Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Biol Reprod 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Human Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Some X-linked genes necessary for spermiogenesis are specifically activated in the post-meiotic germ cells. However, the regulatory mechanism about this activation is not clearly understood. Here, we examined the potential mechanism controlling the transcriptional activation of the mouse testis specific gene A8 (Tsga8) gene in round spermatids. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Dec;14(Supplement):S1241-S1243

Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Kemerburgaz University, Medical Park Bursa Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare nongerm cell intrascrotal malignant tumor in children and young adult/teens resulting from the mesenchymal tissues of the tunica vaginalis, epididymis, spermatic cord, and testis. RMS accounts for approximately 7% of all genitourinary tract RMSs and 12% of all pediatric scrotal neoplasms. Patients usually present with a painless unilateral scrotal mass. Read More

Clin Exp Reprod Med 2018 Dec 30;45(4):170-176. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Objective: To assess whether the "testicular pool" could be used for histological analysis and whether it gave more accurate information than the standard testicular biopsy.

Methods: Between January 2017 and March 2018, this single-center prospective study included 60 azoospermic men undergoing conventional bilateral testicular sperm extraction. Six samples were excised from each testicle and transferred to an embryologist. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2012 Oct 4;6(4):e109-e111. Epub 2012 Jul 4.

Hospital Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto 4099-001, Portugal.

Cardiac metastases from testicular tumors are rare. We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a cardiac mass incidentally found in a computed tomography-scan included in the workup for lumbago and a suspicious neoformation in the right testicle. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large multilobular ill-defined mass infiltrating the right ventricle free wall, protruding to, and partially obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract resulting in considerable outflow obstruction. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Germ cell tumours predominantly of the testis ((T)GCTs) are remarkably chemotherapy sensitive. However, a small proportion of patients fail to be cured with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. miR-371a-3p is a new liquid biopsy biomarker for (T)GCTs. Read More

BJU Int 2018 Dec 9. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Genetica 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.

Despite the insights into retrogene evolution in multiple species provided by trans-traffic retrogenes (trans-retrogenes), cis-traffic retrogenes (cis-retrogenes) are hitherto understudied and thus limit our understanding of genetic novelty. Here we used the pig genome as a model to compare cis- and trans-retrogenes. We found that cis- and trans-retrogenes have similar patterns in terms of excessive X-chromosome representation, testis expression preference, and metabolic functional enrichment. Read More

Arch Virol 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Sea Lice Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgt. 55, Pb. 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway.

The complete genome sequence of a novel mononegavirus, Lepeophtheirus salmonis negative-stranded RNA virus 1 (LsNSRV-1), obtained from a salmonid ectoparasite, Lepeophtheirus salmonis was determined. The viral genome contains five open reading frames encoding three unknown proteins (ORF I, II and III), a putative glycoprotein (G), and a large (L) protein. Phylogenetic analysis placed LsNSRV-1 in the recently established mononegaviral family Artoviridae. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China.

Actin‑like protein 8 (ACTL8) is a member of the cancer‑testis antigens (CTA) family, which is mainly localized in the cytoplasm and generally expressed in the testis. The association between ACTL8 and various types of cancer, including glioblastoma and breast cancer, has previously been demonstrated. However, whether ACTL8 is involved in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. Read More

Genome Biol Evol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum of London, Cromwell Road, London, United Kingdom.

Stolonization in syllid annelids is a unique mode of reproduction among animals. During the breeding season, a structure resembling the adult but containing only gametes, called stolon, is formed generally at the posterior end of the animal. When stolons mature, they detach from the adult and gametes are released into the water column. Read More

Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2018 8;22(6):407-414. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

In this study, we investigated the steroidogenic effect of extract on mouse TM3 Leydig cells, which produce male hormones by increasing the levels of steroidogenic enzymes. Steroidogenic enzymes are involved in the production of testosterone in the testis. To date, the steroidogenic effect of has not been reported. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 8;2018:5076271. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Dept. of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.

