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1.
Sensors (Basel) ; 23(17)2023 Aug 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37687814

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the potential for communication-efficient federated learning (FL) in modern distributed systems. FL is an emerging distributed machine learning technique that allows for the distributed training of a single machine learning model across multiple geographically distributed clients. This paper surveys the various approaches to communication-efficient FL, including model updates, compression techniques, resource management for the edge and cloud, and client selection. We also review the various optimization techniques associated with communication-efficient FL, such as compression schemes and structured updates. Finally, we highlight the current research challenges and discuss the potential future directions for communication-efficient FL.

2.
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho ; 49(13): 1989-1991, 2022 Dec.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36733067

ABSTRACT

Here we report a rare case of peritonitis caused by radiation enteritis. The 82-year-old woman who underwent surgery and radiotherapy for uterine cancer in her 30s. Emergency operation was performed for the perforation of the ileum. The small intestine showed changes of radiation enteritis extensively on macroscopy. The first surgery was performed to resect the perforated ileum and make intestinal anastomosis at the change of radiation enteritis. However, suture failure was occurred, reoperation was performed after conservative therapy. Reoperation was performed extensively resection of the intestinal tract and made anastomosis where was mild change of radiation enteritis. Pathological findings of the intestinal stump revealed that the arterial vessels of the submucosal layer were highly thicken and the lumen of artery was stenosis and occlusion with severe changes of radiation enteritis at the first operation. Blood flow disorders by irradiation were presumed to be the cause of suture failure. On the other hand, the intestinal stump did not indicate thickened of vascular wall and lumen stenosis of the vessels, only edematous changes in the submucosal layer were observed at the reoperation. It was important to determine the surgical procedure with the change of radiation enteritis for gastrointestinal operation with abdominal irradiation.


Subject(s)
Enteritis , Intestinal Perforation , Peritonitis , Uterine Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Aged, 80 and over , Constriction, Pathologic , Intestine, Small/surgery , Enteritis/etiology , Enteritis/pathology , Enteritis/surgery , Intestinal Perforation/etiology , Intestinal Perforation/surgery , Peritonitis/etiology , Peritonitis/surgery , Radiotherapy
3.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 100(32): e26830, 2021 Aug 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34397887

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: For five years after the 2011 triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster) in Japan, the proportion of patients with undiagnosed symptomatic breast cancer remained elevated in the coastal area of Fukushima. These individuals experienced a prolonged interval from first symptom recognition to initial medical consultation (hereafter referred to as the patient interval). We aimed to investigate how this prolonged patient interval affected disease staging.Using patient records, we retrospectively extracted females with newly and pathologically diagnosed breast cancer who initially presented to Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital from March 2011 to March 2016. We estimated the proportion with advanced-stage disease (III, IV) according to the patient interval duration (<3 months, 3-12 months, and 12 months plus). A cut-off patient interval value was determined based on the previous evidence with regards to impacts on survival prospects. Logistic regression approaches were used to fulfill the study outcome.The proportion of patients with advanced-stage disease was 10.3% for < 3 months (7/68), 18.2% for 3-12 months (2/11), and 66.7% for more than 12 months (12/18). We found a similar trend using the multivariate logistic regression analyses.Prolongation of the patient interval was associated with advanced-stage disease among female patients with breast cancer.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Disasters , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Neoplasm Staging , Stress, Psychological/complications , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/etiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Japan/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Time Factors
4.
Health Informatics J ; 27(2): 1460458221996420, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33878956

ABSTRACT

Disasters can hinder access to health information among cancer patients. However, little is known regarding overall health information exposure (HIE), its barriers and its impacts on attitudes toward healthcare among cancer patients in the long-term aftermath of disasters. The aims of this study were threefold: assess the extent of HIE; identify associations between family composition and a non-engagement with HIE; and examine the effects of HIE on attitudes toward healthcare among local cancer patients-5 years after the 2011 triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster) in Fukushima, Japan. We conducted self-administered surveys with all cancer and non-cancer surgery department outpatients at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital (MMGH), Minamisoma City, from October 2016 to January 2017. In total, 404 patients (263 cancer patients and 141 non-cancer patients) voluntarily participated in the study. The results revealed that a regular level of HIE occurred among 90.5% of the cancer patients. In cancer patients, family composition was not significantly associated with HIE, and HIE was not associated with attitude toward healthcare. In conclusion, most cancer patients visiting the MMGH surgical department were regularly engaged in HIE.


