Purpose: To investigate the significance of a program to enhance the communication of university hospital nurses with cancer patients who search for meaning of life by analyzing changes after the intervention. Methodology: This was a pre/post intervention comparison study. Participants were 24 nurses. Murata's program for enhancing spiritual care-giving skills was employed for intervention, which consists of a lecture and discussion, followed by 3 sessions of 4 hours each (1 per month). The questionnaire of Morita et al. evaluating practices and attitudes toward terminal cancer patients was completed at four stages, which were before intervention, 1 months after, 3 months after, and 6 months after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver.21. This study was approved by Keio University ethics board. Results and Discussion: Participants were 23 females and a male, being aged 20 to 50 years with 3 to 33 years (average 12.5±8.2 years) of clinical experience. Positive attitude changes were noted at the four stages for "increased Confidence about communicating with terminal patients" and "decreased Sense of Helplessness" (p<0.05).The "Positive Appraisal" score changed between before and after 6 month (p<0.05). The "Self－Reported Practice" score showed a switch towards a positive attitude. These results suggested that intervention increased confidence in communicating and helped university hospital nurses to assist their patients.

A new fogging disinfection method was evaluated as a means of disinfecting ward rooms and operating theaters. A temporary room was established where the disinfection effect of fogging was examined. Based on the results, an automatic fogging disinfection unit was developed. This unit was then used in the disinfection of operating theaters, where its safety and effectiveness were examined. To evaluate the results of disinfection, bacterial culture tests were performed on the floor, walls and other areas of the operating theater, and the number of colony forming units was used as an index of effectiveness. Benzalkonium chloride, alkyldiaminoethylglycine, sodium hypochlorite, glutaral and acidic electrolytic water were used for the operating theaters. The average disinfection effect was 90% or better for all disinfectants, except acidic electrolytic water. The newly developed automatic fogging disinfection unit enables safe and effective disinfection, and may be suitable for disinfecting ward rooms and operating theaters.
Disinfection ; Pulmonary evaluation ; Unit ; Automated ; Water

This study systematically reviewed the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the assessment of molecular prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, focusing on the correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with hormone receptor status and prognostic biomarkers. Our meta-analysis includes data from 52 studies examining ADC values in relation to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 status. The results indicated significant differences in ADC values among different receptor statuses, with ER-positive, PgR-positive, HER2-negative, and Ki-67-positive tumors having lower ADC values compared to their negative counterparts. This study also highlights the potential of advanced DWI techniques such as intravoxel incoherent motion and non-Gaussian DWI to provide additional insights beyond ADC. Despite these promising findings, the high heterogeneity among the studies underscores the need for standardized DWI protocols to improve their clinical utility in breast cancer management.

Dynamic X-ray (DXR) is a functional imaging technique that uses sequential images obtained by a flat-panel detector (FPD).This article aims to describe the mechanism of DXR and the analysis methods used as well as review the clinical evidence for its use. DXR analyzes dynamic changes on the basis of X-ray translucency and can be used for analysis of diaphragmatic kinetics, ventilation, and lung perfusion. It offers many advantages such as a high temporal resolution and flexibility in body positioning. Many clinical studies have reported the feasibility of DXR and its characteristic findings in pulmonary diseases. DXR may serve as an alternative to pulmonary function tests in patients requiring contact inhibition, including patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 or other infectious diseases. Thus, DXR has a great potential to play an important role in the clinical setting. Further investigations are needed to utilize DXR more effectively and to establish it as a valuable diagnostic tool.

Dynamic X-ray (DXR) is a functional imaging technique that uses sequential images obtained by a flat-panel detector (FPD).This article aims to describe the mechanism of DXR and the analysis methods used as well as review the clinical evidence for its use. DXR analyzes dynamic changes on the basis of X-ray translucency and can be used for analysis of diaphragmatic kinetics, ventilation, and lung perfusion. It offers many advantages such as a high temporal resolution and flexibility in body positioning. Many clinical studies have reported the feasibility of DXR and its characteristic findings in pulmonary diseases. DXR may serve as an alternative to pulmonary function tests in patients requiring contact inhibition, including patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 or other infectious diseases. Thus, DXR has a great potential to play an important role in the clinical setting. Further investigations are needed to utilize DXR more effectively and to establish it as a valuable diagnostic tool.