Investigation of the key determinants of Asian nurses' quality of life.

The study aimed to compare nurses' quality of life and investigate key determinants among Asian countries with different economic status. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across five Asian countries (Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Bhutan). Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), job stress (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health questionnaire), and demographic data were assessed.

Impact of work-life imbalance on job satisfaction and quality of life among hospital nurses in Japan.

This study investigated the status of work-life imbalance among hospital nurses in Japan and impact of work-life imbalance on job satisfaction and quality of life. A cross-sectional survey of 1,202 nurses (81% response rate) was conducted in three Japanese acute care hospitals. Participants were divided into four groups for actual work-life balance (Group A: 50/50, including other lower working proportion groups [e.

Pigmentary complication of the peristomal skin in colorectal cancer patients under systemic chemotherapy using S-1: report of cases.

Purpose: This study describes hyperpigmentation at the epidermis around a colostomy during and after systemic chemotherapy with S-1 (a compound of tegaful, gimestat, and potassium oxonate).

Subjects And Setting: Thirty-one colorectal cancer patients (male 17, female 14) visited the stoma-care clinic, akita university hospital between april 2003 and march 2006. fourteen patients (male 8, female 6) had been observed continuously for more than 3 months.

A case report of pediatric fulminant hepatitis treated with plasma diafiltration.

Plasma diafiltration (PDF) is blood purification therapy in which simple plasma exchange is performed with a membrane plasma separator while dialysate flows outside the hollow fibers. A 14-year-old boy with fulminant hepatitis underwent two sessions of PDF and one session of hemodiafiltration. We infused filtered replacement fluid for artificial kidneys at a dialysate flow rate of 600 mL/h and a replacement flow rate of 450 mL/h.

Study of safe usage of high-flow three-way stopcocks in a blood circuit.

To examine the safety of using a high-flow three-way stopcock in a blood circuit during extracorporeal blood purification therapy, we studied the risk of development of hemolysis and clot formation in both ex vivo and in vivo extracorporeal circulation. In the ex vivo study, no significant difference was observed in the decrease in hematocrit (HCT) or increase in the potassium level between the three-way stopcock group and the control group. Nor was there a significant difference in the change in inlet pressure between the two groups.

Combining continuous endotoxin apheresis and continuous hemodiafiltration in the treatment of patients with septic multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

When septic multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) occurs as a result of endotoxemia, diverse chemical mediators are excessively produced, and the patient becomes seriously ill. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to improve the patient's condition by endotoxin apheresis alone and hemodiafiltration should be carried out to remove excessive chemical mediators. Series-parallel treatment combining continuous endotoxin apheresis and hemodiafiltration is recommended for patients with septic MODS.

Effectiveness of combining plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration in patients with postoperative liver failure.

Nine patients with postoperative liver failure were treated with plasma exchange (PE) or PE and continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF), and various biochemical parameters were determined before and after treatment. Although citrate levels increased significantly after treatment compared with pretreatment levels in both the PE group and the PE + CHDF group (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.

Treatment of multiple organ failure through sepsis by surgery and blood purification.

For the treatment of multiple organ failure (MOF) through sepsis, we have commonly applied various blood purification modalities during the perioperative period. From January 1996 to December 2000, 33 patients with MOF through sepsis were admitted and operated on in the First Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, and 21 of these 33 patients were treated using various blood purification modalities during the perioperative period: endotoxin-adsorbing therapy using polymyxin B (PMX) in 17 patients, continuous hemofiltration (CHF)/continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) in 15 patients, and plasma exchange (PE) and CHDF in 3 patients. Of the outcome of these 33 patients with MOF through sepsis, 17 survived and 16 died (48% mortality).

Role of positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose in evaluating the effects of arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiotherapy on pancreatic cancer.

Background: This study evaluated the usefulness of positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG-PET) in monitoring the response to continuous arterial infusion chemotherapy (CAI) combined with external radiation therapy (ERT) for unresectable pancreatic carcinomas.

Methods: Ten patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. Computed tomography (CT) and FDG-PET were done before and after CAI (5-fluorouracil [FU], 500 mg/body per day) combined with ERT (50.

Positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F] fluoro- d-glucose for diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas with parenchymal invasion.

We used positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro- d-glucose (FDG-PET) in the diagnosis of two cases of malignant intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas. A 56-year-old man and a 72-year-old man, both with tumors in the pancreatic head, were referred to Akita University Medical Center. Computed tomography revealed tumors with multiple cystic components in both patients.

Outcomes and indications of segmental pancreatectomy. Comparison with distal pancreatectomy.

