Major research interests in my lab including

1] the study of the molecular and electrophysiological mechanism responsible for the generation of cardiac arrhythmia,

2] the study of the molecular and pathophysiological mechanism underlying the generation of heart failure,

3] search for antiarrhythmic agents and positive inotropic agents from plant or synthesis,

4] search for agents with antidiabetic activities,

5] search for agents with antiseptic activities.

During the studies of the mechanical and electrophysiological effects of various agents on isolated cardiac cells or perfused heart tissues. Several agents were found to exert antiarrhythmic activities mainly by inhibition of sodium inward and potassium outward current. Further studies of the antiarrhythmic activity and cardioprotective activity in ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion animals revealed that most agents exert cardioprotective activity at a dosage which is comparable to the effective concentration for inhibition of sodium inward current and potassium outward current. However, some agents such as astringinin (a resveratrol analogue) and thaliporphine were found to exert cardioprotective action in ischemia or ischemia-reperfusion animals mainly by preservation or enhancement of endothelial NOS activity in cardiac tissues subjected to ischemia or ischemia-reperfusion. The efforts in our lab over the past 10 years lead to the finding of some useful cardioprotective agents. Among them, 5 families of compounds were patented by Japan, U.S., Taiwan, and China government.

Publications:

1] Down-regulation of L-type calcium channel and sarcolpasmic reticular Ca²⁺-ATPase mRNA in human atrial fibrillation without significant change in the mRNA of ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin and phospholamban: an insight into the mechanism of atrial electrical remodeling. J Am Coll Cardiol, 1999. [PDF Abstract]

2] Beneficial effects of astringinin, a resveratrol analogue, on the ischemia and reperfusion damage in rat heart. Free Radic Biol Med, 2001. [PDF Abstract]

3] Cardiac electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic actions of a pavine alkaloid derivative, O-methyl-neocaryachine, in rat heart. Br J Pharmacol, 2002. [PDF Abstract]

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1] Mechanisms of ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion injury and ischemic preconditioning: Implication in drug development (NSC 91-2320-B002-151).

2]冬蟲夏草菌絲體心臟保護作用之研究(91RD701G-01-C).

3]心血管疾病之新藥(LS-NTU-106)開發之分項計畫 (91A128).

Effects of drugs on

1] membrane currents of isolated cardiomyocytes and contractility of isolated cardiac tissue,

2] ouabain-induced arrhythmia in isolated heart,

3] Langendorff-perfused heart model,

4] ischemia-reperfusion in anesthetized rats,

5] TNF-induced apoptosis of cultured cardiac myocytes, will be performed.

1] Dagan 8900 patch clamp amplifier: measurement of ionic currents

2] HSE-force transducer coupled with Axonclamp 2B amplifier: measurement of electromechanical response of cardiac tissues

3] Power Lab acquisition system: recording of biological signals