This paper describes the concepts of assessment theory which are necessary to implement the most desirable assessments, with a particular focus on validity and utility. Validity, classically defined as a trinity of content, criterion-related, and construct, is now encompassed by construct validity. By distinguishing between validity and validation, the process of reinforcing validity through argument-based validation is proposed. Furthermore, we refer to the concept of utility, which takes into account practicality (acceptability and cost) and educational impact, in order to make the assessment practice sustainable. Finally, we will address how learner assessment relates to program evaluation.

Bilateral shoulder joint disorders caused by rheumatoid arthritis significantly impair daily functioning owing to a lack of contralateral compensation. In Japan, reverse shoulder joint prostheses were approved in 2014. This was expected to improve the surgical outcomes of rheumatoid shoulder arthroplasty. We report two patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent bilateral reverse shoulder arthroplasty. This study aims to evaluate their postoperative clinical outcomes and activities of daily living. The patients were women in their 70s with stage III class 2 rheumatoid arthritis. Their treatment and postoperative activities of daily living were retrospectively reviewed. The first patient underwent the inlay type and experienced a residual limitation of external rotation postoperatively; therefore, she was restricted to dress with front-open clothes. However, she was able to undress after the lining of the garment was changed to a slippery material. The second patient underwent the onlay type and showed almost no limitations in postoperative activities of daily living. She was able to undress with an external rotation of 40–50°. Bilateral reverse shoulder arthroplasty improved range of motion, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association shoulder score, and functional outcomes. Only a few difficulties were encountered in the activities of daily living.

Supporting learners in difficulties is difficult. It is the responsibility of hospitals, universities and other medical education institutions to respond effectively. Traditionally, there has been a bias against focusing on the learner and a tendency to be persuaded by teachers’ beliefs. However, the factors that can lead to learners having difficulties in education include not only the learners but also the educators and the environment. There are also pedagogical, psychological, and cultural approaches to analyzing each factor. In the future, we would like to suggest that a single supporter have more than one perspective. However, because of the context in which supporters are placed, there is a limit to the number of perspectives that can be taken. Therefore, it is hoped that medical education institutions will be able to provide a support system in which multiple supporters, from multiple positions and with multiple perspectives, can ensure a broad perspective.

Objective: Treatment options for patients with rheumatoid arthritis on maintenance hemodialysis with an inadequate response to biologic agents have not been reported. In this report, we describe two patients who achieved remission after treatment with peficitinib.Methods: Two 69- and 85-year-old patients with rheumatoid arthritis on maintenance hemodialysis were previously treated with biologics and started on peficitinib 100 mg/day after the secondary failure of biologics.Discussion: In the two cases presented here, rheumatoid arthritis was almost in remission and there were no adverse events, although the patients were switched to peficitinib after secondary failure of the biologic agents. Among Janus kinase inhibitors, peficitinib has the lowest renal excretion; therefore, its administration in patients on dialysis is not contraindicated according to the package insert in Japan. The use of biologic agents in patients on hemodialysis has been reported to be associated with a high incidence of infections; therefore, care should be taken to avoid infections when administering Janus kinase inhibitors.Conclusion: Janus kinase inhibitors with low renal excretion, such as peficitinib, may be effective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on maintenance hemodialysis who have an inadequate response to biologic agents.

In recent years, the system for providing home medical care and palliative care has been improved, and the number of cancer patients who are treated at home until the end is increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the circumstances of cancer patients who died at home and the presence of doctors and nurses at the moment of death. We conducted a prospective survey of end-oflife cancer patients receiving home visits from home care and palliative care clinics in Japan from 1st July to 31st December 2017. During the study period, we analyzed the mortality status of 676 patients who died in their homes, serviced by 45 clinics. Of these patients, 91% were living with families, 49% died on holidays or at night, and the doctor and nurse was present at the time of death in only 5.6% and 9.9% of cases, respectively. Most of the patients who died at home lived with their families, with few doctors and nurses present at the time of their patients’ death.

