Medical – Page 4 – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 10, 2025 0

Loss of Immune-Regulating Protein Eases Alzheimer’s Disease, Research By Kyoto University Finds

The loss of a certain immune-regulating protein in the brain leads to a decrease in the levels of amyloid beta, which causes Alzheimer’s disease, and improves cognitive function, a group of researchers including from Kyoto University has found. The group confirmed that the TIM-3 protein, which exists in microglia, a type of immune cell in the brain, increases as the brain ages. When it removed the protein from a mouse with Alzheimer’s disease by genetic modification, the accumulation of amyloid beta decreased by 50 to 60 pct, and the mouse showed an improvement in cognitive function.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 2, 2025 0

Disability Health Hospitals Japan Medical Mental Health

Japanese Society of Sleep Research Requests Government Add ‘Sleep Disorders’ to Names of Medical Departments

As the number of people struggling with insomnia and insufficient sleep increases, the Japanese Society of Sleep Research has submitted a formal request to the government to add “Sleep Disorders” to the names of medical departments. They envision combining this term with existing department names, such as “Sleep Disorder Internal Medicine,” and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is now considering the proposal.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 29, 2025 0

Barrier Free Children developmental disabilities Japan Medical

Japan Government Strengthens Support for Local Government to Conduct Medical Checkups of 5-Year-Olds for Early Detection of Developmental Disabilities

The government has begun to strengthen its support for local governments to promote health checkups for infants and toddlers at the age of 5 years old, as it is effective in early detection of developmental disabilities. The program aims to provide appropriate support for children with developmental disorders before they start school, as it is easy to recognize the characteristics of developmental disorders. While local governments are obligated to conduct health checks for 18-month-olds and 3-year-olds, and “school entry health checks” conducted about six months before entering elementary school, 5-year-old health checks are optional, and only 14% of local governments conducted them in fiscal 2011. The Child and Family Agency aims to implement 100% nationwide by fiscal 2028.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 26, 2025 0

Disability Health Japan Medical

Exposure to 1-minute sound may prevent motion sickness: Japan team

People suffering from motion sickness may be able to prevent their symptoms from developing just by listening to a minute of special sound, a Japanese research team said. The research found a sound at 100 hertz stimulates the inner ear and helps to reduce motion sickness by improving balance, the team said, while current preventive measures are largely limited to taking medicines.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2025 0

Elderly Health Japan Medical

Japan Health Insurance Premium Rate to Hit Record High

The National Federation of Health Insurance Societies, or Kenporen, said Wednesday that the average premium rate at corporate health insurance societies in Japan is expected to hit a record high of 9.34 pct in fiscal 2025. The rate is projected to rise 0.03 percentage point from the previous year ended in March, affected by higher contributions to the medical care services for the elderly, according to the group of health insurance societies for employees of large corporations and their families.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 16, 2025 0

iPS Japan Medical

Kyoto Hospital Succeeds in iPS Sheet Transplant to Diabetic

Kyoto University Hospital has succeeded in transplanting pancreatic cell sheets made from induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells into a diabetic patient, achieving the first clinical application of such sheets in Japan. Announcing the results Monday, the hospital said that the patient in her 40s has already been discharged with a favorable prognosis. The hospital observed her for one month after the surgery and confirmed that there was no safety problem.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 18, 2025 1

Children Education Health Medical

School Health Checkups in Japan Still Cause Trouble with Parents

School doctors in Japan still have to take the risk of facing complaints from parents about their children’s body parts being exposed during regular health checkups although the education ministry took measures to soothe such parental anxiety over a year ago. According to a survey conducted in June by online medical information provider m3.com, more than 80 pct of the 1,970 responding practitioners and physicians did not want to become school doctors chiefly out of concern that parents “more than necessary” tend not to allow their children’s bodies to be shown to the doctors.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 14, 2025 0

Disability Japan Medical

Japan’s Ishiba Admits Fault over Medical Expense Hike Plan

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba admitted his fault Thursday over the government’s unpopular plan to raise the limits on out-of-pocket expenses for high-cost medical care.   “It was a mistake,” Ishiba told a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 13, 2025 0

Crime Japan Medical

Tokyo Doctor Ruled Not Guilty in Remanded Indecency Case

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday found a 49-year-old doctor not guilty of licking a patient’s breast just after he operated on her at a Tokyo hospital in 2016. In the case sent back from the Supreme Court, Presiding Judge Hiroaki Saito upheld a district court ruling acquitting the doctor, Susumu Sekine, of indecent assault performed on an incapable person. “The possibility cannot be denied that the woman hallucinated,” the judge said, dismissing the prosecution’s appeal. Sekine was indicted for allegedly licking the left breast of the patient immediately after she underwent an operation to remove a tumor in her right breast at the hospital May 10, 2016.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 9, 2025 0

Health Japan Medical

(Update) Japan’s PM Ishiba Cancels Increase in Medical Expense Cap in August

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that his government has canceled plans to raise the ceiling on out-of-pocket expenses for high-cost medical care in August. His ruling coalition plans to revise the government’s fiscal 2025 budget bill, which is being deliberated in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, after its passage in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, earlier this week following revisions to the original bill. If a government budget bill is approved after revisions during Upper House deliberations, it will be the first time that such a change is made under the current Constitution.