Astilbin antagonizes developmental cardiotoxicity after cadmium exposure in chicken embryos by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and maintaining calcium homeostasis.

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal with high toxicity that is known to impair development. Astilbin (ASB) is a protective flavonoid compound. We aimed to explore whether ASB can antagonize the myocardial developmental toxicity of Cd exposure. Cd (2 µg) and/or ASB (0.002 µg) were injected into embryonized eggs that were 1 day old. Histological examinations revealed Cd-induced ventricular dilation, reduced wall thickness, and disrupted myocardial fiber connections, while co-administration of ASB mitigated these effects. Electron microscopy confirmed ASB's ability to counteract Cd-induced myocardial cell myofibril damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) molecular investigations revealed that Cd increased endoplasmic reticulum stress in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes, as shown by raised expression of stress-related genes (GRP78, XBP1, GRP94, ATF4, ATF6, IRE1, and CHOP). Moreover, Cd disrupted calcium homeostasis, affecting important genes linked to Ca2+ channels and causing an excess of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm. In addition, we detected genes related to development and differentiation-related genes in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes. The results showed that the downregulation of transcription factors in the IrxA cluster, Mefs, and Tbxs families after Cd exposure indicated that cardiac transcription was hindered and cardiac markers (TnnT2, TnnC1, Gata4, Gata6, and Nkx2-5) were abnormally expressed. ASB successfully mitigated these disturbances. During the cell cycle, primary cardiomyocytes undergo growth arrest in flow cytometry. These results suggest that the maturation and differentiation of cardiomyocytes are inhibited after Cd exposure, and ASB has an antagonistic effect on Cd. The present study indicated that Cd could trigger developmental cardiotoxicity in chicken embryos and primary cardiomyocytes by endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ca2+ overload, respectively, while ASB has an antagonistic effect.

The role of nanotechnology in single-cell detection: a review.

Biological processes in single cells, such as signal transduction, DNA duplication, and protein synthesis and trafficking, occur in subcellular compartments at nanoscale level. Achieving high spatial-temporal resolution, high sensitivity, and high specificity in single-cell detection poses a great challenge. Nanotechnology, which has been widely applied in the fields of medicine, electronics, biomaterials, and energy production, has the potential to provide solutions for single-cell detection. Here we present a review of the use of nanotechnology in single-cell detection over the past two decades. First, we review the main areas of scientific interest, including morphology, ion concentration, DNA, RNA, protein, intracellular temperature, elements, and mechanical properties. Second, four categories of application of nanotechnology to single-cell detection are described: nanomanipulation, nanodevices, nanomaterials as labels, and nano Secondary ion mass spectrometry. Finally, the prospects and future trends in single-cell detection and analysis are discussed.

[Design and manufacture of medical shipping refrigerated box].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a set of low temperature medical shipping refrigerated box for storage and shipping for biologicals in field environment. METHODS: Semiconductor cooling device (SCD) and phase change energy storage materials (PCESM) were adopted as the means for refrigeration and coolness storage, coolness was produced by SCD and stored by PCESM while power source present, and low temperature state for biologicals was keep by PCESM. RESULTS: The problem for biologicals storage and shipping in low temperature state for medical experiment and clinic was resolved. CONCLUSION: Medical shipping refrigerated box can be used not only in medical, but also in other field such as food storage and shipping, etc.

[The research on the combination of quality control and centralized management of medical equipments in hospital].

This article introduces the forms of the centralized management mode and the methods of quality control, and summarizes the effect.

[The EICP's development for clean operation rooms].

This paper introduces the principium and application of the embedded intelligence control platform (EICP) in the clean operating room in our hospital. It can be a master of automatic control for air decontamination, temperature, humidity, lighting lamps, shadowless lamp, etc..

[A vest-pocket instrument for the detection and treatment of the onset of epileptic seizures].

A new vest pocket medical instrument is here presented. It can automatically detect and identify the signals of the onset of epileptic seizures, and then as necessasy, will automatically generate an acoustic stimulation that may weaken and shorten the epileptic activity at the initial stage.