Characterisation of Bioactive Peptides from Red Alga Gracilariopsis chorda.

In this study, we studied the bioactive peptides produced by thermolysin hydrolysis of a water-soluble protein (WSP) from the red alga Gracilariopsis chorda, whose major components are phycobiliproteins and Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RuBisCo). The results showed that WSP hydrolysate exhibited significantly higher ACE inhibitory activity (92% inhibition) compared to DPP-IV inhibitory activity and DPPH scavenging activity. The phycobiliproteins and RuBisCo of G. chorda contain a high proportion of hydrophobic (31.0-46.5%) and aromatic (5.1-46.5%) amino acid residues, which was considered suitable for the formation of peptides with strong ACE inhibitory activity. Therefore, we searched for peptides with strong ACE inhibitory activity and identified two novel peptides (IDHY and LVVER). Then, their interaction with human ACE was evaluated by molecular docking, and IDHY was found to be a promising inhibitor. In silico analysis was then performed on the structural factors affecting ACE inhibitory peptide release, using the predicted 3D structures of phycobiliproteins and RuBisCo. The results showed that most of the ACE inhibitory peptides are located in the highly solvent accessible α-helix. Therefore, it was suggested that G. chorda is a good source of bioactive peptides, especially ACE-inhibitory peptides.

Factors influencing death at home in terminally ill cancer patients.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting terminally ill cancer patients dying at home. MATERIAL: Ninety-two terminally ill cancer patients who were receiving home medical care services and died between April 2005 and December 2006 were included in the study. The data included patients' and caregivers' demographic characteristics, disease-related information, place of death, and status of home care support. To identify the factors predicting the place of death, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patients of families who had no preference regarding the place of death or a preference for death at home were more likely to die at home (vs preference for hospital death, odds ratio = 5.87, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-36.53; odds ratio = 90.35, 95% confidence interval = 8.15-1001.51, respectively) after adjusting for potential confounders. Meanwhile, if the patient's family preferred that the patient not die at home, the patient's place of death was not at his/her home irrespective of his/her preference. CONCLUSION: The results suggested the stronger involvement of families' preferences regarding the patients' place of death over patients' own preferences. Therefore, factors affecting families' preferences need to be clarified for the dissemination of death at home for terminally ill cancer patients.

[Three advanced gastric cancer cases with liver metastases successfully treated by TS-1/CDDP combination therapy].

Three cases with unresectable advanced gastric cancer with liver metastases were successfully treated by the combination therapy of TS-1 and cisplatin( CDDP). TS-1 (1.25 m2>: 80 mg/day, 1.25 m2-1.50 m2: 100 mg/day, > or =1.50 m2: 120 mg/day) was administered orally for 14 consecutive days followed by 14 days rest,and a 24-h infusion of CDDP (70 mg/m2) was administered on day 8 of each course. Treatment was repeated every 4 weeks unless disease progression was observed. Partial response was obtained in all of the following three advanced gastric cancer cases with liver metastases. Case 1: 67-year-old male with Borrmann type I gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases. Case 2: 55-year-old female with multiple liver and lymph node metastases whose primary gastric lesion was surgically resected. Case 3: 53-year-old-male with Borrmann type III gastric cancer with liver and lymph node metastases. TS-1/CDDP therapy can be highly recommended for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer with liver metastases.

[Examination of local alliances in clinical path (home parenteral nutrition)].

In revising compensation for medical treatment, shifts in home care systems such as management of lifestyle-related diseases, management of a patient within reach of a daily medical treatment, and an attempt to curtail hospitalization are suggested as concrete means of planning medical expenses to be appropriate. In doing this, it is getting more important that the medical institution pursue its purpose and must select the course of treatment and to solidify a medical cooperation among the institutions because a medical treatment is often not concluded at only one medical institution. Although a revision of compensation for medical treatment is getting more difficult due to three consecutive negative revisions in the past, a new clinical path for a local solidarity of femoral neck fracture has been found. Because of this revision, we think that it is necessary to make a system able to shift medical treatment and to care from hospital to facilities in the district and at home. We studied the clinical path in order to develop an effective and solidified cooperation with people of the district with regard to home parenteral nutrition, which is the most frequent medical treatment in case of a home care shift from that of our hospital's support for patients leaving the hospital.