The transcription factor SALL4 regulates stemness of EpCAM-positive hepatocellular carcinoma

Background & Aims: Recent evidence suggests that hepatocellular carcinoma can be classified into certain molecular subtypes with distinct prognoses based on the stem/maturational status of the tumor. We investigated the transcription program deregulated in hepatocellular carcinomas with stem cell features. Methods: Gene and protein expression profiles were obtained from 238 (analyzed by microarray), 144 (analyzed by immunohistochemistry), and 61 (analyzed by qRT-PCR) hepatocellular carcinoma cases. Activation/suppression of an identified transcription factor was used to evaluate its role in cell lines. The relationship of the transcription factor and prognosis was statistically examined. Results: The transcription factor SALL4, known to regulate stemness in embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells, was found to be activated in a hepatocellular carcinoma subtype with stem cell features. SALL4-positive hepatocellular carcinoma patients were associated with high values of serum alpha fetoprotein, high frequency of hepatitis B virus infection, and poor prognosis after surgery compared with SALL4-negative patients. Activation of SALL4 enhanced spheroid formation and invasion capacities, key characteristics of cancer stem cells, and up-regulated the hepatic stem cell markers KRT19, EPCAM, and CD44 in cell lines. Knockdown of SALL4 resulted in the down-regulation of these stem cell markers, together with attenuation of the invasion capacity. The SALL4 expression status was associated with histone deacetylase activity in cell lines, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor successfully suppressed proliferation of SALL4-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Conclusions: SALL4 is a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with stem cell features. © 2013 European Association for the Study of the Liver

An Investigation Concerning the Standard for the Allocation of Budget of the Subjects at the Municipal Junior High Schools in the Age of Decentralization

This study investigated on the allocation standard of school budgeting, especially focusing on the expenses for the subjects at the municipal junior high schools in the cities of 100,000 population or greater, and in those with many sources of revenue in Japan. The main findings of this research are as follows : (1) ten school boards that were identified which followed the standard for the allocation of budget of the subjects ; (2) in the process of compilating a budget, many local goverments set a ceiling on the budgetary requests, which prevented schools from gaining more appropriations than those they received in the previous year

Teaching Practice and Effect of incorporating technology into the learning process the Scene of the Technology Evaluation

本研究は，中学校技術科「材料と加工に関する技術」の学習単元において「構造と機能」のトレードオフの関係を意識させるとともに，「補強方法の選択」を学び合うための教材｢技術評価表」を開発し，その学習効果について検討した. その結果，製作品の構造設計に機能性や経済性, 環境性を考慮することの重要性に気付いた生徒は多く，技術活用に対する新たな見方を獲得できたことから，学習に技術評価場面を取り入れることの効果を確認できた．This study investigates into the effect of using technology evaluation table for promote the choice of which method of technology for learning process of manufacturing technology. These learning manufacturing technology evaluation were used in the 7th grade．The result of our experiment clearly shows，many students were aware of the importance of economic efficiency and functionality from manufactured goods. The scene of the technical evaluation to learning were able to confirm the effect of incorporating

Use of Simulated Experience in Teaching the Relationship between the Shapes of Cylinders in Engine ande Eddies

中学校技術・家庭科のエネルギー変換に関する学習のうちの「内燃機関の燃焼室内の気流」について視覚をともなって体験的に学習する教材を開発し，実験授業でその学習効果を調べた．開発した教材は，燃焼室に見立てたペットボトル容器の中に自然上昇の煙を入れ，煙が平面にそって移動することを観察する実験，その容器の中で渦流が起きるように厚紙を使って容器の改造する実験，曲面がある容器では渦流が生じ，曲面において煙の移動速度が増すことを観察する実験から構成される．本教材による実験授業の結果，中学３年生は燃焼室内に渦流を生じさせる擬似的な開発体験に関心を示すとともに，燃焼室の曲面部で気流が速くなることが渦流の発生に影響をあたえたとの認識を形成したことが明らかとなった．This study examines the effectiveness of our teaching materials,in this case，plastic bottles used as models of cylinders in an engine. These materials were used in the classes for ninth grade students, in which the following three tasks were conducted :1）To observe how smoke goes into square-shaped plastic bottles, 2）To make eddies form inside square-shaped bottles by using pieces of paper, 3）To compare round-shaped bottles with those in square-shaped to see how smoke flows inside them. The effectiveness of the teaching materials was supported by the students\u27 performance in tests given before and after the classes

Comparison of the survival outcomes between retrocolic and antecolic Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction after gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Abstract Background There are two methods of Roux‐en‐Y (RY) reconstruction after gastrectomy: the antecolic route (ACR) and retrocolic route (RCR). There is no evidence to support that the ACR achieves comparable long‐term survival. Methods This was a multi‐center historical cohort study. Patients diagnosed with clinical T3/4a and any N stage who underwent open gastrectomy and R0 resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2006 and December 2012 were enrolled. The primary outcome was the hazard ratio of ACR for overall survival, with adjustment for confounding factors by propensity score matching, and a Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 1758 eligible patients were identified from the database. After matching, 410 patients in the ACR and RCR groups were included in the final analysis. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for ACR was 1.148 (0.870–1.492). The five‐year survival rates in the ACR and RCR groups were 74.3% (69.5–78.4) and 77.3% (72.3–81.2), respectively. The short‐term surgical outcomes of the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. Conclusion The route used to lift the jejunum in RY reconstruction did not affect the incidence of long‐term survival or postoperative complications. The ACR and RCR are both acceptable options for RY reconstruction during gastric cancer surgery

Practical teaching and Effect of incorporating the manufacturing imitated the working process of the factory

本研究は，冬用タイヤとホイールの製造工場を模倣して紙から作成する生産ゲームの教材を開発し，その有効性を検証した．開発した教材は，中学１年生の授業に使用するものであり，技術科の授業において，ものづくりの見方を促すものである．実験授業の結果，生産量の向上をもとに,道具の改良の重要性に気づく学習が実施可能であることを示した．This study examined the effectiveness of development materials to make winter tires and tire wheels from the paper. These materials are used in teaching to the seventh grades，it is what in the technology has been developed to teaching materials to promote the viewpoints of manufacturing. The results, clearly shows in many students are aware of the importance of the improvement of the tool based on production volume