Analysis of Single Synthetic Fibers Using a Portable Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer.

In this study, single synthetic fibers obtained from several textile products were analyzed by a portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Characteristic elements, which would originate from such materials as catalysts, delustering agents, and dyes used for manufacturing synthetic fibers, were detected from single synthetic fiber samples, and the difference in the types of characteristic elements among the single synthetic fiber samples was observed.

Trace Determination of Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B) by Analyzing Cobalt Using a Portable Total-Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer.

A method is presented for the detection of a trace amount of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B) using a combination of solid-phase extraction and the measurement of cobalt in vitamin B by a portable total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Using this combination, a detection limit of 1 ng/mL was achieved for vitamin B.

Long-term chemotherapy may prolong survival in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer among responders to first-line chemotherapy.

Survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has substantially improved. Long-term chemotherapy with epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and other agents has been associated with long survival. We retrospectively examined the associations between overall survival (OS) and clinical variables in patients with advanced NSCLC who received at least one dose or course of outpatient chemotherapy in our institution.

[Involvement of zinc in taste disturbance occurring during treatment for malignant tumor in the chest and the effects of polaprezinc oral disintegrating tablets (a retrospective study)].

We analyzed the correlation between serum zinc levels and taste disturbance, and between patient backgrounds and serum zinc levels or taste disturbance, and evaluated the effects of polaprezinc oral disintegrating tablets on taste disturbance in 29 patients with lung cancer and one patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma who were receiving chemotherapy. Taste disturbance developed in 11 (36.7%) out of 30 patients.