Fast 3D reconstruction via event-based structured light with spatio-temporal coding.

Event-based structured light (SL) systems leverage bio-inspired event cameras, which are renowned for their low latency and high dynamics, to drive progress in high-speed structured light systems. However, existing event-based structured light methods concentrate on the independent construction of either time-domain or space-domain features for stereo matching, ignoring the spatio-temporal consistency towards depth. In this work, we build an event-based SL system that consists of a laser point projector and an event camera, and we devise a spatial-temporal coding strategy that realizes depth encoding in dual domains through a single shot. To exploit the spatio-temporal synergy, we further present STEM, a novel Spatio-Temporal Enhanced Matching approach for 3D reconstruction. STEM is comprised of two parts, the spatio-temporal enhancing (STE) algorithm and the spatio-temporal matching (STM) algorithm. Specifically, STE integrates the dual-domain information to increase the saliency of the temporal coding, providing a more robust basis for matching. STM is a stereo matching algorithm explicitly tailored to the unique characteristics of event data modality, which computes the disparity via a meticulously designed hybrid cost function. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method, achieving a reconstruction rate of 16 fps and a low root mean square error of 0.56 mm at a distance of 0.72 m.

High-speed structured light based 3D scanning using an event camera.

For a structured light system, scan speed and reconstruction accuracy are usually compromised for limited sensor bandwidth. The bio-inspired camera, also known as the event camera, has high temporal resolution and redundancy-suppressing properties, showing potential to be utilized in a high-speed structured light system. In this paper, we present an event-based structured light system for high-speed 3D scanning, which is composed of an event camera (CeleX-V) and a high-speed digital light projector (TI-DLP6500). The events are triggered by blinking a single pseudo-random pattern by controlling the projector. A simple yet effective algorithm is proposed to generate the event frames from the event stream, and a digital image correlation method is then performed to calculate the displacements, deriving the 3D surfaces of the target objects. A prototype of our proposed system is built with off-the-shelf devices and tested in both static and dynamic scenes. Experiments verify that the proposed system successfully achieves up to a 1000 fps scan rate with an accuracy of 0.27 mm at a distance of 90 cm.

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on preeclampsia in lupus pregnancies: a propensity score-matched analysis and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is the primary medication in the treatment of pregnancy with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for its efficacy and safety. However, the effect of HCQ on preeclampsia prevention remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether HCQ has an effect on preeclampsia prevention and other pregnancy outcomes among lupus pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 119 pregnant women with SLE. After the propensity score matching of baseline characteristics, the population was divided into the HCQ treatment group and HCQ nontreatment group. Then, we compared the preeclampsia and other pregnancy outcomes between HCQ treatment and nontreatment groups. Furthermore, we combined our data and previous studies for a meta-analysis. RESULTS: In our data, HCQ did not increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes, bleeding during pregnancy, preeclampsia, intrauterine distress, gestational age at delivery, preterm birth, and postpartum hemorrhage. There was no significant association between HCQ treatment and preeclampsia prevention. Besides, the meta-analysis showed a similar result that HCQ did not significantly decrease the rate of preeclampsia (RR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.34-1.11). CONCLUSION: This study found that HCQ treatment was safe, but did not significantly reduce preeclampsia among lupus pregnancies.

MicroRNA-885 regulates the growth and epithelial mesenchymal transition of human liver cancer cells by suppressing tropomodulin 1 expression.

MicroRNA-885 (miR-885) has been shown to act as vital regulator of tumorigenesis and its tumor-suppressive role has been investigated in several human cancers. However, the role of miR-885 in regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition of liver cancer cells yet unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the tumor-suppressive role of miR-885 and investigate its effects on epithelial mesenchymal transition of human liver cancer cells. The results revealed that miR-885 to be significantly (P < 0.05) repressed in liver cancer and tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-885 resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decline in the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Additionally, migration and invasion of the liver cancer cells was also suppressed upon miR-182 overexpression which was associated with alteration of the proteins associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition. TMOD1 was identified as the target of miR-885 and the regulatory role of miR-885 was elucidated to be exerted via post-transcriptional silencing of TMOD1. The silencing of TMOD1 by miR-885 inhibited the expression of mesenchymal markers but enhanced the expression levels of epithelial markers. The results of present study revealed miR-885 proved the tumor-suppressive role of miR-885 in liver cancer and points towards its therapeutic implications in liver cancer management.

