High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster.

Sleep, an essential component of health and overall well-being, often presents challenges for older individuals who frequently experience sleep disorders characterized by shortened sleep duration and fragmented patterns. These sleep disruptions also correlate with an increased risk of various illnesses in the elderly, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological disorders. Unfortunately, existing drugs for sleep disorders are associated with significant side effects such as cognitive impairment and addiction. Consequently, the development of new, safer, and more effective sleep disorder medications is urgently needed. However, the high cost and lengthy experimental duration of current drug screening methods remain limiting factors. This protocol describes a cost-effective and high-throughput screening method that utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, a species with a highly conserved sleep regulation mechanism compared to mammals, making it an ideal model for studying sleep disorders in the elderly. By administering various small compounds to aged flies, we can assess their effects on sleep disorders. The sleep behaviors of these flies are recorded using an infrared monitoring device and analyzed with the open-source data package Sleep and Circadian Analysis MATLAB Program 2020 (SCAMP2020). This protocol offers a low-cost, reproducible, and efficient screening approach for sleep regulation. Fruit flies, due to their short life cycle, low husbandry cost, and ease of handling, serve as excellent subjects for this method. As an illustration, Reserpine, one of the tested drugs, demonstrated the ability to promote sleep duration in elderly flies, highlighting the effectiveness of this protocol.

[Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (, BYHWD) on X-ray evaluation of early callus and level of serum alkaline phosphatase in elderly patients with Colles fracture after manual reduction and splint external fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on early callus X-ray evaluation and level of serum alkaline phosphatase in elderly patients with Colles fracture after manual reduction and splint external fixation. METHODS: From October 2016 to October 2018, 60 elderly patients with Colles fractures were treated with manual reduction and splint external fixation and were divided into experimental group and control group. There were 30 patients in control group, including 15 males and 15 females; aged from 56 to 75 years old with an average of (67.81±5.41) years old; bone mineral density was (0.82±0.24) g/cm 2; patients were performed lift shoulders, bend and extend elbow joint, stretch five fingers and make a fist at 3 days after operation, 3 times daily for 1 month, 30 min once a time. There were 30 patients in experimental group, including 13 males and 17 females; aged from 57 to 77 years old with an average of (66.02±5.16) years old; bone mineral density was (0.76±0.23) g/cm2; patients performed rehabilitation exercise as control group and combined with BYHWD, 400 ml per dose, 2 times daily, 7 days as one course, totally 4 courses. RUSS scores at 14 and 28 days after reduction between two groups were compared, serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum calcium concentration were observed at immediately, 14 and 28 days after reduction. RESULTS: The patients between two groups were successfully fixed without re fractures and complications occurred. The patients were followed up for 30 to 35 days with an average of (31.60±1.03) days. RUSS score in experimental group at 14 and 28 days after reduction were 4.58±0.31 and 7.07±0.36, respectively; while in control group were 3.98±0.30 and 6.15±0.35, respectively; RUSS score in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group. Serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations in experimental group at immediately, 14 and 28 days after reduction were (90.62±12.19) mmol/L ,(105.40±11.63) mmol/L, and (160.86±35.77) mmol/L respectively; while in controlgroup were (91.27±13.52) mmol/L ,(94.60±11.10) mmol/L ,(144.17±26.27) mmol/L respectively; there was no statistically difference between two groups at immediately; and had statistically differences between two groups at 14 and 28 days after reduction. There was no significant difference in serum calcium concentration between two groups at immediately, 14 and 28 days after reduction. CONCLUSION: BYHWD for elderly patients with Colles fracture could promote early formation of callus, effectively increase concentration of serum alkaline phosphatase and promote fracture healing.