This study provided foundational data for use in nursing interventional methods for improving nurse-patient relationships. This was a descriptive study on the effectiveness of a Japanese tea ceremony (in Japanese: cha...This study provided foundational data for use in nursing interventional methods for improving nurse-patient relationships. This was a descriptive study on the effectiveness of a Japanese tea ceremony (in Japanese: chado) intervention for improving nurse-patient relationships. I conducted a Japanese tea ceremony and examined changes in nurses’ awareness regarding interactions with patients after this intervention. The tea ceremonies were conducted with the cooperation of an Urasenke tea ceremony lecturer. A quiet environment with chairs and tables was provided for all participants while they provided written answers to a descriptive survey, which was administered before and after the intervention;they required approximately 20 min to complete the survey. The mean length of each nurse’s description was 800 characters. The tea ceremony was effective in bringing about definite changes in nurses’ awareness concerning interactions with patients. This study is useful in that it suggests how nurses can maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces gastroduodenal diseases and vigorous humural and cellular immune abnormalities. In order to clarify the immunological changes before and after eradication of H. pylori, the perc...Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces gastroduodenal diseases and vigorous humural and cellular immune abnormalities. In order to clarify the immunological changes before and after eradication of H. pylori, the percentages and ratios of the following cells in the peripheral blood of 32 H. pylori-infected patients and 25 control subjects were analyzed: CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 cells (Th1), T helper 2 cells (Th2), CD4+CD25+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th1/Th2 ratio. CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients before (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 1.9) and after (mean ± SD, 2.8 ± 1.6) eradication of H. pylori than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 2.1 ± 0.9). The percentage of Th2 cells was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD, 2.6 ± 1.1) than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 1.9 ± 1.1;p < 0.02). The percentage of Th2 cells after eradication of H. pylori (mean ± SD, 2.3 ± 1.4) was lower than that before eradication. There was no significant difference between control subjects (mean ± SD, 4.1% ± 1.5%) and patients before H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 4.5% ± 2.4%) in the percentage of Tregs, but the percentage was significantly higher in patients after H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 5.2% ±2.6%) than in control subjects. The function of peripheral induced Tregs was reported to suppress the excessive immune reaction in chronic inflammation. These data suggest that Tregs may proliferate and be activated to suppress the activation of humoral immunity in H. pylori-infected patients, and these changes continue after 3 months or later of successful eradication of H. pylori.展开更多
Objectives: The study examined nursing students’ acquisition of good communication skills via text analysis of learning outcomes using cooperative learning. Methods: The study involved 90 first-year students enrolled...Objectives: The study examined nursing students’ acquisition of good communication skills via text analysis of learning outcomes using cooperative learning. Methods: The study involved 90 first-year students enrolled in the nursing department of a Japanese university. Participants were asked to learn three learning tasks considered to heighten communicative ability through firsthand experience using the discussion-based technique of cooperative learning: 1) to engage in self-reflection, 2) to imagine something beyond your own experience, and 3) to accept something that does not fit within the scope of your own experience or thought. A questionnaire survey consisted of five items, including learning challenges 1) to 3) as well as 4) “Satisfaction with the exercises” and 5) “Students’ hopes.” These items were evaluated using text analysis. Results: A total of 79 survey questionnaires were collected (87.8% recovery rate) for analysis. “Self-reflection and self-realizations prompted by the communication exercise” was observed as a characteristic of Task 1, “becoming aware of ideas and opinions different than one’s own by listening to the opinions of others” as a characteristic of Task 2, “deepening relationships by learning about diverse ideas and values through interactions with others” as a characteristic of Task 3, and “the effects of communicating with student subjects” as a characteristic of Task 4. The responses to Task 5 were diverse;no common characteristics were found. The intervention was found to be useful for student engagement and the communication required of nurses. Conclusions: Using cooperative learning discussion in communication class was found to be effective. As nursing is an inherently interpersonal occupation, such effects include important elements.展开更多
Background Obesity is the most common metabolic disease in the world. However, the relationship between obesity and lung function is not fully understood. Although several longitudinal studies have shown that increase...Background Obesity is the most common metabolic disease in the world. However, the relationship between obesity and lung function is not fully understood. Although several longitudinal studies have shown that increases in body weight can lead to reductions in pulmonary function, whether this is the case with the Japanese population and whether high body mass index （BMI） status alone represents an appropriate predictor of obstructive lung dysfunction remains unclear.The purpose of present study was to estimate the effect of BMI on lung function measured by spirometry of Japanese patients in general clinics. We measured BMI and performed spirometry on screening patients who had consulted general clinics.Methods Subjects comprised 1231 patients ≥40 years of age （mean age （65.0±12.0） years, 525 men, 706 women） who had consulted clinics in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, for non-respiratory disease. BMI was calculated and lung function was measured by spirometry.Results BMI was found to be positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second （FEV1）/forced vital capacity （FVC） in men and with maximum mid-expiratory flow （MMF） in all subjects. Following adjustment for relevant factors, a significant positive correlation between BMI and FEV1/FVC was identified for all subjects. Comparison between subjects with normal BMI （18.5-25.0） and higher BMI （25.1-30.0） also demonstrated that FEV1/FVC and percentage of predicted maximum mid-expiratory flow （%MMF） were significantly higher in the latter subjects.Conclusions In a population without marked respiratory disease, higher BMI subjects showed less obstructive pulmonary dysfunction compared to normal BMI subjects. High BMI status alone may be inappropriate as a predictor of obstructive lung dysfunction, particularly in populations with a low prevalence of obesity.展开更多
文摘This study provided foundational data for use in nursing interventional methods for improving nurse-patient relationships. This was a descriptive study on the effectiveness of a Japanese tea ceremony (in Japanese: chado) intervention for improving nurse-patient relationships. I conducted a Japanese tea ceremony and examined changes in nurses’ awareness regarding interactions with patients after this intervention. The tea ceremonies were conducted with the cooperation of an Urasenke tea ceremony lecturer. A quiet environment with chairs and tables was provided for all participants while they provided written answers to a descriptive survey, which was administered before and after the intervention;they required approximately 20 min to complete the survey. The mean length of each nurse’s description was 800 characters. The tea ceremony was effective in bringing about definite changes in nurses’ awareness concerning interactions with patients. This study is useful in that it suggests how nurses can maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients.
