Biomedical subjects

Yi Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Yi Liu.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Genome assembly and subgenomic interactions in Brassica napus additional lines with an alien B05 chromosome from B. juncea.

Alien chromosome addition lines hold significant value for breeding and genetic research. However, the genetic interaction between the recipient genome(s) and the alien chromosomes remain largely unclear. Here, we analyzed the genomic composition and gene expression of two purple-leaved B. napus alien addition lines carrying chromosome B05 from B. juncea: the monosomic line ZYCB3 (MAAL, 2n = 39, AACC + 1B05) and the disomic line ZY52 (DAAL, 2n = 40, AACC + 2B05). We assembled a chromosome-level genome of the DAAL ZY52 disomic line and characterized its genomic variation and chromosome introgression patterns. In addition to chromosome B05, multiple introgressed fragments derived from the donor B. juncea line ZYJC were identified, revealing extensive genome remodeling during distant hybridization and backcross breeding. We then used multi-omics approaches to explore chromosomal interactions and the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Notably, the addition of chromosome B05 was associated with stronger repression of homoeologous genes on C-subgenome chromosomes than on A-subgenome chromosomes. In ZY52, homoeologous genes on chromosome C01 showed reduced expression, whereas in the ZYCB3 monosomic line reduced expression was observed on both C01 and C02. Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further showed that highly expressed anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (ABGs) on chromosome B05contributed to anthocyanin accumulation and the purple-leaf phenotype in both addition lines. Overall, this study provides new insights into interchromosomal interactions, genome remodeling, and phenotypic variation in alien addition lines.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Comparative analysis of olfactory receptor repertoires reveals evolutionary dynamics and high-altitude adaptation in Schizopygopsis younghusbandi based on the chromosome-level genomes.

The olfactory receptor (OR) gene represent a significant multigene family in vertebrates, forming the core molecular basis of olfactory perception and playing a crucial role in the environmental adaptation of species. High-altitude ecosystems represent extreme habitats characterized by specific abiotic stresses, including low oxygen levels, low temperatures, and intense ultraviolet radiation. These environments also exhibit low aquatic biodiversity and a limited variety of odor molecules, factors that have influenced the adaptive evolution of the sensory systems in endemic species. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying olfactory adaptation in high-altitude freshwater fish remained inadequately understood. In this study, we performed comparative genomics analyses to reveal the evolutionary processes underlying the adaptive and functional evolution of OR genes in S. younghusbandi, a cyprinid fish endemic to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The results indicated that, compared to their low-altitude relatives, S. younghusbandi possessed a significantly smaller number of OR genes, with only 98 genes, which revealed the contraction of the gene family. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the OR genes of cyprinid fish could be categorized into two major lineages: type I and type II. The η and δ families, which perceive water-soluble odors, in S. younghusbandi underwent significant and specific expansion, while the ε family was completely absent. This pattern reflected adaptive changes in olfactory recognition to accommodate the simplified odor spectrum of high-altitude water bodies. Chromosomal localization analysis demonstrated that OR genes were clustered, and collinearity analysis confirmed the presence of conserved genomic fragments among species. Selection pressure analysis revealed that the Ka/Ks values of all homologous gene pairs were less than 1, indicating that the OR genes of S. younghusbandi underwent strong purifying selection as a group to preserve core olfactory function. A few genes exhibited relaxed selection characteristics, which may have facilitated the fine-tuning of adaptability to high-altitude environments. In conclusion, this study elucidated the evolutionary dynamics and adaptive characteristics of the OR gene in S. younghusbandi, offering a new perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory adaptation at high altitudes and enriching the research on sensory evolution in vertebrates.

Schizopygopsis younghusbandi↗

PubMed2026

Transfer Learning across Material Properties Using Center-Environment Features: From Energetics to Mechanical Properties in Multicomponent Mo Alloys.

Transfer learning (TL) provides a viable approach to mitigate data scarcity in materials informatics. While conventional TL focuses on predicting identical properties across different systems, this work demonstrates a cross-property extension of TL from energy to mechanical properties via end-to-end model weight pre-training and fine-tuning: knowledge learned from predicting substitution energies is transferred to predict distinctly different mechanical properties, substantially improving computational efficiency given the typically higher cost of acquiring target-domain data. To accelerate computational alloy design, machine learning models using center-environment (CE) features were first developed to predict substitution energies of alloying elements in molybdenum (Mo)-based alloys. The Random Forest models achieved the optimal performance and transferability-R2 = 0.97, 〈MAE〉 = 0.11 eV, and 〈RMSE〉 = 0.16 eV-against the density functional theory (DFT) benchmark. The model dependency of feature selection and importance analysis was discussed. The transferability of the energy models was validated on unknown systems with new elements. Subsequently, the energy models were fine-tuned using limited mechanical property data to construct energy-to-property (E2P) TL models capable of predicting elastic properties, including bulk modulus, Young's modulus, shear modulus, and elastic constants, achieving an improved accuracy over the non-transferred ML by ∼10-30%, with its transferability verified by additional DFT calculations. This cross-property E2P transfer learning framework opens a new avenue for accelerating computational materials discovery and may be extended to other multiproperty predictions governed by similar physical principles.

