The outcome and burden of Chinese patients with neurodegenerative diseases: A 10-year clinical feature study.

Background: As the Chinese population continues to age, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) has increased dramatically, which results in heavy medical and economic burden for families and society.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate NDDs in a southern Chinese hospital over a 10-year period and examine trends in demographics, outcome, length of stay (LOS) and cost.

Methods: Retrospective medical records of patients from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected, including 7231 patients with NDDs (as case group) and 9663 patients without any NDDs (as control group).

PSORI-CM02 alleviates IMQ-induced mouse dermatitis via differentially regulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines targeting of Th2 specific transcript factor GATA3.

The IL-17-producing CD4+ T cell and γδT cells play critical roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (PS). PSORI-CM02 is a representative herbal formula for the treatment for PS in South China. It was confirmed to improve PS without obvious side effects in the clinic.

Can active components of licorice, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, lick rheumatoid arthritis?

Objectives: This review stated the possible application of the active components of licorice, glycyrrhizin (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment based on the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/thromboxane A2 (TxA2) pathway.

Methods: The extensive literature from inception to July 2015 was searched in PubMed central, and relevant reports were identified according to the purpose of this study.

Results: The active components of licorice GL and GA exert the potential anti-inflammatory effects through, at least in part, suppressing COX-2 and its downstream product TxA2.

Determination of role of thromboxane A2 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: To date, the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains largely unknown, and the therapies are still unsatisfactory. The biosynthesis of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) is increased in RA patients, suggesting a role of TxA2 in RA pathology.

Methods: RA patients were divided into two groups, DMARDs and non-DMARDs, according to their use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Berberine Inhibits the Release of Glutamate in Nerve Terminals from Rat Cerebral Cortex.

Berberine, an isoquinoline plant alkaloid, protects neurons against neurotoxicity. An excessive release of glutamate is considered to be one of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal damage in several neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated whether berberine could affect endogenous glutamate release in nerve terminals of rat cerebral cortex (synaptosomes) and explored the possible mechanism.

Idebenone inhibition of glutamate release from rat cerebral cortex nerve endings by suppression of voltage-dependent calcium influx and protein kinase A.

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect and the possible mechanism of idebenone on endogenous glutamate release in nerve terminals of rat cerebral cortex (synaptosomes). Idebenone inhibited the release of glutamate that was evoked by exposing synaptosomes to the K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and this phenomenon was concentration dependent. Inhibition of glutamate release by idebenone was prevented by chelating extracellular Ca(2+), or by the vesicular transporter inhibitor bafilomycin A1, but was insensitive to DL-threo-beta-benzyl-oxyaspartate, a glutamate transporter inhibitor.

Development of nano-sized hydroxyapatite reinforced composites for tissue engineering scaffolds.

Nano-sized hydroxyapatite (nanoHA) reinforced composites, mimicking natural bone, were produced. Examination by transmission electron microscopy revealed that the nanoHA particles had a rod-like morphology, 20-30 nm in width and 50-80 nm in length. The phase composition of hydroxyapatite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction.