Gastric cancer is the second most frequent cancer in the world, accounting for a large proportion of all cancer cases in Asia, Latin America, and some countries in Europe. Helicobacter pylori（H pylori） is regarded a...Gastric cancer is the second most frequent cancer in the world, accounting for a large proportion of all cancer cases in Asia, Latin America, and some countries in Europe. Helicobacter pylori（H pylori） is regarded as playing a specific role in the development of atrophic gastritis, which represents the most recognized pathway in multistep intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis. Recent studies suggest that a combination of host genetic factors, bacterial virulence factors, and environmental and lifestyle factors determine the severity of gastric damage and the eventual clinical outcome of H pylori infection. The seminal discovery of Hpylori as the leading cause of gastric cancer should lead to effective eradication strategies. Prevention of gastric cancer requires better screening strategies to identify candidates for eradication.展开更多
Although gastric cancer(GC)is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death,major therapeutic advances have not been made,and patients with GC still face poor outcomes.The prognosis of GC also remains poor because...Although gastric cancer(GC)is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death,major therapeutic advances have not been made,and patients with GC still face poor outcomes.The prognosis of GC also remains poor because the molecular mechanisms of GC progression are incompletely understood.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are noncoding RNAs that are associated with gastric carcinogenesis.Studies investigating the regulation of gene expression by miRNAs have made considerable progress in recent years,and abnormalities in miRNA expression have been shown to be associated with the occurrence and progression of GC.miRNAs contribute to gastric carcinogenesis by altering the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors,affecting cell proliferation,apoptosis,motility,and invasion.Moreover,a number of miRNAs have been shown to be associated with tumor type,tumor stage,and patient survival and therefore may be developed as novel diagnostic or prognostic markers.In this review,we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in GC and the mechanisms through which they regulate gene expression and biological functions.Then,we review recent research on the involvement of miRNAs in GC prognosis,their potential use in chemotherapy,and their effects on Helicobacter pylori infections in GC.A greater understanding of the roles of miRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis could provide insights into the mechanisms of tumor development and could help to identify novel therapeutic targets.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the reasons for the occurrence of the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions. METHODS:In chromoendoscopy, the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions is recognized as useful for the diagnos...AIM:To investigate the reasons for the occurrence of the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions. METHODS:In chromoendoscopy, the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions is recognized as useful for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with superficial esophageal neoplasms treated by endoscopic resection were included in the study. Areas of mucosa with and without the pink-color sign were evaluated histologically. The following histologic features that were possibly associated with the pinkcolor sign were evaluated. The keratinous layer and basal cell layer were classified as present or absent. Cellular atypia was classified as high grade, moderate grade or low grade, based on nuclear irregularity, mitotic figures, loss of polarity, chromatin pattern and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Vascular change was assessed based on dilatation, tortuosity, caliber change and variability in shape. Vessels with these four findings were classified as positive for vascular change. Endoscopic images of the lesions were captured immediately after iodine staining, 2-3 min after iodine staining and after complete fading of iodine staining. Quantitative analysis of color changes after iodine staining was also performed. RESULTS:A total of 61 superficial esophageal neoplasms in 54 patients were included in the study. The lesions were located in the cervical esophagus in one case, the upper thoracic esophagus in 10 cases, the mid-thoracic esophagus in 33 cases, and the lower thoracic esophagus in 17 cases. The median diameter of the lesions was 20 mm (range:2-74 mm). Of the 61 lesions, 28 were classified as pink-color sign positive and 33 as pink-color sign negative. The histologic diagnosis was high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or cancer invading into the lamina propria in 26 of the 28 pink-color sign positive lesions. There was a significant association between pink-color sign positive epithelium and HGIN or invasive cancer (P = 0.0001). Univariate analyses found that absence of the keratinous l展开更多
Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)play important roles in bone metabolism.Smad ubiquitination regulatory factors(Smurfs)regulate TGF-β/BMP signaling via ubiquitination,resulting ...Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)play important roles in bone metabolism.Smad ubiquitination regulatory factors(Smurfs)regulate TGF-β/BMP signaling via ubiquitination,resulting in degradation of signaling molecules to prevent excessive activation of TGF-β/BMP signaling.Though Smurf2 has been shown to negatively regulate TGF-β/Smad signaling,its involvement in BMP/Smad signaling in bone metabolism has not been thoroughly investigated.In the present study,we sought to evaluate the role of Smurf2 in BMP/Smad signaling in bone metabolism.Absorbable collagen sponges containing 3μg of recombinant human BMP2(rhBMP2)were implanted in the dorsal muscle pouches of wild type(WT)and Smurf2−/−mice.The rhBMP2-induced ectopic bone in Smurf2−/−mice showed greater bone mass,higher mineral apposition and bone formation rates,and greater osteoblast numbers than the ectopic bone in WT mice.In WT mice,the ectopic bone consisted of a thin discontinuous outer cortical shell and scant inner trabecular bone.In contrast,in Smurf2−/−mice,the induced bone consisted of a thick,continuous outer cortical shell and abundant inner trabecular bone.Additionally,rhBMP2-stimulated bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)from Smurf2−/−mice showed increased osteogenic differentiation.Smurf2 induced the ubiquitination of Smad1/5.BMP/Smad signaling was enhanced in Smurf2−/−BMSCs stimulated with rhBMP2,and the inhibition of BMP/Smad signaling suppressed osteogenic differentiation of these BMSCs.These findings demonstrate that Smurf2 negatively regulates BMP/Smad signaling,thereby identifying a new regulatory mechanism in bone metabolism.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the 5-lipoxygenases (Loxs) expression level in human colorectal cancer specimens in order to determine its clinicopathologic significance in human tumorigenesis. METHODS: The relative quantity of 5-Lo...AIM: To evaluate the 5-lipoxygenases (Loxs) expression level in human colorectal cancer specimens in order to determine its clinicopathologic significance in human tumorigenesis. METHODS: The relative quantity of 5-Lox mRNA in paired 91 colorectal tumor and adjacent normal mucosa samples was determined by real time quantitative PCR. Additionally, the expression of 5-Lox and cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 proteins was also examined using immunohistochemical staining methods. RESULTS: There was a marked increase in 5-Lox mRNA levels in the tumor compared with paired normal mucosa samples (P < 0.0001). Sixty six (72.5%) tumors showed high 5-Lox mRNA levels. The positivity rate of 5-Lox and Cox-2 protein expression was 68.7% and 79.1% respectively. There was a significant association between tumoral 5-Lox mRNA level and tumor size (Rho = 0.392, P = 0.0002), depth or vessel invasion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 5-Lox is up-regulated in colorectal cancer and that inhibition of its expression might be valuable in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.展开更多
This study experimentally explores the flow around a cylinder with circular cross-section placed inside a bubble plume. Small gas bubbles with diameter smaller than 0.06 mm are released from electrodes on the bottom o...This study experimentally explores the flow around a cylinder with circular cross-section placed inside a bubble plume. Small gas bubbles with diameter smaller than 0.06 mm are released from electrodes on the bottom of a water tank by electrolysis of water. The bubbles induce water flow around them as they rise because of buoyancy. Inside the generated bubble plume, a cylinder with diameter D of 30 mm is placed at 6.5D above the electrodes. The bubbles and water flow around the cylinder are visualized, and the bubble velocity distribution is measured. The experiments elucidate the bubble behavior around the cylinder, the separated shear layers originating at the cylinder surface, their roll-up, the bubble entrainment in the resultant large-scale eddies behind the cylinder, and the vortex shedding from the cylinder.展开更多
Hyaluronan is a widely occurring extracellular matrix molecule,which is not only a supporting structural component,but also an active regulator of cellular functions.The chemophysical and biological properties of hyal...Hyaluronan is a widely occurring extracellular matrix molecule,which is not only a supporting structural component,but also an active regulator of cellular functions.The chemophysical and biological properties of hyaluronan are greatly affected by its molecular size and several hyaluronan-binding proteins,making hyaluronan a fascinating molecule with great functional diversity.This review summarizes our current understanding of the roles of hyaluronan in cardiovascular and nervous system disorders,such as atherosclerosis,myocardial infarction,and stroke,with the aim to provide a foundation for future research and clinical trials.展开更多
An anastomotic leak is one of the major complications following colorectal surgery.Standard treatments for anastomotic leak are total parenteral nutrition or temporary ileostomy.The over-the-scope-clipping(OTSC)system...An anastomotic leak is one of the major complications following colorectal surgery.Standard treatments for anastomotic leak are total parenteral nutrition or temporary ileostomy.The over-the-scope-clipping(OTSC)system was originally developed to treat intestinal perforation or to close the tissue after natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.Two cases of successful management of an anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery using the OTSC system are reported.One patient avoided a temporary ileostomy.In the other,hospitalization was shortened by the use of the OTSC system.The OTSC system can be a potential option in the management of anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate long-term prognosis following cyclosporine treatment by examining the rate of surgery avoidance among cyclosporine responders.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records for 29 patients diag...AIM: To evaluate long-term prognosis following cyclosporine treatment by examining the rate of surgery avoidance among cyclosporine responders.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records for 29 patients diagnosed with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis in our hospital from August 1997 to August 2008 and treated with cyclosporine by continuous intravenous infusion.All patients were treated with intravenous corticosteroids for more than 5 d prior to cyclosporine therapy.Administration was continued for up to 21 d under serum monitoring to maintain cyclosporine levels between 400 and 600 ng/mL.Clinical activity was assessed before and after cyclosporine therapy using the clinical activity index score,with a reduction of ≥ 5 considered to indicate a response.Among responders,we defined cases not requiring surgery for more than 5 years as exhibiting long-term efficacy of cyclosporine.Factors considered to be possibly predictive of long-term efficacy of cyclosporine were sex,age,disease duration,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,disease extent,endoscopic findings,and clinical course.RESULTS: Cyclosporine was not discontinued due to side effects in any patient.Nineteen(65.5%) of 29 patients were considered responders.A statistically significant(P = 0.004) inverseas sociation wa s observed between an endoscopic finding of "mucosal bleeding" and responsive cases.Fifteen(9 males,6 females) of these 19 patients were followed for 5 years or more,of whom 9(60%) exhibited long-termefficacy of cyclosporine.Of the 10 non-responders,9(90%) underwent surgery within 6 mo of cyclosporine therapy.None of the following factors had a significant impact on the long-term efficacy of cyclosporine: sex,age,duration of disease,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,extent of disease,endoscopic findings,or clinical course.In contrast,a significant association was observed for maintenance therapy with azathioprine after cyclosporine therapy(P = 0.0014展开更多
This paper describes the guidance and navigation technique used by Hayabusa2 for the asteroid rendezvous operation to reach Ryugu.The operation results,including the achieved guidance and navigation performance,are al...This paper describes the guidance and navigation technique used by Hayabusa2 for the asteroid rendezvous operation to reach Ryugu.The operation results,including the achieved guidance and navigation performance,are also summarized.Multiple assessment and navigation teams worked closely to provide reliable navigation solutions with a short solution delivery cycle.Although the uncertainty of the Ryugu’s ephemeris was considerable before Hayabusa2’s arrival,a combination of radiometric-optical hybrid navigation and a stochastic-constrained optimum guidance method was able to achieve an accuracy of less than 100 m and 1 cm/s,and the arrival was precisely timed.展开更多
AIM:To identify factors associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) after initial therapy.METHODS:A total of 377 HCC patients who were newly treated at Katsushika Medical Center,Japan from January 2000 ...AIM:To identify factors associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) after initial therapy.METHODS:A total of 377 HCC patients who were newly treated at Katsushika Medical Center,Japan from January 2000 to December 2009 and followed up for > 2 years,or died during follow-up,were enrolled.The factors related to survival were first analyzed in 377 patients with HCC tumor stage T1-T4 using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.A similar analysis was performed in 282 patients with tumor stage T1-T3.Additionally,factors associated with the period between initial and subsequent therapy were examined in 144 patients who did not show local recurrence.Finally,214 HCC stage T1-T3 patients who died during the observation period were classified into four groups according to their alcohol consumption and postprandial glucose levels,and differences in their causes of death were examined.RESULTS:On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis,the following were significantly associated with survival:underlying liver disease stage [non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,hazard ratio(HR):0.603,95% CI:0.417-0.874,P = 0.0079],HCC stage(T1/T2 vs T3/T4,HR:0.447,95% CI:0.347-0.576,P < 0.0001),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.181,95% CI:0.067-0.488,P = 0.0008).In T1-T3 patients,uninterrupted alcohol consumption after initial therapy(no vs yes,HR:0.641,95% CI:0.469-0.877,P = 0.0055) was significant in addition to underlying liver disease stage(non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,HR:0649,95% CI:0.476-0.885,P = 0.0068),HCC stage(T1 vs T2/T3,HR:0.788,95% CI:0.653-0.945,P = 0.0108),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 mg/dL vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.502,95% CI:0.337-0.747,P = 0.0005).In patients without local recurrence,time from initial to subsequent therapy for newly emerging HCC was significantly longer in the "postprandial glucose within 200 mg/dL group" than the "postprandial glucose > 200 mg/dL group"(log-rank test,P <展开更多
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by exacerbations and remissions. The degree of inflammation as assessed by conventional colonoscopy is a reliable parameter of disease act...Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by exacerbations and remissions. The degree of inflammation as assessed by conventional colonoscopy is a reliable parameter of disease activity. However, even when conventional colonoscopy suggests remission and normal mucosal findings, microscopic abnormalities may persist, and relapse may occur later. Patients with long-standing, extensive ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer is characterized by an early age at onset, poorly differentiated tumor cells, mucinous carcinoma, and multiple lesions. Early detection of dysplasia and colitic cancer is thus a prerequisite for survival. A relatively new method, magnifying chromoscopy, is thought to be useful for the early detection and diagnosis of dysplasia and colitic cancer, as well as the prediction of relapse.展开更多
In the Equation-free framework,amacro-coarse projective integrationmethod consists of two parts:the time stepper and time projection on macro scale.The first one consists of lifting,micro simulation and restriction.Fo...In the Equation-free framework,amacro-coarse projective integrationmethod consists of two parts:the time stepper and time projection on macro scale.The first one consists of lifting,micro simulation and restriction.For extracting directly from microscopic simulations the information which would be obtained from the macroscopic model of two-dimensional microscopic systems,the time stepper based on the one-dimensional cumulative distribution functions,the marginal cumulative and appropriate number of the conditional cumulative distributions,is introduced.Here this procedure is tested on the nonlinear ion acoustic wave in a plasma.The numerical micro-solver is the one dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell code.It is shown that particle correlations related to wave structures are better preserved by the new model.The lifting step is critically related to the noise in system.The enlarged noise,rise of correlations,trapping of particles during the wave steepening can seriously violate the basic assumptions of the equation-free approach.展开更多
To ensure the safety of “Manten-Kirari”, a non-bitter and trace-rutinosidase variety of Tartary buckwheat, we evaluated its mutagenic activity in a bacterial reverse mutagenicity assay, the Ames test. Salmonella typ...To ensure the safety of “Manten-Kirari”, a non-bitter and trace-rutinosidase variety of Tartary buckwheat, we evaluated its mutagenic activity in a bacterial reverse mutagenicity assay, the Ames test. Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, TA153, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA were employed as test bacteria. The flour of “Manten-Kirari” was dissolved at 12 - 50,000 μg/mL in DMSO and investigated. The number of revertants did not differ compared to the negative control for all concentrations tested, whereas that in the positive control, the number of revertants was increased with or without metabolic activation for each bacterial strain tested. These results suggested that the flour of the Tartary buckwheat “Manten-Kirari” was not genotoxic.展开更多
