Fukui University Research Articles

RECURRENT AND VIRTUAL EDUCATION FOR ALL DISCIPLINES AND OCCUPATIONS IN THE ALLERGY REALM : A SURVEY OF THE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE INITIATIVE 'OUTREACH LECTURES' TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

In the enhancement of allergy care involving multidisciplinary and multiple medical departments, there is a perceived need for education that targets not only specialists but also non-specialists. However, research on the need for and methods of such education remains inadequate. To design a remote allergy care education program for all medical practitioners and to validate its necessity and utility. The Empowering Next Generation Allergist/immunologist toward Global Excellence Task Force (ENGAGE-TF), supported by the Japanese Society of Allergology, initiated a virtual educational program called 'Outreach Lectures' in collaboration with Keio University and Fukui University. This initiative was widely promoted through social media and various institutions, and a survey was conducted through its mailing list. 1139 responses were obtained. More than half were physicians from non-allergy specialties, representing a diverse range of healthcare professions. Over 70% expressed being 'very satisfied,' and over 60% found the difficulty level 'appropriate.' Free-form feedback revealed differences in learning focus based on profession and learning approach based on years of experience. The high participation rate (90%) of non-specialist physicians underscores the demand for addressing allergic conditions in primary care. The effectiveness of virtual / recurrent education, particularly for healthcare professionals with over 11 years of experience, was implied. Further follow-up investigation focusing on quantitative and objective assessment of educational effectiveness is indispensable.

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) with immunocytochemical staining improves fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) performance for salivary gland tumors

BackgroundLiquid-based cytology (LBC), now used globally for the head and neck region, has been used at our hospital since 2011. This study was designed to analyze the efficacy of LBC with immunocytochemical staining on preoperative diagnosis of salivary gland tumors. MethodsThis retrospective analysis of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) performance for salivary gland tumors was conducted at Fukui University Hospital. Salivary gland tumor operations conducted during April 2006 – December 2010 (84 cases) were classified as the Conventional Smear (CS) group, which were diagnosed morphologically by Papanicolaou and Giemsa staining. Those done during January 2012 – April 2017 (112 cases) were classified as the LBC group, which were diagnosed using LBC samples with immunocytochemical staining. The FNA results and pathological diagnosis of both groups were analyzed to calculate the FNA performance. ResultsCompared to the CS group, cases of inadequate and indeterminate FNA sample were not reduced significantly by LBC with immunocytochemical staining. As for FNA performance, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of CS group were, respectively, 88.7%, 53.3%, 100%, 100%, and 87.0%. Those of LBC group were all 100%, representing significant improvement over the CS group. ConclusionsAnalysis results indicated the usefulness of LBC with immunocytochemical staining for preoperative diagnosis of salivary gland tumors.

Fatigue in patients with cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy: a prospective two-center study

BackgroundCancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer. However, CRF has not been sufficiently evaluated as it involves various factors. In this study, we evaluated fatigue in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy in an outpatient setting.MethodsPatients with cancer receiving chemotherapy at the outpatient treatment center of Fukui University Hospital and Saitama Medical University Medical Center Outpatient Chemotherapy Center were included. The survey period was from March 2020 to June 2020. The frequency of occurrence, time, degree, and related factors were examined. All patients were asked to fill out the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised Japanese version (ESAS-r-J) questionnaire, which is a self-administered rating scale, and patients with ESAS-r-J “Tiredness” scores of ≥ 3 were evaluated for factors related to tiredness, such as age, sex, weight, and laboratory parameters.ResultsA total of 608 patients were enrolled in this study. Fatigue after chemotherapy occurred in 71.0% of patients. ESAS-r-J “Tiredness” scores of ≥ 3 were observed in 20.4% of patients. The factors related to CRF were low hemoglobin level and high C-reactive protein level.ConclusionsTwenty percent of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy on an outpatient basis had moderate or severe CRF. Patients with anemia and inflammation are at increased risk of developing fatigue after cancer chemotherapy.

Study on dye molecules immobilised on the surface of titanium dioxide by a silane coupling agent

Dr Tatsuya Takeshita heads up a group of researchers at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Food Science, Fukui University of Technology, Japan, that is working to enhance the photocatalysts, which can accelerate chemical reactions and are therefore an important component in the production and development of solar cells. Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising means of creating solar cells. In a study that could improve the photocatalytic activity of dye-sensitised titanium dioxide (TiO2) and/or photovoltaic conversion efficiency of DSSCs, the researchers are looking at the surface modification of TiO2 by using silane coupling agents (SCAs). It is known that the SCAs adsorbed onto the inorganic materials form highly oriented self-assembled monolayers (SAM) and Takeshita and the team believe the orientation of organic dyes can be controlled along the SAM when binding the organic dyes to SCA-based SAM on the TiO2 surface. This would then mean that orientation control of organic dyes on the TiO2 by using SCAs could be applied to dye-sensitised TiO2 catalysts and DSSCs. The researchers believe that by preventing dye aggregation and back electron transfer, the photocatalytic activity of dye-sensitised TiO2 and/or photovoltaic conversion efficiency of DSSCs will be improved.

