Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are being used extensively in modern industries that require high strength-to-weight ratio such as aerospace, automotive, motorsport, and sports equipment. However, although reinforcement with carbon fibers improves the mechanical properties of polymer, this comes on the expense of abrasive wear resistance. Therefore, to efficiently utilize CFRPs in dry sliding contacts, solid lubricant is used as a filler. Further, to facilitate fabrication of objects with complex geometries, selective laser sintering (SLS) can be employed. Accordingly, in the present work, graphite-filled carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 (CFR-PA12) specimens were prepared using SLS process to explore the dry sliding friction and wear characteristics of the composite. The test specimens were aligned along four different orientations in the build chamber of SLS machine to determine the orientation-dependent tribological properties. The experiments were conducted using pin-on-disc tribometer to measure the coefficient of friction (COF), interface temperature, friction-induced noise, and specific wear rate. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of tribo-surfaces was conducted to specify the dominant wear pattern. The results indicated that the steady state COF, contact temperature, and wear pattern of graphite-filled CFR-PA12 are orientation-independent, and that the contact temperature is likely to approach an asymptote far below the glass transition temperature of amorphous PA12 zones, thus eliminating the possibility of matrix softening. Additionally, the results showed that the Z-oriented specimen exhibits the lowest level of friction-induced noise along with the highest wear resistance. Moreover, SEM of tribo-surfaces determined that abrasive wear is the dominant wear pattern.

The liver is not only a digestive gland, but also an immune tissue that receives a double infusion from the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein. Receiving 80% of its blood supply from the intestine through the hepatic portal vein system, the liver is enriched with a large number of innate immune cells, which carry out the process of immune response by detecting pathogens entering the organism through the intestine. The intestine and liver communicate extensively through the bile ducts, portal vein and the somatic circulation, a bidirectional communication known as the intestinal-liver axis. The mammalian gut is considered an important microbial ecosystem. The interplay between the natural immune system and microbes coordinates the physiology of the whole organism, and in specific mammalian lineages, there is a dependency between the host and its associated microbes. To this end, we explored the regulatory mechanisms of natural immunity genes at the genome-wide level. Based on comparative genomics, 1473 bovine natural immunity genes were obtained by collecting the latest reports of human natural immunity genes and updated bovine genomic data for comparison, and a bovine natural immunity gene database was initially constructed to screen and match calf liver natural immunity differential genes mainly affected by the phylum Mimosoidea and the phylum Thick-walled Bacteria, and 16 differentially expressed natural immunity genes were obtained. In addition, the results of IPA analysis indicated that the upstream factor IL-2 initiated the PI3K/AKt/mTOR, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and JAK/STAT5 pathway, leading to the liver's involvement in gut microbial immune regulation.

This study examines the behavior of stearic acid (SA) and 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) aqueous mixtures as a function of temperature and 12-HSA/SA molar ratio (R). Whatever R, the system exhibits a morphological transition at a given threshold temperature, from multilamellar self-assemblies at low temperature towards small micelles at high temperature, as shown by a combination of transmittance measurements, Wide Angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. Such transition originates from the melting of the crystallized fatty acids within the lamellar phase. The precise determination of the threshold temperature, which ranges between 20°C and 50°C depending on R, allows for the construction of the whole phase diagram of the system as a function of R. At high temperature the micelles that are formed are oblate for pure SA solutions (R = 0) and prolate for pure 12-HSA solution (R = 1). In the case of mixtures, there is a progressive continuous transition from oblate to prolate shape when increasing R, with micelles that are almost purely spherical for R = 0.33.

Fibrosis is the end result of persistent inflammatory responses induced by a variety of stimuli, including chronic infections, autoimmune reactions, and tissue injury. Fibrotic diseases affect all vital organs and are characterized by a high rate of morbidity and mortality in the developed world, although currently there are no approved antifibrotic therapies. In recent years, high levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) have been associated with chronic inflammatory diseases with fibrotic complications, that culminate in organ failure. In this review, we provide an update on the role of IL-17 in fibrotic diseases, with particular attention to the most recent lines of research in the therapeutic field represented by the epigenetic mechanisms that control IL-17 levels in fibrosis. A better knowledge of the IL-17 signalling pathway implications in fibrosis could design new strategies for therapeutic benefits.