Modern technologies relying on wireless communication systems have brought increasing levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. This increased research interest in the effects of these radiations on human health. There is compelling evidence that EMFs affect cell physiology by altering redox-related processes. Read More

PLoS Genet 2018 Dec 10;14(12):e1007842. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

In Drosophila melanogaster, the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex plays a key role in dosage compensation by stimulating expression of male X-chromosome genes. It consists of MSL proteins and two long noncoding RNAs, roX1 and roX2, that are required for spreading of the complex on the chromosome and are redundant in the sense that loss of either does not affect male viability. However, despite rapid evolution, both roX species are present in diverse Drosophilidae species, raising doubts about their full functional redundancy. Read More

J Clin Invest 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pathology, Medicine and Oncology, and.

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of engineered T cell receptors (TCRs) for cancer immunotherapy has evolved from simple gene transfer of isolated TCRs to various affinity enhancement techniques that overcome limitations imposed by central and peripheral tolerance on TCR affinity. In the current issue of the JCI, Poncette et al. used mice with human TCRαβ and HLA gene loci to discover CD4+ TCRs of optimal affinity for cancer testis antigen (CTA) NY-ESO-1. Read More

J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pravastatin (PS) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced testicular toxicity. Methods A total of 24 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups. Group I received normal saline, Group II received PS (20 mg/kg b. Read More

Blood 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany;

Anti-leukemia immunity plays an important role in disease control and maintenance of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Thus, antigen-specific immunotherapy holds promise to strengthen immune control in CML, but requires the identification of CML-associated targets. In this study, we used a mass spectrometry-based approach to identify naturally presented, HLA class I- and class II-restricted peptides in primary CML samples. Read More

Theriogenology 2018 Dec 3;126:49-54. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Animal College of Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, PR China.

Infertility is a serious public health problem worldwide. Molybdenum (Mo) plays an important role in maintaining normal metabolism. To explore the therapeutic efficacy of molybdenum (Mo) on male infertility, 90 mice were randomly divided into control, busulfan and busulfan + Mo groups. Read More

Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand. Electronic address:

Piwi proteins comprise a subfamily of Argonaute that plays a major role in germline development by association with a distinct class of small RNAs called Piwi interacting RNA (piRNA). Although the functions of Piwi in the development of germline cells as well as transposon regulation were reported in a number of mammalians and insects, developmental expression and function of Piwi subfamily in crustaceans is poorly known. This study is aimed at cloning and characterization of a Piwi cDNA in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Read More

Urology 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Clinical Radiology, King's College Hospital, London.

Dev Biol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (AMED-CREST), Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Regulatory Epigenome and Diseases, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. Electronic address:

Teratomas are tumors consisting of components of the three germ layers that differentiate from pluripotent stem cells derived from germ cells. In the normal mouse testis, teratomas rarely form, but a deficiency in Dead-end1 (Dnd1) in mice with a 129/Sv genetic background greatly enhances teratoma formation. Thus, DND1 is crucial for suppression of teratoma development from germ cells. Read More

Steroids 2018 Dec 4;141:96-103. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institute & University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

The onset of steroidogenesis in human fetal testes (HFT) during the first trimester is poorly investigated. One important unresolved question is the ontogeny of steroidogenic enzymes and formation of steroidogenic pathways in the HFT at early pregnancy. Our aim was to explore steroidogenesis, the expression of steroidogenic enzymes and their maturation in the HFT at gestational weeks (GW) 8-12. Read More

Reprod Biol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Biology, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas, USA. Electronic address:

Sperm granuloma may develop in the epididymis following vasectomy or chemical insults. Inflammation due to sperm granuloma causes abdominal and scrotal pain. Prolonged and persistent inflammation in the epididymis due to sperm granuloma may lead to infertility. Read More

