Incorporation of Extranodal Metastasis of Gastric Carcinoma into the 7th Edition UICC TNM Staging System

BACKGROUND: To assess the clinical significance and prognostic impact of extranodal metastasis (EM) in gastric carcinoma and establish an optimal classification in the staging system. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 1343 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent surgical resection were recruited to determine the frequency and prognostic significance of EMs. EMs were divided into two groups (EM1 and EM2) and then incorporated into the 7(th) edition UICC TNM staging system. EMs was detected in 179 (13.3%) of 1343 patients who underwent radical resection. Multivariate analysis identified EMs as an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.412, 95%CI = 1.151-1.731, P<0.001). After curative operation, the overall survival rate were worse in patients with ≥3 cases of EM (EM2) than those with the number of 1 and 2 cases (EM1) (P<0.001). Survival of patients with EM1 was found almost comparable to that of N3 stage (P = 0.437). Survival of patients with EM2 showed similar to that of stage IV patients (P = 0.896). By using the linear trend X(2), likelihood ratio X(2), and Akaike information criterion (AIC) test, EM1 treated as N3 stage and EM2 treated as M1 stage performed higher linear trend X(2) scores, likelihood ratio X(2) scores, and lower AIC value than the 7(th) edition UICC TNM staging system, which represented the optimum prognostic stratification, together with better homogeneity, discriminatory ability, and monotonicity of gradients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: EMs might be classified based on their number and prognostic information and should incorporate into the TNM staging system

Curcumin Micelles Remodel Tumor Microenvironment and Enhance Vaccine Activity in an Advanced Melanoma Model

Previously, we have reported a lipid-based Trp2 peptide vaccine for immunotherapy against melanoma. The suppressive immune microenvironment in the tumor is a major hurdle for an effective vaccine therapy. We hypothesized that curcumin (CUR) would remodel the tumor microenvironment to improve the vaccine activity. Curcumin–polyethylene glycol conjugate (CUR–PEG), an amphiphilic CUR-based micelle, was delivered intravenously (i.v.) to the tumor. Indeed, in the B16F10 tumor–bearing mice, the combination of CUR–PEG and vaccine treatment resulted in a synergistic antitumor effect (P < 0.001) compared to individual treatments. In the immune organs, the combination therapy significantly boosted in vivo cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response (41.0 ± 5.0% specific killing) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production (sevenfold increase). In the tumor microenvironment, the combination therapy led to significantly downregulated levels of immunosuppressive factors, such as decreased numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells and declined levels of interleukin-6 and chemokine ligand 2—in correlation with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and IFN-γ as well as an elevation in the CD8+ T-cell population. The results indicated a distinct M2 to M1 phenotype switch in the treated tumors. Combining CUR–PEG and vaccine also dramatically downregulated the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway (76% reduction). Thus, we conclude that CUR–PEG is an effective agent to improve immunotherapy for advanced melanoma

Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Hak Karyawan dengan Sistem Outsourcing pada Perusahaan Badan Usaha Milik Negara (Bumn) di Kota Pontianak

