Publications by authors named "Menghao Liu"

Seasonal reproduction in sheep reduces reproductive efficiency. Melatonin (MT) plays a crucial role in reproductive processes. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 5-day MT implant pretreatment on estrus synchronization and reproductive performance in sheep during seasonal anestrus.

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Background: Implying connections with gut microbiome and serum metabolites, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) emerges as a prevalent neuropsychiatric condition in the elderly. Our objective was to systematically evaluate the potential causality between gut microbiome, derived metabolites, and INPH through the implementation of Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology.

Methods: We utilized summary data from extensive genome-wide association studies, encompassing 196 gut microbiomes from the MiBioGen consortium (n = 18,340), 486 serum metabolites from the KORA and TwinsUK studies (n = 7,824), and individuals with INPH (case = 767, control = 375,610), for MR causal estimates.

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Peripheral nerve surgery is an emerging research field gaining attention from neurosurgeons. However, a bibliometric analysis has yet to be conducted in this area. This study aims to visualize the hot spots and trends in publications of peripheral nerve surgery through bibliometric analysis, offering insights into potential future research directions.

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Objectives: Previous studies have suggested a possible link between normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and immune factors, but the causal relationship between NPH and Baff-R expression on immune cells remains enigmatic. This study used a Mendelian randomization (MR) method to elucidate this association.

Methods: The study used data from the Finngen genome-wide association study (GWAS) and included a large European cohort of 767 patients with NPH and 375,610 controls.

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To improve the efficiency of prostaglandin F (PG)-based estrus synchronization in sheep, this study assessed the effect of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) included in the long-interval PG treatment regimen for sheep estrus synchronization during the breeding season. In experiment 1, 30 multiparous Mongolian sheep (3-4.5 years old) were randomly divided into three groups.

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Inhomogeneous lithium (Li) deposition and unstable solid electrolyte interphase are the main causes of short cycle life and safety issues in Li metal batteries (LMBs). Developing a 3D structured matrix current collector and novel electrolyte are feasible strategies to tackle these issues. Ether-based electrolytes are widely used in LMBs.

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Objective: Revision surgeries for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in arthroplasty can follow either one- or two-stage treatment protocols. Previous studies have reported similar reinfection rates and reductions in complication rates for both treatment options. However, the literature on the selection of one protocol is still controversial.

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The etiological basis of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors is uncertain. We used Mendelian randomization technique to investigate the potential influence of several risk factors on the likelihood of developing pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. We admitted 8 risk factors, divided into 3 lifestyle factors and 5 chronic diseases as exposure factors.

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Maintaining blood glucose homeostasis during fasting and feeding is crucial for the prevention of dysregulation that can lead to either hypo- or hyperglycaemia. Here we identified feimin, encoded by a gene with a previously unknown function (B230219D22Rik in mice, C5orf24 in humans), as a key modulator of glucose homeostasis. Feimin is secreted from skeletal muscle during feeding and binds to its receptor, receptor protein tyrosine kinase Mer (MERTK), promoting glucose uptake and inhibiting glucose production by activation of AKT.

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In practical clinical scenarios, improved diagnostic methods have been developed for the precise visualization of molecular targets using molecular imaging in brain diseases. Recently, the introduction of innovative molecular imaging modalities across both macroscopic and mesoscopic dimensions, with remarkable specificity and spatial resolution, has expanded the scope of applications beyond diagnostic testing, with the potential to guide therapeutic interventions, offering real-time feedback in the context of brain therapy. The molecular imaging-guided integration of diagnosis and treatment holds the potential to revolutionize disease management by enabling the real-time monitoring of treatment responses and therapy adjustments.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pituitary tumors (PTs) are common benign tumors, and analyzing serum and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites is crucial for understanding their biology and identifying potential biomarkers and treatments.
  • The research used datasets from FinnGen and GWAS to identify correlations between 27 metabolites and PTs, applying various methods for robust analysis, including inverse variance weighting and multiple sensitivity tests.
  • Notably, 3-dehydrocarnitine and acetylcarnitine were highlighted as significant factors related to PTs, with strong statistical evidence for their roles, and no reverse causality was found between these metabolites and PTs.
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  • This study investigates the potential influence of ischemic stroke, metabolic factors, and medications on the risk of developing epilepsy, acknowledging that previous research has yielded inconclusive results about their causality.
  • Utilizing instrumental variables through Mendelian randomization, the researchers found significant positive associations between stroke, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and certain medications with increased epilepsy risk.
  • Conversely, higher serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels, blood glucose levels, and testosterone showed a negative association with epilepsy risk, suggesting these factors might lower the likelihood of developing the condition.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the relationship between coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and hydrocephalus to determine causality.
  • Using data from genome-wide association studies, researchers identified genetic markers linked to these conditions as instrumental variables for their analysis.
  • The findings suggest that both ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease may elevate the risk of developing hydrocephalus, with no evidence indicating that hydrocephalus causes these cardiovascular issues.
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Background: Hydrocephalus ranks among the most prevalent neurosurgical conditions worldwide, with a growing body of literature suggesting a potential association with inflammation. Employing bibliometric methods, this research visually analyzes the scholarly output on inflammation in hydrocephalus over the past 2 decades and provides a scientific framework for delineating research pathways and addressing key issues in this field.

Methods: Publications sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection as of July 18, 2024 encompassed articles and reviews in English spanning from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2024.

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Epidemiological research has shown that a variety of circulating bioactive factors are associated with epilepsy, including macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. To further investigate the associations between epilepsy and 41 inflammatory cytokines, this Mendelian randomization was performed. This study presents genome-wide association study summary data on 41 inflammatory cytokines and epilepsy.

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Background: Previous research has demonstrated that neuroinflammation is a key element in the progress of epilepsy. Nevertheless, it is currently unidentified which inflammatory factors and proteins increase or decrease the risk of epilepsy.

Methods: We adopted Mendelian randomization techniques to explore the causal relationship between circulating inflammatory factors and proteins and various epilepsy.

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Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a prevalent type of hydrocephalus, including secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus (SNPH) and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). However, its clinical diagnosis and pathological mechanism are still unclear. Leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is involved in various human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and nervous system diseases.

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As the main component of Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, the classification algorithm based on EEG has developed rapidly. The previous algorithms were often based on subject-dependent settings, resulting in BCI needing to be calibrated for new users. In this work, we propose IMH-Net, an end-to-end subject-independent model.

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Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common central nervous system tumor originating from the anterior pituitary, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway involved in cell proliferation, Self-renewal of stem cells, and cell differentiation. It is related to the occurrence of various tumors, including PA.

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Chemotherapy is a common strategy to treat cancer. However, acquired resistance and metastasis are the major obstacles to successful treatment. Anastasis is a process by which cells survive executioner caspase activation when facing apoptotic stress.

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Cancer relapse and metastasis are major obstacles for effective treatment. One important mechanism to eliminate cancer cells is to induce apoptosis. Activation of executioner caspases is the key step in apoptosis and was considered "a point of no return".

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss, which is related to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Endogenous peroxiredoxin-2 (Prdx-2) has potent anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects. Proteomics studies revealed plasma levels of Prdx-2 were significantly lower in PD patients than in healthy individuals.

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