center-environment feature↗

PubMed2026

Genetic Evidence Links Sex Hormone-binding Globulin to Total Body Bone Mineral Density at Age 45-60 Years: A Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

The menopausal transition and early postmenopause represent important periods for women's skeletal health, but the genetic relevance of metabolic, behavioral, and hormone-related factors to bone mineral density during midlife remains incompletely understood. This study used publicly available genome-wide association study summary statistics to examine associations between body mass index, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, sex hormone-binding globulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking initiation, and alcohol intake frequency and total body bone mineral density at ages 45-60 years. Exposure genome-wide association study summary statistics were derived from large European-ancestry populations and were not restricted to midlife women, whereas the outcome genome-wide association study captured an age-stratified total body bone mineral density phenotype at age 45-60 years. This age range overlaps with the menopausal transition and early postmenopause in women. Univariable, reverse, and multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses were performed, with inverse-variance weighting as the primary method and complementary sensitivity analyses used to assess heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and result stability. Genetically predicted higher sex hormone-binding globulin was associated with lower total body bone mineral density (β = -0.111, 95% CI: -0.170 to -0.051; P = 0.0003). Reverse Mendelian randomization did not support reverse causation from bone mineral density to sex hormone-binding globulin. Multivariable analyses suggested that this association persisted after adjustment for selected metabolic biomarkers. The other examined exposures did not show consistent evidence of association. These findings provide genetic evidence linking sex hormone-binding globulin to total-body bone mineral density at ages 45-60 years. Further prospective and predictive studies are needed to evaluate its clinical relevance beyond established bone health assessment tools.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative analyses of olfactory receptor repertoires in Schizothorax fish based on the chromosome-level genomes: Implications for regulatory roles of dietary differentiation and ploidy variation.

The olfactory receptor (OR) genes constitute the molecular basis of fish olfaction, mediating survival behaviors and environmental adaptation while coevolving with habitat-driven evolution. Schizothorax, a cyprinid genus endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, exhibits remarkable dietary divergence and ploidy variation in response to plateau environmental changes, which presumably facilitates the adaptive evolution of OR genes. However, the evolutionary patterns of OR genes associated with trophic divergence and ploidy variation in this genus remain unclear. In this study, three species were selected: the herbivorous diploid S. macropogon, the carnivorous diploid S. lantsangensis, and the herbivorous tetraploid S. curvilabiatus. S. macropogon possessed 142 OR genes (92.25% functional), primarily located on chromosomes 14 and 24, with the fewest sequence clusters. Such compact gene repertoire and highly overlapping chromosomal clusters indicated specialization for a herbivorous olfactory niche. S. lantsangensis contained 127 OR genes (93.70% functional), concentrated on chromosomes 4 and 5, with fewer sequence clusters and a scattered distribution, reflecting evolution of OR genes under carnivorous feeding habits. The herbivorous tetraploid S. curvilabiatus exhibited striking features: 316 OR genes (94.30% functional), the most subfamilies, unique ε and κ OR subfamilies, and species-specific motifs. These characteristics revealed that ploidy, rather than herbivory, dominated OR gene evolution. In conclusion, dietary differentiation and ploidy variation together drove olfactory adaptive evolution in Schizothorax, providing new insights into vertebrate OR gene ecological adaptation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Journey Mapping of the Patient Experience from Diagnosis to End of Life in Lung Cancer: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to systematically synthesize the lived experiences and journey narratives of lung cancer patients across disease stages, and identify key tasks and pain points during the disease course through patient journey mapping, providing evidence for comprehensive disease management throughout the patient journey. METHODS: Ten databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and SinoMed, were systematically searched, with a search period from database inception to August 15, 2025. The JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for qualitative studies was used to evaluate the quality of studies, and the results were integrated using a meta-aggregative approach. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included. Based on the patient journey mapping, the lung cancer patient journey comprises four potential stages: evaluation and diagnosis, initial treatment, maintenance therapy, and end-of-life. A total of 30 themes emerged within three dimensions: tasks, emotions, and pain points. Each dimension of each stage consists of 2-3 themes. CONCLUSION: The journey of lung cancer patients is protracted and complex, characterized by stage-specific needs and challenges. Future management strategies should be tailored to these distinct phases, providing precision supportive care to optimize treatment outcomes and enhance patients' quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This Patient Journey Map integrates routine clinical pathways with patients' lived experiences across each stage, revealing stage-specific challenges and providing targets for tailored nursing interventions. The framework promotes multidisciplinary, digitally enabled supportive care and indicates the importance of including patients' social circles to enhance patient-centered outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Identification of a Nonribosomal Peptide Analog With Activity Against Multiple Gram-Positive Bacteria via a Synthetic Bioinformatic Natural Product Discovery Approach.

