Osaka University

About: Osaka University is a education organization based out in Osaka, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Catalysis. The organization has 83778 authors who have published 185669 publications receiving 5158122 citations. The organization is also known as: Ōsaka daigaku.

The World Health Organization histologic classification system reflects the oncologic behavior of thymoma: a clinical study of 273 patients.

Abstract: Background Although the histologic classification of thymic epithelial tumors has been confusing and controversial, an agreement on the universal classification system for thymic epithelial tumors was achieved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999. The authors previously reported that the WHO histologic classification system reflects invasiveness and immunologic function of thymic epithelial tumors. In this subsequent study, they examined the prognostic significance of this classification system. Methods Clinical features as well as postoperative survival of patients with thymoma, but not thymic carcinoma, were examined with reference to WHO histologic classification based on an experience with 273 patients over a 44-year period. Results There were 18 type A tumors, 77 type AB tumors, 55 type B1 tumors, 97 type B2 tumors, and 26 type B3 tumors. In patients with type A, AB, B1, B2, and B3 tumors, the respective proportions of invasive tumor were 11.1%, 41.6%, 47.3%, 69.1%, and 84.6%; the respective proportions of tumors with involvement of the great vessels were 0%, 3.9%, 7.3%, 17.5%, and 19.2%; and the respective 20-year survival rates were 100%, 87%, 91%, 59%, and 36%. According to the Masaoka staging system, the 20-year survival rates were 89%, 91%, 49%, 0%, and 0% in patients with Stage I, II, III, IVa, and IVb disease, respectively. By multivariate analysis, the Masaoka staging system and the WHO histologic classification system were significant independent prognostic factors, whereas age, gender, association with myasthenia gravis, completeness of resection, or involvement of the great vessels were not significant independent prognostic factors. Conclusions This study showed that histologic appearance reflects the oncologic behavior of thymoma when the WHO classification system is adopted. The WHO classification system may be helpful in clinical practice for the assessment and treatment of patients with thymoma.

CCAT2, a novel noncoding RNA mapping to 8q24, underlies metastatic progression and chromosomal instability in colon cancer

Abstract: The functional roles of SNPs within the 8q24 gene desert in the cancer phenotype are not yet well understood. Here, we report that CCAT2, a novel long noncoding RNA transcript (lncRNA) encompassing the rs6983267 SNP, is highly overexpressed in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer and promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and chromosomal instability. We demonstrate that MYC, miR-17-5p, and miR-20a are up-regulated by CCAT2 through TCF7L2-mediated transcriptional regulation. We further identify the physical interaction between CCAT2 and TCF7L2 resulting in an enhancement of WNT signaling activity. We show that CCAT2 is itself a WNT downstream target, which suggests the existence of a feedback loop. Finally, we demonstrate that the SNP status affects CCAT2 expression and the risk allele G produces more CCAT2 transcript. Our results support a new mechanism of MYC and WNT regulation by the novel lncRNA CCAT2 in colorectal cancer pathogenesis, and provide an alternative explanation of the SNP-conferred cancer risk.

Hydrothermal synthesis of nanosized anatase and rutile TiO2 using amorphous phase TiO2

Abstract: Phase-pure TiO2 nanocrystallites with narrow particle-size distributions were selectively prepared by hydrothermal processes starting from amorphous TiO2. Autoclaving amorphous TiO2 in the presence of HF and HCl as cooperative catalysts led to the formation of narrow-sized anatase TiO2 with a regular crystalline surface. Use of nitric acid as a cooperative catalyst with HF also gave the anatase TiO2 with a narrow size distribution but with a rather irregular crystalline surface. On the other hand, amorphous TiO2 was converted to phase-pure rutile TiO2 nanocrystallites by autoclaving in the presence of citric and nitric acids. Chelation of TiO6 octahedra with citric acid and acidification with nitric acid are critical for the phase transition from amorphous to rutile. The shape of all rutile nanocrystallites was rod-like. The crystal growth of TiO2 to phase-pure anatase or rutile was proposed to proceed via respective face-sharing and edge-sharing processes through dissolution–precipitation of the dissolved TiO6 octahedra from the amorphous phase. The photocatalytic activity in the redox reaction of 2-propanol with oxygen was quite comparable among the synthesized anatase and rutile nanocrystallites.

Topological Superconductivity in Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3).

Abstract: A topological superconductor (TSC) is characterized by the topologically protected gapless surface state that is essentially an Andreev bound state consisting of Majorana fermions. While a TSC has not yet been discovered, the doped topological insulator Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3), which superconducts below ∼3 K, has been predicted to possess a topological superconducting state. We report that the point-contact spectra on the cleaved surface of superconducting Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) present a zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) which signifies unconventional superconductivity. Theoretical considerations of all possible superconducting states help us conclude that this ZBCP is due to Majorana fermions and gives evidence for a topological superconductivity in Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3). In addition, we found an unusual pseudogap that develops below ∼20 K and coexists with the topological superconducting state.