Previous research on the changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been limited by an insufficient sample size, which reduced the reliability of the results and made it difficult to set the whole brain as regions of interest (ROIs).

We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 114 female AN patients and 135 healthy controls (HC) and obtained self-reported psychological scales, including eating disorder examination questionnaire 6.0. One hundred sixty-four cortical, subcortical, cerebellar, and network parcellation regions were considered as ROIs. We calculated the ROI-to-ROI rsFCs and performed group comparisons.

Compared to HC, AN patients showed 12 stronger rsFCs mainly in regions containing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and 33 weaker rsFCs primarily in regions containing cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus (p < 0.01, false discovery rate [FDR] correction). Comparisons between AN subtypes showed that there were stronger rsFCs between right lingual gyrus and right supracalcarine cortex and between left temporal occipital fusiform cortex and medial part of visual network in the restricting type compared to the binge/purging type (p < 0.01, FDR correction).

Stronger rsFCs in regions containing mainly DLPFC, and weaker rsFCs in regions containing primarily cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between ACC and thalamus, may represent categorical diagnostic markers discriminating AN patients from HC.

The JDR Rescue Team has successfully completed the INSARAG External Re-Classification (IER) process, which evaluates the operational capability and capacity of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams and has achieved the highest “Heavy” reclassification in November 2022. Two nurses participated in the IER process as part of the medical unit of JDR Rescue Team. In addition, ten registered nurses cooperated as Exercise Control (EXCON).

Summarize the JDR Rescue Team and medical unit and make observations on what nurses did in the IER.

The JDR Rescue Team is dispatched by the Government of Japan in response to large-scale disasters overseas. The task force team has 75 members from various specialties, including the rescuer, and medical unit. The medical unit consists of one medical manager, 2 doctors, and two nurses. There are currently about 50 registered medical unit members in our team, and of these, a total of 23 nurses are registered. The role of nurses during the IER process, includes a 36-hour non-stop scenario-based exercise. The team nurses are involved in various roles, such as Confined Space Medicine (infusion for patients, assisting on-site amputation), caring or treating injured rescuers and search dogs, providing health and welfare monitoring and operating a decontamination system. The EXCON nurses were involved in managing the simulation. One of their key roles was to play as a victim realistically so as to provide a sense of tension for the simulation.

The JDR Rescue Team has more medical unit members than those in other countries. In particular, teams with so many nurses are rare. nurses played a vital role in this IER. The contribution of nurses is identified in order to make the international USAR team more strong and more flexible.

Cognitive impairment is common in people with mental disorders, leading to transdiagnostic classification based on cognitive characteristics. However, few studies have used this approach for intellectual abilities and functional outcomes.

The present study aimed to classify people with mental disorders based on intellectual abilities and functional outcomes in a data-driven manner.

Seven hundred and forty-nine patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression disorder or autism spectrum disorder and 1030 healthy control subjects were recruited from facilities in various regions of Japan. Two independent k-means cluster analyses were performed. First, intelligence variables (current estimated IQ, premorbid IQ, and IQ discrepancy) were included. Second, number of work hours per week was included instead of premorbid IQ.

Four clusters were identified in the two analyses. These clusters were specifically characterised in terms of IQ discrepancy in the first cluster analysis, whereas the work variable was the most salient feature in the second cluster analysis. Distributions of clinical diagnoses in the two cluster analyses showed that all diagnoses were unevenly represented across the clusters.

Intellectual abilities and work outcomes are effective classifiers in transdiagnostic approaches. The results of our study also suggest the importance of diagnosis-specific strategies to support functional recovery in people with mental disorders.

One of the side effects of opioid administration is opioid-induced constipation (OIC). To address this side effect, the oral peripheral μ opioid receptor antagonist naldemedine was developed. As this drug does not cross the blood–brain barrier, it is thought that it does not lead to opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS) with central nervous system symptoms.

Here, we report a cancer patient who presented with symptoms centered round anxiety and irritation 4 months after administration of naldemedine for OIC and who was diagnosed with OWS after close investigation.

The patient was a 65-year-old female who had surgery for stage IB endometrial cancer 4 years previously, but experienced recurrence involving the pelvis 2 years later. Medical narcotics were used to control pain, but naldemedine was started to control subsequent constipation. When naldemedine-related OWS was suspected and the administration of naldemedine discontinued, the above symptoms disappeared within two days, and no recurrence was observed thereafter.

For patients receiving naldemedine, it is necessary to consider the possibility of OWS regardless of the period of administration in order to maintain patient quality of life.

We launched a health promotion program called the Hamarassen (“let’s get together”) Farm, which provided farming opportunities for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake who resided in temporary housing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this program on physical and mental health in terms of bone mineral density (BMD) and a sense of purpose in life.

Among 39 female participants in whom BMD was evaluated, there were 12 Hamarassen participants, 8 self-farming control subjects, and 19 non-farming control subjects. BMD was measured by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound immediately after the project launch and 5 months later. A sense of purpose in life prior to and 2 months after the project’s commencement was measured in 21 additional Hamarassen participants by use of the K-I Scale. Interviews were also conducted to qualitatively evaluate the effects of the Hamarassen program.

The mean BMD T-score improved by 0.43 in the Hamarassen group, by 0.33 in the self-farming group, and by 0.06 in the controls (p=0.02). Among the 21 Hamarassen participants in whom mental health was evaluated, the average score for a sense of purpose in life improved from 20.5 to 24.9 (p=0.001).

The Hamarassen Farm provided disaster victims with opportunities for social participation, interpersonal interaction, and physical exercise; such opportunities may improve physical and psychosocial well-being. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:103-110)

To identify risk factors for infection and severe illness due to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

To identify risk factors for infection, we conducted a case-control study among nursing home residents who had onset of symptoms during December 1, 1999, to February 20, 2000. To identify risk factors for severe illness among nursing home residents, we conducted a retrospective cohort study.

A nursing home providing long-term and day care services for elderly patients in Japan.

Fifty-nine residents and 41 staff members of a nursing home.

The attack rates for respiratory illness were 53% (31 of 59) among residents and 22% (9 of 41) among staff. Infection was confirmed in 15 resident and 2 staff case patients by isolation of C. pneumoniae from nasal swab specimens. Fifteen resident case patients developed severe illness (ie, bronchitis, pneumonia, and hypoxia); one case patient died. The median age of resident case patients was 87 years. We could identify neither the source of the outbreak nor significant risk factors for infection and severe illness in residents. However, residents with a higher level of physical activity were more likely to become infected, whereas older residents (aged more than 85 years) and those with a lower level of physical activity were more likely to develop severe illness (P>.05). Contact with residents was a risk factor for infection in staff (relative risk, undefined; P = .04).

C. pneumoniae can cause large outbreaks of infection and severe illness among elderly persons, and its transmission is likely to be enhanced by close contacts among people in nursing homes. Therefore, early detection of an outbreak by means of better surveillance, and subsequent isolation of patients, may be effective control measures.