Caspase 9-induced apoptosis enables efficient fetal cell ablation and disease modeling.

Fetal cell ablation models are crucial for studying congenital diseases, organ regeneration, and xenotransplantation. However, conventional knockout models offer limited control over disease severity, while conditional ablation models often require fetus-harming inducers. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inducible caspase 9 system enables precise targeting of fetal nephron progenitor cells in mice through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

Fetal-to-fetal kidney transplantation in utero.

Potter sequence consists of various symptoms associated with renal dysplasia. For bilateral renal agenesis, there is no hope of survival. As a novel therapeutic approach for Potter sequence, we develop a unique approach of "transplantation of fetal kidneys from a different species during the fetal stage.

Maturation and development of fetal pig intestinal tissue in immunodeficient mice.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the degree of maturation and development of fetal pig segmental intestinal tissue with that of spheroids created by in-vitro reaggregation of dissociated fetal intestinal cells after transplantation into immunodeficient mice.

Methods: Fetal pig small intestines were transplanted as segmental grafts into the omentum and subrenal capsules of immunodeficient mice or enzymatically treated to generate single cells. Spheroids made by in-vitro reaggregation of these cells were transplanted into the subrenal capsules of immunodeficient mice.

Long-term viable chimeric nephrons generated from progenitor cells are a reliable model in cisplatin-induced toxicity.

Kidney organoids have shown promise as evaluation tools, but their in vitro maturity remains limited. Transplantation into adult mice has aided in maturation; however, their lack of urinary tract connection limits long-term viability. Thus, long-term viable generated nephrons have not been demonstrated.

Evaluation of the ability of human induced nephron progenitor cells to form chimeric renal organoids using mouse embryonic renal progenitor cells.

The number of patients with end-stage renal failure is increasing annually worldwide and the problem is compounded by a shortage of renal transplantation donors. In our previous research, we have shown that transplantation of renal progenitor cells into the nephrogenic region of heterologous fetuses can induce the development of nephrons. We have also developed transgenic mice in which specific renal progenitor cells can be removed by drugs.

Cryopreservation of Fetal Porcine Kidneys for Xenogeneic Regenerative Medicine.

Kidney xenotransplantation has been attracting attention as a treatment option for end-stage renal disease. Fetal porcine kidneys are particularly promising grafts because they can reduce rejection through vascularization from host vessels. We are proposing xenogeneic regenerative medicine using fetal porcine kidneys injected with human nephron progenitor cells.

Experience with enteral sulfonylurea monotherapy for extremely low birth weight infants with hyperglycemia.

Limited data are available on the effects of enteral sulfonylurea (SU) monotherapy in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) with hyperglycemia. Therefore, we report our experience with enteral SU monotherapy for hyperglycemic ELBWIs. We retrospectively evaluated 11 hyperglycemic ELBWIs (seven male infants, median gestational age = 24.

Risk factors for hyperglycemia in extremely low birth weight infants during the first 14 days.

Background: There are limited data regarding the risk factors for hyperglycemia in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs). The aim of this observational study was to investigate the incidence of hyperglycemia among ELBWIs during the first 14 days of life and identify independent risk factors for hyperglycemia development.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 55 ELBWIs (32 male infants) between January 2015 and March 2020.

Characterization of a Small Supernumerary Marker Chromosome Derived from Xq28 and 14q11.2 Detected Prenatally.

We present the characterization of a case with a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) detected prenatally derived from Xq28 and 14q11.2 maternal translocation. A 33-year-old Japanese woman, primigravida, underwent amniocentesis because of fetal growth restriction and fetal structural abnormality at 30 weeks of gestation.

[Maternal Crohn's disease-related vitamin B12 deficient megaloblastic anemia in an infant].

We report an 11-month-old breast-fed boy with feeding difficulties, lethargy, and developmental delay. Blood examination showed pancytopenia and decreased serum levels of vitamin B12. Anisocytosis and poikilocytes were detected in his peripheral blood, and increased megaloblastosis without leukemic cells was detected in his bone marrow.