This study aims to clarify the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of users with mental illness of home visit nursing services. We sent a questionnaire to 1,740 home visit nursing station managers, 374 (21.5%) of whom responded. The total number of valid responses was 328, which amounted to 87.7% of the returned surveys. In total, 103 (31.4%) stations reported that their users’ mental health deteriorated owing to the spread of COVID-19. Eighty-nine (86.4%) stations reported that their users’ anxiety increased. More than 80% of the stations explained infection control measures to their users, but 194 (59.1%) stations answered that their users found it challenging to practice cleanliness. A total of 207 (63.1%) stations answered that the promotion of strategies for coping with stress is necessary for their users. Users with mental illness are vulnerable to stress and have a higher risk of death due to COVID-19. Thus, they should be carefully observed and referred to facilities if required. Home visit nursing staff have an important role to play in the preservation of the well-being of their users with mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors (UTROSCTs) are extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% of uterine stromal tumors, and they are considered to have a low malignant potential. Due to the small number of cases, no standard treatment has been defined. A 77-year-old woman with postmenopausal bleeding was admitted to our department. Imaging studies revealed a substantial mass around 30 mm in size on the anterior uterine wall. A total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed for further diagnosis and treatment. The tumor revealed histopathological findings of a sex cord-like growth pattern in the form of fascicles, cords, or small nests. Immunohistochemical findings revealed that the tumor cells were positively reactive to alpha-SMA, calretinin, CD99, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor, collectively diagnosed as UTROSCT. No recurrence was observed over 12 months after treatment. We experienced the treatment of UTROSCT, an extremely rare tumor that occurs in elderly women. Although most cases of UTROSCT have a benign clinical course, several cases of recurrence and metastasis have been reported. It should be followed up for a long term after treatment.

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The users of Group Homes (GH) for elderly people with dementia have increasing medical needs, and the number of GH that employ nurses is increasing. Due to the variety of employment patterns of nurses, we feel that it is necessary to conduct a cross-sectional survey of the practical situation of nurses and their practices. The purpose of this study was to interview eight GH nurses and prepare a questionnaire in which “Internal nurses” are defined as nurses employed by GH, regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time, and “external nurses” are defined as nurses who belong to home-visit nursing stations and visit by contract with GH. The results of a qualitatively descriptive analysis of the data obtained from the interviews revealed that 44 items were common to both the internal and the external nurses, and 2 items were added to the external nurses only, for a total of 46 items. In the future, a cross-sectional survey using this questionnaire with a large number of participants will clarify the actual, practical situation of GH nurses, and will also clarify whether there are differences between internal nurses and external nurses in practice due to differences in employment patterns.

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Several types of SARS-Cov-2 vaccine have been quickly developed and officially approved for emergency use in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Act. Mass vaccination in workplaces in Japan was subsequently promoted, targeting health care workers and senior citizens. We overviewed the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and reviewed reports containing fatal outcomes, compensation programs, and remedial measures for health damage after vaccinations, in relation to their relevant legislations. The Immunization Act was amended prior to the mass vaccination to authorize the indemnity agreement between the government and pharmaceutical companies to compensate for losses based on health damages after vaccination. Pursuant to the Civil Code and the State Redress Act, employers reserve the right to obtain reimbursement when they are liable to pay compensation for damages inflicted on a third party. There are no provisions to exclude healthcare workers and occupational health staff who participated in practical procedures from lawsuits and liability. We propose legislative reformation and careful contracts with responsible organizations concerned with emergency vaccinations in order to confront forthcoming new or re-emerging infections beyond this pandemic.

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Toluidine is a known cause of bladder cancer, but it is less widely recognized as a cause of methemoglobinemia because methemoglobinemia is rare. We herein report a case of methemoglobinemia caused by toluidine in a 50-year-old man. A solution of toluidine overflowed from its container during transportation and adhered to the man’s clothes, but he drove to his workplace 100 km away without changing his clothes or undergoing decontamination. Before arriving at his workplace, he developed dyspnea and called emergency services, and he was then transported to a local hospital. He had significant cyanosis upon arrival, and arterial blood gas analysis revealed a high methemoglobin level of 44%. He was diagnosed with toluidine-induced methemoglobinemia and was transported to our hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Treatment for methemoglobinemia was started immediately after hospitalization, and the patient’s symptoms and methemoglobin level improved. Methemoglobinemia should be considered in workers who handle toluidine and develop cyanosis and dyspnea.

