Understanding heart development at a molecular level is a prerequisite for uncovering the causes of congenital heart diseases .Such knowledge can also greatly benefit therapeutic approaches that try to enhance cardiac regeneration or that involve the differentiation of resident cardiac progenitor cells .Wnt proteins have been shown to play multiple roles dur-ing cardiac development .They are extracellular growth factors that activate different intracellular signaling branches .Here, we summarize our current understanding of how these factors affect different aspects of cardiogenesis , from early specifica-tion of cardiac progenitors to later developmental steps , such as remodeling processes .

Adult ; Female ; Gas Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Glycoproteins ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinuclidines ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

AIM:To explore the preventing effect of citalopram on neuro-cell apoptosis caused by long-term stress in CA1 and CA3 region of hippocampus.METHODS:Forty male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into five groups including blank group,control group(the control group was filled the stomade by 0.9% saline)and three experimental groups(intragastric administration of citalopram hydrobromide at doses of 8 mg?kg-1?d-1,4 mg?kg-1?d-1,1 mg?kg-1?d-1,respectively).Rat stress model was made by compulsory swimming everyday for 4 weeks.Cell apoptosis in CA1 and CA3 region of hippocampus was observed by HE staining method.Apoptotic cell numbers and integral optical density in CA1 and CA3 region were tested and analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)method and Norton Internet Security BR(NIS BR)software.t-test was applied to compare apoptosis cell numbers and integral optical density.RESULTS:Control rats showed more static time and less struggling times.Conversely,static time was shorter and rats spent more time after exhaustive exercise,and more struggling times in the experimental group.Rats in control group showed more positive cells in CA1 and CA3 regions and higher integral optical density in CA3 region than those in blank group.Rats in experimental groups showed fewer positive cells in CA1 and CA3 regions.Rats in experimental group 1 and group 3 showed higher integral optical density in CA1 and CA3 regions than that in control group.CONCLUSION:Long-term stress might cause neuro-cell apoptosis in CA1 and CA3 region of hippocampus.Citalopram might have prophylactic effect on apoptosis caused by long-term stress in CA1 and CA3 region,and the prophylactic effect might not be influenced by citalopram.Our study suggests that the treatment mechanism of citalopram in neural and mental illness by long-term stress may involve in a major role by antagonizing neuronal apoptosis in both the CA1 and CA3.

Objective To observe the characteristics of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) in retinal vein occlusion (RVO).Methods Prospective and observational study.Clinical examination of 81 consecutive patients (86 eyes) diagnosed with RVO were included in the study,in which the branch retinal vein occlusion in 47 eyes,central retinal vein occlusion in 39 eyes.Forty-five patients were male and 36 patients were female.Aged from 28 to 76 years old,the mean age was (55.36±10.01) years old.Comprehensive optical and imaging examination were performed,including fundus photography,fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA),spectral domain OCT,en face OCT and OCTA.The retinal blood flow imaging scan mode and the optic disc blood flow imaging scan mode were performed,the scanning region in the macular area were 3 mm × 3 mm,6 mm × 6 mm,8 mm × 8 mm respectively,around the optic disc were 3 mm × 3 mm and 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm.Each region scans 2 times.The characteristics of foveal avascular zone change,macular edema,non-perfusion and optical disc edema in OCTA and their corresponding FFA and en face OCT were observed.Results By OCTA,67 eyes (77.9％) for foveal avascular zone change,23 eyes (26.7％) for macular edema,40 eyes (46.5％) for non-perfusion,and 33 eyes (38.4％) for optical disc edema can be detected.The foveal avascular zone change can be indentified as the tranformation,destruction and even vanish of the arch in superfacial layer of retinal macular area,acompanied with the dilatation and thickening of capillary vessels,the occlusion and expanding of capillary vessels arounded the foveal avascular zone in the deep layer of macular area.Those performances were more clear than FFA.The main expression of macular edema was low signal and was not as clear as en face OCT.The tortuosity and expansion of retinal vessels,density decreasing and even occlusion or abnormal traffic branch of capillary vessels can be observed in non-perfusion.These observations were similar to FFA.However,pieces of highly signal identical with non-perfusion area can b.e detected in chroid capillary.The representation of optical disc edema was the brush-like expanding of capillary vessels aroud optical disc.Conclusions OCTA can help for observing the abnormal changing of capillary vessels in foveal avascular zone and macular edema,non-perfusion and optical disc edema.Foveal avascular zone change showed occlusion and expanding of capillary vessels around the foveal avascular zone in the deep layer of macular area.Macular edema showed the weak signal.Non-perfusion showed tortuosity and expansion of retinal vessels,density decreasing and even occlusion or abnormal traffic branch of capillary vessels.Optical disc edema showed brush-like expanding of capillary vessels around optical disc.

New Chemical Entities (NCEs) development is a systematic long-term project that involves multiple disciplines. The translation research will help to build an advanced R&D system from the basic laboratory research, preclinical studies and clinical evaluation to clinical application of drug, for the purpose of shortening the R&D cycle and accelerate the launch of new drugs. In new drug R&D and its clinical application, drug disposition (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, ADME) properties are important criteria for assessing drug-likeness of candidates. ADME evaluation of NCEs plays an important role in the translation research throughout innovative drug R&D process. Therefore, ADME evaluation at the early stage of drug design and development will be helpful to improve the success rate and reduce costs, and further access to safe, effective drugs.

