We investigated factors contributing to mobile phone dependence. To 139 medical students, we administered a self-reporting questionnaire designed to evaluate mobile phone dependence, health-related lifestyle, patterns...We investigated factors contributing to mobile phone dependence. To 139 medical students, we administered a self-reporting questionnaire designed to evaluate mobile phone dependence, health-related lifestyle, patterns of behavior, and depressive state. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that scores for poor health-related lifestyle, Type A behavior pattern, and presence of depression are independently associated with degree of mobile phone dependency. These findings suggest that persons with an unhealthy lifestyle, Type A behavior traits, or depression might benefit from mobile phone use guidance.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the microR NA(miR NA) expression during histological progression from colorectal normal mucosa through adenoma to carcinoma within a lesion. METHODS: Using microarray, the sequential changes in miR...AIM: To investigate the microR NA(miR NA) expression during histological progression from colorectal normal mucosa through adenoma to carcinoma within a lesion. METHODS: Using microarray, the sequential changes in miR NA expression profiles were compared in colonic lesions from matched samples; histologically, nonneoplastic mucosa, adenoma, and submucosal invasive carcinoma were microdissected from a tissue sample. Cell proliferation assay was performed to observe the effect of miR NA, and its target genes were predicted using bioinformatics approaches and the expression profile of SW480 transfected with the miR NA mimics. mR NA and protein levels of the target gene in colon cancer cell lines with a mimic control or miR NA mimics were measured using qR TPCR and Western blotting. The expression levels of miR NA and target gene in colorectal tissue samples were also measured.RESULTS: Microarray analysis identified that the miR-320 family, including miR-320 a, miR-320 b, miR-320 c, miR-320 d and miR-320 e, were differentially expressed in adenomaand submucosal invasive carcinoma. The mi R-320 family, which inhibits cell proliferation, is frequently downregulated in colorectal adenoma and submucosal invasive carcinoma tissues. Seven genes including CDK6 were identified to be common in the results of gene expression array and bioinformatics analyses performed to find the target gene of the miR-320 family. We confirmed that mR NA and protein levels of CDK6 were significantly suppressed in colon cancer cell lines with miR-320 family mimics. CDK6 expression was found to increase from non-neoplastic mucosa through adenoma to submucosal invasive carcinoma tissues and showed an inverse correlation with miR-320 family expression.CONCLUSION: MiR-320 family affects colorectal tumor proliferation by targeting CDK6, plays important role in its growth, and is considered to be a biomarker for its early detection.展开更多
Vitamin K(VK), which was originally identified as a cofactor involved in the production of functional coagulation factors in the liver, has been shown to be involved in various aspects of physiological and pathologica...Vitamin K(VK), which was originally identified as a cofactor involved in the production of functional coagulation factors in the liver, has been shown to be involved in various aspects of physiological and pathological events, including bone metabolism, cardiovascular diseases and tumor biology. The mechanisms and roles of VK are gradually becoming clear. Several novel enzymes involved in the VK cycle were identified and have been shown to be linked to tumorigenesis. The VKs have been shown to suppress liver cancer cell growth through multiple signaling pathways via the transcription factors and protein kinases. A VK2 analog was applied to the chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) recurrence after curative therapy and was shown to have beneficial effects, both in the suppression of HCC recurrence and in patient survival. Although a large scale randomized control study failed to demonstrate the suppression of HCC recurrence, a meta-analysis suggested a beneficial effect on the long-term survival of HCC patients. However, the beneficial effects of VK administration alone were not sufficient to prevent or treat HCC in clinical settings. Thus its combination with other anti-cancer reagents and the development of more potent novel VK derivatives are the focus of ongoing research which seeks to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects against HCC.展开更多
