Methylation profiling of twenty four genes and the concordant methylation behaviours of nineteen genes that may contribute to hepatocellular carcinogenesis

To determine the possible role of the epigenetic mechanisms in carcinogenesis of the hepatocellular carcinoma, we methylation-profiled the promoter CpG islands of twenty four genes both in HCC tumors and the neighboring non-cancerous tissues of twenty eight patients using the methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method in conjunction with the DNA sequencing. In comparison with the normal liver tissues from the healthy donors, it was found that while remained unmethylated the ABL, CAV, EPO, GATA3, LKB1, NEP, NFL, NIS and p27^(KIP1) genes, varying extents of the HCC specific hypermethylation were found associated with the ABO, AR, CSPG2, cyclin al, DBCCR1, GALR2, IRF7, MGMT, MT1A, MYOD1, OCT6, p57^(KIP2), p73, WT1 genes, and demethylation with the MAGEA1 gene, respectively. Judged by whether the hypermethylated occurred in HCC more frequently than in their neighboring normal tissues, the hypermethylation status of the AR, DBCCR1, IRF7, OCT6, and p73 genes was considered as the event specific to the late stage, while that the rest that lacked such a distinguished contrast, as the event specific to the early stage of HCC carcinogenesis. Among all the clinical pathological parameters tested for the association with, the hypermethylation of the cyclin al gene was more prevalent in the non-cirrhosis group (P=0.021) while the hypermethylated p16^(INK4a) gene was more common in the cirrhosis group (P=0.017). The concordant methylation behaviors of nineteen genes, including the four previously studied and their association with cirrhosis has been evaluated by the best subgroup selection method. The data presented in this report would enable us to shape our understanding of the mechanisms for the HCC specific loss of the epigenetic stability of the genome, as well as the strategy of developing the novel robust methylation based diagnostic and prognostic tools.

Comparison of tumor regression grading systems for locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Current tumor regression grade(TRG)evaluations are based on various systems which brings confusion for oncologists and pathologists when interpreting results.The recent six-tier system(JGCA2017-TRG)recommended by the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association(JGCA)is worth investigating,as four-tier TRG systems are favored in various parts of the world.AIM To compare the predictive accuracies of five published TRG systems.METHODS Data were retrospectively collected from patients with locally advanced gastric cancer(LAGC)who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by D2 Lymphadenectomy between January 2005 and January 2014 at our institution.Outcomes were overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS),which were evaluated separately using the following TRG systems:JGCA2017,JGCA,Becker,AJCC/CAP,and Mandard.RESULTS All five published TRG systems were independent predictors for OS and DFS.Concordance indices of the JGCA2017,JGCA,Becker,AJCC/CAP-TRG,and Mandard systems were 0.651/0.6480.652/0.649,0.693/0.695,0.688/0.685,and 0.674/0.675 for OS and DFS,respectively.The four-tier Becker system showed the highest c-index,which was significantly greater than that of the six-tier JGCA2017 and five-tier JGCA systems(P<0.05 in OS and DFS).When residual tumor percentages were reset as:“no residual tumor”,<10%,<100%,and“no response”,the rearranged cutoff values achieved a maximum c-index with 0.728 for OS and 0.737 for DFS,which was superior to the other five systems.CONCLUSION The newly introduced six-tier JGCA-TRG system cannot increase prognostic stratification.The four-tier Becker system is more suitable for LAGC patients.A population-based study is warranted to define the optimal criterion for TRG in LAGC patients.

Integrated Expert Analytical System for Assessment of Oil-and-Gas Saturation of Strata

The present research deals with the problem of development of an integrated expert-analytical system for optimum selection of calculated oil-field-geophysical parameters of oil and gas deposits with the purpose of increasing the accuracy of assessment of the reserves of oil and gas deposits. The purpose of the system is to make current adequate decisions on determining of oil-and-gas saturation of strata and future identification of the most significant methods for that, with these methods forming the foundation of knowledge bases for oil-and-gas deposits of the Apsheron peninsula of Azerbaijan. The system architecture allows for expanding the system with its subsequent transformation into a cluster of expert-analytical systems. A logical model of the proposed system is presented. The paper contains a detailed description of the mechanism of operation of the system as a whole and of its individual blocks. Mathematical and formal-logical bases of the intelligent system are explained. The system is equipped with a tool for dynamic statistical analysis of decisions made by it, with representation of the results in real-time mode. The results of the system testing on specific oil-and-gas deposit of the Apsheron peninsula of Azerbaijan in 2013 are given.

