It has been well known that protein level is estimated by the expression level of its mRNA. However, it is also argued that correlation between mRNA abundance and protein levels is weaker than previously thought. Recently a newly developed technique called ribosome profiling has drawn attention as a drastic countermeasure to improve the weak correlation. Here it is discussed that weak association of protein and mRNA levels seen in genome-wide analysis of gene expression such as microarray is attributable to post-transcriptional regulation including translational inhibition. This review further discusses how these issues are resolved by ribosome profiling and also addresses a possibility of biomarker discovery derived from this technique.

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Objective: On the psychological, physiological and immunological parameters, the effects of green tea drink were comprehensively investigated.
Design: This study used a randomized cross-over design.
Methods: After a 120-minute computer fatigue task, participants were randomized into two groups: one tasked to drink green tea and the other water. Blood collection, measurement of the P300 event related potential and questionnaire were executed three times: before and after the computer fatigue task and then, 30 minute after drinking green tea or water. These data were then compared. High Frequency (HF) and average Low Frequency/High Frequency Ratio (LF/HF) were calculated.
Result: In a state of fatigue, drinking green tea showed dominance of the parasympathetic nervous system, an improvement in their attentiveness, and elevation of NK activity; thereby, reducing fatigue, particularly, mental fatigue.
Conclusion: This study comprehensively showed the fatigue-reducing eggect of green tea in psychological, physiological and immunological parameters. It is hereby, suggested that green tea is indeed, helpful in reducing fatigue.

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Objective: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide in Gagome kombu (GKF) is known to exhibit immune-enhancing and anti-cancer activities. Recently, cancer patients use various dietary supplements containing fucoidan and mushroom extracts. However, there have been few reports on the safety and efficacy of fucoidan-containing supplements. In this study, we examined the safety of long-term ingestion of GKF in cancer patients.
Methods: Twenty six (26) Japanese cancer patients—16 of whom (male 6, female 10, age 62.8 ± 10.7) have completed cancer treatment and 10 (male 4, female 6, 67.0 ± 10.6) still under treatment and regularly taking anti-cancer drugs and hormone pills—were chosen to ingest GKF-containing supplements (200–300 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Before ingestion and every 4 weeks thereafter (4^th and 8^th week), blood chemistry analysis, hematological analysis, urinalysis and immune analysis were conducted.
Result: There were no adverse clinical changes in blood and urinary analysis. In addition, no serious adverse effects were observed.
Conclusion: These results indicate long-term ingestion of GKF is indeed, safe for cancer patients.

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Objective: We conducted a clinical study to investigate the effects of newly developed LED lighting on living comfort and work performance in an indoor environment.
Design: Sixteen healthy subjects participated in a randomized crossover trial. They performed a mental task (2-back task and ATMT) for 8 hours under newly developed LED lighting or ordinary LED lighting. We evaluated subjective comfort using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and work performance by ATMT. Moreover, we measured changes in the autonomic nervous system by frequency analysis of a-a intervals on accelerated plethysmography (APG) waves to elucidate the mechanism of action.
Result: The subjects’ VAS evaluations showed that the newly developed LED lighting increased their comfort and attenuated their fatigue, and ATMT evaluations showed the lighting improved work performance during the mental task period, while APG frequency analysis revealed changes in the parasympathetic nerve system.
Conclusion: This newly developed LED lighting produces suitable illumination and color temperature and is useful for improving living comfort and performance in an indoor work environment.

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It is considered that olfactory stimulation by fragrance inhalation is one of the methods of relaxation. We examined the possibility by using fragrance inhalation essential oils, such as sweet orange oil and peppermint oil. We measured salivary alpha-amylase activity and state anxiety levels in undergraduate students before and after inhalation. Salivary alpha-amylase activity levels have been utilized to assess the sympathetic nervous activity.
Our results indicate that both salivary alpha-amylase activity and state anxiety levels are significantly reduced after fragrance inhalation of the sweet orange oil. Consequently, our research suggests that sweet orange essential oil has a relaxation effect.

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We purified a novel angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor from fish sauce Ishiru prepared from squid, and identified it as the tripeptide Leu-Ala-Arg (LAR). IC₅₀ of this ACE inhibitor was 2.5 μM, demonstrating high potency among peptides previously purified from fish sauces. Moreover, LAR acted as an antihypertensive peptide, reducing systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

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Cordyceps militaris has been known to produce an anticancer agent, cordycepin. Investigation on optimum culture condition for C. militaris had been performed. In the research program for discovering a novel function in the culture of C. militaris, the culture media was applied to a proliferation assays using various cell lines. The media showed significant anti-proliferative activities against al cell lines, especially to human leukemia cell line HL-60. The activity-guided purification of active ingredient was performed to obtain uracil. To the best of our knowledge, uracil has not been reported to possess anti-proliferative activity. However, the uracil obtained from the culture media was subjected to ICP-MS analysis to reveal that sodium, potassium and magnesium were found to co-exist with uracil, which might show anti-proliferative activity. Further study on the mechanism of the expression of the activity is now underway.

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We examined the effects of polyphenols on migratory activity of neutrophils into the hydrogel and their production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Origonol and lychee polyphenol were diluted to medium in wide-range concentrations. Each solution was added on hydrogel, and the mixture of blood and luminol was layered on it in each tube. The ROS production was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, whereas the cell count in the hydrogel was quantified as migratory activity of neutrophils. The migratory activity of neutrophils was not affected, whereas ROS production of neutrophils was significantly decreased above 100 μg/ml, but increased below the concentration.

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