Sen-Yung Lee¹, Shueei-Muh Lin^2,3, Kai-Ping Chang¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.51, No.1, pp. 1-19, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2016.051.001

Abstract The two coupled governing differential equations for the out-of-plane vibrations of non-uniform beams with variable curvature are derived via the Hamilton's principle. These equations are expressed in terms of flexural and torsional displacements simultaneously. In this study, the analytical method is proposed. Firstly, two physical parameters are introduced to simplify the analysis. One derives the explicit relations between the flexural and the torsional displacements which can also be used to reduce the difficulty in experimental measurements. Based on the relation, the two governing characteristic differential equations with variable coefficients can be uncoupled into a sixth-order More >

Yu-Ning Liu¹, Yun-Li Peng¹, Lei Liu¹, Teng-Yun Wu¹, Yi Zhang¹, Yong-Jie Lian¹, Yuan-Yuan Yang¹, Keith W. Kelley², Chun-Lei Jiang¹, Yun-Xia Wang¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 15-25, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0362

Abstract Depression is often preceded by exposure to stressful life events. Chronic stress causes perturbations in the immune system, and up-regulates production of proinflammatory cytokines, which has been proposed to be associated with the pathogenesis of clinical depression. However, the potential mechanisms by which stress-induced proinflammatory cytokines lead to the development of depression are not well understood. Here, we sought to screen the main proinflammatory cytokines and the potential mechanisms linking inflammation to depression-like behavior during unpredictable, chronic, mild stress (UCMS), in vivo. Mice were allocated into four groups in each separate experiment: saline-control, saline-UCMS, drug-control… More >

J. Jing, T. T. Dou, J. Q. Yang, X. B. Chen, H. L. Cao, M. Min, S. Q. Cai, M. Zheng, X. Y. Man

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 10-14, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0360

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1) acts as a key regulator of vasoconstriction and fibrosis. Many previous studies have focused on the role of ET-1 in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc). We investigated the effects of ET-1 on the production of extracellular matrix in SSc and normal skin fibroblasts. Primary cultured dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients and healthy controls were treated with ET-1 (25 ng/mL) for 0 min, 15 min, 1 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. Our results showed that, in SSc fibroblasts, ET-1 upregulated collagen type I, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I plasminogen More >

Patrycja Libako¹, Julia Miller¹, Wojciech Nowacki¹, Sara Castiglioni², Jeanette A. Maier², Andrzej Mazur³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 1-9, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0361

Abstract Magnesium is highly involved in the metabolic network such that even subtle disturbances in its homeostasis affect many cellular functions, including calcium homeostasis, signal transduction, energy metabolism, membrane stability and cell proliferation. Recently, magnesium level has been proposed to modulate the priming and activity of immune cells. We studied the behavior of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T lymphocytes after altering the magnesium/calcium balance. We used two different populations of primary APCs, i.e. bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages, while D10.G4.1 cells served as a model of responding Th2 cells. Our principal findings are More >

Kenan Izgi^1,3, Banu Iskender^2,3, Cagri Sakalar^2,3, Aslihan Arslanhan^1,3, Berkay Saraymen^1,4, Halit Canatan^2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 46-56, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0365

Abstract Rationale: Organ- or tissue-specific antigens produced by normal tissue or by cancer cells could be used in cancer immunotherapy, to target the tumor. In our previous study, we induced T-cell-mediated, bladder-specific autoimmunity by targeting the bladder-specific protein Uroplakin 3A (UPK3A). UPK3A is a well-chosen target for developing an autoimmune response against bladder cancer since the antigen is also expressed in bladder tumors. To use this peptide, which was derived from the UPK3A protein in a bladder cancer vaccine study, it is necessary to induce a strong immune response. In this study, we aimed to develop… More >

Abdullah Alyoussef

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 38-45, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0364

Abstract Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing, pruritic, eczematous skin disorder accompanying allergic inflammation. AD is triggered by oxidative stress and immune imbalance. The effect of oral arjunolic acid (AA) on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in mice was investigated. Methods: Repeated epicutaneous application of DNCB to the ear and shaved dorsal skin of mice was performed to induce AD-like symptoms and skin lesions: 250mg/kg AA was given orally for three weeks to assess its anti-pruritic effects. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, immunoglobulin (Ig)E and caspase-3 were assessed by More >

Dorota Mańkowska-Wierzbicka, Ewelina Swora-Cwynar, Barbara Poniedziałek, Zygmunt Adamski, Agnieszka Dobrowolska, Jacek Karczewski

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 26-37, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0363

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of selected laboratory markers in assessing disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The analysis included serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ, hsCRP, peripheral regulatory T cells, as well as fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin. Patients and methods: A group of 45 adults with UC was enrolled in the study. Disease activity was assessed using the Mayo endoscopic index, while for clinical activity scoring, the Clinical Activity Index (CAI) was used. Concentrations of markers investigated were estimated by means of flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent… More >

Nie Chunjie¹, Nie Huijuan¹, Yin Zhao¹, Wu Jianzhao², Zhang Xiaojian¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 61-66, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0367

Abstract Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by antibodies directed against components of the neuromuscular junction. Currently, the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation rely on the serum acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody titer, which is not reliable for monitoring. The disruption of the menus had been implicated in many immunological disorders, including MG. A quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the miR-20b level. ELISA was used to determine the levels of IL-8 and IL-25 in serum. Quantitative MG scores (QMGS) were used to examine the clinical manifestations. Here, we report that miR-20b, an immune- and cancer-related More >

Hubertus Himmerich^1,2,5, Gerd D. Willmund¹, Peter Zimmermann¹, Jörg-Egbert Wolf¹, Antje H. Bühler¹, Lesca M. Holdt³, Daniel Teupser³, Kenneth C. Kirkby⁴, Ulrich Wesemann¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 57-60, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0366

Abstract Growing evidence suggests involvement of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α system in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Research into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has investigated serum levels of TNF-α, but not to date its soluble receptors sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75. We examined serum levels of TNF-α, sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75 in 135 male German soldiers 70 of whom had been deployed abroad and 65 in Germany only. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were measured using the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS). Correlational analysis controlling… More >

Ozen Oz Gul¹, Soner Cander², Bulent Gul³, Ebru Açıkgoz⁴, Emre Sarandol⁴, Canan Ersoy¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 73-78, 2015, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0370

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate insulin resistance and plasma levels of visfatin and resistin in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).A total of 37 premenopausal PCOS patients with (n = 18, mean (SD) age: 27.5 (5.7 years) or without obesity (n = 19, mean (SD) age: 23.7 (3.1) years) and healthy volunteers (n = 18, mean (SD) age:29.8 (4.1) years) were included in this study. Data on clinical characteristics, glycemic parameters and lipid parameters were recorded for each subject as were plasma visfatin and resistin levels. Mean (SD) HOMA-IR values were… More >