Relationship between 14-3-3σ and EZH2 and clinicopathological parameters in 167 HCC patients.

<p>* <i>Probability, P, from</i><i>χ² test</i>.</p><p>Relationship between 14-3-3σ and EZH2 and clinicopathological parameters in 167 HCC patients.</p

The expression of 14-3-3σ and EZH2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrotic tissues and normal adjacent tissues as determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.

<p>(A) The expression of 14-3-3σ and EZH2 was detected by RT-PCR, C: Cancer tissue, N: Noncancerous tissue, F: fibrotic tissues. (B) The immunoblot analysis of 14-3-3σ and EZH2. β-actin was used as endogenous reference.</p

Kaplan-Meier survival curves with regard to disease-free-survival and overall survival according to 14-3-3σ and EZH2 expression.

<p>(A) There are no significant differences in OS between patients with positive (32.65%) and negative (40%) staining for 14-3-3σ. (B) There are no significant differences in RFS between patients with positive (24.49%) and negative (21.74%) expressions of 14-3-3σ. (C) There are no significant differences in OS between patients with positive (32.28%) and negative (45%) expressions of EZH2. (D) There are no significant differences in RFS between patients with positive (24.49%) and negative (21.74%) expressions of EZH2. (E) The five-year OS of the coexpressed high 14-3-3σ and EZH2 group were 23.75%, significantly worse than the three other groups (<i>p</i><0.05). (F) The five-year OS of coexpressed high 14-3-3σ and EZH2 group were 23.75%, significantly worse than three other groups (<i>p</i><0.05).</p

Immunohistochemical staining for 14-3-3σ and EZH2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrotic tissues and normal adjacent tissues.

<p>(A) 14-3-3σ was strong stained in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, (B) nearly negative expression of 14-3-3σ in fibrotic tissue, (C) with an almost negative expression level in paired normal adjacent tissue (100×); (D) EZH2 was overexpressed in the cytoplasm in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, (E) almost negative expression of EZH2 in fibrotic tissue, (F) nearly absent in paired normal tissues from the same case (100×). (A’, B’ and C’) and (D’, E’ and F’) demonstrated the higher magnification (200×) from the area of the box in (A, B and C) and (D, E and F), respectively.</p

Multivariate survival analysis of five-year overall and relapse-free survival in 167 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

<p>Multivariate survival analysis of five-year overall and relapse-free survival in 167 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.</p

Expression levels of 14-3-3σ and EZH2 quantitatively determined by real-time RT–PCR.

<p>(A) Expression levels of 14-3-3σ in hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrotic tissues and normal adjacent tissues, liver fibrosis was classified into four stages, F1 to F4, according to METAVIR scoring system. (B) Expression levels of EZH2 quantitatively in hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrotic tissues and normal adjacent tissues. The correction values were calculated by dividing the 14-3-3σ and EZH2 amounts by the amount of β-actin concurrently examined on the same samples (*, <i>p</i><0.05).</p

ROC curve analysis to determine cutoff score for 14-3-3σ and EZH2 expression.

<p>(A, C) EZH2 cutoff point of OS and DFS, the EZH2 cutoff score for OS and DFS was 4 (<i>p</i> = 0.055) and 4 (<i>p</i> = 0.063). (B, D) 14-3-3σ cutoff point for OS and DFS. The 14-3-3σ cutoff scores for OS and DFS were 3 (<i>p</i> = 0.156) and 3 (<i>p</i> = 0.216), respectively. At each immunohistochemical score, the sensitivity and specificity for the outcome being studied was plotted, thus generating a ROC curve.</p

Top-down Strategy toward Versatile Graphene Quantum Dots for Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Solar Cells

Metal oxide nanocrystals have been pursued for various applications in photovoltaics as a buffer layer. However, it remains a challenging task to adjust their energy levels to achieve a better match of the donor–acceptor system. Herein, we report the fabrication of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with bright blue photoluminescence by a top-down strategy based on laser fragmentation with posthydrothermal treatment. The GQDs demonstrate appropriate energy level positions and are used as an intermediate buffer layer between TiO₂ and P3HT to form a cascade energy level architecture. The introduction of the GQDs into a bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cell has led to an enhancement of the power conversion efficiency

Subgroups analysis for EGFR mutation testing (PPS).

<p>Never-smoked means that the subject smoked no cigarettes during his entire lifetime; ex-smoker means that the subject no longer smokes; occasional smoker means that the subject smokes, but not every day; and regular smoker means that the subject smokes every day.</p><p>Subgroups analysis for EGFR mutation testing (PPS).</p

Molecular Epidemiology of EGFR Mutations in Asian Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer of Adenocarcinoma Histology – Mainland China Subset Analysis of the PIONEER study

<div><p>Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are the strongest response predictors to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) therapy, but knowledge of the EGFR mutation frequency on lung adenocarcinoma is still limited to retrospective studies. The PIONEER study (NCT01185314) is a prospective molecular epidemiology study in Asian patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung adenocarcinoma, aiming to prospectively analyze EGFR mutation status in IIIB/IV treatment-naïve lung adenocarcinomas in Asia. We report the mainland China subset results. Eligible patients (≥20 yrs old, IIIB/IV adenocarcinoma and treatment-naïve) were registered in 17 hospitals in mainland China. EGFR was tested for mutations by amplification refractory mutation system using biopsy samples. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected for subgroup analyses. A total of 747 patients were registered. Successful EGFR mutation analysis was performed in 741, with an overall mutation rate of 50.2%. The EGFR active mutation rate is 48.0% (with 1.3% of combined active and resistance mutations). Tobacco use (>30 pack-year vs. 0–10 pack-year, OR 0.27, 95%CI: 0.17–0.42) and regional lymph nodes involvement (N3 vs. N0, OR 0.47, 95%CI: 0.29–0.76) were independent predictors of EGFR mutation in multivariate analysis. However, even in regular smokers, the EGFR mutation frequency was 35.3%. The EGFR mutation frequency was similar between diverse biopsy sites and techniques. The overall EGFR mutation frequency of the mainland China subset was 50.2%, independently associated with the intensity of tobacco use and regional lymph nodes involvement. The relatively high frequency of EGFR mutations in the mainland China subset suggest that any effort to obtain tissue sample for EGFR mutation testing should be encouraged.</p></div