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We introduced the da Vinci Xi surgical system (Intuitive Surgical G.K. CA) in January 2018, and here we report clinical statistics on outpatients, inpatients, and surgical procedures for the 3-year period from January 2017 to December 2019. The number of new outpatients since 2017 has remained almost unchanged at 1,406, 1,530, and 1,494 per year. There was an increasing trend in the number of inpatients, from 862 to 1,021 to 1,239. The main diseases of the inpatients over the 3-year period were bladder cancer in 676 (21.7%), renal cancer in 374 (12.0%), prostate cancer in 268 (8.6%), and urolithiasis in 263 (8.4%). The total number of surgeries in the three years was 1,931. The numbers of transurethral surgeries and laparoscopic surgeries, including robotic surgeries, were 1,063 (55.0%) and 396 (20.5%), respectively. The numbers of inpatients and surgery have been increasing year by year. Medical resources are limited and need to be distributed more efficiently.

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An 80-year-old male was admitted to the department of neurology for intensive examination and treatment of peri-optic nerve inflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging examination could not be conducted because a magnetic resonance imaging examination at a previous clinic revealed a subcutaneous foreign body on his head, possibly a piece of metal. He was referred to our department for the removal of this foreign body. There was no traumatic scar in the skin and we could not identify this subcutaneous foreign body by physical examination and superficial echography, but radioscopy could find this subcutaneous material and we could remove this foreign body under the guidance of the radioscopy.

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The aim of this research is to clarify student learning and the issues they faced in the practice of gerontological nursing that our students completed online from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted involving 71 third-year students who completed practical training in October 2020, and their choice of answers regarding “students’ online learning environment” and free text answers regarding “what they have learned through practical training” were investigated through e-Learning systems. A total of 68 valid responses were analyzed, and the following 5 categories regarding students’ learning were extracted: 1. the pleasure of experiencing that their understanding about patients can improve the care and the pleasure experienced from interacting with the elderly; 2. the importance of verbalizing and transmitting information in a way that others can understand; 3. the reconfirmation of records to avoid mixing facts with assessment and discussion, and the development of behavioral goals for personal growth: 4. the multidisciplinary cooperation and care necessary to support the lives of patients; and 5. the importance of maintaining independence during the online practice and increasing the motivation to learn. This study revealed that the benefits of learning from on-site training could be obtained in part, by providing opportunities for students to be connected with both clinical practice instructors and patients. The results suggest the possibility that online practical training, where more time is shared among teachers and students, may help students understand the importance of learning behavior and independence generated from teacher-student interactions. It was suggested that there is a need for the improvement of the student’s online learning environment and practical training goals.

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A 73-year-old male noticed a localized nose erosion that we thought was possibly an exacerbation of skin erosion due to the direct influence of friction from wearing a mask. Blood examination revealed a remarkable increase in serum anti-desmoglein-1 and anti-desmoglein-3 antibodies. A skin biopsy showed acantholysis in the epidermal granular layer. Based on the clinical manifestation and laboratory examination, we diagnosed his eruption as anti-desmoglein-1 and anti-desmoglein-3 antibody - positive pemphigus vulgaris. His skin eruption responded well to oral prednisolone and azathioprine and gradually improved. Pemphigus was a candidate as a differential diagnosis in this case, in which the direct mechanical friction from wearing a mask was thought to be an exacerbating factor of skin eruption.

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When stroke patients consider a return to work, several difficulties are encountered regarding the promotion of support for both their health and employment due to the different perspectives of the patients, their families, and medical institutions. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has published a guideline for medical institutions and offices, but not for stroke patients or their families. As a result, patients and their families do not know how to process both medical treatments and their work after the occurrence of a stroke. We have therefore published the “Guidebook for Stroke Patients to Promote Health and Employment Support” based on the concept of the previously published “Guidebook for Cancer Patients for Promoting Health and Employment Support”. This publication offers an overview of stroke and the flow from stroke onset to return to work. Patients can confirm how they should be handled at different phases of stroke. A stroke affects the patient, their family, and the individuals providing support, so this publication offers an information tool to facilitate the participation of stroke patients in society. The guide can thus be expected to contribute to an increased rate of return to work by stroke patients.

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