[Approaches for Class Preparation Using Qualitative Analysis by Coding-Survey in Technical English Course "Yakugaku-Eigo Nyumon"].

The purpose of this study was to examine how students prepare for the pharmaceutical technical English course "Yakugaku-Eigo Nyumon" by qualitative analysis. A sub-text, supplemental material was used to assist students with class preparation. Qualitative questionnaires on understanding and approaches for class preparation as well as review of class were analyzed in comparison with different academic performance levels on the final exam.

[Enhancing Study Motivation and Efficacy among First-year Students Using Minute Papers in the Interdisciplinary Subject of Yakugaku Nyumon].

Active learning in higher education is important for learning efficacy and motivation. Accordingly, lectures that integrate strategies toward active learning, such as minute papers, debates, and collaborative learning, have become widely adopted. Minute papers facilitate communication among both teachers and students, and can be used as a tool for reviewing lectures.

[Jigsaw Method Is Used to Promote a First Year-student's Understanding of Integrated Subjects at Kobe Pharmaceutical University].

In the School of Pharmacy, collaborative learning that includes both problem-based learning (PBL) and team-based learning (TBL) methods, has been introduced as an active learning method into the education of first-year pharmacy students. These methods are an educational approach to teaching and learning that involve groups of students working collaboratively to resolve a problem, complete a task, or develop a product. However, these methods might not aid students who focus more on the results than on the problem-solving process.

Zinc finger protein genes from Cucurbita pepo are promising tools for conferring non-Cucurbitaceae plants with ability to accumulate persistent organic pollutants.

Some cultivars of cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and zucchini, which are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, are uniquely subject to contamination by hydrophobic pollutants such as the organohalogen insecticides DDT. However, the molecular mechanisms for the accumulation of these pollutants in cucurbits have not been determined. Here, cDNA subtraction analysis of Cucurbita pepo cultivars that are low and high accumulators of hydrophobic contaminants revealed that a gene for zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are preferentially expressed in high accumulators.

[Trial and evaluation of a remedial education program at Kobe Pharmaceutical University].

Pharmaceutical education is suffering from the decentralization of students due to the establishment of new pharmaceutical universities, the shift to a six-year program from a four-year program in the colleges of pharmacy in 2006, and a decrease in the number of students. Combined, these have lead to academic failings, even at high-ranking universities. However, abundant knowledge and ability are necessary to pass the national examination for pharmacists.

A major latex-like protein is a key factor in crop contamination by persistent organic pollutants.

This is the first report, to our knowledge, to reveal important factors by which members of the Cucurbitaceae family, such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), melon (Cucumis melo), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), squash (C. pepo), and zucchini (C. pepo), are selectively polluted with highly toxic hydrophobic contaminants, including organochlorine insecticides and dioxins.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein has an anorexigenic activity via activation of hypothalamic urocortins 2 and 3.

Cancer cachexia is reported to be a major cause of cancer-related death. Since the pathogenesis is not entirely understood, only few effective therapies have been established. Since myriad tumors produce parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), plasma concentrations of PTHrP are increased in cancer cachexia.

Potential antitumor activity of a low-molecular-weight protein fraction from Grifola frondosa through enhancement of cytokine production.

Edible mushrooms contain an abundance of immune-enhancing nutritients. Some of these compounds, referred to as biological response modifiers (BRMs), have been used in biological therapies for cancer treatment. We obtained a low-molecular-weight protein fraction (MLP-Fraction) from the fruiting body of the maitake mushroom Grifola frondosa by multiple sequential steps, including ethanol precipitation, DEAE-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration.

Maitake D-Fraction enhances antitumor effects and reduces immunosuppression by mitomycin-C in tumor-bearing mice.

Objective: D-Fraction, a polysaccharide extracted from maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa), has been reported to exhibit an antitumor effect through activation of immunocompetent cells, including macrophages and T cells, with modulation of the balance between T-helper 1 and 2 cells. We examined whether D-Fraction could decrease the effective dosage of the chemotherapeutic agent, mitomycin-C (MMC), necessary to control carcinoma in mice.

Methods And Results: We determined that 0.

Enhancement of cytotoxicity of NK cells by D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa.

In innate immunity, activated natural killer (NK) cells attack and damage pathogens such as bacteria and virus without restriction by the MHC antigen. NK cells activated by IL-12 have been reported to recognize and kill tumor cells in perforin-mediated apoptosis. We have reported that D-Fraction, a polysaccharide extracted from the maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), activates macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells and inhibits the growth of tumor cells.

