Introduction : We report the effect of adaptive servo ventilation (ASV) treatment on heart failure in a home care setting.
Methods : For eight home care patients aged ≥75 with heart failure, we diagnosed sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) by using a simplified monitor and implemented ASV treatment. We assessed its effect on heart failure by using NT-proBNP. We also assessed its effects on SDB by using apnea hypopnea index (AHI).
Results : Three patients dropped out because they felt fear of putting on the mask. Among the other five patients, we observed a significant decrease rate of NT-proBNP (mean : -0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) : -0.64, -0.22) after the ASV treatment. With regard to AHI, we observed a decreasing tendency (mean : -20.4 /hour, 95% CI : -41.2/hour, 0.4/hour).
Conclusion : This study suggests that ASV treatment is effective for a treatment of heart failure in a home care setting.

In order to carry out mass examination for detection of stomach ailments effectively and improve screening accuracy, the Nagano Prefectural Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, with its mass gastric examination committee as a driving force, has made every endeavor in close collaboration with Federation-affiliated hospitals.
The ratio of those receiving detailed examination to the total number of those who have undergone mass screenings, and the detection ratio of gastric cancer cases, especially those in early stages, have increased steadily over the past years.
This is due in the main to untiring effort exerted by public health nurses and other persons concerned with health problems.
However, the results of X-ray examination made on the basis of the diagnostic standards prepared by the Federation show that there is much need of improving examiners' ability to read mass miniature radiographs correctly.