Measurements of Ascorbate and Dehydroascorbate in Plants Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

The current concepts emphasize the fundamental role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signaling molecules that coordinate defense mechanisms, cell death, and the growth and development processes in plants. However, due to the inherent reactivity of ROS, achieving precise control over their levels within plant cells, both spatially and temporally, becomes important to effectively harness the potential of ROS signaling while concurrently minimizing the risk of oxidative damage. Ascorbate is an exceptional antioxidant and contributes to the antioxidant defense system in plants. Its role is further reinforced by the presence of ascorbate peroxidases and enzymes responsible for recycling ascorbate from its oxidized forms. Ascorbate metabolism plays a pivotal role in averting oxidative damage and facilitates meticulous regulation of ROS signal availability. This chapter outlines the preferred protocol for the measurement of ascorbate.

[The Hokkaido Medical Personnel Training Plan Connecting Humans and Medicine].

The Hokkaido medical personnel training plan connecting humans and medicine aims to train"Medical personnel for genome medicine"," Medical personnel for rare cancer and childhood cancer", and"Medical personnel who promote cancer measures according to patient's life stage". We have worked on preparing medical professionals who undergo training courses not only in the graduate school but also in the community medicine centers cooperating with central medical centers in Hokkaido. Furthermore, we have been committed to training medical staff who provide comprehensive healthcare for patients with cancer cross-regionally, cross-sectionally, and tumor-agnostically and researchers who can pursue genome medicine. The evaluation committee concluded that the plan was substantially advanced according to the evaluation guideline, and a committee member commented that the information through Web was assessable during the COVID-19 pandemic; in fact, it should be ensured by everyone. Based on these comments, we continuously work to develop human resources using content and information dissemination know-how accumulated in the Hokkaido medical personnel training plan.

Impact of Symptom Clusters on Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients from Japan with Advanced Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Identify symptom clusters based on symptoms experienced by patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), and examine the relationship between the symptom clusters and impairment in everyday life and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Using the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, 9 symptom items and the QOL Questionnaire (QLQ-C-30) evaluation apparatus from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, we evaluated symptom severity, interference in daily life, and QOL. Factor analysis and multiple regression analysis techniques were used. RESULTS: Sixty patients with advanced NSCLCs seen in pulmonary medicine departments were included in the study. The average age of patients was 64.33 (standard deviation = 11.40). Thirty-six were male and 24 were female. Three symptom clusters were identified as fatigue/anorexia cluster (dry mouth, altered the sense of taste, drowsiness, fatigue/tiredness, and lack of appetite), pain cluster (anxiety, sadness, and pain), numbness cluster (numbness, leg weakness, and distress). The pain cluster had the strongest influence (adjusted R2 = 0.355) on daily life (emotions) while the numbness cluster most strongly affected walking. The fatigue/anorexia cluster explained 22.7% of role function variance. This symptom clustering may be unique among patients with advanced NSCLCs. CONCLUSIONS: Each of these clusters affected QOL and everyday life with varying degrees of influence. In clinical screening assessments, focusing on symptom clusters could provide tailored management strategies for patients with advanced NSCLCs. These care strategies may improve outcomes specifically for advanced NSCLCs patients.