Fukui University of Technology, Department of Applied Nuclear Technology, Mishima Laboratory

Fukui University of Technology, Department of Applied Nuclear Technology, Mishima Laboratory

Long-Term Prevalence of Disaster-Related Deep Vein Thrombosis in Minamiaso Village After the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among evacuees in Minamiaso, a village which was temporarily isolated after the earthquakes, from the acute to recovery phase after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes (GLIDE no: EQ-2016-000033-JPN). This prospective study, which was approved by Fukui University Medical Research Ethics Committee (approval no. 20160024 and 20160089), enrolled 181 evacuees (73.9 ± 11.6 y) who participated in a series of 3 DVT screenings using portable ultrasound machines conducted over 19 mo. All participants completed a questionnaire before the screenings, and none of the participants attended all 3 screenings. Data analysis was performed using EZR version 1.41. The DVT prevalence was 14.3% (79.4 ± 8.2 y) at first screening of evacuees staying in shelters and 18.5% (71.5 ± 13.1 y) and 12.2% (72.8 ± 10.9 y) in second and third screenings of evacuees staying in temporary housing, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥75 y and alcohol consumption as independent risk factors in the entire cohort and in patients aged ≤74 y, respectively. A high DVT prevalence over a long time period of 19 mo was observed where survivors were temporarily isolated after the disaster.

Preface

Preface

JACIII Distinguished Editor & Outstanding Reviewer Awards 2020

The JACIII Distinguished Editor and Outstanding Reviewer Awards were established for the purpose to honor and editors who have made a significant contribution to the growth of the JACIII in 2018 and to acknowledge reviewers who have made a significant contribution to reviewing in 2019. We express our deepest gratitude for their professional work, which we believe conductive to development of not only the JACIII but also scientific research. JACIII DISTINGUISHED EDITOR AWARD 2020 Fei Yan (Changchun University of Science and Technology, China) Guohun Zhu (Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China) Junzo Watada (Waseda University, Japan) Yoshiyuki Yabuuchi (Shimonoseki City University, Japan) JACIII OUTSTANDING REVIEWER AWARD 2020 Fei Yan (Changchun University of Science and Technology, China) Yasufumi Takama (Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan) Luefeng Chen (China University of Geosciences, China) Xin Chen (China University of Geosciences, China) Tomomi Hashimoto (Saitama Institute of Technology, Japan) Hiroyuki Masuta (Toyama Prefectural University, Japan) Yasutake Takahashi (Fukui University, Japan)

Evaluation of the concordance in HPV type between self- and physician-collected samples using a brush-based device and a PCR-based HPV DNA test in Japanese referred patients with abnormal cytology or HPV infection

BackgroundTo adopt HPV self-sampling in Japan, we assessed the concordance between self- and physician-collected human papillomavirus (HPV) samples from Japanese patients and examined the performance of HPV self-sampling for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+).MethodsPatients who had previously tested negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy/HPV-positive, and patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse (ASCUS+) cytology were eligible for this cross-sectional study. Participants performed HPV self-sampling using an Evalyn brush, which was submitted at the Fukui Prefectural Health Care Association. The Evalyn brush heads were stored in ThinPrep vials. The physician, however, performed HPV and cell sampling using an endocervical brush and immediately stored the brush heads in ThinPrep vials. All participants underwent colposcopy and biopsy. Histopathological diagnoses were made by pathologists at Fukui University Hospital. HPV infection was confirmed using a PCR-based Cobas 4800 HPV DNA test. Cytological analysis was performed at Fukui Prefectural Health Care Association.ResultsHPV-positive rates for physician-collected samples and self-collected samples were 51 and 50%, respectively. The perfect match rate of HPV type between the groups was 88% (κ = 0.76). HPV16/18 showed higher agreement rates than other HPVs (99%, kappa 0.96 and 89% kappa 0.77, respectively). Both groups showed 100% sensitivity to CIN2+, but specificity was 57.0 and 58.1%, respectively.ConclusionFor HPV typing, a good concordance rate was seen between self- and physician-collected samples. Self-sampling showed high sensitivity for CIN2+. Self-sampling using the Evalyn brush and Cobas 4800 may be feasible for screening Japanese individuals.

