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Background: Preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older people is an important public health issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of fear regarding COVID-19 and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from July 15 to August 19, 2020, in 127 community-dwelling older adults ≥65 years old in Japan. A questionnaire including participants’ basic attributes (age, sex, body mass index, and family structure), levels of fear regarding COVID-19, increasing adherence to four behaviors (restrictions on going out, maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands) for COVID-19 prevention, and its stress levels was used. We calculated the relationship between the level of fear of COVID-19 and the level of each behavioral change using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs). Results: About 95% of older adults displayed fear of COVID-19. Rates of adherence to all four COVID-19 prevention measures increased to approximately 80–95%. However, about 40–55% of older adults were stressed by all behavior modifications except washing hands. The increasing level of fear regarding COVID-19 correlated positively with decreasing frequency of going out (rs=0.280, p=0.001) and increasing frequency of washing hands (rs=0.336, p<0.001). Conclusion: The behavioral changes of COVID-19 prevention measures in community-dwelling older people were excellent with increasing adherence rates. While such high adherence rates may increase the preventive effect in community-dwelling older people, the new lifestyle during the COVID-19 epidemic may cause frailty due to restrictions on going out and stress regarding behavior modifications., Acta medica Nagasakiensia, 66(2), pp.65-70; 2023

Background: Preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older people is an important public health issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of fear regarding COVID-19 and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from July 15 to August 19, 2020, in 127 community-dwelling older adults ≥65 years old in Japan. A questionnaire including participants’ basic attributes (age, sex, body mass index, and family structure), levels of fear regarding COVID-19, increasing adherence to four behaviors (restrictions on going out, maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands) for COVID-19 prevention, and its stress levels was used. We calculated the relationship between the level of fear of COVID-19 and the level of each behavioral change using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs). Results: About 95% of older adults displayed fear of COVID-19. Rates of adherence to all four COVID-19 prevention measures increased to approximately 80–95%. However, about 40–55% of older adults were stressed by all behavior modifications except washing hands. The increasing level of fear regarding COVID-19 correlated positively with decreasing frequency of going out (rs=0.280, p=0.001) and increasing frequency of washing hands (rs=0.336, p<0.001). Conclusion: The behavioral changes of COVID-19 prevention measures in community-dwelling older people were excellent with increasing adherence rates. While such high adherence rates may increase the preventive effect in community-dwelling older people, the new lifestyle during the COVID-19 epidemic may cause frailty due to restrictions on going out and stress regarding behavior modifications., Acta medica Nagasakiensia, 66(2), pp.65-70; 2023

application/pdf, Introduction: Duodenal adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy; recently, it has been found to be accompanied by operative indications., Methods: Nine consecutive rare cases were diagnosed with duodenal carcinoma （DC）, in which clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively examined. Age was ranged over middle-aged males and females. No clinical onset with severe symptoms was observed, and the specific treatment for accompanied diseases or habits was not found., Outcomes: One case of two T1 stage DCs that underwent pancreas-sparing duodenectomy. Stage II DC was diagnosed in three cases, and stage III DC was diagnosed in four cases. Pancreaticoduodenectomy （PD） mainly occurred in seven patients, and duodenectomy was limited in two patients. All operations were safely performed, and the postoperative course showed no severe morbidity. Histological findings showed R0 resection in eight cases and R1 at the retroperitoneal dissecting part in one case. Five patients with advanced-stage DC underwent adjuvant chemotherapy; however, four patients showed tumor recurrence within 12months. With additional strong chemotherapy, eight patients survived up to 84months, and one died of liver metastasis at 43months after surgery. Three representative cases of mucosal invasion with widespread pancreas-sparing duodenectomy and advanced-stage DC cases undergoing duodenectomy or PD are shown., Conclusion: In the field of upper digestive tract surgery, duodenal adenocarcinoma and various applications of surgery or adjuvant chemotherapy for long-term survival are important.