Subject(s)
Disasters , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Neoplasms , Attitude , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Japan , Neoplasms/therapy
5.
Sensors (Basel) ; 20(18)2020 Sep 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32957554

ABSTRACT

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication enhances the capability of autonomous driving through better safety, efficiency, and comfort. In particular, sensor data sharing, known as cooperative perception, is a crucial technique to accommodate vulnerable road users in a cooperative intelligent transport system (ITS). In this paper, we describe a roadside perception unit (RSPU) that combines sensors and roadside units (RSUs) for infrastructure-based cooperative perception. We propose a software called AutoC2X that we designed to realize cooperative perception for RSPUs and vehicles. We also propose the concept of networked RSPUs, which is the inter-connection of RSPUs along a road over a wired network, and helps realize broader cooperative perception. We evaluated the RSPU system and the networked RSPUs through a field test, numerical analysis, and simulation experiments. Field evaluation showed that, even in the worst case, our RSPU system can deliver messages to an autonomous vehicle within 100 ms. The simulation result shows that the proposed priority algorithm achieves a wide perception range with a high delivery ratio and low latency, especially under heavy road traffic conditions.

6.
J Occup Health ; 62(1): e12123, 2020 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32515901

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Limited information exists concerning occupational risks in decontamination work after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Workers involved tend to be migrant workers, face various health risks, and are usually from a low socioeconomic background and generally have difficulty in finding employment. We report a specific case to illustrate the way these workers tend to get injured during working hours and draw attention to the problems arising. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old Japanese male decontamination worker was referred to our emergency department after a fall while he was working in an Exclusion Zone surrounding the FDNPP. He was blind in his right eye. He was diagnosed with traumatic multiple rib fractures and a tube thoracostomy was performed. He was discharged from hospital after 7 days. Payment has been changed from "occupational accident," which is required to be reported to the Local Labor Standards Office, to "general medical treatment" which is no obligation. CONCLUSION: Trauma or physical injury of any kind is an occupational hazard for workers, especially those operating in the chaotic and unpredictable environments following any disasters. Companies employing such workers and owners of any facilities or locations in which they may be working are responsible for the safety of their workers. They should provide appropriate training and should comply with all prevailing Employment Laws and follow mandatory safety regulations. If companies and authorities are in breach of any laws, ignore their responsibilities, or jeopardize the health of their workers, they should be held accountable.


Subject(s)
Accidents, Occupational , Decontamination , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Hemopneumothorax/therapy , Rib Fractures/therapy , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Thoracostomy
7.
Int Urol Nephrol ; 52(8): 1581-1591, 2020 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32557375

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It has been reported that hyperuricemia causes vascular endothelial injury. Most hemodialysis patients present with hyperuricemia and also with vascular injury, resulting in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the association of serum uric acid (sUA) with vascular injury markers in hemodialysis patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this and discuss the mechanism by which uric acid causes vascular injury. METHODS: We enrolled 48 Japanese maintenance hemodialysis patients without any history of CVD. The association between sUA level and three vascular injury markers (reactive hyperemia index [RHI], ankle-brachial index [ABI], and cardio ankle vascular index [CAVI]) was investigated by linear- and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The median natural logarithm RHI (LnRHI) was 0.36. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between sUA level and LnRHI (ß = 0.42, p = 0.001) in all patients. Moreover, a significant, strongly positive correlation was observed between sUA and LnRHI in patients who were treated with xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) (ß = 0.75, p = 0.001). Further, the linear analysis showed a significant negative correlation between sUA level and CAVI in patients who were treated with XOIs (ß = - 0.52, p = 0.049). sUA level was not significantly associated with ABI abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that a high level of sUA is significantly associated with better vascular endothelial function and condition of vascular tone in hemodialysis patients who were treated with XOIs. The findings suggest a significant paradox between sUA level and vascular endothelial function in hemodialysis patients; however, the opposite has been reported in patients without hemodialysis.


