Latest news with #HiroshimaUniversity
The Mainichi
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Late philosopher and Hiroshima A-bomb survivor staged over 500 sit-ins against nuclear weapons
HIROSHIMA -- Every time a nuclear test was conducted abroad, Ichiro Moritaki (1901-1994) staged a sit-in in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima's Naka Ward. The philosopher devoted half his life to A-bomb survivors' movements and campaigns against atomic and hydrogen bombs, earning him the moniker "the father of anti-nuclear movements." "Nuclear weapons and humanity cannot coexist," Moritaki said, and his words still serve as a driving force for people campaigning for nuclear weapons abolition today. His iconic style of sitting quietly, clad in a shirt and tie with his back straight, was full of dignity. "He told me he was staging sit-ins with his back against the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims because he was carrying the souls of A-bomb victims who passed away on his back. However, what my father and others had appealed for has not been made a reality," Moritaki's second daughter Haruko, an 86-year-old resident in Hiroshima's Saeki Ward, told the Mainichi Shimbun. Until his later years, Moritaki urged for the principles of "absolute denial of the nuclear" -- rejecting not only the military use of atomic power such as in nuclear weapons, but also its peaceful use like in nuclear power generation. To date, his philosophy has remained far from being realized. Nihon Hidankyo, formally the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, for which Moritaki served as the first chairperson, has persistently called for government compensation for A-bomb victims, but this has not yet come about. On the morning of Aug. 6, 1945, Moritaki, then a professor at Hiroshima Koto Shihan Gakko (present-day Hiroshima University), was exposed to the atomic bomb about 4 kilometers from the hypocenter while leading a group of students mobilized for wartime labor services at a shipyard in Hiroshima's Ebamachi district (now part of Naka Ward). Shards of glass scattered by the blast pierced his right eye, causing him to lose sight in it. Haruko remembers an unforgettable experience. When she traveled from the location to which she had evacuated to the barracks where her father was living after the bombing, Haruko found a pure white skull in a river nearby. "It was small enough to fit in my palm, and even as young as I was, I could sense that it was from a baby who died in the atomic bombing. When I handed it to my father, he wept bitterly as he held it close to him." While teaching at Hiroshima University, Moritaki was also involved in a drive to provide psychological and economic support to children orphaned by the atomic bombing. As part of the campaign, Haruko also recalls sharing hot pot dishes with the orphans. "He was called 'dad' by those children," she reflected. Moritaki worked hard to establish Nihon Hidankyo in 1956 and became its first chairperson. At the ninth World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held in 1963, the movement split due to fierce disagreements between supporters of the contemporary Socialist Party and the Japanese Communist Party over the then Soviet Union's resumption of nuclear testing. In his keynote speech, Moritaki emphasized that he was absolutely against any nuclear testing by any country and all forms of nuclear armament, but jeers and roars filled the venue, and some were even injured in the commotion. In April 1962, Moritaki staged a sit-in protest in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims against the resumption of nuclear tests by the United States and the Soviet Union. He submitted his resignation to the university he taught at, fully committing himself to the protest, which lasted 12 days. His action marked the beginning of a tradition in Hiroshima of staging sit-ins before the cenotaph each time nuclear testing was conducted. "Even shortly before his passing, he told me from his sickbed, 'Haruko, you've got to go today. There is a sit-in,'" Haruko recalled. Over the course of his life, Moritaki took part in more than 500 sit-ins. At its inaugural convention, Nihon Hidankyo affirmed the peaceful use of nuclear power in a declaration which Moritaki himself drafted. After meeting residents of uranium mining areas across the world and scientists opposed to nuclear power, however, Moritaki revamped his views and advocated "absolute denial of the nuclear" at the 1975 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs. In the mid-1980s, Moritaki underwent surgery for a cataract caused by radiation exposure. Not only did he lose his right eyesight to the atomic bombing, but his left eyesight was at risk of the same fate. Both his vision and his resolve apparently cleared after the surgery, further deepening his solidarity with nuclear victims around the world. Haruko, who accompanied her father in his activism, now serves as co-representative of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (HANWA). She is currently busy preparing for the World Nuclear Victims Forum, to be held in Hiroshima this October. The conference will invite victims of uranium mining, nuclear testing and nuclear accidents from around the world and seek to form an international network to abolish nuclear weapons and provide relief to nuclear victims. In her father's final years, Haruko was diagnosed with cancer, and she continues her activities while receiving treatment. "'Nuclear weapons and humanity cannot coexist' is the will of my respected father -- and of course, it is my own as well," she told the Mainichi Shimbun.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Common sweetener in fizzy drinks and yoghurt ‘can kill off the deadliest cancer'
