白飯の食味におよぼす洗米方法の影響

In order to examine the washing method effect on the palatability evaluation of cooked rice, we washed three kinds of rice using four different methods. We then cooked the rice. After evaluating the palatability of each kind of cooked rice, by measuring the solid quantities in the water in which the rice had been washed, and by measuring the texture of each kind of cooked rice, we came to the following conclusion. 1. After comparing the washed cooked rice and unwashed cooked rice in an organoleptic test for the case of Koshihikari, the unwashed rice was much worse than the washed rice in terms of color, gloss, appearance, smell, taste, glutinous characteristics and the total evaluation. ln terms of hardness, however, there was no apparent difference between the washed and unwashed rice. Comparing the four washing methods (once, twice, three times and once in a large quantity of water), there were no clear differences in all the points evaluated. 2. The solid quantities measured in the water in which each of the three kinds of rice had been washed, increased according to the number of times they had been washed. Once in a large quantity of water, however, the solid quantities in the water were the smallest, even though the quantity of water used was the same. 3. A comparison of the texture of the cooked rice using a rheolometer showed clear differences among the three kinds of rice. However, there were no differences in the texture of the rice depending on the washing method. 4. Washed cooked rice tastes better than unwashed cooked rice, but there is no significant difference in the taste of washed cooked rice according to the washing method and the number of times the rice is washed. It can be assumed that the need to wash to rice is decreasing because the method of storing rice has improved in recent years, while the precision with which rice is cleaned has increased

Upregulation of α3β1-Integrin in Podocytes in Early-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy

Background. Podocyte injury plays an important role in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Downregulation of α3β1-integrin expression in podocytes is thought to be associated with podocyte detachment from the glomerular basement membrane, although the mechanisms remain obscure. To determine the mechanism of podocyte detachment, we analyzed the expression levels of α3β1-integrin in podocytes in early and advanced stages of DN. Methods. Surgical specimens from DN patients were examined by in situ hybridization, and the expression levels of α3- and β1-integrin subunits in glomeruli of early (n=6) and advanced (n=8) stages were compared with those of normal glomeruli (n=5). Heat-sensitive mouse podocytes (HSMP) were cultured with TGF-β1 to reproduce the microenvironment of glomeruli of DN, and the expression levels of integrin subunits and the properties of migration and attachment were examined. Results. Podocytes of early-stage DN showed upregulation of α3- and β1-integrin expression while those of advanced stage showed downregulation. Real-time PCR indicated a tendency for upregulation of α3- and β1-integrin in HSMP cultured with TGF-β1. TGF-β1-stimulated HSMP also showed enhanced in vitro migration and attachment on collagen substrate. Conclusions. The results suggested that podocyte detachment during early stage of DN is mediated through upregulation of α3β1-integrin

A Retrospective, Multicenter, Observational Study to Evaluate Clinical Outcomes of Lorlatinib After Alectinib in Patients With ALK-Positive NSCLC in Japan

Introduction: Lorlatinib is an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved in Japan for the treatment of advanced ALK+ NSCLC. There has been little evidence about lorlatinib efficacy after first-line (1L) alectinib in clinical practice in Japan. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with advanced ALK+ NSCLC previously treated with 1L alectinib at multiple sites in Japan. Primary objectives were to collect patient demographics at baseline and estimate time to treatment failure (TTF) with second-line (2L) or third-line (3L) or later line (≥3L) lorlatinib treatment. Secondary objectives included objective response rate (ORR) with lorlatinib, reason for discontinuation and time to last treatment failure with lorlatinib, TTF and ORR of alectinib, and combined TTF. Results: Among the 51 patients included in the study, 29 (56.9%) received 2L and 22 (43.1%) received ≥3L lorlatinib treatment. At lorlatinib initiation, brain metastases were reported in 25 patients (49.0%), and 32 (62.7%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Median TTF with lorlatinib was 11.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.6–13.8) in any line, 10.8 months (95% CI: 3.9–13.8) in 2L, and 11.5 months (95% CI: 2.9–not reached) in ≥3L. Median TTF was 11.5 months (95% CI: 3.9–not reached) in patients with brain metastases at lorlatinib initiation and 9.9 months (95% CI: 4.3–13.8) in patients without brain metastases. ORR was 35.7% with any-line lorlatinib treatment. Conclusions: Patient characteristics and efficacy were comparable with previous reports when lorlatinib was given after 1L alectinib in patients with ALK+ NSCLC