Publications by authors named "Koichi Asano"
Article Synopsis
- Red yeast rice has a long history of use in Asia for making alcoholic beverages and foods, and includes Okinawan-style fermented tofu in Japan since the 18th century.
- Recent research has identified monacolin K (lovastatin) in some fungi, highlighting red yeast rice’s potential as a natural cholesterol-lowering agent and a preventive measure for lifestyle diseases.
- The paper discusses red yeast rice's historical significance, production methods, pharmacologically active ingredients, and evidence supporting its benefits for lipid metabolism and circulatory health, while also addressing its safety as a functional food.*
Objectives: The development of an effective screening method for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is of paramount importance. This study assessed the diagnostic utility in pancreatic diseases of duodenal markers during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) or endoscopic ultrasonography.
Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 299 consecutive participants, including 94 patients with PDACs, 144 patients with other pancreatic diseases, and 61 normal individuals as control subjects.