Kurashiki Sakuyo University

Asbestos, especially chrysotile, continues to be exposed to humans globally. Hence, it should be disposed properly to prevent asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. This study aimed to verify whether forsterite, a heating product of chrysotile, can cause carcinogenicity, particularly mesothelioma. Forsterite (FO-1000) and enstatite (EN-1500) produced by heating chrysotile at 1,000°C and 1,500°C, respectively, were subjected. We injected 10 mg of chrysotile, FO-1000, or EN-1500 in rats intraperitoneally and observed the development of peritoneal mesothelioma until 24 months. The incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma in the chrysotile group was 91.2%, whereas in the FO-1000 and EN-1500 groups, peritoneal mesothelioma did not develop. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and serum N-ERC/mesothelin concentrations significantly increased in the chrysotile group that developed peritoneal mesothelioma, while they only temporarily changed in the FO-1000 or EN-1500 groups during early treatment. Furthermore, there was a significant homozygous deletion of the CDKN2A/p16 gene in the chrysotile group compared to the control group, in contrast to no significant difference in the FO-1000 and EN-1500 groups. Therefore, this study provides clear evidence that forsterite is a nonmesothelioma carcinogen and suggests that forsterite and enstatite are sufficient substances for chrysotile detoxification.

目的：ハトムギ全粒熱水抽出エキス(Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives: CRD)の線維芽細胞の増殖ならびにコラーゲン産生に及ぼす影響について検討した．方法：ヒト線維芽細胞に各種CRD濃度(0.00001%, 0.0001%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%)を添加し，細胞数ならびにコラーゲン産生量の変化を測定した．結果：CRD添加により線維芽細胞数は増加し，CRD添加濃度が0.0001%の時に約1.7倍とピークを示し，以降減少した．一方，線維芽細胞の細胞外基質中のコラーゲンは，CRD添加濃度が高くなるにしたがって増加し，添加濃度が0.1%以上で急増した．以上より，CRDは線維芽細胞の増殖とコラーゲン産生を増加させる働きを有することが示唆された．

Effects of an environmental endocrine disruptor, para-nonylphenol (NP) on the cell growth of a photosynthetic eukaryotic microorganism, Euglena gracilis were analysed under different cell culture conditions. Although NP did not show significant inhibitory effects on the cell growth of E. gracilis (Z and SM strains) under light culture condition, NP exhibited significant suppressive effects under dark culture condition. Exogenous supplementation with lipophilic antioxidants (α-tocopherol, β-carotene or 6-O-palmitoyl-ascorbic acid) to E. gracilis caused strong preventive effects against NP-induced cell growth inhibition under dark culture condition, but hydrophilic antioxidants [ascorbic acid, glutathione and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)] did not show significant preventive effects. NP caused significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in E. gracilis under dark culture condition, but E. gracilis under light culture condition did not show significant increase in ROS generation. Supplementation with lipophilic antioxidants to E. gracilis caused significant suppressive effects against NP-induced cellular ROS generation under dark culture condition, but hydrophilic antioxidants did not show significant suppressive effects. Furthermore, the productivities of typical cellular antioxidants (α-tocopherol, β-carotene and ascorbic acid) in E. gracilis under light culture conditions were much higher than those under dark culture conditions.

Background: Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) has been used both in traditional Chinese medicine and as a nourishing food based on its unique biological effects and highly nutritional values. In the present study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of a hot-water adlay extract in sarcoma mice model. Materials and Methods: The hot water extract of whole adlay was orally administered to mice for one week, after which Sarcoma-180 cells (1×106) were subcutaneously implanted into the abdomen. Thereafter, the tumor growth was monitored and mouse survival was examined. Results: Tumor weights measured at 18 days were significantly lower in mice treated with extract (100 and 300 mg/kg/day) than those in control group (p<0.01). Moreover, mice treated with extract (100 mg/kg/day) showed apparently longer survival than control group evaluated until 32 days (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that hot water adlay extract appears to have some anti-tumor effects in vivo in sarcoma cells.

ムコ多糖症のある幼児児童生徒57名が学校等で受けた教育的支援に関する保護者の認識と具体的な支援内容、それに対する満足の評価との関連を検討した。その結果、個別対応や心理的安定を図る支援が行われたときに、非常に満足した保護者が多かった。心理的安定を図る支援を回答した保護者は共通して個別対応も回答していたことから、実質的な配慮に加えて、本人の気持ちも考慮した学習活動の展開が保護者の満足感をより一層高める可能性が示唆された。一方、支援がなかったと回答した場合に、幼児教育機関在籍時では不満足という回答が多く、小学校（部）在籍時の満足の評価はどちらでもないという回答が多かった。 この傾向の変化は、継続して教育的支援を受けていないという保護者の認識が影響した可能性が示唆された。教師には、支援の方針を保護者と共有し、子どもの気持ちに寄り添いながら個々の課題に合わせた支援を行うことが求められる。

緑茶抽出物と魚油の6ヶ月間の同時摂取が，高齢者の認知機能と血漿脂質に与える影響について実験した．緑茶抽出物と魚油の同時摂取は，摂取前に比べて，6か月後の知能評価スケールを有意に改善した．また，緑茶抽出物と魚油摂取群の6か月後の知能評価スケールの増加は，プラセボ群に比較して，有意に高かった．これらの事から，緑茶抽出物と魚油の同時摂取は，高齢者の認知機能を改善している可能性が示唆された．血漿中のDHAおよびEPAの割合は，両群とも摂取前に比べて6ヶ月目で高くなった．しかし，3ヶ月目において，緑茶抽出物および魚油摂取群のDHAおよびEPAの割合は，プラセボ群に比べて，有意に増加を示した．これらの変化は，途中，試験群による違いが見られるものの，最終的に食材に提供される魚介類の増加が影響したと考えられた．血漿中の中性脂肪含量は，緑茶抽出物および魚油摂取群において，摂取前に比べて，6ヶ月目に有意な低下が示され，高齢者においても，緑茶抽出物および魚油同時摂取は中性脂肪の低下に有効である可能性が示唆された．これらの事から，緑茶抽出物と魚油の同時摂取は認知機能の改善に有効である可能性が示唆され，また，高齢者においても中性脂肪の低下に有効であると考えられた．