BACKGROUND: To evaluate the expression of multiple molecular markers involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in human muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BC) and to assess the therapeutic efficacies of mTOR inhibitors in human BC KoTCC-1 cells. METHODS: Expression levels of 5 markers, including PTEN, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, p-mTOR, p-p70 ribosomal S6 kinase, and p-4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), were measured in radical cystectomy specimens from 49 patients with muscle-invasive BC by immunohistochemical staining. We then analyzed the effects of treatment with temsirolimus or Ku-0063794, a dual inhibitor of mTOR complex 1 (C1) and mTOR complex 2 (C2), on changes in the growth and expression profiles of 5 mTOR-associated markers in KoTCC-1 cells. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of this study, disease recurred in 27 patients (55.1%), and of several factors examined, the expression level of p-4E-BP1 in addition to the pathological T stage was independently related to recurrence-free survival on multivariate analysis. Although the growth of KoTCC-1 cells was inhibited by both temsirolimus and Ku-0063794 in dose-dependent manners, treatment with Ku-0063794 resulted in a marked decrease in the expression of p-4E-BP1 in KoTCC-1 cells compared with that with temsirolimus. Furthermore, the growth-inhibitory effect of both mTOR inhibitors was shown to be proportional to the expression levels of p-4E-BP1. CONCLUSIONS: The phosphorylation status of 4E-BP1 appeared to be correlated with the prognosis of patients with muscle-invasive BC following radical cystectomy as well as the sensitivities of BC cells to mTOR inhibitors; therefore, the inactivation of 4E-BP1 using Ku-0063794 may be a promising novel approach for muscle-invasive BC.

The treatment failure often happens in overactive bladder (OAB) partly owing to its unknown pathogenesis. The purpose of this study is to find significant receptors or biological markers for OAB-related symptoms for establishment of potential order-made therapeutic strategies. The overactive bladder symptom scores (OABSS) and international prostate symptom scores (IPSS)/quality of life (QOL) were questioned in all the 18 patients with OAB diagnosis. Their bladder mucosal tissues were taken from the random biopsy of bladder cancer suspected patients without any finding such as inflammation or carcinoma in situ. They were investigated quantitatively by immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings for inflammatory or immune-system (Interleukin (IL)-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)), Caspase-3 apoptosis markers, angiogenesis (CD-31), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (E-cadherin) and muscarinic receptor (Muscarine-2 (M)-2), adrenergic receptors (ARs) (alpha 1-d (α1-d) and beta-3 (β-3)). The statistical correlation between the expressions of these 5 markers and 3 receptors and these symptom scores were examined under the comparison between OAB patients and control patients who had urgency score with less than 2 in OABSS. The OABSS and IPSS/QOL was 7.39 ± 2.69 and 21.2 ± 6.59/4.33 ± 1.33, respectively but those of control patients were 2.00 ± 1.41 and 10.1 ± 9.52/2.14 ± 1.46, respectively (P0.05). Regarding the correlation of those markers' expressions and symptom scores, in OAB patients, OABSS total significantly correlated with β-3 AR expressions (P=0.0457). IPSS post-voiding significantly correlated with β-3 AR expressions (P=0.0308) but no significant relationship in control patients (P>0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that β-3 AR in our tested 8 markers or receptors was correlated strongly with OAB-related symptoms. These data may help elucidate the pathophysiology of OAB and offer possible strategy for its order-made therapies.

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Oocysts of C. muris and the events of excystation using 0.5% sodium hypochlorite as excystation medium were described with light microscope. The response of the immunocompetent BALB/c mice against infection was studied using sera of orally infected mice at different periods postinoculation by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test using 1:150 FITC conjugated rabbit serum antimouse polyclonal IgG. From the patterns of IFAT, it was suggested that the dominant antigen in C. muris was restricted to the apical complex of the sporozoites. Such antigen may play a role in the invasion of the host cell. Future analysis of such receptor molecules might constitute prime candidates as immunogens for a vaccine, the efficiency of which might cause inhibition of parasite invasion.