Prospective Cohort Study on Refractive Changes after Trabeculectomy.

We prospectively evaluated refractive changes in the eyes of 97 patients who underwent trabeculectomy at Fukui University Hospital, Fukui, Japan. The primary outcome measure was the refractive change after trabeculectomy. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complications and prognostic factors for refractive change. We observed a progressive and significant mean refractive myopic shift of −0.80 D at 12 months after surgery. In phakic eyes, the mean myopic refractive shifts progressed significantly by −0.46 D at 3 months after surgery (P=0.003), by −0.52 D at 6 months (P=0.012), and by −1.31 D at 12 months (P < 0.001). In the pseudophakic eyes, we found no significant refraction progression at any of the postsurgery follow-up visits. Our multivariable analyses showed that lens nuclear color grade change was a significant prognostic factor for refractive myopic progression (P < 0.001). Trabeculectomy causes refractive myopic progression in phakic eyes. Nuclear sclerotic cataract progression is associated with refractive myopic shift after trabeculectomy. This trail is registered with UMIN000007813.

International Investigative Dermatology 2018 Meeting: Promoting Global Skin Biology and Skin Disease Research

International Investigative Dermatology 2018 Meeting: Promoting Global Skin Biology and Skin Disease Research

Effect of Cavity Ohmic Losses on Efficiency of Low-Power Terahertz Gyrotron

The problem of power degradation due to the dominant ohmic losses in gyrotron cavity is considered. As an example, the operating performances of the FU CW III gyrotron of Fukui University are investigated numerically. It is found that, for this gyrotron, there is a significant divergence between the classical and the self-consistent computations of the loss-induced power degradation. The reason is that the former computations ignore the effect of the cavity ohmic losses on beam-wave interaction efficiency.

Influence of Reflections on Frequency Tunability and Mode Competition in the Second-Harmonic THz Gyrotron

Effect of delayed reflection on operation of a second-harmonic terahertz (THz)-band gyrotron is studied. Theoretical analyses, numerical calculations, and experimental observations for the 0.394-THz Fukui University (FU) and continuous wave (CW) IIB gyrotron are presented. The reflections decrease starting current and expand frequency tunability range owing to excitation of high-order axial modes. They also increase frequency stability, i.e., reduce frequency change due to variation of the magnetic field. In addition, the reflections strongly affect mode competition causing suppress of the second-harmonic mode by the fundamental one and vice versa or, in the case of cooperative mode interaction, mutual power increase.

Report on medical support during the landslide disaster in Hiroshima in 2014 Examination and prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis by joint medical team from Hiroshima University, Fukui University, Niigata University, and Fukushima Medical University

Report on medical support during the landslide disaster in Hiroshima in 2014 Examination and prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis by joint medical team from Hiroshima University, Fukui University, Niigata University, and Fukushima Medical University

Mikhail A. Vorotyntsev—a tribute on the occasion of his 70th birthday

PhD and Doctor of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics (Habilitation), Research Professor and Directeur de Recherche Emerite, Member of Academia Europaea, Mikhail A. Vorotyntsev is internationally recognized as a bright researcher and organizer of international meetings and research projects, well known for his enthusiastic, energetic, and independent-minded attitude to science. After graduation from M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, M. A. Vorotyntsev continued research and studies for a PhD degree in the department of mechanics and mathematics (specializing in Chemical Mechanics at the Prof. V. G. Levich chair). He defended his PhD thesis BKinetics of Charge Transfer in Polar Media^ in Physical and Mathematical Sciences in 1971 under the supervision of Prof. R.R. Dogonadze and Dr. A.M. Kuznetsov. Doctor of Sciences degree (Habilitation) was awarded to him in 1987 by Institute of General Physics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR for his doctoral thesis BTheory of Equilibrium and Kinetic Phenomena at Metal/Electrolyte Solution Interface^. His academic career in Russia included positions of assistant professor in the department of mechanics and mathematics at M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (1970–1978) as well as Senior, Leading and then Principal Researcher (1979– 1998) in the theoretical department at the famous A.N. Frumkin Institute of Electrochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. In the period of 1992–1995 he carried out research in several institutions outside Russia, including the Fritz-Haber institute at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin (Germany), Pierre & Marie Curie University (Paris, France) and the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Freiburg (Germany). Then he served as a full professor at the Department of Applied Physics, Fukui University (Japan) in 1995–1997. The next stage of his academic carrier is connected to Bourgogne University (Dijon, France). There he served as an associate professor and research director, affiliated with the CNRS. Since 2011, Prof. Vorotyntsev is a research director emeritus in this university. In parallel, since 2005, he was * Ekaterina V. Zolotukhina zolek.ya@yandex.ru