Understanding of facial features in face perception: insights from deep convolutional neural networks.

Introduction: Face recognition has been a longstanding subject of interest in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and computer vision research. One key focus has been to understand the relative importance of different facial features in identifying individuals. Previous studies in humans have demonstrated the crucial role of eyebrows in face recognition, potentially even surpassing the importance of the eyes. However, eyebrows are not only vital for face recognition but also play a significant role in recognizing facial expressions and intentions, which might occur simultaneously and influence the face recognition process. Methods: To address these challenges, our current study aimed to leverage the power of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), an artificial face recognition system, which can be specifically tailored for face recognition tasks. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of various facial features in face recognition by selectively blocking feature information from the input to the DCNN. Additionally, we conducted experiments in which we systematically blurred the information related to eyebrows to varying degrees. Results: Our findings aligned with previous human research, revealing that eyebrows are the most critical feature for face recognition, followed by eyes, mouth, and nose, in that order. The results demonstrated that the presence of eyebrows was more crucial than their specific high-frequency details, such as edges and textures, compared to other facial features, where the details also played a significant role. Furthermore, our results revealed that, unlike other facial features, the activation map indicated that the significance of eyebrows areas could not be readily adjusted to compensate for the absence of eyebrow information. This finding explains why masking eyebrows led to more significant deficits in face recognition performance. Additionally, we observed a synergistic relationship among facial features, providing evidence for holistic processing of faces within the DCNN. Discussion: Overall, our study sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of face recognition and underscores the potential of using DCNNs as valuable tools for further exploration in this field.

Resection of polyps involving the appendiceal orifice by combined endo-laparoscopic surgery: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: The management of polyps involving the appendiceal orifice (AO) presents notable challenges. Endoscopic resection is frequently hindered by operational complexities, a heightened risk of incomplete removal, and an elevated risk of procedural complications, including appendicitis. Conversely, surgical resection may entail unnecessary excision of intestinal segments, leading to potential morbidity. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we reported two patients who presented with polyps deeply situated within the AO, with indistinct boundaries making it challenging to ensure completeness using traditional endoscopic resection. To overcome these challenges, we employed combined endo-laparoscopic surgery (CELS), achieving curative resection without postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The application of CELS in managing polyps involving the AO is emerging as a safe and effective treatment modality.

A GC×GC-MS method based on solid-state modulator for non-targeted metabolomics: Comparison with traditional GC-MS method.

The formidable challenge posed by the presence of extremely high amounts of compounds and large differences in concentrations in plasma significantly complicates non-targeted metabolomics analyses. In this study, a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC×GC-qMS) method with a solid-state modulator (SSM) for non-targeted metabolomics in beagle plasma was first established based on a GC-MS method, and the qualitative and quantitative performance of the two platforms were compared. Identification of detected compounds was accomplished utilizing NIST database match scores, retention indices (RIs) and standards. Semi-quantification involved the calculation of peak area ratios to internal standards. Metabolite identification sheets were generated for plasma samples on both analytical platforms, featuring 22 representative metabolites chosen for validating qualitative accuracy, and for conducting comparisons of linearity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. The outcomes revealed a threefold increase in the number of identifiable metabolites on the GC×GC-MS platform, with lower limits of quantitation (LLOQs) reduced to 0.5-0.05 times those achieved on the GC-MS platform. Accuracy in quantification for both GC×GC-MS and GC-MS fell within the range of 85-115%, and the vast majority of intra- and inter-day precisions were within the range of 20%. These findings underscore that relative to the conventional GC-MS method, the GC×GC-MS method developed in this study, combined with SSM, exhibits enhanced qualitative capabilities, heightened sensitivity, and comparable accuracy and precision, rendering it more suitable for non-targeted metabolomics analyses.

Clinical and genetic profile of Chinese patients with indolent natural killer-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract.