Nonribosomal peptide (NRP) antibiotics exhibit potent biological activities and are broadly used in clinical therapy. Because most microorganisms are difficult to culture and many antibiotic biosynthetic genes are silent, traditional activity tracking approaches face major limitations in the discovery of novel NRPs. Here, based on a synthetic bioinformatic natural product (syn-BNP) discovery approach that integrates bioinformatics and chemical synthesis, a novel nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster from the genome of Rhodococcus erythropolis D-1 was mined. A putative NRP scaffold synthesized by the NRPS encoded by this cluster was predicted. Through chemical synthesis and four rounds of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, 37 NRP analogs were ultimately generated. Among these analogs, ZURJC28 shows activity against multiple Gram-positive bacteria, including two drug-resistant strains. Mechanistic studies and metabolomics analyses revealed that ZURJC28 exerts membrane-disruptive activity associated with interaction with phosphatidylglycerol (PG)-enriched Gram-positive membranes, leading to membrane damage and widespread metabolic dysregulation. ZURJC28 also shows low cytotoxicity and low hemolytic activity, suggesting its preliminary in vitro safety profile.

Gram-Positive Bacteria↗

PubMed2026

Region-Resolved Integrative Multi-Omic Characterization Reveals Diverse Tumor and Microenvironment Features of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors are frequently invasive, with cavernous sinus invasion leading to poor treatment outcomes and high recurrence. Regional differences within these tumors remain poorly understood, hindering targeted therapy development. Here, we present the first integrative multi-omics analysis combining proteomics, metabolomics and single-cell transcriptomics to characterize tumors from the cavernous sinus and saddle regions. Our results reveal profound regional and cellular heterogeneity: cavernous sinus tumors exhibit significantly enhanced cell proliferation, driven by cancer-associated fibroblasts through the IGF1-IGF1R-MAPK1 axis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in the cavernous sinus secrete IGF1 under regulation of the transcription factor FOXO1, which binds to receptors on tumor cells to activate proliferation. Metabolomic profiling identifies proline as a key enriched metabolite that stimulates cancer-associated fibroblasts to produce collagen fibers, reinforcing a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. Single-cell transcriptomics further delineates a distinct subpopulation of receptor-positive malignant cells and a high abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the cavernous sinus. These findings establish core mechanisms underlying the aggressive behavior of cavernous sinus-invading tumors, providing novel actionable targets for precision therapeutic strategies tailored to distinct tumor regions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Downregulated lysyl oxidase in plasma extracellular vesicles: a biomarker linked to brain metastasis risk in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastasis (BrM) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry bioactive molecules, play a critical role in tumor microenvironment remodeling and exhibit metastatic organotropism, holding promise as liquid biopsy biomarkers. This study aims to identify plasma EV-derived proteins associated with LUAD-BrM. METHODS: A multi-omics framework was applied. Plasma EVs from 59 stage IV LUAD patients (30 BrM vs 29 non-BrM) were profiled using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry proteomics. Candidate proteins were screened via bioinformatics and machine learning (LASSO/RF/SVM). Initial validation included tissue proteomics (n = 13), single-cell transcriptomics (TISCH2), and Western blot analysis of a subset of the discovery samples. Functional experiments were conducted in vitro. The lead candidate was ultimately validated in an independent plasma cohort (n = 158) through ELISA. RESULTS: Proteomic analysis implicated collagen-containing extracellular matrix (ECM) pathways. Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a key ECM cross-linking enzyme, was identified as a lead candidate. LOX and its family member LOXL1 were consistently downregulated in BrM tissues and plasma EVs. Single-cell analysis revealed decreased LOX expression specifically in BrM-associated fibroblasts, which showed suppressed ECM-related pathways. In vitro experiments supported a PI3K/AKT-LOX-ECM regulatory axis. Plasma EV-derived LOX demonstrated strong diagnostic performance in the independent cohort, with an AUC of 0.786 (95% CI 0.713iated fi. CONCLUSIONS: Our study establishes plasma EV-derived LOX as a promising non-invasive biomarker for LUAD-BrM through a comprehensive multi-omics validation strategy. We propose a model wherein downregulation of LOX, potentially driven by PI3K/AKT signaling in tumor-associated fibroblasts, contributes to ECM degradation and may promote brain-tropic metastasis. This finding offers new insights for risk stratification and timely intervention in LUAD patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of phenylephrine and norepinephrine with restrictive infusion on oxygenation during one-lung ventilation for lung surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effects of norepinephrine or phenylephrine combined with restrictive infusion on the oxygenation during thoracoscopic one-lung ventilation (OLV). METHODS: Ninety patients were randomly divided into three groups: the norepinephrine group (Group N), the phenylephrine group (Group P), and the control group (Group C). Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) were measured with patients in lateral positions during two-lung ventilation (TLV) at 10 min (T1), and during OLV at 15 min (T2) and 45 min (T3). Lung tissue samples were analyzed for endothelin and COX-2 levels after surgery. RESULTS: At T3, Group P had significantly higher PaO2 and lower Qs/Qt than Groups N and C (all p < 0.05), with no significant differences between Groups N and C (all p > 0.05). Compared to T1, Groups N and C showed significantly lower PaO2 and higher Qs/Qt at T2 and T3 (all p < 0.05), with no significant differences in PaO2 and Qs/Qt at T3 compared with T2 (all p > 0.05). Group P patients had lower PaO2 and higher Qs/Qt at T2 and T3 compared to T1 (all p < 0.05), but at T3, PaO2 increased and Qs/Qt decreased compared to T2 (all p < 0.05). Lung tissue levels of endothelin and COX-2 were significantly elevated in group P compared to groups N and C (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combining phenylephrine with restrictive infusion during OLV improved oxygenation by increasing PaO2, decreasing Qs/Qt, and raising endothelin and COX-2 levels in lung tissue, thereby enhancing the HPV effect.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