A COMMON sugar substitute in fizzy drinks, yoghurts and gum could be used to combat one of the deadliest kinds of cancer. Researchers fermented the zero calorie sweetener and tested it against Advertisement 2 Stevia extract could be used to help fight pancreatic cancer, researchers suggested Credit: Getty 2 They tested fermented extracts against pancreatic cancer cells in a lab dish Credit: Getty In the UK, about 10,800 people are diagnosed with It's the fifth most common cause of Previous research has suggested that stevia leaf extracts could have potential "anticancer effects". Advertisement But isolating specific substances within the herb that could help protect against cancer and using them has remained challenging. Researchers from Hiroshima University suggested fermenting stevia with bacteria can structurally change the extract and produce bioactive metabolites - compounds that can impact living organisms. Study author Masanori Sugiyama, a professor in the Department of Probiotic Science for Preventive Medicine , said The team tested their theory out against pancreatic cancer cells. Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Exclusive "Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumour of the digestive system with a poor prognosis," co-author Prof Narandalai Danshiitsoodol said. "Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 per cent. The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories "The primary reason "Furthermore, pancreatic cancer is highly invasive and prone to metastasis, showing significant resistance to existing treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and Advertisement "Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new and effective anticancer compounds, particularly those derived from medicinal plants." Researchers used lactic acid bacteria to ferment stevia extracts. They isolated over 1200 strains from fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants and evaluated their health benefits . They finally landed on Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain (FSLE) derived from banana leaves "to enhance the antioxidant and anticancer activities of stevia leaf extract through fermentation". Advertisement They tested fermented and non-fermented stevia extracts against pancreatic cancer cells in lab dishes. Fermented stevia killed pancreatic cancer cells more efficiently than the non-fermented extract, the study published in the Symptoms of pancreatic cancer PANCREATIC cancer doesn't always cause symptoms in its early stages. As the cancer grows and you do begin to show signs, these may come and go and be unspecific, making it hard to diagnose, according to Common symptoms include: Indigestion - a painful, burning feeling in your chest with an unpleasant taste in your mouth Diarrhoea and constipation - see a GP if you have runny poos for more than seven days, especially if you've lost weight as well Steatorrhoea - pale, oily poo that's bulky, smells horrible and floats, making it hard to flush Losing a lot of weight without meaning to Jaundice - yellow skin and eyes, as well as dark pee, pale poo and itchy skin This suggested that "the fermentation process enhances the bioactivity of the [stevia] extract", Prof Sugiyama said. Researchers tested out different fermentation levels to see which was most effective against cancer cells. Advertisement Lower concentrations didn't kill cancer cells immediately, but they slowed their growth. Healthy kidney cells were mostly unaffected by the stevia extracts. Researchers plan to study how fermented stevia affects cancer in mice next , to see how various dosages will work in living organisms. 'The present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of the Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in the fermentation of herbal extracts, while also offering a valuable research perspective on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumour agents,' Prof Danshiitsoodol said. Advertisement Since the early 1990s, pancreatic cancer incidence rates have increased by 18 per cent in the UK. The disease is often diagnosed at a late stage because it frequently lacks noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can help extend patients' li ves. Read more on the Irish Sun A blood test to pick up early signs of pancreatic cancer is being trialled in patients with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes - a known risk factor for the disease. Advertisement Meanwhile, researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic have developed a new type of jab to fight .
