Usefulness of Self-Selected Scenarios for Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment Method Using Virtual Reality.

Background: Repeated triage training is necessary to maintain and improve the accuracy of simple triage and rapid treatment (START), a popular triage method. Virtual reality (VR) may be more effective than conventional training methods. This study aimed to verify the educational usefulness of START using VR originally developed for students.

A Study on Points of Respiratory Assist Devices Using in Pre-Hospital Care Respiratory Assist Devices in Pre-Hospital Care.

Background: In Japan, increasing the number of ambulance requests, the case with the use of respiratory assistance devices in prehospital care by paramedics is also increasing. When patient experiences respiratory failure, the first responders frequently select a respiratory assist device (RAD) such as Bag Valve Mask (BVM), Jackson Rees (JR), or BVM with Gas Supply Valve (BVM+GSV). This is based on both evaluation and experience as there is no study indicating which RAD is the best choice at the pre-hospital emergency site.

Accuracy of breathing and radial pulse assessment by non-medical persons: an observational cross-sectional study.

Early recognition of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) expedites emergency calls and resuscitation and improves the survival rate of unresponsive individuals. However, the accuracy of breathing and radial artery pulse assessment by non-medical persons is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of breathing assessment and radial pulse palpation among 450 non-medical personnel using a high-fidelity simulator.

Evaluation of outcomes after EMS-witnessed traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by traffic collisions.

Aim: The survival rate of patients with traumatic cardiac arrest is 3% or lower. Cardiac arrest witnessed by emergency medical services (EMS) accounts for approximately 16% of prehospital traumatic cardiac arrests, but the prognosis is unknown. We aimed to compare the 1-month survival rate of cardiac arrest witnessed by EMS with that of cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders and unwitnessed cardiac arrest in traffic trauma victims; further, the time from injury to cardiac arrest was assessed.

Wearing a face mask during controlled-intensity exercise is not a risk factor for exertional heatstroke: A pilot study.

Aim: This study aimed to measure the influence of wearing face masks on individuals' physical status in a hot and humid environment.

Methods: Each participant experienced different physical situations: (i) not wearing a mask (control), (ii) wearing a surgical mask, (iii) wearing a sport mask. An ingestible capsule thermometer was used to measure internal core body temperature during different exercises (standing, walking, and running, each for 20 min) in an artificial weather room with the internal wet-bulb globe temperature set at 28°C.

Cancer detection by ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 methylation in pancreatobiliary fluids.

Aim: To evaluate the utility of measuring epigenetic alterations in pancreatic and biliary fluids in determining molecular markers for pancreatobiliary cancers.

Methods: DNA was extracted from undiluted pancreatic and biliary fluids. As a surrogate for a genome-wide hypomethylation assay, levels of long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) methylation were analyzed using bisulfite pyrosequencing.

Alterations in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-v-Akt pathway in gastric cancer.

Aim: To investigate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-v-Akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog signaling pathway.

Methods: We analyzed 231 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded gastric cancer tissue specimens from Japanese patients who had undergone surgical treatment. The patients' age, sex, tumor location, depth of invasion, pathological type, lymph node metastasis, and pathological stage were determined by a review of the medical records.

Co-expression of laminin β3 and γ2 chains and epigenetic inactivation of laminin α3 chain in gastric cancer.

Laminin-332 (LM-332, formerly termed laminin-5) is a heterotrimeric glycoprotein that regulates cell adhesion and migration. Molecular alterations of LM-332 are involved in cancer progression. The aim of this study was to clarify alterations of LM-332 in gastric carcinoma.

Epigenetic inactivation of calcium-sensing receptor in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Ca2+ is a chemopreventive agent for colon cancer. Ion transport systems are often altered in human cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the alterations of calcium-sensing receptor (CASR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Absolute quantitation of myocardial blood flow with (201)Tl and dynamic SPECT in canine: optimisation and validation of kinetic modelling.

Purpose: 201Tl has been extensively used for myocardial perfusion and viability assessment. Unlike 99mTc-labelled agents, such as 99mTc-sestamibi and 99mTc-tetrofosmine, the regional concentration of 201Tl varies with time. This study is intended to validate a kinetic modelling approach for in vivo quantitative estimation of regional myocardial blood flow (MBF) and volume of distribution of 201Tl using dynamic SPECT.

Quantitative mapping of basal and vasareactive cerebral blood flow using split-dose 123I-iodoamphetamine and single photon emission computed tomography.

A new method has been developed for diffusible tracers, to quantify CBF at rest and after pharmacological stress from a single session of dynamic scans with dual bolus administration of a radiotracer. The calculation process consisted of three steps, including the procedures of incorporating background radioactivity contaminated from the previous scan. Feasibility of this approach was tested on clinical SPECT studies on 16 subjects.

[Estimation and optimization of the use of standard arterial input function for split-dose administration of N-isopropyl-p[123I]iodoamphetamine].

Unlabelled: Use of a standard arterial input function and calibrating it by a single blood sample or a continuous arterial blood sample has been researched for a repeat CBF assessment with split-dose administration of N-isopropyl-p[123I]iodoamphetamine (IMP).

Methods: The study population consisted of 5 normal volunteers and 5 patients with cerebrovascular disease. IMP was injected twice (111 MBq/2 ml each) into the anti-cubital vein at a constant infusion speed for 1 min.