An annealing process was developed for the practical recover of a purified py-rolytic carbon (PPyC) surface from damage, such as color change and peeling, due to fluorination during exposure to chlorine trifluoride ga...An annealing process was developed for the practical recover of a purified py-rolytic carbon (PPyC) surface from damage, such as color change and peeling, due to fluorination during exposure to chlorine trifluoride gas at high tempera-tures for the cleaning of a silicon carbide chemical vapor deposition reactor. The PPyC surface was annealed at 900</span><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:Verdana;">°</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">C for 10 min in ambient nitrogen con-taining oxygen at the concentrations of 0.01% - 20%. The rainbow-like colored surface returned to the dark gray color of the original PPyC. Simultaneously, the thin peeled films disappeared. The Raman spectra showed that the PPyC surface chemical bonding returned to that of the original one. The oxygen concentration as low as 0.01% could recover the PPyC surface along with re-ducing the surface pit formation, when the combination of the exposure to chlorine trifluoride gas and the recovery was repeated.展开更多
With recent increase of cars, the noise problem has been caused by the exhaust sounds released from exhaust pipes, which consist of weak and pulsed shock waves called blast waves. To diminish the noise, a silencer is ...With recent increase of cars, the noise problem has been caused by the exhaust sounds released from exhaust pipes, which consist of weak and pulsed shock waves called blast waves. To diminish the noise, a silencer is set up in front of the exhaust pipe. In the present study, reflectors were installed in the high-pressure section of the shock tube to generate blast waves, and three types of expansion region were investigated, combined with acoustic material of glass wool. The pressure decay was evaluated by transmission factor and reflection factor for the incident blast wave, together with pressure histories and high-speed Schlieren photography. As results, it was confirmed that the acoustic material greatly contributed to blast-wave attenuation: the one stage expansion model with glass wool recorded the highest decay of the peak over pressure for transmission, and other models with glass wool showed the second highest. The acoustic material also contributed to decay of reflected shock waves propagating toward an upstream duct.展开更多
The purpose of this research is the design and implementation of a support system for learning programming. To archive this purpose, in this article, we propose a Puzzle Programming System that uses jigsaw puzzles as ...The purpose of this research is the design and implementation of a support system for learning programming. To archive this purpose, in this article, we propose a Puzzle Programming System that uses jigsaw puzzles as an example of the application of physical visualization, which visualizes logical constraints to physical ones. This Puzzle Programming System aims to teach basic programming concepts by presenting the invisible constraints of programming language syntax using the visual constraints of jigsaw puzzle pieces. This system runs on an Apple iPad and was developed using the Unity game engine. We used YAML as a data format for serializing structured data for data management. By inviting high school students to try out a prototype, we could confirm the usefulness of the Puzzle Programming System. The experimental evaluation results also shed light on aspects of the game that need to be redesigned and parts where the visual programming model needs to be modified and expanded.展开更多
A 35-year-old mother was scheduled to be the living donor for liver transplantation to her second son,who suffered from biliary atresia complicated with biliary cirrhosis at the age of 2 years.The operative plan was t...A 35-year-old mother was scheduled to be the living donor for liver transplantation to her second son,who suffered from biliary atresia complicated with biliary cirrhosis at the age of 2 years.The operative plan was to recover the left lateral segment of the mother's liver for living donor transplantation.With the use of cholangiography at the time of surgery,we found the right anterior segmental duct(RASD) emptying directly into the cystic duct,and the catheter passed into the RASD.After repairing the incision in the cystic duct,transplantation was successfully performed.Her postoperative course was uneventful.Biliary anatomical variations were frequently encountered,however,this variation has very rarely been reported.If the RASD was divided,the repair would be very difficult because the duct will not dilate sufficiently in an otherwise healthy donor.Meticulous preoperative evaluation of the living donor's biliary anatomy,especially using magnetic resonance cholangiography and careful intraoperative techniques,is important to prevent bile duct injury and avoid the risk to the healthy donor.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the clinical value of the newly modified Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's disease(m SES-CD).METHODS:Seventy-six Crohn's disease(CD) patients who underwent transanal double balloon endoscopy(...AIM:To evaluate the clinical value of the newly modified Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's disease(m SES-CD).METHODS:Seventy-six Crohn's disease(CD) patients who underwent transanal double balloon endoscopy(DBE) in our hospital between 2003 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. DBE is defined as small intestinal endoscopy using two attached balloons. We included patients with stenosis which hampered passage of the scope and those who underwent DBE with observation for at least 80 cm from the ileocecal valve. Our new m SES-CD assesses the endoscopic activity of two consecutive small intestinal segments located 0-40 cm and 40-80 cm from the ileocecal valve by DBE,in addition to the activity of four colorectal segments. To compare the usefulness of m SES-CD with SES-CD,we similarly divided the patients into two groups according to total m SES-CD score(low disease activity group,< 4; high disease activity group,≥ 