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To effectively solve the problem of a small proportion of substantia nigra and midbrain regions in Magnetic Resolution Imaging (MRI) images of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues, and difficulty in accurately delineating boundaries, an improved U2-Net algorithm for Parkinson's substantia nigra midbrain image segmentation was proposed. This algorithm first improves the Residual U-blocks (RSU) and RSU-4F modules using the Shuffle Attention (SA) module, enhancing the network's attention to Parkinson's substantia nigra and midbrain blurry regions in the encoding and decoding layers. Next, replace some ordinary convolutions in RSU-4F with DynamicConv (DyConv), capture local features through dynamic convolution kernels, and improve the segmentation performance of Parkinson's images. The experimental data used clinical data, and the improved algorithm achieved Dice, Precision, Recall, and mIou of 80.27%, 89.99%, 88.88%, and 82.38% in substantia nigra segmentation, respectively. The experimental results show that this algorithm can achieve more precise segmentation of Parkinson's images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous sailing robots have attracted much attention, but challenges arise due to the sailing tests require an environment with both aerodynamic and hydrodynamic fields and a sufficient number of sailing robots in readiness. A remotely accessible platform with the advantages of low cost, easy operation and high efficiency is the preferred method to solve this dilemma. Consistent with this goal is the design of Sailboat Test Arena (STAr), a remotely accessible platform for sailing robot design verification, autonomous algorithms validation and sailing control practices. All three parts require extensive testing in real water environments. Hereby, for testers around the world, STAr can be accessed without time difference. A variety of local and remote tests have been conducted in the STAr platform at various location around the world. The results show that STAr is a remotely accessible and effective tool in data collection and skill transfer. With continuous adoption and optimization, STAr will continue to serve as a tool to further promote low-cost, high-efficiency and diverse sailing research, and provide opportunities for more people to experience sailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Recent immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated Sry-related HMG-Box gene 10 (SOX10) expression in malignant melanomas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, a subset of breast carcinomas, and gliomas. SOX10 has shown important clinical utility in its ability to detect desmoplastic and spindle cell melanomas. To date, most publications have employed a research use-only goat polyclonal SOX10 antibody for immunohistochemical staining. Objective.--To describe the development of a new mouse monoclonal SOX10 antibody (BC34) and evaluate its immunohistochemical staining profile in a wide range of normal and neoplastic tissues, with an emphasis on melanoma. Design.--SOX10 antibody was optimized for staining using a polymer detection system and visualization with diaminobenzidine. Results.--In normal tissues, SOX10 was expressed in skin melanocytes and eccrine cells, breast myoepithelial and lobular epithelial cells, salivary gland myoepithelial cells, peripheral nerve Schwann cells, and central nervous system glial cells. SOX10 was expressed in 238 of 257 melanomas (92.6%), including 50 of 51 of both spindle cell and desmoplastic melanomas (98%). SOX10 was expressed in 100% of nevi (20 of 20) and schwannomas (28 of 28). In other neoplasms, SOX10 was expressed in 18 of 109 invasive ductal breast carcinomas (16.5%). All other carcinomas were negative for SOX10. SOX10 was identified in 25 of 52 central nervous system neoplasms, primarily in astrocytomas (22 of 41; 53.7%), and in 4 of 99 various sarcomas examined (4.0%). Conclusions.--The newly developed mouse monoclonal SOX10 antibody BC34 is highly sensitive and specific for malignant melanoma, including desmoplastic and spindle cell variants, and appears highly suitable for clinical use. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015; 139:530-536; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2014-0077-0A), Sry-related HMG-Box gene 10 (SOX10) protein is a human transcription factor important for neural crest, peripheral nervous system, and melanocytic cell development. (1-4) The SOX10 nuclear protein has been shown [...]

Context.--Uroplakin II is a 15-kDa protein component of the urothelial plaques that enhance the permeability barrier and strength of the urothelium. Studies have shown uroplakin II messenger RNA to be expressed in bladder cancer tissues and peripheral blood of patients with urothelial carcinoma. Little is known about the protein expression of uroplakin II in urothelial carcinoma, possibly because of the absence of a commercially available uroplakin II antibody. Pathologists have used the uroplakin III antibody (AU1) to identify tumors of urothelial origin; however, the use of AU1 is limited because of its poor sensitivity. Objectives.--To evaluate a newly developed mouse monoclonal uroplakin II antibody (BC21) in urothelial carcinoma and to compare it with previously developed mouse monoclonal uroplakin III (BC17 and AU1). Design.--Uroplakin II and III antibodies were optimized for staining using a horseradish peroxidase-polymer detection system and were visualized with 3,3 -diaminobenzidine. Results.--BC21, BC17, and AU1 demonstrated sensitivities in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder of 79% (44 of 56), 55% (31 of 56) (P = .002), and 34% (19 of 56) (P < .001), respectively. Subsequently, the increased staining sensitivity and intensity of BC21, compared with BC17, was validated in a larger study (134 of 174; 77% and 94 of 174; 54%, respectively) (P < .001). BC21 was found to be highly specific when evaluated in various normal and neoplastic tissues, including prostatic and renal carcinomas. Conclusions.--The mouse monoclonal uroplakin II antibody (BC21) demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity in urothelial carcinoma, compared with uroplakin III (BC17 and AU1), suggesting its advantages in the differential diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma and in the detection of tumors of unknown origin. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014; 138:943-949; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2013-0221-0A), Bladder cancer is the sixth most commonly occurring carcinoma in the United States, with 73 510 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2012. (1) This cancer is particularly associated [...]

Crocin-4 is a water-soluble carotenoid that exhibits cardiovascular protection effects through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the pharmacodynamic effects and mechanisms of its analogues crocin-1 and crocin-2′ have not been reported. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of rare crocins on cardiovascular systems. In ox-LDL induced HUVECs model, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 μg/mL crocin-1 and crocin-2′ can increase cell viability by up to 80 %. Meanwhile, rare crocins at concentrations between 25–100 μg/mL crocin-1 and crocin-2′ reduced the lipid accumulation by 30 % in cholesterol-induced zebrafish larvae. What's more, the therapeutic potential of rare crocins on thrombosis has also been explored. In vitro experiments, rare crocin-1 and crocin-2′ at concentrations of 0.02, 0.05, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 μg/mL protected Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) against lipopolysaccharides-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. In vivo studies revealed that rare crocins at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 μg/mL exerted significant antithrombotic effect on arachidonic acid (AA)-induced zebrafish and there was nearly no potential risk for the deformity of zebrafish at 300 μg/mL dosages. In brief, rare crocins was viewed as a potentially useful candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant properties. Scheme showing the effects of rare crocins on cholesterol-induced lipid accumulation and AA stimulated thrombosis in zebrafish larvae. (A) Rare crocins relieves lipid accumulation. (B) Chemical structure of rare crocins. (C) A proposed mechanism of rare crocins ameliorate thrombosis in AA -induced zebrafish. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Anti-Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and anti-metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) double antibody positive encephalitis characterized by optic neuritis is extremely rare. We present a case of overlapping syndrome of MOG-IgG-associated disease and anti-mGluR5 encephalitis manifested as optic neuritis., Patient Concerns: A 60-year-old Chinses woman presented to the hospital with progressive vision loss and headache for 1 week. The cerebrospinal fluid examination was within the normal range. Visual evoked potentials study disclosed prolonged latency of P100 bilaterally. Fundus examination revealed indistinct boundaries of both optic discs. Her brain magnetic resonance imaging showed patchy hyperintensity in the posterior horn of the left ventricle and the left optic nerve. Her serum was positive for anti-MOG and anti-mGluR5 antibodies., Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with overlapping syndrome of anti-MOG antibody-associated disease and anti-mGluR5 encephalitis mainly based on the clinical symptoms and further test of the antibody in serum., Interventions and Outcomes: She was subsequently subjected to empirical treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone. After discharge, she was given a tapering dose of oral prednisone, alongside mycophenolate mofetil. On outpatient follow-up, her symptoms showed no relapse after 1 month, and her condition remained stable., Lessons: Early recognition of autoimmune encephalitis is crucial. The detection of cerebrospinal fluid and serum of autoimmune encephalitis and demyelinating diseases of the CNS, including MOG-IgG and mGluR5-IgG, should be strengthened in order to make a precise diagnosis and develop a comprehensive treatment plan in a timely manner., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Sailing robots can contribute significantly to maritime surface exploration, due to its potential for long-range and long-duration motions in the environment with abundant wind. However, energy, the critical factor for their long-term missions, shall be carefully investigated, so as to achieve sustainability in distance and time. In this survey, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation on numerous sailing robots, developed in academia and industry. Some of them have achieved long-term operation, and some are motivated by, but still on the way to this ambitious goal. Prototypes are grouped in each team, so as to view the development path. We further investigate the existing design and control strategies for energy sufficiency from three perspectives: actuation, harvesting, and energy management. In propulsion and steering, i.e., two major actuations, researchers have accumulated effective sail and rudder designs. The motorized propeller and wave-glider-inspired mechanism also contribute as compliments for propulsion. Electricity harvesting based on solar or wind energies is also discussed to gather more power from nature. Pros and cons in strategies of energy management, which are valuable tools to enhance power utilization efficiency, are elaborated. This article is hoped to provide researchers in long-term robotic sailing with a comprehensive reference from the perspectives of energy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sun, Qi, Liu, Ji and Qian.)

In this paper, we describe the development of a novel rabbit monoclonal cytokeratin 7 (CK7) antibody. CK7 is widely used in immunohistochemical tests that are commonly performed in histopathology laboratories. Rabbits were immunized with a peptide corresponding to C-terminus of CK7. Recombinant monoclonal antibodies were developed using proprietary technology. Antibodies were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against CK7 peptide, and the specificity of the antibody was verified by Western blotting on Hela cell lysates and by immunohistochemical staining on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. One clone, designated as BC1 was selected and tested on a variety of human tissues. Its reactivity was tested and compared with a well-characterized mouse monoclonal CK7 antibody OV-TL 12/30 on lung, breast, ovarian, and colon cancers, and on a variety of normal tissues. The staining patterns and specificity were concordant with mouse monoclonal OV-TL 12/30. The BC1 clone, however, showed superior staining to OV-TL 12/30 in terms of intensity and staining of debris. CK7 combined with CK20 or CDX2 and TTF1 is a common panel used in histopathology laboratories in discrimination between primary adenocarcinomas and metastatic lung adenocarcinomas from colonic origin. We then developed a 4-step double stain (multiplex) assay by combining CDX-2 with CK7 in an antibody cocktail and tested the efficacy on lung, breast, and colon cancers. Results showed that this novel antibody can be used as a single component and/or in combination with CDX2 and TTF1 in applications for diagnostic pathology.