Mentoring doctoral students for qualitative research: interviews with experienced nursing faculty in Japan.

This study aimed to describe the process of mentoring doctoral students for qualitative research in Japanese graduate programs in nursing. Nine experienced faculty-seven nurse researchers and two sociologists-were interviewed. Participants were asked about their process of mentoring students for qualitative nursing dissertations. Data analysis was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method. Participants' age ranged from 48 to 60 years. The first theme in the mentoring process is about the individualized, one-on-one mentorship process. The second theme occurs in a group process. The third theme is coordinating mentors and establishing a network to support the evaluation system. The mentoring processes identified in this study will be useful for future faculty development. The study elucidated much room for improvement in doctoral education programs for qualitative research methods in nursing science.

[A case of recurrent colon cancer involved in multiple organs maintaining complete response over the long-term after chemotherapy].

We report a case of recurrent colon cancer successfully treated by mFOLFOX6 and FOLFIRI, and maintaining a complete response(CR)over the long-term. A 60-year-old woman complained of abdominal discomfort 18 months after surgery for advanced descending colon cancer(tub2, pT3, pN2, cM0, fStage IIIb). A pelvic mass was demonstrated by abdominal computed tomography(CT)scan, and relapse of the cancer was suspected. Positron emission tomography-CT fusion image revealed metastases at Douglas' pouch, liver, right ovary and right inguinal lymph nodes. Systemic chemotherapy followed by mFOLFOX6 regimen was started. After 8 courses of mFOLFOX6, severe neuralgic side effects forced us to change the regimen to FOLFIRI. After completion of 4 courses of FOLFIRI, CR was proved by CT scan. Chemotherapy was stopped after an additional 4 courses of FOLFIRI. CR has been maintained for 4 years and 4 months after confirmation of CR. There were 18 cases reported in the literature that had CR by FOLFOX and/or FOLFIRI. Among those reports, our case was considered to have kept CR for the longest duration of time.

The Tokyo Oldest Old survey on Total Health (TOOTH): a longitudinal cohort study of multidimensional components of health and well-being.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid worldwide increase in the oldest old population, considerable concern has arisen about the social and economic burden of diseases and disability in this age group. Understanding of multidimensional structure of health and its life-course trajectory is an essential prerequisite for effective health care delivery. Therefore, we organized an interdisciplinary research team consisting of geriatricians, dentists, psychologists, sociologists, and epidemiologists to conduct a longitudinal observational study. METHODS/DESIGN: For the Tokyo Oldest Old Survey on Total Health (TOOTH) study, a random sample of inhabitants of the city of Tokyo, aged 85 years or older, was drawn from the basic city registry. The baseline comprehensive assessment consists of an in-home interview, a self-administered questionnaire, and a medical/dental examination. To perform a wide variety of biomedical measurements, including carotid ultrasonography and a detailed dental examination, participants were invited to our study center at Keio University Hospital. For those who were not able to visit the study center, we provided the option of a home-based examination, in which participants were simultaneously visited by a geriatrician and a dentist. Of 2875 eligible individuals, a total of 1152 people were recruited, of which 542 completed both the in-home interview and the medical/dental examination, with 442 completed the in-home interview only, and another 168 completed self or proxy-administered data collection only. Carotid ultrasonography was completed in 458 subjects, which was 99.6% of the clinic visitors (n = 460). Masticatory assessment using a colour-changeable chewing gum was completed in 421 subjects, a 91.5% of the clinic visitors. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrated the feasibility of a new comprehensive study that incorporated non-invasive measurements of subclinical diseases and a detailed dental examination aiming at community-dwelling individuals aged 85 years or older. The bimodal recruitment strategy is critically important to capture a broad range of health profiles among the oldest old. Results form the TOOTH study will help develop new models of health promotion, which are expected to contribute to an improvement in lifelong health and well-being.