4). The clinical value of m SES-CD in predicting clinical outcome in patients with CD was evaluated using the occurrence of surgery after DBE as an endpoint.RESULTS:Median age of the 76 CD patients was 36 years(range,16-71). Thirty-nine patients had stenosis which hampered passage of the DBE to 80 cm on the proximal side from the ileocecal valve. Median evaluable length of small intestine by DBE was 80 cm(range,3-200). A total of 74 patients had one or more small intestinal lesions detected by DBE,of which 62(83.8%) were within 80 cm of the ileocecal valve on the proximal side. Only two patients(2.7%) with proximal-side lesions more than 80 cm from the ileocecal valve did not have lesions within 80 cm. Patients with high m SES-CD scores showed significantly shorter surgeryfree survival than those with low scores(P < 0.05). In contrast,surgery-free survival did not significantly differ between the low and high SES-CD groups(P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis by a Cox proportional hazards model identified m SES-CD as an independent factor for surgery-free survival.CONCLUSION:m SES-CD is useful in evaluatin展开更多
文摘Gastric cancer is the second most frequent cancer in the world, accounting for a large proportion of all cancer cases in Asia, Latin America, and some countries in Europe. Helicobacter pylori（H pylori） is regarded as playing a specific role in the development of atrophic gastritis, which represents the most recognized pathway in multistep intestinal-type gastric carcinogenesis. Recent studies suggest that a combination of host genetic factors, bacterial virulence factors, and environmental and lifestyle factors determine the severity of gastric damage and the eventual clinical outcome of H pylori infection. The seminal discovery of Hpylori as the leading cause of gastric cancer should lead to effective eradication strategies. Prevention of gastric cancer requires better screening strategies to identify candidates for eradication.
文摘Although gastric cancer(GC)is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death,major therapeutic advances have not been made,and patients with GC still face poor outcomes.The prognosis of GC also remains poor because the molecular mechanisms of GC progression are incompletely understood.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are noncoding RNAs that are associated with gastric carcinogenesis.Studies investigating the regulation of gene expression by miRNAs have made considerable progress in recent years,and abnormalities in miRNA expression have been shown to be associated with the occurrence and progression of GC.miRNAs contribute to gastric carcinogenesis by altering the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors,affecting cell proliferation,apoptosis,motility,and invasion.Moreover,a number of miRNAs have been shown to be associated with tumor type,tumor stage,and patient survival and therefore may be developed as novel diagnostic or prognostic markers.In this review,we discuss the involvement of miRNAs in GC and the mechanisms through which they regulate gene expression and biological functions.Then,we review recent research on the involvement of miRNAs in GC prognosis,their potential use in chemotherapy,and their effects on Helicobacter pylori infections in GC.A greater understanding of the roles of miRNAs in gastric carcinogenesis could provide insights into the mechanisms of tumor development and could help to identify novel therapeutic targets.
文摘AIM:To investigate the reasons for the occurrence of the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions. METHODS:In chromoendoscopy, the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions is recognized as useful for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with superficial esophageal neoplasms treated by endoscopic resection were included in the study. Areas of mucosa with and without the pink-color sign were evaluated histologically. The following histologic features that were possibly associated with the pinkcolor sign were evaluated. The keratinous layer and basal cell layer were classified as present or absent. Cellular atypia was classified as high grade, moderate grade or low grade, based on nuclear irregularity, mitotic figures, loss of polarity, chromatin pattern and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Vascular change was assessed based on dilatation, tortuosity, caliber change and variability in shape. Vessels with these four findings were classified as positive for vascular change. Endoscopic images of the lesions were captured immediately after iodine staining, 2-3 min after iodine staining and after complete fading of iodine staining. Quantitative analysis of color changes after iodine staining was also performed. RESULTS:A total of 61 superficial esophageal neoplasms in 54 patients were included in the study. The lesions were located in the cervical esophagus in one case, the upper thoracic esophagus in 10 cases, the mid-thoracic esophagus in 33 cases, and the lower thoracic esophagus in 17 cases. The median diameter of the lesions was 20 mm (range:2-74 mm). Of the 61 lesions, 28 were classified as pink-color sign positive and 33 as pink-color sign negative. The histologic diagnosis was high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or cancer invading into the lamina propria in 26 of the 28 pink-color sign positive lesions. There was a significant association between pink-color sign positive epithelium and HGIN or invasive cancer (P = 0.0001). Univariate analyses found that absence of the keratinous l
基金the JSPS Grant-in-Aid(C)grant number 17K11005the JSPS bilateral Joint Research Project grant number 1007397 to T.K.,MEXT/JSPS grant number JP19K12218 to T.S.,MEXT/JSPS grant number JP15H05952(“Resonance Bio”)to T.S.and T.I.,and MEXT/JSPS KAKENHI grant number JP16H06280(“Advanced Bioimaging Support”)。