Background: Although the 100-mL water swallowing test (WST) is used to measure swallowing capacity (SC), volume per swallow (VS), time per swallow (TS), and the presence/absence of choking signs, the performance of each indicator is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between performance in each indicator in the 100-mL WST and risk factors for dysphagia in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Participants included 304 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged ?65 years. We investigated participant characteristics including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), medical history, number of prescribed medications, laryngeal function (maximum phonation time [MPT]), subjective dysphagia (the 10-item eating assessment tool [EAT-10]), and all indicators of the 100-mL WST. We compared each of the four indicators in the 100-mL WST and investigated their relationship with potential risk factors for dysphagia. Results: Multivariate analyses showed that age, BMI, MPT, and EAT-10 were independently associated with SC. Age, sex, BMI, and EAT-10 were independently associated with VS. BMI, MPT, and EAT-10 were independently associated with TS. Men were more likely to have choking signs in the 100-mL WST than women. Conclusions: These findings indicated that all of three quantitative indicators in the 100-mL WST may predict the risk of sarcopenic dysphagia. Moreover, the presence of choking signs in men suggested the risk of aspiration. We propose that SC and choking signs in the 100-mL WST could be a simple and useful dysphagia assessment tool for community-dwelling older people., identifier:Acta medica Nagasakiensia, 63(1), pp.1-10; 2019

Dewatering of faecal sludge (FS) is indispensable for adequate FS management. However, comprehensive knowledge is lacking on FS dewatering performance. This study compared the dewatering performance of FS from different countries and onsite sanitation technologies, to assess influential characteristics on dewatering, and to compare dewatering performance of FS with wastewater sludge. We collected 73 FS samples from septic tanks, lined pit latrines, unlined pit latrines and johkasou tanks in Uganda, Vietnam and Japan, and 18 samples of wastewater sludge in Switzerland. Capillary suction time (CST) and total solids (TS) of centrifuged sludge (%TSfinal) were determined as metrics of dewatering rate and dewaterability, respectively, together with relevant sludge characteristics. Data were analysed by bootstrapping comparison of median results of each sample category and by bootstrapping multiple regression analysis to quantify the relative importance of sludge characteristics on dewatering performance. Results showed that the dewatering rate was significantly different between FS from different technologies, whereas dewaterability was significantly different within the same technology. FS had a significantly lower dewatering rate than wastewater sludge. In contrast, FS dewaterability was greater than wastewater sludge. However, this could be attributed to higher concentrations of sand in FS. Electrochemical properties such as NH4-N and surface charge had the strongest correlation to dewatering rate, and solid properties such as sand content and total volatile solids to dewaterability. The results identify potential characteristics that could explain and predict the high variability of FS dewatering performance that is observed in the field.

Applying elastic wave tomography as an innovative NDT method, the evaluation of velocity distribution in three-dimensional (3D) before and after the repair is introduced in this study. The increase in the velocity with penetration of the repair material according to the repair effect is identified visually and quantitatively. The 3D tomography technique is newly proposed for one-side access inspection, using drill hammering to generate an elastic wave. Accordingly, the elastic wave velocity distribution result enables to visualize the internal quality of concrete after patch repair is successfully done. In addition, an attempt for reinforced concrete (RC) slab panels is made to confirm the effectiveness of the repair by comparing the velocity distribution of elastic waves obtained from acoustic emission (AE) tomography analysis, before and after the repair. Thus, the velocity recoveries due to injection are found in all the slab panels, and it is confirmed that the elastic wave velocities obtained using this technique can serve as an indicator for examining the state of crack and void filling with injected material. Further, a good correlation is found between the low-velocity region before repair and the amount of injection. These results show the potential of the AE tomography technique to be used as a method for estimating the effect of injection repair.

