1.A case of unresectable advanced gastric cancer treated with palliative radiation therapy twice for the purpose of hemostasis
Masayuki Nakanowatari ; Suzuko Ozaki ; Takashi Fukuhara ; Michio Iida ; Jiro Honma ; Yuhei Otoguro ; Keishiro Suzuki
Palliative Care Research 2013;8(2):538-543
Case: We report the case of a female in her sixties with inoperable gastric cancer in which continuous bleeding from the cancer resulted in severe anemia and the need for frequent repetitive blood transfusions. In order to control the hemorrhage, radiation therapy of 30 Gy/10 fractions to the cancer was conducted. Her tarry stool soon stopped, her hemoglobin level increased and transfusion became unnecessary. One month later, gastric rebleeding derived from the marginal area of the radiation field occurred. Additional radiation therapy of 24 Gy/8 fractions was given and successful hemostasis was obtained. The patient has been well without transfusion for four months. Conclusion: It is difficult to control bleeding from advanced gastric cancer if the tumor cannot be resected. Endoscopic hemostasis is not always applicable. Interventional radiotherapy (IVR) can be indicated for arterial bleeding. However, the indication of this treatment is controversial in cases of continuous venous bleeding, as seen in our case. Successful hemostasis by radiation therapy was obtained without severe complications in our case. Therefore, it is conceivable that radiation therapy to resistant venous bleeding from unresectable advanced gastric cancer upon careful consideration of complications is a useful treatment modality.
2.Effects of a New Hyperthermia Treatment, Nano-mist Sauna, on Our Body Temperature, Energy Production and Immune and Autonomic Nerve System
Mayumi WATANABE ; Chikako TOMIYAMA ; Takashi HONMA ; Akihiro INADA ; Takayoshi HAYAKAWA ; Toru ABO
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2011;74(2):96-102
Purpose In a series of our recent studies, systematic mild hyperthermia treatments, such as sauna, hot spring and a special bath for medical treatment, were found to activate leucocytes and to enhance immunity. Although they are known to be effective for health promotion, it is not easy for general people to regularly take these conventional hyperthermia. It would be advantageous for elderly persons, sick people and pregnant women as well as pressed business persons if it is able to minimize stress which might be induced by the conventional hyperthermia, such as high temperature heat, water pressure and humidity. To pursue a further study of the effect of hyperthermia itself, in this research, we utilized nano-mist sauna (NMS), a new hyperthermia treatment. NMS, a new type sauna, is characterized by the ability to produce ultra small fog-shaped hot water called nano-mist, which hardly condenses dew. And we studied the effect of NMS on body temperature, leukocytes, autonomic nerve function and energy production. Method We obtained peripheral blood from six healthy male volunteers (age, 46.5±8.5 years) before and after NMS hyperthermia (20min, 40°C, 100%RH) for lactate and blood glucose measurement and flowcytometric analysis. Body temperature (hypoglossal) and pulse rates were also measured. The statistical analysis difference between the values was determined by paired t-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Result After NMS hyperthermia body temperature and the level of PO2 rose (36.8→37.2°C), (52→61mmHg) (p<0.05). On the other hand, the level of lactate showed decrease in all subjects. The ratio and the numbers of NK cells decreased (21.8→17.7%, 498→436/μL) (p<0.05) while those of B cells increased (9.5→12.1%, 261→349/μL) (p<0.05). Discussion Several investigators report that the conventional hyperthermia enhances the primordial immune system (i.e. extrathymic T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and granulocytes) via dominance of sympathetic nerve system function (SNS) . Conversely, in our study, those of the conventional immune system (i.e. T and B cells) was enhanced, suggesting suppression of SNS function. It is reported that the expression level of HLA-DR on the B cells was elevated during hyperthermia (body temperature rose). SNS function (hypothermia) is stimulated by stress and it is suppressed by relaxing (hyperthermia) in the opposite. And it is considered that NMS hyperthermia suppressed SNS and that it was also consistent with our result of lactate decrease. It is possible to consider that NMS hyperthermia may impact on autonomic nerve activating leucocytes. Therefore NMS may be a kind of effective health promotion for valetudinarian (ie an infant, a female) and both a caregiver and a caretaker.
3.Nurses' Awareness of Life Guidance for Congestive Heart Failure
Mami TSUNOSHITA ; Taira KOBAYASHI ; Misuzu MONNAI ; Keiko ISHIKAWA ; Yoko KAWAMURA ; Takashi FUJIWARA ; Masami UEDA ; Tomoaki HONMA
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2021;69(6):628-633
We began providing comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation for congestive heart failure (CHF) in 2014 at our institution, using an original pamphlet and heart failure notebook to provide life guidance for CHF. However, the life guidance rate was lower in 2017 (61%) than it was in 2014 (77%). The objective of this study was to investigate the awareness of life guidance among nurses. We administered a questionnaire survey regarding life guidance to 28 nurses in December 2018. Among the 27 respondents, 26 nurses (96%) had high motivation and 21 (80%) felt a sense of accomplishment. Responses to the “most important point in life guidance” were “understanding living condition” by 14 nurses, “heart failure notebook” by 9 nurses, and “guidance using the pamphlet” by 6 nurses. Fifteen nurses (58%) felt that the guidance had become routine in nature, and 5 nurses (19%) were worried about their instruction. The nurses were motivated to provide life guidance, but they also felt that the guidance had become routine because they had been providing the same guidance for many years. We consider that the factors related to the lower life guidance rate are the routine/repetitive nature of the guidance and concerns about instruction. Going forward, we need to review the content of the guidance and the teaching approach.