Sorafenib is used worldwide as a first-line standardsystemic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) on the basis of the results of two large-scale Phase Ⅲ trials. Conversely,hepatic arterial infusion chemot...Sorafenib is used worldwide as a first-line standardsystemic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) on the basis of the results of two large-scale Phase Ⅲ trials. Conversely,hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC) is one of the most recommended treatments in Japan. Although there have been no randomized controlled trials comparing sorafenib with HAIC,several retrospective analyses have shown no significant differences in survival between the two therapies. Outcomes are favorable for HCC patients exhibiting macroscopic vascular invasion when treated with HAIC rather than sorafenib,whereas in HCC patients exhibiting extrahepatic spread or resistance to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,good outcomes are achieved by treatment with sorafenib rather than HAIC. Additionally,sorafenib is generally used to treat patients with Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is indicated for those with either Child-Pugh A or B. Based on these findings,we reviewed treatment strategies for advanced HCC. We propose that sorafenib might be used as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC patients without macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is recommended for those with macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A or B. Additional research is required to determine the best second-line treatment for HAIC non-responders with Child-Pugh B through future clinical trials.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the efficacy of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist on hepatic stellate cells （HSCs） activation in the patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）. METHODS： Seven patients with NASH wer...AIM： To investigate the efficacy of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist on hepatic stellate cells （HSCs） activation in the patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）. METHODS： Seven patients with NASH were prescribed Iosartan, a selective angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor antagonist （50 mg/d） for 48 wk. Liver biopsies were performed both at the entry and end of the study in all patients. Quiescent and activated HSCs were identified by double immunostaining using anti-p75 and α-smooth muscle actin antibodies, and the number of each phenotype was counted. Similarly, the liver specimens obtained from the eight patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver （NAFL） were also examined as controls. RESULTS： In NASH hepatic tissues, activated HSCs were dominantly distributed as compared with those in NAFL. The 48-wk Iosartan treatment induced a remarkable decrease in activated HSCs and a mild increase in quiescent phenotypes. CONCLUSION： Our data suggest the crucial involvement of HSCs in anti-fibrotic effect of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist on patients with NASH.展开更多
AIM To evaluate the inhibitory effects of deferasirox(DFX) against hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) through basic and clinical studies.METHODS In the basic study, the effect of DFX was investigated in three hepatoma cell...AIM To evaluate the inhibitory effects of deferasirox(DFX) against hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) through basic and clinical studies.METHODS In the basic study, the effect of DFX was investigated in three hepatoma cell lines(Hep G2, Hep3 B, and Huh7), as well as in an N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced murine HCC model. In the clinical study, six advanced HCC patients refractory to chemotherapy were enrolled. The initial dose of DFX was 10 mg/kg per day and was increased by 10 mg/kg per day every week, until the maximum dose of 30 mg/kg per day. The duration of a single course of DFX therapy was 28 consecutive days. In the event of dose-limiting toxicity(according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.0), DFX dose was reduced.RESULTS Administration of DFX inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cell lines and induced the activation of caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. In the murine model, DFX treatment significantly suppressed the development of liver tumors(P < 0.01), and significantly upregulated the mR NA expression levels of hepcidin(P < 0.05), transferrin receptor 1(P < 0.05), and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(P < 0.05) in both tumor and non-tumor tissues, compared with control mice. In the clinical study, anorexia and elevated serum creatinine were observed in four and all six patients, respectively. However, reduction in DFX dose led to decrease in serum creatinine levels in all patients. After the first course of DFX, one patient discontinued the therapy. We assessed the tumor response in the remaining five patients; one patient exhibited stable disease, while four patients exhibited progressive disease. The one-year survival rate of the six patients was 17%.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that DFX inhibited HCC in the basic study, but not in the clinical study due to dose-limiting toxicities.展开更多
