Bexarotene Attenuates Focal Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via the Suppression of JNK/Caspase-3 Signaling Pathway.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is implicated not only in chronic degenerative neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, but also in acute brain disorders, including traumatic brain injury. Bexarotene, a selective agonist of the retinoid X receptor, has been reported to enhance markedly the expression of APOE. Previous studies have indicated that bexarotene exerts neuroprotective effects in animal models of ischemic stroke by modulating the peripheral immune response and autophagy.

Thoracoscope and thoracotomy in the treatment of thoracic trauma.

Objective: To compare clinical effects of thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy in the treatment of thoracic trauma.

Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients with thoracic trauma were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, 107 in each group. The control group was treated with conventional thoracotomy, while the observation group was treated with thoracoscopic surgery.

Whole mitochondrial genome sequence of a rat pancreatic adenocarcinoma CRL-2389 LTPA cell line.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the world. We sequenced a complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a rat pancreatic tumor CRL-2389 LTPA cell line for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,314 bp and coding 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes.

Protective effects of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice.

Escin, a natural mixture of triterpenoid saponin isolated from the seed of the horse chestnut, is reported to have a potent antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions. This study investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the gastroprotective effect of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intragastric administration of indomethacin (18 mg/kg).

A novel approach to medical countermeasures against organophosphorus compound toxicity.

The toxicity of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) results primarily from the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Huperzine A (HupA) is a reversible inhibitor of AChE and HupA sustained-release microspheres (HSMs) steadily release HupA, resulting in the continual inhibition of AChE activity for 14 days in mice. The present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of HSMs on the toxicity of methyl parathion (MP).

In vitro evidence of baicalein's inhibition of the metabolism of zidovudine (AZT).

Background: Herb-drug interaction (HDI) has been regarded as a key factor limiting the clinical application of herbs and drugs.

Aims: Potential baicalein-zidovudine (AZT) interaction was predicted in the present study.

Methods: In vitro evaluation of baicalein's inhibition towards human liver microsomes (HLMs)-catalyzed metabolism of zidovudine (AZT) was performed.

[Observation on the efficacy of acupuncture and fire needle therapy for hand osteoarthritis].

Objective: To verify the clinical efficacy of shu-stream point acupuncture combined with fire needle therapy in the treatment of hand osteoarthritis.

Methods: Eighty cases were randomized into an acupuncture group (shu-stream point acupuncture combined with fire needle therapy) and a medication group(votalin emulgel). For the 42 cases in the acupuncture group, acupuncture at shu-stream points on the three yang meridians of the hand including Sanjian (LI 3), Zhongzhu (TE 3), Houxi (SI 3) and fire needle at Ashi points were applied, the treatments were given once every other day, 15 times as a treatment course.