Mouse Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Model Induced by Periarterial Incubation of Papain.

For decades, numerous experimental animal models have been developed to examine the pathophysiologic mechanisms and potential treatments for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in diverse species with varying chemical or surgical approaches. This study aimed to create an AAA mouse model by the periarterial incubation with papain, which can mimic human AAA with advantages such as simplicity, convenience, and high efficiency. Eighty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 groups: papain (1.

The modulation of potassium channels by estrogens facilitates neuroprotection.

Estrogens, the sex hormones, have the potential to govern multiple cellular functions, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and homeostasis, and to exert numerous beneficial influences for the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and bones in genomic and/or non-genomic ways. Converging evidence indicates that estrogens serve a crucial role in counteracting neurodegeneration and ischemic injury; they are thereby being considered as a potent neuroprotectant for preventing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke. The underlying mechanism of neuroprotective effects conferred by estrogens is thought to be complex and multifactorial, and it remains obscure.

Beneficial effects of carvedilol modulating potassium channels on the control of glucose.

The increased prevalence of hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is evident worldwide, leading to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease onset, which is substantially associated with disabilities and mortality in the clinic. In order to achieve the satisfyingly clinical outcomes and prognosis, the comprehensive therapies have been conducted with a beneficial effect on both blood pressure and glucose homeostasis, and clinical trials reveal that some kind of antihypertensive drugs such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) may, at least in part, meet the dual requirement during the disease management. As a nonselective β-blocker, carvedilol is employed for treating many cardiovascular diseases in clinical practice, including hypertension, angina pectoris and heart failure, and also exhibit the effectiveness for glycemic control and insulin resistance.

Alzheimer's disease therapy based on acetylcholinesterase inhibitor/blocker effects on voltage-gated potassium channels.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder with progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and multifactorial, and remains obscure until now. To enhance the declined level of acetylcholine (ACh) resulting from loss of cholinergic neurons, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are developed and successfully approved for AD treatment in the clinic, with a limited therapeutic effectiveness.

Estrogen-induced downregulation of TASK-1 expression through estrogen receptor β in N2A cells.

Background: Our previous data revealed that reduction of TASK-1 expression, as a consequence of exposure to 17β-estradiol, could participate in neuroprotective effects in N2A cells. However, it is unclear which estrogen receptor underlies these effects of 17β-estradiol.

Methods And Results: In this study, the knockdown experiments are carried out to clarify the estrogen receptor responsible for effects of estrogen on TASK-1 channels.

Effects of Huatan Jiangzhuo decoction on diet-induced hyperlipidemia and gene expressions in rats.

Huatan Jiangzhuo decoction (HJD) is a combination of six traditional Chinese medicines that were used for lipid metabolism-related disorders, but its efficacy and underlying mechanisms have not been explored by modern research strategies. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of HJD in determining the transcriptome level. Hyperlipidemia model was established by feeding Sprague-Dawley rats with high-fat diet.

A Quantitative Diagnostic Method for Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome in Coronary Heart Disease Using Tongue, Face, and Pulse Indexes: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative syndrome differentiation model with logistic regression analysis for phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) in coronary heart disease (CHD) to offer methodology guidance for the quantitative syndrome differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Tongue, face, and pulse information of each subject was obtained using the TCM-intelligent diagnosis instruments. Logistic regression model was used to construct the syndrome diagnosis model.

Development of a Diagnostic Questionnaire for Damp Phlegm Pattern and Blood Stasis Pattern in Coronary Heart Disease Patients (CHD-DPBSPQ).

Background: The aim was to develop a diagnostic questionnaire for damp phlegm pattern and blood stasis pattern in coronary heart disease patients (CHD-DPBSPQ).

Methods: The standard procedures of questionnaire development were carried out to develop and assess CHD-DPBSPQ. The patients were assessed using the CHD-DPBSPQ, CHD-DPPQ, and CHD-BSPQ.

Tacrine modulates Kv2.1 channel gene expression and cell proliferation.

: Besides as a cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, tacrine is able to act on multiple targets such as nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) and voltage-gated K (Kv) channels. Kv2.1, a Kv channel subunit underlying delayed rectifier currents with slow kinetics of inactivation, is highly expressed in the mammalian brain, especially in the hippocampus.

Carvedilol blockage of delayed rectifier Kv2.1 channels and its molecular basis.

Previous studies indicated that one of the action targets of carvedilol is the voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel, which has a fundamental role in the control of electrical properties in excitable cells. It is not clear whether this compound exerts any actions specifically on delayed rectifier Kv2.1 channels.

Assessment of Intermingled Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome in Coronary Heart Disease: Development of a Diagnostic Scale.