Subject(s)
Renal Dialysis , Uric Acid/blood , Vascular Diseases/blood , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endothelium, Vascular/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Vascular Diseases/physiopathology
8.
Clin Breast Cancer ; 20(2): e127-e150, 2020 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31980405

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Minimizing the interval from symptom onset to treatment commencement is essential for a favorable outcome among breast cancer (BC) patients. This study examined whether provider interval (time elapsed from first consultation to treatment initiation) lengthened among BC patients after Japan's 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Factors associated with the length of postdisaster interval and whether the interval was associated with BC stage were also investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: So-so District (study site) was an area damaged by the 2011 disasters. Data of all BC patients who made their first medical consultation and received initial treatment at the core medical institutions in the area 5 years before or after the disaster were extracted from patient medical records. We used several regression approaches to fulfill our study objectives. RESULTS: We included 263 (140 predisaster and 123 postdisaster) patients. After adjustment for covariates, the interval did not significantly change after the disaster compared to before the disaster. Those with 4 or 5 cohabiting family members experienced a shorter interval after the disaster than those with 0 or 1 cohabiting family members (relative length, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.78). Those with an interval of > 60 days had lower odds of stage III or IV cancer after the disaster than those with an interval of < 30 days (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.84). CONCLUSION: Overall, provider interval did not lengthen after the disaster. However, those with fewer cohabiting family members might have experienced a longer total interval. Cancer stage may not necessarily reflect the influence of interval on patient outcome.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Disasters , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Delayed Diagnosis/statistics & numerical data , Earthquakes , Female , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Humans , Japan , Longitudinal Studies , Mass Screening/organization & administration , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/organization & administration , Retrospective Studies , Time Factors , Time-to-Treatment/statistics & numerical data , Tsunamis
9.
IJU Case Rep ; 3(4): 133-136, 2020 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33392472

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Calciphylaxis is characterized by marked vascular calcification and painful skin ulcers, and it has a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 72-year-old male. He was referred for penile pain. He had a 4-year history of dialysis therapy under a diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Black and yellow necrosis was observed involving the entire glans, accompanying severe pain. Computed tomography revealed marked calcification involving the thoracoabdominal aorta to iliac arteries, the dorsal artery of the penis and the corpus cavernosum, leading to a diagnosis of calciphylaxis. Penile pain gradually exacerbated and partial penectomy was performed. After surgery, penile pain promptly subsided. Pathological examination confirmed marked calcification of the microvascular wall and narrowing of the lumen. CONCLUSION: We reviewed 15 Japanese patients with calciphylaxis who had undergone penile surgery. Surgical treatment was considered to be effective at relieving penile pain, but the prognosis remained poor.

10.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 98(27): e16162, 2019 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31277119

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: The health vulnerability of certain populations such as children, the elderly and individuals with illnesses or physical disability can become significant in disasters. After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, significant health impacts on vulnerable populations were observed during early or mid-term phase of the disaster, presumably associated with the evacuation. However, there is limited information available on the health impacts owing to long-term evacuation after disaster among them. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 56-year-old physically challenged male with arteriovenous malformation on his right lower limb, diagnosed when he was 2 years' old, lived near the FDNPP. He and his family were forced to evacuate immediately after the accident. DIAGNOSIS: Three months after evacuation following the FDNPP accident, he developed a refractory foot ulcer associated with atrial fibrillation and congestive cardiac failure because of deterioration of arteriovenous malformation, presumably led by repeated evacuations. INTERVENTION: Although anticoagulation therapy and diuretic therapy improved his cardiac failure in the initial admission, he decided to only be treated with supportive care after revelation that his arteriovenous malformation was no longer eligible for aggressive intervention. OUTCOME: Three years after the long-term evacuation in temporary houses, the patient died of bleeding and infection of the ulcer. LESSONS: This case suggests that long-term evacuation for individuals with physical disability may lead to significant health impacts, and even premature death, through the deterioration of daily life activities due to physical and psychological burdens. This case presents a need for further research on ways that disasters impact the health of individuals with physical disabilities, and greater disaster preparation for the needs of populations with physical disabilities.


Subject(s)
Arteriovenous Malformations/complications , Foot Ulcer/complications , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Heart Failure/complications , Disabled Persons/psychology , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Lower Extremity , Male , Middle Aged , Mortality, Premature , Vulnerable Populations
11.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 96(46): e8721, 2017 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29145313

