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Cut vegetables have become popular among consumers in the past few decades. Washing with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution is the most common method used for preventing cut vegetables from spoiling, but some organic compounds react easily with available chlorine to form toxic chlorinated products. Thus, other disinfection methods to replace NaOCl treatment are being explored. We previously devised an instrument with CO 2 micro- and nano-bubbles under pressure less than 2.0 MPa (MNB-CO 2 ) for inactivating microorganisms in food at room temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MNB-CO 2 on the inactivation of microorganisms in cut wakegi (Allium wakegi Araki), which are difficult to inactivate with NaOCl. MNB-CO 2 treatment was conducted at each condition of pressure (0.1-2.0 MPa), temperature (20∼30°C) and solution pH (3.0-6.5) for 10-30 min. Also, for comparison, cut wakegi was immersed in 100 ppm NaOCl solution at 20∼30°C for 10-30 min and washed for 5 min to remove residual NaOCl. Total and coliform bacteria in cut wakegi were effectively inactivated by MNB-CO 2 . The inactivation effect of MNB-CO 2 treatment was almost the same as that of NaOCl treatment. The number of total and coliform bacteria significantly decreased with increasing pressure and temperature in the MNB-CO 2 treatment, and was especially decreased with decreasing solution pH. These results suggested that MNB-CO 2 treatment at pressure less than 2.0 MPa and room temperature was very effective at inactivating microorganisms in cut wakegi as an alternative to NaOCl treatment.

We try to identify odor volatile compounds in the fruit of 7 strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cultivars including 'Toyonoka,' 'Tochiotome,' 'Kurume 58,' 'Kurume IH1,' 'Kitanokagayaki,' 'Bell Rouge,' and 'Pechika'. The odor descriptions of aroma compounds in those extracts were evaluated by GC-O and identified by GC-MS. 74 odorants in the extracts of 7 cultivars were detected by GC-O. 36 of them were contained in all cultivars. Those compounds were thought to be basic components made up of a strawberry aroma. The 74 compounds can be classified roughly into 5 kinds: fruity, sweet, green, sour, and others. The fruity odor is composed mainly of the esters and lactones, such as γ-decalactone, linalool and ethyl 3-methylbutanoate. The sweet odor is composed mainly of the furans, such as 4-Hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-furan-3-one (furaneol). The green odor is composed mainly of the aldehydes, such as E,Z-2,6-nonadienal and Z-2-nonenal. The sour odor is composed mainly of the acids, such as hexanoic and 2-methylbutanoic acids.

We present a fast and simple method for aroma extract dilution-strip analysis (AED-SA) to evaluate the contributing odors in strawberry aroma based on aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). The aroma extracts from two types of strawberry cultivars (03001-3 and P6) were diluted with ethanol at a ratio 1:3 n , and the aroma characteristic of those extracts dripped on fragrance strips were evaluated by 4 panelists using descriptors such as fruity, sweet, green, sour, peach-like and grape-like. According to the AED-SA, the dilution index (DI) scores of sweet, fruity and sour, and especially peach-like odors of diluted extract from 03001-3 were higher than those of P6, whereas the DI score of grape-like odor of p6 was higher than that of 03001-3. AED-SA could clearly evaluate the main aromas as well as the intensity of every main aroma and the characteristic odor, for example, peach-like (03001-3) or grape-like (P6) in the aroma extract. The DI of each odor in the AED-SA is similar to the score of sensory evaluation. Therefore, AED-SA could be used to clarify the characteristics of fruit aroma, especially the intensity of overall odor or individual aroma of an extract, without the use of any expensive equipment.

