Local anesthetics (LAs), such as articaine (AT), exhibit limited efficacy in inflammatory environments, which constitutes a significant limitation in their clinical application within oral medicine. In our prior research, we developed AT-17, which demonstrated effective properties in chronic inflammatory conditions and appears to function as a novel oral LA that could address this challenge. In the present study, we further elucidated the beneficial effects of AT-17 in acute inflammation, particularly in oral acute inflammation, where mitochondrial-related apoptosis played a crucial role. Our findings indicated that AT-17 effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nerve cell apoptosis by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro. This process involved the inhibition of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production and the subsequent activation of the NRF2 pathway. Most notably, improvements in mitochondria-related apoptosis were key contributors to AT-17's inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels. Additionally, AT-17 was shown to reduce mtROS production in nerve cells through the Na⁺/NCLX/ETC signaling axis. In conclusion, we have developed a novel local anesthetic that exhibits pronounced anesthetic functionality under inflammatory conditions by enhancing mitochondria-related apoptosis. This advancement holds considerable promise for future drug development and deepening our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action.

Objective To explore the valve regurgitation status of left heart after the implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and its effect on prognosis of patients with LVAD implantation. Methods A total of 35 patients with cardiomyopathy who underwent magnetic levitation LVAD implantation at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from February 2021 to July 2024 were retrospectively selected. Clinical data during hospitalization were collected, including preoperative basic data and postoperative valve regurgitation status. Telephone follow-ups were conducted to monitor patients’ survival status and transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess left valve function. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test were employed to compare the survival rate of patients with different levels of valve regurgitation. Results The 35 patients had a mean age of (53.9±11.1) years, with 85.7% male, and 3 patients (8.6%) died during hospitalization. Preoperatively, 17 patients (48.6%) had moderate or greater mitral regurgitation, while all 35 patients had less than moderate aortic regurgitation. One month postoperatively, thirty patients were followed up, among which 24 patients (80%) had less than moderate mitral regurgitation, including 11 cases with alleviated regurgitation compared to pre-surgery; 6 patients (20%) had moderate or greater mitral regurgitation, including 4 cases with stable regurgitation and 2 cases with progression of regurgitation compared to pre-surgery; 2 patients (6.7%) had progression of aortic regurgitation to moderate or greater. The follow-up time was 1.2 (1.0, 2.1) years, with 1-year survival rate of 91.4% and 3-year survival rate of 71.1%. Survival analysis showed that the 3-year survival rate of patients with moderate or greater mitral regurgitation one month postoperatively was significantly lower than that of patients with less than moderate regurgitation (66.7% vs 83.3%, P＝0.046). Conclusions After the implantation of magnetic levitation LVAD, most patients showed improvement in mitral regurgitation, while aortic regurgitation remained unchanged. The degree of mitral regurgitation one month postoperatively is associated with prognosis.

