Yongqiang Wang | PubMed Health

PubMed2026

Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan.

The East Tianshan Mountains occupy a key corridor between Central and East Asia, but their population history remains poorly understood. Here we report genome-wide data from 135 ancient individuals from 11 archaeological sites. We identify a previously unrecognized Bronze Age admixture between populations related to Yellow River millet farmers and steppe pastoralists associated with the Chemurchek culture. In contrast, we find little genetic contribution from contemporaneous middle-to-late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists, despite their eastward expansion across the Eurasian Steppe. By the Iron Age, regional populations had become more heterogeneous, incorporating additional eastern and steppe-related sources while retaining variable contributions from Early Bronze Age groups. These results reveal sustained demographic interactions in eastern Central Asia nearly 1800 years preceding the establishment of the historic Silk Road.

DNA, Ancient↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic Changes Associated with Electroacupuncture in a DMCAO Model of Delayed Cognitive Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed Cognitive Impairment (DCIS) occurs in approximately 31% to 77% of individuals following stroke. Clinical findings have indicated that electroacupuncture may alleviate post-stroke DCIS. However, insights derived from animal models remain limited. The present study utilized a Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (DMCAO) mouse model to investigate the potential mechanisms of electroacupuncture through hippocampal transcriptomic analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male BALB/c mice were subjected to DMCAO and received electroacupuncture treatment. High-throughput RNA sequencing of hippocampal tissue was performed to identify Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, hierarchical clustering, and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, were performed to elucidate potential biological mechanisms. RESULTS: The DMCAO model exhibited features consistent with DCIS. Electroacupuncture treatment was associated with improved cognitive performance and enhanced hippocampal neuroplasticity. A total of 116 DEGs were identified in the DMCAO group compared with the sham group, while 69 DEGs were identified in the DMCAO + electroacupuncture group compared with the untreated DMCAO group. DISCUSSION: GO enrichment analysis indicated that electroacupuncture modulated biological processes related to nerve fibers, axonal development, neuronal regulation, cellular processes, and cardiovascular protection. KEGG pathway analysis indicated involvement in pathways associated with neuronal recovery and axonal function. The PPI network comprised 28 nodes and 33 interactions, with hub genes such as Gna13, Hipk2, and Stambp playing key roles. Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) results were consistent with RNA sequencing findings. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture improved DCIS in the DMCAO mouse model. Transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus provided preliminary evidence of the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture treatment following ischemic stroke.

Animals↗