1.A Survey on Incidence of Cerebral Apoplexy in Saku District, Nagano Prefecture, and Follow-up Study (Report I)
Koji Isomura ; Atsushi Takahashi ; Takako Yokoyama ; Michiko Iide ; Sawa Tanaka ; Reiko Tajima ; Mieko Nakazawa ; Taeko Usui
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1975;24(2):69-76
A survey has been under way on the incidence of cerebral apoplexy among the inhabitants (pop. 105, 185, National Census, 1970) of the Saku district of Nagano Prefecture since April 1972.
This survey, which constitutes a WHO cooperative study, has been under way with cooperation rendered by the local Medical Association, Association of Public Health Nurses in Saku District and Saku Public Health Center with the Saku Central Hospital acting as the survey center.
In the period of two years till March 1974, 585 persons were registered as having been seized with cerebral apoplexy. The annual incidence rate stood at 265 per 100, 000 population. Classified by types of cerebral apoplexy, cerebral hemorrhage accounted for 26%, cerebral thrombosis for 57%, cerebral embolism for 3%, subarachnoid hemorrhage for 9%, and other types for 5%.
By sexes, the incidence rate among males was 1.3 times higher than among females. By ages, the incidence was highest in the seventies.
When the prognosis of cerebral apoplexy is viewed in terms of deaths in the early period of less than three weeks after the onset, the mortality rate stood at 45%.
The hospitalization rate of patients seized with cerebral apoplexy was 55%. There was a significant difference in the mortality rate between inpatients (with 28%) and outpatients (65%).
The ratio of concurrence of autopsy and clinical diagnosis stood at 83% with Okinaka's criteria and 79% with Ikeda's CVD index.
The incidence of hypertension before the onset of cerebral apoplexy was extremely high among the patients seized with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction.With respect to the treatment of hypertension, the discontinuance of treatment and the failure to undergo it are high in percentage among the patients seized with cerebral hemorrhage. With reference to cerebral infarction patients of 70 years and older in age, there is little defference between the group who discontinued or failed to undergo treatment and the group who underwent it.
The recurrence of cerebral apoplexy stood at 11% for cerebral hemorrhage, 19% for cerebral infarction, and 11% for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
2.The rise of primary care in Japan and new postgraduate general practice training in the UK
Noriaki Sawa ; Akihiro Tanaka ; Satoshi Kanke ; Hitoshi Takeda ; Tomohiko Ukai ; Takashi Wakayama ; Ryuki Kassai
An Official Journal of the Japan Primary Care Association 2011;34(4):308-316
Introduction :
This article aims to explain the new Membership of Royal College of General Practitioners (nMRCGP), new postgraduate general practice training in the UK. It will also compare this with that of the Japan Primary Care Association to identify areas requiring further development in postgraduate family medicine training in Japan.
Methods :
The introduction of the nMRCGP based on the available literature, followed by discussion amongst family physicians and trainees in Japan.
Results :
Following a comparison between the postgraduate general practice training in the UK and Japan, the following three points were raised : 1) The need for a clear definition of the role that family physicians play in Japan. 2) The importance of formative assessment as part of the membership examination in the form of portfolios. 3) The need for clear competency areas to form the framework for formative assessment, and for the clear standard that trainees are judged against in each of those competency areas.
Conclusion :
The above results were highlighted and discussed as possible areas for further development in postgraduate family medicine training in Japan.
3.A case of reversible disturbance of consciousness following leptomeningeal metastases
Kazuki Shimada ; Syo Goya ; Teppei Tsumori ; Mika Saijyo ; Taizo Higami ; Eriko Tani ; Sawa Takeoka ; Kanako Kurata ; Ayako Tanaka ; Masanari Hamaguchi ; Motohiro Tamiya ; Takayuki Shiroyama ; Naoko Morishita ; Norio Okamoto ; Hidekazu Suzuki ; Tomonori Hirashima ; Ichiro Kawase
Palliative Care Research 2014;9(4):528-532
Introduction:Hyponatremia, which is frequently present in patients with end-stage cancer, causes delirium and disturbance of consciousness and is considered a poor prognostic factor. We report a case of hyponatremia with hypopituitarism in association with leptomeningeal metastasis, resulting in reversible disturbance of consciousness. Case report:A 77 year-old female received chemotherapy at our hospital for postoperative recurrence of lung cancer, and best supportive care due to a side effect. After transfer to another hospital, she experienced a sudden disturbance of consciousness and was returned to our hospital. A detailed examination resulted in a diagnosis of hyponatremia from hypopituitarism following leptomeningeal metastasis involving the cerebral ventricles. Hyponatremia was improved by NaCl supplement and hormone replacement, followed by recovery from disturbance of consciousness. Discussion:QOL of patients with end-stage cancer can be improved through the active treatment of reversible causes of disturbance of consciousness. Conclusion:When severe hyponatremia is detected in cancer patients, it is important to consider the possibility of hypopituitarism with brain metastasis or meninges dissemination in the differential diagnosis.