Recently, phosphatidylserine (PS) has received attention for its anti-inflammatory effect; however, the molecular mechanisms of its action have not been fully understood. Thus, we hypothesized that PS might have antiarthritic and anti-inflammatory effects. To test this hypothesis, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of soybean-derived PS was tested on interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated fibroblast...

Nootropic drug nefiracetam and related compounds are used in diseases with learning and memory deficits. Recent studies have implicated relationships between learning, memory, and chronic pain. Thus, in the present report, we have studied the effects of nootropic drug nefiracetam on the thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation or streptozotocin treatment in ...

BACKGROUND Teucrium stocksianum (T. stocksianum) is one of the important members of the genus Teucrium which contains numerous biologically active compounds. Traditionally, it is used for the treatment of fever, pain, as expectorant and blood purifier. Researchers are trying to discover plants origin, novel and safe remedies for the management of various ailments. The present study was aimed to...

1.1 Mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation is often employed to replace spontaneous breathing of patients under general anesthesia. Even after operation, the patient still needs ventilation support until the respiratory muscles regain full function. A ventilator delivers a certain amount of air flow through a facial mask or tracheal tube to the patient whose respiratory system fails to f...

BACKGROUND Fruit extracts of Xylopia aethiopica are used traditionally in the management of pain disorders including rheumatism, headache, colic pain, and neuralgia. Little pharmacological data exists in scientific literature of the effect of the fruit extract and its major diterpene, xylopic acid, on pain. The present study evaluated the analgesic properties of the ethanol extract of X. aethio...

BACKGROUND Fast dynamic computed tomography (dCT) has been used to assess regional dynamics of lung inflation and deflation processes. The aim of this study was to relate ventilation-induced changes in lung density distribution, as measured over several respiratory cycles by dCT, to oxygenation and shunt fraction in a lavage acute respiratory distress syndrome model. METHODS Six anaesthetized...

Dogs were used to elaborate two instrumental reactions – flexing the left or right forepaw respectively to pull a dish of food within reach of its mouth. If both paws were simultaneously fixed to levers, dog was faced with a choice between two reactions. In preliminary trials right paw preference was strong despite equal effectiveness of the left paw in obtaining the food. The aim of the experi...

Background and Purpose: Functional tests that are stable and consistent over time are an advantage for long-term evaluation of treatment in experimental stroke research. Because little information on this subject is available in rodents with focal cerebral ischemia, we investigated the outcome of three behavioral tests for a period of 3 months after the insult. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensi...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in adult patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and oxygenation failure. DESIGN Prospective, clinical study. SETTING Intensive care and burn units of two university teaching hospitals. PATIENTS Twenty-four adults (10 females, 14 males, aged 48.5 +/- 15.2 yrs, Acute Physiolo...