In selected patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC, the concurrent approach yields a significantly increased response rate and enhanced median survival duration when compared with the sequential approach.

0 5In Batesian mimicry, animals avoid predation by resembling distasteful models. In the swallowtail butterfly Papilio polytes, only mimetic-form females resemble the unpalatable butterfly Pachliopta aristolochiae. A recent report showed that a single gene, doublesex (dsx), controls this mimicry 1 ; however, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here we determined two whole-genome sequences of P. polytes and a related species, Papilio xuthus, identifying a single ~130-kb autosomal inversion, including dsx, between mimetic (H-type) and non-mimetic (h-type) chromosomes in P. polytes. This inversion is associated with the mimicry-related locus H, as identified by linkage mapping. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that female-specific dsx isoforms expressed from the inverted H allele (dsx(H)) induce mimetic coloration patterns and simultaneously repress non-mimetic patterns. In contrast, dsx(h) does not alter mimetic patterns. We propose that dsx(H) switches the coloration of predetermined wing patterns and that female-limited polymorphism is tightly maintained by chromosomal inversion.

Approximately 6.6% of Japanese have GERD and most persons with GERD described heartburn or acid regurgitation as bothersome.

Batesian mimicry protects animals from predators through resemblance with distasteful models in shape, color pattern, or behavior. To elucidate the wing coloration mechanisms involved in the mimicry, we investigated chemical composition and gene expression of the pale yellow and red pigments of a swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polytes, whose females mimic the unpalatable butterfly Pachliopta aristolochiae. Using LC/MS, we showed that the pale yellow wing regions in non-mimetic females consist of kynurenine and N-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD). Moreover, qRT-PCR showed that kynurenine/NBAD biosynthetic genes were upregulated in these regions in non-mimetic females. However, these pigments were absent in mimetic females. RNA-sequencing showed that kynurenine/NBAD synthesis and Toll signaling genes were upregulated in the red spots specific to mimetic female wings. These results demonstrated that drastic changes in gene networks in the red and pale yellow regions can switch wing color patterns between non-mimetic and mimetic females of P. polytes.

Summary A phase trial of the combination of irinotecan (CPT-11) with cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed a very promising response rate of 54% in previously untreated NSCLC patients. This study was conducted to confirm the activity and toxicities of CPT-11 and cisplatin combination for previously untreated NSCLC in a multi-institutional phase 11 study. Seventy patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC received CPT-11 60 mg m-2 intravenously (IV) on days 1, 8 and 15, and cisplatin 80 mg m-2 (IV) on day 1 every 4 weeks. Assessments were made of response, survival and toxicities. Sixty-nine were eligible, and evaluable for toxicities and survival, and 64 patients evaluable for response. Thirty-three patients (52%; 95% confidence interval 39-64%) achieved an objective response, with one complete response (2%) and 32 partial responses (50%). The median duration of response was 19 weeks and the overall median survival time was 44 weeks. The 1-year survival rate was 33%. The major toxic effects were leucopenia and diarrhoea. Grade 3 or 4 leucopenia, neutropenia, and diarrhoea occurred in 32 patients (46%), 53 patients (80%), and 13 patients (19%) respectively. A combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin is very effective against non-small-cell lung cancer with acceptable toxicities.