文摘Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)play important roles in bone metabolism.Smad ubiquitination regulatory factors(Smurfs)regulate TGF-β/BMP signaling via ubiquitination,resulting in degradation of signaling molecules to prevent excessive activation of TGF-β/BMP signaling.Though Smurf2 has been shown to negatively regulate TGF-β/Smad signaling,its involvement in BMP/Smad signaling in bone metabolism has not been thoroughly investigated.In the present study,we sought to evaluate the role of Smurf2 in BMP/Smad signaling in bone metabolism.Absorbable collagen sponges containing 3μg of recombinant human BMP2(rhBMP2)were implanted in the dorsal muscle pouches of wild type(WT)and Smurf2−/−mice.The rhBMP2-induced ectopic bone in Smurf2−/−mice showed greater bone mass,higher mineral apposition and bone formation rates,and greater osteoblast numbers than the ectopic bone in WT mice.In WT mice,the ectopic bone consisted of a thin discontinuous outer cortical shell and scant inner trabecular bone.In contrast,in Smurf2−/−mice,the induced bone consisted of a thick,continuous outer cortical shell and abundant inner trabecular bone.Additionally,rhBMP2-stimulated bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)from Smurf2−/−mice showed increased osteogenic differentiation.Smurf2 induced the ubiquitination of Smad1/5.BMP/Smad signaling was enhanced in Smurf2−/−BMSCs stimulated with rhBMP2,and the inhibition of BMP/Smad signaling suppressed osteogenic differentiation of these BMSCs.These findings demonstrate that Smurf2 negatively regulates BMP/Smad signaling,thereby identifying a new regulatory mechanism in bone metabolism.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the 5-lipoxygenases (Loxs) expression level in human colorectal cancer specimens in order to determine its clinicopathologic significance in human tumorigenesis. METHODS: The relative quantity of 5-Lox mRNA in paired 91 colorectal tumor and adjacent normal mucosa samples was determined by real time quantitative PCR. Additionally, the expression of 5-Lox and cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 proteins was also examined using immunohistochemical staining methods. RESULTS: There was a marked increase in 5-Lox mRNA levels in the tumor compared with paired normal mucosa samples (P < 0.0001). Sixty six (72.5%) tumors showed high 5-Lox mRNA levels. The positivity rate of 5-Lox and Cox-2 protein expression was 68.7% and 79.1% respectively. There was a significant association between tumoral 5-Lox mRNA level and tumor size (Rho = 0.392, P = 0.0002), depth or vessel invasion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 5-Lox is up-regulated in colorectal cancer and that inhibition of its expression might be valuable in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
文摘This study experimentally explores the flow around a cylinder with circular cross-section placed inside a bubble plume. Small gas bubbles with diameter smaller than 0.06 mm are released from electrodes on the bottom of a water tank by electrolysis of water. The bubbles induce water flow around them as they rise because of buoyancy. Inside the generated bubble plume, a cylinder with diameter D of 30 mm is placed at 6.5D above the electrodes. The bubbles and water flow around the cylinder are visualized, and the bubble velocity distribution is measured. The experiments elucidate the bubble behavior around the cylinder, the separated shear layers originating at the cylinder surface, their roll-up, the bubble entrainment in the resultant large-scale eddies behind the cylinder, and the vortex shedding from the cylinder.
基金Project supported by the Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology(No.2017YFC0111902)the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation(No.13ZR1404700),China
文摘Hyaluronan is a widely occurring extracellular matrix molecule,which is not only a supporting structural component,but also an active regulator of cellular functions.The chemophysical and biological properties of hyaluronan are greatly affected by its molecular size and several hyaluronan-binding proteins,making hyaluronan a fascinating molecule with great functional diversity.This review summarizes our current understanding of the roles of hyaluronan in cardiovascular and nervous system disorders,such as atherosclerosis,myocardial infarction,and stroke,with the aim to provide a foundation for future research and clinical trials.
文摘An anastomotic leak is one of the major complications following colorectal surgery.Standard treatments for anastomotic leak are total parenteral nutrition or temporary ileostomy.The over-the-scope-clipping(OTSC)system was originally developed to treat intestinal perforation or to close the tissue after natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.Two cases of successful management of an anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery using the OTSC system are reported.One patient avoided a temporary ileostomy.In the other,hospitalization was shortened by the use of the OTSC system.The OTSC system can be a potential option in the management of anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery.
文摘AIM: To evaluate long-term prognosis following cyclosporine treatment by examining the rate of surgery avoidance among cyclosporine responders.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records for 29 patients diagnosed with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis in our hospital from August 1997 to August 2008 and treated with cyclosporine by continuous intravenous infusion.All patients were treated with intravenous corticosteroids for more than 5 d prior to cyclosporine therapy.Administration was continued for up to 21 d under serum monitoring to maintain cyclosporine levels between 400 and 600 ng/mL.Clinical activity was assessed before and after cyclosporine therapy using the clinical activity index score,with a reduction of ≥ 5 considered to indicate a response.Among responders,we defined cases not requiring surgery for more than 5 years as exhibiting long-term efficacy of cyclosporine.Factors considered to be possibly predictive of long-term efficacy of cyclosporine were sex,age,disease duration,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,disease extent,endoscopic findings,and clinical course.RESULTS: Cyclosporine was not discontinued due to side effects in any patient.Nineteen(65.5%) of 29 patients were considered responders.A statistically significant(P = 0.004) inverseas sociation wa s observed between an endoscopic finding of "mucosal bleeding" and responsive cases.Fifteen(9 males,6 females) of these 19 patients were followed for 5 years or more,of whom 9(60%) exhibited long-termefficacy of cyclosporine.Of the 10 non-responders,9(90%) underwent surgery within 6 mo of cyclosporine therapy.None of the following factors had a significant impact on the long-term efficacy of cyclosporine: sex,age,duration of disease,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,extent of disease,endoscopic findings,or clinical course.In contrast,a significant association was observed for maintenance therapy with azathioprine after cyclosporine therapy(P = 0.0014
基金JSPS KAKENHI Grant No.18H01628 also supported this work.
