The upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) is useful in gastric cancer screening, but it has the disadvantage of exposure due to radiographic examinations under fluoroscopy. The purpose of this study was to compare the median value of radiation dose for UGI in a medical clinic and Diagnostic Reference Levels 2020 (DRLs2020). We also estimated the correlation between radiation dose and four anthropometric measurements (height, weight, Body Mass Index, and abdominal girth).
The median value of air kerma-area product (PKA) and incident air kerma at the patient entrance reference point (Ka,r) were 17.0 Gycm2 and 64.9 mGy respectively, that were about 0.6 to 0.7 times higher than DRLs2020. The median value of the fluoroscopic time was 168.4 seconds. There was a strong correlation between radiation dose for UGI and the body weight, BMI, and abdominal girth (R=0.71).
The relationship between anthropometric measurements and radiation dose for UGI was strongly influenced by fluoroscopic doses which accounts for 83% of the total dose and fluoroscopic times.
In facing global population aging, the goals of public and private healthcare sectors have expanded to develop strategies for prevention and early diagnosis of diseases and disabilities. Past efforts, however, have presented limited outcomes in part due to the assumption that people rationally engage in their health management. Here we propose – based on a recent well-being model represented by subjective well-being (happiness) and objective well-being (health) – to define enabling factors that can naturally drive human well-being. The enabling factor can be routed by either health-driven or happiness-driven depending on a deliberate outcome of the intervention. Whereas the health-driven enabling factor is extensively studied in the past health promotional efforts, the happiness-driven approach brings a new perspective potentially through the focused, interdisciplinary and collaborative planning, for example, by engaging designers and artists. We anticipate the citywide implementation of enabling factors in daily life ultimately deliver an equitable, healthy and happy world, where people can pursue human well-being currently envisioned within sustainable development goals.
Conventionally, the terms used for imaging findings in health check-up examinations have been inconsistent among facilities in Japan due to freely using many synonyms. The fact that same results are described in different terms for each facility has been caused inconveniences such as confusion for the examinees being unfamiliar with medical terms and interference with data collection at academic societies. In order to unify the terms, a draft standard terminology was created in collaboration with the Japan Society of Health Evaluation and Promotion, the Japan Medical Association Research Institute, and the Japan Society of Ningen Dock.
The contents of the joint works were as follows: i) To investigate the registered findings of 816,175 people from 50 randomly selected facilities to confirm the details of the problem, ii) To create standard terminology for 8 types of imaging tests (electrocardiogram, fundus photography, chest X-ray, upper gastrointestinal X-ray, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, breast ultrasound, mammography), iii) To Collect and list synonyms so that they are automatically converted to standard terms.
The investigation of the registered findings showed 72,031 of finding names in 8 image examinations due to the use of many synonyms, inconsistent description formats, and mixed half-width and full-width Japanese characters, etc.
Standard terms consisting of location names and finding names were created, and synonyms with the standard finding names were collected and registered. As a result of the above mentioned works, the 72,031 of findings was organized into a total of 200 standard location names, 650 standard finding names, and 4,965 synonyms.
In order to build a system that allows easy reference to image findings nationwide, it will be essential to unify the description format in addition to creating standard terms.
Due to the spread of SRAS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), requested to refrain from health examination since April 2020. At our hospital, we stopped the general health examination in April and resumed it from June with various restrictions. We decided to look at the situation through the number of inspections conducted at our hospital. Comparing before 2019 and 2020, the number of blood samples decreased during the state of emergency declaration in 2020, but the number recovered with the cancellation. Microbial tests did not show a significant decline. Physiological tests had declined during the state of emergency, but recovered after the release, except for respiratory function tests. Endoscopy was delayed in recovery. At present, there are still restrictions on respiratory function test and endoscopy, and the number of people undergoing general health examinations continues to be limited accordingly. The number of examinees decreased during the period of the state of emergency was about 1,400, and it is probable that the general health examination could not be received at our hospital within FY2020. In the future, it will be necessary to track the effects of the lack of treatment, such as a decrease in early detection of the disease and delays in treatment. To resume the general health examination as before, it is necessary not only to converge COVID-19, but also to arrange the environment as the conditions for doing the examination and review the procedure. On the other hand, it is necessary to confirm the usefulness of the tests used in clinical practice and to continuously review the basic inspection items that are required to be carried out by excellent general health examination accredited facilities.
The number of cancers found in the kidney and urinary tract by abdominal ultrasonography in the health screening is the highest compared to other sites. In addition, while the number of cases is increasing, the number of dock examinees aged 70 and over is decreasing.
Under these circumstances, it is often difficult to pick up diseases by ultrasonography and distinguish them from malignant diseases. This time, entitled "Tips for the kidney, urinary tract, and bladder area," I will explain multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, renal angiomyolipoma, renal pelvis tumor, the importance of bladder scanning, and tips on ultrasonography. In multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, irregular thickening of the cyst wall and septum and detection of blood flow in the thickened part by color doppler are the distinguishing points from benign. Regarding renal angiomyolipoma, renal cell carcinoma of 3 cm or less frequently exhibits hyper echo, so it cannot be said that all hyperechoic masses are renal angiomyolipoma. Renal pelvis tumors can be detected by focusing on the central echo complex. In cases of hydronephrosis, it is important to search for the cause from the urinary tract toward the bladder. Since bladder cancer can be detected by scanning the bladder, it is necessary to devise a test with urine stored.
Also, as a hint for ultrasonography, the structure of the kidney is not simple. In order to distinguish between normal structures and lesions, it is important to devise scanning and utilize color doppler after understanding normal anatomy.