Our results indicate that the measurement of the HA level is useful for monitoring liver damage or predicting complications associated with liver surgery.

Distal intramural spread is an independent risk factor for distant metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with rectal cancer.

The protooncogene Ets-1 is a transcription factor that is known to regulate certain matrix metalloproteinases and plasminogen activator, which have been associated with malignant behaviors in solid carcinomas. We hypothesized that Ets-1 expression is also associated with tumor progression and a worse prognosis in lung carcinoma patients. To clarify the role of the Ets-1 proto-oncogene, the expression of Ets-1 in non-small cell lung carcinomas using 156 paraffin-embedded specimens was determined in surgically resected tissue samples. Immunohistochemical staining showed Ets-1 expression in 82 cases of 156 carcinomas (53%): 36 of 52 (69%) squamous cell carcinomas, 41 of 96 (43%) adenocarcinomas, and 5 of 8 (63%) other carcinomas. In adenocarcinomas, a higher proportion of acinar type expressed Ets-1 compared to papillary or alveolar type ( p < 0.05). The proportion of adenocarcinoma that expressed Ets-1 increased with poorer histologic differentiation of the adenocarcinoma ( p < 0.05). Ets-1 positive adenocarcinomas had a larger mean size than Ets-1 negative adenocarcinomas ( p < 0.01). In adenocarcinoma patients, expression of Ets-1 was associated with disease-free ( p = 0.09) and overall survivals ( p < 0.05) after lung resection. Such relationship was not observed among squamous cell carcinoma patients. Our findings indicate that Ets-1 expression is related to histopathological differentiation, morphogenesis, and tumor progression of lung adenocarcinomas. Ets-1 appears to be a useful predictor of poor prognosis after surgical resection in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Ets-1 expression could be used to evaluate the malignant behaviors of lung adenocarcinomas.Ets-1; non-small cell lung cancer; histologic differentiation; subtype; prognosis

Microscale particle image velocimetry (μ-PIV) measurements of ensemble flow fields surrounding a steadily-migrating semi-infinite bubble through the novel adaptation of a computer controlled linear motor flow control system. The system was programmed to generate a square wave velocity input in order to produce accurate constant bubble propagation repeatedly and effectively through a fused glass capillary tube. We present a novel technique for re-positioning of the coordinate axis to the bubble tip frame of reference in each instantaneous field through the analysis of the sudden change of standard deviation of centerline velocity profiles across the bubble interface. Ensemble averages were then computed in this bubble tip frame of reference. Combined fluid systems of water/air, glycerol/air, and glycerol/Si-oil were used to investigate flows comparable to computational simulations described in Smith and Gaver (2008) and to past experimental observations of interfacial shape. Fluorescent particle images were also analyzed to measure the residual film thickness trailing behind the bubble. The flow fields and film thickness agree very well with the computational simulations as well as existing experimental and analytical results. Particle accumulation and migration associated with the flow patterns near the bubble tip after long experimental durations are discussed as potential sources of error in the experimental method.

Our results indicate that the lack of expression of EC and CD44v6 in liver metastases of colorectal cancer is associated with poor survival after surgery.