Exploring the Role of IL-36 Cytokines as a New Target in Psoriatic Disease

Unmet needs in the treatment of psoriasis call for novel therapeutic strategies. Pustular psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis often represent a therapeutic challenge. Focus on IL-36 cytokines offers an interesting approach, as the IL-36 axis has been appointed a critical driver of the autoinflammatory responses involved in pustular psoriasis. Two IL-36R blocking antibodies, imsidolimab and spesolimab, are currently undergoing phase II and III clinical trials, with promising results.     

Performance of a Degassing Cyclone with Main and Subsidiary Chambers

Based on the premise that large bubbles are removed in larger cyclones and small bubbles in smaller cyclones, a combined degassing cyclone with main and subsidiary chambers was designed to enhance liquid degassing. The pressure loss, liquid flow rate at the gas outlet, split ratio, gas flow rate at the liquid outlet, and degassing efficiency of the degassing cyclone were measured and calculated. Pressure loss correlations were established which relates the Euler number to the gas and liquid Reynolds numbers in the main chamber. Most cases exhibit a degassing efficiency greater than 0.998 when the liquid flow rate is more than 0.7 m³h^?1. The contours of pressure loss, split ratio, and degassing efficiency provide an effective guidance for designing a degassing cyclone.     

Insights into the Interaction of LVV-Hemorphin-7 with Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor

Hemorphins are known for their role in the control of blood pressure. Recently, we revealed the positive modulation of the angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) by LVV-hemorphin-7 (LVV-H7) in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Here, we examined the molecular binding behavior of LVV-H7 on AT1R and its effect on AngII binding using a nanoluciferase-based bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (NanoBRET) assay in HEK293FT cells, as well as molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) studies. Saturation and real-time kinetics supported the positive effect of LVV-H7 on the binding of AngII. While the competitive antagonist olmesartan competed with AngII binding, LVV-H7 slightly, but significantly, decreased AngII’s k_D by 2.6 fold with no effect on its B_max. Molecular docking and MD simulations indicated that the binding of LVV-H7 in the intracellular region of AT1R allosterically potentiates AngII binding. LVV-H7 targets residues on intracellular loops 2 and 3 of AT1R, which are known binding sites of allosteric modulators in other GPCRs. Our data demonstrate the allosteric effect of LVV-H7 on AngII binding, which is consistent with the positive modulation of AT1R activity and signaling previously reported. This further supports the pharmacological targeting of AT1R by hemorphins, with implications in vascular and renal physiology.     

Effects of the Anti-Tumorigenic Agent AT101 on Human Glioblastoma Cells in the Microenvironmental Glioma Stem Cell Niche

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a barely treatable disease due to its profound chemoresistance. A distinct inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity reflected by specialized microenvironmental niches and different tumor cell subpopulations allows GBMs to evade therapy regimens. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies. A promising candidate for the treatment of GBMs is AT101, the R(-) enantiomer of gossypol. The present study evaluates the effects of AT101, alone or in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), in a microenvironmental glioma stem cell niche model of two GBM cell lines (U251MG and U87MG). AT101 was found to induce strong cytotoxic effects on U251MG and U87MG stem-like cells in comparison to the respective native cells. Moreover, a higher sensitivity against treatment with AT101 was observed upon incubation of native cells with a stem-like cell-conditioned medium. This higher sensitivity was reflected by a specific inhibitory influence on the p-p42/44 signaling pathway. Further, the expression of CXCR7 and the interleukin-6 receptor was significantly regulated upon these stimulatory conditions. Since tumor stem-like cells are known to mediate the development of tumor recurrences and were observed to strongly respond to the AT101 treatment, this might represent a promising approach to prevent the development of GBM recurrences.     

Effects of sintering temperature and Bi2O3, Y2O3 and MgO co-doping on the dielectric properties of X8R BaTiO3-based ceramics

Bi₂O₃, Y₂O₃ and MgO co-doped BaTiO₃ (BT)-based X8R ceramics were synthesized successfully for the first time. The effects of the sintering temperature and Bi₂O₃, Y₂O₃ and MgO dopants on the dielectric properties were investigated systematically. Bi₂O₃ doping can increase the Curie temperature (T_c), but reduces the overall dielectric permittivity. On the other hand, Y₂O₃ doping is beneficial to the formation of core-shell microstructure and the increase of T_c, whereas MgO can prevent excessive Y₂O₃ from diffusing into grain core, and thereby further contributes to the generation of the core–shell microstructure. The generation of the typical core-shell microstructure was confirmed and investigated in detail by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is argued that the synergistic effects of Bi₂O₃, Y₂O₃ and MgO co-doping in terms of the formation of the core-shell structure and the increase of T_c, can help improve the temperature stability of the dielectric permittivity effectively. Increasing the sintering temperature leads to an increase in the grain size, which in turn leads to an increase in the overall dielectric permittivity due to the grain size effect.     

