Menstrual Abnormalities in Female International Students in Japan : Changes during Pre-Arrival, Difficult, and Current Periods

The number of Japan’s international students has rapidly increased in the last decade. This study examines the relationship between menstrual abnormalities in cycle and symptoms, stress level, and lifestyle of female international students in Japan across three time periods, namely pre-arrival, difficult, and current time periods. A cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, including the menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), between December 2022 and February 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to 56 female international students from two universities in Japan, and a total of 29 valid responses were collected. We found varying menstrual cycle abnormalities and severity of menstrual symptoms across three time periods, with the difficult period after arrival in Japan displaying the highest symptom severity. Higher stress levels were significantly associated with more severe menstrual symptoms. Lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption were also linked to menstrual symptoms. The current study emphasizes the importance of providing menstrual education, support, and resources to address international students’ unique challenges in managing their menstrual health while studying abroad. By promoting awareness, education, and access to healthcare services, universities may contribute to international students’ well-being and academic success

Association between Inter-atrial Septum Motion and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Catheter Ablation

Article信州医学雑誌 69(4) : 189-201(2021)departmental bulletin pape

Slab geometry type cold neutron moderator development based on neutronic study for Riken Accelerator-driven compact Neutron Source (RANS)

Cold neutrons with energy less than several meV are good probes for material research, and they have been available on large neutron facilities, whereas it is not commonly available on compact accelerator-driven neutron source. RIKEN Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (RANS) is a pulsed neutron facility which provides thermal neutrons and high energy neutrons at several MeV. We started a project to implement a cold neutron moderator for RANS to broaden cold neutrons applications. A cold neutron moderator system with a mesitylene moderator at 20K and a polyethylene pre-moderator at room temperature in the slab geometry was designed for RANS. So far, the thickness of the pre-moderator and mesitylene have been optimized to get the highest cold neutron flux by using a Monte Carlo simulation code, PHITS. Graphite reflector dimensions were also proven to have significant effect to increase the cold neutron intensity

Cardio-renal and cardio-hepatic interactions predict cardiovascular events in elderly patients with heart failure.

BackgroundThe composite Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Excluding International Normalized Ratio Score (MELD-XI) is a novel tool to evaluate cardio-renal and cardio-hepatic interactions in patients with advanced heart failure (HF). However, its prognostic ability remains unclear in elderly HF patients.Methods and resultsFrom July 2014 to July 2018, patients hospitalized for HF were prospectively recruited at 16 centers. Clinical features, laboratory findings, and echocardiography results were assessed prior to discharge. Cardiovascular (CV) death and HF re-hospitalization were recorded. Of the 676 patients enrolled, 264 (39.1%) experienced CV events throughout a 1-year median follow-up period. Patients with high MELD-XI were predominantly male and had a higher prevalence of NYHA III/IV, history of HF admission, hyperuricemia, ventricular tachycardia, anemia, and ischemic heart disease. In Kaplan-Meyer analysis, patients with higher MELD-XI (≥11) scores showed a worse prognosis than did those with lower (ConclusionsCardio-renal and cardio-hepatic interactions predicted CV events in aged HF patients

A young patient with atypical type-B Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome accompanied by left ventricular dysfunction

AbstractA 15-year-old asymptomatic male patient presented with an electrocardiographic abnormality and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (left ventricle ejection fraction of 40%) in a physical examination performed 2 years previously. LV dysfunction did not improve despite optimal medical therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy. Twelve-lead electrocardiography revealed a normal PR interval (138ms) with a small delta-like wave in V2, but not a typical diagnostic wave that could be diagnosed as Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome by an electrocardiogram auto-analysis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a remarkable asynchronous septal motion. An electrophysiological study was performed to exclude WPW syndrome. An accessory pathway (AP) was revealed on the lateral wall of the right ventricle, and radiofrequency catheter ablation was successfully performed to disconnect the AP. Thereafter, the dyssynchrony disappeared, and LV function improved. The intrinsic atrioventricular nodal conduction was very slow (A-H, 237ms). The results of electrocardiogram auto-analysis could not be used to confirm the diagnosis of WPW syndrome because of the atypical delta wave. Conduction via the right lateral AP caused electrical dyssynchrony in the LV. This case suggests that atypical delta waves should be evaluated without depending on electrocardiographic auto-analyses in patients with LV dysfunction accompanied by dyssynchrony