Pembrolizumab response in stage IV luminal-type breast cancer with high microsatellite instability: a case report.

Background: Pembrolizumab (PEM), an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), is often used for triple-negative breast cancer, but can also be used to treat solid tumors that exhibit high microsatellite instability (MSI-High). However, patients with breast cancer rarely have MSI-High, the use of PEM in such cases in clinical practice is uncertain due to lack of sufficient supporting data. Here, we report the case of a premenopausal woman in who received PEM for MSI-High luminal-type breast cancer.

How did COVID-19 impact development assistance for health? - The trend for country-specific disbursement between 2015 and 2020.

This study aimed to examine the changes that took place between 2015-2019 and 2020 and reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic affected financial contributions from donors. We used the Creditor Reporting System database of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to investigate donor disbursement. Focusing on the Group of Seven (G7) countries and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), we analyzed their development assistance for health (DAH) in 2020 and the change in their disbursement between 2015 and 2020.

Feasibility, accuracy and acceptability of self-sampled human papillomavirus testing using careHPV in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is a potential option for cervical cancer screening, but research is scarce in Cambodia. We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy, and acceptability of self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including women aged 20-49 years attending 2 national hospitals in the capital city was conducted.

International cooperation for nursing human resource development in Lao PDR: Investing in nursing leadership.

Strengthening nursing leadership in health systems has been identified as a priority for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). We aimed to analyse the characteristics of Japanese technical assistance projects for nursing human resource development in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and suggest directions for future assistance. An upgrading program, as part of human resource development, was initiated in the 1990s; it has contributed to the development of nursing leaders.

Medium-term outcomes of a program to upgrade the nursing faculty in Cambodia: A qualitative study.

Continuous professional development is important for improving professional competencies, such as cognitive knowledge, technical skills, behaviors, and attitudes. Trainees who complete training programs can have a positive influence on their workplaces. However, it is challenging to establish a process that can facilitate individual learning and help achieve training outcomes in educational and clinical workplaces.

Response-Guided Omission of Anthracycline in Patients with HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Taxane and Trastuzumab: 5-Year Follow-Up of Prognostic Study Using Propensity Score Matching.

Background: De-escalation therapy omitting anthracycline has been generally adopted for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early breast cancer in the adjuvant setting, but not in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) setting. We investigated whether anthracycline can be omitted in HER2-positive early breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant taxane plus trastuzumab with clinical response.

Methods: HER2-positive primary breast cancer patients treated using NAC containing trastuzumab were enrolled between September 2006 and July 2018 at Osaka Breast Clinic.

A Review of the Implementation Status of and National Plans on HPV Vaccination in 17 Middle-Income Countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region.

The World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region is responsible for one-fourth of the global cervical cancer burden, and nearly 90% of that burden is concentrated in middle-income countries (MICs). Applying a conceptual model of implementation of population-based interventions, we synthesized the current implementation status of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and national plans that form the basis of its implementation in 17 MICs. We gathered information from a range of governmental documents, published studies, and global databases.

The current situation of health services for hydatidiform mole in Cambodia.

Aim: Management of hydatidiform mole is important to reduce the mortality and morbidity of choriocarcinoma. This study aims to understand the existing health services for hydatidiform mole and to estimate the incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in Cambodia.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to collect information on the existing health services for pregnancy and hydatidiform mole at health facilities from attendants of the 16th Annual Conference of the Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2017.

Japanese WHO Collaborating Centres (WHO CCs) fight against COVID-19.

WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) organized an online meeting connecting WHO Collaborating Centres (WHO CCs) in the region on 25 August 2020, to share experiences and promote networking on COVID-19 response. The meeting shared regional update on situation and responses, and COVID-19 related experiences of selected WHO CCs, followed by discussions on opportunities for enhancing collaboration between WPRO and WHO CCs. Priorities of WPROs support to countries included a health systems approach rather than single intervention.

Enhancing the use of computed tomography and cardiac catheterization angiography in Zambia: A project report on a global extension of medical technology in Japan.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in adults in Zambia among the non-communicable diseases. The Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Health procured Japanese radiological systems, computed tomography, and angiography for the University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs) - Adult in 2015. However, the operation of these diagnostic systems has not been optimal due to lack of a proper maintenance service plan, lack of competent health professionals, and erratic supply of medical consumables.

What is the current status of Japan's efforts to meet global goals and targets to eliminate cervical cancer?

Following the global call to action by the World Health Organization (WHO), the world is currently moving to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. To eliminate the cancer within this century, which is defined as an age-adjusted cervical cancer incidence rate (ASIR) below 4 per 100,000 women, WHO recommends all countries to achieve "90-70-90" targets for human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and treatment of precancer and cancer by 2030. In Japan, ASIR has been rising since the late 1990s to 11.

Business models for sustainable development: Projects of global extension of medical technologies of Japan.

Japan has been implementing projects of global extension of medical technologies under an official development assistance policy to improve public health and medicine by promoting Japanese medical technologies worldwide. The current work examines the impact and goals of implementing this new scheme. The scheme has involved dozens of projects that sent Japanese experts to partner countries and that invited their counterparts to Japan to showcase Japanese medical technologies.

