The University of Tokyo Disability Services Office and the University of Tokyo Hospital have striven to advance the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to encourage the co-production of research as well as mental health services with peer support workers. In convergence with these endeavors, the Center for Diversity in Medical Education and Research (CDMER) was founded in 2021. The Center aims to establish an environment and culture that facilitates the participation and success of medical professionals with disabilities. For this purpose, it is essential to integrate the perspective of the social model of disability into medical education and promote co-production in the medical field, which is among the most challenging areas that can realize co-production. The Center is involved in various educational and research activities, including managing educational programs for medical students and supporting student-led research.

Background/Aims: Natural history of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO), a rare disease characterized by episodes of non-mechanical obstruction, is unclear in adults. This study evaluates the clinical course of CIPO and palliative care needs of patients. Methods: From October 2010 to September 2021, 74 patients who underwent cine MRI and had a definitive diagnosis of CIPO were prospectively included. We investigated disease etiology and outcomes, age at onset, nutritional status at consultation (body mass index and serum albumin), hydrogen breath test results, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) during the disease course. Results: Forty-seven patients (64%) were women, with a mean age of 44 years at onset and 49 years at diagnosis. Primary CIPO was observed in 48 patients (65%). Secondary CIPO was observed in 26 cases (35%), of whom 18 (69%) had scleroderma. The mean body mass index, serum albumin level, and hydrogen breath test positivity rate were 17 kg/m2 , 3.8 mg/dL, and 60%, respectively. TPN and invasive decompression therapy were required by 23 (31%) and 18 (24%) patients, respectively. Intestinal sterilization was performed in 51 (69%) patients and was effective in 33 (65%); of these, 28 (85%) were taking metronidazole. Seven (9%) patients used opioids. There were 9 deaths (12%), including 5 (56%) from infection and 2 (22%) from suicide. Of the deaths, 6 (67%) and 4 (44%) underwent TPN management and decompression therapy, respectively. Fifty-one patients (69%) wanted palliative care. Conclusion CIPO is a rare, severe, and under-recognized disease. Standardization of treatment strategies, including palliative care and psychiatric interventions, is desired.

Objective: There is little information on the effectiveness and safety of health foods for pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk of health food to pregnant women and fetuses from pharmaceutical interventions and clarify the problems for standardization of pharmaceutical management and guidance.Methods: Among 243 pregnant inpatients who received consultations from our pharmacists, 61 subjects were taking health food products were recruited from May 2015 to April 2017. We developed novel guidelines for the use of health food products for pregnant women, and used the guidelines to provide pharmaceutical interventions. Results of these interventions were reviewed retrospectively to identify issues associated with pharmaceutical management of the use of health food products.Results: Among 61 subjects, 10 (16%) received a total of 11 interventions for the use of health food products. Suggestions to discontinue the use of health food products were accepted by 9 subjects (82%). The majority of interventions (n=7, 64%) were related to therapeutic disadvantages of health food products, such as “bleeding complications during childbirth” and “interaction with other medicines”. Information on the number of weeks of pregnancy, drug history, and treatment status were used to trigger and determine appropriate pharmaceutical interventions.Conclusion: From the intervention cases, the potential disadvantages associated with the use of health foods were confirmed, and the risk status of pregnant women and fetuses associated with the use of health foods was clarified. It is necessary to intervene before embarking on using health foods, to make judgements based on risk assessment considering the number of weeks of pregnancy and patient background, and to provide accurate information to pregnant women. We anticipate that future studies will provide additional insights into the effects of health food intake on pregnant women, and that support systems for pregnant women will be established by medical professionals.

Adenocarcinoma currently accounts for 10–25% of all uterine cervical carcinomas and has a variety of histopathological subtypes. Among them, mucinous carcinoma gastric type is not associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and a poor prognosis, while villoglandular carcinoma has an association with high-risk HPV infection and a good prognosis. They show relatively characteristic imaging findings which can be suggested by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), though the former is sometimes difficult to be distinguished from lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia. Various kinds of other tumors including squamous cell carcinoma should be also differentiated on MRI, while it is currently difficult to distinguish them on MRI, and HPV screening and pathological confirmation are usually necessary for definite diagnosis and further patient management.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mass Screening ; Prognosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterus

Objective: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a clinically under-recognized symptom occurring at the later- to end-stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The frequency of CD and its influence on prognosis have not been well studied. Here, we conducted an in-depth examination of CD incidence and impact on disease progression in later-stage PD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of 22 deceased patients with sporadic PD treated at a hospital in Japan from 1983 to 2008. Results: The most common cause of death in PD was pneumonia. CD, in particular retrocollis, was frequent in the later stages of the disease in elderly patients (9/22, 40.9%). Pneumonia incidence increased sharply in the later period with CD. There was a positive trend between CD duration and duration of pergolide use. Conclusion: Analysis revealed that CD increases markedly in late- to end-stage PD, which may be associated with aspiration pneumonia due to dysphagia. Pathological mechanisms underlying CD might be influenced by treatments including dopamine agonists. Prevention of CD may increase quality of life and prolong survival of PD patients.

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Histiocytosis* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of mucoid and non-mucoid isolates of S. pneumoniae, and to explore the relationship between the isolate phenotypes and their antibiotic susceptibility. METHODS: Clinical isolates from 3,453 non-repetitive S. pneumoniae (189 mucoid and 3,264 non-mucoid) infections obtained between January 2008 and December 2012 from outpatients at the Kimitsu-Central Hospital were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to the non-mucoid isolates, the mucoid phenotypes were more susceptible to certain antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, and tetracycline as opposed to clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and rifampicin. The mucoid phenotype was isolated more frequently from schoolchildren, adults, and elderly adults in a variety of clinical sites, including otorrhea, genitalia, pus, and eye discharge than the non-mucoid phenotype. This suggested that mucoid isolates are more likely to be involved than non-mucoid isolates in various local infections. Systemic infection, which indicates invasiveness, was not associated with the mucoid or non-mucoid phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that mucoid isolates tend to have higher susceptibility than non-mucoid isolates to antibiotics. To the best of our knowledge, mucoid and non-mucoid S. pneumoniae isolates considerably differ in terms of clinical isolation site and age-specific prevalence.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Chloramphenicol ; Clarithromycin ; Clindamycin ; Erythromycin ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Outpatients* ; Phenotype ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Rifampin ; Sepsis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Suppuration ; Tetracycline

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

This study clarified practices in end-of-life care for non-malignant chronic illness patients by expert nurses in general hospitals. Interviews with 7 chronic illness specialist nurses on practice cases were conducted, and final labels were elicited using a qualitative synthesis method（KJ method）. As patients’ conditions deteriorated, nurses defined the necessary interactions to support patients’ decision-making for living their own way of life and accompany patients and families based on their experience, and using patients’ restoration of self-esteem, sense of satisfaction, and acceptance as indices. In general hospitals, measures to cope with pain for patients not receiving life-prolonging treatment were insufficient;and while it was difficult to agree on care between medical professionals and to maintain care in other facilities, expert nurses grasped patients’ wishes on a daily basis and made arrangements for them to permeate through family and community care systems. In end-of-life care in treatment settings, it is necessary to be supportive so that the family and medical professionals can continue the patient’s care. Medical professionals who have been involved from the initial diagnosis stage need to improve their awareness and support skills as medical professionals to be involved purposefully from an early stage to the final stage.