A gynandromorph of the stonefly Amphinemura zonata (Okamoto, 1922) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Japan.

A gynandromorph of Amphinemura zonata (Okamoto, 1922) collected from Matsubara-izumi Pond in Japan is described and illustrated as the first report in the genus. The specimen exhibits bilateral gynandromorphism on abdominal sterna 79 and the paraprocts. Male features occur on the right half and female features on the left half. In addition, the gynandromorph is predominantly female as it retains female features on the dorsal male half of the abdomen, has eggs in the abdomen, has female-length fore wings, and lacks main male features such as an epiproct and a hypoproct on sternum 9.

Clinical validation of an immunochromatographic SARS-Cov-2 IgM/IgG antibody assay with Japanese cohort.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major health threat. To overcome COVID-19, appropriate diagnosis methods are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the colloidal gold immunochromatography assay for SARS-Cov-2 IgM/IgG antibody (Ab). METHODS: Patients confirmed COVID-19 (n = 51) were recruited prospectively from the Musashino Red Cross hospital and Tokyo Medical and Dental University Medical Hospital, between March and May 2020. And the analytical specificity was assessed with serum samples of patients without COVID-19 (n = 100) collected between August to September 2019 before SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China. RESULTS: Among COVID-19 patients, a total of 87 serum samples were tested for SARS-Cov-2 IgM/IgG Ab assay. IgM was detected 71.0 %, 86.9 %, and 83.3 % at day8-14, 15-28, >29 after symptom onset and IgG was detected in 81.6 %, 87.0 %, and 94.4 %, respectively. The sensitivity of IgM and IgG Ab after day8 assay was significantly higher than before day7, respectively (p=0.0016, 0.0003). There were no positive results in 100 serum samples from patients without COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The SARS-Cov-2 IgM/IgG Ab assay had 79.7% / 86.1% sensitivity (the 8 days after from onset) and 100% specificity in this population.

Liver injury with COVID-19 based on gastrointestinal symptoms and pneumonia severity.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had become a big threat worldwide. Liver injury is not uncommon in patients with COVID-19, and clarifying its characteristics is needed. This study aimed to identify factors associated with liver injury and to develop a new classification of predictive severity in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Confirmed patients with COVID-19 (n = 60) were recruited retrospectively from Musashino Red Cross Hospital. The factors of liver injury especially on the elevation of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) were analyzed. Grading was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. RESULTS: During a median hospitalization follow-up of 15 (4-41) days, 51 (85.0%) patients had COVID-19 pneumonia. In clinical courses, oxygenation was needed for 25 (41.6%) patients and intubation was needed for 9 (15.0%) patients. A total of 27 (45.0%) patients had gastrointestinal symptoms (GS), such as appetite loss, diarrhea, and nausea. A logistic regression analysis revealed that C-reactive protein (CRP) at baseline, oxygenation, intubation, and GS were significant factors of liver injury. Based on these results, patients were classified into three groups: group 1, no oxygenation pneumonia; group 2, pneumonia with oxygenation or GS; and group 3, intubation. We classified 25 (41.7%), 26 (43.3%), and 9 (15.0%) patients into mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. The peak of AST and ALT levels was significantly stratified with this criteria (mild [median AST, 28 IU/L; median ALT, 33 IU/L], moderate [median AST, 48 IU/L; median ALT, 47.5 IU/L], and severe [median AST, 109 IU/L; median ALT, 106 IU/L]; P<0.001 and P = 0.0114, respectively). CONCLUSION: COVID-19-related liver injury was significantly stratified based on GS and severity of pneumonia.

[A case of Carboplatin and pemetrexed combination chemotherapy for synchronous double cancers of hepatocellular carcinoma and primary lung cancer].

A 78-year-old man presented to our hospital with lung abnormality on his chest radiograph. Computed tomography (CT) showed a mass and obstructive pneumonia in the right upper lobe of the lung. The mass was diagnosed as a pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a bronchoscopy (cT4N2M0, Stage IIIB). CT also revealed multiple hepatic tumors, which were diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by dynamic CT and gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(EOB-MRI). First, we treated the lung cancer with a combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed (PEM), but it caused renal dysfunction. Carboplatin (CBDCA) and PEM combination chemotherapy was administered, and not only the lung cancer but also the HCCs decreased in size. There are few reports of synchronous double cancers of HCC and primary lung cancer, and the treatment is not established. We report that platinum-containing anticancer drugs such as CBDCA may be effective against synchronous double cancers of HCC and lung cancer.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with carcinomatous lymphangitis of the lung treated with docetaxel and S-1 combination chemotherapy].