Purpose To investigate the sex differences of white matter damage in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and their association with cognitive impairment.Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 88 AD patients(48 females),71 amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI)patients(39 females),and 95 healthy controls(63 females)recruited from the Memory Disorder Clinic at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from September 2017 to July 2024.High-resolution three-dimensional T1 structure images and diffusion tensor imaging images were all obtained from each participant.The mean diffusivity(MD)and fractional anisotropy(FA)values of each white matter region were obtained,and the two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to investigate brain regions with interaction effects between groups and sexes,those brain regions were then chosen as regions of interest for further correlation analysis with a series of cognitive scale scores.Results In terms of FA values,the right posterior corona radiata,right anterior limb of the internal capsule and left corticospinal tract showed interaction between sexes and cognitive groups(F=4.764,3.812,5.937,all P<0.05).The FA value of AD group was significantly lower than that of healthy control and aMCI group(all P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between healthy control and aMCI group(except the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,P=0.018).In AD group,FA values were significantly higher in women than in men in the previously described brain regions(all P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in FA values between male and female in healthy control and aMCI groups(except the left corticospinal tract,P<0.001).In terms of MD values,the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,right superior corona radiata and left external capsule showed interaction effect between sexes and cognitive groups(F=8.581,3.680,7.218,all P<0.05).The MD value of AD group was significantly higher than that of aMCI group(P<0.001),and aMCI group was higher than that of healthy control group(all P<0.05).In AD group,the MD values in the above brain regions were significantly higher in males than those in females(all P<0.01),while no significant difference was found between males and females in healthy control and aMCI groups(except for the left external capsule,P<0.05).For correlation analysis,the AD group was dimidiated into two groups by sex,the scores of the Montreal cognitive assessment,the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test of the female patient group were positively correlated with the FA values of the right posterior corona radiate(r=0.372,P=0.009;r=0.345,P=0.016;r=0.383,P=0.007),while the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test scores of female AD patient group were negatively correlated with the MD values of the right superior corona radiata(r=-0.360,P=0.012;r=-0.360,P=0.003).Conclusion Compared to the healthy control and MCI groups,white matter damage in AD patients shows sex differences and is associated with general cognitive and language functions impairment in female AD patients.

Objective To analyze the transcriptome sequencing results of Nelson Bay virus(NBV)-infected murine RAW264.7 mac-rophages,and to screen for differentially expressed genes(DEGs)to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism of innate immune response in reovirus infection.Methods RAW264.7 cells were infected with the NBV-Miyazaki virus strain at a multiplicity of infection(MOI)of 30.We used transcriptome sequencing technologies,with q＜0.05 and|log2FC|≥ 1,for screening the DEGs in the infection and control groups.The Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)databases were used for enrichment analysis of DEGs.Results A total of 442 genes were differentially expressed in the infection group,of which 381 genes were significantly upregulated and 61 genes were significantly downregulated.In the GO analysis,the enrichment of DEGs was primarily related to the innate immune response,defense response to viruses,cytokine production,and cell response to cytokine stimulation.In the KEGG analysis,the enrichment of DEGs were primarily related to the Toll-like receptor,retinoid acid inducible gene Ⅰ-like receptor,PI3K/Akt,and other signaling pathways.Conclusion RAW264.7 macrophages infected with the NBV-Miyazaki virus can activate pattern recognition receptors;promote the release of cytokines,chemokines,and other immune-related factors;and enhance antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity to exert an immune effect.This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanisms of innate immu-nity during NBV-Miyazaki virus infection.

Purpose To investigate the sex differences of white matter damage in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and their association with cognitive impairment.Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 88 AD patients(48 females),71 amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI)patients(39 females),and 95 healthy controls(63 females)recruited from the Memory Disorder Clinic at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from September 2017 to July 2024.High-resolution three-dimensional T1 structure images and diffusion tensor imaging images were all obtained from each participant.The mean diffusivity(MD)and fractional anisotropy(FA)values of each white matter region were obtained,and the two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to investigate brain regions with interaction effects between groups and sexes,those brain regions were then chosen as regions of interest for further correlation analysis with a series of cognitive scale scores.Results In terms of FA values,the right posterior corona radiata,right anterior limb of the internal capsule and left corticospinal tract showed interaction between sexes and cognitive groups(F=4.764,3.812,5.937,all P<0.05).The FA value of AD group was significantly lower than that of healthy control and aMCI group(all P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between healthy control and aMCI group(except the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,P=0.018).In AD group,FA values were significantly higher in women than in men in the previously described brain regions(all P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in FA values between male and female in healthy control and aMCI groups(except the left corticospinal tract,P<0.001).In terms of MD values,the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,right superior corona radiata and left external capsule showed interaction effect between sexes and cognitive groups(F=8.581,3.680,7.218,all P<0.05).The MD value of AD group was significantly higher than that of aMCI group(P<0.001),and aMCI group was higher than that of healthy control group(all P<0.05).In AD group,the MD values in the above brain regions were significantly higher in males than those in females(all P<0.01),while no significant difference was found between males and females in healthy control and aMCI groups(except for the left external capsule,P<0.05).For correlation analysis,the AD group was dimidiated into two groups by sex,the scores of the Montreal cognitive assessment,the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test of the female patient group were positively correlated with the FA values of the right posterior corona radiate(r=0.372,P=0.009;r=0.345,P=0.016;r=0.383,P=0.007),while the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test scores of female AD patient group were negatively correlated with the MD values of the right superior corona radiata(r=-0.360,P=0.012;r=-0.360,P=0.003).Conclusion Compared to the healthy control and MCI groups,white matter damage in AD patients shows sex differences and is associated with general cognitive and language functions impairment in female AD patients.

