reactions to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy for breast cancer often induces multidimensional adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms are interrelated and may evolve dynamically, impacting patients' treatment outcomes and quality of life. As non-pharmacological interventions, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and self-acupressure (SA) have shown potential in alleviating symptoms. However, their long-term effects on the joint developmental trajectories of these multidimensional symptoms (nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify potential trajectory class of multidimensional adverse reactions in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to explore the differential effects of TEAS and SA on different trajectory subgroups. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. A total of 189 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were included. The Group-Based Multi-Trajectory Model (GBMTM) was employed to identify joint developmental trajectories of acute/delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), anxiety, depression, and sleep quality during chemotherapy. Subsequently, causal forest was used to analyze the average treatment effects (ATE) of TEAS (vs. control group) and SA (vs. control group) on patients' symptom trajectory. RESULTS: Multidimensional adverse reactions were classified into two heterogeneous trajectories: a "High Symptom Burden-Persistent (HSBP)" type (n = 101) and a "Low Symptom Burden-Relieving (LSBR)" type (n = 88). The persistent high incidence of acute CINV contrasted sharply with the comprehensive relief of other symptoms in the latter group. Causal forest suggested that both TEAS and SA significantly increased the probability of patients being classified into the "LSBR" trajectory. The ATE was 0.147 (95% CI: 0.143, 0.151) for TEAS, slightly lower (P < 0.05) than 0.176 (95% CI: 0.162, 0.190) for SA.  CONCLUSION: Multidimensional adverse reactions in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy exhibit heterogeneity in their trajectories. Both TEAS and SA were associated with a higher probability of patients being classified into a more favorable symptom trajectory-LSBR. The multidimensional trajectory identification with treatment effect estimation may serve as a useful analytical strategy for future longitudinal research in cancer chemotherapy-induced adverse reactions symptom management. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2300077667 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, https://www.chictr.org.cn/ ), Registered 15 November 2023.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Flavoromics-based profiling reveals taste and aroma differences between infant formula and breast milk.

Flavor differences between infant formula (IF) and breast milk (BM) are considered a potential factor affecting infants' acceptance of IF. This experiment employs flavoromics combined with multivariate statistical analysis to systematically compare the flavor profiles of IF and BM. Electronic tongue analysis and amino acid correlation revealed that IF was characterised by pronounced saltiness and umami richness, whereas BM exhibited greater bitterness and astringency. Volatile compound profiling identified five key flavor constituents in IF, predominantly aldehydes such as hexanal and pentanal. In contrast, BM contained a broader array of compounds-including acids, aldehydes, and esters-resulting in a more complex flavor profile. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)-based metabolic pathway annotation, together with fatty acid profiling, suggested that some volatiles may be associated with lipid oxidation, Maillard reaction and sulfur-containing amino acid degradation pathways, offering a theoretical basis for the targeted optimisation of IF flavor.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Electron shuttles facilitate methane-dependent arsenate reduction in paddy soils.

Methane-dependent arsenate reduction (M-AsR) occurs widely in paddy soils and can substantially enhance arsenic mobilization, posing potential ecological risks. However, the role of electron shuttles in this process remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the influence of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) on M-AsR in paddy soils. Fourteen-day incubation showed that 1 mmol/L AQDS facilitated 50.88 % of arsenate reduction and 31.31 % of methane oxidation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that AQDS significantly increased the abundance of functional genes associated with arsenate reduction (arrA, arsC) and anaerobic methane oxidation (mcrA) (P < 0.05). Microbial community analysis revealed that AQDS addition enriched Cloacibacterium, Sphingorhabdus, and Methylocystis, while decreasing the relative abundance of Methylobacter and Methylomonas. These findings indicate that electron shuttles facilitate M-AsR by modulating functional microbial populations, providing valuable insights into arsenic biogeochemistry and the coupled cycling of methane and arsenic in paddy soils.

Methane↗

PubMed2025

Fine mapping of the dominant female sterility gene and novel model of hybrid seed production in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata).

