Inflammatory biomarkers in polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients with interstitial lung disease: a retrospective study

Dermatomyositis (DM)/polymyositis (PM) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by proximal limb muscle with high morbidity and mortality and poor prognosis mediated by immune dysfunction; its etiology is unknown. DM/PM patients are at excessive risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and a higher risk of death. However, the role of circulating lymphocyte subsets, which play a pivotal role in occurrence and progression of DM/PM and ILD, respectively, remains unclear in DM/PM patients with ILD. Demographic characteristics, general data, and peripheral lymphocyte levels measured by flow cytometry were collected and analyzed in 47 DM/PM patients with ILD, 65 patients without ILD, and 105 healthy controls (HCs). The most important first symptom of DM/PM patients is rash. Compared with non-ILD patients, the levels of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) were significantly higher and the levels of C reactive protein (CRP) were significantly lower in patients with ILD. Compared with HCs, DM/PM patients, with or without ILD, had decreased absolute counts of T, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, natural killer (NK), helper T (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg)cells. The fewest Th1 and Treg cells and the the lowest CD8 + T and Th1 cells percentages were seen in peripheral blood of patients with ILD. Longer duration, decreased lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR)levels and CD8 + T and Th1 cells proportions, and fewer circulating Treg cells were independent risk factors for DM/PM with ILD. The identification of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets, especially Treg cells, and blood count in DM/PM appears to be useful in the comprehensive assessment of clinical lung involvement.</p

Improved Catalytic Activity and Chemical Stability of Defective TiO₂ Catalysts by Doping Rare Earth Metal Sc for Propane Dehydrogenation

Herein, scandium (Sc)-doped TiO2 (nSc/TiOx) catalysts were synthesized to investigate the impact of the doped rare earth metal Sc on its catalytic performance. It is found that appropriate Sc addition can facilitate the formation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) and active sites for the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) reaction, and the catalytic performance is evidently enhanced. However, excessive Sc clusters occur on the surface of the sample in the form of metal oxides as the amount of doped Sc increases, resulting in the decline of catalytic performance. The catalytic activity for the PDH reaction is closely related to the acidity of the Lewis acidic sites in nSc/TiOx catalysts. The introduction of Sc ions indeed enhances the lattice stability of the catalyst due to the formation of Ti–O–Sc bonds

CCL22 and TGF-β1 expression in BC.

<p>(A) Negative expression of TGF-β1 in BC (×200). (B) Weak expression of TGF-β1 in BC (×200). (C) Strong expression of TGF-β1 in BC (×200). (D) Negative expression of CCL22 in BC (×200). (E) Weak expression of CCL22 in BC (×200). (F) Strong expression of CCL22 in BC (×200).</p

Prognostic significance of CCL22 Expression in BC.

<p>Kaplan–Meier curves of overall survival (OS) (A) and progression-free survival (PFS) (B) for CCL22 expression in BC to show the association of CCL22 expression with reduced OS (P<0.0001) and PFS (P<0.0001). P values were calculated by the log-rank test.</p

Health-related quality of life in individuals with and without functional diarrhea.

<p>Health-related quality of life in individuals with and without functional diarrhea.</p

Flexible Superamphiphobic Film with a 3D Conductive Network for Wearable Strain Sensors in Humid Conditions

A three-dimensional (3D) conductive network with high sensitivity and a wide response range is applicable for wearable strain sensors. However, structural deformation of the 3D network under mechanical stimuli gives rise to mass pores, which are easily soaked by rain, sweat, oil, and so on, thus affecting the sensitivity of the sensors. Herein, a stretchable film with outstanding superhydrophobicity is proposed for reliable strain sensors based on a 3D conductive network. First, superconductive carbon black (SCB) nanoparticles are assembled on electrospun fibers of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to form a TPU/SCB conductive film. Then, a dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and fluorinated silica (F-SiO2) is sprayed on the TPU/SCB film to form a conductive TPU/SCB@CNTs/F-SiO2 composite film. After immersion of the composite film in a mixed solution of poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFDTS) and drying, a flexible conductive superamphiphobic film was obtained. When the film was used as a strain sensor, it showed superior sensitivity (12.05–60.42), a wide strain range (0–100%), a fast response time (75–100 ms), and good stability in stretching–relaxing cycles. Benefiting from the favorable superamphiphobicity, the obtained strain sensor could be effectively utilized to display stable electrical signals underwater and monitor human motions under dry/sweat exposure, showing significant potential in practical wearable sensors for stretchable, breathable, and reliable human behavior monitoring

High-Crystallinity Titanium Lithium Ion Sieve and Granulated Composite of High Stability and Porosity: Superb Adsorption and Recycling Performance

In this study, high-crystallinity and small-particle-size Li2TiO3 nanocrystals were prepared through the reaction between anatase TiO2 and Li2CO3 in a LiCl molten salt and ethanol medium. The Cl– ions reacted with TiO2 to increase the solubility of TiO2 and strengthen the dissolution–precipitation mechanism for Li2TiO3 preparation. The particle diffusion process was found to be the rate control process for the adsorption of Li+ ions. A porous spherical lithium ion adsorbent named HTO–PVC-PANn was prepared using a phase transformation approach. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC was modified with carboxyl groups as a binder, and poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) was used as a pore former. The interaction between PVC and HTO and PAN was thus strengthened to improve the adsorbent stability. The developed HTO–PVC-PANn adsorbent shows excellent absorption capabilities, stability, and reduced dissolution loss

Flexible Superamphiphobic Film with a 3D Conductive Network for Wearable Strain Sensors in Humid Conditions

A three-dimensional (3D) conductive network with high sensitivity and a wide response range is applicable for wearable strain sensors. However, structural deformation of the 3D network under mechanical stimuli gives rise to mass pores, which are easily soaked by rain, sweat, oil, and so on, thus affecting the sensitivity of the sensors. Herein, a stretchable film with outstanding superhydrophobicity is proposed for reliable strain sensors based on a 3D conductive network. First, superconductive carbon black (SCB) nanoparticles are assembled on electrospun fibers of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to form a TPU/SCB conductive film. Then, a dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and fluorinated silica (F-SiO2) is sprayed on the TPU/SCB film to form a conductive TPU/SCB@CNTs/F-SiO2 composite film. After immersion of the composite film in a mixed solution of poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFDTS) and drying, a flexible conductive superamphiphobic film was obtained. When the film was used as a strain sensor, it showed superior sensitivity (12.05–60.42), a wide strain range (0–100%), a fast response time (75–100 ms), and good stability in stretching–relaxing cycles. Benefiting from the favorable superamphiphobicity, the obtained strain sensor could be effectively utilized to display stable electrical signals underwater and monitor human motions under dry/sweat exposure, showing significant potential in practical wearable sensors for stretchable, breathable, and reliable human behavior monitoring

Expression of both CCL22 and Foxp3 ⁺Tregs infiltration in the tumor bed was associated with BC prognosis.

<p>Kaplan-Meier curves are shown for overall survival (OS) (A) and progression-free survival (PFS) (B) was stratified by expressions of two factors to divide the patients into three subsets, CCL22^-Foxp3^low+ group, CCL22^-Foxp3^high+/CCL22⁺Foxp3^low+ group, and CCL22⁺Foxp3^high+ group. The CCL22⁺Foxp3^high+ group was associated with both shorter OS (P=0.001) and PFS (P=0.001) than CCL22^-Foxp3^high+/CCL22⁺Foxp3^low+ group, and CCL22^-Foxp3^low+ group.</p

Number of ADRs reports by age and severity category.

<p>Number of ADRs reports by age and severity category.</p