Preventive approach against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis through the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

A number of drugs induce pulmonary injury and subsequently lead to serious lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis as the adverse drug reactions. However, an effective preventive approach against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis has not been established due to poor understanding of common preventive targets in a variety of drugs showing pulmonary toxicity. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular phenotypic change of the epithelial to mesenchymal state, contributes to the development of pulmonary fibrosis through the conversion of damaged alveolar epithelium into myofibroblasts. As several drugs with pulmonary toxicity have been reported to induce EMT, EMT serves as a bridge between the drugs and pulmonary fibrosis. Accumulated evidence supports the potential of EMT as a preventive target against drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, since there are mechanistic differences between the main pharmacological effect and EMT induced by the drug, prevention based on EMT suppression would be possible and would contribute to continuous clinical treatment with the drug to avoid EMT-mediated serious pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, targeting EMT seems to be adequate for exerting a preventive effect since EMT in damaged alveolar epithelial cells occurs prior to the development of the pathophysiological state of the whole lung in a bleomycin-induced lung injury rat model. This viewpoint deals with the benefits and perspectives of preventive approaches against druginduced pulmonary fibrosis through the suppression of EMT, which has rarely been addressed.     

服装视错图案对人体视觉和自主神经系统的影响

为帮助设计师明确视错图案的实际效果,探索人们在观看视错服装时产生的客观反应与主观感受。分别采用眼动仪和筋·心电计,测试被试者在观察有视错图案的半身裙时,视觉系统中瞳孔直径和自主神经系统中心率变异性等参数,将其作为客观评价指标。随后采用从“-2”到“2”的五级量表,令被试者对每幅半身裙图像的6组项目内容进行主观评价。研究结果表明:视错图案在令人感到焦虑、眩晕等不适感的同时,也会使人产生兴趣;客观反应表现为瞳孔直径减小、心跳加快、交感神经活跃和副交感神经消极等;在影响视错觉吸引力的因素中,摆放位置影响大于图案设计。     

Electron microscopic time‐lapse visualization of surface pore filtration on particulate matter trapping process

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to dynamically visualize the particulate matter (PM) trapping process on diesel particulate filter (DPF) walls at a micro scale as ‘time‐lapse’ images corresponding to the increase in pressure drop simultaneously measured through the DPF. This visualization and pressure drop measurement led to the conclusion that the PM trapping in surface pores was driven by PM bridging and stacking at constricted areas in porous channels. This caused a drastic increase in the pressure drop during PM accumulation at the beginning of the PM trapping process. The relationship between the porous structure of the DPF and the depth of the surface pore was investigated in terms of the porosity distribution and PM penetration depth near the wall surface with respect to depth. The pressure drop calculated with an assumed surface pore depth showed a good correspondence to the measured pressure drop.