Activity

As a new member of 2D materials, 2D tellurium (Te) has recently attracted much attention due to its intriguing properties. Through hydrothermal processing, 2D Te with tunable thickness and size has been realized, and its growth mechanism has also been studied. However, the tailored growth of 2D Te nanoflakes with symmetrical morphologies and interfacial moiré fringes has never been reported. Here, 2D Te nanoflakes have been prepared using the hydrothermal method, and mirror-symmetrical shapes (including “V-shape,” “heart-shape,” and “paper airplane-shape”) with obvious moiré fringes in the middle of the nanoflakes are observed. Comprehensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques are utilized for structural characterization of these nanoflakes, especially the moiré fringes in the symmetry axis region of the nanoflakes. The systematic analyses of the moiré fringes and the observation of obvious overlapping edges of the composing nanoflakes from the cross-sectional samples reveal the possible mechanism of morphological evolution for these symmetrical nanoflakes. These details may fill the research gap in the controllable growth of 2D Te nanomaterials, pave the way for the fabrication of 2D Te moiré superlattices and in-plane homojunctions, and promote their future versatile applications.Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadliest tumor of the central nervous system. GBM has poor prognosis and glioma stem cells (GSCs) are implicated in tumor initiation and therapy resistance. Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is expressed in GBM and exhibit tumor suppressive function. However, the role of ERβ in GSCs and the therapeutic potential of ERβ agonists on GSCs remain largely unknown. Here, we examined whether ERβ modulates GSCs stemness and tested the utility of two ERβ selective agonists (LY500307 and Liquiritigenin) to reduce the stemness of GSCs. The efficacy of ERβ agonists was examined on GSCs isolated from established and patient derived GBMs. Our results suggested that knockout of ERβ increased the proportion of CD133+ and SSEA+ positive GSCs and overexpression of ERβ reduced the proportion of GSCs in GBM cells. Overexpression of ERβ or treatment with ERβ agonists significantly inhibited the GSCs cell viability, neurosphere formation, self-renewal ability, induced the apoptosis and reduced expression of stemness markers in GSCs. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that ERβ agonist modulate pathways related to stemness, differentiation and apoptosis. Mechanistic studies showed that ERβ overexpression or agonist treatment reduced glutamate receptor signaling pathway and induced apoptotic pathways. In orthotopic models, ERβ overexpression or ERβ agonists treatment significantly reduced the GSCs mediated tumor growth and improved the mice overall survival. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that ERβ overexpression decreased SOX2 and GRM3 expression and increased expression of GFAP in tumors. These results suggest that ERβ activation could be a promising therapeutic strategy to eradicate GSCs.

Emergence profile design is important for stable peri-implant tissues and esthetically pleasing results with dental implant restorations, influenced by factors, such as, implant position and surrounding soft tissues. Different aspects of the emergence profile have been described, but detailed explanations of the different zones and corresponding designs are missing. This article describes the esthetic biological contour concept (EBC), differentiating important areas of the emergence profile and recommending particular designs for those zones.

The EBC concept considers specific parameters for proper design of the emergence profile of implant-supported restorations. CompK concentration Understanding the different zones of the emergence profile and their relation to factors like implant position, implant design, and soft tissue thickness is key. The suggested guidelines are geared toward providing more stable and esthetic results when restoring dental implants in the esthetic zone.

Each of the zones described in the EBC concept have a specific function in the design of the emergence profile. Understanding the importance and specific design features of the EBC zones facilitates esthetic and biologically sound treatment outcomes with interim and definitive implant restorations.

Proper emergence profile design supports esthetic outcomes and provides favorable biological response to implant-supported restorations.

Proper emergence profile design supports esthetic outcomes and provides favorable biological response to implant-supported restorations.Protocols for specifying human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) remain hindered by differences between hESC lines, their derivation methods, and maintenance culture conditions. This poses significant challenges for establishing reproducible in vitro models of human gametogenesis. Here, we investigated the influence of activin A (ActA) during derivation and maintenance on the propensity of hESCs to differentiate into PGCLCs. We show that continuous ActA supplementation during hESC derivation (from blastocyst until the formation of the post-inner cell mass intermediate [PICMI]) and supplementation (from the first passage of the PICMI onwards) is beneficial to differentiate hESCs to PGCLCs subsequently. Moreover, comparing isogenic primed and naïve states prior to differentiation, we showed that conversion of hESCs to the 4i-state improves differentiation to (TNAP [tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase]+/PDPN [podoplanin]+) PGCLCs. Those PGCLCs expressed several germ cell markers, including TFAP2C (transcription factor AP-2 gamma), SOX17 (SRY-box transcription factor 17), and NANOS3 (nanos C2HC-type zinc finger 3), and markers associated with germ cell migration, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4), LAMA4 (laminin subunit alpha 4), ITGA6 (integrin subunit alpha 6), and CDH4 (cadherin 4), suggesting that the large numbers of PGCLCs obtained may be suitable to differentiate further into more mature germ cells. Finally, hESCs derived in the presence of ActA showed higher competence to differentiate to hPGCLC, in particular if transiently converted to the 4i-state. Our work provides insights into the differences in differentiation propensity of hESCs and delivers an optimized protocol to support efficient human germ cell derivation.