Zhen Zhang

Zhen Zhang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 July 2022 in Frontiers in Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JHJun Hou
Jun Hou
CJChangqing Jiang
Changqing Jiang
XWXudong Wen
Xudong Wen
CLChengming Li
Chengming Li
SXShiqiang Xiong
Shiqiang Xiong
ZZZhen Zhang
Zhen Zhang
Cancer is a major public health problem around the world and the key leading cause of death in the world. It is well-known that glucolipid metabolism, immunoreaction, and growth/death pattern of cancer cells are markedly different from normal cells. Recently, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 4 (ACSL4) is found be participated in the activation of long chain fatty acids metabolism, immune signaling transduction, and ferroptosis, which can be a promising potential target and biomarker for anticancer. Specifically, ACSL4 inhibits the progress of lung cancer, estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, cervical cancer and the up-regulation of ACSL4 can improve the sensitivity of cancer cells to ferroptosis by enhancing the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it is undeniable that the high expression of ACSL4 in ER negative breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer can also be related with tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In the present review, we provide an update on understanding the controversial roles of ACSL4 in different cancer cells.

5 August 2022 in Cardiovascular Diabetology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SXShiqiang Xiong
Shiqiang Xiong
QCQiang Chen
Qiang Chen
XCXu Chen
Xu Chen
JHJun Hou
Jun Hou
YCYingzhong Chen
Yingzhong Chen
LCLin Cai
Lin Cai
Background: The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score derived from clinical parameters at the time of hospital discharge is a powerful predictor of long-term mortality and reinfarction after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, which is a simple and reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance, has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of long-term adverse major adverse cardiac events, irrespective of diabetes mellitus. We investigate whether the addition of the TyG index improves the predictive ability of the GRACE score after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ACS patients regardless of diabetes mellitus. Method: A retrospective cohort of 986 ACS patients undergoing PCI was enrolled in the present analyses. The GRACE score for discharge to 6 months and the TyG index were calculated. The primary endpoint was the composite of MACEs, including all-cause death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Patients were stratified according to the primary endpoint and the tertiles of the TyG index. Cumulative curves were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression was adopted to identify predictors of MACEs. The predictive value of the GRACE score alone and combined with the TyG index or fasting blood glucose (FBG) was estimated by the area under the receiver‑operating characteristic curve, likelihood ratio test, Akaike’s information criteria, continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Internal validation was assessed using the means of bootstrap method with 1000 bootstrapped samples. Results: During a median follow-up of 30.72 months ((interquartile range, 26.13 to 35.07 months), 90 patients developed MACEs, more frequently in the patients with a higher TyG index. Multivariate Cox hazards regression analysis found that the TyG index, but not FBG was an independent predictor of MACEs (hazard ratio 1.6542; 95% CI 1.1555–2.3681; P = 0.006) in all types of ACS regardless of diabetes mellitus when included in the same model as GRACE score. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the incidence of the primary endpoint rose with increasing TyG index tertiles (log-rank, P < 0.01). Adjustment the GRACE score by the TyG index improved the predictive ability for MACEs (increase in C-statistic value from 0.735 to 0.744; NRI, 0.282, 95% CI 0.028–0.426, P = 0.02; IDI, 0.019, 95% CI 0.004–0.046, P = 0.01). Likelihood ratio test showed that the TyG index significantly improved the prognostic ability of the GRACE score (χ2 = 12.37, 1 df; P < 0.001). The results remained consistent when the models were confirmed by internal bootstrap validation method. Conclusion: The TyG index, but not FBG is an independent predictor of long-term MACEs after PCI in all types of ACS patients regardless of diabetes mellitus after adjusting for the GRACE score, and improves the ability of the GRACE score to stratify risk and predict prognosis of ACS patients undergoing PCI.