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Common sweetener in fizzy drinks and yoghurt ‘can kill off the deadliest cancer'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A COMMON sugar substitute used in fizzy drinks, yoghurts and gum could be used to combat one of the deadliest kinds of cancer. Researchers fermented the zero calorie sweetener and tested it against pancreatic cancer - finding that it killed off malignant cells but didn't harm healthy ones. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Stevia extract could be used to help fight pancreatic cancer, researchers suggested Credit: Getty 2 They tested fermented extracts against pancreatic cancer cells in a lab dish Credit: Getty Stevia is a shrub-like herb used to sweeten drinks and desserts instead of sugar, which can also be bought as powder or tablets. Previous research has suggested that stevia leaf extracts could have potential "anticancer effects". But isolating specific substances within the herb that could help protect against cancer and using them has remained challenging. Researchers from Hiroshima University suggested fermenting stevia with bacteria can structurally change the extract and produce bioactive metabolites - compounds that can impact living organisms. Study author Masanori Sugiyama, a professor in the Department of Probiotic Science for Preventive Medicine, said fermentation - or "microbial bio-transformation" - could "enhance the pharmacological efficacy of natural plant extracts" like stevia. The team tested their theory out against pancreatic cancer cells. "Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumour of the digestive system with a poor prognosis," co-author Prof Narandalai Danshiitsoodol said. "Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 per cent. "The primary reason pancreatic cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers is its subtle, insidious onset, with most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage and missing the optimal treatment window. "Furthermore, pancreatic cancer is highly invasive and prone to metastasis, showing significant resistance to existing treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, resulting in very limited therapeutic efficacy. The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories "Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new and effective anticancer compounds, particularly those derived from medicinal plants." Researchers used lactic acid bacteria to ferment stevia extracts. They isolated over 1200 strains from fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants and evaluated their health benefits. They finally landed on Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain (FSLE) derived from banana leaves "to enhance the antioxidant and anticancer activities of stevia leaf extract through fermentation". They tested fermented and non-fermented stevia extracts against pancreatic cancer cells in lab dishes. Fermented stevia killed pancreatic cancer cells more efficiently than the non-fermented extract, the study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found. This suggested that "the fermentation process enhances the bioactivity of the [stevia] extract", Prof Sugiyama said. Researchers tested out different fermentation levels to see which was most effective against cancer cells. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer PANCREATIC cancer doesn't always cause symptoms in its early stages. As the cancer grows and you do begin to show signs, these may come and go and be unspecific, making it hard to diagnose, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Common symptoms include: Indigestion - a painful, burning feeling in your chest with an unpleasant taste in your mouth Tummy or back pain - it may start as general discomfort or tenderness in the tummy area and spread to the back, which get worse lying down and feel better is you sit forward Diarrhoea and constipation - see a GP if you have runny poos for more than seven days, especially if you've lost weight as well Steatorrhoea - pale, oily poo that's bulky, smells horrible and floats, making it hard to flush Losing a lot of weight without meaning to Jaundice - yellow skin and eyes, as well as dark pee, pale poo and itchy skin Lower concentrations didn't kill cancer cells immediately, but they slowed their growth. Healthy kidney cells were mostly unaffected by the stevia extracts. Researchers plan to study how fermented stevia affects cancer in mice next, to see how various dosages will work in living organisms. 'The present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of the Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in the fermentation of herbal extracts, while also offering a valuable research perspective on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumour agents,' Prof Danshiitsoodol said. In the UK, about 10,800 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and 9,600 pass away from it, according to Cancer Research UK. It's the fifth most common cause of cancer death. Since the early 1990s, pancreatic cancer incidence rates have increased by 18 per cent in the UK. The disease is often diagnosed at a late stage because it frequently lacks noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can help extend patients' lives. A blood test to pick up early signs of pancreatic cancer is being trialled in patients with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes - a known risk factor for the disease. Meanwhile, researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic have developed a new type of jab to fight pancreatic cancer.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Popular sugar alternative found safe and even effective at killing pancreatic cancer cells
Cancer prevention might just become a 'sweet' journey. That too, with the help of a natural sweetener! According to a recent study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences , stevia might pave the way for effective prevention of pancreatic cancer. How? Read on to know more. The 'sweet' breakthrough: Stevia might soon be more than just a sweetener! Researchers have discovered that when stevia is fermented with a bacterium found in banana leaves, it can effectively target pancreatic cancer cells while leaving healthy kidney cells unharmed. While discussing the recent study result, study co-author Narandalai Danshiitsoodol from Hiroshima University, said, 'Globally, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer continue to rise, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%,' adding, 'Pancreatic cancer is highly invasive and prone to metastasis, showing significant resistance to existing treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. As such, there is an urgent need to identify new and effective anticancer compounds, particularly those derived from medicinal plants.' What did the study reveal? For the study, the research team used a specific bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T, to ferment stevia leaves. They compared the fermented version (which they call FSLE) to regular stevia extract and found that FSLE performed better in every way they tested. As Masanori Sugiyama explained, 'To enhance the pharmacological efficacy of natural plant extracts, microbial biotransformation has emerged as an effective strategy.