Indolent natural killer cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (iNKLPD-GI) is an uncommon, recently recognized lymphoid proliferation of mature NK cells primarily manifesting in the GI tract. Unlike NK/T lymphoma, iNKLPD-GI exhibits a rather indolent clinical course, underscoring the need for cautious management to prevent unnecessary interventions. However, clinical and molecular features of this entity have not been thoroughly understood. This study aimed to add more information to the current knowledge of this disease. Seven patients with iNKLPD-GI were included in our study. Clinical data included initial symptoms, endoscopic manifestations, pathological features, and therapies. Besides, next-generation sequencing was arranged to explore the underlying genetic mechanism of this disease. In our study, iNKLPD-GI in the urinary bladder was first identified. Edema of extremities (3, 42.8 %) was the most prevalent onset symptom which was reported for the first time. Pathological and immunohistological features were found to display the phenotype of NK cells. Unlike extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) were negative in all patients. Moreover, we found that two patients harbored JAK3 mutation. Apart from JAK3 K563_C565del previously reported in the literature, we discovered new JAK3 mutation sites. Other mutations including BRAF, KRAS, and SH2B3 were also identified. In conclusion, iNKLPD-GI was an indolent atypical NK-cell proliferation with diverse clinical characteristics. "Watch and wait" therapy was preferable to intense chemotherapy. Recurrent JAK3 mutation may be the underlying mechanism responsible for the neoplastic nature of the disease and may serve as a potential target for patients with severe symptoms.

Cnidii Fructus: A traditional Chinese medicine herb and source of antiosteoporotic drugs.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a prevalent chronic metabolic bone disease for which limited countermeasures are available. Cnidii Fructus (CF), primarily derived from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson., has been tested in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine for the management of OP. Accumulating preclinical studies indicate that CF may be used against OP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive documentation and analysis were conducted to retrieve CF studies related to its main phytochemical components as well as its pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacological properties. We also retrieved information on the mode of action of CF and, in particular, preclinical and clinical studies related to bone remodeling. This search was performed from the inception of databases up to the end of 2022 and included PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the National Science and Technology Library, the China Science and Technology Journal Database, Weipu, Wanfang, the Web of Science and the China National Patent Database. RESULTS: CF contains a wide range of natural active compounds, including osthole, bergapten, imperatorin and xanthotoxin, which may underlie its beneficial effects on improving bone metabolism and quality. CF action appears to be mediated via multiple processes, including the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), Wnt/ß-catenin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/Smad signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: CF and its ingredients may provide novel compounds for developing anti-OP drugs.

WASPSYN: A Challenge for Domain Adaptive Synapse Detection in Microwasp Brain Connectomes.

The size of image volumes in connectomics studies now reaches terabyte and often petabyte scales with a great diversity of appearance due to different sample preparation procedures. However, manual annotation of neuronal structures (e.g., synapses) in these huge image volumes is time-consuming, leading to limited labeled training data often smaller than 0.001% of the large-scale image volumes in application. Methods that can utilize in-domain labeled data and generalize to out-of-domain unlabeled data are in urgent need. Although many domain adaptation approaches are proposed to address such issues in the natural image domain, few of them have been evaluated on connectomics data due to a lack of domain adaptation benchmarks. Therefore, to enable developments of domain adaptive synapse detection methods for large-scale connectomics applications, we annotated 14 image volumes from a biologically diverse set of Megaphragma viggianii brain regions originating from three different whole-brain datasets and organized the WASPSYN challenge at ISBI 2023. The annotations include coordinates of pre-synapses and post-synapses in the 3D space, together with their one-to-many connectivity information. This paper describes the dataset, the tasks, the proposed baseline, the evaluation method, and the results of the challenge. Limitations of the challenge and the impact on neuroscience research are also discussed. The challenge is and will continue to be available at https://codalab.lisn.upsaclay.fr/competitions/9169. Successful algorithms that emerge from our challenge may potentially revolutionize real-world connectomics research and further the cause that aims to unravel the complexity of brain structure and function.

Unambiguous 3D measurement from speckle-embedded fringe.

This paper proposes a novel phase-shifting method for fast, accurate, and unambiguous 3D shape measurement. The basic idea is embedding a speckle-like signal in three sinusoidal fringe patterns to eliminate the phase ambiguity, but without reducing the fringe amplitude or frequency. The absolute depth is then recovered through a robust region-wise voting strategy relying on the embedded signal. Using the theoretical minimum of only three images, the proposed method greatly facilitates the application of phase shifting in time-critical conditions. Moreover, the proposed method is resistant to the global illumination effects, as the fringe patterns used are with a single high frequency. Based on the proposed method, we further demonstrate a real-time, high-precision 3D scanning system with an off-the-shelf projector and a commodity camera.

