Objective: The effects of essential oils on the formation of superoxide radicals during UVA (365 nm) irradiation were investigated.
Methods: ESR (electron spin resonance) spin-trapping experiments were performed on a reaction mixture containing 15 μM riboflavin, 0.10 M DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide), 23 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 6.3% (v/v) DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) (standard reaction mixture) during UVA (365 nm) irradiation.
Results: On addition of various concentrations of tea tree oil (or lavender super oil or grapefruit oil or peppermint oil or wintergreen oil) to the standard reaction mixture, the ESR peak height decreased dose-dependently.
Conclusion: This result shows that antioxidant activities increase as follows: lavender super oil

Today, the patient's needs for medical care and services have become diversified and medical information spreads widely and swiftly at that. In these circumstances, nurses are strongly expected to further develop their faculties of nursing and appropriately responding to the patient's emotional state. To nurture capable nurses, it is neccessary to establish an adequate training and performance evaluation system.In 2002, we had a chance to participate in the planning of “the Mie prefectural enterprise for continuous nurse education and appropriate nursing staff arrangement”. Based on this experience, we made a guideline for continuous nurse education, practice manual and an appraisal table for each rank.Meanwhile, The Mie Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Health and Welfare, was studying a faculty appraisal system for all staffs. We started our nurse education program incorporating this system.Our nurse education program is made up of five ability-areas, that is, (1) nursing practice, (2) education to the lower class nurse and research, (3) human-relationship achievement, (4) nursing team management and (5) risk management.The outcome of this program was examined by the appraisal committee according to the improvement level in nursing abilities (including both skills and sensibility).
Nurses ; nursing therapy ; educational ; Career Development ; seconds

 Today, the patient's needs for medical care and services have become diversified and medical information spreads widely and swiftly at that. In these circumstances, nurses are strongly expected to further develop their faculties of nursing and appropriately responding to the patient's emotional state. To nurture capable nurses, it is neccessary to establish an adequate training and performance evaluation system.
 In 2002, we had a chance to participate in the planning of “the Mie prefectural enterprise for continuous nurse education and appropriate nursing staff arrangement”. Based on this experience, we made a guideline for continuous nurse education, practice manual and an appraisal table for each rank.
 Meanwhile, The Mie Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Health and Welfare, was studying a faculty appraisal system for all staffs. We started our nurse education program incorporating this system.
 Our nurse education program is made up of five ability-areas, that is, (1) nursing practice, (2) education to the lower class nurse and research, (3) human-relationship achievement, (4) nursing team management and (5) risk management.
 The outcome of this program was examined by the appraisal committee according to the improvement level in nursing abilities (including both skills and sensibility).

Objective: In order to assess usefulness, applicability and problems of aromatherapy in the modern medical practice.
Method: We conducted a questionnaire survey on the recognition and utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and medical aromatherapy in a professional school of acupuncture and Judo-therapy in Osaka City. The respondents were 866 students at the school.
Results: We found that 97.1% of the respondents had experienced at least one CAM therapy and 25.8% had aromatherapy. Compared to male students, more female students used aromatherapy. Perceived effectiveness of aromatherapy for purpose of the use ranged between 73.8% and 89.2%. Approximately 70.0% of the respondents were interested in medical aromatherapy, and 89.4% expected this therapy for psychosomatic/mental diseases. Main problems pointed out were collecting more scientific evidence and reducing the costs.
Conclusion: The results suggest that aromatherapy may become more widespread and one of the options to make the current clinical practice more satisfactory for patients.

Objective: It has been reported that essential oils used in aromatherapy effect the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of essential oils on the cardiovascular system in healthy human subjects.
Methods: Rosemary essential oil, which reportedly has a vasopressor-like effect, and lavender essential oil which reportedly has a depressor-like effect, were administered to sixty subjects divided into rosemary, lavender, or control groups. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured after two-minutes of smelling. Data were compared among the three groups.
Result: Heart rate increased in the rosemary group. In addition to blood pressure and heart rate increased in subjects who expressed a negative impression from smelling a specific essential oils.
Conclusion: The results suggest that fragrance preference affects the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy.

Aim : Since it was reported that acupuncture at Danchu (CV17) was critical when the needle penetrated through the congenital sternal foramen, we decided to study the incidence of the congenital sternal foramen, as well as the distance between the body surface and the back side of the sternum at Danchu, in order to know the safe depth of acupuncture penetration.
Method : 1) We selected 51 cadavers to examine the incidence of congenital sternal foramen and, if any, to study its structure. We also selected 21 cadavers to measure the cadaveric thickness of the sternum. 2) We selected 31 people to measure the incidence of the congenital sternal foramen and the distancebetween the body surface and the back side of the sternum at the point of Danchu.
Results : 1) We found one out of 51 cadavers which had congenital sternal foramen. The location of the foramen was at the height of the fourth intercostal space. It was round-shaped, 9mm in diameter, and filled with hard connective tissue. The thickness of the sternum ranged from 9 to 15mm with an average of 11.5 ± 2mm. 2) There was no one who had the congenital sternal foramen among the 32 people. The distance between the body surface and the back side of the sternum ranged from 11 to 31mm with an average of 18.8 ± 5mm.
Conclusion; 1) The incidence of the congenital sternal foramen in this study was one in 51 cadavers and zero in 32 people. 2) We concluded that acupuncture at Danchu within a depth of 10mm is sufficiently, even if congenital sternal foramen exists.

Purpose: The review of the published reports was performed with the aim of systematic collection and integration of information related to "signs and symptoms" along with their changes among patients after upper gastroesophageal surgeries. Methods: The PubMed and the Japanese healthcare literature database were searched by the following keywords:"gastric cancer" "esopha∗ cancer" "surgery" and "symptom" As a result, 37 articles related to gastric or esophagus cancer were identified. The data were extracted according to each sign and symptom, and were evaluated and discussed. Results and Conclution: Standardized instruments for gastrointestinal symptoms included evaluations about dysphagia, difficulty in swallowing, reflux etc. The incidence of signs and symptoms, or postsurgical recovery processes are different among individual patients. Healthcare professionals should support patients continuously and systematically so that patients can take appropriate health maintenance behavior according to their signs and symptoms.

Purpose: This study aimed at identifying difficulties among post thoracic esophagectomy cancer patients during outpatient follow-up. Methods: Patients who had radical esophagectomy at a cancer center hospital in Japan were prospectively observed and were interviewed by a certified nurse assigned at esophageal surgical outpatient division. Their responses were documented in medical records and were analyzed by content analysis method. This study was approved by the study hospital's research ethics committee. Results: The data from 66 patients were obtained. Content analysis yielded 221 extracts, 25 categories, and 65 codes of difficulties, including: concerns or signs/symptoms associated with dietary intake, physical activity, and anxiety. Implications: The majority of post-thoracoabdominal esophagectomy patients experienced multiple dysfunctions and symptoms after discharge. The results underscore the significance of nurses' role in assessing and instructing patients to address these issues.

Background: Patients having thoracic esophagectomy, a standardized treatment for esophageal cancer patients in Japan, are known to have various postsurgical signs and symptoms for a period of time. The current status of nursing interventions at outpatients need to be clarified. Purpose: This study aimed at identifying the nurses' interventions for cancer patients at the outpatient setting who previously had thoracic radical esophagectomy. Methods: Patients who had esophagectomy at a cancer center hospital in Japan were prospectively observed and interviewed by outpatient nurses between January 2009 and December 2010. Their documented responses in medical record were prospectively investigated and were qualitatively analyzed via content analysis method. This study was approved by the study hospital's research ethics committee. Results and discussion: The data analysis of nursing interventions for 66 patients yielded 372 extracts, 12 categories, and 74 codes. Nurses were assessing patients' signs and symptoms affected by postsurgical changes, and were utilizing patients' active self-monitoring skills. The results also showed the significance of facilitating postsurgical recovery in relation to nutritional intake and physical activity in patients' daily life. Implications: Based upon the study results, the development of a systematic program is underway, which facilitates esophageal cancer patients' postsurgical recovery.

Objective: In Japan, perioperative prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in gynecologic cancer patients with preoperative asymptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been well established yet. The GOTIC-VTE trial was a prospective, multi-center, single-arm clinical trial to investigate the prevention of postoperative symptomatic PE onset by seamless anticoagulant therapy from the preoperative period to 4 weeks after surgery instead of using intermittent pneumatic compression. Methods: Anticoagulant therapy was started immediately after asymptomatic VTE diagnosis and stopped preoperatively according to the rules of each institution. Unfractionated heparin administration was resumed within 12 hours postoperatively, and this was followed by the switch to low-molecular-weight heparin and subsequently, edoxaban; this cycle was continued for 28 days. Primary outcome was the occurrence of symptomatic PE in 28 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of VTE-related events in 28 days and 6 months postoperatively and protocol-related adverse events. Results: Between February 2018 and September 2020, 99 patients were enrolled; of these, 82patients were assessed as the full analysis set, including 58 for ovarian cancer, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer; 21 for endometrial cancer; and 3 for cervical cancer. No symptomatic PE was observed within 28 days postoperatively; two patients had bleeding events (major bleeding and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding) and three had grade 3 adverse events (increased alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyl transferase). Conclusion The multifaceted perioperative management for gynecologic malignancies with asymptomatic VTE effectively prevented postoperative symptomatic PE.Trial Registration: JRCT Identifier: jRCTs031180124