The correlations suggest that there is a delicately orchestrated network of cytokines and cell-mediated immunity operating in BP blisters.

Background/Aims: Acute ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the most severe type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Particular attention has been focused on studying the pathogenesis of STEMI, and how to prevent thrombosis, reduce inflammatory reaction, stabilize plaques and improve vascular endothelial functions to preserve the survived myocardium. This study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory endothelium-protective effects, clinical prognosis, and relevant bleeding risks of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with STEMI who underwent urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and provide certain experimental evidence and a theoretical basis for the selection of safe and effective drugs and their proper dosage, thereby further guiding clinical medication. Methods: We sequentially enrolled 193 patients (104 males and 89 females) admitted to hospital due to acute STEMI. These patients underwent urgent PCI between December 2013 and May 2015 and met the inclusion criteria. They were assigned (1: 1) into two groups according to different treatments, 97 patients in the ticagrelor group (treatment group), and 96 patients in the clopidogrel group (control group). Levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1) taken at admission and 24 h, 4 days, and 7 days after administration, as well as the correlation between the levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, and ESM-1, were determined in the two groups. At the same time, the effects of treatment with ticagrelor and clopidogrel on the efficacy endpoint events (ischemic and safety) were explored. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, or ESM-1 at admission between the two groups (P> 0.05); Their levels were significantly elevated 24 h after administration, with statistical differences between two groups (P< 0.05). Furthermore, a downward trend with statistically significant differences was found on Day 4 and Day 7 (P< 0.05); ESM-1 levels increased along with increases of hs-CRP and IL-6 levels, indicating ESM-1 was positively correlated with hs-CRP (r=0.523, P< 0.001) and IL-6 (r=0.431, P< 0.001); and the occurrence rates of ischemic endpoint events at 30 days were lower in the treatment group than in the control group. The occurrence of safety endpoint events was higher than in the control group; however, no statistically significant difference was found (P> 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor appears to rapidly reduce the prevalence of inflammatory reactions and stabilize the functions of vascular endothelium to improve the stability of atherosclerotic plaque and decrease the occurrence rate of thrombosis as well as ischemic outcome events without any obvious increase in the risk of bleeding in patients with acute STEMI receiving urgent PCI. This renders it a potential drug for clinical practice. At the same time, measurement of ESM-1, a new biological marker for vascular endothelial function disorder, coul...

Soft pneumatic actuators possess the increasing potential for various healthcare applications, such as smart wearable devices, safe human‐robot interaction, and flexible manipulators. However, it is difficult to translate the existing technologies to commercial applications due to their inefficient volumetric power, sophisticated control with high operation pressure, slow production, and high cost. To overcome these issues, herein, a caterpillar‐inspired actuator using hierarchical textile architectures based on simple fabrication and low‐cost strategy is designed. Unlike the existing textile‐based pneumatic actuators, the designed actuators are constructed by combining boucle fancy yarns with a novel trilayer‐knit architecture. The as‐prepared actuators concurrently possess fast response (1100° s−1), large bending actuation strain (1080° m−1), high‐power density (272 W m−3), mechanical robustness, easy‐programmable motions, and human‐tactile comfort, which outperforms currently reported textile‐based pneumatic actuators. Furthermore, due to the geometrical transition of the engineered hierarchical structure, the developed actuators exhibit superior dual‐stiffness effect with stress evolution, providing a facile approach to addressing the conflict of flexibility and force output in soft fluidic actuators. This concept as a paradigm provides new insights to develop soft actuators with outstanding design flexibility, adaptability, and multifunctionality using engineered textile‐structure, which has great potential for real‐world applications in medical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and soft robotics.

No abstract

2031 Background: Therapies targeting multiple survival pathways simultaneously may be more effective for high-grade gliomas, a disease highly resistant to treatment. Our preclinical studies have shown potent anti-glioma effects of TG02 and synergy with temozolomide (TMZ) through modulation of transcription and cellular metabolism. A phase I/II trial was launched to test the combination of TG02 and TMZ in recurrent malignant gliomas and herein we report the phase I results. Methods: Adults with recurrent high-grade astrocytoma, KPS ≥ 60, normal organ function, ≤ 2 prior relapses were enrolled. The primary endpoint was dose limiting toxicity (DLT) from the start of the combined treatment to 4 weeks after in each arm. Bayesian optimal interval (BOIN) design was employed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) with the target DLT rate of 35% and the toxicity profile of the combination of TG02 (starting dose 200mg orally on days 1, 12, 15, and 26) and TMZ, either as a dose-dense (DD; 125mg/m2/d, 7on/7off, Arm 1) or metronomic (MN; 50mg/m2/d, Arm 2) dosing schedule on a 28-day cycle. Results: Forty patients were enrolled; 38 were evaluable; 70% male; overall median age 50.7; median KPS 90. Of 18 evaluable patients in Arm 1 (DD TMZ), at TG02 dose level 200mg, 1/6 had a DLT: Gr3 diarrhea. At TG02 dose level 250mg, 3/12 had DLTs: Gr4 neutropenia for over 5 days, Gr3 elevated ALT, and Gr3 fatigue. Of 20 evaluable patients in Arm 2 (MN TMZ), at TG02 dose level 200mg, 1/6 had a DLT: recurrent Gr3 neutropenia. At TG02 dose level 250mg, 5/12 had a DLT: Gr3 elevated ALT, Gr3 fatigue, and Gr4 neutropenia. At TG02 dose level 300mg,1 out of 2 had a DLT: Gr4 febrile neutropenia, Gr4 elevated ALT, Gr4 elevated AST, which resulted in hospitalization. Therefore, the TG02 dose level of 250mg was declared as the MTD in both Arm 1 and Arm 2. Conclusions: The combination of TG02 at the MTD of 250mg with DD or MN TMZ has a tolerable toxicity profile. Cohort expansion continues at the MTD in both arms to conduct pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics to better elucidate the toxicity profile. Objective responses have been observed, suggesting activity of this regimen and supporting continued investigation with the phase II randomized component. Clinical trial information: NCT02942264.