Gemcitabine sensitivity-related mRNA expression in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of unresectable pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine a predictive indicator of gemcitabine (GEM) efficacy in unresectable pancreatic cancer using tissue obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>mRNAs extracted from 35 pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma tissues obtained by EUS-FNA before GEM-treatment were studied. mRNAs were amplified and applied to a Focused DNA Array, which was restricted to well-known genes, including GEM sensitivity-related genes, deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1), hENT2, dCMP deaminase, cytidine deaminase, 5'-nucleotidase, ribonucleotide reductase 1 (RRM1) and RRM2. mRNA levels were classified into high and low expression based on a cut-off value defined as the average expression of 35 samples. These 35 patients were divided into the following two groups. Patients with partial response and those with stable disease whose tumor markers decreased by 50% or more were classified as the effective group. The rest of patients were classified as the non-effective group. The relationship between GEM efficacy and mRNA expression was then examined by chi-squared test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among these GEM sensitivity-related genes, dCK alone showed a significant correlation with GEM efficacy. Eight of 12 patients in the effective group had high dCK expression, whereas 16 of 23 patients in non-effective group had low dCK expressions (<it>P </it>= 0.0398).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>dCK mRNA expression is a candidate indicator for GEM efficacy in unresectable pancreatic cancer. Quantitative mRNA measurements of dCK using EUS-FNA samples are necessary for definitive conclusions.</p

Implementation of food safety activities: the case study in mandarin orange farmers by agriculture cooperative in Japan

A number of high outbreaks have raised questions regarding food quality and safety assurance. Agriculture cooperatives as food business operators have a central role, challenged to maintain standard demanded by customers, government, and international code which are incorporated into their operations activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of cooperatives in implementing food safety management at production (farmers) and consumer (exporters, retailers or wholesale) levels. The research employed case studies in prefecture-level cooperatives in Japan. Data were collected with a diagnostic tool for evaluation of food safety activities on farms and traders and semi-structured interviews with safety assurance managers of the cooperatives. Thirty mandarin orange farms, two traders, three cooperative staff, one processing company and one exporter association, were evaluated. The findings indicate that cooperatives have the double responsibility of managing quality and safety in the food chain. They are responsible for operational decisions taken by farmers during cultivation period. At the same time, they make the tactical decision concerning of quality and safety requirements between customers, and farmers, including selling the products. Hierarchical relationships farmers with cooperatives and customers with cooperatives show the good level in food safety activities (score 2). Therefore, this study useful for assist quality assurance system into the food industry and agriculture sector in Japan

Reports of studies supported by Grant-in-Aid for Research from the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University

基盤研究サポート Grant-in-Aid for Fundamental Research ・卸売市場システムが地域経済に及ぼす影響の研究 : 広島県農水産業と広島市中央卸売市場を中心として...矢野泉 ・広島県の条件不利地域におけるワークショップ開催による地域戦略の構築支援...細野賢治, 山尾政博, 高梨子文恵, 矢野泉 ・ニワトリのストレス反応と性格関連遺伝子多型との関係...豊後貴

Seven-Signal Proteomic Signature for Detection of Operable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Their Discrimination from Autoimmune Pancreatitis

There is urgent need for biomarkers that provide early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as well as discrimination of autoimmune pancreatitis, as current clinical approaches are not suitably accurate for precise diagnosis. We used mass spectrometry to analyze protein profiles of more than 300 plasma specimens obtained from PDAC, noncancerous pancreatic diseases including autoimmune pancreatitis patients and healthy subjects. We obtained 1063 proteomic signals from 160 plasma samples in the training cohort. A proteomic signature consisting of 7 mass spectrometry signals was used for construction of a proteomic model for detection of PDAC patients. Using the test cohort, we confirmed that this proteomic model had discrimination power equal to that observed with the training cohort. The overall sensitivity and specificity for detection of cancer patients were 82.6% and 90.9%, respectively. Notably, 62.5% of the stage I and II cases were detected by our proteomic model. We also found that 100% of autoimmune pancreatitis patients were correctly assigned as noncancerous individuals. In the present paper, we developed a proteomic model that was shown able to detect early-stage PDAC patients. In addition, our model appeared capable of discriminating patients with autoimmune pancreatitis from those with PDAC

