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Two colorimetric methods are used to determine the total polyphenol contents of tea, namely, "the Folin-Ciocalteu method," defined by the International Organization for Standardization, and the "iron tartrate method," specified in the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan. In this study, we compared the Folin-Ciocalteu and iron tartrate methods using green tea extracts. When comparing the 2 methods, the sum of the 4 major catechins measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was regarded as the standard value. The total polyphenol contents obtained using the Folin-Ciocalteu method were closer to the HPLC value than those obtained using the iron tartrate method. However, the iron tartrate method is adequate if the current official method is improved, that is, our results suggest that the coefficients appropriate for common green tea varieties, as well as the degree and duration of cover cultivation, in the official iron tartrate method must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee pollen is an apicultural product collected by honeybees from flower stamens and used as a functional food worldwide. In the present study, we aim to elucidate the functions of Australian bee pollen. Australian bee pollen extracts and their main components were tested for catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) inhibitory activities. These enzymes are key neurotransmitters involved in Parkinson's disease and depression. Myricetin (5), tricetin (6), and luteolin (7) exhibited high COMT inhibitory activities (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 23.3, 13.8, and 47.4 µM, respectively). In contrast, 5, 7 , and annulatin (8) exhibited MAOB inhibitory activities (IC50 = 89.7, 32.8, and 153 µM, respectively). Quantitative analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that 5 was abundant in Australian bee pollen extracts. Our findings suggest that 5 contributes to the COMT and MAOB inhibitory activities of Australian bee pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human melanoma regression by single thermal neutron capture therapy (NCT) using melanoma-seeking 10B compounds has been achieved. Since 1972, the aim of my team has been to synthesize tumor-seeking 10B-compounds possessing selective affinity for specific metabolic activity of the target cancer cells. Once the melanoma takes up these 10B compounds, thermal neutrons, which cause insignificant cell damage, are easily absorbed by nonradioactive 10B, inducing the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction and releasing the high LET particles to 14 μ melanoma cell diameter, destroying the tumor without damaging surrounding tissue. Radio-biological and preclinical studies culminated in the first successful human NCT treatment, with no recurrence of the treated melanoma since July, 1987. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the spectrophotometric determination of boron in biological materials, two decomposition methods were used. One is the alkali fusion method, and the other is the acid decomposition method using a uniseal decomposition vessel. A long-range calibration curve for the former method was obtained by using an ultrapure sulfuric acid. The alkali fusion method was applied to samples into which paraboronophenylalanine (BPA) or its hydrochloric salt (BPAHCI) had been injected. By the acid decomposition method using a uniseal vessel, 50 mg dried liver was digested by a mixed solution of 1 ml conc, sulfuric acid and 6 ml 30% hydrogen peroxide. A problem exists, however, in that the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the decomposition solution must be eliminated without loss of boron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A patient with malignant melanoma was treated by thermal neutron capture therapy using 10B-paraboronophenylalanine. The compound was injected subcutaneously into ten locations in the tumor-surrounding skin, and the patient was then irradiated with thermal neutrons from the Musashi Reactor at reactor power of 100 KW and neutron flux of 1.2 ± 109 n/cm2/s. Total absorbed dose to the skin was 11.7-12.5 Gy in the radiation field. The dose equivalents of these doses were estimated as 21.5 and 24.4 Sv, respectively. Early skin reaction after irradiation was checked from day 1 to day 60. The maximum and mean skin scores were 2.0 and 1.5, respectively, and the therapy was safely completed as far as skin reaction was concerned. Some factors influencing the absorbed dose and dose equivalent to the skin are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further advances leading to more sophisticated and effective suppression of melanogenesis and melanoma growth based on clarification and utilization of common vital factors involved in both processes are reviewed. Induction of depigmentation has been achieved by both glycosylation and its processing inhibitors, which have been found to be critical for the maturation and transport of tyrosinase from ribosomes through GERL-coated vesicles into premelanosomes. Kojic acid, a copper chelating melanogenic inhibitor, can induce inhibition of isolated tyrosinase activity as well as melanization in living pigment cells in in vitro and in vivo systems. This depigmenting effect was found to be due to a concurrent decrease in both eu- and pheomelanin formation. Malignant melanoma principally has accentuated melanosome genesis, which has been utilized to accumulate selectively 10B into melanoma cells using 10B-dopa analogue. Subsequent thermal neutron irradiation induces 10B(n, α)7Li reaction which releases high LET particles within a range of 10-14 μm thus erradicating selectively melanoma at the cellular level. This new therapy has been applied to a human melanoma lesion for the first time, and a successful therapeutic effect on melanoma has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent reports of some studies have described that the cognitive function of cancer patients often declines by a phenomenon designated as cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI). For patients' decision-making, detecting CRCI is important. To do so, this study uses language-based CRCI screening to examine participants' language ability., Objective: This study was conducted to ascertain whether a Natural Language Processing (NLP) based system can detect CRCI, or not., Materials and Methods: We obtained materials of two types from cancer patients (n = 116): (1) speech samples on three topics, and (2) cognitive function level test scores from Hasegawa's Dementia Scale - Revised (HDS-R), a test used in Japan for dementia patients. The test is similar to the Mini-Mental State Examination., Results and Discussion: Cancer patients with lower HDS-R scores showed a significantly lower Type Token Ratio (TTR)., Conclusion: This result demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed speech-language-based CRCI screening method.

Recent studies have attributed impaired cognitive function in cancer patients, or Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI), to various causes. CRCI screening is vital for guiding important decisions about treatment options. This study investigates the emotional Stroop-test-based CRCI screening, examining response time when naming the colors of negative emotional words. Cancer patients (n=17) participated in two tests: (1) the Stroop task; (2) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results suggest that Stroop-based CRCI screening is feasible.