Evaluation of Rapid Immunochromatographic Tests for Norovirus in Neonatal and Infant Faecal Specimens

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance of two norovirus rapid immunochromatographic kits (QuickNavi(®)-Norovirus [QN] and QuickNavi®-Norovirus 2 [QN2]; Denka Seiken, Niigata, Japan) for neonatal and infant faecal specimens. Methods: Monthly faecal samples were collected from infants from birth to 12 months of age, and tested for norovirus using QN and QN2. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used as the gold standard for norovirus detection. The diagnostic performance of the kits was calculated. Results: A total of 343 specimens from 81 infants were analysed. In all samples, the specificity of QN and QN2 was 80% (275/343) and 99% (339/343), respectively. In infants aged Conclusions: QN2 offers improved performance and is more useful than QN for the diagnosis of norovirus infection in the neonatal and infant period

The exploration of psychological mechanism underlying ibasyo feeling in female undergraduates : the relations with over-adaptation, depression, and self-esteem.

The present study explored the relationships among "ibashyo" feeling , over-adaptation, and psychological health in female undergraduates. "Ibasyo" Feeling Scale (Kishi & Moroi, 2011), Over-Adaptation Scale (Ishizu & Ambo, 2008), the Self-rating Depression Scale (Zung, 1965), and Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1979) were administered to female undergraduates (N=424). By the factor analysis (likelihood method with promax rotations), five factors for "Ibasyo" Feeling Scale and four factors for Over-Adaptation Scale were extracted. According to the covariance structure analysis, over-adaptation deteriorated positive feeling for "ibasyo" and psychological health, and positive feeling for "ibasyo" heightened the psychological health. The significance of research in psychological mechanism underlying "ibasyo" feeling was discussed.論

A trial of the facilitator training for structured encounter group by \u22Collaborative method II\u22 : Focused on \u22Pre-decided-theme method\u22

This is a case study of a trial of facilitator training for structured encounter group using the \u22Collaborative Method II\u22. Six trainee facilitators each facilitated a structured encounter group (8 sessions, 90 minutes every week, in university campus) with an experienced facilitator, and the \u22collaborative method II \u22 and \u22predecided-theme method\u22 were introduced to the group. In this study, the group structure and the group process was described, and 3 points were discussed, (1)Characteristics of the \u22Collaborative Method II \u22 compared with \u22Collaborative Method\u22, (2)Facilitators\u27 experiences of the \u22pre-decided-theme method\u22, (3) Group supervision. We concluded that \u22Collaborative Method\u22 is a useful training method for facilitator training for structured encounter group

A trial of the facilitator training for structured encounter group by \u22Collaborative Method\u22 : Focused on \u22theme decided method\u22

This paper is a trial of the facilitator training for structured encounter group by using \u22Collaborative Method\u22. Six facilitators facilitated a structured encounter group (8 sessions, 90 minutes, every week) with an experienced facilitator, and the \u22collaborative method\u22 and \u22theme decided method\u22 were introduced to the group. The group structure and the group process of this group were narrated. As the results, three points were discussed as below; (1) Characteristics and significance of the \u22Collaborative Method\u22, (2) Characteristics and significance of the \u22theme decided method\u22, (3) Acquisition of the facilitation technique. It was concluded that \u22Collaborative Method\u22 is useful as facilitator training for structured encounter group

「コラボレーション方式」による構成的エンカウンター・グループのファシリテーター養成の試み : <テーマ設定法>を中心に

This paper is a trial of the facilitator training for structured encounter group by using "Collaborative Method". Six facilitators facilitated a structured encounter group (8 sessions, 90 minutes, every week) with an experienced facilitator, and the "collaborative method" and "theme decided method" were introduced to the group. The group structure and the group process of this group were narrated. As the results, three points were discussed as below; (1) Characteristics and significance of the "Collaborative Method", (2) Characteristics and significance of the "theme decided method", (3) Acquisition of the facilitation technique. It was concluded that "Collaborative Method" is useful as facilitator training for structured encounter group

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to &lt; 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of &amp; GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P &lt; 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo