β2-microglobulin measurement with dried urine spots for congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract screening in 3-year-old children.

Background: Screening using dipstick urinalysis has long been performed in 3-year-old children; however, it is ineffective in detecting congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Measurement of the urinary β2-microglobulin (β2MG)/creatinine (Cr) ratio may be more effective for this purpose. Analysis of dried urine spots (DUS) on filter paper is suitable for mass screening since operational costs are low and samples are easy to collect and transport.

Evidence for genetically influenced caste determination in phylogenetically diverse species of the termite genus Reticulitermes.

A number of social insect species have recently been shown to have genetically influenced caste determination (GCD), challenging the conventional view that caste determination should be strictly environmental. To date, GCD has been found in phylogenetically isolated species; examples of GCD being present in multiple species of a genus are lacking. Through crossing experiments of neotenic (juvenile) reproductives, we have recently provided the first evidence for a royal versus worker GCD in the termite Reticulitermes speratus.

Chronic obstructive pancreatitis due to tiny (0.6 to 8 mm) benign tumors obstructing pancreatic ducts: report of three cases.

Three cases of obstructive pancreatitis are described in nonalcoholic women aged 56 to 58 years with a 2-month to 5-year history of recurrent attacks of pancreatic pain associated with intermittent raised serum pancreatic enzymes. The diagnosis was made by sonography showing an enlarged hyperechogenic tail of the pancreas, with a dilated duct, the rest of the pancreas being normal, and by ERCP showing a partial stenosis of the main pancreatic duct with regular dilatation of collateral branches distally to it. Surgical resection of the pancreatic tail cured all three patients.