Hydroxychloroquine significantly decreases the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) intervention could decrease the incidence of preeclampsia and other maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane databases were searched from inception until January 2022. Data on maternal or fetal outcomes of the control and hydroxychloroquine treatment groups were gathered and analyzed. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Cochran's Q test, I2 statistics, leave-one-out analysis, Baujat plot analysis, GOSH plot analysis, and multivariable meta-regression were applied to assess between-study heterogeneity. The meta-analysis was performed using the Stata V.16.1 software. Baujat plot analysis and GOSH plot analysis were performed using the R V.4.0.0 software. Our study included 21 cohort studies and one case-control study with a total of 3948 pregnancies with immune disorders. HCQ treatment significantly reduced the incidence of preeclampsia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.33-0.63, p = 0.000, I2 3.68%). After outlier omission, HCQ treatment significantly reduced the incidence of premature delivery (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.96, p = 0.01, I2 44.81%) in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. In sub-group analysis, HCQ also significantly reduced the incidence of gestational hypertension (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26-0.68, p = 0.001, I2 49.33%) and preterm birth (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.82, p = 0.001, I2 27.63%) in pregnant women with lupus. The heterogeneity of the findings mentioned above was low to moderate. There were no significant differences in the risk of other outcomes, including gestational diabetes, HELLP syndrome, thrombosis, spontaneous abortion, fetal loss, small for gestational age infant (SGA), low birth weight, stillbirth, APGAR score < 7, and congenital malformation. This meta-analysis indicated that HCQ treatment could significantly decrease the incidence of preeclampsia and premature delivery in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. In addition, HCQ could reduce the risk of gestational hypertension in pregnant lupus patients.

Effects of the toxic metal zinc on the growth, development, and reproduction of the wolf spider Pardosa laura through its food Drosophila melanogaster.

In recent years, toxic metal pollution has become a serious problem, and its influence on human society and the ecological environment has become a hot topic for people. Toxic metal pollution is ubiquitous in the environment, and it can affect the growth, development, and reproduction of organisms through food chain transmission. In this study, we used ZnSO4 and set three different Zn concentrations [0 mg/mL (CK), 0.25 mg/mL, and 0.50 mg/mL] to study the enrichment of toxic zinc metal in the wolf spider Pardosa laura through the food chain (medium-Drosophila melanogaster-P. laura) and the effects on the growth, development, and reproduction of D. melanogaster and P. laura. The results of the study showed that the Zn content in D. melanogaster and P. laura significantly increased with the increase of Zn concentration in the culture medium, reflecting the obvious food chain enrichment phenomenon. The inhibitory effect of zinc treatment on the growth, development, and reproduction of D. melanogaster was significant and more pronounced with increasing Zn concentration. The transfer of zinc through the food chain also had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth, development, and reproduction of P. laura. The developmental duration and preoviposition period were significantly prolonged. Moreover, the survival rate, body size, and egg laying amount were significantly reduced. This study will enrich and improve the research on the effects of toxic Zn metal pollution on spiders and provide a theoretical basis for monitoring and evaluating the environmental quality using farmland spiders.

Auto-Classification of Parkinson's Disease with Different Motor Subtypes Using Arterial Spin Labelling MRI Based on Machine Learning.