Morphologie 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Département de gynécologie obstétrique et reproduction humaine - CECOS, CHU de Rennes, 16, boulevard de Bulgarie, 35000 Rennes, France; Inserm, université Rennes, EHESP, Irset (Instiut de recherche en santé,environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, 35000 Rennes, France; Université de Rennes 1, 2, avenue du Pr Léon-Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France. Electronic address:

CFTR protein regulates electrolyte and fluid transport in almost all tissues with exocrine function, including male reproductive tract. Mutation of CFTR gene causes cystic fibrosis (CF), which affects the function of several organs, and impairs male fertility. The role of CFTR protein in different compartments of male reproductive tract (testis, epididymis, sperm) as well as an impact of CFTR mutation(s) on male fertility phenotype is discussed in relation with the choice of optimal technique for Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) management. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Carcinogenesis and Metastasis Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea; Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Topoisomerase IIβ-binding protein 1 (TopBP1) is BRCT domain-containing protein that is required for DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and DNA damage responses; however, its function during the early stage of spermatogenesis is still unclear. To investigate the physiological role of TopBP1, we have generated germ cell-specific TopBP1-depleted mouse model. TopBP1-deleted mice were infertile, showed a loss of germ cells and had meiotic defects. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.

Background/aim: Approximately 20% of undescended testes (UDT) are bilateral. It is unclear whether bilateral orchidopexy (BO) should be undertaken synchronously (SBO) or metachronously (MBO). Our aim was to investigate current UK practice and the complications of SBO vs MBO. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Division of Urology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Background: This investigation aims to assess the variability in practice patterns regarding management of children with cryptorchidism (UDT) among pediatric urologists (U) and pediatric surgeons (S) practicing in Canada.

Methods: All active members of Pediatric Urologists of Canada (PUC) and Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgery (CAPS) were invited to participate in an online multiple-choice type questionnaire with clinical scenarios in management of UDT. Responses were compared between U and S using Fisher's exact test. Read More

Saudi Med J 2018 Dec;39(12):1232-1237

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Almadinah Al-munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail.

Objectives: To review and compare clinical practice and experience among pediatric surgeons (PS) and pediatric urologists (PU) for the management of testicular torsion (TT) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2016 and November 2017, among all PU and PS involved in the management of suspected TT in KSA. A questionnaire was distributed to participants through the Survs. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2018 Dec 15;2(12):1345-1356. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Context: Recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH), given to prepubertal boys with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), may induce Sertoli cell proliferation and thereby increase sperm-producing capacity later in life.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of r-hFSH, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and testosterone (T) in such patients.

Design And Setting: Retrospective review in three tertiary centers in Finland between 2006 and 2016. Read More

J Clin Pathol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Aims: To evaluate if a deep learning algorithm can be trained to identify tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in tissue samples of testicular germ cell tumours and to assess whether the TIL counts correlate with relapse status of the patient.

Methods: TILs were manually annotated in 259 tumour regions from 28 whole-slide images (WSIs) of H&E-stained tissue samples. A deep learning algorithm was trained on half of the regions and tested on the other half. Read More

Development 2018 Dec 5;145(23). Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan.

Previous studies have established that fetal Leydig cells (FLCs) and adult Leydig cells (ALCs) show distinct functional characteristics. However, the lineage relationship between FLCs and ALCs has not been clarified yet. Here, we reveal that a subset of FLCs dedifferentiate at fetal stages to give rise to ALCs at the pubertal stage. Read More

Syst Biol Reprod Med 2018 Dec 3:1-14. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

a Department of Biology , College of Science, King Khalid University , Abha , Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to investigate the protective role of resveratrol (RES) against cisplatin (Cis)-induced testicular damage and reproductive dysfunction in rats and to examine the underlying mechanisms of protection including its effect on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, P53, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2, stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and Protein kinase B (Akt) signaling. Eight-week-old Rats were divided into four groups (n = 12 each) of 1) control group: received normal saline (i.p. Read More

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2018 Dec.;19(12):948-959

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

Stress affects the male reproductive system and can cause sub-fertility or infertility. Although Phyllanthus emblica L. (PE) extract has been shown to have high antioxidant capacity and protective properties in damaged tissue, the preventive effects of PE extract on testicular function from stress-related impairment have never been demonstrated. Read More

Fish Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682022, India.

