Part of the blood samples collected during group medical examinations might possibly be used as tumor markers a in preliminary screening for cancer. However, at the present, it would be too hasty a conclusion that the tumor markers in the blood samples are definitely effective in terms of practicality. There is much more probing yet to be done.
To begin with, the authors think it necessary to examine the normal values and basal ranges of tumor markers currently available and compare them with clinical values according to the types of cancer.
In this report, the five tumor markers (CEA, AFP, Ferritin, SCC and CA19-9) are dealt with. All these markers are undergoing clinical testing on patients in our hospital. The results so far obtained showed that each marker has its own characteristics. CEA has proved to be helpful in making the diagnosis of advanced colo-rectal carcinoma; AEP is useful for liver cancer; Ferritin, liver and lung cancers; SCC, squamous cell, carcinoma; CA19-9, cancer of the pancreas. However, to be noted is the fact that the cancer specificity of these markers are not alway high. Therefore, due caution should be exercised in the use of any one of the markers for cancer screening.
In the light of the fact that a combination assay of AFP and Ferritin is effective in diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, combinations of dif-ferent markers are worth studying. Furthermore, the finding of blood tests and urianalyses should be checked against the measurements of markers. These efforts will certainly open up a new vista for more effective imple mentation of group cancer screening programs

A mass screening for early detection of breast cancer has been carried out periodically in Nagano Prefecture since 1981 as a part of our outreach program mobilizing two vans specially designed for this purpose.
For primary screening, palpation and ultrasonographic examination are perfomed. Ultrasonography has been introduced as an auxiliary tool, because palation is not always conducted by experienced doctors.
This auxiliary diagnostic produdure has proved to be highly effective in separating out those examinees requiring thorough examinations fro those who have been found to have tumorous masses.
A total of about 25, 000 people go through the primary chechups annually, of whom 10 percent are subjected to ultrasonic examination. In 1983, 20 persons (0.08%) were diagnosed as having breast cancer. The number was 17 (0.10%) in 1981 and 16 (0.06%) in 1982. These detection rates are nearly equal to those in the “advanced” prefectures in terms of medical service.
In ultrasonographic diagnosis, Polaroid prints are used for primary screening. However, negative films are suitable for workup in the hospital. Our experience has told that in Polaroid photography, biplane scanning is necessary.

The world has now rediscovered the value of traditional medicine. Much traditional medicine in South-East Asian countries originated from the medicines of ancient China, and developed independently within those individual countries. As a measure toward information exchange and communication among these countries, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) has published its International Standard Terminologies (IST) for use globally. While domestically in Japan, Kampo is now taught as a regular subject in all medical schools. In this light, there is significant meaning to holding conference with the purpose of understanding the current status of Japanese Kampo around the world, and considering the best ways to disseminate Kampo information globally. The International Conference of Kampo Medicine (provisional title) has been held thus far a total of three times, to address the current status of Japanese Kampo, Japanese Kampo issues from global point of view, as well as the current status of traditional medicine in China and Korea also originating from the ancient Chinese medicine. The conference was entitled &lsquoWhy Kampo? Why Now? Why Me?—The reason why foreign medical doctors worldwide choose Japanese Kampo, and the situation or development of Kampo medicine in their own countries”, in which foreign doctors in Japan, medical students, and leading Kampo medical practitioners were invited to give lectures, which were followed by free discussions by all participants.
Medicine, Kampo ; Medicine ; seconds ; Japanese language ; Conferences

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the convenience of the quality of life and utility evaluation survey technology (QUEST) questionnaire and the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire as self-assessment diagnostic instrument. METHODS: This was a two-way crossover study conducted over 6 weeks from September 2010 to November 2010. The subjects were 60 consecutive patients admitted to the Hiratsuka city hospital with a gastrointestinal condition, regardless of the coexistence of heartburn. They were assigned to fill in both the QUEST and FSSG questionnaires in random order. We analyzed the time taken to complete the questionnaires, whether subjects asked any questions as they filled in the questionnaire, and the questionnaire scores. RESULTS: Comparison of the QUEST and the FSSG revealed significant differences in the completion time (196.5 vs. 97.5 seconds, respectively; P < 0.0001) and in whether subjects asked any questions (37 vs. 15 subjects, respectively; P < 0.0001). Completion time in QUEST scores of > or = 4 was lower than < 4 (170.5 vs. 214.0 seconds, respectively; P = 0.022), and the QUEST score was significantly higher without questions than with question (3 vs. 1 points, respectively; P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the FSSG questionnaire may be easier for Japanese subjects to complete than the QUEST questionnaire.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cross-Over Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heartburn ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self-Assessment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The effects of Histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors on the gastrointestinal motility have not yet been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intravenous bolus administration of famotidine and omeprazole on the rate of gastric emptying using the continuous 13C breath test (BreathID system, Exalenz Bioscience Ltd, Israel). METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized, 3-way crossover study. After fasting overnight, the subjects were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg of famotidine, 20 mg of omeprazole or 20 mL of saline alone by intravenous bolus injection before a test meal (200 kcal per 200 mL, containing 100 mg of 13C-acetate). Gastric emptying was monitored for 4 hours after the ingestion of test meal by the 13C-acetic acid breath test performed using the BreathID system. RESULTS: No significant differences in the calculated parameters, namely, the T1/2, Tlag, GEC, beta and kappa, were observed among the 3 test conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that intravenous administration of gastric acid suppressant drugs had no significant influence on the rate of gastric emptying in comparison with that of saline alone as a placebo. Our results indicating the absence of any effect of either famotidine or omeprazole on accelerating the rate of gastric emptying suggest that both medications can be administered safely to patients suffering from hemorrhagic peptic ulcers who need to be kept nil by mouth from the viewpoint of possible acceleration of gastrointestinal motility in the clinical setting.
Acceleration ; Administration, Intravenous ; Breath Tests ; Cross-Over Studies ; Eating ; Famotidine ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Mouth ; Omeprazole ; Peptic Ulcer ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps ; Protons ; Stress, Psychological