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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 insarcoma cells.
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Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) has reported the effect of lipid and glucose metabolism at some in vivo and in vitro study. In this study, 21 subjects with dyslipidemia border zone took PJT for 12 weeks. The changes over time of body composition and biochemical test were examined. The values of HbA1c were significantly reduced compared to the values before intake. For body fat percentage, the value at 8 weeks after intake showed a significant decrease compared with the value before intake. Adiponectin was significantly increase after 8 weeks in obese subject. These results suggested PJT may improvement of glucose metabolism.
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Among “food for specified health use” (FOSHU) useful in treating life-style related diseases related to arterial sclerosis are those which create a condition in which postprandial serum triglyceride levels fail to rise or are difficult to pass into the body mass. Approximately 70 such FOSHU are recognized as useful in treating hyperlipidemia; in the present review we describe the safety and effectiveness of several of these foods.<br>
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Among “food for specified health use” (FOSHU), approximately 100 are indicated in the treatment of life-style related diseases related to hypercholesterolemia; in the present review we describe the safety and effectiveness of several of these foods.<br>
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Approximately 100 kinds of Foods for Specified Health Use (FOSHU) are used to “control postprandial elevated blood glucose level”. In this review, we describe their safety and effectiveness.<br>
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An exploratory open-label human clinical study was performed in healthy adults with shoulder stiffness to evaluate the efficacy of Astaxanthin by means of measuring blood flow change in the shoulders and subjective questionnaires on physical conditions, including alleviation of stiffness before and after treatment. Two capsules containing 3 mg Astaxanthin each (6 mg in total) were administered once daily (6 mg a day) on days 1 to 28 (4 weeks) to 13 patients (3 men/10 women). All patients were assessed for efficacy and the study demonstrated significant improvements in physical conditions such as shoulder stiffness, physical fatigue, sense of mental irritation, sense of coldness in hands and feet, eye fatigue and eye bleariness. Significant increases of blood flow in shoulders were observed at the end of treatment using laser-doppler graphics. Blood tests conducted to confirm safety before and at the end of treatment showed no clinical differences, and no adverse side effects were reported. In conclusion, Astaxanthin appeared to safely alleviate stiff shoulders and improve other physical conditions during a 4-week open-label study.<br>
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Of “foods for specified health use (FOSHU)”, approximately 90 kinds are presently indicated as “appropriate for hypertension”. In this review we describe their safety and effectiveness.<br>
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We report a case of adenocarcinoma detected in the right pleural effusion of a 75-year-old woman. Investigations failed to reveal the site of the primary lesion, and the case was treated as primary unknown cancer. The pleural effusion disappeared after chemotherapy; however, as there was serious bone marrow suppression, the clinical course was observed at an outpatient clinic without chemotherapy. A search for the primary lesion was repeated, but it was not found. One year after first admission, a chest X-ray showed left pleural effusion. Adenocarcinoma was detected in the effusion and a tumor mass obtained from the pleural cavity. Ovarian cancer was diagnosed based on the histological, serological and MRI findings. Thus, this was a rare case of ovarian cancer in which the diagnosis was confirmed by repeated evaluation and in which the initial diagnosis had been primary unknown cancer with malignant pleural effusion only.
Subject(s)
Ovarian Neoplasms , Pleural Effusion, Malignant , Pleural EffusionABSTRACT
The sleep-inducing effect and safety of an herbal tea containing valerian and lemon balm were subject to a preliminary open pilot study. Subjects were 14 female volunteers (age 35 ± 11, BMI 21 ± 3 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) who complained of poor sleep. After obtaining informed consent, subjects took daily 2 cups of herbal teas containing valerian and lemon balm for 1 week, followed by a control week, during which they had two cups of hot water. OSA sleep questionnaires and VAS scales were recorded every day. Sleep quality increased at the 2<sup>nd</sup> day after starting the tea, and sleep induction and sleep maintenance were improved in particular. Those whose complaints were severe experienced greater relief than those who complaint a little. Some cases reported transient sleepiness and gastrointestinal complaints. However, these symptoms disappeared spontaneously. The safety and effectiveness of this sleep-inducing herbal tea was ascertained.<br>
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The category “Food with Health Claim” contains “Food with Nutrient Function Claim” and “Food for Specified Health Use (FOSHU)”. The definition of “Food with Nutrient Function Claim” is “food used to supplement nutritional factors such as vitamins and minerals”. Once certain standards have been met, public sale of the item is possible. In concrete terms these requirements specify that the daily intake of the aforementioned nutritional factors must be within a certain range, as well as the display of health claims and warning labels.<br> At the same time, because FOSHU possess components capable of affecting physiological function, and their application is essentially as specific health foods, each food to be sold as FOSHU requires authorization from the Japanese Ministry of Health. In this article we focus on the various tests required for approval.<br>
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Oxidative stress is considered to contribute to degenerative disease. The urinary excretion of the DNA repair product 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is proposed as a noninvasive biomarker of current oxidative stress <i>in vivo</i>. We investigated the effect of an antioxidant mixture on urinary 8-OHdG excretions in 12 otherwise healthy smokers. During the intervention period for 2 weeks, subjects consumed four capsules of PICACE<sup>®</sup> (Pycnogenol<sup>®</sup> 15 mg/capsule, Vitamin E; 56.1 mg/capsule, Squalene; 138.9 mg/capsule) per day. On days 0 (pre-internal use), 3, 7, 14, and 44, morning urine samples were collected. The urinary 8-OHdG was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The urinary 8-OHdG level on day 3 was significantly reduced compared to day 0. The level of 8-OHdG after a washout period for PICACE<sup>®</sup> (days 44) returned to day 0 baseline. These preliminary data suggest that PICACE<sup>®</sup> supplements can protect smokers from oxidative stress and possibly reduce disease risk caused by free radicals associated with smoking.<br>
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The nationwide survey done by study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (Grant-in-Aid; 13-20) revealed that the prevalence of CAM use was 44.6% (1382 of 3100) in cancer patients. CAM was used without sufficient information by 57.3% of users with cancer and without a consultation with a doctor by 60.7% of users. Recently, the patient-oriented guidebook for the CAM in cancer treatment was made by another study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (Grant-in-Aid; 17-14). This paper reports the opinion and request on this guidebook. We also discusses the view towards a future revised edition.<br>
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Objective: The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with various urologic disorders is unknown. We conducted the survey to determine the prevalence of CAM use in ambulatory patients.<br> Methods: We distributed questionnaires to 331 ambulatory patients with various urologic disorders in our department from March 10 to 31, 2004.<br> Results: One in third (30.5%) patients reported the use of at least one CAM. Patient age and gender were not associated with the frequency of the use of CAM. Although not statistically significant, patients with malignant disease showed a higher frequency of CAM use compared with patients with benign disease; 36.2% vs 27.0%, <i>P</i>=0.08. Among the CAM users, only 16 patients (15.8%) informed health care staff of their CAM use.<br> Conclusion: This result shows the current situation of CAM use in patients with urologic disorders. Because of the high prevalence, health care professionals should ask about patients' use of CAM.<br>