Japanese Red Cross Society Research Articles

재일조선인의 대규모 북한 이주와 촉진 요인: 북한·조총련의 선전과 일본 내의 호응을 중심으로

After the end of the World War II, almost 1.4 million Koreans lived in Japan went back to Korea but there still were around 600 thousands ethnic Koreans living in Japan. From December 1959 to July 1984, about 93,000 Korean (including Japanese wives) repatriated to North Korea, while most of them originally came from southern part of South Korea. Studies of the ethnic Korean repatriation from Japan emphasize that economic, political and diplomatic benefits motivated North Korea to decide the repatriation, and underline active roles of the Japanese government, the Japanese Red Cross Society and International Committee of the Red Cross. Including these factors, propaganda of North Korean government and promotion by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon ) made ethnic Koreans in Japan decide to immigrate to North Korea. In addition, Japanese political parties, politicians, intellectuals, and mass media strongly affected ethnic Korean’s decision to repatriation to North Korea from Japan. This study explores contents of propaganda by North Korea and Chongryon , and news and images on North Korea delivered and created by Japanese politicians and media.

Research on the Japanese Red Cross Society during Wartime (1931-1945)

Research on the Japanese Red Cross Society during Wartime (1931-1945)

Anemia-related subjective symptoms in the general adult population in Japan.

Objectives: Approximately 17% of Japanese women have hemoglobin concentrations less than 12 g/dL. Therefore, anemia prevention and early intervention are crucial public health issues in Japan. This study aimed to identify the symptoms and characteristics of anemic individuals in the general adult population by comparing survey responses of individuals with anemia and without anemia visiting blood donation centers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-administered questionnaires. Individuals who visited two Japanese Red Cross Society blood donation centers in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan were included. Hemoglobin levels were measured at blood donation, and the levels of 13 g/dL for men and 12 g/dL for women were defined as anemia. Results: Of the 857 individuals analyzed, 530 were men and 327 were women, of whom 19 (3.6%) and 12 (3.7%) had low hemoglobin levels, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed in men, and the results showed that "lightheadedness" (odds ratio [OR]=8.4) and "depressive symptoms" (OR=3.6) were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels. None of the evaluated items were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels in women. Conclusion: Among healthy Japanese men, those who exhibit lightheadedness and depressive symptoms have an increased risk of anemia. Lightheadedness and depressive symptoms may be indicative of undiagnosed anemia in men, which necessitates greater clinical attention.

A study on the Textbook on Nursing published in Korea in 1918

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand nursing education in the early years of the Japanese colonial rule.Methods: We compared the 1918 <i>Textbook on Nursing</i> with the first <i>Textbook on Nursing</i> and to the original text, <i>Grade A Textbook on Nursing</i>, by the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) using the historical research method. The background of its publication and its use in nursing education were exploring, too.Results: After Korea’s annexation by Japan, the nursing textbook by the JRCS was appointed as the standard textbook in nursing education by the Government-General in Korea (GGK). Missionary nurse got the permission for the nursing textbook by JRCS and the <i>Textbook on Nursing</i> was published in 1918 using Korean and Chinese characters in combination. This book, an adaptation of the original text, explained the responsibilities and roles of nurses to guide them in serving patients as well as assisting in treatment or directly performing emergency medical treatment when necessary, with a focus on the treatment of the war wounded. It would have been partially used in actual nursing education among the missionary community.Conclusion: <i>Textbook on Nursing</i> in 1918 was published not only for the nursing students of missionary nursing schools but also for other nursing trainees of diverse hospitals, nurses and missionary volunteers and to help them to acquire the licenses. It reflects the enforcement on nursing education by GGK and the reality and resistance in terms of the content of education of nursing in Korea during that period.

The Shôken Fund and the evolution of the Red Cross movement

ABSTRACT This article examines the creation of the Shôken Fund and its impact on the evolution of the Red Cross movement globally, with a focus on the first quarter of the twentieth century and post-First World War European reconstruction. The Shôken Fund was an initiation of the Japanese Red Cross Society in 1912 to support Red Cross activities in peacetime, administered by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It came into effect in 1920 and the first grants were allocated to Red Cross Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1921. The article contributes to the historiography of the Red Cross movement and twentieth century humanitarianism by arguing that the Japanese Red Cross Society, through its Shôken Fund, played an important but little known role in the transformation of the Red Cross within the first years of the post-First World War period, as it helped to facilitate a shift in focus for the ICRC from war only to one that included peacetime activities such as those advocated by the newly created League of Red Cross Societies.

MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) Response Support for Palestine Refugee Hospitals in Lebanon

Introduction:The Japanese Red Cross Society has been supporting MCI response support for Palestine hospitals in Lebanon since 2018.Method:It was started from a hospital as a single topic in a one-year ER trauma course, which was combined with an ER triage course. In the next hospital it was revised into not only a theological lecture course but also a field triage training course with pre-hospital volunteers. As a result, when the Beirut explosion happened in 2020, the first hospital could accept more than 50 green patients at once, and the second one sent a pre-hospital team to do triage at the scene showing that training courses were useful in a real MCI case .Results:At this time, support is being provided in a new hospital by making use of these experiences. A current report will be available when this association is held.Conclusion:MCI response support for refugee camps is improving through trial and error, which would have much in common with other MCI responses in many countries and areas.

Sensitization pattern to environmental allergens in a Japanese population.

We previously described the prevalence of allergen-specific IgE in a general population of Japanese adults. We sought to elucidate allergen sensitization patterns in this population. Serum samples had been obtained from 800 blood donors aged 20 to 59 years and living in Tokyo, Japan, in 2005 and stored in the Japanese Red Cross Society. These samples were examined for IgE levels, total and specific for 23 allergens or allergen sources correlated with allergic airway diseases using the ImmunoCAP method. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to uncover the relationship among allergen-specific IgE based on their titers. Hierarchical cluster analysis was executed using Ward's method based on standardized factor scores identified through factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 6 categories of allergen-specific IgE: specific to 2 types of animals (insects and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/animal dander), 2 types of pollens (group 1 [Japanese cedar and cypress] and group 2 [alder, grass, and weeds]), and 2 types of microorganisms (fungi and commensal microorganisms on the skin). The Japanese population was categorized into 3 clusters: (A) nonatopic type, (B) house dust mite-dominant sensitization type, and (C) panatopic type. The panatopic group could be further classified into 2 subclusters positive and negative for fungal sensitization. This study demonstrated that a Japanese population could be divided into 3 clusters according to the sensitization pattern to 6 types of allergens.

Understanding and management of adverse transfusion reactions

Blood transfusion is an essential supportive treatment in modern medicine and is frequently used. Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction is prevented by conducting a cross-matching test; however, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions are difficult to predict. Furthermore, adverse transfusion reactions are not sufficiently recognized by healthcare workers because they rarely occur, except for urticaria and febrile reactions. Thus, further awareness of adverse reactions, particularly regarding transfusion-associated circulatory overload, is needed. Since the introduction of irradiated blood, no transfusion-associated graft-versus-host-disease (TA-GVHD) case has been reported for over 20 years. However, education on the risk of TA-GVHD is important in facilities where nonirradiated blood is supplied or in situations such as unavoidable in-house blood collection on remote islands. The incidence of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis was significantly decreased by the introduction of nucleic acid amplification tests. Recently, the Japanese Red Cross Society is focusing on the reduction of transfusion-associated bacterial infections, which are rare but serious complications. This review provides an updated overview of adverse transfusion reactions and their management measures. Understanding adverse transfusion reactions will enable healthcare workers to recognize symptoms and take prompt action.

Stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the safe motherhood project in Northern Uganda.

The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) and the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) implemented the Safe Motherhood project to promote mother-friendly society in northern Uganda from 2010 to 2016. The follow-up study has not been conducted and the information on achievements and challenges after the project were limited. To review the safe motherhood project in northern Uganda, the purpose of the study was to explore the stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the project. Study design was qualitative content analysis using interview guides. After the approval of Institutional Review Board Clearance, the study was started (Approval Number: 2017-034). The subjects were informed about the ethical considerations (informed consent, participation on free will, confidentiality, and anonymity) in participating in the research, and they participated after signing the consent form. Six volunteers, 2 health center staff, and 2 former Uganda Red Cross staff were interviewed. Achievements were the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes changes, behavioural changes, linkage of all stakeholders, and positive influence on Safe Motherhood in community. Challenges of sociocultural barriers, attitudes toward women, accessibility and human resources, incentives and facilities, and sustainability of the project were derived from the interview. The study revealed that the project linked all stakeholders to achieve Safe Motherhood in community and all the developed registration systems were taken over. Long-term support is necessary for Safe Motherhood to take root.