In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, three vasotocin (VT) receptor subtype genes, v1a1, v1a2, and v2a, were cloned and characterized previously. In the present study, using RNA probes, we localized the distribution of the gene transcripts in the brain-pituitary-gonadal (BPG) axis. The V1a-type receptor, v1a1 and v1a2, genes showed similar and overlapping distribution in the brain. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Nov 30;8(1):17514. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.

Sox9 plays critical roles in testis formation. By mapping four familial cases of disorders of sexual development, a 32.5 kb sequence located far upstream of SOX9 was previously identified as being a commonly deleted region and named the XY sex reversal region (XYSR). Read More

Toxicology 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bengaluru 560030, India.

Arsenic (As) - induced oxidative stress causes male reproductive toxicity apart from its other generalized systemic effects. Some phytochemicals through their antioxidant properties might help overcome such toxic effects. The aim of the study was to elucidate the protective role of the selected phytochemicals, ellagic and ferulic acids against the As-induced reproductive toxicity. Read More

Gene 2018 Nov 30;688:62-70. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK. Electronic address:

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified by maternally provided determinants in fish. PGCs migrate then into prospective gonadal sites during early development and give rise to germ cell lineage. PGC disrupted animals do not sexually mature which has a range of commercial as well as environmental benefits. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Dec 2;53(12):2495-2497. Epub 2018 Sep 2.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, Australia; University of Newcastle, Priority Research Centre GrowUpWell, Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address:

Background/purpose: Vanishing Testes Syndrome (VTS) is one of the most common causes of impalpable testes in children. The role of removal of testicular nubbins owing to malignant potential in VTS is unclear. We sought to evaluate whether testicular nubbins need to be excised owing to this potential. Read More

Tissue Cell 2018 Dec 20;55:1-12. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

USTHB, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari Boumediene, Biological Sciences Faculty, Aride Area Research Laboratory, Algiers, Algeria.

Gerbillus tarabuli is a nocturnal seasonal breeder desert rodent with a main breeding season in spring and summer, and sexual quiescence in winter. This species is an interesting model for studying testis function in rodents. Therefore, the present study was performed firstly to investigate the stages of seminiferous epithelium cycle of Gerbillus tarabuli with a histological, morphometric and statistical study. Read More

J Pediatr Urol 2018 Sep 24. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Division of Urology, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address:

Background: Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency mainly affecting adolescent boys, with a relatively high rate of missed torsion and testicular loss secondary to delay in prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention. With ischemic reperfusion injury as its underlying culprit, testicular torsion may respond favorably to remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) where a non-privileged site (e.g. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2018 Dec 3:1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

a The Shraga Segal Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel.

Spermatogenesis is the process of the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) to generate sperm. Leukemia patients show impairment in some of the endocrine hormones that are involved in spermatogenesis. They also show a decrease in semen parameters before and after thawing of cryopreserved samples compared to a control. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 29;19(12). Epub 2018 Nov 29.

The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.

Aggressive chemotherapy may lead to permanent male infertility. Prepubertal males do not generate sperm, but their testes do contain spermatogonial cells (SPGCs) that could be used for fertility preservation. In the present study, we examined the effect of busulfan (BU) on the SPGCs of immature mice, and the possible induction of the survivor SPGCs to develop spermatogenesis in 3D in-vitro culture. Read More

Genome Biol Evol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.

Yak is one of the largest native mammalian species at the Himalayas, the highest plateau area in the world with an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters above the sea level. Yak is well adapted to high altitude environment with a set of physiological features for a more efficient blood flow for oxygen delivery under hypobaric hypoxia. Yet, the genetic mechanism underlying its adaptation remains elusive. Read More

Biol Reprod 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.

