In a previous study, we showed that levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) were significantly higher in sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) than in sera of non-HCC patients with HCV. To confirm this finding, we analysed serum cfDNA levels in a cohort of 96 patients with HCV-related HCC and in 100 HCV carriers without known HCC. Again we found that serum cfDNA levels were significantly higher in HCC patients than in HCV carriers (115.9 ± 98.3 vs 34.4 ± 40.4 ng ml À1 (mean ± s.d.), Po0.0001). Of 87 eligible patients who underwent curative hepatectomy, those with a high cfDNA level had a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) time than those in whom the cfDNA level was not high. Cox proportional hazards model showed the cfDNA level to be an independent prognostic factor for OS and cancer recurrence in distant organs. Our results suggest that the serum cfDNA level reflects the metastatic potential of HCV-related HCC and that it can be a useful predictive biomarker for distant metastasis after curative surgery.

This experiment was conducted to clarify the nutritional functions of rice and phytase addition for broiler chicks. Thirty-six 7-day-old male chicks (ROSS 308 strain) were assigned to one of the four treatment groups: corn- or rice-based diet groups and each diet with added phytase (2000 phytase units/kg diet) groups (corn + P or rice + P groups). The non-phytate phosphorus (npP) content in the diets with added phytase was approximately half of the requirement. Body weight gain and feed intake in the rice group was significantly higher than those in the corn group. Breast and thigh muscle weights and nitrogen retention in the rice group were significantly higher than that in the corn group. Although the efficiency of phosphorus retention (%) in the corn + P group was significantly higher than that in the corn group, no significant difference was observed between the rice and rice + P groups. Liver threonine dehydrogenase activity in the corn group was significantly higher than in the other three groups. These results indicate that rice is superior to corn as a starter diet in broiler chicks, and that phytase action in the rice-based diet was less than that in the corn-based diet.

Abstract. Our study revealed that the level of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is increased in the serum of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To gain insight into the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we examined the association between cfDNA levels and various clinicopathological factors in 96 patients with HCV-related HCC and 99 non-HCC patients with HCV. Using pooled DNA microarray data, we profiled the expression patterns of inflammatory cytokine genes in 14 primary tumors from the group of HCC patients. We found that there were positive associations between the cfDNA level, aspartate aminotransferase levels and the number of leukocytes and neutrophils in patients with HCV-related HCC but not in non-HCC patients with HCV. The serum cfDNA level was not associated with other clinicopathological factors in HCC or non-HCC patients. A cluster analysis based on the inflammatory cytokine gene data revealed that HCCs with a high serum cfDNA level had increased levels of several inflammatory cytokine genes, suggesting that the serum cfDNA level is associated with the inflammatory status in primary tumors in HCV-related HCC.

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Integration of the dynamic data and geologic data led to a significant enhancement in understanding the reservoir flow behavior of a major limestone reservoir in the Arabian Gulf. High-permeability streaks were found to be the main factor controlling the reservoir performance and water breakthrough in the northern sector of the field. The methodology presented in this paper integrates static and dynamic data in such a way to ensure consistency between the data and enable better understanding of the reservoir flow characteristics. The study accommodates all available data from core, well test, O.H. logs, PLT, PNC logs and production data. Core data was used to identify the permeability variations vertically and horizontally. In order to extend the knowledge and map the area where the high-perm streaks exist, well test, production logs, TDT/PDK logs, production and injection data were used to link the reservoir heterogeneity on well-well and on a field scale basis. Statistical wire line log analysis was conducted and found that the Rxo log response was quite useful for reservoir characterization in this regard.The results of the analysis showed good consistency with what was concluded from dynamic data. The core and dynamic data indicate the high-permeability streaks cannot be correlated all over the reservoir, they are strictly present in the northern sector. There is a clear borderline splitting the reservoir into two sectors, the high permeability northern sector, and the low permeability southern sector. The profiles measured with the production logs (WFL & TDT/PDK) consistently indicated the presence preferential behavior that interpreted as a highñpermeability streaks at the top part of the reservoir. A linear increasing WOR trend of the wet producers is a clear indication of presence of permeability contrast that interpreted as a presence of hi-permeability streaks. The dual-permeability/porosity behavior as interpreted analytically utilizing pressure transient data found to be the response of the presence of hi-permeability streaks. This paper shows how data integration improved our understanding of reservoir performance and reduced the production uncertainty of this heterogeneous limestone reservoir. The modified 3D simulation model matched, for the first time, the reservoir water cut performance. Background The limestone reservoir of concern is a shallow dipping anticline located offshore in the Arabian Gulf, UAE. The average reservoir thickness is 68 ft., average porosity is 24%, and permeability ranges from 3 md to 96 md. The field is currently developed with a Staggered Line Drive waterflooding scheme. The scheme divided the field into twenty five-spot patterns of unequal sides with four producing lines, and three injection lines. In addition there is a ring of peripheral injection wells (Figure1). Fig. (1) Well location map