IL-33 Suppresses the Progression of Atherosclerosis via the ERK1/2-IRF1-VCAM-1 Pathway.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the effects of interleukin 33 (IL-33) on the progression of atherosclerosis and the possible mechanism. METHODS: The adhesion assay was performed on isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The expression of proteins and messenger RNA (mRNA) were detected by western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and P-selectin. The effect of IL-33 on the interaction of growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) with myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 1/4 were investigated using co-immunoprecipitation assay. An apolipoprotein (Apo) E-/- mice model was used to confirm the effect of IL-33 on atherosclerosis progression. Area of plaques was recorded by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The severity of atherosclerosis plaque was evaluated using immunohistochemistry assay, and lipid accumulation was measured by an oil red O staining. In contrast, western blot was performed to detect the expression levels of VCAM-1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). RESULTS: Our study observed that IL-33 suppressed cell adhesion and the expression of VCAM-1 in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) exposed HUVEC. Moreover, the addition of IL-33 significantly inhibited the expression of IRF1 and the binding level of IRF1 to VCAM-1 and also promoted the phosphorylation level of IRAK1/4 and ERK1/2 compared to TNF-α-stimulated HUVEC. The ST2 neutralizing antibody or ERK pathway inhibitor SCH772984 reversed the regulatory effects of IL-33 on HUVEC, suggesting that IL-33 suppressed IRF1 and VCAM-1 dependent on binding to ST2 and activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Further investigation in vivo confirmed that IL-33 decreased the expressions of IRF1 and VCAM-1 by activating the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the thoracic aorta of Apo E-/- mice. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that IL-33 plays a protective role in the progression of atherosclerosis by inhibiting cell adhesion via the ERK1/2-IRF1-VCAM-1 pathway. This study may provide a potential therapeutic way to prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Audio-visual Emotion Regulation System Based on TGAM Module / 中国医疗器械杂志

OBJECTIVE@#Based on the TGAM PCB module, a system of emotion control using audio-visual feedback is designed.@*METHODS@#TGAM collects EEG information through the electrode in contact with the forehead skin. The system analyzes the user's emotion through the STM32F103ZET6 of the main control chip, and finally controls the control end of the system to regulate the user's emotion.@*RESULTS@#It can be seen from the test results that the system can precisely recognize the user's emotions, and at the same time effectively adjust the user's emotions from both audio-visual aspects.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The system has high recognition accuracy and good adjustment effect.

Design of Remote Multi-part Personal Radiation Dose System Based on Bluetooth Communication Module / 中国医疗器械杂志

OBJECTIVE@#A remote multi-part personal radiation dose detection system is designed with ATmega32A single chip microcomputer as the control core.@*METHODS@#First of all, the geiger counter tube module collects the radiation signal of the surrouding environment. Secondly, using ATmega32A Microprocessor of Slave computer to calculate the collected signal. Finally, it is sent to the host receiving device or mobile APP through Bluetooth module,so as to realize real-time detection of radiation data, remote transmission and security alarm.@*RESULTS@#The system is measured in the same environment as the RG1100 radiometer, with a maximum difference of 0.03 μSv/h.This shows that it can stably realize the functions of radiation measurement, monitoring, alarm, remote connection and multimodal display.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The system has the advantages of good portability (easy to carry), low power consumption, accurate measurement and so on. It has certain reference value and practicability.

Chinese expert investigation on diagnosis and disease activity evaluation in Takayasu's arteritis / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To investigate the current situation in Chinese rheumatologic physicians' clinical diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis (TA).Methods Nineteen rheumatology experts and three vascular surgery specialists in China were invited to make the nationwide investigation for the first time about the diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of TA in China,through the questionnaire survey on the internet.Weighted average was used to calculate the average scores of corresponding problems.Results Chinese experts mainly adopted 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for clinical diagnosis of TA.In details,symptoms of age,limb claudication and amaurosis,signs including pulselessness or pulse weakening,vascular bruits,increasing bilateral pulse pressure and hypertension and acute phase reactants (APR) were critical to the clinical diagnosis of TA.Besides,noninvasive imaging examinations,such as computed tomography angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),vascular ultrasonography,and positron emission tomography (PET) were also of great importance.In the aspect of disease activity assessment,Chinese experts mainly used Kerr scoring tool.APR and noninvasive radiological examinations were considered with vital value.Some TA patients with carotid artery involvement were recommended using vascular ultrasonography,while others with pulmonary artery and thoracic/abdominal aorta trunk involvement were preferred CTA other than MRA.Conclusions APR and noninvasive imaging examinations were thought with great help to make clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TA for Chinese physicians.

Effects of MG132 on protein expression of SnoN and fibrosis-related in-dicators in NRK-52E cells after incubated with high concentration of glu-cose / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effects of proteasome inhibitor MG 132 on the expression of SnoN in renal tubule epithelial cells incubated in high glucose , and to explore the possible mechanism and function that MG 132 reduces or slows down renal tubular interstitial injury after incubated in high glucose .METHODS:The NRK-52E cells were divid-ed into normal control group (NG), high glucose group (HG) and high glucose plus pretreatment with different doses of MG132 group (HG+MG132).The immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the protein expression of E-cadherin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in NRK-52E cells under different conditions .The relative protein expression levels of SnoN, Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2), Arkadia, E-cadherin, α-SMA and collagen type Ⅰ(Col-Ⅰ) were detected by Western blotting .RESULTS:Compared with NG group , the expression of E-cadherin and SnoN was de-creased (P<0.05), while the expression of α-SMA, Col-Ⅰ, Smurf2 and Arkadia was increased (P<0.05).Compared with HG group, the protein expression of SnoN and E-cadherin was significantly up-regulated in HG+MG132 group ( P<0.05 ) , and the protein expression of α-SMA and Col-Ⅰwas significantly down-regulated in a dose-depended manner ( P<0.05).However, no effect on the protein expression of Smurf2 and Arkadia was observed.CONCLUSION: MG132 in-hibits the degradation of SnoN protein induced by high glucose , thus reducing the renal fibrosis .

Effect of alendronate on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effect of alendronate on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis(GIO).@*METHODS@#Thirty-five GIO patients were enrolled. Ten milligrams alendronate were prescribed daily for 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer (DEXA) after and before the treatment.@*RESULTS@#BMD at lumbar, neck and trochanter sites of the 35 patients after the treatment was significantly increased compared with those before the treatment (P<0.05). Urine Ca/Cr level was decreased (P<0.05). There was no severe side effect.@*CONCLUSION@#Alendronate is effective and well tolerated for GIO.