PHNs’ difficulties in prevention of child abuse

Aims：Child abuse is an important global issue. Public Health Nurses（PHNs）play a vital role in supporting children and their families to prevent child abuse. Considering the complex nature of child abuse, PHNs are likely to encounter various difficulties and supporting them is necessary. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the difficulties faced by PHNs in prevention of child abuse, and to understand the relationship between the PHN’s personal attributes and the difficulties faced. Method：A cross-sectional survey design was used in which ２５０ PHNs involved in prevention of child abuse participated. They were from public health centers and municipalities all over Japan. Data collected were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. Results：Six factors on the difficulties that PHNs faced were extracted and identified as：“support of parents and their families facing problems,” “process of assessing the problem and linking to support,” “cooperation with relevant organizations,” “ability as a PHN to provide support,” “collaboration within the workplace,” and “support for abused children.” These difficulties were related to the PHNs’ number of years of experience, their current work position, training on abuse, and the number of child abuse cases they encountered. Conclusion：PHNs encounter various difficulties in the process of handling child abuse cases, but not all of them experience these difficulties in the same way. The results suggest that it is essential to focus on the nature of these difficulties depending on the personal characteristics of PHNs in order to provide effective support

Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Impairment of Tumor Rejection Is Enhanced in Xeroderma Pigmentosum A Gene-Deficient Mice

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)A gene-deficient mice display dermatologic abnormalities similar to human XP, such as enhanced ultraviolet (UV)-induced acute inflammation and high incidence of UVB-induced skin cancer. We have previously reported that UVB-induced immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity was greatly enhanced in XPA mice. In the present study, we examined the effects of UVB radiation on tumor rejection in XPA mice. Tumor cells established from UVB-induced squamous cell carcinoma in XPA mice were injected subcutaneously. No difference in the development of tumors was observed between the non-irradiated XPA and wild-type mice. Tumors developed, grew in size, and reached the maximum at 7–10 d after the inoculation. Thereafter, all tumors decreased in size and were completely rejected by 4 wk in both strains of mice. When tumor cells were inoculated into the skin that had been irradiated with 50–150 mJ per cm2 of UVB, tumor grew in 60% (12 of 20) of the XPA mice, but only in 4% (one of 23) of wild-type mice. Phenotyping of tumor-infiltrating cells revealed that the migration of natural killer cells and CD8(+) T cells was inhibited in UVB-irradiated XPA mice. These data suggest that enhanced UVB-induced impairment of tumor rejection could be partially involved in the cancer development of XP patients