A new method for immobilization of TiO 2 nanoparticles on polymeric substrates was developed to facilitate photocatalytic purification of contaminated air and water. TiO 2 was immobilized by dipping a polymeric substrate, treated with polyvinyl chloride–polyvinyl acetate (PVC–PVA) copolymer and/or SiO 2 , into a TiO 2 /water suspension. The surface zeta potential measurement on TiO 2 and treated polymers implies that this method is based on an electrostatic interaction between positively charged TiO 2 and the negatively charged treated surface of the polymeric substrate. This method precludes the enwrapping of TiO 2 particles in binding components, which has been a drawback of conventional methods, and enables bonding of the TiO 2 nanoparticles on the substrate surface at high density. The TiO 2 -immobilized nonwoven polyester (PES) prepared using this method exhibited high photocatalytic activity for decomposing the air contaminant toluene. Furthermore, this method was applicable to polypropylene (PP) nonwoven, polyethylene (PE) nets and PE and PP films. TiO 2 bonding was inhibited on PP by treatment with PVC–PVA copolymer and better TiO 2 immobilization was observed on SiO 2 -treated PP.

A titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic reaction treatment was applied to tomato fruit during storage to investigate the variation in the efficiency of this treatment for delaying ripening time and removing off-flavors in the storage atmosphere. Its efficiency was evaluated at various TiO2 concentrations and ultraviolet-A (UV-A, 315-400 nm) light intensities during fruit storage. In this study, TiO2 was applied to the fruit storage chamber in the form of TiO2 slurry. The results presented here demonstrated that the presence of TiO2 and UV-A light can remove ethylene gas from the storage atmosphere and extend the ripening time of green tomatoes. The extent of ethylene removal and ripening delay due to the TiO2 photocatalytic reaction depended on the TiO2 concentration and the UV-A light intensity. More than 90% of the ethylene gas was removed when TiO2 was applied at 10 g/Land the UV-A light intensity was 5 W/m2. Reduction of the TiO2 concentration and UV-A light intensity to 0.1 g/L and

SummaryAn economic assessment was made of whether leaf vegetables can absorb almost all of a given amount of an L-ascorbic acid solution applied by soaking the roots for 12 h. The effects of storage temperature on the foliar exogenous ascorbic acid content were also observed. It was found that the given amounts of L-ascorbic acid solution are entirely absorbed by lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Redfire) and are over 90% absorbed by spinach (Spinacio oleracea L., cv. Read) and bunching onion plants (Allium fistulosum L., cv. Hakata Kuronegi). Due to the soaking treatment, the sum of the L-ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydro-ascorbic acid (DHA) contents (mg per 100 g fresh weight) in the leaves of plants which showed no signs of wilting increased from 38.9 to 201–221 in lettuce, from 76.5 to 196–225 in spinach and from 46.7 to 134–144 in bunching onion. The foliar AA content in all the plants stayed at approximately the same value during a storage period of 7 d at 4°C, but decreased significantly at 25°C....

Nano-sized materials are widely used in consumer products, medical devices and engineered pharmaceuticals. Advances in nanotechnology have resulted in materials smaller than the nanoscale, but the biologic safety of the sub-nanosized materials has not been fully assessed. In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of sub-nanosized platinum particles (snPt) in the mouse liver. After intravenous administration of snPt (15 mg/kg body weight) into mice, histological analysis revealed acute hepatic injury, and biochemical analysis showed increased levels of serum markers of liver injury and inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, administration of nano-sized platinum particles did not produce these abnormalities. Furthermore, snPt induced cytotoxicity when directly applied to primary hepatocytes. These data suggest that snPt have the potential to induce hepatotoxicity. These findings provide useful information on the further development of sub-nanosized materials.

The results of clinical studies on 16 reconstruction procedure after total layer chest wall resection in 14 cases of malignant tumor of the chest wall were reported. The 14 cases consisted of two cases with recurrent primary chest wall tumor, two cases of primary breast cancer, seven cases of recurrent breast cancer, and others. The reconstruction procedure after total layer chest wall resection was conducted using only various myocutaneous flaps (eight cases using latissimus dorsi of the resected side, three cases using the abdominitis of the resected side, three cases using latissimus dorsi of the non-resected side, and two cases using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap of the non-resected side). reconstruction only using a myocutaneous flap proved to be satisfactory for preventing early stage postoperative respiratory distress and maintaining the stability of the chest wall and respiratory function during prolonged observation. Namely, use of myocutaneous flap is the best approach of reconstruction the chest wall after total layer chest wall resection. We confirmed that reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap of the non-resected side with microvascular anastomosis of thoracodorsal vessels was useful for posterior chest wall tumors invading the latissimus dorsi muscle. Also, our results demonstrated the insertion of an omental flap under the myocutaneous flap was useful for cases with secondary chest wall infection or vascular damage caused by preoperative high dose irradiation.

Mediastinal B-cell malignant lymphoma of a 22-year-old female was successfully treated by combination chemotherapy including Adriamycin, Vincristine and Cyclophosphamide. She suffered from dyspnea and axillary tumor in September 1984. Roentgenological examination revealed a large anterior mediastinal tumor. Biopsy of the axillary tumor yielded a diagnosis of metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma from thymus by hematoxylin and eosin. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy including CDDP and ACNU resulted in a symptom-free period of only 2 months. Superior vena cava syndrome and massive pleural effusion recurred. Salvage chemotherapy including Adriamycin, Vincristine and Cyclophosphamide resulted in rapid therapeutic effect. Six courses of chemotherapy were administered, and she is alive and well 4 years after the first salvage chemotherapy. A definitive diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was made after review of biopsy specimens using immunohistochemical procedures. To select adequate treatment for mediastinal malignant lymphoma, reliable diagnostic procedures including immunohistochemistry are needed. Intensive chemotherapy with appropriate drugs may obtain good response even in advanced cases, such as this.

A total of 26 lung cancer cases accompanied by pleural dissemination were resected between June 1977 and June 1988. Of these 16 cases were male and 10 cases were female. Their age was 34-78, and the average age was 56.7 years. The histologic type was adenocarcinoma in 23 cases, 1 was large cell carcinoma, 1 was combined adenosquamous cell carcinoma, and 1 was combined adeno-small cell carcinoma. Of these 23 adenocarcinoma cases, 15 were well differentiated, 7 were moderately differentiated, and 1 was poorly differentiated. There was no correlation between tumor size and pleural dissemination. Pleural effusion was observed in 8, 5 had bloody effusion and the other 3 had yellow effusion. Exact preoperative diagnosis and evaluation of extent was very difficult in pleural dissemination cases except for the pleural effusion cases. Concerning the operation method in these cases pleuropneumonectomy was performed in 10, pleurolobectomy in 6, and lobectomy in 10. Prognosis of cases of resected pleural dissemination was very poor. The median survival time was 16 months, The 1-year survival rate was 56.3%, the 2-year survival rate was 23.2%, the 3-year survival rate was 15.4%, and the 4-year survival rate was 7.7%. There was no 5-year survivor in lung cancer cases of this group. Malignant pleural effusion cases had a poorer prognosis, with 6 of 8 cases dying within 1 year from operation. No remarkable therapeutic effects were achieved by adjuvant chemotherapy. In the single case of preoperative hyperthermia, histological therapeutic effect (Ef 2) was recognized. These results suggest that there is no indication of operation in malignant pleural effusion cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sixteen malignant tumors of soft tissue (15 cases) were treated with low voltage direct current (DC therapy) with or without systemic chemotherapy. Two platinum or stainless steel electrodes were placed in the tumor and around 10 volts of direct current was passed for 1 hour. In cases in which chemotherapy was performed, single or combined anticancer agents consisted of ADM and BLM were administered simultaneously with DC therapy by systemic route. Ten cases (11 tumors) out of 15 cases received no other local treatment. Histological examination was performed in 6 of 11 lesions, and in all lesions pathological therapeutic effects were recognized. Decrease in tumor size was observed in 9 lesions. In 2 cases the tumors disappeared completely after DC therapy only. In one case receiving DC therapy with chemotherapy, the tumor decreased dramatically and became resectable. Main complications were slight pain during treatment and slight fever after treatment, but special treatment for these complications was not necessary. Our results suggested that DC therapy with or without systemic chemotherapy was useful for local control of malignant tumors. And also if DC therapy had been performed simultaneously with chemotherapy the therapeutic effects seemed to be more emphasized than single use of these therapies.