文摘Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces gastroduodenal diseases and vigorous humural and cellular immune abnormalities. In order to clarify the immunological changes before and after eradication of H. pylori, the percentages and ratios of the following cells in the peripheral blood of 32 H. pylori-infected patients and 25 control subjects were analyzed: CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 cells (Th1), T helper 2 cells (Th2), CD4+CD25+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th1/Th2 ratio. CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients before (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 1.9) and after (mean ± SD, 2.8 ± 1.6) eradication of H. pylori than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 2.1 ± 0.9). The percentage of Th2 cells was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD, 2.6 ± 1.1) than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 1.9 ± 1.1;p < 0.02). The percentage of Th2 cells after eradication of H. pylori (mean ± SD, 2.3 ± 1.4) was lower than that before eradication. There was no significant difference between control subjects (mean ± SD, 4.1% ± 1.5%) and patients before H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 4.5% ± 2.4%) in the percentage of Tregs, but the percentage was significantly higher in patients after H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 5.2% ±2.6%) than in control subjects. The function of peripheral induced Tregs was reported to suppress the excessive immune reaction in chronic inflammation. These data suggest that Tregs may proliferate and be activated to suppress the activation of humoral immunity in H. pylori-infected patients, and these changes continue after 3 months or later of successful eradication of H. pylori.
文摘Objectives: The study examined nursing students’ acquisition of good communication skills via text analysis of learning outcomes using cooperative learning. Methods: The study involved 90 first-year students enrolled in the nursing department of a Japanese university. Participants were asked to learn three learning tasks considered to heighten communicative ability through firsthand experience using the discussion-based technique of cooperative learning: 1) to engage in self-reflection, 2) to imagine something beyond your own experience, and 3) to accept something that does not fit within the scope of your own experience or thought. A questionnaire survey consisted of five items, including learning challenges 1) to 3) as well as 4) “Satisfaction with the exercises” and 5) “Students’ hopes.” These items were evaluated using text analysis. Results: A total of 79 survey questionnaires were collected (87.8% recovery rate) for analysis. “Self-reflection and self-realizations prompted by the communication exercise” was observed as a characteristic of Task 1, “becoming aware of ideas and opinions different than one’s own by listening to the opinions of others” as a characteristic of Task 2, “deepening relationships by learning about diverse ideas and values through interactions with others” as a characteristic of Task 3, and “the effects of communicating with student subjects” as a characteristic of Task 4. The responses to Task 5 were diverse;no common characteristics were found. The intervention was found to be useful for student engagement and the communication required of nurses. Conclusions: Using cooperative learning discussion in communication class was found to be effective. As nursing is an inherently interpersonal occupation, such effects include important elements.
文摘Background Obesity is the most common metabolic disease in the world. However, the relationship between obesity and lung function is not fully understood. Although several longitudinal studies have shown that increases in body weight can lead to reductions in pulmonary function, whether this is the case with the Japanese population and whether high body mass index （BMI） status alone represents an appropriate predictor of obstructive lung dysfunction remains unclear.The purpose of present study was to estimate the effect of BMI on lung function measured by spirometry of Japanese patients in general clinics. We measured BMI and performed spirometry on screening patients who had consulted general clinics.Methods Subjects comprised 1231 patients ≥40 years of age （mean age （65.0±12.0） years, 525 men, 706 women） who had consulted clinics in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, for non-respiratory disease. BMI was calculated and lung function was measured by spirometry.Results BMI was found to be positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second （FEV1）/forced vital capacity （FVC） in men and with maximum mid-expiratory flow （MMF） in all subjects. Following adjustment for relevant factors, a significant positive correlation between BMI and FEV1/FVC was identified for all subjects. Comparison between subjects with normal BMI （18.5-25.0） and higher BMI （25.1-30.0） also demonstrated that FEV1/FVC and percentage of predicted maximum mid-expiratory flow （%MMF） were significantly higher in the latter subjects.Conclusions In a population without marked respiratory disease, higher BMI subjects showed less obstructive pulmonary dysfunction compared to normal BMI subjects. High BMI status alone may be inappropriate as a predictor of obstructive lung dysfunction, particularly in populations with a low prevalence of obesity.
