[Health-related QOL and Life Background of Outpatients Using Free/Low-Cost Medical Care Program].

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the quality of life (QOL) of patients using the Free/Low-Cost Medical Care Program, which is a system that enables people in financial difficulities to receive treatment free of charge or at a low cost. We also investigated the background charateristics and lifestyle of the patients. METHODS: The subjects were 226 outpatients who used the Free/Low-Cost Medical Care Program (use group) and 226 outpatients who did not use the program (non-use group). The method was an anonymous cross-sectional servey by mail. The survey items included basic attributes, health-related QOL (HRQOL), feeling of being poor, lifestyle diseases, lifestyle, and connection with the community. RESULTS: The number of respondants with valid responses was 97 in the use group and 85 in the non-use group. Among the basic attributes, there were a significant differense between the use group and the non-use group in the family structure, type of work, household income, and educational background. The HRQOL scores of the physical and social summary components were significantly lower in the use group than in the non-use group. The HRQOL scores of mental summary component were higher than the national standard HRQOL score in both the use and non-use groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was considered that old age affected the HRQOL scores of the physical and social components. It was considered from the HRQOL scores of the mental aspect that the use of the Free/Low-Cost Medical Care Program might have contributed to mental stability a certain to extent.

Facile Hydrogenative Deprotection of N-Benzyl Groups Using a Mixed Catalyst of Palladium and Niobic Acid-on-Carbon.

The palladium-on-carbon (Pd/C)-catalyzed hydrogenative deprotection of the N-benzyl-protecting group was effectively facilitated by the combined use of niobic acid-on-carbon (Nb2O5/C). Nb2O5/C is an acidic heterogeneous catalyst prepared from NbCl5 and activated carbon. The catalysts were easily removed from the reaction mixture and reusable. Deprotected amines were obtained in excellent yields without an additional neutralization process. The facilitating effect of Nb2O5/C was also observed during the Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenative deprotection of the N-benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) and O-benzyl groups.

Birch-Type Reduction of Arenes in 2-Propanol Catalyzed by Zero-Valent Iron and Platinum on Carbon.

Catalytic arene reduction was effectively realized by heating in 2-propanol/water in the presence of Pt on carbon (Pt/C) and metallic Fe. 2-Propanol acted as a hydrogen source, obviating the need for flammable (and hence, dangerous and hard-to-handle) hydrogen gas, while metallic Fe acted as an essential co-catalyst to promote reduction. The chemical states of Pt and Fe in the reaction mixture were determined by X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, and the obtained results were used to suggest a plausible reaction mechanism, implying that catalytic reduction involved Pt- and Fe-mediated single-electron transfer and the dehydrogenation of 2-propanol.

Disiloxane Synthesis Based on Silicon-Hydrogen Bond Activation using Gold and Platinum on Carbon in Water or Heavy Water.

Disiloxanes possessing a silicon-oxygen linkage are important as frameworks for functional materials and coupling partners for Hiyama-type cross coupling. We found that disiloxanes were effectively constructed of hydrosilanes catalyzed by gold on carbon in water as the solvent and oxidant in association with the emission of hydrogen gas at room temperature. The present oxidation could proceed via various reaction pathways, such as the hydration of hydrosilane into silanol, dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilane into disilane, and the subsequent corresponding reactions to disiloxane. Additionally, the platinum on carbon catalyzed hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction of arylhydrosilanes as substrates in heavy water proceeded on the aromatic nuclei at 80 °C with high deuterium efficiency and high regioselectivity at the only meta and para positions of the aromatic-silicon bond to give the deuterium-labeled disiloxanes.

[Retrospective investigation of clinical presentation of lung cancer patients before and after treatment discontinuation].

INTRODUCTION: There is no clear answer as to how long we should continue aggressive treatment for progressive lung cancer. PURPOSE: An ideal way to conduct and discontinue aggressive treatment was examined from the viewpoint of quality of life and the remaining lifespan after treatment discontinuation. MATERIAL & METHODS: We began systemic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy from January 2003 to December 2007, based on our pathological diagnosis of lung cancer. Then, in 30 patients who thereafter stopped aggressive treatment, we retrospectively investigated the content and period of aggressive treatment, and clinical presentation before and after they discontinued their treatment. In addition, the factors important for quality of life and the prognosis after the treatment discontinuation were analyzed. RESULT: For quality of life and the remaining lifespan after the treatment discontinuation, it was found important to avoid serious adverse effects of treatment and watch out for performance status decrease during the treatment period. Then, after the treatment discontinuation, it was thought to be important to pay attention not only to the cancer progression but also the complications arising from other diseases including pneumonia.

[Clinical evaluation of lung cancer patients with only best supportive care].

Eighteen cases with only symptomatically treated lung cancer admitted to our hospital from May 2002 to October 2006 were retrospectively investigated clinically. The patients consisted of 10 males and 8 females, aged 50-9 8 years old (mean age 78.1 yo). Clinical stage distribution revealed a higher incidence in the advanced stages. The performance status according to the ECOG classification was predominantly grade 2-4. The average survival time was 5.9 4 months. The cell type was the major prognosticator followed by clinical stage and age. There was a tendency to die early in any case that had a poor whole-body state, such as weight reduction and a feeling of whole body fatigue. There was a tendency for the at home period to be short in cases that required control of pleural effusion, and the survival period was short.