Dpt. Seminar

Today's topic was about mesothelioma epidemic caused by environmental exposure. Professor Norio Kurumatani's investigation was roughly reviewed and our chest image study on the subjects of his investigation was presented. Other environmental mesothelioma reports were also reviewed.

We started an introductory mini-course of medical statistics for PhD student and other participants of the department seminar. We had 13 participants today and it seems the number's growing more.

Japanese Gov't will donate 1000 schools to Africa

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told that Japan will donate 1000 schools to Africa in the next five years. He also told that Japanese government will support to educate 300,000 school teachers in Africa or other developing nations. The government will encourage post-graduate education in Japan from the student from developing countries, as he told in his speech driven in Tokyo. - Source the Mainichi Shinbun-

As we are exploring the implementation of the Heiwa-Mura Project in D. R. Congo, initiated by Dr. Ngatu Nlandu Roger, a graduate student at my department, the news sound quite nice for us. The Heiwa-Mura Project consists of Education, Health, and Agriculture and leads to community development.

Occupational Medicine Mini-Workshop

I gave introductory lecture and practice on ILO international classification of pneumoconioses to occupational physicians today. Thirty-three physicians attended the two hour practical mini-workshop and reviewed the scope of the ILO classification using actural chest radiographs. It seemed such kind of lecture was new to the physicians in Kochi, and they seemed to have enjoyed it. Twelve radiographs were given as pre- and post-test to evaluate the positive effect of the participatory lecture. The prototype of the lecture is the ACR seminar for Pneumoconiosis, which was first given by Dr. Benjamin Felson.