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: The primary setting of palliative care has shifted from inpatient care to patients' residences. Family caregiving is essential for patients with life-limiting illnesses to receive palliative care at home, however little information is available regarding potential interventions to achieve palliative homecare for those without sufficient support from family members in various settings, including disasters. PATIENT CONCERNS: In March 2011, Fukushima, Japan experienced an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. In August 2015, a 59-year-old Japanese female presented to our hospital, located 23 km north of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, with a right breast ulcer. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. INTERVENTIONS: The patient's general condition gradually worsened despite a one-year course of chemotherapy, and she became bedridden after a fall in October 2016. Although the patient wished to receive palliative homecare, this appeared challenging to achieve because she resided alone in a temporary housing shelter. Although she originally lived with her family in Odaka District, Fukushima, she relocated outside of the city following evacuation orders after the disaster. The evacuation orders for Odaka District were still in effect when she returned to the city alone in 2014. We contacted her sister who moved apart from her during the evacuation, and explained the necessity of family caregiving to enable her palliative homecare. OUTCOMES: The sister decided to move back to their original residence in Odaka District and live with the patient again. The patient successfully spent her end-of-life period and died at home. LESSONS: Health care providers and community health workers may need to take a pro-active approach to communicating with family members to draw informal support to enable patients' end-of-life management according to their values and preferences. This is a lesson which may be applicable to broader healthcare settings beyond cancer, or disaster contexts, considering that population ageing and social isolation may continue to advance worldwide.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Caregivers , Home Care Services , Palliative Care , Terminal Care , Female , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Humans , Japan , Middle Aged
12.
BMC Cancer ; 17(1): 423, 2017 Jun 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28629330

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little information is available concerning how patient delay may be affected by mass disasters. The main objectives of the present study are to identify whether there was a post-disaster increase in the risk of experiencing patient delay among breast cancer patients in an area affected by the 2011 triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan, and to elucidate factors associated with post-disaster patient delay. Sociodemographic factors (age, employment status, cohabitant status and evacuation status), health characteristics, and health access- and disaster-related factors were specifically considered. METHODS: Records of symptomatic breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2005 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed to calculate risk ratios (RRs) for patient delay in every year post-disaster compared with the pre-disaster baseline. Total and excessive patient delays were respectively defined as three months or more and twelve months or more from symptom recognition to first medical consultation. Logistic regression analysis was conducted for pre- and post-disaster patient delay in order to reveal any factors potentially associated with patient delay, and changes after the disaster. RESULTS: Two hundred nineteen breast cancer patients (122 pre-disaster and 97 post-disaster) were included. After adjustments for age, significant post-disaster increases in RRs of experiencing both total (RR: 1.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.02-2.70, p < 0.05) and excessive patient delay (RR: 4.49, 95% CI: 1.73-11.65, p < 0.01) were observed. The RRs for total patient delay peaked in the fourth year post-disaster, and significant increases in the risk of excessive patient delay were observed in the second, fourth, and fifth years post-disaster, with more than five times the risk observed pre-disaster. A family history of any cancer was the only factor significantly associated with total patient delay post-disaster (odds ratio: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15-0.95, p < 0.05), while there were no variables associated with delay pre-disaster. CONCLUSIONS: The triple disaster in Fukushima appears to have led to an increased risk of patient delay among breast cancer patients, and this trend has continued for five years following the disaster.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Disasters , Earthquakes , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Tsunamis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/etiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Japan/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/etiology , Stress, Psychological , Time Factors
13.
J Med Case Rep ; 11(1): 138, 2017 May 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28506309

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of social isolation in the elderly on their process of gaining health information and seeking health care. CASE PRESENTATION: In March 2011, Fukushima, Japan experienced an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, also known as Japan's triple disaster. In June 2016, an 80-year-old Japanese man, who lived alone after divorce at the age of 42, presented to our hospital with bloody stools and dizziness. Although his bloody stools initially occurred in May 2015, a year earlier, he did not pursue the possibility of malignancy. He was diagnosed as having stage IIIA rectal cancer. Detailed history taking revealed that he experienced social isolation after the disaster, due to the evacuation of his friends, losing his regular opportunities for socialization. He additionally reported that the current diagnosis of rectal cancer made him feel he had lost his health in addition to his social relationships. Although radical surgery was attempted, it failed to resect the lesion completely, and thereafter his disease gradually progressed. As support from family or friends was not available, he was not able to receive palliative radiation therapy or home-based care in his end-of-life period. He died at a long-term care facility in February 2017. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that intense social isolation after the Fukushima disaster was a likely contributor to the patient delay, poor treatment course, and poor outcome of an elderly patient with rectal cancer. Direct communication with family and friends may play an indispensable role in increasing health awareness and promoting health-seeking behaviors, and in the midst of social isolation, elderly patients with cancer may lose these opportunities and experience increased risk of patient delay. Although health care providers may be able to alleviate isolation-induced delay by promoting cancer knowledge and awareness widely among local residents, policy-led interventions at the community level may be essential to reducing social isolation and its health consequences.