In order to study the correlation between the cracking of rice (Oryza sativa L.) kernels and themolecular structure of the amylopectin in them, we attempted optical sum frequency generation(SFG) spectroscopy in the C-H stretching vibration region for normal and cracked japonica nonglutinousrice kernels. The samples were Koshihikari and Nipponbare. In Nipponbare, the width ofthe SFG spectrum peak at 2915 cm^-1 of the cracked rice kernels was broader than that of the normalones, while for Koshihikari there was no clear difference. The width of the 2915 cm^-1 peak issuggested to originate from the variety of the higher-order structure of the saccharide chains inamylopectin. Although this is a tentative result, this method is shown to have a potential of servingfor preventing the cracking of the rice kernels.

The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of nonobstructive (or non-flow-limiting) residual dissection (RD) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Results of 124 consecutive native coronary lesions with angiographic nonobstructive RD in 97 patients (RD group) were compared with outcomes of 124 lesions without RD in 100 patients (non-RD group), whose characteristics were matched with those of the RD group. RD occurred after stent implantation (81 of 124 lesions, 65%) or balloon angioplasty (43 of 124 lesions, 35%). Angiographic types of RD were type A in 8 lesions (6%), B in 101 (82%), and C in 15 (12%). Stents were implanted in 65% of the lesions in each group. Clinical success (94% in RD group vs 95% in non-RD group, p = 0.77) and the in-hospital major adverse cardiac event rates were found to be similar in the 2 groups (6% vs 3%, respectively; p = 0.33). The late angiographic and clinical outcomes were also comparable. By intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) evaluation of the dissections in the RD group, area stenosis correlated with the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (p = 0.023), whereas the final minimal lumen area correlated inversely with the occurrence of restenosis (p = 0.011). An area stenosis > or =58% was the best predictor for the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.68). Most nonobstructive RDs are "favorable" and do not need stent implantation. IVUS evaluation identifies "unfavorable" nonobstructive (or non-flow-limiting) dissections that might be prone to acute occlusion. Nonobstructive dissections can be left untreated when final IVUS reveals an area stenosis of < 60% at the site of a dissection.

The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of nonobstructive (or non-flow-limiting) residual dissection (RD) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Results of 124 consecutive native coronary lesions with angiographic nonobstructive RD in 97 patients (RD group) were compared with outcomes of 124 lesions without RD in 100 patients (non-RD group), whose characteristics were matched with those of the RD group. RD occurred after stent implantation (81 of 124 lesions, 65%) or balloon angioplasty (43 of 124 lesions, 35%). Angiographic types of RD were type A in 8 lesions (6%), B in 101 (82%), and C in 15 (12%). Stents were implanted in 65% of the lesions in each group. Clinical success (94% in RD group vs 95% in non-RD group, p = 0.77) and the in-hospital major adverse cardiac event rates were found to be similar in the 2 groups (6% vs 3%, respectively; p = 0.33). The late angiographic and clinical outcomes were also comparable. By intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) evaluation of the dissections in the RD group, area stenosis correlated with the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (p = 0.023), whereas the final minimal lumen area correlated inversely with the occurrence of restenosis (p = 0.011). An area stenosis > or =58% was the best predictor for the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.68). Most nonobstructive RDs are "favorable" and do not need stent implantation. IVUS evaluation identifies "unfavorable" nonobstructive (or non-flow-limiting) dissections that might be prone to acute occlusion. Nonobstructive dissections can be left untreated when final IVUS reveals an area stenosis of < 60% at the site of a dissection.