Objective To analyze the transcriptome sequencing results of Nelson Bay virus(NBV)-infected murine RAW264.7 mac-rophages,and to screen for differentially expressed genes(DEGs)to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism of innate immune response in reovirus infection.Methods RAW264.7 cells were infected with the NBV-Miyazaki virus strain at a multiplicity of infection(MOI)of 30.We used transcriptome sequencing technologies,with q＜0.05 and|log2FC|≥ 1,for screening the DEGs in the infection and control groups.The Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)databases were used for enrichment analysis of DEGs.Results A total of 442 genes were differentially expressed in the infection group,of which 381 genes were significantly upregulated and 61 genes were significantly downregulated.In the GO analysis,the enrichment of DEGs was primarily related to the innate immune response,defense response to viruses,cytokine production,and cell response to cytokine stimulation.In the KEGG analysis,the enrichment of DEGs were primarily related to the Toll-like receptor,retinoid acid inducible gene Ⅰ-like receptor,PI3K/Akt,and other signaling pathways.Conclusion RAW264.7 macrophages infected with the NBV-Miyazaki virus can activate pattern recognition receptors;promote the release of cytokines,chemokines,and other immune-related factors;and enhance antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity to exert an immune effect.This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanisms of innate immu-nity during NBV-Miyazaki virus infection.

Objective:By observing the loss(LORR)and recovery of righting reflex(RORR)in mice after anes-thesia and the exploration of Y-maze,explore the role of oxytocin(OXT)in promoting arousal in mice.Methods:The expression of oxytocin receptor(OXTR)in the cell bodies and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)positive immunoreactive neu-rons in locus coeruleus(LC)was verified by immunofluorescence staining.Using the function of intraperitoneal injec-tion anesthesia and gas anesthesia,and intraperitoneal injection,intrathecal injection,and right LC single tube catheter administration,OXT or saline given as experimental group and control group,respectively,explored the time needed in the induction anesthesia period and anesthesia recovery period of mice after administration,and conducted Y-maze test on groups with statistically different anesthesia results,then explored the exploration of novel arm in Y-maze after 6,9,18 and 24 hours of RORR.Results:In LC,TH and OXTR positive neurons had double labeling.There was no differ-ence in the time of RORR after intraperitoneal injection and intrathecal injection of OXT and saline respectively,and no difference in the time of LORR and RORR after single-tube cannula administration of OXT and saline with intraperitone-al anesthesia and gas anesthesia.Compared with the control group,the recovery time of mice in the experimental group under gas anesthesia given OXT with single cannula was reduced(P＜0.05).In this group,the exploration activities of Y-maze novel arm increased after 9 hours of anesthesia recovery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant statistical difference in the exploration activities of Y-maze novel arm at 6,18 and 24 hours.Western Blot showed that compared with the control group,the expression of TH in LC in the experimental group increased significantly within 9 hours after anesthesia(P＜0.05),and then began to decrease after 9 hours(P＜0.01).Conclusion:OXT can promote the arousal of mice,and the cognitive degree of mice given OXT recovered better after waking up for 9 hours after anesthe-sia.

