The chemotherapy unit of our hospital came into existence in April 2002. Since then, we, nurses, have teamed up together in support of cancer patients who visited us for receiving chemotherapy. We investigated the use of the facilities during the first 12 months since the opening of the unit, and made a questionnaire survey to sound out the degree of the patients’ satisfaction and needs. This paper describes our findings.The number of patients who used the chemotherapy unit came to 1,213. The questionnaire survey were conducted on 40 outpatients who initially had visited the department of surgery of our hospital. Of the patient supporting tools, the self-help notebooks were utilized by 27 patients. Those patients who said they took nurses into their confidence numbered 34. They expressed their anguish and uneasy feelings in connection with the condition of their disease and treatment. The same number of patients replied that they wanted to receive chemotherapy even if extra charges were involved. From these findings, it could be said that the patients’satisfaction was great. However, it was also suggested that to obtain the informed consent from the patients there should be explanatory leaflet which explain the therapeutic procedure and additional fees in plain language, that repeated instructions about side effects should be given orally, and that nurses are required to occasionally act as moderators between the unit and other departments in accordance with the patients’wishes. These are some of the patients’needs. To fill them, further studies must be made.
Chemotherapy-Oncologic Procedure ; Unit ; findings ; Satisfaction ; One

Introduction: In Japan, the number of female physicians is increasing rapidly. Therefore, surveying female physicians about their current working status, especially about their continuing to work, is important.
Methods: In September 2009, we sent a questionnaire regarding working status to 1403 female physicians who had graduated from Okayama University Medical School or who were working at university-affiliated hospitals or facilities at the time of investigation.
Results: Of the 420 female physicians who responded （response rate, 29.9％）, 46.6％ （n＝191） had left their jobs at some time, and 92.4％ （n＝171） of them had done so within 10 years after medical school graduation. The most common reason for leaving their jobs was childbirth／childcare, and the second most common was their husband’s job transfer. Of those who had ever left their job, 82％ （n＝151） wished to return to work at the time of their leaving. Only 27.2％ （n＝74） took childcare leave.
Discussion: Female physicians have trouble continuing their clinical work and developing their careers while caring for children. A system should be developed to support physicians who wish to continue their clinical work during life events, such as childcare. In particular, career support during the first 10 years after graduation from medical school is extremely important.

Aberrations on the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p) are frequently observed in several human cancers. In this study, 20 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens from the tongue were examined in order to evaluate the role of 8p in SCC of the tongue. Microsatellite analysis using 14 markers demonstrated two commonly deleted regions (CDRs) on 8p. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed frequent down-regulation of the FEZ1 gene, mapped to 8p22, and frequent over-expression of the cathepsin B gene, mapped to 8p-21-22. These results suggested that genetic aberrations are involved in the development of SCC of the tongue. However, no significant relationship was observed to be established between the genetic alterations and clinicopathological features. Thus, further investigation is necessary in order to clarify the clinical role of 8p in carcinoma of the tongue.
Arm ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cathepsin B ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Tongue