These results suggest that BcMF11, as a non-coding RNA, plays an essential role in pollen development and male fertility.”
“OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of renal ultrasonography

(USG) in predicting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with mild renal scarring determined by dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy performed after attack of urinary tract infections (UTI).\n\nMETHODS Dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and renal USG findings were evaluated retrospectively in children with UTI. Each kidney was evaluated as a separate renal unit (RU). RUs with severe scarring were excluded from the study. RUs having see more mild scarring with and without abnormal USG findings (group 1 and group 2, respectively) were compared in terms of the presence of

VUR.\n\nRESULTS There were a total of 228 patients (70 men, mean age 47.06 +/- 44.14 months) and 456 RUs. Of the 185 RUs with mild scarring, 55 had abnormal USG findings (group 1), whereas 130 had normal USG findings (group 2). The rates of VUR and severe VUR (>= grade 4) were higher in group 1 compared with group 2 (69% vs 43%, P = .001 and 35% vs 7% respectively, P <.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and odds ratio of USG findings selleckchem in predicting VUR in RU with mild scarring were 68%, 80%, 38%, 93%, and 8.2, respectively.\n\nCONCLUSION Normal renal USG findings exclude a diagnosis of high- grade VUR to a large extend in children with UTI and mild renal scarring. Refraining from invasive VCUG might be a reasonable approach in these patients provided that no other predisposing factors for UTI and/or renal scarring present. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc.”
“This article provides an overview of the current knowledge relating to the potential use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)

acting as immunosuppressants after liver transplantation. Clinical use of BM-MSCs in liver transplantation remains experimental, as there is uncertainty as to their mechanism of action, conflicting studies in animal models, and the possibility LY2090314 of their cellular fusion with hepatocytes leading to potentially genetically unstable hepatocytes. These obstacles, to their underuse, have been decreasing, and BM-MSCs have elicited great interest for possible use in solid organ transplantation. Bone marrow-derived-MSCs, when transplanted systemically, might positively influence grafted organ outcome through cell-cell contact or the secretion of soluble factors that are immunomodulatory. Thus, the use of BM-MSCs to modulate organ rejection may directly or indirectly influence the survival properties of transplanted livers. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.