The Effect of Praziquantel on Patterns of Schistosoma mansoni Eggshell Hatching Breaks

The break of the eggshell formed by water- and praziquantel (PZQ)-induced hatching of Schistosoma mansoni eggs was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The break most frequently formed on the long axis of the eggshell opposite the spine, and less frequently along spine side, parallel or oblique to the long axis of the lateral side of the egg-shell. An outwardly-curled lip of shell lined the external margins of the hatching orifice. The shell itself was of uniform thickness and fairly smooth. No significant difference was observed in the position breaks between water- and PZQ-hatched eggs. However, PZQ hatching produced smaller hatching orifices and the miracidium frequently failed to escape

Potential use of lenvatinib for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma including after treatment with sorafenib : Real-world evidence and in vitro assessment via protein phosphorylation array

The efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) as a second/third-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after sorafenib (SOR) therapy remains unknown. We evaluated the outcomes of second/third-line LEN treatment, investigated the sensitivity of a SOR-resistant HCC cell line (PLC/PRF5-R2) to LEN, and assessed their signal transduction pathways by protein array analysis. We retrospectively enrolled 57 patients with unresectable HCC. Fifty-three radiologically evaluated patients comprised 34 molecular-targeted agent (MTA)-naive (first-line), nine intolerant to SOR (second-line), and 10 resistant to regorafenib (third-line). The objective response rates (ORRs) were 61.8% in first-line, 33.3% in second-line, and 20.0% in third-line groups. The overall survival (OS) in the first-line was significantly longer than that in the third-line group (p < 0.05). Patients with better liver functional reserves (child score, ALBI grade) exhibited higher ORR and longer OS. The IC50 of LEN against PLC/PRF5-R2 was significantly higher than that against PLC/PRF5. LEN significantly inhibited more LEN-related signal transduction pathways in PLC/PRF5 than in PLC/PRF5-R2 cells. This suggests that LEN is active and safe as a second/third-line treatment for unresectable HCC. LEN seems more effective for patients with HCC with better hepatic reserve functions or before MTA-resistance is acquired because of the partial cross-resistance to SOR

Mutual Recognition of S and MA Standards Software Assurance Task Force Report

No abstract availabl

ECAT11/L1td1 Is Enriched in ESCs and Rapidly Activated During iPSCGeneration, but It Is Dispensable for the Maintenance and Induction of Pluripotency

The principal factors that lead to proliferation and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been vigorously investigated. However, the global network of factors and their full signaling cascade is still unclear. In this study, we found that ECAT11 (L1td1) is one of the ESC-associated transcripts harboring a truncated fragment of ORF-1, a component of theL1 retrotransposable element. We generated an ECAT11 knock-in mouse by replacing its coding region with green fluorescent protein. In the early stage of development, the fluorescence was observed at the inner cell mass of blastocysts and epiblasts. Despite this specific expression, ECAT11-null mice grow normally and are fertile. In addition, ECAT11 was dispensable for both the proliferation and pluripotency of ESCs.We found rapid and robust activation of ECAT11 in fibroblasts after the forced expression of transcription factors that can give rise pluripotency in somatic cells.However, iPS cells could be established from ECAT11-null fibroblasts. Our data demonstrate thedispensability of ECAT11/L1td1 in pluripotency, despite its specific expression

Tuberculous Granuloma in the Scrotal Skin After Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Therapy for Bladder Cancer: A Case Report

Rare cases of tuberculous urinary tract or genital infection caused by intravesical Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation therapy have been reported. We encountered a patient with tuberculous granuloma in the scrotal skin after intravesical BCG therapy for bladder cancer. There was evidence of infection in the scrotal skin, but not in the epididymis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of tuberculous granuloma in the scrotal skin without epididymitis after intravesical BCG therapy. In our case, lower urinary tract symptoms such as the terminal dribbling of urine appear to support the theory of direct BCG inoculation

Postrenal Failure due to Urinary Stones Associated with Acute Viral Gastroenteritis: Three Case Reports

Acute gastroenteritis with viral infection in infants causes severe diarrhea and often results in acute renal failure due to severe dehydration. However, a viral infection, particularly rotavirus, rarely induces postrenal failure due to bilateral stones in infants. Herein, we report three cases of postrenal failure in infants due to bilateral ureteral stones induced by acute gastroenteritis with rotavirus. Following immediately nephrostomy, chemical dissolution therapy succeeded to treat postrenal failure. Immediate nephrostomy for the release of upper urinary tract obstruction combined with urinary alkalization as a chemical dissolution therapy should be considered in such cases

Ileocystoplasty with ureteral reimplantation into the afferent ileal limb for high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in a boy with lower urinary tract dysfunction

We encountered a 12-year-old boy who had lower urinary tract dysfunction and high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in a bilateral duplex system. Since febrile urinary tract infections (f-UTI) frequently occurred even after intermittent catheterization, we performed bladder augmentation and an anti-reflux procedure, reimplanting the four dilated ureters into the afferent ileal limb without creating a submucosal tunnel. The VUR was improved, and no f-UTI were seen after the surgery. The described anti-reflux procedure, which is based on bowel peristalsis, seems to be a feasible treatment for VUR in patients who undergo augmentation cystoplasty. Keywords: Augmentation, VUR, Bowel peristalsi