Sustainable implementation of international health cooperation projects while Japanese technical experts cannot go to low- and middle-income countries because of the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese technical experts who have been supporting health in low-and middle- income countries (LMICs) are facing unprecedented travel restrictions. As of 11 April 2020, of 195 countries Japan has diplomatic relationship with, 181 countries have entry restrictions and 69 countries have post-entry movement restrictions (self-quarantine) for Japanese nationals or travellers from Japan. In order for technical experts to assist LMICs technically from Japan to meet the increased demand and needs in the health sector due to COVID-19, it is important to prioritize and reorganize the project activities in accordance with the local situation in particular to address three challenges ) to communicate from Japan; ) to prioritize activities to match to the increased COVID-19 related tasks; and ) to advocate health workers' rights and working environment.

Can we apply lessons learned from Ebola experience in West Africa for COVID-19 in lower income countries?

The COVID-19 affects vulnerable groups disproportionally in a society where inequities are long-standing issue. Weak health system, especially the shortage and maldistribution of capable health workforce will be the main challenge in lower income countries to fight against the COVID-19. Applying the lesson learned and success from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is important.

The cooperation between professional societies contributes to the capacity building and system development for prevention and control of cancer in low- and middle-income countries: the practice of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Project in Cambodia.

Globally, an estimated 570,000 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 311,000 women die every year, with approximately 90% of the cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women in Cambodia, with age-standard incidence rate of 13.5/100,000 and mortality rate of 10.

How can we strengthen pathology services in Cambodia?

Rapid economic growth and a changing disease burden have increased the demand for pathology services in Cambodia. This paper describes the status of pathological services and international support for pathology professionals in Cambodia, and discusses future needs for strengthening pathology services. In 2016, there were only four pathologists and 18 pathology technologists in Cambodia.

"Staying at home" to tackle COVID-19 pandemic: rhetoric or reality? Cross-cutting analysis of nine population groups vulnerable to homelessness in Japan.

Although the "stay-at-home" order is advocated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the lives of individuals lacking adequate housing are threatened. We developed a framework to assess various populations with unstable housing in terms of socio-economic consequences of COVID-19, risk of COVID-19 infection and progression, existing/urgent measures, and remaining challenges. Within the framework, nine groups vulnerable to homelessness in Japan were classified into (i) "people without accommodation," (ii) "people living in temporary or crisis accommodation," and (iii) populations that include "people living in severely inadequate and insecure accommodation.

Prognostic Factors in HER2-Positive Primary Breast Cancer Patients Treated Using Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Trastuzumab.

Background: It is unclear for whom new anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (anti-HER2) agents, such as pertuzumab and T-DM1, should be considered. We investigated prognostic factors before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among HER2-positive invasive breast cancer patients and those after NAC among patients who did not achieve pathological complete response (pCR) using conventional adjuvant trastuzumab.

Methods: HER2-positive primary breast cancer patients treated using NAC containing trastuzumab were enrolled between September 2006 and June 2017 at the Osaka Breast Clinic.

Regulation of nursing professionals in Cambodia and Vietnam: a review of the evolution and key influences.

Background: In 2006, the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) in relation to nursing services in the region. This agreement was part of a set of policies to promote the free flow of skilled labor among ASEAN members and required mutually acceptable professional regulatory frameworks. This paper presents a narrative review of the literature to (1) describe progress in the development of the regulatory framework for nursing professionals in Cambodia and Vietnam since 2000 and (2) identify key factors, including the MRA, that affect these processes.

For more than money: willingness of health professionals to stay in remote Senegal.

Background: Poor distribution of already inadequate numbers of health professionals seriously constrains equitable access to health services in low- and middle-income countries. The Senegalese Government is currently developing policy to encourage health professionals to remain in areas defined as 'difficult'. Understanding health professional's preferences is crucial for this policy development.

Development and evaluation of a cervical cancer screening system in Cambodia: A collaborative project of the Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Aim: In Cambodia, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics have an on-going project, started in 2015, for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. The project, currently aimed at factory workers, includes a women's health education program that leads into cervical cancer prevention by establishment of a system for early detection and treatment. It begins by health education, screening for human papillomavirus (HPV), followed by colposcopy and quicker treatment of earlier precursor lesions.

Retention of qualified healthcare workers in rural Senegal: lessons learned from a qualitative study.

Introduction: Deployment and retention of a sufficient number of skilled and motivated human resources for health (HRH) at the right place and at the right time are critical to ensure people's right to access a universal quality of health care. Vision Tokyo 2010 Network, an international network of HRH managers at the ministry of health (MoH) level in nine Francophone African countries, identified maldistribution of a limited number of healthcare personnel and their retention in rural areas as overarching problems in the member countries. The network conducted this study in Senegal to identify the determining factors for the retention of qualified HRH in rural areas, and to explore an effective and feasible policy that the MoH could implement in the member countries.

The evolution of the national licensing system of health care professionals: a qualitative descriptive case study in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Background: The introduction of a systematic framework for the licensing of health care professions, which is a crucial step in ensuring the quality of human resources for health (HRH), is still evolving in Lao People's Democraic Republic. The aim of this study was to review and document the evolution of Lao HRH policies and the development of its national licensing system.

Case Presentation: A qualitative descriptive case study methodology was applied to document and describe how Lao People's Democratic Republic laid the foundation for the development of a licensing system.

The Role of a Network of Human Resources for Health Managers in Supporting Leadership for Health Systems Strengthening in Francophone African Countries.

This article presents the Vision Tokyo 2010 Network, a unique model of peer learning and information sharing among human resources for health (HRH) managers in Francophone African countries. It describes the network's origins, achievements, and factors underlying its success. The network's origins lie in an overseas training program in Tokyo between 2010 and 2014.