文摘This paper describes the guidance and navigation technique used by Hayabusa2 for the asteroid rendezvous operation to reach Ryugu.The operation results,including the achieved guidance and navigation performance,are also summarized.Multiple assessment and navigation teams worked closely to provide reliable navigation solutions with a short solution delivery cycle.Although the uncertainty of the Ryugu’s ephemeris was considerable before Hayabusa2’s arrival,a combination of radiometric-optical hybrid navigation and a stochastic-constrained optimum guidance method was able to achieve an accuracy of less than 100 m and 1 cm/s,and the arrival was precisely timed.
文摘AIM:To identify factors associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) after initial therapy.METHODS:A total of 377 HCC patients who were newly treated at Katsushika Medical Center,Japan from January 2000 to December 2009 and followed up for > 2 years,or died during follow-up,were enrolled.The factors related to survival were first analyzed in 377 patients with HCC tumor stage T1-T4 using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.A similar analysis was performed in 282 patients with tumor stage T1-T3.Additionally,factors associated with the period between initial and subsequent therapy were examined in 144 patients who did not show local recurrence.Finally,214 HCC stage T1-T3 patients who died during the observation period were classified into four groups according to their alcohol consumption and postprandial glucose levels,and differences in their causes of death were examined.RESULTS:On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis,the following were significantly associated with survival:underlying liver disease stage [non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,hazard ratio(HR):0.603,95% CI:0.417-0.874,P = 0.0079],HCC stage(T1/T2 vs T3/T4,HR:0.447,95% CI:0.347-0.576,P < 0.0001),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.181,95% CI:0.067-0.488,P = 0.0008).In T1-T3 patients,uninterrupted alcohol consumption after initial therapy(no vs yes,HR:0.641,95% CI:0.469-0.877,P = 0.0055) was significant in addition to underlying liver disease stage(non-cirrhosis/Child-Pugh A vs B/C,HR:0649,95% CI:0.476-0.885,P = 0.0068),HCC stage(T1 vs T2/T3,HR:0.788,95% CI:0.653-0.945,P = 0.0108),and mean postprandial plasma glucose after initial therapy(< 200 mg/dL vs ≥ 200 mg/dL,HR:0.502,95% CI:0.337-0.747,P = 0.0005).In patients without local recurrence,time from initial to subsequent therapy for newly emerging HCC was significantly longer in the "postprandial glucose within 200 mg/dL group" than the "postprandial glucose > 200 mg/dL group"(log-rank test,P <
文摘Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by exacerbations and remissions. The degree of inflammation as assessed by conventional colonoscopy is a reliable parameter of disease activity. However, even when conventional colonoscopy suggests remission and normal mucosal findings, microscopic abnormalities may persist, and relapse may occur later. Patients with long-standing, extensive ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer is characterized by an early age at onset, poorly differentiated tumor cells, mucinous carcinoma, and multiple lesions. Early detection of dysplasia and colitic cancer is thus a prerequisite for survival. A relatively new method, magnifying chromoscopy, is thought to be useful for the early detection and diagnosis of dysplasia and colitic cancer, as well as the prediction of relapse.
基金This work is performed with the support under the auspices of the NINS-NIFS Collab-orative Project(NIFS05KEIN0041,NIFS06KEIN0041)NIFS Collaborative Research Program(NIFS04KDAT007,NIFS05KDAT007,NIFS07KDAN001)One of us(A.M.)ac-knowledges partial support by the Ministry of Science and Protection of Environment of Serbia,Project 141034。
文摘In the Equation-free framework,amacro-coarse projective integrationmethod consists of two parts:the time stepper and time projection on macro scale.The first one consists of lifting,micro simulation and restriction.For extracting directly from microscopic simulations the information which would be obtained from the macroscopic model of two-dimensional microscopic systems,the time stepper based on the one-dimensional cumulative distribution functions,the marginal cumulative and appropriate number of the conditional cumulative distributions,is introduced.Here this procedure is tested on the nonlinear ion acoustic wave in a plasma.The numerical micro-solver is the one dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell code.It is shown that particle correlations related to wave structures are better preserved by the new model.The lifting step is critically related to the noise in system.The enlarged noise,rise of correlations,trapping of particles during the wave steepening can seriously violate the basic assumptions of the equation-free approach.
文摘To ensure the safety of “Manten-Kirari”, a non-bitter and trace-rutinosidase variety of Tartary buckwheat, we evaluated its mutagenic activity in a bacterial reverse mutagenicity assay, the Ames test. Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, TA153, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA were employed as test bacteria. The flour of “Manten-Kirari” was dissolved at 12 - 50,000 μg/mL in DMSO and investigated. The number of revertants did not differ compared to the negative control for all concentrations tested, whereas that in the positive control, the number of revertants was increased with or without metabolic activation for each bacterial strain tested. These results suggested that the flour of the Tartary buckwheat “Manten-Kirari” was not genotoxic.
