According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.

According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.

Objective This study utilizes bioinformatics methods to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between Alzheimer's disease(AD)and vascular dementia(VD)compared to normal controls.The aim is to identify key genes and validate their relevance to both types of dementia.Methods Gene chip dataset GSE122063 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Using the GEO2R tool,DEGs in AD,VD,and normal control group were screened.We constructed a protein-protein interaction network using the STRING database and identified key genes through Cytoscape.Subsequently,DAVID database were used to analyze gene ontology(GO)enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways associated with interconnected DEGs,predicting their biological functions.Finally,diagnostic performance were validated and assessed by using receiver operating characteristic curves.Results In the AD and VD groups,we identified 1099 and 505 DEGs,respectively,with 69 genes showing associations in the protein-protein interaction network.GO analysis revealed that DEGs are primarily located in the extracellular matrix,cell surface,and plasma membrane.They influence biological processes such as signal transduction and inflammatory responses,with functions related to receptor binding and signal receptor activity,collectively contributing to dementia development.KEGG analysis indicated significant enrichment of DEGs in immune-related signaling pathways,including microbial infections,rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus,and inflammatory bowel disease.Four key genes—CCR5,CCL2,FCGR2A,and ITGB2—with significantly elevated expression in both AD and VD groups were indentifiied.The area under the curve suggests their potential diagnostic value for dementia.Conclusion Through bioinformatics analysis of AD and VD,the enriched signaling pathways and key genes associated with immunity and inflammation were discovered.These findings may play a crucial role in dementia progression and provide new insights for early diagnosis.

Active physical exercise can effectively alleviate the pathological process of chronic cerebral ischemia(CCH)and improve learning and memory ability.This paper reviews the possible biological mechanisms of aerobic exercise to delay the pathological process of chronic cerebral ischemia and improve learning and memory.Previous studies have found that aerobic exercise can improve the neuroprotective effect,enhance the plasticity of hippocampal synapses,improve the activity of the upper and lower pathways of hippocampal tissue,and improve learning and memory ability.However,the intervention effect of aerobic exercise on chronic cerebral ischemia should be fully considered at the intervention time,and the intervention effect is also different.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of Menkes disease(MD)caused by ATP7A gene mutation.Methods Clinical data of one MD patient was retrospectively analyzed,and the literature on the MD cases was reviewed.Results The patient was a 7-month-old male.The initial symptoms were epilepsy,feeding difficulties and psychomotor retardation,followed by distinctive facial appearance,hair abnormality,pectus excavatum and hypotonia.Biochemical tests revealed reduced serum ceruloplasmin and copper.Brain MRI showed diffuse cerebral atrophy,cerebral dysplasia and subdural effusion.Genetic testing showed that there was a new hemizygous mutation c.2916+2(IVS14)T＞C in the ATP7A gene splicing site on the X chromosome,which verified that the mother was a heterozygous carrier with a normal phenotype.Conclusions MD often starts in infancy and childhood.MD may involve multi-system such as the nervous system and connective tissues,and should be diagnosed with genetic testing.

Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring bioactive compounds that are widely distributed in various food sources and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of alkaloid extract from Codonopsis Radix (ACR) in ameliorating hepatic lipid accumulation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The results revealed that ACR treatment effectively mitigated the abnormal weight gain and hepatic injury associated with HFD. Furthermore, ACR ameliorated the dysregulated lipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, as evidenced by reductions in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels, accompanied by a concomitant increase in the high-density lipoprotein level. ACR treatment also demonstrated a profound anti-oxidative effect, effectively alleviating HFD-induced oxidative stress and promoting ATP production. These effects were achieved through the up-regulation of the activities of mitochondrial electron transfer chain complexes I, II, IV, and V, in addition to the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, suggesting that ACR exhibits therapeutic potential in alleviating the HFD-induced dysregulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Moreover, ACR administration mitigated HFD-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and suppressed the overexpression of ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) in NAFLD mice. In summary, the present study provides compelling evidence supporting the hepatoprotective role of ACR in alleviating lipid deposition in NAFLD by improving energy metabolism and reducing oxidative stress and ER stress. These findings warrant further investigation and merit the development of ACR as a potential therapeutic agent for NAFLD.
Mice ; Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Codonopsis ; Liver ; Lipid Metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Energy Metabolism ; Lipids ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective: To evaluate diet quality and related problems among children and adolescents in Yunnan Province, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of targeted dietary interventions for children and adolescents in this region. Methods: Using a stratified random sampling method, 1 078 primary and secondary school students from six prefecture level cities in Yunnan Province were selected from August to November 2022. Dietary quality was evaluated by applying the China Children s Dietary Index (CCDI-2016) on the basis of a 3 d 24 h dietary survey. Results: The total dietary index score of children and adolescents in Yunnan Province was 62.63(54.57,71.19). The overall recommended intakes were largely achieved by consumption of cereals, eggs and sugary drinks, with dietary index scores of 9.91(8.24,10.00), 5.58(0,8.58) and 9.20(7.38,10.00), respectively; there were inadequate intakes of vegetables, legumes, water, vitamin A and dietary fiber, with scores of 5.63(4.09,7.59), 3.48 (0,9.70), 4.23(2.67,5.50), 2.33(1.56,3.53), 3.19(1.63,5.67), respectively; intake of fruits, dairy and aquatic products were severely deficient, with scores of 0(0,1.74), 0(0,2.37), 0(0,9.85), respectively; excessive intake of meat was found, with a dietary index score of 0(0,2.46). The stratified analysis showed that children and adolescents aged 11-13 years had the highest total dietary scores[65.35(54.29,72.03)], followed by those aged 7-10 years[63.46(56.19,72.63)], while the 14-17 year old age group had the lowest scores[59.07(51.15,68.30), H=32.23, P <0.01]. Girls had higher total dietary scores than that of boys[64.20(56.12,72.56), 59.32(52.60,69.72), Z=-5.16, P <0.01], while urban children and adolescents had higher total dietary scores than rural children and adolescents[65.30(54.84,73.62), 62.17(54.31,70.70), Z=-2.11, P <0.05]. Furthermore, higher total dietary index scores were observed among children and adolescents whose parents had a higher educational level( H=27.68, 22.58, P <0.01). The comparison of ethnic groups revealed that the Wa children and adolescents had the highest total dietary index scores, while the Hani children had the lowest( H=27.51, P <0.01). Conclusion The overall dietary quality of children and adolescents in Yunnan Province is not high, the imbalance of dietary nutrition is prominent, and the dietary structure needs to be adjusted and optimized. Intervention programs should focus on the problem of insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables, milk and legumes, aquatic products and excessive intake of poultry meat among children and adolescents.

DNA damage response (DDR) is a highly conserved genome surveillance mechanism that preserves cell viability in the presence of chemotherapeutic drugs. Hence, small molecules that inhibit DDR are expected to enhance the anti-cancer effect of chemotherapy. Through a recent chemical library screen, we identified shikonin as an inhibitor that strongly suppressed DDR activated by various chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cell lines derived from different origins. Mechanistically, shikonin inhibited the activation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and to a lesser degree ATM and RAD3-related (ATR), two master upstream regulators of the DDR signal, through inducing degradation of ATM and ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP), an obligate associating protein of ATR, respectively. As a result of DDR inhibition, shikonin enhanced the anti-cancer effect of chemotherapeutic drugs in both cell cultures and in mouse models. While degradation of ATRIP is proteasome dependent, that of ATM depends on caspase- and lysosome-, but not proteasome. Overexpression of ATM significantly mitigated DDR inhibition and cell death induced by shikonin and chemotherapeutic drugs. These novel findings reveal shikonin as a pan DDR inhibitor and identify ATM as a primary factor in determining the chemo sensitizing effect of shikonin. Our data may facilitate the development of shikonin and its derivatives as potential chemotherapy sensitizers through inducing ATM degradation.

3D printing technology has been widely applied in the field of clinical education in vascular surgery due to the advantage of 100% reduction of objects. Vascular surgeons with different levels benefit from 3D printing application in anatomy structure, operation plan, skill training with simulator. At present, the application of 3D printing model in vascular surgery is still in the initial stage with some limitations. This paper reviews the application, limitations, and prospects of 3D printing model in clinical teaching of vascular surgery.

Objective: The phenotype and genetics of three patients with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) at childhood, teenage and advanced age were analyzed. Methods: Next generation sequencing (NGS) was applied to all the probands. PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to verify the suspicious gene variants screened by NGS in the probands and their family members, and one of the family got prenatal diagnosis. Results: Through NGS, PCR and Sanger sequencing, the 5-yr proband in pedigree 1 was shown to carry compound heterozygous variants of c. 5935G>A(p.G1979R) and c. 5428G>T(p.E1810X) of PKHD1, originated from his parents; In pedigree 2, the 17-ys proband was detected with c. 5512T>C(p.Y1838H) and c. 5935G>A(p.G1979R) variants of PKHD1 orginated from her parents, and her mother also got prenatal diagnosis during the second trimester; In pedigree 3, the 70-ys female proband was found with variants c. 11314C>T (p.R3772X) and c. 3860T>G (p.V1287G) of PKHD1. Conclusion The three pedigrees were diagnosed as ARPKD caused by PKHD1 variants. Five types of variants were detected, c. 5935G>A and c. 11314C>T were the known pathogenic variants, while c. 5512T>C, c. 5428G>T and c. 3860T>G were not reported previously. Considering the complexity of the genetics and phenotypes of the cystic renal diseases, genetic diagnosis is crucial to give accurate etiological diagnosis, which may benefit the clinic management.