AlM:To find better ways of treating ocular alkali burn, and to reduce the suffering of patients and social burden.METHODS:Totally 100 patients were graded according to the degree of chemical burns to four major groups, each half were randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group. Control group underwent conventional treatment. ln addition to conventional therapy, patients in each treatment group were also added a Breviscapine intravenous injection of 40mg daily. Corneal recovery time, changes in vision, degree of corneal opacity, number of corneal neovascularization and other complications were observed. Curative effects were analyzed statistically.
RESULTS:There was no significant difference in levelⅠgroup between control group and treatment group ( P>0. 05); There were significantly different in level Ⅱ, Ⅲand Ⅳ group ( P<0. 05 ). Compared to the degree of corneal opacity and the number of corneal neovascularization, the treatment group was obviously better than the control group(P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: Breviscapine in the treatment of ocular alkali burns can shorten the course of treatment, reduce corneal scarring, and improve vision.

The relevant literatures of Siwu series decoctions--Taohong Siwu decoction for treating primary dysmenorrea of gynecology blood stasis syndrome were summarized including the clinical application, pharmacological effects, bioactive components and metabolic characteristics. On this basis,research on the bioactive components and formulation rule were discussed, to provide reference for modern traditional Chinese medicine formula study.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans

Objective: To explore the association of hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype ( HTGW ) with impaired fasting glucose ( IFG ) and diabetes, so as to provide reference for the early prevention and control of diabetes. Methods: The survey was conducted among 35 to 75-year-old residents in 8 project sites in Jiangsu Province from 2015 to 2019. The information about demography and lifestyle was collected by the general information questionnaire and the primary screening questionnaire from the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases; waist circumference, height, weight, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose were measured. The multinomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association of HTGW with IFG and diabetes. Results: A total of 118 383 subjects were included, among whom 21 851 cases of HTGW, 27 245 cases of IFG and 22 899 cases of diabetes were identified, with the prevalence of 18.46%, 23.01% and 19.34%. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed HTGW was statistically associated with IFG ( OR=1.414, 95%CI: 1.343-1.489 ) and diabetes ( OR=2.216, 95%CI: 2.098-2.341 ). Conclusion HTGW is associated with IFG and diabetes, which make it possible to be an indicator for screening and assessment of glucose abnormality in middle-aged and elderly population.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) belong to ligand-gated ion channel receptors, of which α7 nAChR subtype is widely distributed in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and also identified in microglia, macrophages, bone marrow cells, etc. Previous studies revealed that α7 nAChR is closely related to the function of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and is a vital target for drug development of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. The establishment of a stable α7 nAChR in vitro drug screening system is crucial for the efficient screening of novel drugs targeting this target. Recombinant expression of different subtypes of nAChRs on Xenopus laevis oocyte membranes and current detected by two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) is an advanced and complex model for novel drug screening. Molecular chaperones can assist the assembly of some nAChR subunits to form functional receptors, providing a stable expression model for the screening of compounds targeting this receptor. In this study, a molecular chaperone gene of α7 nAChR, transmembrane protein 35A (Tmem35a), was isolated and cloned from rats. We constructed the recombinant expression vector and obtained the cRNA of Tmem35a by in vitro transcription technique. Two cRNAs (Tmem35a and α7) were mixed and injected into X. laevis oocytes for expression. Then, the effects of this molecular chaperone on the current expression and pharmacological properties of α7 nAChR were evaluated by the TEVC. The results revealed that TMEM35A, also known as novel acetylcholine receptor chaperone (NACHO) could effectively increase the expression of α7 nAChR protein on oocyte membranes, and the amount of α7 nAChR protein was increased about 1-fold. The peak current induced by agonist acetylcholine (ACh) was increased about 10-fold. After injection of Tmem35a cRNA, the median effect concentration (EC₅₀) value of α7 nAChR to agonist ACh is 228.5 μmol·L^-1, which shows almost no difference from native α7 nAChR (EC₅₀: 223.3 μmol·L^-1), indicating the preservation of the normal properties of α7 nAChR. The results of this investigation indicate that the molecular chaperone NACHO effectively assists the heterologous expression of α7 nAChR in X. laevis oocytes, which provides a model for screening the potency of lead compounds targeting α7 nAChR. All animal experiments in this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi University (approval number: GXU-2023-0249).

N-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca²⁺) channels (N-type VGCC, Ca_V2.2) mediate Ca²⁺ influx in response to action potential at the presynaptic terminal, and play an important role in synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter release and nociceptive signal transduction. It is a new target for the development of drugs for the treatment of neuralgia (chronic pain) and other major diseases. Due to the difficulty of calcium channel expression in vitro and the detection of channel current, there is a great lack of new drug screening models. In this study, we established and optimized the electrophysiological drug screening model using Xenopus laevis oocytes for the recombinant expression of Ca_V2.2 in vitro (this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi University, approval number: GXU-2023-0249). Firstly, the linear plasmids encoding cDNA of major subunit α1B and auxiliary subunits α2δ1 and β3 of rat Ca_V2.2 were used as templates for in vitro transcription to generate their related mRNA (cRNA), after which three kinds of cRNA were injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes at the mass ratio of 2∶1∶1 for expression. The two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) technique was used to detect the inward current produced by Ca_V2.2. At the same time, the expression conditions of Ca_V2.2 were optimized, and its gating function was characterized from the aspects of channel activation and inactivation. The results showed that 3-5 days after cRNA microinjection, stable Ca_V2.2-mediated barium ion (Ba²⁺) currents were successfully detected. The interference of endogenous potassium channels and Ca²⁺-activated chloride channels can be eliminated by tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (BAPTA-AM) treatment. The maximum potential for Ca_V2.2 activation is 0 mV, and the current reverses to be outward when the membrane potential is greater than +50 mV. By fitting the steady-state activation and inactivation curves, the half-maximal activation potential and half-maximal inactivation potential of Ca_V2.2 are identified as -15.9 and -60.2 mV. In this study, a stable Ca_V2.2 expression system was established based on Xenopus laevis oocytes. The in vitro expression system can provide a new way for the screening of Ca_V2.2 active compounds or lead drugs.