Increasing studies have shown that specific mRNAs and miRNAs expressed in mature sperm may be related to sperm motility. However, the expression profiles and roles of lncRNAs in sperm remain unknown. In the present study, numerous lncRNAs were identified in human sperm, and some lncRNAs were expressed exclusively in sperm and testis. Read More

PLoS One 2018 5;13(12):e0206225. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Division of Insect Sciences, The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Japan.

Traumatic insemination (TI) is an extraordinary style of mating behavior wherein the female integument is pierced by the male extragenital structure to transfer the spermatozoa into the female's body through wounding. Flower bugs of the genus Orius belong to the family Anthocoridae (Heteroptera), which is referred to as the "TI family". Males possess sharp shaped extragenitalia, and females receive the extragenitalia using the copulatory tubes, which are specialized extragenital structures in Orius species. Read More

Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2018 Dec;160(12):743-748

Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.

Introduction: The following case report describes the clinical and diagnostic procedure for suspected brucellosis infection in a dog. A 21 month old intact male Border Collie was presented with an enlarged right testicle and epididymis. The dog was imported to Switzerland from Germany at the age of three months, but was never abroad since then. Read More

Oncotarget 2018 Nov 6;9(87):35790-35794. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, Novosibirsk, Russia.

We propose a novel immunotherapeutic paradigm that justifies application of several antibodies to various membrane-associated antigens to achieve a critical threshold density of immune complexes on the surface of cancer cells sufficient for triggering downstream cytolytic pathways. Indeed, some cancer-associated antigens (such as cancer/testis antigens) were found to be expressed on many cancer (but not normal) cells, with their baseline membrane expression levels being originally quite low for some of them, or even further down-regulated due to immune-driven cell selection. To achieve the mandatory threshold density of membrane-associated immune complexes on malignant cells, the concept stipulates combined application of antibodies specific for a cancer-associated antigen along with antibodies against an antigen expressed not only on tumor, but also on normal cells. Read More

G3 (Bethesda) 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

University of Iowa

Drosophila Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] is a multifunctional zinc finger DNA binding protein. Transcriptional regulation by Su(Hw) is essential in the ovary and testis, where Su(Hw) functions primarily as a repressor. Recently, the HP1a and Insulator Partner Protein 1 (HIPP1) was found to extensively co-localize with Su(Hw) and other insulator binding proteins in euchromatic regions of the genome, and with Heterochromatin Protein 1a (HP1a) in heterochromatic regions. Read More

Viruses 2018 Dec 2;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Laboratory of Emerging and Re-Emerging Viruses, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada.

There is an increasing frequency of reports regarding the persistence of the Ebola virus (EBOV) in Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors. During the 2014⁻2016 West African EVD epidemic, sporadic transmission events resulted in the initiation of new chains of human-to-human transmission. Multiple reports strongly suggest that these re-emergences were linked to persistent EBOV infections and included sexual transmission from EVD survivors. Read More

Urol Int 2018 Dec 4:1-4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Pelvic Surgery, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil.

Solitary bone metastasis from testicular tumor is rare. In literature, only few cases of isolated bone metastasis at first presentation have been reported, and none of them have been treated with extended surgery of the pelvic bone. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 33-year-old man with an iliac bone osteolytic metastasis as the first presentation of a non-seminomatous germ-cell testis tumor (NSGCT), treated with post-chemotherapy en bloc resection of residual tumor in the left iliac bone (Type I + II internal hemipelvectomy). Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Nov 29;207:34-42. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas,1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA.

Uptake by fishes of crude oil and its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) components occurs via gills, dietary intake, or diffusion through the skin. Dietary exposure to crude oil and its components is environmentally relevant, and induces physiological and morphological disruptions in fish. However, the impacts of crude oil on fish social and reproductive behaviors and thus the possible influences on reproductive success are poorly understood. Read More