In-utero ultrasonography detection of fetal retinoblastoma and neonatal selective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy.

We report a case of non-familial, sporadic fetal retinoblastoma (RB) that was accidently detected at 39 weeks of gestation on pre-natal ultrasonography in left eye (OS). Post-natal examination revealed Group A and, Group D RB in right eye (OD) and OS, respectively. At 35 days, selective ophthalmic artery intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) was performed in OS and laser for OD.

Strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate alleviates early diabetic testopathy by suppressing abnormal testicular matrix metalloproteinase system in streptozocin-treated rats.

Objectives: Male hypogonadism is frequently associated with testopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes and in middle-aged males. We hypothesized that abnormal matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in testis have large roles to play in male hypogonadism. It has been found in diabetic rats that a novel compound, strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP-Sr), with extra high energy supply, could reverse male hypogonadism by normalizing MMP-9 and TIMPs in the testis.

[Prophylactic immunization of dangguibuxue decoction against Cryptosporidium infection in immune suppressed mice].

Objective: To explore the prophylaxis of dangguibuxue decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine made from Angelica sinensis and Radix astragalus, on immunosuppressed mice infected by Cryptosporidium parvum.

Methods: 48 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control (A), immunosuppressed control (B), high dose (C), and low dose (D). Mice in groups B, C and D were intragastrically administered with dexamethasone (DXM) for 8 days, and in the same time mice in groups C and D were given high dose (2 g/kg) and low dose (1 g/kg) dangguibuxue decoction respectively.

CPU0213, a novel endothelin receptor antagonist, suppresses the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and connexin 43 in hyperthyroid myocardium.

It has been verified that endothelin-1 (ET-1) activates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in the process of myocardial remodeling. Sustained high thyroid hormone level gives rise to left ventricular hypertrophy, in which the ET-1 system is probably involved.We attempted to study the effects of CPU0213, a novel endothelin receptor antagonist, on myocardial remodeling induced by high dose L-thyroxin.

Downregulated FKBP12.6 expression and upregulated endothelin signaling contribute to elevated diastolic calcium and arrhythmogenesis in rat cardiomyopathy produced by l-thyroxin.

Background: Dissociation of FKBP12.6 from RyR2 is considered as an important molecular event resulting in calcium leak and an increased risk in arrhythmogenesis. We hypothesized that augmented ventricular fibrillation (VF) on reperfusion of rat cardiomyopathy induced by l-thyroxin may result from elevated diastolic Ca(2+) levels due to dissociation (downregulation) of FKBP12.

[Effect of yupingfengsan on the growth of tumor and immunological function in tumor-bearing mice].

Aim: To explore the effect of yupingfengsan on the growth of tumor and immunological function in tumor-bearing mice.

Methods: The models of tumor-bearing mice were established by inoculating the healthy mice with S180 tumor carneus cells cultured in vitro. Then the ratio of tumor restriction was calculated.

Ethanol extracts of Rehmannia complex (Di Huang) containing no Corni fructus improve early diabetic nephropathy by combining suppression on the ET-ROS axis with modulate hypoglycemic effect in rats.

Aim: Liuwei Dihuang (Rehmannia complex, RC) decoction, a classic prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN). Among the 6 crude medicines which contains Corni fructus is recognized as the active fraction for its effectiveness. We aimed to investigate, first, if without Corni fructus a modified RC could be still effective, second, if the ethanol extracts could be better than that of water extract and third, the beneficial effect is mainly stemmed from suppressing the endothelin (ET-1) pathway associated with a moderate hypoglycemic effect.

Protective effect of the endothelin antagonist CPU0213 against isoprenaline-induced heart failure by suppressing abnormal expression of leptin, calcineurin and SERCA2a in rats.

Heart failure (HF) may be produced by sustained beta-adrenoceptor stimulation by causing changes in the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1), the leptin system, calcineurin and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) underlying cardiac dysfunction. The aim of this study was to verify whether isoprenaline (ISO)-induced HF is attributed to changes in the above molecular markers, and whether the dual ET-receptor antagonist CPU0213 could reverse the cardiac dysfunction caused by ISO treatment, focusing on these molecular markers. HF was induced in rats by administration of ISO (2 mgkg(-1) s.

Effects of strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate on expression of apoptosis-related genes and oxidative stress in testes of diabetic rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP-Sr) on testicular dysfunction induced by diabetes.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, i.p.

Reversal of isoproterenol-induced downregulation of phospholamban and FKBP12.6 by CPU0213-mediated antagonism of endothelin receptors.

Aim: The downregulation of phospholamban (PLB) and FKBP12.6 as a result of beta- receptor activation is involved in the pathway(s) of congestive heart failure. We hypothesized that the endothelin (ET)-1 system may link to downregulated PLB and FKBP12.

Effects of CPU 86017 (chlorobenzyltetrahydroberberine chloride) and its enantiomers on thyrotoxicosis-induced overactive endothelin-1 system and oxidative stress in rat testes.

Objectives: To study the effects of CPU 86017, a berberine derivative, and its four enantiomers on thyrotoxicosis-induced oxidative stress and the excessive endothelin-1 system in rat testes.

Methods: Adult male SD rats were given high-dose L-thyroxin (0.2 mg/kg subcutaneously) once daily for 10 days to develop thyrotoxicosis.

Inhibitory effects of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides on pancreatic cancer cell Bxpc-3 telomerase activity and cell growth in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the effect of telomerase hTERT gene antisense oligonucleotide (hTERT-ASO) on proliferation and telomerase activity of pancreatic cancer cell line Bxpc-3.

Methods: MTT assay was used to detect the effect of different doses of hTERT-ASO on proliferation of Bxpc-3 cell for different times. To study the anti-tumor activity, the cells were divided into three groups: Control group (pancreatic cancer cell Bxpc-3); antisense oligonucleotide (hTERT-ASO) group; and nosense oligonucleotide group decorated with phosphorothioate.

Pharmacological efficacy of CPU 86017 on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats: mediated by direct inhibition of calcium channels and antioxidant action, but indirect effects on the ET-1 pathway.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of a novel compound p-chlorobenzyltetrahydroberberine (CPU 86017) on endothelin-1 system of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. SD male rats were divided into control, untreated pulmonary hypertension, nifedipine (10 mg/kg p.

[The influence of the extract of lumbricus on the production of NO and TNF-alpha by mouse MPhi and splenocytes].

Aim: To explore the effect of the abstracts of lumbricus on the secretion of NO and TNF-alpha by mouse Mphi s and splenocytes.

Methods: Murine Mphi s and spleen cell were co-cultured with various doses of lumbricus abstracts for 24 hours and then the supernate was collected. The levels of NO and TNF-alpha were detected by diazotization reaction and MTT colorimetry, respectively.