Documentation Concordance,Sharing and Utilization of Tea Germplasm Resources in Yunnan

In this paper,the research achievements and progress of Yunnan tea germplasm resource in past sixty years are systematically reviewed from the following aspects：exploration,collecting,conservation,protection,identification,evaluation and shared utilization.Simultaneously,the current problems and the suggestions about subsequent development of tea germplasm resources in Yunnan were discussed,including superior and rare germplasm collection,tea genetic diversity research,biotechnology utilization in tea germplasm innovation,super gene exploration and function,the construction of utilization platform,biological base of species and population conservation.

关于Concordance Process与企业竞争优势的探索

介绍了由韩国仁荷大学李庆焕教授于2001年提出的竞争战略理论Concordance Process,认为企业取得竞争优势的关键在于如何大量有效地发挥和利用权利的五个基本属性,即创造属性、保存属性、支配属性、归属属性以及结合属性。

以企业竞争优势为中心的3M经营成果测定法

在日益复杂化的市场竞争环境中,影响企业经营成果水平的因素越来越多。使用何种方法对企业经营成果进行测定才更为合理准确,一直是广大学者和企业战略家们探讨的热门话题。本文分析了传统企业成果测定方法的局限性,从战略角度出发,以企业竞争优势为中心,介绍了3M经营成果测定法;剖析了其与企业竞争优势之间的关系,并设定了3M经营成果测定模型。希望能够为以Concordance Process理论为代表的关于企业竞争优势的各种研究提供一种准确可行的成果测定方法,使今后的实证研究更加严谨科学。

民营企业竞争优势来源解析模型研究——基于PP与CP的辩证关系

Power Process和Concordance Process作为两大竞争战略理论在韩国被提出,其科学性已为一些实证研究所证明.本文以此为基础,针对民营中小企业的竞争优势来源进行实证研究,确定了民营企业竞争来源解析模型,并进一步揭示了Power Process和Concordance Process两理论的辩证关系.

语法一致(grammatical conaord)与概念一致(notional concord)

根据“概念一致”的原则,there's+复数名词是“'s”用法的一种发展趋势。

Corpus Analysis of the Various Errors Made by the Student

The software Wordsmith has been commonly used in corpus linguistics.In this paper,the author used the tool of Concord in Wordsmith to analyze various errors made by a student.Five passages made by the students are used.After annotating on the errors,the author uses Concord to sort out each error maker and made classification chart of the errors.All the errors are classified into two categories:errors caused by carelessness and by language ability.After analyzing,there are mainly three kinds of errors and in the first category and five kinds of errors in the second category.

Applicability and variability of liver stiffness measurements according to probe position

AIM: To investigate the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) applicability and variability with reference to three probe positions according to the region of liver biopsy. METHODS: The applicability for LSM was defined as at least 10 valid measurements with a success rate greater than 60% and an interquartile range/median LSM < 30%. The LSM variability compared the inter-position concordance and the concordance with FibroTest. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty two consecutive patients were included. The applicability of the anterior position (81%) was significantly higher than that of the reference (69%) and lower positions (68%), (both P = 0.0001). There was a signif icant difference (0.5 kPa, 95% CI 0.13-0.89; P < 0.0001) between mean LSM estimated at the reference position (9.3 kPa) vs the anterior position (8.8 kPa). Discordance between positions was associated with thoracic fold (P = 0.008). The discordance rate between the reference position result and FibroTest was higher when the 7.1 kPa cutoff was used to define advanced fibrosis instead of 8.8 kPa (33.6% vs 23.5%, P = 0.03).CONCLUSION: The anterior position of the probe should be the fi rst choice for LSM using Fibroscan, as it has a higher applicability without higher variability compared to the usual liver biopsy position.

Understanding of chemoprophylaxis and concordance in inflammatory bowel disease

AIM:To assess patients' understanding for the reasons for taking 5-aminosalicylic acid or ursodeoxycholic acid as chemoprophylaxis against colorectal carcinoma associated with in? ammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A questionnaire-based study using a 5 point opinion scale was performed. One hundred and ninety-two patients with colitis only and 74 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and IBD were invited to take part. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 58%. Sixtyfour percent of patients claimed full concordance with chemoprophylaxis for maintenance of remission. Eightyfour percent of patients considered daily concordance during remission to be very important. Seventy-five percent stated they understood the reasons for taking the drugs. However, only 50% of the patients were aware of any link of their condition to bowel cancer. Seventy-nine percent of patients felt their concordance and understanding would be improved if they were informed of the chemoprophylactic potential of the medication.