The purpose of this study was to automatically classify different motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD) on arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) data using support vector machine (SVM). This study included 38 subjects: 21 PD patients and 17 normal controls (NCs). Based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores, patients were divided into the tremor-dominant (TD) subtype and the postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) subtype. The subjects were in a resting state during the acquisition of ASL-MRI data. The automated anatomical atlas 3 (AAL3) template was registered to obtain an ASL image of the same size and shape. We obtained the voxel values of 170 brain regions by considering the location coordinates of these regions and then normalized the data. The length of the feature vector depended on the number of voxel values in each brain region. Three binary classification models were utilized for classifying subjects' data, and we applied SVM to classify voxels in the brain regions. The left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC_sub_L) was clearly distinguished in both NCs and PD patients using SVM, and we obtained satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 92.31%, specificity = 96.97%, sensitivity = 84.21%, and AUCmax = 0.9585). For the right supramarginal gyrus (SupraMarginal_R), SVM distinguished the TD group from the other groups with satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 84.21%, sensitivity = 63.64%, specificity = 92.59%, and AUCmax = 0.9192). For the right intralaminar of thalamus (Thal_IL_R), SVM distinguished the PIGD group from the other groups with satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 89.47%, sensitivity = 70.00%, specificity = 6.43%, and AUCmax = 0.9464). These results are consistent with the changes in blood perfusion related to PD subtypes. In addition, the sensitive brain regions of the TD group and PIGD group involve the brain regions where the cerebellothalamocortical (CTC) and the striatal thalamocortical (STC) loops are located. Therefore, it is suggested that the blood perfusion patterns of the two loops may be different. These characteristic brain regions could become potential imaging markers of cerebral blood flow to distinguish TD from PIGD. Meanwhile, our findings provide an imaging basis for personalised treatment, thereby optimising clinical diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Deep-Learning-Assisted Simultaneous Target Sensing and Super-Resolution Imaging.

Metasurfaces have recently experienced revolutionary progress in sensing and super-resolution imaging fields, mainly due to their manipulation of electromagnetic waves on subwavelength scales. However, on the one hand, the addition of metasurfaces can multiply the complexity of retrieving target information from detected electromagnetic fields. On the other hand, many existing studies utilize deep learning methods to provide compelling tools for electromagnetic problems but mainly concentrate on resolving one single function, limiting their versatilities. In this work, a multifunctional deep learning network is demonstrated to reconstruct diverse target information in a metasurface-target interactive system. First, a preliminary experiment verifies that the metasurface-involved scenario can tolerate the system noises. Then, the captured electric field distributions are fed into the multifunctional network, which can not only accurately sense the quantity and relative permittivity of targets but also generate super-resolution images precisely. The deep learning network, thus, paves an alternative way to recover the targets' information in metasurface-target interactive systems, accelerating the progression of target sensing and superimaging areas. Besides, another new network that allows forward electromagnetic prediction is also proposed and demonstrated. To sum up, the deep learning methodology may hold promise for inverse reconstructions or forward predictions in many electromagnetic scenarios.

Spin-decoupled excitation and wavefront shaping of structured surface waves via on-chip terahertz metasurfaces.

Surface waves (SWs) are of great importance in terahertz (THz) photonics applications due to their subwavelength properties. Hence, it is crucial to develop surface wavefront shaping techniques, which is urgent in modern information technologies. In this paper, a new scheme is proposed to realize SW excitation and spin-decoupled wavefront shaping with an ultracompact planar meta-device working in the THz range. The meta-device is composed of two parts: meta-atoms (in the center) and plasmonic metals (on the left and right sides). By carefully setting the geometry size and rotation angle of each meta-atom, the encoded spin-decoupled phase distributions for both left circularly polarized (LCP) and right circularly polarized (RCP) incident THz waves are determined. In this way, circularly polarized (CP) incident THz waves can be converted to SWs propagating along plasmonic metals with unique wavefront profiles, i.e., Bessel and focusing profiles. Full-wave simulations and THz near-field scanning experiments were performed to verify the functionalities of the meta-device, both of which are in great agreement with theoretical predictions. Our findings may provide more solutions to design THz integrated photonic devices and systems.

Distinct lipid profile in haemolytic anaemia-related gallstones compared with the general gallstone.