Background/aim: To preserve pancreatic function, segmental pancreatectomy has been proposed for benign or low-malignancy tumors in the pancreatic body. Indications for the procedure, however, are still controversial.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the advantages and disadvantages of segmental pancreatectomy compared with distal pancreatectomy and subsequently determined indications for segmental pancreatectomy.

Efficacy of continuous infusion of prostaglandin E1 through the superior mesenteric artery against ischemic liver cell necrosis after hepatic artery occlusion.

Background: Hepatic artery occlusion (HAO) can cause severe ischemic liver injury, especially after an interruption of collateral circulation after extensive hepatobiliary surgery. To minimize a decrease in oxygen delivery after HAO, a continuous infusion of prostaglandin (PG)E1 through the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was studied in comparison with other infusion routes.

Methods: Twenty-four pigs were assigned to four groups: HAO without PGE1 (control group); HAO with PGE1 (0.

Treatment for postoperative liver failure after major hepatectomy under hepatic total vascular exclusion.

Hepatic total vascular exclusion (HTVE) with clamping of the portal triad and the inferior vena cava below and above the liver is a useful technique in the resection of major hepatic lesions situated close to the hepatic veins and inferior vena cava. From 1996 to 2000, five patients underwent major hepatectomy under HTVE; among these, liver failure occurred in two patients because of liver cirrhosis or hepatic artery interruption. In the former case, apheresis therapy (plasma exchange: 9 times), continuous prostaglandin E, (PGE,) infusion via the hepatic artery(0.

Two cases of hepatic artery interruption after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery treated by prostaglandin E(1) infusion via the superior mesenteric artery.

In two cases of hepatic arterial flow interruption after hepatopancreatic surgery, continuous PGE(1) infusion from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was applied to oxygenate the liver through the portal vein. Case 1 was a 69-year-old woman with a non-functioning islet cell tumor of the pancreas. She underwent pancreatic resection following hepatic arterial infusion of anticancer drugs.

Jejunal varix with extrahepatic portal obstruction treated by embolization using interventional radiology: report of a case.

We report a case of relapsing jejunal varix with extrahepatic portal obstruction, which was successfully treated by embolization using interventional radiology. A 79-year-old woman suffered repeated episodes of tarry stools 2 years after undergoing jejunal resection for a jejunal varix. The bleeding point was inferred to be in the small intestine, and abdominal angiography revealed extrahepatic portal obstruction and the development of a jejunal varix around the hepaticojejunostomy.

Cytokine removal by plasma exchange with continuous hemodiafiltration in critically ill patients.

The effectiveness of plasma exchange (PE) with continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) in the treatment of critically ill patients was evaluated based on changes in cytokine levels. Twenty-six patients with acute hepatic failure were treated with PE (PE group) or PE and CHDF (PE+CHDF group), and the levels of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were determined before and after treatment. Bilirubin levels were significantly lower after treatment in both the PE and PE+CHDF groups.

Management of pancreatic mass accompanying chronic pancreatitis.

We report two patients with focal, chronic pancreatitis that was diagnosed by dynamic computed tomography (CT) combined with intraoperative biopsy. In case 1, serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level rose to 160 U/ml. Abdominal ultrasonography, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass, of 4.

Uptake of indocyanine green by hepatocytes under inflow occlusion of the liver.

Background: It is not clear that hepatic venous backflow actually contributes to hepatic tissue oxygenation under inflow occlusion of the liver. In order to prove that substances delivered via the hepatic vein can be utilized and/or metabolized in hepatocytes during inflow occlusion, hepatic uptake in bile and excretion of indocyanine green (ICG) were investigated in pigs.

Materials And Methods: Animals were divided into two groups: an inflow occlusion (IO) group (N = 6) and a total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) group (N = 3) using a bypass.

Regional and general effects of hepatic lobes with impaired blood flow after hepatic resection.

Background/aims: In hepatic surgery, blood flow to some parts of the liver may become impaired. At present, no consensus has been reached on ways to treat such affected parts of the liver with impaired blood supply.

Methodology: After the ligation of branches of rat's hepatic artery and/or portal vein, the ligated and non-ligated lobes were studied at fixed intervals up to 84 days.

Continuous arterial infusion of prostaglandin E(1) via the superior mesenteric artery in the treatment of postoperative liver failure.

Impaired hepatic blood flow is one of the causative factors in postoperative liver failure. To restore the hepatic blood flow in case of hepatic artery interruption (HAI), the effect of continuous arterial infusion of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)), which has a strong vasodilatory effect on vascular smooth muscles, was assessed experimentally and clinically. Twelve pigs underwent ligation and division of the hepatic artery and were divided into 2 groups.