1.Efficacy of palliative radiation for advanced gastric cancer patients
Shuji Hiramoto ; Ayako Kikuchi ; Akira Yoshioka ; Yuka Otsu ; Yasushi Kohigashi ; Yoko Goto ; Yurie Tsutsumi ; Masahiro Hiraoka ; Koji Ono
Palliative Care Research 2015;10(2):514-517
We have several choices against bleeding and obstruction in advanced gastric cancer patients such as surgical or endoscopic therapy. But we have few reports about palliative radiation. We conduct this study that we perform palliative radiation for unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients between April 2006 and March 2014 in single center. In the aim of the therapy, to stop gastric bleeding were 8, and to improve obstruction depend on gastric cancer were 4. Response rate of stop bleeding was 63%, and improve obstruction was 50%. Median duration of stop bleeding was 103 day, and improve obstruction was 52 day. Overall survival time was 567 day, survival time after the start of radiotherapy was 105days. Radiotherapy was limited in cases because onset time of response needed in comparison with surgical or endoscopic therapy. However, given minimally invasive therapy and a certain response, we can choice it so much more.
2.Left Gastric Vein Visualization with Hepatopetal Flow Information in Healthy Subjects Using Non-Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography with Balanced Steady-State Free-Precession Sequence and Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse
Akihiro FURUTA ; Hiroyoshi ISODA ; Tsuyoshi OHNO ; Ayako ONO ; Rikiya YAMASHITA ; Shigeki ARIZONO ; Aki KIDO ; Naotaka SAKASHITA ; Kaori TOGASHI
Korean Journal of Radiology 2018;19(1):32-39
OBJECTIVE: To selectively visualize the left gastric vein (LGV) with hepatopetal flow information by non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography under a hypothesis that change in the LGV flow direction can predict the development of esophageal varices; and to optimize the acquisition protocol in healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Respiratory-gated three-dimensional balanced steady-state free-precession scans were conducted on 31 healthy subjects using two methods (A and B) for visualizing the LGV with hepatopetal flow. In method A, two time-spatial labeling inversion pulses (Time-SLIP) were placed on the whole abdomen and the area from the gastric fornix to the upper body, excluding the LGV area. In method B, nonselective inversion recovery pulse was used and one Time-SLIP was placed on the esophagogastric junction. The detectability and consistency of LGV were evaluated using the two methods and ultrasonography (US). RESULTS: Left gastric veins by method A, B, and US were detected in 30 (97%), 24 (77%), and 23 (74%) subjects, respectively. LGV flow by US was hepatopetal in 22 subjects and stagnant in one subject. All hepatopetal LGVs by US coincided with the visualized vessels in both methods. One subject with non-visualized LGV in method A showed stagnant LGV by US. CONCLUSION: Hepatopetal LGV could be selectively visualized by method A in healthy subjects.
Abdomen
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Esophageal and Gastric Varices
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Esophagogastric Junction
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Healthy Volunteers
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Magnetic Resonance Angiography
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Methods
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Ultrasonography
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Veins
3.Frequency and type of alterations during medical interpretation by trained healthcare interpreters
Taeko HAMAI ; Ayako NAGATA ; Naoko ONO ; Hiroaki NISHIKAWA ; Sadanori HIGASHINO
Journal of International Health 2023;38(4):179-192
Objective This study aimed to identify the types, frequency, and clinical significance of altered interpreta-tion in clinical settings.Methods Routine outpatient encounters involving Portuguese-speaking Brazilian patients, Japanese doctors, and hospital-provided interpreters were digitally recorded and transcribed. Segments of consecutively interpreted utterances were coded as “altered,” in which the interpreter changed the meaning of the source utterance, or “unaltered (accurate),” and the types and frequency of occurrence were analyzed. Altered interpretations were categorized as clinically negative or positive and classified into four categories: omission, addition, substitution, or voluntary intervention. Incidents resulting from alterations were investigated. Reliability was assessed by examining the correlation between random independently coded samples.Results In total, 111 encounters were analyzed. The mean segments per encounter was 67.9 (range 14-186), and the mean frequency (standard deviation) of altered interpretations per 100 segments was 46.7 (14.3) for accurate interpretations; 46.1 (17.9) for negative or not significant alterations, including 27.2 (10.3) for omissions, 6.0 (5.0) for additions, 10.4 (6.9) for substitutions, and 2.5 (2.7) for voluntary interventions; 0.0 (0.2) for alterations potentially leading to an incident; and 26.2 (11.9) for positive alterations, including 1.8 (2.6) for positive omissions, 7.7 (4.7) for positive additions, 7.8 (6.3) for positive substitutions, and 8.8 (5.2) for positive voluntary interventions. The frequency of negative alterations was weakly negatively correlated with number of segments per minute (r=−0.339). Conclusion Trained healthcare interpreters with fewer clinically significant altered interpretations were effective. Professional medical providers should recognize the importance of positive alterations by healthcare interpreters and collaborate with them to provide safe medical care for foreign patients. To facilitate the provision of appropriate medical care to a growing foreign population with diverse cultural and linguistic needs, undergraduate medical education should teach aspiring medical professionals how to collaborate with healthcare interpreters and foreign patients.
4.A Novel Mismatched PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Assay for Rapid Detection of gyrA and parC Mutations Associated With Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii
Naoki KAKUTA ; Ryuichi NAKANO ; Akiyo NAKANO ; Yuki SUZUKI ; Ayako TANOUCHI ; Takashi MASUI ; Saori HORIUCHI ; Shiro ENDO ; Risako KAKUTA ; Yasuo ONO ; Hisakazu YANO
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2020;40(1):27-32
BACKGROUND:
Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA gyrase (gyrA) and topoisomerase IV (parC) are linked to fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance. We developed a mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to detect mutations in the gyrA and parC QRDRs associated with FQ resistance in A. baumannii.
METHODS:
Based on the conserved sequences of A. baumannii gyrA and parC, two primer sets were designed for mismatched PCR-RFLP to detect mutations in gyrA (codons 83 and 87) and parC (codons 80 and 84) by introducing an artificial restriction enzyme cleavage site into the PCR products. This assay was evaluated using 58 A. baumannii strains and 37 other Acinetobacter strains that have been identified by RNA polymerase β-subunit gene sequence analysis.
RESULTS:
PCR amplification of gyrA and parC was successful for all A. baumannii strains. In 11 FQ -susceptible strains, the gyrA and parC PCR products were digested by the selected restriction enzymes at the site containing gyrA (codons 83 and 87) and parC (codons 80 and 84). PCR products from 47 FQ-resistant strains containing mutations in gyrA and parC were not digested by the restriction enzymes at the site containing the mutation. As for the non-baumannii Acinetobacter strains, although amplification products for gyrA were obtained for 28 strains, no parC amplification product was obtained for any strain.
CONCLUSIONS
This assay specifically amplified gyrA and parC from A. baumannii and detected A. baumannii gyrA and parC mutations with FQ resistance.
5.Use of Hachimijiogan in Treatment for Cold/Pain Allows Gradual Dose Reduction of Antihypertensives
Takahiko ONO ; Daisuke SUZUKI ; Genzo YAMAZAKI ; Ayako OSE ; Takeshi YOKOYAMA
Kampo Medicine 2021;72(4):368-376
The indications of hachimijiogan formulation include lower limb pain, low back pain, edema, fatigue, coldness, and accompanying symptoms of hypertension. In this study, hachimijiogan was administered to patients who complained of symptoms of coldness, pain, etc., and the subsequent blood pressure was observed. Changes in hachimijiogan, a powder pill formulation of crude drugs, were observed in 12 patients aged 45 years or older, with an average age of 71 years. Various symptoms of jinkyo, blood pressure, and laboratory findings were examined. Coldness and pain improved significantly after 3 months. Of the 9 patients who wanted to take hachimijiogan for more than 9 months, 8 were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Among them, 4 underwent an antihypertensive dose reduction by 9 months, and 3 received angiotensin receptor antagonists, and 1 received a Ca antagonist. The systolic pressure before treatment with hachimijiogan averaged 127 mmHg, and after 9 months it was stable at 128 mmHg despite drug dose reduction. In patients with antihypertensive drugs, the long-term use of hachimijiogan may facilitate dose reduction and protection of the vascular endothelium protection. The usefulness of hachimijiogan in the aging society was suggested.