Assessment of heavy metal contamination in river stream sediment in urban area: a case study of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia.

Heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn) in river sediments from the Winongo, Code, and Gajahwong rivers in Yogyakarta City were investigated. Fifteen samples were collected from each river, systematically from upstream to downstream. Background sediment samples were collected from the furthest upstream point to reflect natural sediment conditions.

Negative Effects of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis on Bone Fusion after Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Study Design: This study adopted a retrospective cohort study design.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the influence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) on bone fusion after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Overview Of Literature: The negative effects of DISH on lumbar degenerative diseases have been reported, and DISH may be involved in the onset and severity of lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Prognosis of home-cared or hospital-treated acute fever in older adults: A prospective multicenter case-control study.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the differences in the prognosis of older patients who received home care or hospitalized care to treat acute fever in Japan.

Methods: This prospective case-control study screened 192 registered acutely pyrexic older patients who received home care at 10 medical institutions in Japan, and enrolled 15 and 30 patients who were treated in the hospital (hospitalized group) and at home (home-care group), respectively, matched for fever and the physical conditions before fever onset. Intergroup differences in the 90-day mortality from fever onset and changes in patients' disability and dementia from the pre-fever to 90 days post-fever onset were determined.

What Should Be Considered When Evaluating the Quality of Home Care? A Survey of Expert Opinions on the Evaluation of the Quality of Home Care in Japan.

Intending to obtain scientific evidence to use in developing indicators for evaluating the quality of home care, we surveyed doctors, nurses, and other home care professionals to determine the points they consider to be essential in evaluating home care. We investigated all 901 clinics registered to the National Association of Medical Institutions Supporting Home Care and a random sample of 600 Visiting Nurse Service stations registered to the National Association for Visiting Nurse Service in Japan. A total of 539 questionnaire responses were received (response rate: 35.

Feasibility of the constipation point-of-care ultrasound educational program in observing fecal retention in the colorectum: A descriptive study.

Aim: Nurses have difficulty assessing the type of constipation by ordinal assessment methods and may therefore struggle to select an appropriate defecation care. Although previous studies described the safety and effectiveness of defecation care based on ultrasonographic observations in the colorectum, no standardized educational program has been established. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of the constipation point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) educational program regarding the use of ultrasonography as an assessment tool to determine different types of constipation.

Effectiveness of home care for fever treatment in older people: A case-control study compared with hospitalized care.

Aim: To examine whether the outcomes of fever treatment through home care differ from those through hospitalized care for older people who regularly receive home care in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective survey of medical record-based data for 679 older people who regularly received home care provided by a clinic in Japan. From these data, 61 fever cases (21 cases treated in the hospital and 40 treated at home and assigned to the hospitalized and home-care groups, respectively) were selected for analysis through a matching process.

Improvement of Constipation Symptoms in an Older Adult Patient by Defecation Care Based on Using a Handheld Ultrasound Device in Home Care Settings: A Case Report.

Background: Although previous studies have demonstrated the ability of ultrasound to detect stool in the colon and rectum, the clinical utility of evaluating constipation via ultrasonic imaging by nurses has not been determined. In this case report, we observed fecal retention, assessed the presence of constipation, and performed defecation care in an older adult patient in a home care setting in a city near the metropolitan area in Japan.

Case: An 85-year-old male with advanced stage prostate cancer and multiple metastases was diagnosed with fecal impaction via digital rectal examination and evaluation of stool consistency.

Safety and efficacy of a defecation care algorithm based on ultrasonographic bowel observation in Japanese home-care settings: a single-case, multiple-baseline study.

Aim: To verify the efficacy of defecation care based on handheld ultrasonographic observations for functional constipation by visiting nurses skilled in bowel ultrasonography.

Methods: Home-care patients with suspected functional constipation receiving nursing visits were recruited in this multiple-baseline, single-case experiment with intervention points shifted by 1 week. A total of 15 older adults were categorized into 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-week intervention phases.

Comparison between hypersensitivity reactions to cycles of modified FOLFOX6 and XELOX therapies in patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Although hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to oxaliplatin (L-OHP) therapy are well-documented, few reports have compared different therapies in terms of HSR occurrence. In this study, we compared the frequency and pattern of HSRs to modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6; 5-fluorouracil, levofolinate calcium and L-OHP infusions) and XELOX (capecitabine and L-OHP) therapies, and sought to identify risk factors associated with HSRs.

Methods: Patients who had received mFOLFOX6 or XELOX chemotherapeutic regimens for unresectable colon or rectal cancer or as adjuvant chemotherapy following colon cancer surgery between April 2012 and August 2015 were included.

Effect of renal function on pemetrexed-induced haematotoxicity.

Purpose: Pemetrexed (PEM) is an anticancer agent used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and thymoma. Reportedly, PEM has higher efficacy and safety when used in combination with platinum-based agents. However, there are only few reports on the safety of PEM in patients with an eGFR of ≤45 mL/min.

Sudden cardiac arrest immediately after stent graft deployment during treatment of iliac aneurysm with iliocaval fistula.

An 84-year-old woman with heaviness of the right lower extremity had an iliocaval fistula related to a right internal iliac aneurysm. Immediately after deployment of an endovascular device, cardiac arrest occurred because of severely decreased sympathetic activity. After surgery, the patient recovered well and has been followed up with exclusion of the arteriovenous fistula and resolution of the type II endoleak.

Intra-operative identification of conjoined lumbosacral nerve roots: a report of three cases.

We report 3 cases of conjoined nerve root anomalies identified during micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED). Between 2009 and 2010, 61 men and 20 women aged 18 to 84 (mean, 42) years underwent MED for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation of L3-4 (n=1), L4-5 (n=44), and L5-S1 (n=36). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), myelogram, and postmyelo computed tomography did not identify the anomalies.

Prevention of alveolar air leakage after video-assisted thoracic surgery: comparison of the efficacy of methods involving the use of fibrin glue.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriate condition of use of the fibrin glue plus polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet combination to obtain the optimal sealing effect.

Methods: 126 consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were divided into groups as follows: fibrin glue sprayed on the PGA sheet placed over the pleural defect (Method I); fibrinogen and thrombin solutions sprayed separately on the PGA sheet soaked in thrombin and placed over the pleural defect after rubbing of fibrinogen solution on the area (Method II); fibrin glue sprayed on the PGA sheet placed over the pleural defect after rubbing of fibrinogen solution on the area (Method III). Method II and Method III were also examined in an animal model.

Age, gender, will, and use of home-visit nursing care are critical factors in home care for malignant diseases; a retrospective study involving 346 patients in Japan.

Background: We aimed to clarify the factors affecting outcomes of home care for patients with malignant diseases.

Methods: Of 607 patients who were treated in 10 clinics specialized in home care between January and December 2007 at Chiba, Fukuoka, Iwate, Kagoshima, Tochigi and Tokyo prefectures across Japan, 346 (57%; 145 men and 201 women) had malignant diseases. We collected information on medical and social backgrounds, details of home care, and its outcomes based on their medical records.

Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor vasohibin1 exhibits broad-spectrum antilymphangiogenic activity and suppresses lymph node metastasis.

During cancer progression, the angiogenesis that occurs is involved in tumor growth and hematogenous-distant metastasis, whereas lymphangiogenesis is involved in regional lymph node metastasis. Angiogenesis is counterregulated by various endogenous inhibitors; however, little is known about endogenous inhibitors of lymphangiogenesis. We recently isolated vasohibin1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor intrinsic to the endothelium and further demonstrated its anticancer activity through angiogenesis inhibition.