In this study, we investigated six types of mood state (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigor, fatigue, and confusion) using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) with 40 Japanese university studen...In this study, we investigated six types of mood state (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigor, fatigue, and confusion) using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) with 40 Japanese university students. We examined five main quality of life (QOL) domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health) using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-26). We also examined the total scale score. We examined Spearman’s rank correlations between POMS mood state and QOL scores and compared male and female students’ scores. The results indicated statistically significant correlations between all six mood states and three broad WHOQOL-26 domains (physical health, psychological health, and social relationships). Moreover, the relationship between mood state and QOL showed a gender difference. There were correlations between mood states and the QOL domains of social relationships and environmental health for males. In contrast, mood state correlated with the QOL domains of physical health and psychological health in females. The findings suggest that gender-specific health provision is needed to care for young university students in Japan. However, our study has several limitations;therefore, larger-scale studies with older subjects are needed in the future.展开更多
A person with high-level mental defensive functioning exhibits optimal, effective adaptive states when encountering stressors. This may be an important factor in maintaining a sound campus life. Participants were 47 p...A person with high-level mental defensive functioning exhibits optimal, effective adaptive states when encountering stressors. This may be an important factor in maintaining a sound campus life. Participants were 47 physically and mentally healthy students (average age 19.0 ± 0.6). We first investigated the developmental level of mental defensive functioning as an indicator of participants’ adaptive state at the time of the study. We used the Defensive Functioning Scale proposed in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). We attempted to quantify this scale by summing scores of seven Defense Levels based on individual defense mechanisms. We then measured physical and mental symptoms using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), and compared the relationships between symptoms and defensive functioning (defensive functioning scale and physical symptoms, defensive functioning scale and mental symptoms, and physical symptoms and mental symptoms). Finally, we compared male and female results. Although there was no statistical difference, males showed higher average scores than females on the Defensive Functioning Scale vs physical/mental symptoms, which may indicate the relative suppression of women that characterizes the social and cultural background in Japan. In addition, there was a relatively high unisex positive correlation between physical symptoms and mental symptoms, which suggests that university health administrative staff need to provide mental as well as physical care to help students manage stress effectively. However, larger, more comparative studies on the social and cultural background are needed to further explore these issues.展开更多
It is very important for outpatients who have had a kidney transplant to take care of themselves after discharge. However, outpatients have limited access to medical care by hospital staff after discharge;therefore, m...It is very important for outpatients who have had a kidney transplant to take care of themselves after discharge. However, outpatients have limited access to medical care by hospital staff after discharge;therefore, medical staff are unaware of the patient’s living conditions, and the uncertainties and problems that they encounter related to self-management. We conducted a questionnaire survey among 161 of 200 outpatients who received kidney transplants to investigate their recognition and actual practice of daily self-management. To determine the characteristics of adherent outpatients, we divided patients into two groups (the adherent and non-adherent group) and compared them. The Chi-squared test was conducted to test the equality of proportions among the groups, and then multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors significantly associated with regularly taking medicine or failing to take medicine. As a result of the logistic regression model using demographic factors as independent factors, the periods after transplantation (2 - 5 and 5 - 10 years) and living-donor kidney transplantation or cadaveric kidney transplantation were selected as significant factors associated with good self-management. As a whole, 68.3% of the 145 patients were correctly predicted using the model. The results of this study suggest that in the short period after transplantation (2 - 5 years), cadaveric kidney transplantation and that the patient has a job are significant factors associated with good self-management. Behind these results, a unique Japanese concept, “amae”, could be found. Therefore, medical knowledge and techniques as well as cultural background should be studied.展开更多
Introduction: With the arrival of the 21st century, drastic worldwide changes to natural, economic and social events have occurred. These include the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the global financial crisis. Furth...Introduction: With the arrival of the 21st century, drastic worldwide changes to natural, economic and social events have occurred. These include the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the global financial crisis. Furthermore, Japan experienced the introduction of a specific education system. In this study, we traced and compared the psychological characters of university freshmen for 16 years (years 2000-2016) using Big-Five personalities inventory (Japanese version). Methods: A total of 1189 physically and mentally healthy university freshmen participated in this study. They were divided into four groups according to the year they entered university. They completed a self-filled questionnaire, Big-Five personalities inventory, which consists of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Openness. Result and Discussion: Compared with the year 2008, Extraversion nominally increased in 2012, however, it statistically significantly decreased in 2016. Agreeableness notably decreased from 2000 to 2008, then showed an increase in 2012. Compared to 2000, Neuroticism was statistically significantly lower in 2008 and 2016. Such statistically significant differences were not observed in the other two personalities. The personalities of university freshmen have changed in the last 16 years, which may be been caused by drastic changes. However, further research (e.g., larger-scale studies or studies including other university students) is required to support the current findings.展开更多
We developed a disease management program and service framework to enhance the self-management skills of patients with chronic diseases for the first time in Japan. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of this prog...We developed a disease management program and service framework to enhance the self-management skills of patients with chronic diseases for the first time in Japan. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of this program. A single-group pre-test and post-test design was used. In the program, disease management nurses provided self-management education to patients that were specific for their disease and risk factors in cooperation with their primary physicians. The duration of the program was 6 or 12 months. A total of 1258 patients were enrolled. After excluding discontinued subjects, 987 patients in the diabetes program and 11 patients (except those with diabetic nephropathy) in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) program were analyzed. The diabetic patients showed improvement of HbA1c and blood pressure after intervention, as well as maintaining renal function. CKD patients showed no change of renal function after intervention, but there was improvement of non high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). The patients acquired the ability to detect at an early stage and respond to abnormal symptoms and data, which enabled them to avoid progression of their diseases and emergency hospitalization. The program was effective at preventing disease progression in patients with chronic illnesses and may contribute to the containment of medical costs.展开更多
Objective:To explore the formula principles for“head wind”disease by data-mining and provide reference for the treatment of“head wind”disease.Methods:Prescriptions for headache from“Dictionary of Traditional Chin...Objective:To explore the formula principles for“head wind”disease by data-mining and provide reference for the treatment of“head wind”disease.Methods:Prescriptions for headache from“Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions”were collected,sorted and entered into the“Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance System”(V2.5)to analyze the composition principles by the methods of revised mutual information,complex system entropy cluster and unsupervised hierarchical cluster.Results:The herbs with high usage frequency in these prescriptions for“head wind”disease included Chuan-xiong,Bai-zhi,Xi-xin,Fang-feng,Gan-cao,Shi-Gao and Qiang-Huo.Three new prescriptions were obtained based on the composition principles and rules.The first new prescription is composed of Quan-xie,Xiong-huang,Jiang-can,Zhi-chuan-wu and Di-long.The second new prescription is composed of Du-huo,Rou-gui,Ku-shen;Fang-feng,Gao-ben,Qiang-huo.The third new prescription is composed of Fu-zi,Sheng-chuan-wu,Tian-nan-xing,Chuan-xiong,Bai-zhi,Shi-gao.Conclusion:We found that the most of herbs used to treat the“head wind”disease are warm and spicy,mainly belong to diaphoretic herbs,wind-expelling herbs,and dampness-dispelling herbs.In addition,the new prescriptions for infertility mainly focus on eliminating evil,with the characteristics of“eliminating phlegm and turbid”,“dredging the channels and collaterals”,“expelling wind-evil”and“promoting blood circulation”.展开更多
文摘We investigated factors contributing to mobile phone dependence. To 139 medical students, we administered a self-reporting questionnaire designed to evaluate mobile phone dependence, health-related lifestyle, patterns of behavior, and depressive state. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that scores for poor health-related lifestyle, Type A behavior pattern, and presence of depression are independently associated with degree of mobile phone dependency. These findings suggest that persons with an unhealthy lifestyle, Type A behavior traits, or depression might benefit from mobile phone use guidance.
文摘AIM: To investigate the microR NA(miR NA) expression during histological progression from colorectal normal mucosa through adenoma to carcinoma within a lesion. METHODS: Using microarray, the sequential changes in miR NA expression profiles were compared in colonic lesions from matched samples; histologically, nonneoplastic mucosa, adenoma, and submucosal invasive carcinoma were microdissected from a tissue sample. Cell proliferation assay was performed to observe the effect of miR NA, and its target genes were predicted using bioinformatics approaches and the expression profile of SW480 transfected with the miR NA mimics. mR NA and protein levels of the target gene in colon cancer cell lines with a mimic control or miR NA mimics were measured using qR TPCR and Western blotting. The expression levels of miR NA and target gene in colorectal tissue samples were also measured.RESULTS: Microarray analysis identified that the miR-320 family, including miR-320 a, miR-320 b, miR-320 c, miR-320 d and miR-320 e, were differentially expressed in adenomaand submucosal invasive carcinoma. The mi R-320 family, which inhibits cell proliferation, is frequently downregulated in colorectal adenoma and submucosal invasive carcinoma tissues. Seven genes including CDK6 were identified to be common in the results of gene expression array and bioinformatics analyses performed to find the target gene of the miR-320 family. We confirmed that mR NA and protein levels of CDK6 were significantly suppressed in colon cancer cell lines with miR-320 family mimics. CDK6 expression was found to increase from non-neoplastic mucosa through adenoma to submucosal invasive carcinoma tissues and showed an inverse correlation with miR-320 family expression.CONCLUSION: MiR-320 family affects colorectal tumor proliferation by targeting CDK6, plays important role in its growth, and is considered to be a biomarker for its early detection.
文摘Vitamin K(VK), which was originally identified as a cofactor involved in the production of functional coagulation factors in the liver, has been shown to be involved in various aspects of physiological and pathological events, including bone metabolism, cardiovascular diseases and tumor biology. The mechanisms and roles of VK are gradually becoming clear. Several novel enzymes involved in the VK cycle were identified and have been shown to be linked to tumorigenesis. The VKs have been shown to suppress liver cancer cell growth through multiple signaling pathways via the transcription factors and protein kinases. A VK2 analog was applied to the chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) recurrence after curative therapy and was shown to have beneficial effects, both in the suppression of HCC recurrence and in patient survival. Although a large scale randomized control study failed to demonstrate the suppression of HCC recurrence, a meta-analysis suggested a beneficial effect on the long-term survival of HCC patients. However, the beneficial effects of VK administration alone were not sufficient to prevent or treat HCC in clinical settings. Thus its combination with other anti-cancer reagents and the development of more potent novel VK derivatives are the focus of ongoing research which seeks to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects against HCC.
基金Supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science,KIBAN-B,No.16H05287
文摘Sorafenib is used worldwide as a first-line standardsystemic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) on the basis of the results of two large-scale Phase Ⅲ trials. Conversely,hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC) is one of the most recommended treatments in Japan. Although there have been no randomized controlled trials comparing sorafenib with HAIC,several retrospective analyses have shown no significant differences in survival between the two therapies. Outcomes are favorable for HCC patients exhibiting macroscopic vascular invasion when treated with HAIC rather than sorafenib,whereas in HCC patients exhibiting extrahepatic spread or resistance to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,good outcomes are achieved by treatment with sorafenib rather than HAIC. Additionally,sorafenib is generally used to treat patients with Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is indicated for those with either Child-Pugh A or B. Based on these findings,we reviewed treatment strategies for advanced HCC. We propose that sorafenib might be used as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC patients without macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is recommended for those with macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A or B. Additional research is required to determine the best second-line treatment for HAIC non-responders with Child-Pugh B through future clinical trials.
基金Supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, No. 15590613,and a grant for Research on Intractable Disease from the Japanese Ministry of Public Welfare
文摘AIM： To investigate the efficacy of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist on hepatic stellate cells （HSCs） activation in the patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）. METHODS： Seven patients with NASH were prescribed Iosartan, a selective angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor antagonist （50 mg/d） for 48 wk. Liver biopsies were performed both at the entry and end of the study in all patients. Quiescent and activated HSCs were identified by double immunostaining using anti-p75 and α-smooth muscle actin antibodies, and the number of each phenotype was counted. Similarly, the liver specimens obtained from the eight patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver （NAFL） were also examined as controls. RESULTS： In NASH hepatic tissues, activated HSCs were dominantly distributed as compared with those in NAFL. The 48-wk Iosartan treatment induced a remarkable decrease in activated HSCs and a mild increase in quiescent phenotypes. CONCLUSION： Our data suggest the crucial involvement of HSCs in anti-fibrotic effect of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist on patients with NASH.