Thromboplastic and fibrinolytic activities of 14 lines of cultured human cancer cells were estimated by modified Astrup's methods. High tissue thromboplastic activity was found in one line of urinary-bladder cancer, 2 lines of gastric cancer and one line of lung cancer, but no activity was found in 6 lines of lung cancer. High fibrinolytic activity was noted in one line of gastric cancer and 2 lines of lung cancer, but no activity was seen in 6 lines of lung cancer and one line of gastric cancer. No plasmin activity was found. The tumour cell lines could be classified into 3 groups on the basis of the 2 activities. Cancer cell lines could also be classified into 2 groups: with high or low release of thromboplastin into culture media. Fibrinolytic activity was found in the culture media of all cell lines with high fibrinolytic activity. Fibrinolytic activity, but not thromboplastic activity, seemed to be influenced by the constituents of culture media. No definite correlation was found between the 2 activities and the histological types of the parent tumours of the cultured cells. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Summary Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate was added to the culture medium of the PC-6 line derived from oat cell carcinoma of the lung. The cells produced were similar to cultured neuroblastoma cells by phase-contrast, electron microscopy and formed catecholamines. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that oat cell carcinoma is of neural crest origin.

We have performed tracheal transplantation, resection of a tumor, and pulmonary resection in 4 cases of tumors of the trachea (2 cases of tracheal cancer and each one of amyloidosis and leiomyoma). Their postoperative courses were satisfactory except one case undergoing tracheal transplantation. Tumors of the trachea are not very rare and it is none too difficult to remove a tumor surgically if it is benign. On the contrary malignant tumors require tracheal resection and transplantation using artificial graft. We report our results of animal experiments through which we have had a clew for tracheal transplantation using natural rubber.

Lung cancer is characterized by a varied histologic background and as a result has a wide range of histologic types compared to cancer of other organs. There is remarkable difference in malignancy according to histologic type, therefore a definitive diagnosis before treatment is essential to determine therapeutic strategy. Recently definitive diagnostic rates of 99% have been obtained by various diagnostic procedures. The value of surveys especially those including sputum cytology is discussed. Also laser therapy with Nd-YAG laser and/or administration of hematoporphyrin derivative plus photoradiation by an argon dye laser and tumor localization with fluorescence photoradiation by a krypton ion laser are discussed.

The nuclear DNA content in morphologically identified tumor cells was analyzed in 4-micron histologic sections from 58 patients with lung carcinoma who survived for at least five years. Thirty-three of the carcinomas were invasive squamous bronchial carcinomas and 25 were pulmonary adenocarcinomas. In all squamous carcinomas, the majority of tumor cells were found to exhibit DNA values exceeding the normal tetraploid and/or diploid region. In contrast, some of the pulmonary adenocarcinomas were found to be composed of a majority of tumor cells with DNA values in the normal diploid region. The results indicate that invasive squamous bronchial carcinomas, in general, are tumors with aneuploid DNA patterns indicative of a high malignant potential and that malignancy grading based on DNA measurements does not add any significant prognostic information to that obtained by morphologic diagnosis.

Observation and photography as far as fourth order bronchi has been made possible by the development of the fiberoptic bronchoscope. This-has resulted in increasing encounters with cases in which it is difficult to decide upon nomenclature. Therefore, as an aid in analyzing pathologic findings; the authors set out to elucidate the types of bifurcations observed in normal cases and their appearance. Here we present the findings in 300 cases with normal left upper division bronchi and right upper lobe bronchi.

We performed several basic studies concerning lung cancer and their results were applied clinically. One was the establishment of cultured lung cancer cell strains and they were employed for sensitivity tests of anticancer agents and to study histogenesis of oat cell carcinoma and monoclonal antibody. Another study was the experimental induction of lung cancer in dogs. We succeeded in inducing canine central type lung cancer. Using epithelial cells from the various stages recognized in the carcinogenetic process. We measured DNA distribution and nuclear protein amounts, and we indicated the relationship between the carcinogenetic process and DNA pattern. Among 2,633 lung cancer cases 1,072 were resected. The 5-year survival of the latest 384 resected cases was 80.3% in stage I. The reasons for this relatively high survival rate is probably because of increased numbers of early stage central type lung cancer due to increasing sputum cytology surveys. Adjuvant therapy was performed using nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton and/or chemotherapy with CDDP. However, significantly better results were not obtained. The surgical results were discussed in 425 cases aged 70 years and over. The therapeutic results and indications of photodynamic therapy in early stage central type lung cancer were presented.