A Brief Study of Concord in English

The English language is different from the Chinese language in many ways.In Chinese there is noconcord,while in English verbs must be in agreement with subjects in person and number: a pronoun must be in agreement with the noun it refers to;elements in parallel structures must be in agreement with one another,therefore concord in English is quite important.We can say without exaggeration that one cannot produce a single sentence in English if there is no concord.This article is going to deal with concord in English by giving some principles supported by examples.

Coherence estimation algorithm using Kendall's concordance measurement on seismic data

The coherence method is always used to describe the discontinuity and heterogeneity of seismic data. In traditional coherence methods, a linear correlation coefficient is always used to measure the relationship between two random variables （i.e., between two seismic traces）. However, mathematically speaking, a linear correlation coefficient cannot be applied to describe nonlinear relationships between variables. In order to overcome this limitation of liner correlation coefficient. We proposed an improved concordance measurement algorithm based on Kendall＇s tau. That mainly concern the sensitivity of the liner correlation coefficient and concordance measurements on the waveform. Using two designed numerical models tests sensitivity of waveform similarity affected by these two factors. The analysis of both the numerical model results and real seismic data processing suggest that the proposed method, combining information divergence measurement, can not only precisely characterize the variations of waveform and the heterogeneity of an underground geological body, but also does so with high resolution. In addition, we verified its effectiveness by the actual application of real seismic data from the north of China.

The Reliability of Assessment of Ki-67 Expression on Core Needle Biopsy and the Surgical Specimens of Invasive Breast Cancer: Comparison of Local Pathologists’ Assessment and Central Review

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of Ki-67 expression on core needle biopsy (CNB) and the surgical specimens of invasive breast cancer. We examined the concordance rate of Ki-67 expressions, hormone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status from a CNB with from a surgery in invasive breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on a clinical database of patients who underwent surgery for early breast cancer. Of these, 193 patients who underwent CNB before the surgery were enrolled. A cut-off value of 20% was used for Ki-67-positive criteria. Expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER2 were examined and compared with that of Ki-67. To evaluate discordance between the pathologists’ earlier assessments, we re-examined Ki-67 expression among the Ki-67 discordant group in a central laboratory. Results: The concordance rate for Ki-67 expression between the two specimen types was 77.7%, which was significantly lower than that for ER, PgR, and HER2 expression (95.9%, 88.1%, and 91.6%, respectively). The concordance rate for re-examined Ki-67 expression among the Ki-67 discordant group improved to 93.8% and was not significantly different from that for the other receptors. Conclusion: The concordance rate for Ki-67 expression between biopsy and surgical specimens was significantly lower than that for ER, PgR, and HER2 expressions, but re-examination of Ki-67 expression in a central laboratory revealed no significant difference among the receptors, suggesting the need for standard pathological assessment of Ki-67 expression for clinical use as a predictive marker of breast cancer.

What's in a name? Compliance, adherence and concordance in chronic psychiatric disorders

About half or more of the patients with chronic psychiatric illnesses, either do not take their medications correctly, or completely stop taking them. The problem of poor initial compliance or adherence is often compounded by a continued decline in compliance/adherence over time. The failure to take medicines, adversely affects the outcome of treatment, and places a huge burden of wasted resources on the society. Three terms have been used to describe medication-taking among patients with chronic psychiatric disorders. Compliance is defined as "the extent to which the patient's behaviour matches the prescriber's recommendations". Though compliance has been frequently employed to describe medication-taking behaviour, it has proved problematic because it refers to a process where the clinician decides on a suitable treatment, which the patient is expected to comply with unquestioningly. Studies over the past few decades have emphasized the importance of patients' perspectives in medicationtaking, based on their own beliefs, their personal circumstances, the information and resources available for them. Adherence has been used as a replacement for compliance in an effort to place the clinician-patient relationship in its proper perspective. Adherence refers to a process, in which the appropriate treatment is decided after a proper discussion with the patient. It also implies that the patient is under no compulsion to accept a particular treatment, and is not to be held solely responsible for the occurrence of non-adherence. Adherence has been defined as "the extent to which a person's behaviour, taking medication, following a diet, and/or executing lifestyle changes, corresponds with agreed recommendations from a health care provider". To overcome certain problems in the concept of adherence, a third term concordance has been used. The concept of concordance has evolved from a narrower view, emphasizing an agreement between the clinician and the patient, which takes into account each other's perspective on medication-taking, to a broader process consisting of open discussions with the patient regarding medication-taking, imparting information and supporting patients on long-term medication. It is a process, which entertains patients' views on medicationtaking, and acknowledges that patients' views have to be respected even if they make choices, which appear to be in conflict with the clinician's views. Although none of these terms are ideal solutions to understanding the complex process of medication-taking behaviour of patients, the move from compliance to adherence and concordance represents genuine progress in this field, which puts the patient's perceptions at the centre of the whole process.

