In our hospital, we have appointed some nurses to full time support and adjust patient discharges since May 2009. We have an electronic “Discharge Support Protocol”, which is a tool that includes discharge adjustment screening, discharge support assessment, discharge adjustment planning, and discharge support planning. However, only a few ward nurses have used the tool. We performed a survey of nurses in the acute care ward, where 32% of the inpatients require discharge support input to consider how the “Discharge Support Protocol” could be fully utilized. The main reasons given for the low input rate were the difficulty in finding time from routine ward duties, and the vagueness of the protocol. We, therefore, made it part of the routine ward duty to fill out the discharge support protocol, and also made the work flow clearer. As a result, we found an increase in input rate of the first part of the protocol which deals with discharge adjustment screening, but did not find any change in input rate from the second part onwards. The challenge from now on will be to take further measures to improve the overall input rate. In addition, we have suggested the usability of the “Discharge Support Protocol” to educate ward nurses, and to share information about patients between nurses and other departments.

Anemia is a severe public health problem in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). Consequently, a new control strategy to reduce the burden of anemia has been introduced for preschool children (aged 6–52 months). The objective of this study was to assess the current prevalence of anemia and related factors in preschool children in southern rural Lao PDR. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in six communities in Songkhone district, Savannakheth province, in February 2009. As a result, the prevalence of anemia was found to be 48.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 43.5–54.3), although most cases were mild. A multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that there was no protective effect of breastfeeding against anemia. The anemia prevalence was higher in 1) children aged 6–23 months (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.02–2.90) than in older children, 2) children in large families (6 or more members) (OR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.17–3.29), and 3) children in three remote villages with relatively difficult access to markets (OR = 3.01, 95% CI, 1.25–7.47).
In Lao PDR, improvement of food practices and home-fortified food supplementation interventions are essential. High-risk groups should be targeted and a long-term health education program that aims to modify food habits implemented. Furthermore, in settings where iron deficiency is not the only cause of anemia, combining an iron supplement with other measures is necessary.

Our hospital has a nutrition support team (NST) serving inpatients of all department. Two years ago, the team started activities with the motto “Apt nutritional management for inpatients”. It is an interdepartmental unit consisting of physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and speech therapists. Initially we found it difficult to make time to join forces, but now it has become possible to screen patients for undernourishment on a weekly basis while making nutritional assessment and planning, and holding consultations. The main purpose of the consultations is to improve the nutritional status of patients according to plans formulated after nutritional assessment made at the request of physicians and nurses in charge of the patients. To achieve the objective, we are expected to concentrate all our efforts and brains. This paper presents some consultation cases we have handled. In addition, the nutritional assessment and nutritional intervention activities of our hospital are described.
Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional status ; Nutritional Support ; Hospitals ; Consultation

An increasing number of children who have ADHD are visiting pediatric clinics. In this study, we focused on the behavior of ADHD children in different situations.The behavior of ADHD children was evaluated with a specially designed checklist in a person-to-person situation in which the subject was face to face with the clinical psychologist at the counseling room and in a group situation in which the subject participated in an outdoor program organized by the Department of Pediatries of Enshu General Hospital.In the person-to-person context, all of the performance scores with respect to attention-deficit, impulsivity, hyperactivity and difficulty with communication were decreased after psychotherapy. This suggested the regular person-to-person therapy with medication could improve the behaviors and development of ADHD children. On the other hand, the hyperactivity score was increased in the group context because of a lot of stimulation. These findings suggested ADHD children’s behavior changes according to the situation, and that we should take care of them with this fact in mind.
Child ; Child attention deficit disorder ; Pulmonary evaluation ; seconds ; behavioral aspects