Special Issue Concerning Hokuriku Branch(&lt;Feature&gt;Let's Keep and Refine the Light on Our Tradition for the Bright Future! - Hokuriku Branch)

The 48th annual conference of the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan (IEIJ) will be held in Fukui University Bunkyo Campus from 27th to 29th August 2015. Hokuriku Branch of IEIJ planned the special issue. The title is "Hokuriku-Branch shall bridge light and lighting refined through a long-established tradition to the future!". This article describes the editing background of this special issue, also introduce contents of articles.

Laudation on behalf of the 80th Birthday of Koichi Hatada

Koichi Hatada, Professor Emeritus of Osaka University and the Fukui University of Technology and member of the IUPAC Polymer Division, celebrated his 80th birthday on 15 December 2014. We met Prof. Hatada more than 30 years ago, when we became members of the Commission of Macromolecular Nomenclature. It feels like yesterday. At that time Professor Hatada was already a seasoned member of IUPAC, where he started in 1988 as Associate Member of this Commission. He was Titular Member 1990-1997, Associate Member again 1998-2001, and concurrently a Member of the Interdivisional Committee on Nomenclature and Symbols (IDCNS). His kind and friendly personality, combined with his profound knowledge and great experience, has helped newcomers become familiar with the nomenclature of IUPAC. He is a great example of scientific rigor, integrity, and dependability, and has a natural authority.

2A1-H06 コンパクトかつ可搬性の高い上肢リハビリ支援装置PLEMO-P7の福井工業大学古荘研究室における研究開発

2A1-H06 コンパクトかつ可搬性の高い上肢リハビリ支援装置PLEMO-P7の福井工業大学古荘研究室における研究開発

A statistical study on malignant melanoma over the past 12 years in Fukui University Hospital

The survival rate of patients with malignant melanoma is still low, and there is no established chemotherapeutic method. With the appearance of molecular targeted drugs, improvement in the survival rate can be expected. However, at present, malignant melanoma remains a disease associated with one of the poorest prognoses. We analyzed a total of 51 cases of malignant melanoma who were treated at the Department of Dermatology, University of Fukui from September 2001 to May 2013. The survival rate was significantly lower in patients aged ≥65 years. The 5-year survival rate was 100 % for Stage 0/I, 79.59 % for Stage II, and 52 % for Stage III. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was highest in nodular melanoma, and zero in lentigo maligna melanoma. There was a significantly high risk of lymph node metastasis in the presence of ulceration. There was no association between incisional biopsy and lymph node metastasis. Although the data were obtained in only one institution and the number of cases was limited in this study, the results are close to previous international data.

The Difference Between Calculated Functional Ejection Fraction by Using Cardio Ankle Vascular Index Examination and Measured Ejection Fraction by Using Transthoracic Echocardiography

These days some studies report that 40% to 50% of patient with heart failure have preserved ejection fraction and the pathogenesis of that may relate to the ratio of ventricular end‐systolic elastance (Ees) to effective arterial elastance (Ea). Ees/Ea is known to reflect not only ventricular mechanical performance but also energetic performance. Despite these useful features, we don't use it in clinical site because of need invasive technique to estimate it. Hayashi et al developed a framework to estimate Ees/Ea without measuring ventricular volume and pressure. We evaluated the difference between calculated functional ejection fraction (EFe =SV/(Ved‐V0), SV is stroke volume, Ved is end‐diastolic volume, V0 is left ventricle unstressed volume) using by Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) examination and measured ejection fraction (EF) by using transthoracic echocardiography.First we confirmed that correlation between measured and calculated Ees/Ea by using Hayashi's original dog data. We used Newton's method to calculate equations. Second we applied this equation to CAVI examination data to calculate human EFe. Afterwards we made scatter diagram about calculated EFe and EF measured by echocardiography in 24 patients who examined CAVI and echocardiography within a period of July 2006 to June 2011 at the Hospital, Fukui University, Japan. The first analysis results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.78 (p &lt; 0.0001, 95% confidence limits of 0.687 – 0.844).Then revised Ees/Ea was calculated by using an approximate equation(revised Ees/Ea=Ees/Ea×0.4301+0.2712). Final scatter diagram about human EF showed that patients have similar measured EF were not similar calculated EFe.There is possibility of calculate noninvasive human Ees/Ea, and it may correlate heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.