基金Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Program of Science,No.23590978 and No.16H05287the Strategic Research Promotion Program from Yamaguchi University
文摘AIM To evaluate the inhibitory effects of deferasirox(DFX) against hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) through basic and clinical studies.METHODS In the basic study, the effect of DFX was investigated in three hepatoma cell lines(Hep G2, Hep3 B, and Huh7), as well as in an N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced murine HCC model. In the clinical study, six advanced HCC patients refractory to chemotherapy were enrolled. The initial dose of DFX was 10 mg/kg per day and was increased by 10 mg/kg per day every week, until the maximum dose of 30 mg/kg per day. The duration of a single course of DFX therapy was 28 consecutive days. In the event of dose-limiting toxicity(according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.0), DFX dose was reduced.RESULTS Administration of DFX inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cell lines and induced the activation of caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. In the murine model, DFX treatment significantly suppressed the development of liver tumors(P < 0.01), and significantly upregulated the mR NA expression levels of hepcidin(P < 0.05), transferrin receptor 1(P < 0.05), and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(P < 0.05) in both tumor and non-tumor tissues, compared with control mice. In the clinical study, anorexia and elevated serum creatinine were observed in four and all six patients, respectively. However, reduction in DFX dose led to decrease in serum creatinine levels in all patients. After the first course of DFX, one patient discontinued the therapy. We assessed the tumor response in the remaining five patients; one patient exhibited stable disease, while four patients exhibited progressive disease. The one-year survival rate of the six patients was 17%.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that DFX inhibited HCC in the basic study, but not in the clinical study due to dose-limiting toxicities.
文摘In this study, we investigated six types of mood state (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigor, fatigue, and confusion) using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) with 40 Japanese university students. We examined five main quality of life (QOL) domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health) using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-26). We also examined the total scale score. We examined Spearman’s rank correlations between POMS mood state and QOL scores and compared male and female students’ scores. The results indicated statistically significant correlations between all six mood states and three broad WHOQOL-26 domains (physical health, psychological health, and social relationships). Moreover, the relationship between mood state and QOL showed a gender difference. There were correlations between mood states and the QOL domains of social relationships and environmental health for males. In contrast, mood state correlated with the QOL domains of physical health and psychological health in females. The findings suggest that gender-specific health provision is needed to care for young university students in Japan. However, our study has several limitations;therefore, larger-scale studies with older subjects are needed in the future.
文摘A person with high-level mental defensive functioning exhibits optimal, effective adaptive states when encountering stressors. This may be an important factor in maintaining a sound campus life. Participants were 47 physically and mentally healthy students (average age 19.0 ± 0.6). We first investigated the developmental level of mental defensive functioning as an indicator of participants’ adaptive state at the time of the study. We used the Defensive Functioning Scale proposed in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). We attempted to quantify this scale by summing scores of seven Defense Levels based on individual defense mechanisms. We then measured physical and mental symptoms using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), and compared the relationships between symptoms and defensive functioning (defensive functioning scale and physical symptoms, defensive functioning scale and mental symptoms, and physical symptoms and mental symptoms). Finally, we compared male and female results. Although there was no statistical difference, males showed higher average scores than females on the Defensive Functioning Scale vs physical/mental symptoms, which may indicate the relative suppression of women that characterizes the social and cultural background in Japan. In addition, there was a relatively high unisex positive correlation between physical symptoms and mental symptoms, which suggests that university health administrative staff need to provide mental as well as physical care to help students manage stress effectively. However, larger, more comparative studies on the social and cultural background are needed to further explore these issues.
