Most of the volatile organic compounds used in industrial and household products are reported to be toxic. While the effects of toxic chemicals on pulmonary and other systemic functions have been studied substantially, little is known about their effects on higher brain functions, particularly on the events in learning performance. From the particular perspective of environmental health, it is necessary to examine the toxic effects of environmental chemicals on higher brain functions. The aim of the present study is to establish a mouse model for simultaneous assessment of the effect of toluene (150mg/kg, i.p.) on extracellular glutamate level in the hippocampus, using in vivo microdialysis and learning performance with a procedure of schedule-controlled operant behavior (SCOB). Different patterns of hippocampal glutamate level were observed in control and toluene-treated mice during learning performance. During learning performance in an operant chamber, control mice showed a saturated and persistent increased glutamate level with good learning performance, while toluene-treated mice showed a decreased glutamate level with poor learning performance. This is the first time to establish a new method to assess the effect of environmental chemical exposure on the brain neurotransmitter level during learning performance in an animal model.

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It is important to characterize the emission of air pollutants and suggest an optimum ventilation rate, because the use of portable gas ranges is widespread in houses and restaurants in Korea. Source emission tests were conducted to characterize the emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO_x=NO+NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), formaldehyde (HCHO) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) from portable gas ranges in steady-state using a well-mixed chamber. The ranges of emission rates of air pollutants from portable gas ranges were 0.55 〜 0.94 mg/h for NO, 0.35 〜 1.08 mg/h for NO₂, 1.21 〜 1.63 mg/h for NO_x 1.39 〜 4.21 mg/h for CO, 2430 〜 2970 mg/h for CO₂ and 0 〜 0.12 mg/h for TVOCs. The required mean and maximum ventilation rates to control the air pollutants from portable gas ranges was 2.70 m³/h and 3.13 m³/h on the basis of the NO₂ emission rate, respectively. The mean concentrations of food service worker and customer exposures to NO₂ by use of portable gas ranges in restaurants were 48.2 ± 21.5 ppb and 64.7 ± 31.5 ppb, respectively.

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What counter-measures can medical professionals take against violent and abusive patients in Japan? The aim of this article is to consider the role of law for protecting medical professionals from such patients in Japan, comparing it with its role in the UK. Medical professionals need to have legal knowledge for avoiding trouble after using such measures as "verbal defense" or "negotiation". When they use their body or objects for defense, they must use them within the limits of the law. Patients sometimes have violent and abusive behavior because of disease or depression from their condition or the environment. If a medical professional fights back against such a patient, is (s)he legally or morally responsible? This is a very important problem. Professional discretion is concerned with balancing patient healthcare and the safety of medical professionals.

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As a first step to develop a method to evaluate general ward nursing care practices targeted at families of cancer patients, the current study aimed to identify and select items for evaluation. Forms of nursing care considered to be necessary for the families of cancer patients were extracted from previous literature and categorized. We identified 5 categories, and 20 items were created to reflect the type of nursing care in these categories. A paper questionnaire evaluation composed of the 20 items was given to 77 general ward nurses. Valid responses were obtained from 67 (87.0% response rate). Factor analysis revealed 6 subscales which included "encourage family to participate in patient care", "commitment and adjustment", "adjust nursing care to meet family member needs", "realize the burden on family members", "attend the death", and "respect family decisions". Items for evaluation were refined based on other responses in the questionnaire, and a total of 26 items regarding nursing care were selected for use in the evaluation.

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A 78-year-old man was seen for a tumor on his umbilicus. Clinically, there was a dark brown nodule with thick scales. The excised tumor showed the acanthotic type of seborrheic keratosis. Six cases of seborrheic keratosis arising on the umbilicus have been reported. All of them were of the histologically hyperkeratotic type. Our case is the first report of an acanthotic type of seborrheic keratosis on the umbilicus. Seborrheic keratosis is one of the common skin tumors, but we hesitated in this diagnosis because of its abnormal location.

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A 47-year-old man was found at his home in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. His family performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him. He was brought to our hospital by ambulance. On arrival, his pupils were dilated and his heart was in a state of ventricular fibrillation. After returning to spontaneous circulation by the cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the electrocardiogram revealed ST elevation at V2-V5. Cardiac catheterizatin revealed a left anterior descending coronary obstruction. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty was performed. On the 26th day after admission, acalculous cholecystitis was found. It was difficult to perform emergent surgery, because the patient was taking an anticoagulant drug. We performed PTGBA (percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration) on the same day, and the gallbladder inflammation was improved. We consider that PTGBA is an effective treatment for difficult cases of acalcuous cholecystitis.

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A 72-year-old woman underwent high anterior resection for rectal cancer. Fifteen minutes after the start of the operation, the pressure on the respiratory tract rose, blood pressure and SpO₂ dropped, and skin rash, wheezing and ECG disorder appeared. The anesthesiologist suspected latex anaphylaxis and interrupted the operation. The patient was treated immediately for anaphylactic shock, and recovered. Post-operation, she showed positive reaction to latex specific IgE, suggesting that the anaphylaxis was induced by latex allergy. A re-operation was performed under a latex-free environment. No allergic reaction was seen during or after the re-operation.

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We describe four male patients suffering from quadriplegia caused by axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome. They were diagnosed with axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome based on their clinical course and electrophysiological findings. Three patients had severe pain, two had marked elevation of serum creatine kinase, one had finger contracture, and two required mechanical ventilation. Two of the patients recovered during the period from nadir to discharge in the Hughes functional grading scale and Barthel index. A physical therapist should understand the characteristics of severe axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome in an acute stage, and consider the psychological status of the patients.

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Individual self-motivating efforts and environmental arrangement by business organizations are essential to prevent lifestyle related disease, because factory workers go through many stages of life in the workplace. It is desirable to discuss which health activities that come into operation by occupational and health staff's enthusiasm and inventiveness are best outside the framework of the company. In this article, we discuss advice for success in planning and carrying out health events from perspectives such as previous problems, projects, timing, location, numbers of participants, human resources of the host, estimated cost, selection of channel of advertisement and analyses of data.

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To examine the relationship between lifestyle concerning physical activity and mental health, 372 university students filled out a questionnaire containing lifestyle patterns, subjective physical symptoms and subjective mental symptoms. As a result, a good lifestyle concerning physical activity was related to preferable mental conditions. The joint association of the lifestyle and mental health was more evident in female students than in male students. Consequently, we propose that educational advice for the improvement of lifestyle through physical activity is an important health strategy for university students.

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