Optimization of culture-preservation methods to maintain developmental competence in porcine MII oocytes post-IVM.

After in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes, those that matured to the metaphase II (MII) stage were selected for further culture over a period of 24-48 h. Subsequently, these oocytes were either parthenogenetically activated or used for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to evaluate their in vitro developmental competence. Parthenogenetically activated MII oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage after 42 h of continuous culture, whereas SCNT oocytes reached the blastocyst stage within 30 h of culture.

Caspases downregulate nickel and hydrogen peroxide-induced IL-8 production via modification of c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

Nickel (Ni) is a typical hapten in allergic contact dermatitis. However, it has been used in various metal materials due to its usefulness. Although Ni ions induce apoptosis of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), the effects of the apoptotic pathway on the signaling that induces cytokine production have not been sufficiently clarified.

Biological Evaluation of Isosteric Applicability of 1,3-Substituted Cuneanes as m-Substituted Benzenes Enabled by Selective Isomerization of 1,4-Substituted Cubanes.

We herein evaluate a biological applicability of 1,3-substituted cuneanes as an isostere of m-substituted benzenes based on its structural similarity. An investigation of a method to obtain 1,3-substituted cuneanes by selective isomerization of 1,4-substituted cubanes enables this attempt by giving a key synthetic step to obtain a cuneane analogs of pharmaceuticals having m-substituted benzene moiety. Biological evaluation of the synthesized analogs and in silico study of the obtained result revealed a potential usage of cuneane skeleton in medicinal chemistry.

Efficacy of Intravesical Instillation Therapy with Low-Dose Tokyo-172 Bacillus Calmette-Guérin to Prevent Recurrence of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer and Treat Carcinoma in situ: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study.

Introduction: There are various doses, durations, and strains of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical instillation therapy, but optimal treatment has not yet been established. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of low-dose BCG therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) in a multicenter study.

Methods: From 1991 to 2019, 323 patients who received BCG therapy to prevent recurrence of NMIBC were analyzed as group A.

Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Previously Treated with Nephroureterectomy Have a High Risk of Recurrence after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Intravesical Instillation Therapy.

Background: There is a high incidence of intravesical recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is widely used to prevent recurrence and progression. There are two types of NMIBC: primary NMIBC and subsequent NMIBC after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).