Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. This study aimed at exploring gene expression profile alterations, investigating the underlying mechanisms and identifying novel targets for IBM. We analysed two microarray datasets (GSE39454 and GSE128470) derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The GEO2R tool was used to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IBM and normal samples. Gene Ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery to identify the pathways and functional annotation of DEGs. Finally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using STRING and Cytoscape, in order to identify hub genes. A total of 144 upregulated DEGs and one downregulated DEG were iden-

Background. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) is a crucial pathogenic factor for vascular diseases, which can induce the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Genistein is the main component of soybean isoflavone. Genistein has a variety of pharmacological properties in the treatment of vascular diseases and a promising clinical application. Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels are the primary type of potassium channels in VSMCs, which regulate various biological functions of VSMCs. However, whether genistein exerts an antiproliferation effect on Ox-LDL-stimulated VSMCs remains unclear. The current study is aimed at elucidating the effect of genistein on the Ox-LDL-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs and its possible molecular mechanism, especially the electrophysiological mechanism related to BKCa channels. Methods. Monoculture VSMC was obtained by an acute enzyme-dispersing method. The proliferation of cells was measured by CCK-8, cell cycle, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. The BKCa whole-cell currents were measured by patch-clamp. Results. Ox-LDL treatment induced the proliferation of VSMCs, upregulated the BKCa protein expression, and increased the density of BKCa currents, while genistein significantly inhibited these effects caused by Ox-LDL. BKCa channels exerted a regulatory role in the proliferation of VSMCs in response to Ox-LDL. The inhibition of BKCa channels suppressed Ox-LDL-stimulated VSMC proliferation, while the activation of BKCa channels showed the opposite effect. Moreover, genistein suppressed the activity of BKCa, including protein expression and current density in a protein tyrosine kinase- (PTK-) dependent manner. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that genistein inhibited the Ox-LDL-mediated proliferation of VSMCs by blocking the cell cycle progression; the possible molecular mechanism may be related to PTK-dependent suppression of BKCa channels. Our results provided novel ideas for the application of genistein in the treatment of vascular diseases and proposed a unique insight into the antiproliferative molecular mechanism of genistein.

Behçet’s disease is a chronic relapsing multisystemic vasculitis involving vessels of different diameter. The disease is characterized by involvement of skin and mucosa, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, joints, vessels, genitourinary system and neurological symptoms. According to data, male/female ratio is 2-10:1 The etiology of the disease is still unclear. Diagnosis is mainly based on thorough analysis of clinical manifestations. According to the International Study Group for Behçet’s Disease Diagnostic Criteria, combination of recurrent oral aphthosis and at least any two of the following: severe or scarring genital aphthosis, eye lesions (posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis), skin lesions (nodular erythema, pseudofolliculitis, acne-like lesions) and positive pathergy test is needed to classify the patient as a patient with Behçet’s disease. Several clinical subtypes of Behçet’s disease are distinguished depending on predominant involvement of different organs and systems, including skin and mucosa, joints, eyes, or neurological manifestations. There are no specific laboratory tests for Behçet’s disease. The treatment approaches are variable depending on clinical manifestations. The effect of systemic corticosteroids, colchicine, azathioprine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, infliximab was proven. All the abovementioned requires the good clinical knowledge on Behçet’s disease from practicing doctors of different specialties, particularly - physicians. A case of highly active acute Behçet’s disease with nose, pharynx, eye and oral cavity mucosa, scrotum skin involvement is presented in the article. Questions of differential diagnosis are reviewed, specific treatment program with efficacy analysis is presented.