The changes of skin surface hydration state were measured in vivo to evaluate the efficacy of bath preparations and their common use raw materials, following five samples, from a view point of moisturizing effect using High Frequency Impedance Measurment (3.5MHz.) as an empirical approach previously adopted by Tagami et al.
The temparature of water immersion was 41°C and the duration was 5min. Five kinds of samples used in this survey, 15 and 30g of sodium hydrogencarbonate, bath preparations containing 85% of sodiumu hydrogen carbonate, 2% of JOJOBA OIL, and 5% of dextrin were dissolved into plain water equipped with the maintenance of water temparature at 41°C, respectively.
As the result of this examination, these five samples enhanced the hydration state of stratum corneum after immersion and the value of skin surface hydration state showed high significant difference comparing to plain water. Especially, sample A immersion (containing 2% of JOJOBA OIL; Fig. 1) showed clear cut difference to compare to plain water immersion. (P<0.01 at 30, 60, 90, and 120min, after immersion)
These data suggested that JOJOBA OIL, dextrin and sodium hydrogen carbonate can be utilized effectively as a moisturizing factor for various types of bath preparations. It was proved that JOJOBA OIL, dextrin, and sodium hydrogen carbonate as raw materials of bath preparations possess the moisturizing effect after immersion through this survey.
We suppose that these raw materials might be concerned in the quantity of secondary bound water which is necessary to retain the suppleness and smoothness of stratum corneum, and propose that High Frequency Impedance Measurement (3.5MHz) is a suitable method to evaluate the hydration state of stratum corneum after water immersion.

Purpose: We assessed the efficacy of a palliative care team (PCT) in improving quality of life (QOL) among Japanese cancer patients. Patients and methods: This prospective study involved adult patients treated in the Division of Respiratory Medicine and Medical Oncology/Hematology at Kobe University Hospital between November 1, 2009 and March 30, 2010. Every patient had requested intervention by the PCT. Patients were asked to complete the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire at baseline and 1 and 4 weeks after initiation of the PCT intervention. Result: Of the 35 patients enrolled, 26 patients and 15 patients completed the assessments at 1 and 4 weeks after starting the intervention, respectively. Pain subscale (PA) was improved at 1 week after starting the intervention (p<0.05). Dyspnea subscale (DY) and PA were improved at 4 weeks after starting the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: We prospectively showed that QOL of cancer patients was improved with the intervention of the PCT, using the Japanese version of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL. Even if the PCT can only provide short-term care for cancer patients, this intervention appears worthwhile to improve QOL of cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the lumbar spinal root of the intervertebral foramen. PURPOSE: This study was to compare MR three-dimensional (3D) sequences for the evaluation of the lumbar spinal root of the intervertebral foramen. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The diagnosis of spinal disorders by MR imaging is commonly performed using two-dimensional T1- and T2-weighted images, whereas 3D MR images can be used for acquiring further detailed data using thin slices with multi-planar reconstruction. METHODS: On twenty healthy volunteers, we investigated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the lumbar spinal root of the intervertebral foramen with a 3D balanced sequence. The sequences used were the fast imaging employing steady state acquisition and the coherent oscillatory state acquisition for the manipulation of image contrast (COSMIC). COSMIC can be used with or without fat suppression (FS). We compared these sequence to determine the optimized visualization sequence for the lumbar spinal root of the intervertebral foramen. RESULTS: For the CNR between the nerve root and the peripheral tissue, these were no significant differences between the sequences at the entry of foramen. There was a significant difference and the highest CNR was seen with COSMIC-FS for the intra- and extra-foramen. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the findings suggest that the COSMIC-FS sequences should be used for the internal or external foramen for spinal root disorders.
Diagnosis ; Healthy Volunteers ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Nerve Roots