Late-onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes syndrome with mitochondrial DNA 3243A>G mutation masquerading as autoimmune encephalitis: A case report.

Background: Here, we present a unique case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, which initially appeared to be autoimmune encephalitis and was ultimately confirmed as MELAS with the mitochondrial DNA 3243A>G mutation.

Case Summary: A 58-year-old female presented with acute-onset speech impediment and auditory hallucinations, symmetrical bitemporal lobe abnormalities, clinical and laboratory findings, and a lack of relevant prodromal history, which suggested diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Further work-up, in conjunction with the patient's medical history, family history, and lactate peak on brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, suggested a mitochondrial disorder.

Long-term cryostorage of semen in a human sperm bank does not affect clinical outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the affect of the duration of donor sperm storage on pregnancy success among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Sperm bank.

Prussian blue analogue-derived Ni and Co bimetallic oxide nanoplate arrays block-built from porous and hollow nanocubes for the efficient oxygen evolution reaction.

Effective oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts composed of Earth-abundant transition metals are crucial for sustainable energy conversion and storage. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable compositions are promising precursors for the fabrication of hollow and porous electrocatalysts. However, pulverous MOFs usually suffer from agglomeration during pyrolysis, greatly reducing the activity of their derived catalysts.

The histone deacetylase NlHDAC1 regulates both female and male fertility in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

Histone acetylation is a specific type of chromatin modification that serves as a key regulatory mechanism for many cellular processes in mammals. However, little is known about its biological function in invertebrates. Here, we identified 12 members of histone deacetylases (NlHDACs) in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens.

[In vitro culture medium for sparse spermatozoa improves human sperm motility].

Objective: To investigate whether in vitro culture medium (IVCM) for sparse spermatozoa can improve human sperm motility for the purpose of helping clinicians, laboratorians and patients choose a better strategy of assisted reproduction.

Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 178 males for routine semen examination from March to August 2016, including 151 cases of asthenozoospermia and 27 cases of normal sperm motility. A total of 200 μl was collected from each sample and divided into two equal portions and equal volumes of IVCM (experimental group) and F10 (1×) (control group) were added to the two portions, respectively, followed by 30-minute incubation at 37℃ in an incubator with 5% CO2.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of two eye pigmentation genes in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens is one of the most destructive insect pests in Asia, demonstrating high fertility and causing huge crop losses by sucking sap of rice as well as transmitting viruses. However, functional genomic studies on N. lugens are seriously constrained by lack of genetic tools.

Establishment of cultivating strategy for highly aggregated mycelia of Morchella esculenta in a stirred-tank bioreactor.

Mycelia of Morchella esculenta were found to aggregate rapidly in a submerged culture, which caused the decrease in dispersed mycelia and the problem of diffusion limitation. The effect of different agitation schemes on the growth of mycelia was investigated in a stirred-tank bioreactor. At the constant speed of 100 or 300 rpm, rapid aggregation caused the biomass concentration to drop to zero in 30 h, which was even worse than achieved under static culture.