Magnetic resonance imaging and Crohn's disease endoscopic index of severity: Correlations and concordance

AIM To examine the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and endoscopic index of severity(CDEIS) in patients with Crohn's disease(CD).METHODS This was a retrospective study of 104 patients with CD that were treated at the Ruijin Hospital between March 2015 and May 2016. Among them, 61 patients with active CD were evaluated before/after treatment. MRI and endoscopy were performed within 7 d. CDEIS was evaluated. MRI parameters included Ma RIA scores, total relative contrast enhancement(tRCE), arterialRCE(aRCE), portalRCE(pRCE), delay phaseRCE(dRCE), and apparent diffusion coefficient. The correlation and concordance between multiple MRI findings and CDEIS changes before and after CD treatment were examined.RESULTS Among the 104 patients, 61 patients were classified as active CD and 43 patients as inactive CD. Gender, age, disease duration, and disease location were not significantly different between the two groups(all P > 0.05). CRP levels were higher in the active group than in the inactive group(25.12 ± 4.12 vs 5.14 ± 0.98 mg/L, P < 0.001). Before treatment, the correlations between CDEIS and MaRIAs in all patients were r = 0.772 for tRCE, r = 0.754 for aRCE, r = 0.738 for pRCE, and r = 0.712 for dRCE(all MaRIAs, P < 0.001), followed by MRI single indexes. Among the active CD patients, 44 cases were remitted to inactive CD after treatment. The correlations between CDEIS and MaRIAs were r = 0.712 for aRCE, r = 0.705 for tRCE, r = 0.685 for pRCE, and r = 0.634 for dRCE(all MaRIAs, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION Arterial Ma RIA should be an indicator for CD follow-up and dynamic assessment. CD treatment assessment was not completely concordant between CDEIS and MRI.

Standardized Assessment of Ki-67 in Breast Cancer Patients Using Virtual Slides and an Automated Analyzer in Comparison to Central/Local Pathological Assessments

Purpose: To standardize the methods to measure Ki-67, there is an interest in automating the assessment of Ki-67. Therefore, we reviewed the possibility of introducing an automated analyzer to standardize the Ki-67 evaluation method. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a clinical database of patients who underwent surgery for early breast cancer at Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital. Among them, those who underwent preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) were enrolled. The concordance rates of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 by local pathologists were reviewed (valuations made by local pathologists), and nonmatching cases (from August 2008 to October 2011) were reassessed both by central review and using an automated analyzer with virtual slides. The results were compared with the evaluations made by local pathologists, and we reexamined the concordance rate by using central review and the automated analyzer. Results: The concordance rate of Ki-67 evaluations made by local pathologists in the preoperative CNB and surgical specimens was 78.7% in 287 cases pathologically assessed from October 2008 to March 2013. This rate was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that of ER (95.6%), PgR (88.5%), and HER2 (91.6%). Reassessment of the 37 cases of nonmatching Ki-67 values from 2008 to October 2011 using central review and an automated analyzer resulted in clear improvement in matching of 22 (92.1%) and 24 (93.1%) of 37 cases, respectively. Conclusion: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative CNB and surgical specimens was lower than that of other biological markers;however, they were nearly equal by reassessment using central review and an automated analyzer.