Morphine-induced antinociception is partially reduced in interleukin-31 (IL-31) receptor A (IL-31RA)-deficient mice, indicating that IL-31RA is crucial for morphine-induced peripheral antinociception. Herein, we examined the combined effects of IL-31 and morphine on antinociceptive activity and itch-associated scratching behavior (LLS) in mice, and elucidated the regulatory mechanisms. A hot-plate test was used to assess antinociception. LLS was automatically detected and recorded via computer. IL-31RA mRNA expression was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Repeated pre-treatment with IL-31 resulted in significant antinociceptive activity. Repeated administration of morphine decreased the morphine-induced antinociceptive activity, LLS counts, and regular dose, and inhibited IL-31-induced LLS. These results suggested that repeated administration of morphine depleted inter-neuronal IL-31RA levels, preventing morphine-induced antinociception. Therefore, IL-31 may be helpful as an adjunct analgesic to morphine. To explore the benefits of IL-31, its influence on morphine-induced antinociceptive tolerance in mice was examined. IL-31 and morphine combination increased analgesic action which increased the expression of DRG neuronal IL-31RA, elucidating the site of peripheral antinociception of morphine. This site may induce exocytosis of IL-31RA in the sensory nervous system. Collectively, the suppressive effect of IL-31 on morphine-induced antinociceptive tolerance may result from IL-31RA supplementation in sensory nerves.

Background. Psoriasis (PS) is a common immune-mediated disease of the skin with pos-sible extension to joints, aorta and eye. Myocardial inflammation has been rarely sug-gested. Aims: Report of PS-related myocarditis Methods and Results: One hundred consecutive patients with PS were screened for car-diac involvement. Among them, five male patients (aged 56 ± 9.5 years) with moder-ate-severe form showed a dilated cardiomyopathy (LVEF <35%) with normal coronary ar-teries and valves. They underwent a left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy for evaluation of myocardial substrate. Endomyocardial samples were processed for histology and im-munohistochemistry, including myocardial expression of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A), which plays a major role in psoriasis pathogenesis; real-time PCR for cardiotropic viruses and Western blot analysis for myocardial expression of IL-17A. Patients’ sera were tested for anti-heart autoantibodies.An active lymphocytic myocarditis was revealed in all 5 patients, characterized by absence of viral genomes at PCR, positive anti-heart autoantibodies, overexpression of TLR-4 and enhancement of IL-17-A at western blot analysis showing a 2,48-fold increase in psoriatic myocarditis compared with no psoriatic myocarditis and a 6-fold increase compared to myocardial controls. Treatment included combination of prednisone (1 mg/Kg daily for 4 weeks, ta-pered to 0.33 mg/Kg) + azathioprine (2 mg/Kg, daily) in 3 pts or secukinumab (SK, 100 mg/monthly) in 2 pts for 6 months. LVEDD and LVEF improved in the first 3 pts (-14% and + 118%, respectively) while completely recovered (LVEF> 50%) in the last 2 pts on SK. Conclusion. IL-17A-related myocarditis can occur in up-to 5% of patients with psoriasis. It manifests as a progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. It may completely recover following SK administration.

Lindera obtusiloba Blume has several activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-tumor, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a classic pro-inflammatory cytokine that is associated with various functions, such as proliferation, invasion, inflammatory responses and functions within antioxidant defence systems. In this study, we investigated IL-6-induced STAT3 activation of lignan compounds isolated from L. obtusiloba. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated via spectroscopic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). As a result, seven lignans were identified from L. obtusiloba. All the isolated compounds (1-7) were evaluated for their IL-6-induced STAT3 inhibitory effects in Hep3B cells using a luciferase reporter assay. Of the isolates, compounds 1 and 5 showed inhibitory effects against IL-6-stimulated STAT3 activation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of inflammation-related genes such as CRP, IL-1b, and SOCS3 were significantly reduced by exposure to compound 1 and 5. The protein levels of p-STAT3, p-JAK2 in IL-6 induced U266 cells were regulated in the presence of lignans derived from Lindera obtusiloba by western blot assay. Based on the results, this study of L. obtusiloba demonstrates that the species has promise as a bioactive candidate for the treatment of IL-6-induced STAT3-related disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of serum inflammatory factor levels in acute ischemic stroke patients after revascularization therapy in assessing acute prognosis. METHODS: 94 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent revascularization therapy admitted to our hospital from January 01, 2022 to January 01, 2024 were studied. The main evaluation index was modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) after 3 months, and patients with mRS score >2 were categorized into the poor prognosis group, and the rest were the good prognosis group. As well as the treatment of revascularization in all patients was used as a division into a thrombus extraction group and an intravenous thrombolysis group. Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients treated with recanalization for acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Two groups with good (59 cases) and poor (35 cases) prognosis were divided according to the mRS score. There were some differences in age, gender, emergency GLU, INR, whether they had diabetes or hypertension and other contents between the two groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The NIHSS score, hospitalization days, previous cardiac history, hospitalization days, LDL, fasting glucose, IL-6, and TNF-a at the time of admission were lower than those in the poor prognosis group, and the difference was statistically significant. In the patients in the embolization group, there were some differences in age, gender, emergency GLU, INR, whether they had diabetes or hypertension and other contents between the two groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The pre-hospital NHISS score, IL-6, and TNF-a of patients in the good prognosis group were lower than those in the poor prognosis group, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IL-6 and TNF-α may be used as predictors of prognosis after revascularization therapy for acute ischemic stroke, and this conclusion also applies to patients in the embolization group.