文摘It is very important for outpatients who have had a kidney transplant to take care of themselves after discharge. However, outpatients have limited access to medical care by hospital staff after discharge;therefore, medical staff are unaware of the patient’s living conditions, and the uncertainties and problems that they encounter related to self-management. We conducted a questionnaire survey among 161 of 200 outpatients who received kidney transplants to investigate their recognition and actual practice of daily self-management. To determine the characteristics of adherent outpatients, we divided patients into two groups (the adherent and non-adherent group) and compared them. The Chi-squared test was conducted to test the equality of proportions among the groups, and then multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors significantly associated with regularly taking medicine or failing to take medicine. As a result of the logistic regression model using demographic factors as independent factors, the periods after transplantation (2 - 5 and 5 - 10 years) and living-donor kidney transplantation or cadaveric kidney transplantation were selected as significant factors associated with good self-management. As a whole, 68.3% of the 145 patients were correctly predicted using the model. The results of this study suggest that in the short period after transplantation (2 - 5 years), cadaveric kidney transplantation and that the patient has a job are significant factors associated with good self-management. Behind these results, a unique Japanese concept, “amae”, could be found. Therefore, medical knowledge and techniques as well as cultural background should be studied.
文摘Introduction: With the arrival of the 21st century, drastic worldwide changes to natural, economic and social events have occurred. These include the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the global financial crisis. Furthermore, Japan experienced the introduction of a specific education system. In this study, we traced and compared the psychological characters of university freshmen for 16 years (years 2000-2016) using Big-Five personalities inventory (Japanese version). Methods: A total of 1189 physically and mentally healthy university freshmen participated in this study. They were divided into four groups according to the year they entered university. They completed a self-filled questionnaire, Big-Five personalities inventory, which consists of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Openness. Result and Discussion: Compared with the year 2008, Extraversion nominally increased in 2012, however, it statistically significantly decreased in 2016. Agreeableness notably decreased from 2000 to 2008, then showed an increase in 2012. Compared to 2000, Neuroticism was statistically significantly lower in 2008 and 2016. Such statistically significant differences were not observed in the other two personalities. The personalities of university freshmen have changed in the last 16 years, which may be been caused by drastic changes. However, further research (e.g., larger-scale studies or studies including other university students) is required to support the current findings.
文摘We developed a disease management program and service framework to enhance the self-management skills of patients with chronic diseases for the first time in Japan. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of this program. A single-group pre-test and post-test design was used. In the program, disease management nurses provided self-management education to patients that were specific for their disease and risk factors in cooperation with their primary physicians. The duration of the program was 6 or 12 months. A total of 1258 patients were enrolled. After excluding discontinued subjects, 987 patients in the diabetes program and 11 patients (except those with diabetic nephropathy) in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) program were analyzed. The diabetic patients showed improvement of HbA1c and blood pressure after intervention, as well as maintaining renal function. CKD patients showed no change of renal function after intervention, but there was improvement of non high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). The patients acquired the ability to detect at an early stage and respond to abnormal symptoms and data, which enabled them to avoid progression of their diseases and emergency hospitalization. The program was effective at preventing disease progression in patients with chronic illnesses and may contribute to the containment of medical costs.
文摘Objective:To explore the formula principles for“head wind”disease by data-mining and provide reference for the treatment of“head wind”disease.Methods:Prescriptions for headache from“Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions”were collected,sorted and entered into the“Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance System”(V2.5)to analyze the composition principles by the methods of revised mutual information,complex system entropy cluster and unsupervised hierarchical cluster.Results:The herbs with high usage frequency in these prescriptions for“head wind”disease included Chuan-xiong,Bai-zhi,Xi-xin,Fang-feng,Gan-cao,Shi-Gao and Qiang-Huo.Three new prescriptions were obtained based on the composition principles and rules.The first new prescription is composed of Quan-xie,Xiong-huang,Jiang-can,Zhi-chuan-wu and Di-long.The second new prescription is composed of Du-huo,Rou-gui,Ku-shen;Fang-feng,Gao-ben,Qiang-huo.The third new prescription is composed of Fu-zi,Sheng-chuan-wu,Tian-nan-xing,Chuan-xiong,Bai-zhi,Shi-gao.Conclusion:We found that the most of herbs used to treat the“head wind”disease are warm and spicy,mainly belong to diaphoretic herbs,wind-expelling herbs,and dampness-dispelling herbs.In addition,the new prescriptions for infertility mainly focus on eliminating evil,with the characteristics of“eliminating phlegm and turbid”,“dredging the channels and collaterals”,“expelling wind-evil”and“promoting blood circulation”.