Outcomes after stepwise ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited data regarding the outcomes after stepwise ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF).Methods and resultsPatients without structural heart disease undergoing stepwise ablation for persistent AF (continuous AF≤1 year) were studied (n=108; age, 61±10 years) and 32 patients had a history of HF. The HF patients were further grouped on the basis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤45% (n=15) and >45% (n=17). During a median follow-up period of 2.2 years, repeated ablations were necessary in 65 patients. The proportion of patients that were arrhythmia free 1 year after the last ablation was 67% in patients with LVEF≤45%, 86% in LVEF>45%, and 91% in no HF (p=0.0009). In patients with LVEF≤45%, the AF burden was reduced to less than one paroxysmal episode per month, and patients with and without recurrences both showed significant increases in LVEF over the follow-up period (38±7% to 60±10% and 37±6% to 53±10%, respectively).ConclusionsHF patients with LVEF≤45% had lower chances to remain free from arrhythmias after stepwise ablation for persistent AF than those with LVEF>45%. Nevertheless, LVEF also improved in patients with recurrences, reflecting the observed reduction in AF burden and emphasizing the benefits of ablation

Aquaporin 1 water channel is overexpressed in the plasma membranes of pancreatic ducts in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis with all kinds of etiologies is characterized by pancreatic exocrine dysfunction especially impaired fluid secretion from pancreatic ducts. However, the molecular mechanism of this impaired fluid secretion in chronic pancreatitis is largely unknown. Aquaporin water channels are intrinsic membrane proteins expressed most of the cell types which have high osmotic water permeability. Among them aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a predominant water channel expressed in the plasma membranes of human pancreatic ducts. Exocrine function test revealed that fluid secretion was severely impaired in AIP. immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AQP1 is localized mainly in the apical and lateral membranes of small pancreatic ducts in control subjects. AQP1 expression was significantly increased in plasma membranes of pancreatic ducts in AIP. Upregulation of AQP1 expression seen in pancreatic ducts of patient with AIP may be caused by the reduced fluid secretion from the pancreas as compensation. Further study would be required to elucidate the precise molecular mechanism for the role of AQP1 in pancreatic fluid secretion from the pancreas in diseases characterized by the impaired ductal fluid secretion such as cystic fibrosis

Reports of studies supported by Grant-in-Aid for Research from the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University

プロジェクト研究 Grant-in-Aid for Project Research ・ミャンマー沿岸における有害・有毒植物プランクトンの発生・増殖機構に関する調査研究...Su MYAT, Maung Saw Htoo THAW, 藤瀬里紗, Khin Ko LAY, 小池一彦 ・東日本大震災における水産業・漁村の復興戦略に向けた提言作り : 東アジア海域社会の地震・津波復興に関する比較研究を通じて...山尾政博 基盤研究サポート Grant-in-Aid for Fundamental Research ・大脳によらない恐怖学習 : 魚類小脳に注目して...吉田将之 ・チョコレートモデル油脂結晶の分子レベルその場観察...本同宏成 ・広島市近郊における伝統的青果物流通主体の形成・展開と産地維持機能に関する研究...細野賢治，矢野泉，高梨子文恵 ・釣り餌として海外から流通される水生動物の移入と定着に関する基礎的研究...斉藤英俊 ・低い割合で給与するイタリアンライグラスサイレージの栽培時施肥方法の違いが泌乳中・後期牛の乳生産に及ぼす影響...黒川勇

International Symposium I

Activity Theory (AT) had a long history in the former Soviet Union. Three prominent Russian scholars - Vygotsky, Leont’ev and Rubinshtein - were responsible for the development of general Activity Theory. AT was initially formulated by Rubinshtein and Leont’ev. The cultural-historical theory of development of human mind developed by Vygotsky was also critically important for AT. According to Vygotsky, external social activity is the source of internal mental activity. This idea was specifically formulated by him as the principal of internalization. Rubinshtein argued that individual psychological characteristics of human are not completely derived from the social environment. We will analyze from the general Activity Theory and the systemic-structural activity theory (SSAT) perspectives how the relationship between the external and internal components of activity affects the development of the human mind