Functional insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) hormone-receptor system in the testes and spermatozoa of domestic ruminants and its potential as a predictor of sire fertility.

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is essential for fetal testis descent, and has been implicated in the testicular and sperm functions in adult males; however, similar functions in domestic ruminants remain largely unknown. This study investigated the functional INSL3 hormone-receptor system in adult ruminant testes and spermatozoa, and explored its potential to diagnose the fertility of sires. Testes and spermatozoa were obtained from fertile bulls, rams and he-goats, whereas subfertile testes and spermatozoa were obtained only from bulls.

Notch2 integrates signaling by the transcription factors RBP-J and CREB1 to promote T cell cytotoxicity.

The acquisition of cytotoxic effector function by CD8(+) T cells is crucial for the control of intracellular infection and tumor invasion. However, it remains unclear which signaling pathways are required for the differentiation of CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We show here that Notch2-deficient T cells had impaired differentiation into cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Phase II study of weekly paclitaxel for relapsed and refractory small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of single-agent paclitaxel given weekly to patients with relapsed and refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients were treated with 80 mg/m2 paclitaxel administered weekly for 1 h for 6 weeks in an 8-week cycle. Twenty-two patients were enrolled, 21 of whom were eligible.

Regulation of acquired immune system by notch signaling.

T- and B-cells are generated from hematopoietic stem cells through lymphoid intermediates. The interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic signals determines cell fate at the branch point for T- and B-cell lineages and at the post-commitment stage of lymphogenesis. The mature lymphocytes differentiate into effector/memory cells by antigen recognition, and those differentiation steps are also governed by a series of cell fate choices and survival signals, which allows cells to acquire distinct effector functions.

Oblique approach of computed tomography guided needle biopsy using multiplanar reconstruction image by multidetector-row CT in lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to establish the technique of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) with multidetector-row (MDR) computed tomography (CT) guided needle biopsy for the diagnosis to access very difficult lesions. The CT guided percutaneous biopsy are well-established methods to obtain cytological and histological material such as the peripheral tumors in lung cancer. Occasionally, the conventional CT cannot permit planning a trajectory to avoid passage through bones, avoidance of bullae, fissures or vessels.