An anonymous mail survey was conducted with 2000 elderly residents (≥ 70 years) of areas with heavy snowfall to assess differences in health and lifestyle between those with and without a driver’s license as well as the effects of voluntary license surrender. Responses from 1101 residents with complete demographic and license status data were analyzed. The survey showed that 63.7% had a driver's license, 15.4% had voluntarily surrendered their license, and 20.9% had never had a license. Compared with those who had surrendered their license or never had a license, those who had a license were younger, had higher scores on the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index of competence and a social capital scale, had better selfrated health and life satisfaction, and had participated in more activities over the past year. Among those who had surrendered their license, the women were younger than the men, and were more likely to be working and had better self-rated health and a higher score on the TMIG index of competence. Men who had surrendered their license more frequently reported “feeling calmer” than women, and women more frequently reported “spending more time working in the fields” than men. Over 60% of both men and women reported having fewer opportunities to leave their house. Among those who had a driver's license, about 40% reported that they wanted to keep driving as long as possible because not having a license would be inconvenient. These results suggest that it is important for people living in areas with heavy snowfall who have surrendered their license to secure another means of leaving their house due to the need to have a car for transportation in these areas.

AIMThe production of interspecific germline chimeras between chicken and quail were attempted employing the dissociated cells derived from the blastodermal central disk (stage X) and the germinal crescent region of embryo (stage 7-8).

METHODSThe central disk (CD) of the area pellucida in chicken blastoderm (stage X) and the germinal crescent region (GCR) of embryo (stage 7-8) were dispersed and injected into the subgerminal cavity of quail blastoderm (stage X). Injected eggs were incubated for 7 days or to hatching. The donor chicken DNA was detected by the polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSIn day-7 embryos, chicken DNA was detected in 5 gonads and 9 brains from 53 survived embryos received chicken CD cells, and 1 gonads and 6 brains from 27 survived embryos received chicken GCR. Chicken DNA was also detected from the semen of one adult male hatched from eggs received chicken GCR cells.

CONCLUSIONCD and GCR cells as the donors showed the possibility to produce the interspecific germline chimera, but further studies are needed to make necessary improvement.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Blastoderm ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Brain ; embryology ; Brain Chemistry ; Chick Embryo ; physiology ; Chickens ; Chimera ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; physiology ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; physiology ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; genetics ; Ovary ; embryology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quail ; Testis ; embryology

The purpose of this study was to explore the burden of introducing LCP-J in two wards（medical oncology and respiratory medicine）in Tohoku University Hospital. We administered audit evaluations about dying cancer patients and interviewed 2 doctors and 8 nurses regarding LCP-J intervention. LCP-J was used for 22 patients（38％）, and no significant difference in infusion, potent opioid analgesic and sedative medication within last 48 hours were seen between users and nonusers. Responses were categorized into［confirm directions about dying care among health care professionals］, and［training in dying care in a structured way］as usefulness facets of the LCP-J, and［difficulty in assessment of dying］,［burden of health care professionals］, and［difficulty using LCP-J without knowledge and training in dying care］as burdens of the LCP-J. We explored the burden of LCP-J in general wards, and found that use of the LCP-J could need education in dying care and backup of the palliative care team.

In the areas of home medical care and self-medication, the role of the pharmacist is growing, partly as a result of Japan’s aging society and the need to reduce medical costs. In response, the Kinki University Faculty of Pharmacy implemented a physical assessment practical training seminar in order to improve the physical assessment skills of practicing pharmacists. A series of questionnaires were conducted among pharmacists to investigate their perceptions of physical assessment practical training seminars. The results of the questionnaires were analyzed using Customer Satisfaction (CS) analysis and text mining. Based on a 5-point scale (1-low∼5-high), questionnaires revealed satisfaction for physical assessment practical training seminars was 4.6±0.6 (Ave.±S.D.). CS analysis revealed that the items “lectures” and “case seminars” had the highest level of satisfaction. However, items showing low levels of satisfaction were “auscultation of respiratory sounds” and “SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation).” Results of text mining suggested a relationship between “physical assessment” and “difficult”. Analysis of the questionnaires showed a high level satisfaction with physical assessment practical training seminars, notably physical assessment practice methods. However, CS analysis and text mining indicate the finer techniques of physical assessment were difficult to acquire.

The aim of this study was to clarify the experience of recurrent/advanced cancer patients receiving outpatient cancer rehabilitation and evaluate true endpoints of cancer rehabilitation. The study was conducted by semi-structured interviews of 13 recurrent/advanced patients undergoing cancer rehabilitation during cancer chemotherapy. Six categories were extracted: [Finding the physical condition suitable for me] [Being unable to find movements that I can effectively utilize myself] [Being able to continue normal everyday life] [Showing people around me that I can still move] [Having fun actively moving my body] [Gives meaning to my present “living”]. Cancer rehabilitation is considered to give patients with recurrent/advanced cancer a chance to adapt to their present predicament by helping them re-establish the meaning, value, and objective of living. These results suggest that acquiring mastery can be a new endpoint of cancer rehabilitation.