According to the report of the United Nations, it is said that two-third of world population would be influenced by water shortage before 2050. To use fresh water effectively, the usage of seawater in concrete industry seems imperative. However, the usage of seawater as concrete material is prohibited in almost all the standards or specifications around the world. In this article, the usage of seawater as a material of concrete based on the results of experimental works and deterioration prediction was discussed. Especially, the effects of by-products such as blast furnace slag or fly ash on the durability of concrete mixed with seawater were evaluated. In the experimental works, the measurements of the material diffusivity/permeability such as chloride ion diffusivity, carbonation rate, and oxygen permeability in concrete/mortar were conducted. Also, the time-dependent changes of corrosion rate of steel bar embedded in mortar were periodically measured. At the same time, immobilization ability of cement matrix and corrosion threshold chloride ion content of steel bar were evaluated. Based on the above data, the initiation and propagation periods were predicted, and the durability of concrete mixed with seawater and the effectiveness of adding by-products were discussed. Based on the results of the present article, it was said that the period before the generation of cracks due to steel corrosion in concrete mixed with seawater was almost same with that with fresh water under severe chloride attack environment. Also, it could be concluded that the addition of blast furnace slag powder or fly ash might contribute significantly to the corrosion resistance of steel bar as well as low penetrability of materials.

Deterioration of reinforced concrete members and their repair methods have been reported in various concrete published reports. Electrodeposition method is one of these repair methods for repairing deteriorated concrete members using an electrochemical mechanism. The purposes of the electrodeposition method are to fill cracks in concrete and to coat the concrete surface by electrodeposits of chemical compounds. This can be accomplished by passing a weak direct current (1.0–3.0 A/m2 of concrete surface area) between a reinforcing steel bar (cathode) in concrete and an external electrode (anode) located in an external solution near the concrete surface. This method also accomplishes corrosion protection and desalination/re-alkalization, as well as crack closure or surface coating by the electrodeposits. Therefore, it is considered that the electrodeposition is effective in repairing deteriorated concrete members because of chloride attack or carbonation. However, there is very little work on the selection of appropriate electrodeposition conditions such as the type of the cation, its concentration, or type of external electrode for repairing existing reinforced concretes. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the electrodeposition conditions such as external solution or an external electrode for repairing reinforced concrete structures. From this study, the most suitable electrodeposition conditions to repair deteriorated concrete members are found to be a magnesium acetate-based external solution and an aluminum sacrificial electrode.

Deterioration of reinforced concrete members and their repair methods have been reported in various concrete published reports. Electrodeposition method is one of these repair methods for repairing deteriorated concrete members using an electrochemical mechanism. The purposes of the electrodeposition method are to fill cracks in concrete and to coat the concrete surface by electrodeposits of chemical compounds. This can be accomplished by passing a weak direct current (1.0–3.0 A/m2 of concrete surface area) between a reinforcing steel bar (cathode) in concrete and an external electrode (anode) located in an external solution near the concrete surface. This method also accomplishes corrosion protection and desalination/re-alkalization, as well as crack closure or surface coating by the electrodeposits. Therefore, it is considered that the electrodeposition is effective in repairing deteriorated concrete members because of chloride attack or carbonation. However, there is very little work on the selection of appropriate electrodeposition conditions such as the type of the cation, its concentration, or type of external electrode for repairing existing reinforced concretes. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the electrodeposition conditions such as external solution or an external electrode for repairing reinforced concrete structures. From this study, the most suitable electrodeposition conditions to repair deteriorated concrete members are found to be a magnesium acetate-based external solution and an aluminum sacrificial electrode.

According to the report of the United Nations, it is said that two-third of world population would be influenced by water shortage before 2050. To use fresh water effectively, the usage of seawater in concrete industry seems imperative. However, the usage of seawater as concrete material is prohibited in almost all the standards or specifications around the world. In this article, the usage of seawater as a material of concrete based on the results of experimental works and deterioration prediction was discussed. Especially, the effects of by-products such as blast furnace slag or fly ash on the durability of concrete mixed with seawater were evaluated. In the experimental works, the measurements of the material diffusivity/permeability such as chloride ion diffusivity, carbonation rate, and oxygen permeability in concrete/mortar were conducted. Also, the time-dependent changes of corrosion rate of steel bar embedded in mortar were periodically measured. At the same time, immobilization ability of cement matrix and corrosion threshold chloride ion content of steel bar were evaluated. Based on the above data, the initiation and propagation periods were predicted, and the durability of concrete mixed with seawater and the effectiveness of adding by-products were discussed. Based on the results of the present article, it was said that the period before the generation of cracks due to steel corrosion in concrete mixed with seawater was almost same with that with fresh water under severe chloride attack environment. Also, it could be concluded that the addition of blast furnace slag powder or fly ash might contribute significantly to the corrosion resistance of steel bar as well as low penetrability of materials.

