New Hepatic Resection Criteria for Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Can Improve Long-Term Survival: A Retrospective, Multicenter Collaborative Study.

Background:Hepatic resection (HR) is not recommended for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer criteria. We examined the prognostic factors of HR for intermediate-stage HCC and developed new HR criteria for intermediate-stage HCC.Methods:A total of 110 patients who underwent HR without any prior treatment for intermediate-stage HCC between January 2007 and December 2012 were enrolled at eight university hospitals. The outcomes and prognostic factors of HR were evaluated to develop new HR criteria.Results:In terms of tumor size and number, the most significant prognostic factors were within the up-to-seven criteria. Furthermore, serum albumin level ≥35 g/L and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level

Genome evolution in the allotetraploid frog Xenopus laevis

To explore the origins and consequences of tetraploidy in the African clawed frog, we sequenced the Xenopus laevis genome and compared it to the related diploid X. tropicalis genome. We characterize the allotetraploid origin of X. laevis by partitioning its genome into two homoeologous subgenomes, marked by distinct families of ???fossil??? transposable elements. On the basis of the activity of these elements and the age of hundreds of unitary pseudogenes, we estimate that the two diploid progenitor species diverged around 34 million years ago (Ma) and combined to form an allotetraploid around 17-18 Ma. More than 56% of all genes were retained in two homoeologous copies. Protein function, gene expression, and the amount of conserved flanking sequence all correlate with retention rates. The subgenomes have evolved asymmetrically, with one chromosome set more often preserving the ancestral state and the other experiencing more gene loss, deletion, rearrangement, and reduced gene expression.ope

A Shared Intelligent Programming Environment on the Internet for Learning C Programming

This paper discusses the concepts and methodology of INTELLITUTOR II, which is a shared intelligent integrated programming environment for learning C programming on the Internet. Through the demonstration of INTELLITUTOR II we are trying to propose a useful framework of Distance Learning, as a case study. INTELLITUTOR II consists of GUIDE, ALPUS II and a C environment as an integrated environment, and is implemented as a server-client system on the Internet. By means of an usual WWW browser users are allowed to share the every function of the system without the limitations of distance, time and facilities at low cost. The server system consists of a Web server, an ALPUS II server and a C server. The service includes reading C documents, editing C programs with guide and help functions, detecting logical bugs by means of a knowledge-based program understander ALPUS II, compiling the program and executing it with the C environment. This service should covers not only supporting classroom-oriented education for novice C programmers but also such persons who want to learn advanced level of C programming. Although in the early stage of the project the system has demonstrated some interesting features and has shown useful hints in realizing Distance Learning