Search

Mast cell degranulation plays a pivotal role in urticaria and is also an early histologic characteristic of psoriasis. However, whether the activation of mast cells contributes to psoriasis recurrence after discontinuation of interleukin (IL)-17A blockers remains unclear. To investigate the role of mast cells in ixekizumab treatment-associated urticaria (ITAUR) and assess the effect of urticaria eruption on psoriasis relapse. A retrospective analysis was performed on biopsies of patients who experienced psoriasis relapse after discontinuation of ixekizumab. Transcriptomic and histopathologic features were assessed. Patterns were compared between patients with ITAUR and nonurticaria (NUR) as well as psoriasis-like mice with mast cell activation or inactivation. Patients with ITAUR experienced early relapse compared with NUR group after treatment withdrawal. Transcriptomic and histopathologic analyses revealed that patients with ITAUR had an elevated proportion of mast cells in resolved skin. Especially, the proportion of IL-17A+ mast cells was inversely correlated with the duration of remission. The mechanism of mast cell activation in ITAUR has not been precisely elucidated. Ixekizumab treatment increases IL-17A+ mast cells in lesions of ITAUR, which is associated with early psoriasis relapse after ixekizumab withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it were reported that COVID-19 patients could have cutaneous symptoms, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was observed on the skin of COVID-19 patients, which indicated that the skin is one target of SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile, reports about SARS-CoV-2 transmission through food cold-chain overpacks emerged. With the fact that SARS-CoV-2 could survive on the skin for more than 9 h, the skin could be implicated in SARS CoV-2 transmission. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a critical membrane protein for SARS-CoV-2 that enters a host cell, was recognized to be associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, tissues that express ACE2 might have the potential to be infected by and transmit SARS-CoV-2. The skin is one such tissue that expresses ACE2. However, unlike the lung that expresses ACE2 on the upper-most epithelial layer, the skin is composed of different layers of cells that function as a barrier, and cells under the top epidermal layer express ACE2. Since the skin barrier is the first line of protection, the typical position of ACE2-expressing cells in the skin implies that the skin barrier function could be the mediator of SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we found that ACE2 could be expressed in the skin, and its expression level is increased in psoriasis, an inflammatory disease of the skin with barrier dysfunction. Additionally, by applying the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus on mouse models with or without deteriorated skin barrier, we found that the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus could infect the skin and lungs of mouse models, and when the skin barrier was impaired, more SARS-CoV-2 -infected cells could be found. Thus, we hypothesized that a deteriorated condition of the skin barrier might increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection through the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Streamlined BEPU method was proposed to summarize some efficient elements of previous BEPU methods, and is a flexible approach that could still be a valuable analysis process when only part of it was conducted. • The active flowchart of Streamlined BEPU was established in a Model-Based Systems Engineering form with active button to generate PIRT. • This method was demonstrated on the Bottom Drain Line Break accident in a GEN III + BWR with sensitivity analysis. Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty analysis has been used in the design, certification, and safety review of Nuclear Power Plants. To analyze the small break loss of coolant accident of a Generation III + Boiling Water Reactor, a streamlined BEPU method has been established and partially demonstrated to a Bottom Drain Line small break Loss Of Coolant Accident post-test analysis in this investigation. A RELAP5 input model was built for an integral test facility simulating a Generation III + Reactor with passive safety features. The Fast Fourier Transform Based Method was utilized to preliminarily evaluate the accuracy of the code simulation results. The DAKOTA toolkit was utilized to drive uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis. The simulation results generally reproduce the experimental phenomenon observed during experiments. The uncertainty bands of output parameters were established to demonstrate the enclosing of experimental data and the safety margin according to the design limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to increase the applicability of wollastonite in the papermaking industry, it was modified by an acid treatment and alkali-induced redeposition. The modification process consisted of two steps: first, sulfuric acid was mixed with wollastonite, resulting in the partial dissolution of the wollastonite particles. Next, the pH of the mixture was adjusted to make it alkaline so that the dissolved material was redeposited on the surfaces of wollastonite particles, which maintained their original acicular morphology. The resulting wollastonite particles were larger, had a higher zeta potential, and were brighter than were those of the original sample. The properties of paper sheets, especially bulk and brightness, in which a Na 2 SiO 3 -induced redeposited wollastonite sample was used as the filler were superior to those in which the original wollastonite sample or other alkali-induced redeposited wollastonite samples were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of ClO− is vital to comprehend the accurate effect of ClO− in various diseases and therapeutic interventions by fluorescent probe method. Herein, a special ratiometric probe DDD was designed and efficiently synthesized via a simple process for hypochlorite detection. The selectivity and sensitivity of probe DDD was excellent and the detection was not influenced by other reactive oxygen species. Probe DDD exhibited a fast response (<1 s), wide Stokes Shift (>100 nm), sensitive limit of detection (78 nM) and two well-separated emission (555 nm and 635 nm). The emission intensities ratio (I 555 /I 635) was linearly enhanced (I 555 /I 635 = 0.6273X - 1.9313) with the ClO− concentration range from 4.0 to 20.0 μM. Furthermore, probe DDD has been successfully evaluated in monitoring exogenous HClO in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and zebrafish larvae with low cytotoxicity, good cell permeability and biocompatibility. Image 1 • A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe was designed and synthesized for detecting HClO. • Probe DDD exhibits a short response time, a low detection limit and large Stokes shift. • Probe DDD was successfully performed well in monitoring exogenous HClO in living cells and zebrafish larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]