Purpose: It is critical to reduce complications associated with the central venous access port (CV-port) system for patients who were treated with chemotherapy or palliative care. Methods: From October 2006 to December 2011, 68 colon cancer patients who were treated with outpatient chemotherapy via a CV-port in the Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. Results: CV-port related complications occurred in 20 (29.4%) patients. No blood could be aspirated in 15 patients when treated via a CV-port. Among the patients with no blood aspiration from their CV-port, ten cases had no complications other than failure of blood aspiration, and anticancer agents have been successfully administered. However, the other five patients had their CV-port system replaced due to complications. Subclavian and left side insertions were the risk factors for catheter occlusion or inability to aspirate blood. Conclusion: Medical staffs should be aware that approximately one-third of the cases with no blood aspiration potentially have troubles with their CV-ports that need to be replaced.

We report a case of 2X-year-old man with G4 chronic kidney disease (CKD G4). He had a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after the initiation of BEP (cisplatin, etoposide, bleomycin) therapy followed by VelP (ifosfamide, cisplatin, vinblastine) therapy for mixed germ cell testicular tumor. The patient’s eGFR did not recover during 59 months after chemotherapy, but showed a tendency to improve after treatment with yojinkodakuto. Yojinkodakuto was prepared by the IPCD (immersing powdered crude drugs) method. The IPCD method was adopted to ensure convenience and good quality prescription herbal medicines. Although eGFR fluctuated after yojinkodakuto treatment, at 3 years, serum creatinine (sCr) and eGFR progressed well, with sCr reducing from 3.98 mg/dL at initiation to 2.6 mg/dL and eGFR increasing from 16 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 25.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. In addition, a long-term eGFR plot analysis confirmed the 3-year improvement trend.

Purpose: Owing to the increasing mortality rate in Japan, basic nursing education on the end-of-life care is essential. This study determined the educational learning outcomes of the angel care practice that involves angel makeup based on the reflective descriptions of nursing students. Methods: About 87 students enrolled in the “Seminar in Adult Nursing Practice (Nursing at the End-of-Life: Angel Care)” course at Iwate Medical University School of Nursing in June 2021 consented to participate in the present study. After experiencing the roles of patient, family member, and nurse in the angel care practice, the participants reflected on the care they provided to the patients and their families. Their descriptions on the practice sheets were analyzed to determine the learning outcomes of the angel care practice. Results: “Awareness of the importance of angel care,” “understanding angel care through practice,” and “motivation and concerns as a nurse” were the learning outcomes of the angel care practice for nursing students. Conclusion: The practice that incorporates angel care along with lectures provides nursing students with an opportunity to learn ways to maintain their patient’s dignity.