ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Hei Xiaoyaosan on the learning and memory abilities of Alzheimer's disease model mice （APP/PS1 mice）， and to explore its mechanism through the inflammatory cascade mediated by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 （NLRP3）/cysteine aspartate-specific protease （Caspase-1）/gasdermin D （GSDMD） signaling pathway. MethodsSPF-grade 4-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into the model group， MCC950 group， and Hei Xiaoyaosan high-， medium-， and low-dose groups. C57BL/6J mice were used as the blank group. After 7 days of adaptive feeding， mice in each group were intervened. The Hei Xiaoyaosan high-， medium-， and low-dose groups were given corresponding doses by gavage （25.79， 12.90， 6.45 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， the MCC950 group was intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg·kg^-1·2 d^-1， and the blank group received the same volume of physiological saline by gavage. After 90 days of intervention， the learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Y maze and Morris water maze tests. The structural changes of hippocampal neurons were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The expression of amyloid precursor protein （APP） in the hippocampal CA3 region was detected by immunohistochemistry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of interleukin （IL）-10， IL-18， and IL-1β in the hippocampus. Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， and GSDMD-N in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-localization of GSDMD-N and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 （Iba-1） in the hippocampus. Results① In the Y maze test， compared with the blank group， the spontaneous alternation rate of the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the spontaneous alternation rate in the Hei Xiaoyaosan high- and low-dose groups was significantly increased （P<0.01）. ② In the Morris water maze test， during the 1-4 days of the location navigation test， the escape latency time of mice decreased with the extension of training time. On day 4， compared with the blank group， the model group showed a significantly increased escape latency （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan low-dose group showed significantly reduced escape latency （P<0.05）. In the spatial exploration experiment， compared with the blank group， the number of platform crossings in the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Hei Xiaoyaosan low-dose group showed significantly increased platform crossings （P<0.05）. ③ HE staining showed that， compared with the blank group， the hippocampal CA3 cells of the model group were damaged， arranged loosely and irregularly， swollen， with unclear boundaries， and the nuclei were pyknotic and deeply stained. MCC950 and all doses of Hei Xiaoyaosan improved the hippocampal CA3 cell damage in APP/PS1 mice to varying degrees. ④ Immunohistochemical results indicated that， compared with the blank group， the expression of APP in the hippocampal CA3 region was significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. MCC950 and all doses of Hei Xiaoyaosan could reduce the expression of APP in the hippocampal CA3 region of APP/PS1 mice （P<0.01）. ⑤ ELISA results showed that the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in the hippocampus of mice in the model group were significantly increased， and IL-10 levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the IL-18 levels in the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. IL-1β levels in the hippocampus of the MCC950 group and Hei Xiaoyaosan high-， medium-， and low-dose groups were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The IL-10 levels in the hippocampus of the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ⑥ Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group， the protein levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， and GSDMD-N in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the content of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the hippocampus of the treated groups was decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The content of GSDMD in the hippocampus of the Hei Xiaoyaosan high-， medium-， and low-dose groups was reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the content of GSDMD-N in the hippocampus of the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups was decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ⑦ Immunofluorescence results showed that， compared with the blank group， the co-expression of GSDMD-N and Iba-1 in the hippocampus of the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the co-expression of GSDMD-N and Iba-1 in the treated groups was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway to affect the release of inflammatory factors， alleviate neuroinflammation，improve hippocampal histopathological changes，and improve learning and memory deficits，thus providing potential therapeutic benefits for Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

With the deepening of modern drug research,traditional computer simulation can not meet the needs of future drug design experiments.As a classic technology of standard computer simulation,molecular simulation can construct and analyze complex molecular models to study the dynamic processes of molecular motion.However,the simulation results are easy to be affected by human factors.In recent years,the integration of artificial intelligence and molecular simulation has become a new method of drug design research.Artificial intelligence technology uses big data to screen out the corresponding compounds for molecular simulation and feedback on the simulation results to the artificial intelligence system to optimize the artificial neural network.The combination of artificial intelligence and molecular simulation technology improves the efficiency of drug design research,reduces the influence of human factors on simulation results,and increases the credibility of simulation results.In this review,we summarized the progress of artificial intelligence and molecular simulation technology in drug design to provide a reference for the change from computer assisted drug design(CADD)to artificial intelligence-aided drug design(AIDD)in future pharmaceutical development.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Danzhi Xiaoyaosan on the phosphorylation of tau protein and different sites of glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β） and phosphoseryl/suanyl phosphate protein phosphatase 2A （PP2A） in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease （AD） and its mechanism. MethodThe rat model of AD was established by injecting okadaic acid into the bilateral hippocampus of 90 male Wistar rats in SPF grades. The rats with successful modeling were selected and randomly divided into model group， aricept group （0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and Danzhi Xiaoyaosan high， medium， and low groups （17.55， 8.77， and 4.38 g·kg^-1）， and then gavaged for 42 d， once a day. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of rats， Nissl's staining was used to observe the morphological structure of neurons in the hippocampus， and Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of tau protein， GSK-3β， and PP2A. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of tau protein， GSK-3β， and PP2A. ResultAs compared with the control group， the learning and memory abilities of the rats in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the hippocampal CA3 region cells had abnormal structure， disorderly arrangement， and decreased number. The expression levels of GSK-3β mRNA， GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， p-PP2A， and p-tau were increased in the model group as compared with the control group （P<0.01）， and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A decreased significantly （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the learning and memory ability of the Aricept group and the Danzhi Xiaoyaosan groups were improved （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the cell morphology and the number of hippocampal CA3 regions were better. The mRNA expression levels of PP2A and tau in the Aricept group were significantly up-regulated （P<0.05）， the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-PP2A were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of PP2A in the high-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）， and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， whereas the protein expression levels of p-PP2A， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-tau were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated in the medium-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group （P<0.01）， the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β-Tyr216， and p-tau were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the mRNA expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated in the low-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group （P<0.01）， and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， whereas the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β-Tyr216 were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A were significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionDanzhi Xiaoyaosan can improve the learning and memory ability of rats with AD， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A protein-related sites and the phosphorylation of tau protein.

As one of the traditional computer simulation techniques, molecular simulation can intuitively display and quantify molecular structure and explain experimental phenomena from the microscopic molecular level. When the simulation system increases, the amount of calculation will also increase, which will cause a great burden on the simulation system. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics is a method of mesoscopic molecular simulation, which can simplify the molecular structure and improve computational efficiency, as a result, coarse-grained molecular dynamics is often used when simulating macromolecular systems such as drug carrier materials. In this article, we reviewed the recent research results of using coarse-grained molecular dynamics to simulate drug carriers, in order to provide a reference for future pharmaceutical preparation research and accelerate the entry of drug research into the era of precision drug design.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Drug Carriers

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Advanced age is associated with increased prevalence, morbidity and mortality of coronary heart disease. Older adults are at higher risk of complications and accelerated physical deterioration following cardiovascular events than youn-ger patients. In recent years, researchers have proposed that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation is an im-portant part of the treatment of patients with coronary heart disease, especially contributing to the improve-ment of the quality of life of elderly patients. This review summarizes the current status and influence of car-diac rehabilitation on elderly patients with coronary heart disease.