It is generally assumed that squamous cell carcinoma is preceded by a series of progressive epithelial’ changes. The importance of pathogenetic studies is based on the fact that diagnosis and treatment of preinvasive or early invasive lesions can stop the development of epithelial tumors.

Our studies inducing lung cancer in dogs have achieved a high rate of successful induction. In all of our dogs which developed carcinoma of the lung (central type) squamous cell metaplasia preceded the cancer. Although the exact relationship between squamous cell carcinoma and cancer is by no means clear, we feel that it is an important finding in clinical cases. Here we present the fiberoptic bronchoscopic findings of 171 cases of squamous cell metaplasia. All cases presenting at the Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical Hospital, with respiratory symptoms or abnormal chest X-ray undergo transoral fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination under local anesthesia.

The usual surgical treatment for fungus ball type pulmonary aspergillosis is lobectomy, but in cases of aspergillosis located in a post-lobectomy space a second lobectomy is difficult because of the accompanying inflammatory process. A 53-year-old male underwent left upper lobectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis eight years ago. Six year postoperatively, he developed fungus ball type aspergillosis in the post-lobectomy space with bronchopleural fistula and recurrent hemoptysis. We performed an omental pedicle flap plombage via the post-sternal route to resect the pleural cavity fungus ball. The post operative course was uneventful and clinically the bronchopleural fistula was closed.

We reported a dumbbell type tumor of the posterior mediastinum. The patient was an asymptomatic 40-year-old male. An abnormal shadow in the right lower lung field was pointed out in a mass survey. We recognized a dumbbell type tumor in the posterior mediastinum by chest CT and MRI. The tumor invaded the intervertebral canal through the spinal foramen. It was most clearly seen by MRI myelography. Operation was performed with the patient in a prone position and with an L-shaped skin incision of the back and 11th intracostal thoracotomy and Th11 laminectomy. The dumbbell type tumor was completely removed by this operation. The pathological diagnosis was Schwannoma. The post operative course was good. The one-stage operation is useful for dumbbell type tumors of the posterior mediastinum.

Toxicity of the cell wall skeleton of Nocardia rubra (N-CWS) was evaluated in 60 patients with lung cancer, leukemia, and malignant melanoma who were given the agent intratumorally, intrapleurally, and intradermally in doses of 100-2000 micrograms. Fever was the most common toxic effect and was more frequent after intratumoral and intrapleural doses than after intradermal doses. The other predominant reaction was skin lesions such as erythema, induration, and abscess at the injection sites.

Laser photoirradiation therapy following the administration of haematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) was performed in a case of primary vaginal carcinoma (stage I) using red light from an argon laser source. The vaginal tumor was destroyed and disappeared completely. No recurrence has been observed during a one-year follow-up. The findings suggest that HpD and laser photoradiation therapy may be effective in the treatment of early vaginal carcinoma.

The clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was evaluated in cases of early-stage lung cancer. Haematoporphyrin derivative was used as a photosensitizer and an argon dye laser and excimer dye laser were used as the light sources. A total of 199 lesions in 165 patients with lung cancer were treated by PDT. Forty-five lesions in 40 patients, which had been detected only by sputum cytology, were endoscopically suggestive of early-stage lung cancer. All patients showed normal chest X-ray findings. Thirty lesions in 26 patients were treated by PDT only, with or without other conservative treatment because of poor pulmonary function or for other reasons. All lesions initially showed complete remission. Recurrences were seen in three cases. Nine patients died of unrelated causes and one patient died after a recurrence. The other 16 patients are alive and apparently free of the disease. Fifteen lesions were treated surgically after PDT because the effectiveness of PDT was uncertain. Among these, five lesions showed complete remission histologically. Three of the PDT-only patients have now survived for more than five years. The longest surviving patient has gone eight years without apparent recurrence.

The therapeutic results of lung cancer have not improved much during the last decade despite increasing incidence throughout the world. If the disease could be detected at an early stage, improved therapeutic results could be expected.