Compiler compatible 5.66 Mb/mm2 8T 1R1W register file in 14 nm FinFET technology

1-read/1-write (1R1W) register file (RF) is a popular memory configuration in modern feature rich SoCs requiring significant amount of embedded memory. A memory compiler is constructed using the 8T RF bitcell spanning a range of instances from 32 b to 72 Kb. An 8T low-leakage bitcell of 0.106 μm² is used in a 14 nm FinFET technology with a 70 nm contacted gate pitch for high-density (HD) two-port (TP) RF memory compiler which achieves 5.66 Mb/mm² array density for a 72 Kb array which is the highest reported density in 14 nm FinFET technology. The density improvement is achieved by using techniques such as leaf-cell optimization (eliminating transistors), better architectural planning, top level connectivity through leaf-cell abutment and minimizing the number of unique leaf-cells. These techniques are fully compatible with memory compiler usage over the required span. Leakage power is minimized by using power-switches without degrading the density mentioned above. Self-induced supply voltage collapse technique is applied for write and a four stack static keeper is used for read Vmin improvement. Fabricated test chips using 14 nm process have demonstrated 2.33 GHz performance at 1.1 V/25 °C operation. Overall V_min of 550 mV is achieved with this design at 25 °C. The inbuilt power-switch improves leakage power by 12x in simulation. Approximately 8% die area of a leading 14 nm SoC in commercialization is occupied by these compiled RF instances.     

PI3K/AKT/GSK3β信号通路参与腺苷A1R介导异丙酚对缺血再灌注损伤大鼠的脑保护作用

目的：探讨PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β信号通路参与异丙酚对缺血再灌注损伤大鼠的脑保护作用及机制。方法：健康雄性SD大鼠72只，所有大鼠参照Zea Longa法建立局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的模型。随机分成6组（n=12），A-假手术组，B-模型组（MCAO），C-异丙酚组，D-异丙酚+腺苷A1R拮抗剂组（DPCPX），E-异丙酚组+PI3K特异性抑制剂（LY294002），F-异丙酚+GSK-3β抑制剂组（SB216763），观察大鼠术后24 h神经功能评分情况；LDF监测插栓前后脑血流变化；采用TTC染色法检测各组大鼠的脑梗死体积；用HE染色方法观察大鼠脑组织形态学改变；免疫组织化学法检测Bcl-2阳性细胞表达；采用TUNEL检测各组大脑脑皮质缺血周围神经元凋亡细胞的百分率。结果：与A组比较，B、C、D、E及F组大鼠行为学、脑梗死体积、细胞凋亡率、Bcl-2蛋白表达量均增加（P<0.05）；与C组比较，B、D、E组大鼠行为学评分，脑梗死体积及细胞凋亡率均明显增加，Bcl-2蛋白表达量均明显减少（P<0.01），F组Bcl-2蛋白表达量却增加，细胞凋亡率降低（P<0.05），行为学评分减少、梗死体积减少（P<0.05）。 结论：腺苷A1R介导的异丙酚对缺血再灌注损伤大鼠的神经保护作用可能与PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β信号转导通路有关。     

Atomistic insight into the hydration and proton conducting mechanisms of the cobalt doped Ruddlesden-Popper structure Sr3Fe2O7-δ

Sr₃Fe₂O_7-δ (SFO) with two-layer Ruddlesden-Popper (R–P) structure has recently been proved to be a promising material for the single phase cathode in proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells (P–SOFCs). To investigate the hydration reactions and proton conducting mechanisms of SFO and cobalt doped SFO (SFCO), both bulk and surface properties were calculated. We conclude that R–P structures have advantages in P–SOFCs. The unique Sr–O–M layer can facilitate the hydration process. Although in Sr–O–F and Sr–O–N layers, it is difficult for the formation and migration of oxygen vacancies, protons are most stable. Furthermore, cobalt doping can not only improve the electronic conductivity but also enhance surface properties of SFCO. The easily exposed Co–Fe–O surface can also facilitate the hydration reactions on the surface. Our work could give an informative insight into the relationships among the doped elements, the R–P structures, the hydration process and the proton conducting properties.