21 October 2023 in Cardiovascular Diabetology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
QCQiang Chen
Qiang Chen
SXShiqiang Xiong
Shiqiang Xiong
ZZZhen Zhang
Zhen Zhang
XYXiuqiong Yu
Xiuqiong Yu
YCYingzhong Chen
Yingzhong Chen
LCLin Cai
Lin Cai
Background: The Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, is independently associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions and the prognosis of coronary heart disease. The investigation aimed to explore the relationship between the TyG index and recurrent revascularization in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) resulting from the progression of lesions or in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Method: A total of 633 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled and divided into three groups based on the tertiles of the TyG index. The primary endpoint was recurrent revascularization resulting from the progression of lesions or ISR. All-cause death was considered as the competing risk event. Competing risk analysis and Cox regression analysis for predicting recurrent revascularization after PCI were conducted stepwise. Variables were standardized to make the hazard ratio (HR), subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) and corresponding 95% CI more consistent prior to being used for fitting the multivariate risk model. The predictive ability of the TyG index was evaluated using several measures, including the ROC curve, likelihood ratio test, Akaike’s information criteria, category-free continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI > 0), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Internal validation was conducted through bootstrapping with 1000 resamples. Results: During a median follow-up period of 18.33 months, a total of 64 (10.11%) patients experienced recurrent revascularization, including 55 cases of lesion progression and 9 cases of in-stent restenosis. After controlling for competitive risk events, the TyG index was independently associated with a higher risk of recurrent revascularization [SHR:1.4345, (95% CI 1.1458–1.7959), P = 0.002]. The likelihood ratio test and Akaike’s information criteria showed that the TyG index significantly improves the prognostic ability. Additionally, adding the TyG index improved the ability of the established risk model in predicting recurrent revascularization, indicated by a C-index of 0.759 (95% CI 0.724–0.792, P < 0.01), with a cNRI > 0 of 0.170 (95% CI 0.023–0.287, P < 0.05), and an IDI of 0.024 (95% CI 0.009–0.039, P = 0.002). These results remained consistent when the models containing TyG index were confirmed using an internal bootstrap validation method. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential of the TyG index as a predictor of recurrent revascularization. Lesion progression emerged as the primary contributor to recurrent revascularization instead of in-stent restenosis. The incorporation of the TyG index into risk prediction models is likely to be beneficial for accurate risk stratification in order to improve prognosis.

14 September 2022 in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JHJun Hou
Jun Hou
XWXudong Wen
Xudong Wen
PLPan Long
Pan Long
SXShiqiang Xiong
Shiqiang Xiong
HLHanxiong Liu
Hanxiong Liu
ZZZhen Zhang
Zhen Zhang
The high-altitude environment is characterized by hypobaric hypoxia, low temperatures, low humidity, and high radiation, which is a natural challenge for lowland residents entering. Previous studies have confirmed the acute and chronic effects of high altitude on the cardiovascular systems of lowlanders. Abnormal cardiovascular complications, including pulmonary edema, cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary arterial hypertension were commonly explored. Effective evaluation of cardiovascular adaptive response in high altitude can provide a basis for early warning, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of altitude diseases. At present, post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are a key step to regulate their biological functions and dynamic interactions with other molecules. This process is regulated by countless enzymes called “writer, reader, and eraser,” and the performance is precisely controlled. Mutations and abnormal expression of these enzymes or their substrates have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases associated with high altitude. Although PTMs play an important regulatory role in key processes such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, proliferation, and hypoxia response, little attention has been paid to abnormal cardiovascular response at high altitude. Here, we reviewed the roles of PTMs in driving abnormal cardiovascular complications at high altitude.

22 November 2024 in Advances in Therapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
HSHuaxin Sun
Huaxin Sun
WHWenchao Huang
Wenchao Huang
YLYan Luo
Yan Luo
SXShiqiang Xiong
Shiqiang Xiong
YTYan Tang
Yan Tang
HLHanxiong Liu
Hanxiong Liu
Introduction Socioeconomic determinants are increasingly important factors in the integrated management of atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of loneliness status on AF recurrence remains unclear. Methods We conducted a cohort study based on patients with AF undergoing catheter ablation from 2017 to 2022. The Chinese version of the De Jong Gierveld scale (DJGLS) for evaluating loneliness degree was used. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors for recurrent AF. A multivariate model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) when adjusting the known risk covariates in several kinds of subgroups. Results Nine hundred fifty-five patients with AF and mean age > 65 years finished long-term follow-up. The AF cluster with severe/extreme loneliness tended to live alone according to DJGLS scores. Multivariate Cox regression showed that loneliness status is an independent risk factor for AF recurrence by using a multivariate model with adjustments of some covariates (moderate loneliness: HR 2.02; 95% CI 1.47–2.77, P < 0.001; severe/extreme loneliness: HR 5.28; 95% CI 3.56—7.84, P < 0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with AF with a more severe degree of loneliness are more likely to have AF recurrence in the long-term follow-up (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) showed a mainly non-linear relationship between feeling lonely and AF recurrence (P overall < 0.001, P non-linear = 0.195). Receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC) and time-dependent ROC curve indicated that the diagnostic value of loneliness status in predicting AF recurrence is stable and acceptable. Conclusion A more severe degree of loneliness was positively associated with increased risk of AF recurrence. Loneliness status showed an acceptable diagnostic value in discriminating AF recurrence as an independent tripartite variable.