Concordance between bio-impedance analysis and clinical score in fluid-status assessment of maintenance haemodialysis patients: A single centre experience

BACKGROUND The burden of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is rising rapidly globally.Fluid overload(FO),an independent predictor of mortality in CKD,should be accurately assessed to guide estimation of the volume of fluid to be removed during haemodialysis(HD).Clinical score(CS)and bio-impedance analysis(BIA)have been utilized in assessment of FO and BIA has demonstrated reproducibility and accuracy in determination of fluid status in patients on HD.There is need to determine the performance of locally-developed CSs in fluid status assessment when evaluated against BIA.AIM To assess the hydration status of patients on maintenance HD using BIA and a CS,as well as to evaluate the performance of that CS against BIA in fluid status assessment.METHODS This was a single-centre,hospital-based cross-sectional study which recruited adult patients with CKD who were on maintenance HD at Kenyatta National Hospital.The patients were aged 18 years and above and had been on maintenance HD for at least 3 mo.Those with pacemakers,metallic implants,or bilateral limbs amputations were excluded.Data on the patients’clinical history,physical examination,and chest radiograph findings were collected.BIA was performed on each of the study participants using the Quantum®II bio-impedance analyser manufactured by RJL Systems together with the BC 4®software.In evaluating the performance of the CS,BIA was considered as the gold standard test.A 2-by-2 table of the participants’fluid status at each of the CS values obtained compared to their paired BIA results was constructed(either++,+-,--or-+for FO using the CS and BIA,respectively).The results from this 2-by-2 table were used to compute the sensitivity and specificity of the CS at the various reference points and subsequently plot a receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve that was used to determine the best cut-off point.Those above and below the best CS cut-off point as determined by the ROC were classified as being positive and negative for FO,respectively.The proportions of participants diagnosed with FO by the CS and BIA,respectively,were computed and summarized in a 2-by-2 contingency table for comparison.McNemar’s chi-squared test was used to assess any statistically significant difference in proportions of patients diagnosed as having FO by CS and BIA.Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess whether the variables for the duration of dialysis,the number of missed dialysis sessions,advisement by health care professional on fluid or salt intake,actual fluid intake,the number of anti-hypertensives used,or body mass index were associated with a patient’s odds of having FO as diagnosed by BIA.RESULTS From 100 patients on maintenance HD screened for eligibility,80 were recruited into this study.Seventy-one(88.75%)patients were fluid overloaded when evaluated using BIA with mean extracellular volume of 3.02±1.79 L as opposed to the forty-seven(58.25%)patients who had FO when evaluated using the CS.The difference was significant,with a P value of<0.0001(95%confidence interval:0.1758-0.4242).Using CS,values above 4 were indicative of FO while values less than or equal to 4 denoted the best cut-off for no FO.The sensitivity and specificity for the CS were 63%and 78%respectively.None of the factors evaluated for association with FO showed statistical significance on the multivariable logistic regression model.CONCLUSION FO is very prevalent in patients on chronic HD at the Kenyatta National Hospital.CS detects FO less frequently when compared with BIA.The sensitivity and specificity for the CS were 63%and 78%respectively.None of the factors evaluated for association with FO showed statistical significance on the multivariable logistic regression model.

Current understandings of the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes:Genetics to environment

Type 1 diabetes(T1D)is an autoimmune disease that usually strikes early in life,but can affect individuals at almost any age.It is caused by autoreactive T cells that destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.Epidemiological studies estimate a prevalence of 1 in 300 children in the United States with an increasing incidence of 2%-5%annually worldwide.The daily responsibility,clinical management,and vigilance required to maintain blood sugar levels within normal range and avoid acute complications(hypoglycemic episodes and diabetic ketoacidosis)and long term micro-and macro-vascular complications significantly affects quality of life and public health care costs.Given the expansive impact of T1D,research work has accelerated and T1D has been intensively investigated with the focus to better understand,manage and cure this condition.Many advances have been made in the past decades in this regard,but key questions remain as to why certain people develop T1D,but not others,with the glaring example of discordant disease incidence among monozygotic twins.In this review,we discuss the field’s current understanding of its pathophysiology and the role of genetics and environment on the development of T1D.We examine the potential implications of these findings with an emphasis on T1D inheritance patterns,twin studies,and disease prevention.Through a better understanding of this process,interventions can be developed to prevent or halt it at early stages.

限制性团体沙箱体验在心理教育中的应用

心理教育与培训在越来越多的成人培训中被广泛重视与应用。但是传统的理论讲解已不能满足学员多层次、多视角的需要,应运而生的新的心理培训模式正在不断地产生和发展。其中限制性团体沙箱体验近年来发展成为了成人心理教育与培训的一种行之有效的培训模式。