IL-17A Synergizes with IFN-γ to Upregulate iNOS and NO Production and Inhibit Chlamydial Growth

IFN-γ-mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is critical for controlling chlamydial infection through microbicidal nitric oxide (NO) production. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), as a new proinflammatory cytokine, has been shown to play a protective role in host defense against Chlamydia muridarum (Cm) infection. To define the related mechanism, we investigated, in the present study, the effect of IL-17A on IFN-γ induced iNOS expression and NO production during Cm infection in vitro and in vivo. Our data showed that IL-17A significantly enhanced IFN-γ-induced iNOS expression and NO production and inhibited Cm growth in Cm-infected murine lung epithelial (TC-1) cells. The synergistic effect of IL-17A and IFN-γ on Chlamydia clearance from TC-1 cells correlated with iNOS induction. Since one of the main antimicrobial mechanisms of activated macrophages is the release of NO, we also examined the inhibitory effect of IL-17A and IFN-γ on Cm growth in peritoneal macrophages. IL-17A (10 ng/ml) synergizes with IFN-γ (200 U/ml) in macrophages to inhibit Cm growth. This effect was largely reversed by aminoguanidine (AG), an iNOS inhibitor. Finally, neutralization of IL-17A in Cm infected mice resulted in reduced iNOS expression in the lung and higher Cm growth. Taken together, the results indicate that IL-17A and IFN-γ play a synergistic role in inhibiting chlamydial lung infection, at least partially through enhancing iNOS expression and NO production in epithelial cells and macrophages

Optimization of back pressure control of direct air-cooling unit based on GPC

Abstract In view of the fact that the actual back pressure is difficult to track the set value quickly and stably, this paper applies the predictive control algorithm (GPC) which can respond quickly, has good robustness and is easy to realize in the industrial production site to optimize the back pressure control. The control performance of the back pressure control system with PID, fuzzy PID and GPC is compared and analyzed through the simulation test. The simulation results show that the GPC algorithm has better dynamic performance than PID and fuzzy PID control in the case of set point disturbance and internal disturbance, and has stronger robustness in the face of model mismatch. To sum up, GPC algorithm is more suitable for the back pressure control system under complex working conditions, and the optimization control method has a certain guiding significance for the actual production site back pressure control strategy improvement.</jats:p

Improvement of the setting method of back pressure setting value of direct air cooling system

Abstract Because the setting method of back pressure of direct air cooling system is not reasonable, the fluctuation range of back pressure and load change are larger when the unit is peak shaving, which reduces the economic efficiency of the unit. In this paper, based on the optimal back pressure of field data calculation, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to optimize the modeling of BP neural network. The results show that, compared with the conventional BP model, the back pressure setting value predicted by the optimized model is more accurate, the model precision is higher, and it is more suitable for industrial field application. This method also provides some reference for the modeling of other objects in the process of thermal production.</jats:p

Evaluation of Simulation Capability for Multiple Tropical Cyclone Events in the Western North Pacific of the UH_HCM Model

The intraseasonal variability of multiple tropical cyclone (MTC) events in the western North Pacific (WNP) during 1979–2015 is analyzed using the best-track dataset archived at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. MTC events are divided into three phases according to the time intervals of the tropical cyclone (TC) genesis, that is, active, normal, and inactive phases. Composite analysis results indicate that MTC events tend to occur in the active phase when the monsoon trough is stronger and located farther north than at other times. Initialized by the data from a 10-year stable running result, a 12-year control experiment is carried out using the hybrid atmosphere–ocean coupled model developed at the University of Hawaii (UH_HCM model) to evaluate its simulation capability. Compared with the climate observations, the model shows good skill in simulating the large-scale environmental conditions in the WNP, especially the subtropical high and the monsoon trough. In addition, the model can well simulate the climate characteristics of TCs in the WNP, as well as the differences in each MTC phase. However, the simulated frequency of TCs is less and their locations are more northeast, compared with the observations. The vorticity and moisture in the model appear to be the two main factors affecting MTC activity based on analyses of the genesis potential index.</jats:p

