Enhancement of Anti-Tumoral Immunity by β-Casomorphin-7 Inhibits Cancer Development and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

β-Casomorphin-7 (BCM) is a degradation product of β-casein, a milk component, and has been suggested to affect the immune system. However, its effect on mucosal immunity, especially anti-tumor immunity, in cancer-bearing individuals is not clear. We investigated the effects of BCM on lymphocytes using an in vitro system comprising mouse splenocytes, a mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, and a mouse orthotopic colorectal cancer model. Treatment of mouse splenocytes with BCM in vitro reduced numbers of cluster of differentiation (CD) 20⁺ B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and increased CD8⁺ T cells. Administration of BCM and the CD10 inhibitor thiorphan (TOP) to mice resulted in similar alterations in the lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and intestinal mucosa. BCM was degraded in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by the neutral endopeptidase CD10, and the formed BCM degradation product did not affect the lymphocyte counts. Furthermore, degradation was completely suppressed by TOP. In the azoxymethane mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, the incidence of aberrant crypt foci, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma was reduced by co-treatment with BCM and TOP. Furthermore, when CT26 mouse colon cancer cells were inoculated into the cecum of syngeneic BALB/c mice and concurrently treated with BCM and TOP, infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells was promoted, and tumor growth and liver metastasis were suppressed. These results suggest that by suppressing the BCM degradation system, the anti-tumor effect of BCM is enhanced and it can suppress the development and progression of colorectal cancer.     

Antioxidant flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Ficus pumila L.

The Okinawan folks in Japan use Ficus pumila L. as a beverage or herbal medicine to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. Four flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified as rutin (1 and 3), apigenin 6-neohesperidose (2), kaempferol 3-robinobioside (4) and kaempferol 3-rutinoside (5). Among these compounds, rutin exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay and superoxide radical inhibition assay. The preparation of Ooitabi leaves in water provide sufficient amount of flavonoid glycosides to the Okinawan although 50% of aqueous ethanol extracted these flavonoid glycosides more effectively. These results show the potential of Ooitabi leaves as a natural source of antioxidant for health management.     

Ambient stability of wet chemically passivated germanium wafer for crystalline solar cells

Surface passivation has been recognized as a crucial step in the evaluation of minority carrier lifetime of photovoltaic materials as well as in the fabrication of high efficient solar cells. Dilute acids of HF and HCl are employed for germanium (Ge) surface passivation. An effective lifetime of passivated Ge wafers has been evaluated by a microwave photoconductive decay (μ-PCD) measurement. Surface recombination velocities, S, of H- and Cl-terminated Ge surfaces are 23 and 37 cm/s, respectively. The stability of passivated Ge surfaces against exposure to air has also been examined. The HCl-passivated Ge surfaces are found to be more robust than HF-passivated surfaces.     

Anti-aging effects of caloric restriction: Involvement of neuroendocrine adaptation by peripheral signaling

Many hormonal signals from peripheral tissues contribute to the regulation of energy homeostasis and food intake. These regulators including leptin, insulin, and ghrelin, modulate the orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide expression in hypothalamic nuclei. The anti-aging effects of caloric restriction have been explained from an evolutional viewpoint of the adaptive response of the neuroendocrine and metabolic response systems to maximize survival during periods of food shortage. In organisms, excess energy is stored in adipose tissues as a triglyceride preparation for such survival situations. Adipose tissue has recently been recognized as an endocrine organ, and leptin, as secreted by adipocyte, seems to be an especially important factor for the adaptive response to fasting and neuroendocrine alterations under caloric restriction. In this review, we discuss the potential involvement of neuroendocrine modulators in longevity and the anti-aging effects of caloric restriction.     