This study aims to determine: 1) the reasons BUMN In Pontianak using a system of Outsourcing in the recruitment of employees. 2) outsourcing practices in BUMN in Pontianak, 3) the factors that cause outsourcing system has not given legal protection of employees and 4) the perspective of the legal regulation of the employees who were recruited by the BUMN system outsourcing in Indonesia. The research was conducted at the Department of Social Welfare and Labor Pontianak, and involve Pontianak Trade Union Chairman, Director of PT. Media Prima HR Solutions in Pontianak, Director of PT. Telkom Pontianak, Director of PT. PLN Pontianak, Director of PT. Pertamina Pontianak and workers / laborers who work in state-owned companies Pontianak. Data collection methods used were interviews, questionnaires, and direct observations. The data obtained in qualitative analysis. The results show that the legal protection of workers / laborers, both contradictory, always found the gap between das sollen (must) and das science (reality) and always appeared discrepancy between the law in the books and law in action. Fact of economic life with the hegemony of financial capitalism has operated through the "dis-solution subject" who do not see the workers / laborers as production subject that should be protected, but rather as an object that can be exploited, this is what happens in the practice of outsourcing in Indonesia, so that the legalization of outsourcing by Law No. 13 Year 2003 on Manpower reap kotroversi. For those who disagree argue useful in outsourced business development and create new jobs. For those who refused to believe the practice of outsourcing is a modern style of capitalism that brought misery to the workers / laborers. Based on the fact that the authors formulate the problem: 1) Why BUMN In Pontianak Still Using Outsourcing System In Recruitment? 2) Why not outsource system provide legal protection for employees? 3) How should the legal arrangements for employees who were recruited by the BUMN system outsourcing in Indonesia? The objectives are: 1) To explain the reasons BUMN In Pontianak using Outsourcing the recruitment system. 2) To determine the state of outsourcing practices in Pontianak. 3) To disclose and explain the factors that cause outsourcing system has not been providing legal protection for employees. 4) To reveal the perspective of the legal regulation of the employees who were recruited by the BUMN system outsourcing in Indonesia. To answer the problems and research objectives, juridical approach used empirical / sociological research Descriptive Analytical specifications. Data types include Primary Data and Secondary Data collected through library research and documentation (library and documentation) as well as field research (field research), while the sampling was done by using non-random sampling with purposive sampling method. From the discussion, note that the legality of many violations of outsourcing in terms of Pontianak, employment protection and working conditions for workers / laborers outsourcing is not given by the employer to the fullest, while legal protection for workers / laborers are constrained due to the weakness in the system employment law, good substance, structure and culture. Therefore, it is necessary revision of labor legislation, the Local Government of Pontianak need to increase the numberof labor inspectors personnel, provide facilities and an adequate budget for the operation of the labor inspection in order to carry out its duties and functions to the fullest and empower Unions / Union to be able to carry out the purposes and functions well.Keywords: Outsourcing employee/ labour and Legal Protection. A B S T R A KPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui : 1) alasan BUMN Di Kota Pontianak menggunakan sistem Outsourcing dalam perekrutan karyawan. 2) praktik outsourcing pada BUMN di Kota Pontianak, 3) faktor-faktor penyebab sistem outsourcing belum memberikan perlindungan hukum terhadap karyawan dan 4) perspektif pengaturan hukum terhadap karyawan yang direkrut dengan sistem outsourcing pada BUMN di Indonesia. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Dinas Sosial dan Tenaga Kerja Pontianak, dan melibatkan Ketua Serikat Buruh Kota Pontianak, Direktur PT. Media Prima HR Solutions di Kota Pontianak, Direktur PT. Telkom Kota Pontianak, Direktur PT. PLN Pontianak, Direktur PT. Pertamina Pontianak serta pekerja/buruh yang bekerja pada Perusahaan BUMN Kota Pontianak. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara, kuesioner, dan pengamatan langsung. Data yang diperoleh di analisis secara kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlindungan hukum pekerja/buruh, keduanya saling bertentangan, selalu dijumpai kesenjangan antara das sollen (keharusan) dan das sain (Kenyataan) dan selalu muncul diskrepansi antara law in the books dan law in action. Nyatanya kehidupan ekonomi dengan hegemoni kapitalisme financial telah beroperasi melalui dis-solution subject yang tidak memandang pekerja/buruh sebagai subjek produksi yang patut dilindungi, melainkan sebagai objek yang bisa di eksploitasi, inilah yang terjadi dalam praktik outsourcing di Indonesia, sehingga legalisasi outsourcing berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 Tentang Ketenagakerjaan menuai kotroversi. Bagi yang setuju berdalih outsourcing bermanfaat dalam pengembangan usaha dan membuka lapangan kerja baru. Bagi yang menolak beranggapan praktik outsourcing merupakan corak kapitalisme modern yang membawa kesengsaraan bagi pekerja/buruh. Berdasarkan Kenyataan itu penulis merumuskan masalah : 1) Mengapa BUMN Di Kota Pontianak Masih Menggunakan Sistem Outsourcing Dalam Perekrutan Karyawan ? 2) Mengapa sistem outsourcing tidak memberikan perlindungan hukum terhadap karyawan ? 3) Bagaimana seharusnya pengaturan hukum terhadap karyawan yang direkrut dengan sistem outsourcing pada BUMN di Indonesia ? Tujuannya adalah : 1) Untuk menjelaskan mengenai alasan BUMN Di Kota Pontianak menggunakan sistem Outsourcing dalam perekrutan karyawan. 2) Untuk mengetahui praktik outsourcing pada BUMN di Kota Pontianak. 3) Untuk mengungkapkan dan menjelaskan faktor-faktor penyebab sistem outsourcing belum memberikan perlindungan hukum terhadap karyawan. 4) Untuk mengungkapkan perspektif pengaturan hukum terhadap karyawan yang direkrut dengan sistem outsourcing pada BUMN di Indonesia. Untuk menjawab permasalahan dan tujuan penelitian, digunakan metode pendekatan yuridis empiris/sosiologis dengan spesifikasi penelitian Deskriptif Analitis. Jenis datanya meliputi Data Primer dan Data Skunder yang dikumpulkan melalui penelitian kepustakaan dan dokumentasi(library and documentation) serta penelitian lapangan(field research), sedangkan pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik Non Random Sampling dengan metode Purposive Sampling. Dari hasil pembahasan diketahui bahwa secara legalitas banyak terjadi pelanggaran syarat-syarat outsourcing di Kota Pontianak, perlindungan kerja dan syarat-syarat kerja bagi pekerja/buruh outsourcing tidak diberikan oleh pengusaha secara maksimal, sedangkan perlindungan hukum bagi pekerja/buruh terkendala karena adanyakelemahan dalam system hukum ketenagakerjaan, baik substansi, struktur maupun kulturnya. Oleh karena itu, perlu revisi atas beberapa peraturan Perundang-undangan ketenagakerjaan, Pemerintah Daerah Kota Pontianak perlu menambah jumlah personel pegawai pengawas ketenagakerjaan, menyediakan sarana dan fasilitas serta anggaran yang memadai untuk operasional pengawasan ketenagakerjaan agar dapat menjalankan tugas dan fungsinya secara maksimal serta memberdayakan Serikat Pekerja/Serikat Buruh agar mampu menjalankan tujuan dan fungsinya dengan baik.Kata Kunci : Pekerja/Buruh Outsourcing dan Perlindungan Hukum