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo They optimized the fermentation process and found that stevia was most effective when fermented for 72 hours, at 37°C, without oxygen. The results were impressive: fermented stevia effectively killed pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) while barely affecting healthy cells, even at higher doses. This selectivity is crucial for safe cancer treatments. Instead of an immediate kill, FSLE sometimes slowed down cancer cell growth, making them look weak and unhealthy. Fermented stevia also showed strong antioxidant properties, which is essential since oxidative stress is a big factor in cancer development. It neutralized free radicals more effectively than the non-fermented version, achieving a 94% scavenging power in one test. What's the takeaway? Researchers believe that fermentation transforms compounds into more active versions. For example, a compound called chlorogenic acid is converted into chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME) during fermentation. CAME was found to be more effective than regular chlorogenic acid in halting cancer cell growth and triggering cancer cell self-destruction. Its potency was significant: the dose needed to kill half the cancer cells was much lower for CAME compared to regular chlorogenic acid. CAME works by blocking the cell cycle and forcing cells into apoptosis, their self-destruct mode. On a genetic level, CAME influenced genes associated with cell death, activating pro-apoptotic genes while shutting down those that prevent cell death. This supports the observed effects, showing that CAME doesn't just kill cells randomly; it drives them into a specific self-destruction pathway. To sum up in simpler terms, this research suggests that fermented stevia could be a promising new avenue for effective cancer treatment, particularly for hard-to-treat pancreatic cancer. What is stevia? Stevia is a sweet sugar substitute that is about 50 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant (shrub) native to tropical and subtropical America, and areas of Paraguay and Brazil. The active compounds in stevia are steviol glycosides, and the leaves may be used as a calorie-free substitute for sugar. Stevia is heat-stable, pH-stable, and not fermentable. More than just a sweetener: Stevia is not just a substitute for sugar anymore; it's stepping up its game! Thanks to fermentation, researchers have discovered that stevia extract can be transformed into a compound that fights cancer while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This exciting change is linked to specific enzymes from a bacterial strain called SN13T. As per Danshiitsoodol, 'This microbial transformation was likely due to specific enzymes in the bacteria strain used.' The findings show that this new compound, CAME, is more effective at harming cancer cells and promoting cell death in PANC-1 cells than chlorogenic acid alone. The way ahead: What's next for this research? The team has plans to take their work from the lab to the real world, with mouse studies coming up. This will test if fermented stevia can work within living systems, which have complex immune responses and metabolism. According to Danshiitsoodol, 'The present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of the Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in the fermentation of herbal extracts, while also offering a valuable research perspective on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumor agents.' Going by this research, with the right microbes, even a simple leaf like stevia could become a powerful weapon against cancer. It's not bad for a sugar substitute anymore; it's a natural and valuable component with more than its sweetening qualities. Cancer immunotherapy may also treat certain autoimmune diseases, claims study
Japan Today
09-07-2025
- General
- Japan Today
In Hiroshima, search for remains keeps war alive for lone volunteer
Rebun Kayo looks for the bone fragments unearthed at a site on Ninoshima Island, where he searches for the remains of atomic bomb victims, believed to have been buried there since 1945, on July 5. By Tom Bateman Dozens of times a year, Rebun Kayo takes a ferry to a small island across from the port of Hiroshima in search of the remains of those killed by the atomic bomb 80 years ago. For the 47-year-old researcher, unearthing even the tiniest fragments on Ninoshima Island is a sobering reminder that the war is a reality that persists - buried, forgotten and unresolved. "When we die, we are interred in places like temples or churches and bid farewell in a ceremony. That's the dignified way of being sent off," said Kayo, a researcher at Hiroshima University's Center for Peace who spends his own time and money on the solo excavations. After the United States dropped the atomic bomb over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, instantly killing about 78,000 people and injuring far more, Ninoshima, about 4 km (2.5 miles) from the hypocenter, became a field hospital. Within weeks, some 10,000 victims, both dead and alive, were ferried across the water. Many perished soon after, and when cremations could not keep up, people were buried in mass graves. While many remains were unearthed in the decades following the war, witness accounts suggested there were more burial grounds. The son of a resident informed Kayo about one area on the island's northwestern coast in 2014 and from there, he saved up funds and began digging four years later. NO CLOSURE In searing heat last weekend, Kayo cut through overgrown brush to return to the spot where he had left off three weeks before. After an hour and a half of digging, he carefully picked out two thumbnail-sized bone fragments from the dirt - additions to the roughly 100 he has unearthed so far. Every discovery brings home to him the cruelty of war. The pain was never as raw as when Kayo found pieces of a young child's jaw and tooth earlier this year, he said. "That hit me really hard," he said, his white, long-sleeve shirt soaked through with sweat. "That child was killed by the bomb, knowing nothing about the world ... I couldn't come to terms with it for a while, and that feeling still lingers." One day, he plans to take all the fragments to a Buddhist temple, where they can be enshrined. Kayo's drive for repeating the gruelling task year after year is partly personal. Born in Okinawa, where some of the bloodiest battles during World War Two were fought, Kayo himself has three relatives whose remains were never found. Volunteers still descend on Okinawa from all over Japan for excavations, and because the poison ivy in the forests there is prohibitive for him, Kayo returns the favour on Ninoshima instead. As long as traces of the dead keep turning up, the war's proximity is palpable for Kayo. "People today who don't know about the war focus only on the recovery, and they move the conversation forward while forgetting about these people here," he said. "And in the end, you'll have people saying, 'even if you drop an atomic bomb, you can recover' ... There will always be people who try to justify it in a way that suits them." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