Administration of a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa stimulates immune function of normal mice.

We have reported that D-Fraction, a polysaccharide extracted from the edible maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), activates immunocompetent cells, thereby eliciting antitumor activity. To extend the application of D-Fraction as a nutritional supplement for healthy people as well as treatment for those with cancer, we investigated the effects of D-Fraction on the immune system in normal C3H/HeJ mice. Splenocytes from mice administered D-Fraction intraperitoneally for 17 consecutive days were cultured, and the culture supernatants were analyzed for nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-12 production by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including macrophages and dendritic cells, and also for the T helper (Th)-1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma and the Th-2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10.

Effect of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-Fraction on the activation of NK cells in cancer patients.

Maitake D-Fraction, extracted from maitake mushroom, has been reported to exert its antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice by enhancing the immune system through activation of macrophages, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. In a previous study, the combination of immunotherapy with the maitake D-Fraction and chemotherapy suggested that the D-Fraction may have the potential to decrease the size of lung, liver, and breast tumors in cancer patients. In the present study, we administered maitake D-Fraction to cancer patients without anticancer drugs, and at the same time NK cell activity was monitored to investigate whether the activity is closely related with disease progression.

Synergistic effects of adenosine A1 and P2Y receptor stimulation on calcium mobilization and PKC translocation in DDT1 MF-2 cells.

1. The effect of adenosine analogues and of nucleotides, alone or in combination, on intracellular calcium, accumulation of inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (InsP3), and on activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was studied in DDT1 MF2 cells derived from a Syrian hamster myosarcoma. These cells were found to express mRNA for A1 and some as yet unidentified P2Y receptor(s).

Relationship between dendritic cells and the D-fraction-induced Th-1 dominant response in BALB/c tumor-bearing mice.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to not only induce the activation of T cells, but are also associated with the differentiation of T cells. The D-fraction, a beta-glucan extracted from maitake (Grifola frondosa) which expresses anti-tumor effects by establishing a helper (Th)-1 dominance in BALB/c mice, enhanced IL-12p70 production by DCs, when the ratio of CD8alpha(+) DCs to CD8alpha(-) DCs increased. In addition, examination of the tumor rejection effect of D-fraction-stimulated DCs loaded with tumor antigen revealed that tumor growth is inhibited completely by activating CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells.

A polysaccharide, extract from Grifola frondosa, induces Th-1 dominant responses in carcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice.

A polysaccharide, designated as the D-fraction, extracted from maitake (Grifola frondosa), was reported to have anti-tumor effects by activating macrophages and T cells in C3H/HeN mice in which a Th-1 dominant response was established. In this study using BALB/c mice in which a Th-2 response is genetically dominant, D-fraction reduced the expression of Th-2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 but markedly increased the expression of Th-1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma in CD4(+) T cells and also increased IL-12p70 production as well as IFN-gamma production by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), suggesting that D-fraction promotes the differentiation into Th-1 cells of CD4(+) T cells through enhancement of IL-12p70 production by APCs.

Effects of D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa on tumor growth involve activation of NK cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are directly cytotoxic for tumor cells and play a primary role in regulating immune responses. We monitored levels of NK cell cytotoxic activity in cancer patients receiving D-Fraction extracted from maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa). Elevated levels of cytotoxic activity were maintained for one year.

Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients?

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) MD-fraction containing beta-1,6 glucan with beta-1,3 branched chains has previously exhibited strong anticancer activity by increasing immune-competent cell activity.1,2 In this non-random case series, a combination of MD-fraction and whole maitake powder was investigated to determine its effectiveness for 22- to 57-year-old cancer patients in stages II-IV. Cancer regression or significant symptom improvement was observed in 58.

Effect of maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-fraction on the control of the T lymph node Th-1/Th-2 proportion.

We have already reported that the D-Fraction, a beta-glucan extracted from the fruiting body of the maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), activates cellular immunity and expresses anti-tumor effects. In this study we investigated the anti-tumor functions of D-Fraction in relation to its control of the balance between T lymphocyte subsets Th-1 and Th-2. D-Fraction decreased the activation of B cells and potentiated the activation of helper T cells, resulting in enhanced cellular immunity.