Polytheonamides A and B are highly cytotoxic polypeptides with 48 amino acid residues isolated from the marine sponge, Theonella swinhoei. The structure of polytheonamide B was determined by spectral and chemical methods, especially extensive 2D NMR experiments, which resulted in the unprecedented polypeptide structure; the N-terminal glycine blocked with a 5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-hexanoyl group, the presence of eight tert-leucine, three beta-hydroxyvaline, six gamma-N-methylasparagine, two gamma-N-methyl-beta-hydroxyasparagine, and beta,beta-dimethymethionine sulfoxide residues. More significantly, it has the sequence of alternating D- and L-amino acids. Polytheonamide A is an epimer of polytheonamide B differing only in the stereochemistry of the sulfoxide of the 44(th) residue.

Immunohistochemical studies were done on the expression of S-100 protein-labeled cells in human laryngeal carcinoma of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and on the population density. EMA was detected in 65 of 76 (86%) squamous cell carcinomas and was usually more extensively positive in well and moderately differentiated carcinomas. Thus, EMA can serve as a marker of malignancy in laryngeal carcinomas. The population density of S-100 protein-labeled cells was high in well-differentiated tissues. In the metastatic tumors, the number of S-100 protein-labeled cells decreased as compared to findings in the primary tumors. As a statistically significant difference in survival curve was noted between groups with low and intermediate density of S-100 protein-labeled cells, the infiltration of S-100 protein-labeled cells seems to be associated with a better prognosis.

Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were studied in surgically removed specimens from 76 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx using an argyrophilic (Ag) staining technique. The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus was 4.3 +/- 1.38 (SD). The mean AgNOR number for T1 or T2 disease was statistically lower than that for T3 or T4 lesions (P < 0.05). The mean AgNOR number was lower in patients with N0 disease than in patients with N1 or N2 or N3 tumors (P < 0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean AgNOR number for stage II and stage III disease (P < 0.01), for stage III and stage IV disease (P < 0.05), but not for stage I and stage II disease. According to the histological grading, there was a significant difference between the mean AgNOR number for the well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumors (P < 0.05), and for the moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated types (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the number of AgNORs in the nucleus is a significant indicator of laryngeal carcinomas.

A decrease in oral function is a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia and suffocation, leading to a reduction in physical function and malnutrition at elderly people.. Therefore, there is a need to develop a simple method to improve oral function in older adults, including those requiring longterm care. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of chewing gum mastication training and habitation on the oral environment, eating habits of residents and users of the elderly facility. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, the intervention and control groups. The intervention group consisted of 28 subjects (80.0［74.0 -87.0］years) who chewed gum for 2 minutes three times daily for 2 months and the control group consisted of 26 subjects (88.0 ［82.5 -94.0］ years. Oral examination, oral function, physical condition, dietary habits questionnaire, and caregiver's Vitality Index (VI) were evaluated. As a result, intragroup comparisons before, during, and after the intervention showed significant differences in gum mastication ability (p = 0.004) , appetite related to diet (p = 0.026) , looking forward to eating (p = 0.011) , and VI (p = 0.047) in the gum mastication group. In addition, gum mastication ability (p = 0.018) and appetite (p = 0.003) marked significant differences in changes before and after the intervention for the two groups. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis also revealed the impact of the intervention by gum mastication. It was shown that the simple intervention of chewing gum mastication used here might lead to improved oral function, increased interest of the elderly in diet and food, and increased motivation. Keywords： chewing gum mastication, elderly facility, oral function, dietary support

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