A 67-year-old woman with complaints of cough and dyspnea was admitted; her chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed pulmonary carcinomatous lymphangitis. Endoscopic examination revealed advanced gastric cancer and the patient was treated with a combination of 40 mg/m2 docetaxel, administered on day 1, and S-1 100 mg/body/day, administered for 14 days followed by a 7-day interval, as 1 course despite her performance status( PS) being grade 3. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, CT showed that the carcinomatous lymphangitis had improved, and the patient was discharged with PS of grade 0. We report that combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and S-1 might be effective for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer with carcinomatous lymphangitis of the lung in patients with a poor systemic condition.

Gene expression profiling of epidermal growth factor receptor/KRAS pathway activation in lung adenocarcinoma.

We examined the genome-wide expression profiles of 86 primary lung adenocarcinomas and compared them with the mutation status of the four key molecules (EGFR, ERBB2, KRAS and BRAF) in the EGFR/KRAS/BRAF pathway. Unsupervised classification revealed two subtypes (the bronchial type and the alveolar type) of lung adenocarcinoma. Mutually exclusive somatic mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene (36/86, 41.8%), K-ras gene (11/86, 12.8%) and BRAF gene (1/86, 1.1%) were detected. KRAS mutations were observed significantly frequently in bronchial-type tumors, whereas the frequencies of EGFR mutations were similar in both the alveolar and bronchial types. Twenty-seven genes showed increased expression in EGFR-mutated tumors and these included molecules that function in the EGFR/KRAS/BRAF pathway (EGFR, AKT1 and BCR). In particular, expression of BCR, which is required for EGFR protein degradation, was induced by EGF stimulation, suggesting a negative feedback loop in lung cancer. A subgroup of the alveolar type tumors showed significantly better prognosis than other tumors. Integrated analysis of genetic and gene expression profiling aimed to delineate inherent oncogenic pathways in cancer will be valuable not only for the understanding of molecular pathogenesis, but also for discovering novel biomarkers and predicting clinical outcome.

Gene transfer of Smad7 using electroporation of adenovirus prevents renal fibrosis in post-obstructed kidney.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) leads to interstitial fibrosis of the obstructed kidney, and TGF-beta is considered to play an important role in this fibrotic process. Smad7 has been recently identified as an antagonist of TGF-beta signaling. To investigate whether this novel molecule can be exploited for therapy of renal fibrosis, we determined the effect of exogenous Smad7, introduced by a recombinant adenovirus vector combined with in vivo electroporation (EP), on UUO-induced renal fibrosis in rats. METHODS: A model of UUO was made in SD rats by ligating their left ureters. The next day, the rats were divided into four groups and adenovirus was injected into the extended pelvic space (two groups received AdCMV-LacZ and two groups received AdCMV-Smad7). Then, EP was performed in one group of AdCMV-LacZ-injected rats and one group of AdCMV-Smad7-injected rats. The renal tissues were obtained 3, 5, 10, and 14 days after the UUO operation. We detected the efficiency of transgene by immunoblots of renal cortical and medullary tissues and immunohistochemical studies for Smad7 and FLAG (the FLAG gene was introduced in the AdCMV-Smad7 as a marker). The renal fibrosis was monitored by histological scoring of Masson stainings. RESULTS: In immunoblotting, both Smad7 and FLAG were clearly detected in the renal medullary tissue of the rats given AdCMV-Smad7 with EP. In contrast, immunoblots of renal cortical tissue did not demonstrate positive bands. In immunohistological study, Smad7 was stained in the renal medulla in the rats given AdCMV-Smad7 with EP. In the rats given AdCMV-Smad7 without EP, only a weak signal was detected in renal medullary tissue. The rats given AdCMV-Smad7 with EP demonstrated significantly more suppression of renal fibrosis than rats treated with AdCMV-LacZ. The rats treated with AdCMV-Smad7 without EP did not demonstrate significant suppression of renal fibrosis. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that gene transfer of Smad7 prevents UUO-induced renal fibrosis, suggesting that Smad7 may be applicable for the treatment of renal fibrosis. In vivo electroporation of adenovirus may be a powerful tool for gene delivery in renal tissue.