高レベル放射性廃棄物処分施設では、施設の建設及び操業中の安全性や作業性確保のため、支保工やグラウト等にセメント系材料を使用することが想定されている。低アルカリ性セメントは、処分システムの長期挙動評価において、高アルカリ性に起因する不確実性を低減させることを目的に開発されているものである。本報告では、既報「高レベル放射性廃棄物処分施設への低アルカリ性セメントの適用性に関する研究(その1)」にて整理したセメント系材料の要求機能をもとに、国内外で開発されている各種低アルカリ性セメント及びコンクリートの諸物性に関する評価の現状調査,適用部位を考慮した低アルカリ性コンクリートの配合検討を行い、今後の課題を抽出した。その結果、初期物性,硬化体物性について各種低アルカリ性セメントは普通ポルトランドセメントとほぼ同等であり、耐溶出性に優れていることが確認された。配合検討では、原子力機構にて開発したHFSCは適切な配合を選定することで、吹付け及び覆工コンクリートへ適用可能との見通しが得られた。今後の課題としては、地下水組成が水和物の溶出特性に与える影響の解明,硬化体からの浸出水のpHの測定方法の精査,鉄筋など鋼材を用いた場合の腐食挙動の評価等が挙げられた。, Cementitious materials will be used to ensure construction and operational safety and work efficiency in a deep geological repository. The low alkaline cement has been developed to reduce uncertainties due to hyper alkaline for the long-term safety performance of the repository system. Functions of cementitious material required in each phase of repository construction, operation and closure were summarized in a separate report entitled "Application Study on Low Alkaline Cementitious Materials for Deep Geological Repository of High Level Radioactive Wastes (Phase I) "In this report, properties of low alkaline cement/concrete which have been developed both at home and abroad, and recipes of the low alkaline concrete taken account of application to the repository component have been investigated. Fresh and hardened properties of the low alkaline cement are equivalent to the OPC and the low alkaline cement has an advantage over OPC in terms of leaching resistance. The HFSC developed by JAEA, which belongs to a pozzolanic type low alkaline cement will be able to apply to the shotcrete and the lining concrete by choosing an adequate recipe. Clarification of influences of the chemical composition of groundwater on leachate properties of the hydrates, examination of pH measurement of cement leachate, evaluation of corrosion behavior of rebar embedded in the HFSC concrete are raised as open questions for future activities., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Research 2009-013

高レベル放射性廃棄物の地層処分施設の建設では、坑道の空洞安定性や湧水の抑制、あるいは施設操業時の作業性を確保するため、支保工,グラウト,覆工等にセメント系材料の使用が想定される。しかし、セメント系材料の使用は、周囲地下水のpHを上昇させ、人工バリア材や天然バリアである岩盤が変質する可能性があり、処分システムの長期性能に有意な影響を与えることが懸念されている。以上の背景から、地層処分向けの低アルカリ性セメントに関する研究開発が国内外で進められており、日本原子力研究開発機構では、これまでに支保工や覆工への適用性の検討を重ね、今般幌延の地下研究施設において施工試験を行う計画である。一方、電力中央研究所では、放射性廃棄物処分全般にかかわるセメント系材料の研究開発を実施してきている。本共同研究報告では、高レベル放射性廃棄物処分施設で使用することを想定したセメント系材料について、その適用性を評価するうえで必要となる処分場とその周辺の地質環境条件を整理したうえで、セメント系材料の適用部位や処分の各段階で要求される機能と性能を抽出・整理し、今後の低アルカリ性セメント開発に資するよう取りまとめを行った。, In deep geological repository, use of cementitious material for rock support, lining, and grouting is essential for construction and operation and possibly raises in groundwater pH due to leachate from the cements. Since this hyperalkaline condition may lead to degradation of barriers, there is concern that it gives significant impact on long-term safety performance of the repository system. Because of these backgrounds, developments of low alkaline cement have been conducted both at home and abroad. JAEA is now planning to conduct an in-situ test for shotcreting using low alkaline cement at the Horonobe URL. On the other hand, CRIEPI has studied and developed cementitious materials for disposal of radioactive wastes. This joint research report summarizes requirements and expected performance of cementitious materials in repository taking account of surrounding conditions in each stage of the repository program so as to reflect them to further development of the low alkaline cement., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Research 2008-112