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The Japanese Red Cross Society’s efforts in response to nuclear disasters and the challenges ahead

The Japanese Red Cross Society’s efforts in response to nuclear disasters and the challenges ahead

Combination of a SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and RT-PCR for Improved COVID-19 Diagnosis.

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is generally diagnosed by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR or serological assays. The SARS-CoV-2 viral load decreases a few days after symptom onset. Thus, the RT-PCR sensitivity peaks at three days after symptom onset (approximately 80%). We evaluated the performance of the ARCHITECT® SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (henceforth termed IgG assay; Abbott Laboratories, Lake County, IL, USA), and the combination of RT-PCR and the IgG assay for COVID-19 diagnosis.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 206 samples from 70 COVID-19 cases at two hospitals in Tokyo that were positive using RT-PCR were used to analyze the diagnostic sensitivity. RT-PCR-negative (N=166), COVID-19-unrelated (N=418), and Japanese Red Cross Society (N=100) samples were used to evaluate specificity.ResultsSensitivity increased daily after symptom onset and exceeded 84.4% after 10 days. Specificity ranged from 98.2% to 100% for samples from the three case groups. Seroconversion was confirmed from 9 to 20 days after symptom onset in 18 out of 32 COVID-19 cases with multiple samples and from another case with a positive result in the IgG assay for the first available sample.ConclusionsThe combination of RT-PCR and IgG assay improves the robustness of laboratory diagnostics by compensating for the limitations of each method.

The Japanese Red Cross Society’s Emergency Responses in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945

Abstract The previously unstudied records of the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) narrate the heroic tale of the Red Cross personnel who carried out the organisation’s emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the nuclear detonations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Aid workers began relief activities on the day of the bombings, while many themselves were suffering from injuries and radiation sickness. They treated civilians, soldiers, and Allied POWs without discrimination. Why did these aid-givers choose to work for the Red Cross in the face of such extreme risk? Why were they willing to walk into ground zero to render aid to survivors? JRCS records make clear that, as well-trained nurses and doctors, most aid workers understood the mortal dangers they faced from radioactive poisoning. This article argues that their actions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attributable to strict quasi-military training, which transcended the ideology of the JRCS as an imperialist institution. Their emergency responses demonstrate the extent to which Red Cross workers had internalised their professional mission as medical aid-givers and eventually emerged as exemplars of the humanitarian relief ideal.

Preventing adverse reactions in pediatric transfusions using washed platelet concentrate

Blood transfusion is an important form of supportive care in children; however, transfusion-associated adverse reactions (TARs) are a problem. As with adults, allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) and febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs) are major TARs, and the frequency of ATRs caused by platelet concentrate (PC) tends to be particularly high. The plasma component of the blood product is thought to be a major factor in the onset of TARs such as ATR and FNHTR. By contrast, in children, age, underlying disease, and number of blood transfusions may be relevant patient-related factors. Although acetaminophen or diphenhydramine may be used prophylactically to prevent TARs, there is no clear evidence of their effectiveness. Volume-reduced PC is used to prevent TARs; however, it may be difficult to maintain the quality of platelets. Plasma-replaced PC stored with platelet additive solution raises the concern that TARs cannot be completely prevented by residual plasma. Washed PC removes most of the plasma, so it can effectively prevent ATR and FNHTR. The recent development of platelet additive solution [M-sol, bicarbonate Ringer's solution supplemented with acid-citrate-dextrose formula A (BRS-A)] in Japan has enabled the maintenance of the quality of platelets for long periods. The clinical use of washed PC in Japan has therefore progressed. Washed PC with M-sol or BRS-A for pediatric patients can effectively prevent TARs without diminishing the transfusion effect. The supply of washed PC has begun from the Japanese Red Cross Society, and it has become possible to use washed PC at all medical institutions in Japan.

Practical blood transfusion and adverse transfusion reactions

Blood transfusion, which has been conducted as a basic medical procedure since 17th century, is a supportive therapy to compensate loss of each blood component. All blood materials are donated, and alive and subject to decay, type-dependent for transfusion, vary in quality, may induce severe adverse reactions, such as anaphylaxis, and may transmit infectious agents. Therefore, not only the scientific and clinical decisions but also ethical considerations should be focused on for their use. All blood products are determined as "Products Derived from Specific Organism" by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Law in Japan. Of note, blood management systems are different among countries; the Japanese Red Cross Society is a unique organization that collects and manufactures blood products under supervision of the Japanese Government. It establishes a hemovigilant system by which it collects all the information concerning transfusion-related adverse events and provides them to the responsible transfusion service staff of each hospital. Physicians should check all the information from the Japanese Red Cross and refer both the "Guidelines for Blood Transfusion" and "Guidelines for the Usage of Blood Products" by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for transfusion practice.

Impact of the CD4:CD8 ratio in bone marrow on stem cell mobilization and engraftment in autologous stem cell transplant patients.

Bone marrow (BM) damage after previous chemotherapy, such as that involving alkylating agents, and radiation therapy alone cannot explain poor hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization. We examined the T lymphocytes of BM in 67 autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (auto-PBSCT) patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or multiple myeloma (MM) to establish whether the cellular phenotype predicts mobilization and engraftment between January 2000 and January 2020 at the Japanese Red Cross Society Wakayama Medical Center. The total number of mobilized CD34+ cells was <2 × 106 /kg in 30 patients (group A) and ≥2 × 106 /kg in 37 (group B). The median absolute number of CD3+CD4+ cells was lower in group A than in group B (P = .013), and the median absolute number of CD3+CD8+ cells was higher in group A than in group B (P = .016). A low CD4:CD8 ratio was observed in all patients in group A, whereas all patients in group B showed a normal CD4:CD8 ratio (P < .001). A strong correlation was found between the CD4:CD8 ratio and median total CD34+ cells yield (r = .723, P < .001). The present results showed that a lower CD4:CD8 ratio correlated with later neutrophil and platelet engraftment (r = .662, P = .007 and r = .571, P = .008, respectively). The present results indicate that the CD4:CD8 ratio in BM contributes to the prediction of mobilization and engraftment in auto-PBSCT patients.

An active transport refrigerator is optimal for blood preservation in small medical facilities

Objective: In small medical institutions in Japan, red blood cell (RBC) solutions are commonly stored in household refrigerators because of the high cost of blood-only refrigerators. Therefore, we assessed and compared the methods used for preserving the RBC solutions in an active transport refrigerator (ATR), a blood-only refrigerator, and a household refrigerator. Materials and Methods: Irradiated RBC solution samples (280 mL) supplied by the Japanese Red Cross Society (experiments 1–8) and in-house whole blood waste (experiments 9–10) were each divided into two bags. The quality of blood stored in an active transport refrigerator was compared with that of blood stored in a blood-only refrigerator or a household refrigerator. We tested the hemolytic effects of storage and filtration through a transfusion set on the lactate dehydrogenase ratio (LDR) of the RBC solutions. Results: Although the LDR of the RBC solutions stored in the ATR was similar to that of the RBC solutions stored in the blood-only refrigerator, the LDR of the RBC solutions stored in the household refrigerator was significantly higher than that of the RBC solutions stored in the ATR. Conclusion: Temperature management using an ATR is critical for the maintenance of the quality of the RBC solution, which is not achieved by a household refrigerator.

Interim Serum Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Levels Are Strongly Associated with Prognosis in Newly Diagnosis DLBCL Patients