文摘An annealing process was developed for the practical recover of a purified py-rolytic carbon (PPyC) surface from damage, such as color change and peeling, due to fluorination during exposure to chlorine trifluoride gas at high tempera-tures for the cleaning of a silicon carbide chemical vapor deposition reactor. The PPyC surface was annealed at 900</span><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:Verdana;">°</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">C for 10 min in ambient nitrogen con-taining oxygen at the concentrations of 0.01% - 20%. The rainbow-like colored surface returned to the dark gray color of the original PPyC. Simultaneously, the thin peeled films disappeared. The Raman spectra showed that the PPyC surface chemical bonding returned to that of the original one. The oxygen concentration as low as 0.01% could recover the PPyC surface along with re-ducing the surface pit formation, when the combination of the exposure to chlorine trifluoride gas and the recovery was repeated.
文摘With recent increase of cars, the noise problem has been caused by the exhaust sounds released from exhaust pipes, which consist of weak and pulsed shock waves called blast waves. To diminish the noise, a silencer is set up in front of the exhaust pipe. In the present study, reflectors were installed in the high-pressure section of the shock tube to generate blast waves, and three types of expansion region were investigated, combined with acoustic material of glass wool. The pressure decay was evaluated by transmission factor and reflection factor for the incident blast wave, together with pressure histories and high-speed Schlieren photography. As results, it was confirmed that the acoustic material greatly contributed to blast-wave attenuation: the one stage expansion model with glass wool recorded the highest decay of the peak over pressure for transmission, and other models with glass wool showed the second highest. The acoustic material also contributed to decay of reflected shock waves propagating toward an upstream duct.
文摘The purpose of this research is the design and implementation of a support system for learning programming. To archive this purpose, in this article, we propose a Puzzle Programming System that uses jigsaw puzzles as an example of the application of physical visualization, which visualizes logical constraints to physical ones. This Puzzle Programming System aims to teach basic programming concepts by presenting the invisible constraints of programming language syntax using the visual constraints of jigsaw puzzle pieces. This system runs on an Apple iPad and was developed using the Unity game engine. We used YAML as a data format for serializing structured data for data management. By inviting high school students to try out a prototype, we could confirm the usefulness of the Puzzle Programming System. The experimental evaluation results also shed light on aspects of the game that need to be redesigned and parts where the visual programming model needs to be modified and expanded.
文摘A 35-year-old mother was scheduled to be the living donor for liver transplantation to her second son,who suffered from biliary atresia complicated with biliary cirrhosis at the age of 2 years.The operative plan was to recover the left lateral segment of the mother's liver for living donor transplantation.With the use of cholangiography at the time of surgery,we found the right anterior segmental duct(RASD) emptying directly into the cystic duct,and the catheter passed into the RASD.After repairing the incision in the cystic duct,transplantation was successfully performed.Her postoperative course was uneventful.Biliary anatomical variations were frequently encountered,however,this variation has very rarely been reported.If the RASD was divided,the repair would be very difficult because the duct will not dilate sufficiently in an otherwise healthy donor.Meticulous preoperative evaluation of the living donor's biliary anatomy,especially using magnetic resonance cholangiography and careful intraoperative techniques,is important to prevent bile duct injury and avoid the risk to the healthy donor.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the clinical value of the newly modified Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's disease(m SES-CD).METHODS:Seventy-six Crohn's disease(CD) patients who underwent transanal double balloon endoscopy(DBE) in our hospital between 2003 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. DBE is defined as small intestinal endoscopy using two attached balloons. We included patients with stenosis which hampered passage of the scope and those who underwent DBE with observation for at least 80 cm from the ileocecal valve. Our new m SES-CD assesses the endoscopic activity of two consecutive small intestinal segments located 0-40 cm and 40-80 cm from the ileocecal valve by DBE,in addition to the activity of four colorectal segments. To compare the usefulness of m SES-CD with SES-CD,we similarly divided the patients into two groups according to total m SES-CD score(low disease activity group,< 4; high disease activity group,≥ 4). The clinical value of m SES-CD in predicting clinical outcome in patients with CD was evaluated using the occurrence of surgery after DBE as an endpoint.RESULTS:Median age of the 76 CD patients was 36 years(range,16-71). Thirty-nine patients had stenosis which hampered passage of the DBE to 80 cm on the proximal side from the ileocecal valve. Median evaluable length of small intestine by DBE was 80 cm(range,3-200). A total of 74 patients had one or more small intestinal lesions detected by DBE,of which 62(83.8%) were within 80 cm of the ileocecal valve on the proximal side. Only two patients(2.7%) with proximal-side lesions more than 80 cm from the ileocecal valve did not have lesions within 80 cm. Patients with high m SES-CD scores showed significantly shorter surgeryfree survival than those with low scores(P < 0.05). In contrast,surgery-free survival did not significantly differ between the low and high SES-CD groups(P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis by a Cox proportional hazards model identified m SES-CD as an independent factor for surgery-free survival.CONCLUSION:m SES-CD is useful in evaluatin