HIV-Associated Lymphomas: Updates from Pathogenesis to Treatment Strategies.

HIV-associated lymphoma (HAL) is an aggressive malignancy directly linked to HIV infection and accounts for more than 30% of cancer-related deaths in people living with HIV (PLWH). HAL subtypes, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma (BL), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), exhibit five to ten times higher incidence rates and distinct molecular profiles compared to HIV-negative lymphomas. Pathogenesis involves HIV-driven CD4+ T-cell depletion, chronic B-cell activation, and oncogenic viral coinfection. First-line therapy combines antiretroviral therapy (ART) with chemotherapy, achieving complete remission rates of 60-70% for DLBCL using R-EPOCH and 50-60% for BL with CODOX-M/IVAC. Relapsed/refractory cases show durable responses to CD19- CAR-T therapy; however, only 10% of HAL patients are enrolled in pivotal immunotherapy trials. Severe immunosuppression necessitates PET-CT-guided de-escalation and nanoparticlebased drug delivery systems to minimize toxicity. Emerging strategies include PD-1 inhibitors and broad-spectrum antivirals targeting HIV reservoirs, underscoring the need for precision medicine that integrates tumor genomics and viral dynamics.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Genomic mapping of diabetic kidney disease biomarkers and identification of potential inhibitors through virtual screening.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus, marked by a multifactorial pathogenesis and the absence of sensitive diagnostic biomarkers. Identifying novel molecular targets and therapeutic options is essential to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes. METHODS: To uncover potential biomarkers and therapeutic candidates, we performed an integrated genomic analysis using microarray and RNA-seq datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Sequence Read Archive (SRA) databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Key genes were further explored through virtual screening of an FDA-approved compound library using molecular docking techniques. Drug-likeness was assessed via Lipinski's rule of five. RESULTS: A total of 40 DEGs were identified, among which ISCU (downregulated; involved in iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis) and AP1S2 (upregulated; associated with vesicular trafficking) emerged as potential biomarkers. PPI analysis revealed their involvement in critical DKD-related pathways, such as extracellular matrix remodeling and oxidative stress. Virtual screening identified six FDA-approved compounds with high binding affinity (≤-7.96 kcal/mol) to ISCU, notably ZINC000001576020, all of which complied with Lipinski's rule. CONCLUSIONS: This in-silico study nominates ISCU and AP1S2 as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for DKD and identifies computationally prioritized inhibitors targeting ISCU. These findings require experimental validation but provide a molecular framework for precision diagnosis and therapeutic development. These findings offer new molecular insights that could inform precision diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for diabetic kidney disease.

Diabetic Nephropathies↗