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Graphene-based metamaterial sensors are of significant research value for detecting food preservatives at low concentrations due to their extremely high sensitivity levels. In this work, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated an anapole resonance-based graphene metasurface (An-graphene-Ms) sensor with its conductivity altered by electrostatic doping effects for detecting and differentiating between two preservatives, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, in the terahertz region. Sodium benzoate, owing to its benzene ring structure, established π–π stacking interactions between the π-electrons in the benzene ring and those in graphene, amplifying the sensing effect. The amplitude changes and phase differences of the An-graphene-Ms sensor for the sodium benzoate detection were greater than those for potassium sorbate at the same concentration. Additionally, to reveal the dependence of the resonance frequency on the time delay, the measured signals were investigated using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the time-frequency combination of the metasurface sensor was performed. The 2D wavelet coefficient intensity cards are effectively constructed through CWT, which also presents a more accurate approach for distinguishing and determining the concentrations of the two preservatives.

Cells are transplanted to regenerate an organs' parenchyma, but how transplanted parenchymal cells induce stromal regeneration is elusive. Despite the common use of a decellularized matrix, little is known as to the pivotal signals that must be restored for tissue or organ regeneration. We report that Alx3, a developmentally important gene, orchestrated adult parenchymal and stromal regeneration by directly transactivating Wnt3a and vascular endothelial growth factor. In contrast to the modest parenchyma formed by native adult progenitors, Alx3-restored cells in decellularized scaffolds not only produced vascularized stroma that involved vascular endothelial growth factor signalling, but also parenchymal dentin via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In an orthotopic large-animal model following parenchyma and stroma ablation, Wnt3a-recruited endogenous cells regenerated neurovascular stroma and differentiated into parenchymal odontoblast-like cells that extended the processes into newly formed dentin with a structure-mechanical equivalency to native dentin. Thus, the Alx3-Wnt3a axis enables postnatal progenitors with a modest innate regenerative capacity to regenerate adult tissues. Depleted signals in the decellularized matrix may be reinstated by a developmentally pivotal gene or corresponding protein.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of astrocyte antibodies in patients, excluding aquaporin‐4 or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies, while evaluating associated biomarkers and pathologies. Methods: Patient serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for antibodies using tissue‐ and cell‐based assays. Neurofilament light chain (NFL) and GFAP in the CSF were detected using single‐molecule array (SIMOA). Results: 116 patients accepted SIMOA. Fifteen functional neurological disorders patients without antibodies were designated as controls. Thirty‐five patients were positive for astrocyte antibodies (Anti‐GFAP: 7; Anti‐AQP4: 7; unknown antibodies: 21, designed as the double‐negative group, DNAP). The most frequent phenotype of DNAP was encephalitis (42.9%), followed by myelitis (23.8%), movement disorders (19.0%), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis‐like (ALS‐like) disease (14.2%). The levels of CSF GFAP and NFL in DNAP were higher than in the control (GFAP: 1967.29 [776.60–13214.47] vs 475.38 [16.80–943.60] pg/mL, p < 0.001; NFL: 549.11 [162.08–2462.61] vs 214.18 [81.60–349.60] pg/mL, p = 0.002). GFAP levels decreased in DNAP (n = 5) after immunotherapy (2446.75 [1583.45–6277.33] vs 1380.46 [272.16–2005.80] pg/mL, p = 0.043), while there was no difference in NFL levels (2273.78 [162.08–2462.61] vs 890.42 [645.06–3168.06] pg/mL, p = 0.893). Two brain biopsy patterns were observed: one exhibited prominent tissue proliferation and hypertrophic astrocytes, with local loss of astrocytes, while the other showed severe astrocyte depletion with loss of neurofilaments around the vessels. Eighteen patients received immunotherapy, and improved except one with ALS‐like symptoms. We identified anti‐vimentin in this patient. Discussion: There are unidentified astrocyte antibodies. The manifestations of double‐negativity are heterogeneous; nevertheless, the pathology and biomarkers remain consistent with astrocytopathy. Immunotherapy is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance of the cholinergic system plays a crucial role in the pathological progression of neurological diseases that cause dyskinesia-like behaviors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this disturbance remain elusive. Here, we showed that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) was reduced in cholinergic neurons of midbrain according to the single-nucleus RNA sequencing analysis. Serum levels of CDK5 also decreased in patients with Parkinson’s disease accompanied by motor symptoms. Moreover, Cdk5 deficiency in cholinergic neurons triggered paw tremors, abnormal motor coordination, and motor balance deficits in mice. These symptoms occurred along with cholinergic neuron hyperexcitability and increases in the current density of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK channels). Pharmacological inhibition of BK channels restrained the excessive intrinsic excitability of striatal cholinergic neurons in Cdk5-deficient mice. Furthermore, CDK5 interacted with BK channels and negatively regulated BK channel activity via phosphorylation of threonine-908. Restoration of CDK5 expression in striatal cholinergic neurons reduced dyskinesia-like behaviors in ChAT-Cre;Cdk5f/f mice. Together, these findings indicate that CDK5-induced phosphorylation of BK channels involves in cholinergic-neuron-mediated motor function, providing a potential new therapeutic target for treating dyskinesia-like behaviors arising from neurological diseases.

This course covers commonly used methods in laboratory of clinical biochemistry. The teaching plan reported here is aiming for encourage students to learn the technology and methodology based on clinical needs. So the teaching plan is characterized by combination of clinical information and pathogenesis of illness with biochemical results and thus to support students' learning in an active pathway. An example is calcium concentration in circulation as a parameter to support clinical diagnosis of various illnesses.

Long-segment lichen sclerosus (LS) urethral stricture is a challenge for urologists. Limited data are available for surgeons to make a surgical decision between Kulkarni and Asopa urethroplasty. In this retrospective study, we investigated the outcomes of these two procedures in patients with LS urethral stricture. Between January 2015 and December 2020, 77 patients with LS urethral stricture underwent Kulkarni and Asopa procedures for urethroplasty in the Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Shanghai, China). Of the 77 patients, 42 (54.5%) underwent the Asopa procedure and 35 (45.5%) underwent the Kulkarni procedure. The overall complication rate was 34.2% in the Kulkarni group and 19.0% in the Asopa group, and no difference was observed (P = 0.105). Among the complications, no statistical difference was observed in the incidence of urethral stricture recurrence (P = 0.724) or glans dehiscence (P = 0.246) except for postoperative meatus stenosis (P = 0.020). However, the recurrence-free survival rate between the two procedures was significantly different (P = 0.016). Cox survival analysis showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use (P = 0.020), diabetes (P = 0.003), current/former smoking (P = 0.019), coronary heart disease (P < 0.001), and stricture length (P = 0.028) may lead to a higher hazard ratio of complications. Even so, these two techniques can still provide acceptable results with their own advantages in the surgical treatment of LS urethral strictures. The surgical alternative should be considered comprehensively according to the patient characteristics and surgeon preferences. Moreover, our results showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use, diabetes, coronary heart disease, current/former smoking, and stricture length may be contributing factors of complications. Therefore, patients with LS are advised to undergo early interventions for better therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]