Objective Laparoscopy-assisted distal gsstrectomy (LADG) with D1 + β lymph node dissection has become the most popular treatment for early gastric cancer in Asian countries. However, no one has shown the same clinical advantages with this procedure as with LADG with D1 + α lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of LADG with D1 + β to that of LADG with D1 + α lymph node dissection. Methods During the period of June 2002 through June 2006, LADG with D1 + α lymph node dissection was performed in 54 patients, and LADG with D1 + β lymph node dissection was performed in 42 patients. Surgical findings, clinicopathologic data, postoperative course, complications, and blood analysis findings were compared between the two groups. Differences were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results Patients in the two groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, body mass index, and stage and pathologic characteristics of gastric cancer. A significantly greater number of N2 lymph nodes were harvested by D1 + β lymph node dissection than by D1 + α dissection (5.9vs. 2.7, P<0.01). However, no significanees in the total number of retrieved lymph nodes (24.7 vs. 22.2) or perigastric lymph nodes dissected (18.9 vs. 19.4) were identified between the D1 + β and D1 +α groups. There was also no significant difference between the D1 + α and D1 + β groups with respect to operation time, blood loss, complication rate, time to first walking, first flatus, first eating, and first defecation, frequency of analgesics, volume of oral intake on postoperative day 7, weight loss, and postoperative hospital stay. Blood analysis showed there were no significant differences in white blood cell count, levels of C-reactive protein, and serum albumin. Conclusion The short-term outcome of LADG with D1 + β lymph node dissection is comparable to that of LADG with D1 + α lymph node dissection.

We held an integrated seminar program on community medicine for high school students. We used questionnaires to evaluate the usefulness of the seminar.
1)The seminar included lectures about community medicine, active–learning programs, and discussions about medical issues.
2)Before the seminar, 96% of the participants had been interested in a career in medicine.
3)After the seminar, 96% of participants were satisfied with the seminar.
4)The number of the participants who wanted to work in the community in Oita in the future increased from 43% before the seminar to 62% after the seminar.
Our results suggest that this integrated seminar program is useful for getting high school students interested in community medicine.