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This study investigates whether hAFSCs can improve bladder function in partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) rats by targeting specific cellular pathways. Thirty-six female rats were divided into sham and pBOO groups with and without hAFSCs single injection into the bladder wall. Cystometry, inflammation/hypoxia, collagen/fibrosis/gap junction proteins, and smooth muscle myosin/muscarinic receptors were examined at 2 and 6 weeks after pBOO or sham operation. In pBOO bladders, significant increases in peak voiding pressure and residual volume stimulated a significant upregulation of inflammatory and hypoxic factors, TGF-β1 and Smad2/3. Collagen deposition proteins, collagen 1 and 3, were significantly increased, but bladder fibrosis markers, caveolin 1 and 3, were significantly decreased. Gap junction intercellular communication protein, connexin 43, was significantly increased, but the number of caveolae was significantly decreased. Markers for the smooth muscle phenotype, myosin heavy chain 11 and guanylate-dependent protein kinase, as well as M2 muscarinic receptors, were significantly increased in cultured detrusor cells. However, hAFSCs treatment could significantly ameliorate bladder dysfunction by inactivating the TGFβ-Smad signaling pathway, reducing collagen deposition, disrupting gap junctional intercellular communication, and modifying the expressions of smooth muscle myosin and caveolae/caveolin proteins. The results support the potential value of hAFSCs-based treatment of bladder dysfunction in BOO patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the synthesis of tin oxide (SnO2) by a facile sol–gel method because its advantage had a low-cost process. SnO2 was then annealed from 300℃ to 700℃ to obtain crystal nanopowders with different surface morphologies and grain sizes. In addition, ultraviolet laser processing equipment was used to fabricate an interdigitated structure on indium tin oxide (ITO) films coated on glass plates as an electrode layer of gas sensors. The annealed SnO2 nanopowder was drop-cast on the interdigitated ITO electrode as a gas detection layer. The developed gas sensors were used to detect air pollution. Moreover, a SEM, an XRD, and a four-point probe were applied to measure the morphologies, structural characteristics, and electrical properties of ITO thin films and SnO2 nanopowders, respectively. After gas detection tests, the gas sensor based on SnO2 nanopowders annealed at 600 ℃ demonstrated a relatively large response of 9.7% and fast response and recovery times of 12 s and 16 s. Furthermore, the SnO2 nanopowder-based gas sensor at a NO2 concentration of 5 ppm had better repeatability with an average response of 9.57 ± 0.22% after the 11-cycle test and an excellent sensitivity to NO2 compared to the gases CO2, H2, NO, CO, and NH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to synthesize Ti3C2Tx (MXene) through selective etching of Ti3AlC2 (MAX) using the in situ hydrofluoric acid method. ZnO was then grown on the Ti3C2Tx surface to form Ti3C2Tx (MXene)/ZnO composites (M-ZnO) using the hydrothermal method. To increase adhesion between the M-ZnO sensing composite and the laser-patterned interdigitated electrode surface, PEDOT:PSS was used as an adhesive layer to obtain PEDOT:PSS/M-ZnO-based gas sensors. The surface morphology, cross-sectional profile, elemental analysis, and structural and chemical compositions of M-ZnO composites were characterized using scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of the sensing test indicated that the responses of the gas sensors were 3.66%, 6.62%, 8.12%, and 10.23% when PEDOT:PSS/M-ZnO were exposed to 400, 600, 800, and 1000 ppb NO2 concentrations, respectively. The sensitivity of the PEDOT:PSS/ZnO-, PEDOT:PSS/MXene-, and PEDOT:PSS/M-ZnO-based gas sensors was 0.67, 1.37, and 10.61, respectively. The PEDOT:PSS/M-ZnO-based gas sensor had the highest sensitivity of 10.61, which was 15.8 times higher than the PEDOT:PSS/ZnO-based gas sensor. Additionally, the PEDOT:PSS/M-ZnO-based gas sensor displayed good stability and excellent sensing selectivity for NO2 gas at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low‐energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) is a new potential treatment for intractable interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), and this paper will evaluate its therapeutic effects on IC/BPS. Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical trial enrolled 30 women who have been diagnosed with IC/PBS to receive LiESWT treatment at an intensity of 0.25 mJ/mm2 and a frequency of 3 pulses/second, for a total of 3000 pulses within 8 weeks. And we assessed questionnaires (including O'Leary‐Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI)), 3‐day voiding diary, and urodynamic study at the following intervals: 4 weeks of LiESWT (W4), 8 weeks of LiESWT (W8), 1‐month follow‐up (F1), 3‐month follow‐up (F3) after LiESWT, and 1 year follow‐up (F12). Results: The primary outcome of questionnaires showed significant improvement of symptoms compared to baseline (W0), especially on ICSI(12.87 ± 3.44 before treatment and 7.87 ± 5.27 at F12, p < 0.05). 3‐day voiding diary also revealed significant decrease in daytime voiding frequency (15.57 ± 5.22 times before treatment and 10.70 ± 4.21 times at F1, p < 0.05) and significant increase on average voiding volume (95.85 ± 35.30 mL before treatment and 161.27 ± 74.21 mL at F1, p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in all parameters of the urodynamic study. Conclusion: LiESWT can mitigate pain and lower urinary tract symptoms and improve the quality of life in IC/PBS patients, but does not increase the maximal cystometric capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]