Acupuncture at PC6 prevents cardiac hypertrophy in isoproterenol-treated mice.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of acupuncture at PC6 on cardiac hypertrophy in isoproterenol (ISO)-treated mice.

Methods: 48 male C57BL/6 mice underwent subcutaneous injection of ISO for 14 days and were randomly divided into four groups (n=12 each) that remained untreated (ISO group), received verum manual acupuncture (MA) treatment at PC6 (ISO+MA(PC6) group), sham MA at location on the tail not corresponding to any traditional acupuncture point (ISO+MA(tail) group), or propranolol (ISO+PR group). An additional 12 mice were given an injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and formed a healthy control (Normal) group.

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients With Chronic Pulmonary Heart Disease by 2-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Objectives: To investigate the value of 2-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography for assessing right ventricular (RV) systolic function in patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) and the correlation of its parameters with the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: According to pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, 80 patients with CPHD and tricuspid regurgitation were divided into 2 groups: 42 with mild pulmonary hypertension (PH; 30-50 mm Hg) and 38 with moderate or severe PH (≥50 mm Hg); 41 control participants were recruited. All participants underwent 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography and cardiac MRI.

Hydroquinone analog 4-[(Tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2‑yl) oxy] phenol induces C26 colon cancer cell apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in vivo.

The 4[(Tetrahydro‑2H‑pyran‑2‑yl) oxy] phenol (XG‑d) hydroquinone analog, is found in Vaccinium vitis‑idaea  L. Although it is known for its antioxidant properties and high level of safety, its antitumor activity remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the anticancer effect of XG‑d was determined in vitro and in vivo.

Haloemodin as novel antibacterial agent inhibiting DNA gyrase and bacterial topoisomerase I.

Drug-resistant bacterial infections and lack of available antibacterial agents in clinical practice are becoming serious risks to public health. We synthesized a new class of haloemodins by modifying a traditional Chinese medicine component, emodin. The novel haloemodin exerts strong inhibitory activity on bacterial topoisomerase I and DNA gyrase, and not on the topoisomerases of human origin.