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The retinae of treeshrew have never been evaluated by scanning electron microscopic studies. This work described the visual cells in the photoreceptor layer of the retinae of treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) living on the high plateau of Yunnan, China, via scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated five different types of cones morphologically, in which two of those have shown oil droplet like structures in their inner segments. To our knowledge, no prior studies have reported oil droplets in the visual cells of higher mammals, only in lower vertebrate and primitive mammals. In addition, this study revealed one type of degenerative visual cell without outer segments. The findings signal the needs for additional studies to understand the physiological functions and phylogenetic relationships of the diversity of visual cells in this group of mammal.

The ancient composite formulae Angong Niuhuang pill and Pien Tze Huang that were used a few hundred years ago to treat febrile disease and inflammation respectively are found to exert effects benefiting other neurological diseases and conditions. This short review introduces the main constituents of the two formulae, looking into both the cumulative synergetic and possible individual effects of each herb or animal apcoien. In essence, the main effects of Angong Niuhuang pill include antiinflammation, antioxidation, anti-cell death, anticonvulsion, antiedema, antipyretic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial (bacteria, viruses, fungi), neuroprotective effects, and cardiovascular protection. The main effects of Pien Tze Huang include antiinflammation, antioxidation, anti-cell death, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, neuroprotective effects, and cardiovascular protection. Comparing both composites, similarities of the effects and part of the components are found, showing some pharmacological evidence. This review casts light on research on the effects of neuroprotective and cardiovascular protective mechanisms as well as treatment mechanisms for cerebral accidents in the integrative medicine perspective.

Purpose: While there were numerous clinical examples of ocular damage, the histopathology of retinal responses was poorly characterized, and animal model research was limited. The consequences of retinal lesions with traditional medicine treatment were mostly unknown. In this work, goldfish was employed as a model for penetrating injury of the eyes to study the ocular trauma with antibiotic and traditional medicine treatments. Materials and Methods: The penetration of the eyes was performed at 2mm above the midline of the limbus in the superior quadrant with an 18-gauge sterile needle, all the way to the retina but avoiding the lens while the animals were anaesthetized in water containing 100 mg/L ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate (MS-222). The animals were divided into three groups and received treatments of saline, chloramphenicol, and Angong Niuhuang pill (Angong) eyedrops twice a day respectively. Angong after seven days, the animals were sacrificed. Immunohistochemical evaluation of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catalase, and cleaved caspase-3, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) for apoptotic cells were performed on the fish's superior quadrants of the retinae. The whole experiment was repeated two times. Result: It was evident that both the retinae treated with chloramphenicol and Angong had fewer apoptotic cells and more proliferative cells, particularly in the cases of the Angong treatment. BDNF was in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of all groups. In the chloramphenicol and Angong groups, some cells in