Background: Intermingled Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome (IPBSS) is a common feature in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). In clinical practice, the diagnostic agreement of clinical doctor of Chinese Medicine (CM) is poor. We previously developed a IPBSS diagnostic scale for use by general practitioner.

Characterization and molecular basis for the block of Kv1.3 channels induced by carvedilol in HEK293 cells.

Carvedilol is a non-selective β-adrenoreceptor antagonist and exhibits a wide range of biological activities. The voltage-gated K (Kv) channel is one of the target ion channels of this compound. The rapidly activating Kv1.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Scale of Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome in Coronary Heart Disease: A Study Protocol.

Background: Phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) is one of the main syndromes in coronary heart disease (CHD). Syndromes of Chinese medicine (CM) are lack of quantitative and easy-implementation diagnosis standards. To quantify and standardize the diagnosis of PBSS, scales are usually applied.

Methological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on acupuncture for stroke: A review of review.

Objective: To assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding acupuncture intervention for stroke and the primary studies within them.

Methods: Two researchers searched PubMed, Cumulative index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Ovid Medline, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and Traditional Chinese Medical Database to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses about acupuncture for stroke published from the inception to December 2016. Review characteristics and the criteria for assessing the primary studies within reviews were extracted.

The inhibitory effects of levo-tetrahydropalmatine on rat Kv1.5 channels expressed in HEK293 cells.

Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) exerts various pharmacological effects on neural and cardiac tissues and K channel can be one of its multiple targets. The rapidly activating Kv1.5 channel is expressed in a variety of tissues including atrial cells and hippocampal neurons, and has an essential role in tuning the action potential and excitability in those cells.

Inhibitory effects of cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil on the Kv1.5 potassium channel.

Kv1.5 channels carry ultra-rapid delayed rectifier K currents in excitable cells, including neurons and cardiac myocytes. In the current study, the effects of cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil on cloned Kv1.

The inhibitory effects of nifedipine on outward voltage-gated potassium currents in mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells.

Background: Voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels have a pivotal role in tuning the action potential duration and excitability in neuronal cells. Although Ca(2+) channel antagonist nifedipine exhibited an inhibitory effect on cardiac Kv currents, a possible action of nifedipine on neuronal Kv currents has not been fully investigated.

Methods: The effects of nifedipine on elicited Kv currents were characterized using whole-cell recording in mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells.

The Tau-Induced Reduction of mRNA Levels of Kv Channels in Human Neuroblastoma SK-N-SH Cells.

Previous findings indicated that microtubule-binding protein tau and voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels exhibit a regulatory role in cell proliferation. However, the possible interaction of tau with Kv channels remained obscure. In this report, transfection of tau plasmids into human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells caused a significant reduction in the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of several Kv channels, including Kv2.

The Inhibitory Effects of Ca2+ Channel Blocker Nifedipine on Rat Kv2.1 Potassium Channels.

It is well documented that nifedipine, a commonly used dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, has also significant interactions with voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels. But to date, little is known whether nifedipine exerted an action on Kv2.1 channels, a member of the Shab subfamily with slow inactivation.

17β-Estradiol Upregulated Expression of α and β Subunits of Larger-Conductance Calcium-Activated K(+) Channels (BK) via Estrogen Receptor β.

Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, which were known as BK channels, were widely distributed in brain tissues and played a crucial role in neuroprotection. Previous studies found that estrogen, a steroid hormone, was able to interact with distinct K(+) channels such as Kv (voltage-gated K(+) channels) in various tissues. However, current knowledge about possible effects of estrogen on BK channels is rather poor.

Knock-out of the potassium channel TASK-1 leads to a prolonged QT interval and a disturbed QRS complex.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to characterize the whole cell current of the two-pore domain potassium channel TASK-1 (K2P3) in mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes (I(TASK-1)) and to analyze the cardiac phenotype of the TASK-1(-/-) mice.

Methods And Results: We have quantified the ventricular I(TASK-1) current using the blocker A293 and TASK-1(-/-) mice. Surface electrocardiogram recordings of TASK-1(-/-) mice showed a prolonged QTc interval and a broadened QRS complex.

The acid-sensitive potassium channel TASK-1 in rat cardiac muscle.

Objective: The outward current flowing through the two-pore domain acid-sensitive potassium channel TASK-1 (I(TASK)) and its inhibition via alpha1-adrenergic receptors was studied in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR experiments were carried out with mRNA from rat heart. Patch-clamp recordings were performed in isolated rat cardiomyocytes.

The stretch-activated potassium channel TREK-1 in rat cardiac ventricular muscle.

Objective: The biophysical properties and the regulation of the two-pore-domain potassium channel TREK-1 were studied in rat cardiomyocytes.

Methods: RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and patch-clamp recording were performed in isolated rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. In some whole-cell-clamp experiments the myocytes were mechanically stretched using a glass stylus.