Objective:By observing the loss(LORR)and recovery of righting reflex(RORR)in mice after anes-thesia and the exploration of Y-maze,explore the role of oxytocin(OXT)in promoting arousal in mice.Methods:The expression of oxytocin receptor(OXTR)in the cell bodies and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)positive immunoreactive neu-rons in locus coeruleus(LC)was verified by immunofluorescence staining.Using the function of intraperitoneal injec-tion anesthesia and gas anesthesia,and intraperitoneal injection,intrathecal injection,and right LC single tube catheter administration,OXT or saline given as experimental group and control group,respectively,explored the time needed in the induction anesthesia period and anesthesia recovery period of mice after administration,and conducted Y-maze test on groups with statistically different anesthesia results,then explored the exploration of novel arm in Y-maze after 6,9,18 and 24 hours of RORR.Results:In LC,TH and OXTR positive neurons had double labeling.There was no differ-ence in the time of RORR after intraperitoneal injection and intrathecal injection of OXT and saline respectively,and no difference in the time of LORR and RORR after single-tube cannula administration of OXT and saline with intraperitone-al anesthesia and gas anesthesia.Compared with the control group,the recovery time of mice in the experimental group under gas anesthesia given OXT with single cannula was reduced(P＜0.05).In this group,the exploration activities of Y-maze novel arm increased after 9 hours of anesthesia recovery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant statistical difference in the exploration activities of Y-maze novel arm at 6,18 and 24 hours.Western Blot showed that compared with the control group,the expression of TH in LC in the experimental group increased significantly within 9 hours after anesthesia(P＜0.05),and then began to decrease after 9 hours(P＜0.01).Conclusion:OXT can promote the arousal of mice,and the cognitive degree of mice given OXT recovered better after waking up for 9 hours after anesthe-sia.

Polygonum cuspidatum polyketide synthase 1 (PcPKS1) has the catalytic activity of chalcone synthase (CHS) and benzylidene acetone synthase (BAS), which can catalyze the production of polyketides naringenin chalcone and benzylidene acetone, and then catalyze the synthesis of flavonoids or benzylidene acetone. In this study, three amino acid sites (Thr133, Ser134, Ser33) that may affect the function of PcPKS1 were identified by analyzing the sequences of PcPKS1, the BAS from Rheum palmatum and the CHS from Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as the conformation of the catalytic site of the enzyme. Molecular modification of PcPKS1 was carried out by site-directed mutagenesis, and two mutants were successfully obtained. The in vitro enzymatic reactions were carried out, and the differences in activity were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Finally, mutants T133LS134A and S339V with bifunctional activity were obtained. In addition to bifunctional activities of BAS and CHS, the modified PcPKS1 had much higher BAS activity than that of the wild type PcPKS1 under the conditions of pH 7.0 and pH 9.0, respectively. It provides a theoretical basis for future use of PcPKS1 in genetic engineering to regulate the biosynthesis of flavonoids and raspberry ketones.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Fallopia japonica/metabolism* ; Polyketide Synthases/chemistry* ; Acetone ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Acyltransferases/metabolism*

With the advantage of high efficiency， low toxicity and targeting， liposomes have become the research hotspot of new drug preparations at home and abroad. In this paper， the research progress in recent years is reviewed from the aspects of preparation methods， classification and clinical application of liposomes. The results showed that in order to obtain more stable and controllable liposomes， scholars improved and optimized the traditional preparation methods and established novel preparation methods such as supercritical fluid methods， freeze-drying method and double-asymmetric centrifugation method. In order to enhance the efficacy and reduce toxicity， the conventional liposomes were optimized to get novel ones such as environmentally sensitive liposomes， long-circulating liposomes and multifunctional liposomes， which had greatly promoted the clinical application of liposomes. For now， liposomes have been used in many fields， such as anti-cancer agents， antimicrobial and vaccines， but most of the new liposomes are still in the early stage of development.