Purification and characterization of rice alpha-glucosidase, a key enzyme for alcohol fermentation of rice polish

Alpha-glucosidase, a key enzyme for nuka-sake brewing, was purified from Oryza sativa cv. Yamadanishiki, which is widely used for sake brewing. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 95 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature were 4.5 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The substrate specificity differed from that of Oryza sativa cv. Shinsetsu, which is a variety of rice consumed as a cereal. The extraction of alpha-glucosidase from the rice was stimulated by lactic acid, which suggests that lactic acid plays an important role not only in preventing bacterial contamination, but also in stimulating the parallel fermentation that occurs in nuka-sake brewing.     

Inactivation of Bacillus spores by the combination of moderate heat and low hydrostatic pressure in ketchup and potage

The combination effect of moderate heat and low hydrostatic pressure (MHP) on the reduction of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores in food materials (potage and ketchup) was investigated. These bacterial spores were suspended in potage (pH 7), acidified potage (pH 4), neutralized ketchup (pH 7) and ketchup (pH 4). The suspensions were treated with and without pressure (100 MPa) and temperatures of 65-85 degrees C for 3 to 12 h. The bacterial spores were inactivated by 4-8 log cycles during MHP treatment in potage, acidified potage and ketchup, whereas the spores were highly resistant to long time heat treatment in potage and neutralized ketchup. The degrees of spore destruction were mostly dependent on pH and medium composition during MHP treatment. The inactivation effect in MHP treatment was higher at the pH 7 than at pH 4 both in ketchup and potage. The bacterial spores showed higher inactivation in potage than ketchup during MHP treatment.     

Emulsion Stabilization by Maillard-type Covalent Complex of Plasma Protein with Galactomannan

Plasma protein was conjugated with galactomannan (GM) in a controlled dry state at 60°C and 79% relative humidity. The covalent attachment of GM to plasma protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and gel chromatography. Emulsifying activity of plasma protein-GM complex was 1.4 times and the emulsion stability of the complex was more than 10 times higher than those of plasma protein. In acidic (pH 3) and salt (0.2M NaCl) systems, the complex showed much more effective emulsifying properties than did commercial emulsifiers. Emulsifying properties of the complex were retained after preheating at 80°C for 30 min. Plasma protein-GM complex prepared by Maillard reaction during heating in a dry state could be used for heat-processed foods as a protein emulsifier.     

Study on high performance evaporator with micro‐grooves (Measurement of capillary force in a single groove and modeling of heat and mass transfer)

A micro‐grooved evaporator is composed of µm‐wide grooves on a heat transfer plate in which the inter‐line regions at the liquid–vapor meniscus of coolant become identifiable. The high‐heat performance of the evaporator is realized by this inter‐line region (ILR) where the liquid thin film reduces the thermal resistance on the heat transfer surface. In this report, we propose a numerical simulation model of heat and mass transfer in a single groove to predict its capillary force and heat flux. The capillary force performance (capillary‐rise length in a groove) of a single groove was measured for samples of varying width, superheat, and inclination. The performance was found to be a maximum at a specific groove width of 200–400 µm, which is in good agreement with the predicted results calculated by the proposed model. For a better prediction of capillary‐rise length, the effective capillary force and the effective flow resistance were considered. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20257     

Preliminary spectrum shifter design for intermediate energy nuclear data benchmark experiments with DT neutrons

Integral benchmark experiments with DT neutrons are not always sufficient for nuclear data benchmarking in the MeV region, below 10 MeV. A neutron spectrum shifter, which will be placed between a sample and a DT neutron source, is effective to moderate DT neutrons incident to the sample. In order to estimate effects of the spectrum shifter, the ratio of the contribution of 14 MeV neutrons in the leakage neutron and gamma-ray spectra was calculated with MCNP-4C for an experimental configuration at FNS of JAEA, Japan. The calculations were carried out for a Li₂TiO₃ sample with a Be, D₂O, or ⁷LiD spectrum shifter. It was found out that the Be shifter was superior to others and the Be shifter was effective to decrease the contribution of 14 MeV neutrons especially for secondary gamma-ray spectrum measurements.