BACKGROUND: Pigment gallstones are not uncommon among patients with chronic haemolytic anaemia. But their clinical characteristics have not been described in detail and not been directly compared with the general gallstone population. METHODS: Patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital with haemolytic anaemia and subsequent gallstones from January 2012 to December 2022 were included. Cases were matched (1:2) based on age, sex and location of stones to randomly select non-anaemia patients with gallstones (controls). RESULTS: Screening 899 cases of gallstones, we finally included 76 cases and 152 controls. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for cases were 3.02 ± 0.98 mmol/L, 0.89 ± 0.30 mmol/L and 1.58 ± 0.70 mmol/L, respectively, significantly lower than those in the control group (all p < 0.001). TC and HDL were both lower than the normal range, but triglyceride and LDL were within the normal range. Multiple stones were significantly more common for cases (n = 59, 78%) than for controls (n = 44, 29%, p < 0.001). The mean diameter of the maximal gallstone was 1.2 ± 0.6 cm and 1.5 ± 1.0 cm for cases and controls (p = 0.120), respectively. Stones in the elderly (p = 0.002 for univariate analysis, and 0.001 for multivariate analysis) and stones in the bile duct (p = 0.005 for univariate analysis, and 0.009 for multivariate analysis) were found to occur in a shorter period after anaemia. CONCLUSION: The lipid profile of haemolytic anaemia with gallstones was distinct, low TC, low HDL, and increased-to-normal LDL, compared with the general gallstone population. Patients with haemolytic anaemia were recommended an abdominal ultrasound if aged older than 50 years, with more frequent follow-up visits.KEY MESSAGESClinical characteristics of gallstones following chronic haemolytic anaemia were described and compared with the general gallstone population.The lipid profiles were distinctly different between the patients with gallstones following chronic haemolytic anaemia and the general gallstone population.Elder patients were complicated with gallstones in a shorter period after anaemia and thus were recommended an abdominal ultrasound if aged older than 50 years, with more frequent follow-up visits.

Simiao San alleviates hyperuricemia and kidney inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and JAK2/STAT3 signaling in hyperuricemia mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Simiao San (SmS), a famous traditional Chinese formula, is clinically used to treat patients with hyperuricemia (HUA). However, its mechanism of action on lowering uric acid (UA) and inhibiting inflammation still deserves further investigation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To examine the effect and its possible underlying mechanism of SmS on UA metabolism and kidney injury in HUA mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HUA mouse model was constructed with the combined administration of both potassium oxalate and hypoxanthine. The effects of SmS on UA, xanthine oxidase (XOD), creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by ELISA or biochemical assays. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) was used to observe pathological alterations in the kidneys of HUA mice. The expression levels of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), recombinant urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), nucleotide binding domain and leucine rich repeat pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), Cleaved-Caspase 1, apoptosis-associated speck like protein (ASC), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), IL-6, janus kinase 2 (JAK2), phosphor (P)-JAK2, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), P-STAT3, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) were examined by Western blot and/or immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The major ingredients in SmS were identified by a HPLC-MS assay. RESULTS: HUA mouse exhibited an elevation in serum levels of UA, BUN, CRE, XOD, and the ratio of urinary albumin to creatinine (UACR), and a decline in urine levels of UA and CRE. In addition, HUA induces pro-inflammatory microenvironment in mouse, including an increase in serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, and renal expressions of URAT1, GULT9, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved-Caspase1, P-JAK2/JAK2, P-STAT3/STAT3, and SOCS3, and a decrease in serum IL-10 level and renal OAT1 expression as well as a disorganization of kidney pathological microstructure. In contrast, SmS intervention reversed these alterations in HUA mouse. CONCLUSION: SmS could alleviate hyperuricemia and renal inflammation in HUA mouse. The action mechanisms behind these alterations may be associated with a limitation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.

A Convenient All-Cell Optical Imaging Method Compatible with Serial SEM for Brain Mapping.

The mammalian brain, with its complexity and intricacy, poses significant challenges for researchers aiming to understand its inner workings. Optical multilayer interference tomography (OMLIT) is a novel, promising imaging technique that enables the mapping and reconstruction of mesoscale all-cell brain atlases and is seamlessly compatible with tape-based serial scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscale mapping in the same tissue. However, currently, OMLIT suffers from imperfect coatings, leading to background noise and image contamination. In this study, we introduced a new imaging configuration using carbon spraying to eliminate the tape-coating step, resulting in reduced noise and enhanced imaging quality. We demonstrated the improved imaging quality and validated its applicability through a correlative light-electron imaging workflow. Our method successfully reconstructed all cells and vasculature within a large OMLIT dataset, enabling basic morphological classification and analysis. We also show that this approach can perform effectively on thicker sections, extending its applicability to sub-micron scale slices, saving sample preparation and imaging time, and increasing imaging throughput. Consequently, this method emerges as a promising candidate for high-speed, high-throughput brain tissue reconstruction and analysis. Our findings open new avenues for exploring the structure and function of the brain using OMLIT images.

Correction: Liu et al. Apigenin Ameliorates Hyperuricemia and Renal Injury through Regulation of Uric Acid Metabolism and JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway. Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15, 1442.

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