Prox1 Suppresses Proliferation and Drug Resistance of Retinoblastoma Cells via Targeting Notch1

Objective Retinoblastoma(RB)is a prevalent type of eye cancer in youngsters.Prospero homeobox 1(Prox1)is a homeobox transcriptional repressor and downstream target of the proneural gene that is relevant in lymphatic,hepatocyte,pancreatic,heart,lens,retinal,and cancer cells.The goal of this study was to investigate the role of Prox1 in RB cell proliferation and drug resistance,as well as to explore the underlying Notch1 mechanism.Methods Human RB cell lines(SO-RB50 and Y79)and a primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cell line(ACBRI-181)were used in this study.The expression of Prox1 and Notch1 mRNA and protein in RB cells was detected using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting.Cell proliferation was assessed after Prox1 overexpression using the Cell Counting Kit-8 and the MTS assay.Drug-resistant cell lines(SO-RB50/vincristine)were generated and treated with Prox1 to investigate the role of Prox1 in drug resistance.We employed pcDNA-Notch1 to overexpress Notch1 to confirm the role of Notch1 in the protective function of Prox1.Finally,a xenograft model was constructed to assess the effect of Prox1 on RB in vivo.Results Prox1 was significantly downregulated in RB cells.Overexpression of Prox1 effectively decreased RB cell growth while increasing the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to vincristine.Notch1 was involved in Prox1’s regulatory effects.Notch1 was identified as a target gene of Prox1,which was found to be upregulated in RB cells and repressed by increased Prox1 expression.When pcDNA-Notch1 was transfected,the effect of Prox1 overexpression on RB was removed.Furthermore,by downregulating Notch1,Prox1 overexpression slowed tumor development and increased vincristine sensitivity in vivo.Conclusion These data show that Prox1 decreased RB cell proliferation and drug resistance by targeting Notch1,implying that Prox1 could be a potential therapeutic target for RB.

Observation on the effect of carbetocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine inertia

Objective:To explore the effect of carbetocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine inertia.Methods: A total of 256 puerpera with single full-term delivery who were admitted in our hospital from May, 2015 to May, 2016 were included in the study and divided into the vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group with 128 cases in each group according to the delivery ways. According to the medication, each group was divided into the carbetocin group and oxytocin group with 64 cases in each group. After fetus delivery, the puerpera in the carbetocin group were given intravenous injection of carbetocin (100μg), while the puerpera in the oxytocin group were given intravenous injection of oxytocin (10 U)+0.9% NaCl (500 mL) for 2 h. The amount of bleeding at delivery, 2 h and 24 h after delivery in each group was observed. A volume of 5 mL elbow venous blood before delivery and 24 h after delivery was extracted. The automatic blood cell analyzer was used to detect the decreased value of 24 h hemoglobin in each group. The coagulation detector was used to detect PT, APTT, and FIB before delivery and 24 h after delivery. The blood pressure and heart rate before and after medication in each group were observed.Results: The amount of bleeding at delivery, 2 h and 24 h after delivery in the carbetocin group was signiifcantly less than that in the oxytocin group (P<0.05). The decreased value of 24 h hemoglobin after delivery in the carbetocin group was signiifcantly less than that in the oxytocin group (P<0.05). The indicators of coagulation function 24 h after delivery in each group were not signiifcantly changed (P>0.05). The heart rate and blood pressure after medication in each group were not significantly changed when compared with before medication (P>0.05).Conclusions:Carbetocin can effectively prevent the postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine inertia, and is safe and effective in application of vaginal delivery and cesarean section;therefore, it deserves to be widely recommended in the clinic.

One new genus and three new species of wingless grasshoppers from Xizang,China(Orthoptera:Acridoidea)

One new genus and three new species of wingless grasshoppers, i.e, Pseudozubovskia gen. nov., Pseudozubovskia xizangensis sp. nov., Eokingdonella gongbugyanda Sla. nov., Dysanema magna sp. nov. are described. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Normal University.