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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among factors affecting compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in Japanese nurses, focusing on self‐compassion, fears of compassion, and attachment styles. Methods: This cross‐sectional observational study enrolled 400 clinical nurses (aged ≥20 years) in Japan, registered with an online survey company, from June 6 to June 26, 2021. The subjects completed a web‐based questionnaire that assessed compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, self‐compassion, fears of compassion for self, anxiety, and avoidance. Additionally, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and path analysis were performed to examine the relationships among the influencing factors. Results: Compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress was influenced by anxiety and fears of compassion for self (R2 =.31). Burnout was affected by compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, self‐compassion, anxiety, and avoidance (R2 =.63). Compassion satisfaction was impacted by self‐compassion, anxiety, and fears of compassion for self (R2 =.31). Additionally, self‐compassion (R2 =.28) and fears of compassion for self (R2 =.55) were influenced by anxiety and avoidance. Conclusions: Compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress leads to burnout, whereas compassion satisfaction moderates burnout. Furthermore, there were associations among the factors leading to compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress and burnout and compassion satisfaction. Therefore, an approach that enhances self‐compassion and promotes the development of a stable attachment style could mitigate compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress and fears of compassion for self while moderately maintaining and improving compassion satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with high self-criticism tend to suffer from poor mental health whereas those with high self-reassurance tend to have good mental health. Poor mental health is a great cause for concern in Japan. Many people in Japan live with mental health issues, and the suicide rate is high. In particular, the mental health of caring professionals in Japan is devastated. However, there is no established measure to assess the levels of self-criticism and self-reassurance in the Japanese language. The Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) has been actively used in mental health research. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop the Japanese version of FSCRS (J-FSCRS). 300 nurses and 120 psychologists in Japan responded to an online survey containing J-FSCRS and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Confirmatory factor analyses and a Pearson's correlation analysis were conducted. J-FSCRS is proven to be reliable to assess self-criticism and self-reassurance in the Japanese language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Toru. Yamagishi, Norio. Kodaka, Yoshiyuki. Kurose, Kayo. Watanabe, Chihiro. Nakano, Kumiko. Kishimoto, Takeshi. Oshio, Kumiko. Niitsuma, Hiroto. Matsuse Introduction: Prevention and effective treatment of radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP) could facilitate [...]

Objectives: International guidelines recommend the use of long-acting bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the usefulness of short-acting bronchodilator assist use for stable COPD remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to objectively demonstrate the effects of assist use of procaterol, a short-acting β2-agonist, on the respiratory mechanics of stable COPD patients treated with a long-acting bronchodilator using forced oscillation technique (FOT) and conventional spirometry. We also confirmed the length of time for which procaterol assist could significantly improve the pulmonary function.Methods: We enrolled 28 outpatients with mild to severe COPD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease stages I-III), who had used the same long-acting bronchodilator for longer than 3 months and who were in stable condition. All measures were performed using both FOT and spirometry sequentially from 15 min to 2 h after inhalation.Results: Compared to baseline, inhaled procaterol assist use modestly but significantly improved spirometric and FOT measurements within 2 h after inhalation. These significant effects continued for at least 2 h. -Significant correlations were found between parameters -measured by spirometry and those measured by FOT.Conclusions: Procaterol assist use modestly but significantly improved pulmonary function determined by spirometry and respiratory mechanics in patients with stable COPD treated with long-acting bronchodilators. Thus, inhaled procaterol has the potential for assist use for COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the efficacy of central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis using intrathecal methotrexate (IT-MTX) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We retrospectively studied 322 patients who achieved first complete remission (CR) after rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy. The CNS prophylaxis consisted of four doses of IT-MTX (15 mg) with hydrocortisone (25 mg) administered after CR was achieved. Forty patients (12%) received CNS prophylaxis (group A) and 282 patients (88%) did not (group B). Three patients in group A (8%) and eight in group B (3%) experienced isolated CNS relapse during the first CR, although this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.14). Ten of 11 CNS relapses occurred in the brain parenchyma with ( n = 3) or without ( n = 7) leptomeningeal involvement, and the remaining patient had exclusive leptomeningeal involvement. In patients with DLBCL attaining CR after R-CHOP, IT-MTX administration was insufficient to prevent CNS relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 58-year-old man developed cough, sputum, and low-grade fever during immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids and cyclosporine for myasthenia gravis with recurrent thymoma. Since chest CT revealed diffuse nodular opacities in both lung fields, he was referred to our department. Mycobacterium abscessus was repeatedly cultured from his sputum, and he was diagnosed with pulmonary M. abscessus infection. Although both chest radiological findings and clinical symptoms were mild, he required treatment with immunosuppressive agents and systemic anesthesia for resection of the recurrent thymoma. Based on complications and according to the patient's preference, oral treatment with clarithromycin 600 mg/day, levofloxacin 500 mg/day, and faropenem 600 mg/day was initiated on an outpatient basis. Following these treatments, his chest CT findings and clinical symptoms subsided, and the thymoma was successfully resected. Our experience with the present case suggests a possible treatment strategy for M. abscessus infection in immunocompromised and complicated cases.

An 85-year-old man with dementia first visited our hospital 5 years ago, complaining of hemoptysis. He was hospitalized 2 years later owing to fever, cough, and dyspnea. A chest computed tomography scan showed infiltration with a cavity in the left upper lobe. He was diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection on the basis of the presence of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum and repeated bronchoalveolar lavage specimens; however, we were unable to identify the isolate by DNA-DNA hybridization. Although his general condition had slightly improved after treatment initiation, intermittent chemotherapy owing to the adverse effects of the drugs and dementia led to rapid disease progression and death. After his death, the isolated mycobacterium was identified as Mycobacterium kyorinense by sequence analysis of the hsp 65 and rpoB genes.