&lt;Background&gt; Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) levels are often measured to evaluate the state of lymphoma. The serum sIL2R level at diagnosis has been reported to be correlated with the prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with the R-CHOP regimen. However, it is unclear whether interim sIL2R levels are associated with prognosis in DLBCL. Here, we analyzed the prognostic impact of interim serum sIL2R levels in DLBCL. &lt;Patients and Methods&gt; We retrospectively examined data for DLBCL patients who started receiving chemotherapy at the Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daini Hospital between January 2012 and December 2018. All of the patients received R-CHOP-like regimens (rituximab plus pirarubicin or adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone). The interim sIL2R level (I-IL2R) was defined as the value measured after the third chemotherapy cycle. I-IL2R levels of &gt;700 U/ml were regarded as positive. The primary endpoints of this study were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The unadjusted probabilities of PFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to assess the prognostic value of each clinical variable. &lt;Results&gt; In total, 102 patients were enrolled. The patients' median age was 73.5 years (range, 35-88), 58 patients (56.9%) were male, and 52 (51.0%) had poor revised International Prognostic Index scores. The median follow-up time was 25.2 months (range, 3.7-88.6). Twenty-three patients (22.5%) were I-IL2R-positive (&gt;700 U/ml). Univariate analysis revealed that I-IL2R-positivity was associated with a poor prognosis. The 3-y PFS rates of the I-IL2R-negative (&lt;700 U/ml) and I- IL2R-positive (&gt;700 U/ml) patients were 60.4% (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 46.2-71.9) and 37.5% (95%CI, 15.7-59.4; p&lt;0.001, log-rank test), respectively, and their 3-y OS rates were 82.2% (95%CI, 69.7-89.9) and 37.4% (95%CI, 13.8-61.4; p&lt;0.001, log-rank test), respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the I-IL2R level is independently associated with prognosis. &lt;Conclusion&gt; The I-IL2R level of &gt;700 U/ml patients had poor prognosis. The I-IL2R level can be used to predict the outcomes of DLBCL patients. IL2R levels should be measured during chemotherapy, and I-IL2R-positive patients could be targeted with high-dose or novel therapies. As this study was based on a retrospective analysis and involved a small cohort and a limited follow-up period, further studies are needed to confirm the prognostic impact of I-IL2R. Figure Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Clinical effects of CD45 on the prognosis of extramedullary myeloma relapse.

The incidence of extramedullary relapse (EMR) arising during the clinical course of multiple myeloma (MM) has increased in recent years. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of immunophenotyping on the prognosis of MM patients with EMR. We conducted a retrospective review on data collected from MM patients with EMR between January 2007 and December 2018 at the Japanese Red Cross Society Wakayama Medical Center. Patient characteristics at the diagnosis of EMR, the prognostic significance of immunophenotyping and other factors were evaluated. Extramedullary relapse was detected in 55 of 231 patients (23.8%). At the diagnosis of EMR, CD45, the leucocyte common antigen, was detected in 54.5% of cases. CD45 negativity in bone marrow correlated with thrombocytopenia and higher serum LDH levels. Moreover, high-risk cytogenetics was more frequently observed in CD45- than in CD45+patients. A univariate analysis showed that overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in CD45- than in CD45+patients. Thrombocytopenia, higher serum LDH levels and high-risk cytogenesis were also associated with shorter OS. A multivariate analysis confirmed that CD45 negativity, higher serum LDH levels and high-risk cytogenesis were independent adverse prognostic factors for OS. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the potential of CD45- as a prognostic factor in patients with EMR and that it correlated with shorter survival. The present results showed that the expression of CD45 in the neoplastic plasma cells of MM patients with EMR was associated with patient prognosis independent of other prognostic factors. The establishment of a treatment strategy for EMR patients with CD45- MM cells is needed to improve poor outcomes.

Efficacy of phenobarbital for benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous phenobarbital (PB) for benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG). MethodsA randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with CwG was conducted at the Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital. Patients with CwG who had experienced two or more seizures were eligible. Patients were excluded if any anticonvulsant was used before enrollment. Patients who were allocated to the PB group were administered 10 mg/kg of PB intravenously. Patients who were allocated to the placebo group were administered 20 ml of normal saline. ResultsFrom April 2016 to October 2018, 13 of 24 patients with CwG were randomized (PB group, n = 7; placebo group, n = 6; age, 1–3 years). Five of six patients in the placebo group had seizures after administration of placebo. However, patients in the PB group had no seizures after administration of PB, with a significant difference in efficacy between the two groups (P = 0.005). Five patients who had seizures after administration of normal saline were administered 10 mg/kg of PB, and no patients had a seizure thereafter. No significant differences were found in heart rate, blood pressure, or saturation of percutaneous oxygen between the two groups. ConclusionThis is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of an anticonvulsant for CwG. Intravenous PB at 10 mg/kg is effective and well tolerated for CwG.