Acta medica Nagasakiensia. 1993, 38(2-4), p.206-210

Complications and management of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for 79 patients with liver metastasis were studied. Complications were observed in 20 cases (25.3%), who included 8 cases (88.9%) of lapalotomy group and 12 cases (17.6%) of left subclavian group. In lapalotomy group, they were 5 cases of system occlusion, 2 cases of catheter tip dislocation and catheter reinsertion through the left subclavian artery was performed in 4 cases. In left subclavian group, they were 4 cases of system occlusion, 3 cases of catheter tip dislocation, 2 cases of hepatic arterial occlusion and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was continued with catheter reinsertion in 8 of the 9 cases. It was considered that positive anti-complication measures including catheter reinsertion would contribute to the improvement of therapeutic results., Acta medica Nagasakiensia. 1993, 38(2-4), p.254-256

In order to study the correlation between the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the chemoresistance, the P-gp exprssion in the locations of tumors and non-tumor tissues were immunohistochemically examined in the various specimens of clinical cases with carcinoma of the lung, colon, breast and Liver with monoclonal antibody, identifying the differences in the expression of P-gp In addition, the chemosensitivity test with MTT assay was performed in lung cancer to investigate the correlation between the expression of P-gp and the resistance to the anticancer drugs. The expression of P-gp was observed with relatively high rates in lung cancers (50.0%), liver cancers (50.0%), colon cancers (33.3%), respectively, and with lower rates in breast cancers (17.6%), suggesting that there might be a close correlation between the P-gp expression and the different effects of adriamycin on individual organs. As compared the P-gp expression between carcinomas and the tissues adjacent to carcinoma in the same patients, a different expression was revealed in a few patients. In the chemosensitivity test in lung cancer, a significant correlation between P-gp expression and the degree of the resistance (SD activity) to Adriamycin was observed. In conclusion, assessment of the P-gp expression is of great value to predict the effect of chemotherapy using adriamycin against carcinomas, especially lung cancer., Acta Medica Nagasakiensia. 1992, 37(1-4), p.127-132

Acta Medica Nagasakiensia. 1992, 37(1-4), p.48-51

Primary lung cancer with pneumothorax as a primary symptom is very rare. The case studied herein was make, sixty years old. The patient had a complaint of chest pain and dyspnea and was diagnosed as having pneumothorax on the radiograph. At the same time, a shadow of tumor was recognized around the upper lobes of the left lung and accordingly bronchoscopy was performed. As a result of transbronchial biopsies, malignant cells were detected. The left upper lobectomy was performed and it was diagnosed to be large cell carcinoma. Mechanism of the pneumothorax was thought to be caused by the burst of the visceral pleura because of the abrupt enlargement of the tumor., Acta Medica Nagasakiensia. 1992, 37(1-4), p.82-84

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum and fresh cancer tissue taken at surgery was measured and analyzed in terms of the disease stage. The CEA level in serum (s-CEA ) has become higher with advance in the disease stage. However, in stage V it was lowered as well as CEA level in cancer mass (ca-CEA). It is suggested that S-CEA is influenced by cancer invasion into the vessel wall, tumor necrosis and/or degeneration which ca-CEA may well be migrated from the tumor cells., Acta medica Nagasakiensia. 1988, 33(1-4), p.167-169