Hybrid breeding based on male sterility requires the removal of male parents, which is time- and labor-intensive; however, the use of female sterile male parent can solve this problem. In the offspring of distant hybridization between Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus, we obtained a mutant, 5GH12-279, which not only fails to generate gynoecium (thereby causing female sterility) but also has serrated leaves that could be used as a phenotypic marker in seedling screening. Genetic analysis revealed that this trait was controlled by a single dominant gene. Further analysis revealed that Bo2g005230, an orthologous gene of LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 (LMI1) in Arabidopsis, was predicted as the candidate gene and was renamed BoLMI1c. Sequence analysis revealed that homoeologous exchange (HE) occurred within the BoLMI1c gene body of 5GH12-279, which resulted in the generation of a novel fusion transcript. Two pairs of primers, N5230-1F/1R and N5230-2F/2R, were designed and successfully used for the identification of different genotypes of BoLMI1c. Transcriptome analysis revealed that BoLMI1c orchestrates the expression of several related biological processes and transcription factors. Furthermore, we found that self-pollination with mason bees produced no seeds in 5GH12-279, whereas the near-isogenic line 5GH12-170 produced seeds that were normal. Therefore, a new labor-saving hybrid seed production system with no need to remove the male parents, which is especially important for mechanized harvest in the future, has been proposed. Our study provides a valuable source of dominant female sterility and suggests the potential utilization of the female sterile line in hybrid breeding for mechanized harvest.

Plant Infertility↗

PubMed2025

Cytogenetics and genomics analysis of cold-hardy perennial wheatgrass: insights into agronomic performance, chromosome composition, and gene expression.

Intermedium wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), a perennial species with extensive root systems and high tolerance to cold, drought, and salinity, is a valuable genetic resource for the development of perennial crops. Over a decade-long selection process, two cold-hardy perennial wheatgrass lines were developed by crossing wheat-Thinopyrum partial amphiploids with Th. intermedium. These lines inherited key traits from Th. intermedium, including plant stature, spike morphology, and postharvest regrowth. Transcriptome-based single-nucleotide polymorphism tracing and sequential multicolor genomic in situ hybridization analyses revealed variations in the chromosome compositions of the perennial wheatgrass lines. The introgression of wheat chromosomes enhanced grain weight and size, while preserving the cold-hardy, perennial characteristics of the wheatgrass lines compared to Th. intermedium. Genome-wide gene expression was generally suppressed in the wheatgrass lines relative to Th. intermedium, particularly in conserved genes. This suppression was especially pronounced in genes involved in cell division and DNA repair pathways. In contrast, genes associated with cold tolerance and the water stress response were upregulated. We identified eight cold-tolerance genes in the Th. intermedium chromosomes and validated three of them, Thint.J05G452200, Thint.J05G452300, and Thint.V05G408900, using qRT-PCR. These genes encode proteins associated with cold tolerance and are potential candidates for further functional validation. Additionally, three chromosomes from homoeologous group 6 were introgressed, carrying six genes potentially associated with superior grain traits. Among them, TraesCS6D02G287800, which encodes a specific protein, exhibited high expression levels in both wheatgrass lines, suggesting its critical role in enhancing grain traits. Our results indicate that the suppression of grass gene expression, likely due to the introgression of wheat chromosomes and the upregulation of pathways related to cold tolerance and overwintering ability, contributes to the adaptive features of the wheatgrass lines. This study provides a genomic foundation for understanding gene expression regulation in distant hybrid progeny and offers valuable insights for designing new breeding strategies for perennial wheat or wheatgrass.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

PubMed2024

Synergistic removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons and antibiotic resistance genes in Yellow River Delta wetlands contaminated soil composting regulated by biogas slurry addition.

The interactive effects between the emerging contaminant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the traditional pollutant total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in contaminated soils remain unclear. The synergistic removal of TPHs and ARGs from composted contaminated soil, along with the microbial mechanisms driven by the addition of biogas slurry, have not yet been investigated. This study explored the impact of biogas slurry on the synergistic degradation mechanisms and bacterial community dynamics of ARGs and TPHs in compost derived from contaminated soil. The addition of biogas slurry resulted in a reduction of targeted ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) by 9.96%-95.70% and 13.32%-97.66%, respectively. Biogas slurry changed the succession of bacterial communities during composting, thereby reducing the transmission risk of ARGs. Pseudomonas, Cellvibrio, and Devosia were identified as core microorganisms in the synergistic degradation of ARGs and TPHs. According to the partial least squares path model, temperature and NO3- indirectly influenced the removal of ARGs and TPHs by directly regulating the abundance and composition of host microbes and MGEs. In summary, the results of this study contribute to the high-value utilization of biogas slurry and provide methodological support for the low-cost remediation of contaminated soils.

Composting↗