BACKGROUND: Pedicled flaps are useful for reconstructive surgery. Previously, we often used vascularized supraclavicular flaps, especially for head and neck reconstruction, but then shifted to using thoracic branch of the supraclavicular artery (TBSA) flaps. However, limited research exists on the anatomy of TBSA flaps and on the use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence videoangiography for supraclavicular artery flaps. We utilized ICG fluorescence videoangiography to harvest reliable flaps in reconstructive operations, and describe the results herein. METHODS: Data were retrospectively reviewed from six patients (five men and one woman: average age, 54 years; range, 48–60 years) for whom ICG videoangiography was performed to observe the skin perfusion of a supraclavicular flap after it was raised. Areas where the flap showed good enhancement were considered to be favorable for flap survival. The observation of ICG dye indicated good skin perfusion, which is predictive of flap survival; therefore, we trimmed any areas without dye filling and used the remaining viable part of the flap. RESULTS: The flaps ranged in size from 13×5.5 cm to 17×6.5 cm. One patient received a conventional supraclavicular flap, four patients received a TBSA flap, and one patient received a flap that was considered to be intermediate between a supraclavicular flap and a TBSA flap. The flaps completely survived in all cases, and no flap necrosis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The TBSA flap is very useful in reconstructive surgery, and reliable flaps could be obtained by using ICG fluorescence videoangiography intraoperatively.
Arteries ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Head ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Male ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteogenesis ability of osteogenic matrix cell sheets (OMCS) derived from old donor cells. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) were obtained from young (7-week-old) and old (1-year-old) Fischer344 rats donors and cultured with modified Eagle's medium (MEM group) alone or containing dexamethasone (Dex; 10 nM) and ascorbic acid phosphate (AscP; 0.28 mM) (Dex/AscP group). We prepared four in vitro experimental groups: (1) young MEM, (2) young Dex/AscP, (3) old MEM and (4) old Dex/AscP. Cell proliferation and osteogenic marker mRNA expression levels were evaluated in vitro. To assess bone formation in vivo, the cells of each group were combined with beta tricalcium phosphate (TCP) disks followed by implantation in recipient rats. The in vitro study showed significant differences in the mRNA expression of osteocalcin, ALP, and BMP2 between MEM and Dex/AscP groups. Bone formation following implantation was observed upon histological analyses of all groups. TCP combined with OMCS (OMCS/TCP group) resulted in enhanced bone formation compared to that following combination with BMSC (BMSC/TCP). The osteocalcin content of the OMCS/TCP group 4 weeks after implantation was significantly higher than that in the BMSC/TCP construct for both young and old donors. The present study clearly indicated that OMCS could be generated from BMSCs of old as well as young donors using a mechanical retrieval method. Thus, through its usage of OMCS, this method may represent a potentially effective therapeutic option for cell-based therapy in elderly patients.
Aged ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Proliferation ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Methods ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Donors

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate current fact of cancer outpatients’ opioid pain management and its possible abusive applications and to establish corrective treatments by the palliative care team. Methods: Our palliative care team investigated cancer outpatients’ prescribed opioid clinical records for 4 months in 2014, and the result revealed inappropriate opioid use which could lead to further abuse or dependency. Through this the team recommended attending physicians viable options including decrease of opioid eventually leading to final withdrawal. Results: Among 67 cancer outpatients, the finding of inappropriate opioid use which could lead to further abuse or dependency was in 5 patients (7.4%). The details are as follows: (1) Three patients were treated with opioid analgesia for initial pain relief but the application continued in spite of recovering from a cancer which had been responsible to the pain. (2) Two patients were medicated with opioid for pain but further diagnosis revealed the disease which caused pain was benign. Four out of 5 patients were successfully withdrawn from opioids. Conclusion: In cancer outpatient settings, it can be overlooked or undetected inappropriate use of opioids which may lead to abuse or dependency without a team approach. To prevent opioid abuses, it is imperative to find the cause of pain as accurately as possible.

Objective：The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of home care provided by hospitals and clinics in Kobe City. Methods：In July 2013 a survey was mailed to a cross-section of all clinics and hospitals in Kobe City. Results：Questionnaires were sent to 1,589 clinics and hospitals and 899（57％）responded. Regular and urgent home visits by doctors were provided by 50％ and 65％ of respondents, respectively. End-of-life care for dying patients at home and in nursing homes was provided by 31％ and 18％ of respondents, respectively. The average time spent on home visits was 2.3±1.7 days per week. Care for cancer patients, participation in national palliative care lectures, and holding a discussion at the admitting hospital before discharge for home care, were performed by 23％, 7.0％, and 6.9％ of respondents, respectively. Conclusion：The majority of hospitals and clinics in Kobe City provided home care.