Unrelated Cord Blood Following Haploidentical HSCT with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide Improves Results of Alternative Donor Transplant in Thalassemia Major

Abstract Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is cure for thalassemia major (TM). However, a suitable donor (HLA matched sibling and unrelated donor) for HSCT is less than 50%. Alternative donors were recently used in TM HSCT. Some study have found that thalassemia-free survival (TFS) was approximately 70% in haploidentical HSCT (h-HSCT) or unrelated cord blood (UCB) transplant for TM patients. So, it is necessary to find out a better h-HSCT for TM patients. In our early practice in leukemic HSCT we found that outcomes were improved by adding UCB to post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT/Cy) h-HSCT. The latter associated with high mortality related transplant (32%). Henceforth, we used this termed haplocord transplant in TM. Aim: To develop a high TFS h-HSCT protocol for TM patients. Patients and methods First 10 patients with median age 8 (5-17) old years received NF-13-PT/Cy-TM protocol (fig. 1), in which, UCB was added on day 6 after PT/CY h-HSCT. Following 9 patients with age 9 (4-15) old years received NF-14-PT/Cy-TM protocol (fig. 2), in which three doses Thymoglobuline were added to NF-13-PT/Cy-TM protocol. Cyclophosphamide on day 3 and day 4 after transplant were both GVHD prophylaxis for h-HSCT and conditioning for UCB transplant. The HLA (at HLA-A, -B, -C and ¨CDRB1) for the pair of recipient and donor was 2-loci and more mismatched in h-HSCT and 2-loci and less mismatched in UCB. Results The results of haplocord transplants for all patients were showed in table 1. For first 10 patients, final cord blood engrafted in 4 patients; final haploidentical donor engrafted in 3 patients, 2 patients had a primary rejection. One had a secondary rejection and gave up therapy and died of infection. One patient died of grade IV acute GVHD. TFS is 6/10. For second group patients, final cord blood engrafted in 4 patients; final haploidentical donor engrafted in 3 patients, mixed donor engrafted in 2. No patient rejected his graft; All 9 patients live with transfusion independence. Summary Our data showed that UCB followed PT/Cy h-HSCT using NF-14-PT/Cy-TM protocol improved the results of alternative donor transplant in thalassemia major. Registered in Clinical Trials: NCT02126046, Table 1. Case Gender/Age(Y) TransplantTime Months After Transplantation Last engraftment(Month) Current Status 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 M/8 2012.09 Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix CB (15) Alive 2 M/5 2012.11 CB CB CB CB CB CB CB Alive 3 M/6 2013.01 / / / / / / / Reject 4 M/17 2013.03 PB PB PB PB PB PB PB Alive 5 M/11 2013.11 Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix (14) Dead 6 M/6 2013.12 Mix Mix Mix CB CB CB CB Alive 7 F/17 2014.03 Mix Mix Mix CB CB CB CB Alive 8 F/7 2014.05 PB PB PB PB PB PB PB Alive 9 F/14 2014.05 PB PB PB Dead / / PB (3) Dead 10 M/8 2014.05 / / / / / / / Reject 11 M/9 2014.08 Mix PB PB PB PB PB PB Alive 12 M/9 2014.08 Mix PB PB Mix Mix Mix PB (7) Alive 13 M/9 2014.10 Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix (9) Alive 14 M/4 2014.10 Mix Mix CB CB CB CB CB Alive 15 F/7 2014.11 PB PB PB PB PB PB PB Alive 16 M/8 2014.12 Mix Mix Mix Mix Mix CB CB Alive 17 M/15 2014.12 Mix Mix Mix CB CB CB CB Alive 18 M/14 2015.03 PB PB PB PB PB Alive 19 F/14 2015.06 Mix CB CB Alive PB: Haploidetical PBSC; CB: cord blood Figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 2. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. </jats:sec