Using the data of 139 ovarian cancer cases at our hospital, we investigated the effect of jingizai on prognosis when it was combined with standard therapy for ovarian cancer and prognosis by histopathological types. Combining jingizai with standard therapy was not effective in cases of stage I-II ovarian cancer, but it was effective in cases of stage III-IV ovarian cancer. Upon examination the effectiveness of jingizai according to histopathological types, we observed some improved prognosis in serous adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma cases ; however, prognosis didn't improve in endometrioid adenocarcinoma and clear cell adenocarcinoma. These results indicate that the effectiveness of combining jingizai with standard therapy may differ depending on histological type of ovarian cancer. When we investigated the difference between the distribution of histopathological types by cancer staging, we frequently found clear cell adenocarcinoma in stage I-II cancer cases. Also, serous adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma had a high frequency among stage III-IV cancer cases. This difference may be the reason that the effectiveness of jingizai is different depending on the advances of each stage. However, no statistical difference was confirmed due to the small number of subjects analyzed. Analysis of larger sample size, which can be collected by performing collaborative studies with other facilities, will be required for more detailed investigation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between white matter tracts and cognitive symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: We examined the cognitive functions of 17 children with high-functioning ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) controls and performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. We compared the results between the groups and investigated the correlations between the cognitive scores and DTI parameters within each group. RESULTS: The Comprehension scores in the ASD group exhibited a positive correlation with mean diffusivity (MD) in the forceps minor (F minor). In the TD group, the Comprehension scores were positively correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO) and left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and negatively correlated with MD in the left ATR, radial diffusivity (RD) in the right IFO, and RD in the left ATR. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the Matching Numbers scores and MD in the left uncinate fasciculus and F minor, and RD in the F minor. Furthermore, the Sentence Questions scores exhibited a positive correlation with RD in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Relative to TD controls, the specific tract showing a strong correlation with the cognitive scores was reduced in the ASD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that white matter tracts connecting specific brain areas may exhibit a weaker relationship with cognitive functions in children with ASD, resulting in less efficient cognitive pathways than those observed in TD children.
Anisotropy ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Autistic Disorder ; Brain ; Child ; Cognition ; Comprehension ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Surgical Instruments ; White Matter

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the factors contributing to nurses’ attitudes toward terminal care in palliative care units (PCUs). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of nurses in PCUs across Japan using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, which was mailed to 103 ward managers and 1,671 nurses in PCUs to collect data about nurses’ sociodemographic characteristics. Their attitudes towards terminal care were assessed using the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (Japanese version). Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with attitudes towards terminal care. Results: After excluding missing data, valid responses were obtained from 93 ward managers and 1,112 nurses (response rates of 90.3% and 66.5%, respectively). Based on multivariate analyses, the subdivisions of “positivity of nurses’ attitudes toward terminal care” and “high recognition of the patient- and family-centered care” were associated with working in PCUs voluntarily (β=0.159, β=0.131, p<0.01). The former subdivision was associated with ten personal factors, including “experience as a nurse in a PCU” (β=0.125, p<0.01), “having a certification of End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Japan version Core Curriculum” (β=0.065, p<0.05). The latter subdivision was associated with four factors enhancing the PCU environment including “support for creative activities of patients and their families” (β=0.114, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study has suggested that gaining the experience at PCUs with multidisciplinary members on a basic palliative care education, a supportive specialized palliative nursing education, and expanding care system in PCUs are important for the positivity of nurses’ attitudes toward terminal care.

Pericardial pacing wire placement may occasionally result in intravascular or intratracheal wire migration, infective endocarditis, and sepsis; reportedly, the incidence of complications is approximately 0.09 to 0.4%. We report a case of a retained epicardial pacing wire that migrated into the pulmonary artery. A 66-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass grafting for angina pectoris, with placement of an epicardial pacing wire on the right ventricular epicardium, 6 years prior to presentation. Some resistance was encountered during wire extraction; therefore, it was cut off at the cutaneous level on postoperative day 8. Computed tomography performed 6 years postoperatively revealed migration of the pacing wire into the pulmonary artery, and it was removed using catheter intervention. Surgeons should be aware of complications associated with retained pacing wires in patients in whom epicardial wires are retained after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms as well as suicide-related ideation among Japanese university students during the stay-home order necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan, and offer evidence in support of future intervention to depression and suicide prevention strategies among college and university students. METHODS: The data for this cross-sectional study were derived from the Student Mental Health Survey conducted from May 20 to June 16, 2020 at a national university in Akita prefecture. Among the 5111 students recruited, 2712 participated in this study (response rate, 53%; mean age ± standard deviation, 20.5 ±3.5 years; men, 53.8%). Depressive symptoms were identified by using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms based on a PHQ-9 score ≥10 and suicide-related ideation based on question 9 of PHQ-9 ≥1, which encompasses thoughts of both suicide and self-harm, was 11.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that risk factors for depression included being a woman, smoking, alcohol consumption, and social network communication using either video or voice. For suicide-related ideation, alcohol consumption was the only risk factor. Exercise and having someone to consult about worries were associated with decreased risk of both depressive symptoms and suicide-related ideation. CONCLUSIONS Negative lifestyles of smoking and drinking, and being a woman, may be important risk factors for depressive symptoms, whereas exercise and having someone to consult about worries may be protective factors.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; COVID-19/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pandemics ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Students/psychology* ; Suicidal Ideation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult