Shinichiro Maeshima

By Aiko Osawa and Shinichiro Maeshima

Swallowing disturbance often causes by stroke and may predispose patients to malnutrition and dehydration, as well as increases the risk of such complications as suffocation and aspiration pneumonia. As an initial evaluation, the water swallowing test can be easily carried out, but not all of the aspiration can be excluded. Therefore, videofluorography (VF) and videoendoscopic examination (VE) of swallowing should be performed to find a safety method of oral intake for providing visualization of the pharynx and larynx dysfunction. Clinical severity scale is important because once the severity is determined, the treatment strategy is also known. Swallowing training can be divided into indirect training without food (basic training) and direct training with food (eating training). In general, it is important to select conditions and training diets that are easy to swallow and have a low risk of aspiration while using indirect training and direct training that aim at gradually improving the level of oral intake.

Part of the book: Voice and Swallowing Disorders

By Chiaki Yamaji and Shinichiro Maeshima

The recovery of aphasia occurs immediately after the onset of the disease and lasts for several months or more. The speed and degree of improvement in aphasia vary depending on the time since onset, severity of aphasia, and each language modalities. It is assumed that there is a difference in the mechanism of aphasia recovery. The recovery process of the central nervous system observed in the first few days to weeks after the onset of aphasia is thought to involve the disappearance of cerebral edema, the absorption of necrotic tissue, angiogenesis, the development of the collateral circulation, and the resolution of hematomas, leading to the repair of damaged tissue. In the chronic phase, 1) recovery of damaged functional areas, 2) reconstruction of functions in the residual areas, and 3) compensatory functions by the contralateral hemisphere or activation of the contralateral cortex are assumed. In recent years, there have been many reports supporting the effectiveness of speech and language therapy interventions. Speech and language therapy should not only promote improvement of aphasia, but also take a comprehensive approach to improve the QOL of aphasia patients, such as acquisition of compensatory means of communication and family guidance.

Part of the book: Aphasia Compendium

By Shinichiro Maeshima

In 2020, Japan had nearly three million students enrolled in 795 universities, representing 54.4% of the student population—the highest in the nation’s history. However, the number of private universities has grown dramatically, while the population of 18-year-olds has dropped due to Japan’s declining birthrate; as a result, one-third of private universities are now under-enrolled, making it difficult for many of them to operate. Universities have a long and storied history, and their function and mission have changed over time. Amid competing visions for what a university’s primary focus should be, the roles universities are expected to play are also changing. To meet the demands of local communities and society, as well as the diverse needs of students, universities should provide an education that draws on students’ individuality. Recently, universities’ contributions to the development of society have started being emphasized; together with research and education, social contribution needs to be perceived as the so-called third mission of the university, and analysts are calling for more industry-academia-government collaborations. This chapter focuses on universities’ social contribution, and describes the connection between local communities and the social contribution activities that universities have carried out for the past 20 years.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University

By Shinichiro Maeshima, