A study was made on 15 healthy subjects to evaluate the efficacy of water immersion with commonly used raw materials on skin elasticity, viscoelasticity and hydration of stratum corneum.
Samples used in this study included 30, 60, 90g of sodium hydrogen carbonate and 60g of bath preparation containing 90% in weight of sodium hydrogen carbonate (Cool Bathcrin^®). These samples were dissolved into 200l of plain water kept at a temperature of 41°C. The duration of each bathing was 5min.
Skin elasticity (skin distensibility), skin viscoelasticity and hydration of stratum corneum improved in all types of water immersion including plain water immersion. The skin distensibility, viscoelasticity and hydration state showed a statistically significant increase after water immersion with sodium hydrogen carbonate as compared with those before water immersion. In the plain water immersion group, no significant differences were observed between the values before and after water immersion with the exception of skin hydration. However, a significantly higher rate of increase in skin hydration was observed in the groups of water immersion with sodium hydrogen carbonate as compared with the plain water immersion.
The above results show that alkaline salt, especially sodium hydrogen carbonate, improves skin distensibility, viscoelasticity, and hydration state. Furthermore, we recommend sodium hydrogen carbonate as one of the most useful components of bath preparation because it provides the suppleness, freshness, and smoothness of stratum corneum.

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: The aim of this study was to develop a nursing intervention program for use in enhancing the self-care abilities of cancer patients receiving treatment on an outpatient basis. Method: Four-week-long combined group therapies were conducted on 15 subjects. The effects of these therapies were then examined. Results: Subjects' mean age was 56.86±11.52 years; mean duration of disease was 28.6±18.14 months. Between before and after the intervention, two scales showed significant improvements: EORTC QLQ-C30 Global health status (p<0.023) and STAI state anxiety scale (p<0.022). As a result of field note data analysis, "change of attitude toward cancer treatment at home" and "response to the program" were identified. Conclusion: Because the subjects were highly motivated individuals, with substantial self-care ability from the beginning, their ESCA scores did not show any change between before and after intervention. Nevertheless, the inner changes that occurred to the subjects indicated that their self-care ability had improved. Palliat Care Res 2009; 4(1): 201-206

Juntendo University Hospital (1051 beds) set up a working group focusing on SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) in May 2021. To date, more than 300 staff members play a rale as ally members in rarious hospital departments to promote a safer environment for patients of all SOGI. This initiative has been spreading to the medical school and other parts of the university to ensure a safer space for everyone. Providing hospital staff opportunities to meet with LGBTQs people in person at a SOGI seminar seems to bring a transformative impact on the participants.　Understanding a patient's background is imperative to provide better care for any patient. This article illustrates how we facilitate the process of enabling hospital staff to support patients with various SOGI.