Correlation of PBX2/ELF2 expression with prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between pre B cell leukemia transcription factor 2 (PBX2)/Ets domain transcription factor 2 (ELF2) expression with prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expressions of ELF2 and PBX2 were examined in 206 patients of NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of PBX2/ELF2 expression with valosin-containing protein (VCP) expression and clinicopathologic factors of NSCLC patients was analyzed. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Cox's regression were used for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of PBX2/ELF2 expression was associated with VCP expression (P=0.0126). Univariate analysis showed that 5-y disease free survival and overall survival (OS) of NSCLC were correlated with expression of PBX2, PBX2/ELF2 and VCP, tumor size, histological differentiation, visceral pleural invasion, N and T in pTNM grades, and clinical stages (P<0.05). The 5-y OS was also related to vascular invasion (P=0.0322). Multivariate analysis revealed that the expression level of PBX2/ELF2 and histological differentiation were independent predictors for NSCLC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of PBX2/ELF2 expression is related to VCP expression, indicating that PBX2/ELF2-VCP pathway may be associated with the prognosis of NSCLC patients.</p>

Summary of a 30-year-old System of Graduate Entry at Osaka University Medical School / 医学教育

To evaluate a 30-year-old system of graduate entry at Osaka University Medical School, we analyzed the personal profiles and career choices of entrants already holding university degrees. At total of 405 such students have been admitted. Although the number of applicants with degrees decreased during the “bubble period” of asset-inflated economic expansion, it increased after the collapse of the bubble. Ninety-eight percent of graduate entrants were male, and at the time of entrance 82% of entrants were younger than 30 years, with a peak age distribution between 24 and 26 years. Ninety-six percent of entrants were graduates of a national university. Academic degrees held by the graduate entrants were bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in 57%, 36%, and 7%, respectively. Eighty-four percent of entrants had taken science courses before being admitted to our school. After graduation, research in basic medical science was more likely to be chosen as a career by students entering with university degrees than by students entering directly from high school. Although many graduates now hold supervisory positions, such as professor and hospital director, graduate entrants were more likely to enter family medicine than were students entering directly from high school. More than 20 years after graduation, 14% of graduate entrants were working at a university and 44% at a hospital. Furthermore, 9.6% of graduate entrants were professors, 7% were hospital directors, and 27% were family practitioners. These results indicate that our graduate entry system has admitted talented people with a clear purpose in life who received advanced scientific education and has produced a large number of graduates who have assumed leadership positions.

Epstein-Barr virus and gastrointestinal lymphomas in Korea

To analyze the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas arising in immunocompetent patients, 56 consecutive cases of gastrointestinal lymphomas (B-cell: 52-cases, T-cell: 3 cases, T/NK-cell: 1 case) occurring in the stomach (33 cases), intestine (22 cases) and esophagus (1 case) were investigated for the presence of EBV using polymerase chain reaction analysis as a screening method followed by EBER-1 RNA and DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry for the expression of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1). Forty-seven cases demonstrated extractable DNA and EBV DNA was detected only in 4 cases. Among the, RNA (EBER-1) and DNA ISH analysis confirmed the presence of the EBV genome in tumor cells in 3 cases (T/NK-cell lymphoma of ileum, gastric high-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma). Only the T/NK cell lymphoma showed diffuse positivity of tumor cells while 2 gastric B-cell lymphomas demonstrated a scattered positive reaction and no cases expressed LMP-1. Nine cases without extractable DNA by the PCR method showed no nuclear signal by EBER-1 ISH. These findings suggest that most sporadic primary gastrointestinal lymphomas in Korea are not associated with EBV.