Subject(s)
Delayed Diagnosis/adverse effects , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Rectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Social Isolation/psychology , Aged, 80 and over , Community Networks , Delivery of Health Care , Health Education , Health Promotion , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Japan , Male , Quality of Life , Rectal Neoplasms/psychology , Time Factors
14.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep ; 11(5): 545-551, 2017 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28270251

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Animals, including arthropods, are one health threat that can be affected by disasters. This institution-based study aimed to assess trends in Hymenoptera stings following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with hymenopteran stings who visited Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, located 23 km from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, from March 2005 to March 2016. Patient and sting characteristics of post-disaster patients were examined, and the annual incidence of hospital visits for hymenopteran stings was compared with the pre-disaster baseline, calculating an incidence rate ratio (IRR) for each year. RESULTS: We identified 152 pre-disaster patients (2005-2011) and 222 post-disaster patients (2011-2016). In the post-disaster period, 160 males (72.1%) were identified, with a median age of 59 years (range: 2-89 years). A total of 45 patients (20.3%) were decontamination workers. Post-disaster increases were found in the IRR for hymenopteran stings, peaking first in 2011 (IRR: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-4.2) and later in 2014 (IRR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.4-4.3) and 2015 (IRR 3.3; 95% CI: 2.5-4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term increases were found in the IRR of hospital visits for hymenopteran stings in an institution affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Decontamination workers appear to have been particularly affected by this phenomenon. Better disaster field worker monitoring and education about potential environmental health hazards may help to identify and prevent worker exposure to insect stings and other vectors in these settings. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:545-551).


Subject(s)
Decontamination/statistics & numerical data , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Insect Bites and Stings/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Decontamination/methods , Earthquakes/statistics & numerical data , Female , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Hospitalization/trends , Humans , Hymenoptera , Incidence , Insect Bites and Stings/classification , Insect Bites and Stings/epidemiology , Japan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies
15.
BMJ Open ; 6(12): e013885, 2016 12 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27974372

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and whether NCDs were treated or not, among hospitalised decontamination workers who moved to radio-contaminated areas after Japan's 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster. METHODS: We retrospectively extracted records of decontamination workers admitted to Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital between 1 June 2012 and 31 August 2015, from hospital records. We investigated the incidence of underlying NCDs such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes among the decontamination workers, and their treatment status, in addition to the reasons for their hospital admission. RESULTS: A total of 113 decontamination workers were admitted to the hospital (112 male patients, median age of 54 years (age range: 18-69 years)). In terms of the demographics of underlying NCDs in this population, 57 of 72 hypertensive patients (79.2%), 37 of 45 dyslipidaemic patients (82.2%) and 18 of 27 hyperglycaemic patients (66.7%) had not been treated for their NCDs before admission to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: A high burden of underlying NCDs was found in hospitalised decontamination workers in Fukushima. Managing underlying diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus is essential among this population.


Subject(s)
Decontamination , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Hospitalization , Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Health , Occupations , Transients and Migrants , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Disasters , Dyslipidemias/epidemiology , Hospitals , Humans , Hypertension/epidemiology , Japan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Work , Young Adult
16.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 95(26): e4027, 2016 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27368025

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer patients may present with patient delay or experience provider delay-2 factors which can lead to a late-stage diagnosis and poor prognosis. Mass disasters drastically change social structures, and have the potential to contribute to these delays. However, there is little information available on patient and provider delay related to cancer after disasters. In March 2011, an earthquake, followed by a tsunami and nuclear accident struck Fukushima, Japan. In July 2014, a 59 year-old Japanese widow, living alone, presented to our hospital with a lump and pain in her right breast, which had originally appeared in April 2011 and continuously deteriorated for 3 years and 3 months. She was diagnosed with stage IIIB right breast cancer. Detailed history revealed that she was exposed to social isolation in the aftermath of the disasters due to evacuation of her friends and daughter. Although she regularly saw her general practitioner, she did not disclose her breast symptoms for 1 year and 5 months, at which time she was falsely diagnosed with intercostal neuralgia. She did not seek further medical attention for the breast symptoms for another 1 year and 10 months, despite multiple clinic visits for unrelated reasons. The present disasters, particularly the nuclear disaster, seem to have led to the social isolation of local residents, reducing their opportunities to discuss health concerns with others and seek subsequent medical attention.This case highlights that social isolation may contribute to patient and provider delay in breast cancer patients, as accentuated in this disaster setting.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Disasters , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Social Isolation , Delayed Diagnosis , Female , Humans , Japan , Middle Aged , Time Factors
17.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 95(20): e3683, 2016 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27196476

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures represent a substantial health burden, and predominantly affect the elderly. Younger generations may also develop these conditions because of various predisposing conditions, including primary hyperparathyroidism. However, little information is available regarding early skeletal manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism.A 30-year-old Japanese male presented with pain in his left wrist, and was diagnosed with a distal radius fracture. During surgery, we noticed decreased bone strength of the fracture site. Further investigation found osteoporosis and primary hyperparathyroidism owing to a solitary parathyroid adenoma, which was resected without significant complications. History revealed that the patient suffered a metacarpal bone fracture of his right fifth bone 6 months earlier. Although serial x-rays at that time had shown rapidly developed cortical bone erosion around the fractured finger, the possibility of primary hyperparathyroidism was overlooked because of poor awareness of the condition, leading to a 6-month delay in the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism.Clinicians should be aware that finger fractures may be an early skeletal manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism that can help achieve a prompt diagnosis of the condition, especially when they occur in young adults in the absence of major trauma.


Subject(s)
Adenoma/complications , Hyperparathyroidism, Primary/etiology , Metacarpal Bones/injuries , Osteoporosis/etiology , Osteoporotic Fractures/etiology , Parathyroid Neoplasms/complications , Absorptiometry, Photon , Adenoma/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Humans , Male , Metacarpal Bones/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporotic Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Parathyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Radionuclide Imaging , Radius Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Radius Fractures/etiology , Recurrence , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
19.
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho ; 43(12): 1836-1838, 2016 Nov.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28133148

ABSTRACT

Intraabdominal tumors can cause umbilical hernia and may lead to serious consequences, such as incarcerated or necrotized intestine. However, little information is available concerning how the location and characteristics of tumors may affect the process of umbilical hernia development. A 46-year-old Japanese man presented at the department of surgery with abdominal pain and abdominal retention, which appeared on the day of presentation and 4 years before the presentation, respectively. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a suspected gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)and an umbilical hernia close to the tumor, both of which were clinically diagnosed. Surgical tumor resection and hernia repair were conducted successfully. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with high-risk GIST. Adjuvant therapy with imatinib was administered with no recurrence as of 1 year post-surgery. This is a case of GIST complicated by umbilical hernia. Small solid tumors may cause umbilical hernia if they are in close proximity to vulnerable parts of the abdominal wall.


Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/diagnostic imaging , Hernia, Umbilical/diagnostic imaging , Jejunal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/complications , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/surgery , Hernia, Umbilical/etiology , Hernia, Umbilical/surgery , Humans , Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use , Jejunal Neoplasms/complications , Jejunal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Jejunal Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
20.
World J Gastroenterol ; 21(33): 9817-21, 2015 Sep 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26361430

ABSTRACT

An appendiceal neurofibroma (ANF) is a rare neoplasm associated with neurofibromatosis type 1(NF-1), an inheritable neurocutaneous disorder that involves multiple systems including the intraabdominal organs. Appendiceal diverticulitis occasionally ruptures in the absence of intense abdominal pain, which can lead to serious consequences. Recent reports highlight the association between appendiceal diverticulum and appendiceal neoplasms; however, there is still little information on the association between appendiceal diverticulitis and ANF in NF-1. A 51-year-old Japanese male with NF-1 was referred to the division of surgery for mild right lower quadrant pain. It was suspected he had perforated acute appendicitis with periappendiceal abscess based on clinical manifestations and findings of computed tomography. An emergency appendectomy was conducted. The pathological examination revealed diffusely proliferated tumor cells of a neurofibroma, coexistent with multiple appendiceal diverticulums, leading to the diagnosis of perforated appendiceal diverticulitis associated with ANF. Although he developed a remnant abscess, he recovered with the conservative treatments of antibiotics and drainage. This case suggests that appendiceal diverticulitis might be a complication of appendiceal involvement of NF-1, and that it occasionally ruptures in the absence of intense abdominal pain. Clinicians should recognize that NF-1 can cause various abdominal manifestations.


Subject(s)
Appendiceal Neoplasms/complications , Diverticulitis/etiology , Neurofibromatosis 1/complications , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Appendectomy , Appendiceal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Appendiceal Neoplasms/therapy , Biopsy , Diverticulitis/diagnosis , Diverticulitis/therapy , Drainage , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurofibromatosis 1/diagnosis , Neurofibromatosis 1/therapy , Rupture, Spontaneous , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome
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