Intravitreal injection of fibrillin 2 (Fbn2) recombinant protein for therapy of retinopathy in a retina-specific Fbn2 knock-down mouse model.

Mutations in the extracellular matrix gene Fibrillin-2 (FBN2) are related to genetic macular degenerative disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and early-onset macular degeneration (EOMD). It was reported that the retinal protein expression of FBN2 was reduced in patients with AMD and EOMD. The effect of exogenously supplied fbn2 recombinant protein on fbn2-deficiency-related retinopathy was not known.

Docking-based structural splicing and reassembly strategy to develop novel deazapurine derivatives as potent B-Raf inhibitors.

The mutation of B-Raf is widespread in a variety of human cancers. Its inhibitors vemurafenib and dabrafenib have been launched as drugs for treating unresectable melanoma, demonstrating that B-Raf is an ideal drug target. This study focused on developing novel B-Raf inhibitors as drug leads against various cancers with B-Raf mutation.

Eutypenoids A-C: Novel Pimarane Diterpenoids from the Arctic Fungus Eutypella sp. D-1.

Eutypenoids A-C (1-3), pimarane diterpenoid alkaloid and two ring A rearranged pimarane diterpenoids, were isolated from the culture of Eutypella sp. D-1 obtained from high-latitude soil of the Arctic. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were authenticated on the basis of the mass spectroscopy (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis.

Adenovirus-mediated siRNA targeting NOB1 inhibits tumor growth and enhances radiosensitivity of human papillary thyroid carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

NIN1/RPN12 binding protein 1 homolog (NOB1), a ribosome assembly factor, plays critical roles in tumor progression and development. Previously, we reported that overexpression of NOB1 is correlated with the prognosis of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Little is known, however, concerning its role in PTC.

Plasmid-based Stat3-specific siRNA and GRIM-19 inhibit the growth of thyroid cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

It has been shown that overexpression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) contribute to the progression and metastasis of various solid tumors and that silencing Stat3 inhibits tumor growth in several types of cancer. Gene associated with retinoid-IFN-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19), a Stat3-inhibitory protein, was identified as a potential tumor suppressor associated with growth inhibition and cell apoptosis by targeting the transcription factor Stat3 for inhibition. However, little is known about Stat3 and GRIM-19 roles in the tumor growth of thyroid carcinoma cells.

Y chromosome interstitial deletion induced Y-STR allele dropout in AMELY-negative individuals.

Short tandem repeat (STR) multiplexes with the amelogenin (AMEL) gene as a gender marker have been used as a routine tool of forensic DNA analysis. It has been reported that AMEL-based gender detection could misidentify a known male as a female due to the dropout of amelogenin Y (AMELY) allele. Other gender markers, such as Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR), may be a substitution of AMEL and help the sex determination.

Raphe pallidus modulates Bötzinger complex-induced inhibition of the phrenic nerve activity in rats.

The raphe pallidus (RPa) and Bötzinger complex (BötC) represent two important nuclei which project to spinal phrenic motor neurons. Stimulation of the RPa produces facilitative effects on respiratory activity, whereas stimulation of the BötC induces inhibitory effects on respiratory activity. In the present study, we examined the modulatory effects of serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) RPa neurons on the inhibitory response of the phrenic nerve activity elicited from the BötC in rats.

[Iris recognize-guided LASIK with Zyoptix System for correction of myopic astigmatism].

Objective: To assess the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability, and changes in cylindrical degree and axis after iris recognize-guided LASIK with the Zyoptix 4.01 System for the correction of myopic astigmatism.

Methods: The present study was a prospective, nonrandomized, self-controlled trial.

Vascular density is highest in the proximal region of the mouse prostate.

Background: The proximal region of the prostatic ducts harbor the prostatic epithelial stem cells. As stem cell niches in other organs are highly vascularized, we determined if the proximal region is more highly vascularized than the remaining regions of the prostate. The effect of androgen on vascular density in the different prostatic regions was also examined.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin are required for prostate regeneration.

Background: The regulation of the prostate size by androgens may be partly the result of androgen effects on the prostatic vasculature. We examined the effect of changes in androgen levels on the expression of a variety of angiogenic factors in the mouse prostate and determined if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and the angiopoietins are involved in the vascular response to androgens.

Methods: Expression of angiogenic factors in prostate was quantitated using real-time PCR at different times after castration and after administration of testosterone to castrated mice.

Phenomenon of non-associative learning in Hering-Breuer reflex simulated by electrical vagal stimulation in rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to explore learning and memory in the Hering-Breuer (HB) reflex simulated by a 60-second-long electrical stimulation of vagus nerve. The responses of phrenic nerve discharge to electrical stimulation (10-100 Hz, 20-60 muA, pulse duration 0.3 ms, for 60 s) of the vagus nerve were observed in rabbits.

[Effects of protein tyrosine kinase within the brainstem nucleus tractus solitarius on the ventilatory responses of peripheral chemoreflex].

The aim of the present study was to observe whether protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) within the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) was involved in the regulation of ventilatory responses of peripheral chemoreflex. The experiments were performed on anesthetized, immobilized and artificially ventilated rabbits. Peripheral chemoreflex was elicited by ventilating the animal with 10% O2-balance 90% N2.

[Sustained electrical stimulation of Bötzinger complex on phrenic nerve discharges in rabbits].

Aim: To observe the effects of sustained electrical stimulation at Bötzinger complex (Böt. c) on phrenic nerve discharges.

Methods: Sustained electrical stimulation (10--50 microA, 40-100 Hz, 0.

[The locus coeruleus modulates the inspiratory inhibition induced by electrical stimulation of the Bötzinger complex].

Experiments were done on urethane anesthetized adult rabbits. Long-train electrical stimulation was delivered to the Bötzinger complex (Böt.C) to observe the changes in the peak amplitude of integrated phrenic nerve activity.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor I on steroidogenic enzyme expression levels in mouse leydig cells.

The role of IGF-I in Leydig cell maturation was studied by evaluation of: 1) steady state levels for nine mRNA species expressed specifically in Leydig cells of 35- and 50-d-old IGF-I-null mice and wild-type controls; 2) protein levels for 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase, cholesterol side-chain cleavage, and type I 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha R-1) in Leydig cells by immunocytochemistry; and 3) serum testosterone (T) and testicular interstitial fluid IGF-I levels. Expression levels of all mRNA species associated with T biosynthesis were lower in the absence of IGF-I stimulation. In contrast, androgen-metabolizing enzyme mRNA species had either normal (3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) or higher expression (5 alpha R-1) levels in IGF-I-null mice (P < 0.

Expression of 11beta-hydroxylase in rat Leydig cells.

11Beta-hydroxy (11beta-OH) derivatives of certain steroids function as inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform 1 (11betaHSD1), an enzyme expressed in Leydig cells that catalyzes the reversible oxidation of biologically active glucocorticoids to inactive 11-dehydro metabolites. 11beta-Hydroxylase is an adrenal enzyme responsible for glucocorticoid biosynthesis, catalyzing 11beta-hydroxylation of steroids and thus producing 11beta-OH-steroid derivatives. The aims of the present study were 1) to examine whether 11beta-hydroxylase is expressed in testis, 2) to define the biochemical characteristics of the testicular form of this enzyme, and 3) to establish whether 11beta-hydroxylated steroids inhibit Leydig cell 11betaHSD1 activities.