In the present study, wes adapted for detection of infection in snail by ELISA TEST , previously shown by us to be very sensitive for detecting cercariae in water, for the sensitive detection of Schistosoma mansoni abs in infected snails from early prepatency. Polymerase chain reaction primers were designed based on the

Abstract A double antibody sandwich ELISA technique, using a chromatography purified antisera against E. histolytica, G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium antigens, was applied to detect copro-antigens of the corrosponding parasites in 90 patients. All positive cases were diagnosed by parasitological examination and proved to have the infection solely. Beside the 90 positive cases, 40 age-matched controls were included in the study, of which 20 individuals were infected with other parasites but not Cryptosporidium, E. histolytica or G. lamblia (acted as an infected control group) and the other 20 individuals with no intestinal parasites (normal control group). The assay could detect 100% of those infected with both of G. lamblia and E. histolytica and 96.6% (29/30) of patients with Cryptosporidium infection. False positive reactions were detected in 3 cases using G. lamblia antisera (92.5%), 5 cases using E. histolytica antisera (87.5%) and 2 cases using Cryptosporidium antisera (95%). A direct increase in the mean antigen level was observed with the increasing intensity of infection in the 3 parasites, so higher mean O.D. readings was observed in heavily infected cases than moderately infected cases than lighter intensity of infection. Only those in elder age group (> 20 years) infected with E. histolytica were found to have statistically higher O.D. readings of the antigen than middle age group (10-20 years). On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was observed between different age groups and antigen level in cases with either G. lamblia or Cryptosporidium.

Abstract Stool examination using modified Kato thick smear method was performed to detect Fasciola eggs and other parasites. Abdominal pain was the major presenting symptom (87.7%) followed by pallor (83.3%) and fever (16.7%). Anaemia and hepatomegaly were recorded in 77.7% of patients compared to 27.7% with splenomegaly. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed hepatomegaly and common bile duct dilatation in 77.7% of patients. Moreover, 5 cases showed diagnostic. Olympic game rings All patients had positive IgG4 levels, 55 cases were positive for specific total IgG and IgG1, whereas, only 24 cases had positive IgG2 levels (26.6%). All negative control group showed no cross reactions. On the other hand, ELISA detecting IgG4 showed the highest specificity (95%), followed by IgG2 (85%) and the least specific test was obtained with detection of IgG (70%) and IgG1 (65%). One month after treatment, 91.1% of patients (82/90) were completely cured and even after another two months follow-up. In completely cured patients none of anti-Fasciola isotypes was significantly changed. So, detection of anti-Fasciola isotypes especially IgG4 is very specific for the accurate diagnosis of human fascioliasis.

Modified agglutination test (MAT) was applied to 150 chicken sera (90 were farm-bred and 60 house-bred chickens). The prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was 18.7%. In house-bred chickens positive cases were 18 out of 60 (30.0%), while in farm-bred chickens positive cases were 10 out of 90 (11.1%). Histopathological sections of the seropositive chickens showed tissue lesions which were most likely to be induced by T. gondii. Tissue cysts of T. gondii were demonstrated in the liver, brain, heart and skeletal muscles of 22 (78.6%) out of 28 positive chickens. These tissue cysts were found mostly in the brain of seropositive chickens. Epidemiological implications of these data for public health significance were discussed.

Modified agglutination test (MAT) was applied to 150 chicken sera (90 were farm-bred and 60 house-bred chickens). The prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was 18.7%. In house-bred chickens positive cases were 18 out of 60 (30.0%), while in farm-bred chickens positive cases were 10 out of 90 (11.1%). Histopathological sections of the seropositive chickens showed tissue lesions which were most likely to be induced by T. gondii. Tissue cysts of T. gondii were demonstrated in the liver, brain, heart and skeletal muscles of 22 (78.6%) out of 28 positive chickens. These tissue cysts were found mostly in the brain of seropositive chickens. Epidemiological implications of these data for public health significance were discussed.