Physiological roles of fatty acyl desaturases and elongases in marine fish: Characterisation of cDNAs of fatty acyl delta6 desaturase and elovl5 elongase of cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

In the present paper, we investigated the expression of fatty acyl desaturase and elongase genes in a marine teleost, cobia, a species of great interest due to its considerable aquaculture potential. A cDNA was cloned that, when expressed in yeast, was shown to result in desaturation of 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6, indicating that it coded for a Δ6 desaturase enzyme. Very low desaturation of 20:4n-3 and 20:3n-6 indicated only trace Δ5 activity. Another cloned cDNA enabled elongation of 18:4n-3, 18:3n-6, 20:5n-3 and 20:4n-6 in the yeast expression system, indicating that it had C18-20 and C20-22 elongase activity. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that it was homologous to human ELOVL5 elongase. However, the cobia Elovl5 elongase also had low activity toward C24 HUFA. The cobia Δ6 desaturase had a preference for 18:3n-3, but the elongase was generally equally active with both n-3 and n-6 substrates. Expression of both genes was 1-2 orders of magnitude greater in brain than other tissues suggesting an important role, possibly to ensure sufficient docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) synthesis in neural tissues through elongation and desaturation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3)

Application of endoscopic ultrasonography in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and related research advances

At present, traditional imaging techniques for the diagnosis of early-stage pancreatic cancer lack enough sensitivity, and therefore, early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is still the biggest challenge in precision medicine around the world. Based on a large amount of clinical practice and the development of related techniques, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) gradually shows its advantages in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, especially early diagnosis. This article reviews the application of EUS in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and related research advances

A Maximum Entropy Model Predicts the Potential Geographic Distribution of Sirex noctilio

Sirex noctilio, the Sirex woodwasp, is an invasive pest that causes significant economic damage to native and commercial conifer stands through the introduction of a fungal wood decay pathogen. We combined the latitudes and longitudes of S. noctilio distribution points with historical climate data to predict its potential global distribution using a maximum entropy model implemented in the Maxent software. The annual mean temperature, the mean temperature of the warmest quarter, and the precipitation of the wettest month were important meteorological factors that affected the predictions, probably because they have a strong effect on the development of S. noctilio. Our predictions cover the most recent occurrence sites of S. noctilio in China. We predict that suitable habitats for S. noctilio are currently concentrated between 30&deg; N to 60&deg; N and 25&deg; S to 55&deg; S on the world map. All continents except for Antarctica contain suitable areas for S. noctilio, and such areas account for approximately 26% of the total area of these six continents. Predictions for 2050 and 2070 show that global climate change will affect the distribution of S. noctilio. With a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, areas of moderate to high habitat suitability for S. noctilio will increase; with an increase in emissions, these areas will decrease