Mercury and selenium concentrations in lanugo of free-ranging California sea lions in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico.

Total mercury ([THg]) and selenium ([TSe]) concentrations were determined in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lanugo from the Gulf of California in 2021 and 2022. Relationships with sex, morphometrics, and year were evaluated. Following toxicological thresholds of concern for piscivorous mammals, most pups had a [THg] < 10 ppm, one pup (2021) had a [THg] > 20 ppm, no pups had a [THg] > 30 ppm. Females had significantly higher [TSe] than males; sex did not influence [THg]. [THg] and [TSe] in 2022 were significantly higher in the general population and male cohorts compared to 2021. Significant negative correlations were observed between [THg], [TSe], and morphometrics (2021). These results indicate that, compared to other pinniped species, regional California sea lions may have a decreased likelihood of experiencing Hg-related adverse health effects. Year-related changes in element concentrations suggest continued monitoring of this population to assess pinniped, environmental, and potentially, human health.

Expressions of PD-L1 and Nectin-4 in urothelial cancer patients treated with pembrolizumab.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, the standard of care for advanced urothelial cancer (UC) has been changed by developing immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, its response rate is limited to 20-30%. The identification of biomarkers to predict the therapeutic effects of ICIs is urgently needed. The present study explored the association between immunohistochemical biomarkers and clinical outcomes in UC patients treated with pembrolizumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 85 patients with UC who received pembrolizumab after chemotherapy from January 2018 to May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor tissues were obtained for immunohistochemical study from 47 out of 85 patients. The protein expressions of PD-L1, WT1, Nectin-4, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, and CD68 in tumor cells and/or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were immunohistochemically examined. The associations between protein expressions and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rate (DCR) were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with positive PD-L1 in tumor cells showed significantly worse OS (Log-rank test: HR 5.146, p = 0.001, Cox regression analysis: HR 4.331, p = 0.014) and PFS (Log-rank test: HR 3.31. p = 0.022), along with significantly lower DCR (14.3%) compared to the PD-L1 negative patients (67.5%). In addition, patients with strong expression of Nectin-4 in tumor cells showed significantly higher DCR (100%) than the other patients (50%). CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was associated with poor prognosis (OS and PFS) and low DCR. Interestingly, the strong expression of Nectin-4 was correlated with high DCR. PD-L1 and Nectin-4 expression in tumor cells could be prognostic biomarkers useful for pembrolizumab in patients with advanced UC.

Trace Elements in Tissues of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) Stranded in the Gulf of California, Mexico.

Concentration of essential (Se, Zn and Cu) and non-essential (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) trace elements were measured in selected tissues of two dead whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) stranded in the Gulf of California (GC) in 2017 and 2018. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the skeletal muscle of the whale shark from La Paz Bay, GC were higher compared to a previous study on whale shark from China. The shark from La Paz Bay also presented higher concentration of Pb in the epidermis, compared to the same tissue of the other whale shark stranded in Punta Bufeo, GC. The Hg in all analysed tissues was lower than those documented in carnivorous sharks. Molar ratio Se:Hg shows an excess of Se over Hg in all the tissues sampled in both sharks.

Evaluación de los métodos de Graham y pin tape en el diagnóstico de Enterobius vermicularis / Assessment of Graham and pin tape methods for diagnosing Enterobius vermicularis infection

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el método de pin tape (PT) respecto al método de Graham (MG) para el diagnóstico e intensidad de infección por E. vermicularis en niños. Se obtuvieron 250 muestras de 125 niños de ambos sexos, comprendidos entre 3 y 13 años de edad. Con el método de Graham se tuvo una prevalencia de 47 por ciento y con el pin tape 33,6 por ciento, asimismo, se detectó mayor intensidad de infección (número de huevos por lámina) con el MG que con el PT. La sensibilidad del PT respecto al MG fue de 71 por ciento, especificidad de 100 por ciento y concordancia (Kappa) 0,72. Se recomienda el uso del método de Graham respecto al pin tape, debido a que el método de Graham resulta más práctico, tiene mayor sensibilidad y detecta mayor número de huevos por lámina.

The objective of this study was to compare the pin tape (PT) method with the Graham method (GM) for diagnosing the intensity of E. vermicularis infection in children. 250 samples from 125 children both sexes were obtained and the children were between 3 to 13 years old. Using Graham method, the prevalence was 47 per cent, and using the pin tape method, it was 33.6 per cent. Also, a greater intensity of the infection (number of eggs per slide) was detected using GM compared to PT. PT sensitivity compared to that of GM was 71 per cent, its specificity was 100 per cent, and concordance (Kappa) was 0,72. We recommend using Graham method rather than pin tape method, since the first one is more practical, ithas greater sensibility, and it is capable of detecting more parasite eggs per slide.

Rapid somatic growth after birth in children with neuroblastoma: A survey of 1718 patients with childhood cancer in Kyushu-Okinawa district.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of somatic growth from birth through diagnosis with the development of childhood cancer. METHODS: The weights and heights of 1718 children with cancers were determined and converted into standard deviation (SD) scores, both at birth and at diagnosis, by using the means and SD values of the general population. RESULTS: Among patients with neuroblastoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the percentages of children with body weight and height over mean + 2 SDs were significantly higher at diagnosis than the expected value in the general population. The percentage of children with neuroblastoma and body weight over mean + 2 SD increased significantly from birth through diagnosis (P =.04). Although the medians of weight SD scores decreased from birth through diagnosis in patients with representative cancers except for neuroblastoma, the value significantly increased in patients with neuroblastoma diagnosed before 1 year of age (P =.03), especially in those whose cancer was detected by mass screening at 6 months of age (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid somatic growth from birth through diagnosis in patients with neuroblastoma diagnosed before 1 year of age suggests a possible involvement of certain growth factors in these patients.

Classification of chronic granulomatous disease on the basis of monoclonal antibody-defined surface cytochrome b deficiency.

Flow cytometric quantitative analysis of cytochrome b on outer surface membrane and of oxidative product formation in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) from patients with chronic granulomatous disease was carried out with the use of monoclonal antibody against cytochrome b of human neutrophils and 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Cytochrome b was present on the outer surface membrane of PMNLs in normal individuals, and its absence on the outer surface membrane was of value in the diagnosis and classification of chronic granulomatous disease. This study has shown that a major type of chronic granulomatous disease is one of the monoclonal antibody-defined surface membrane diseases.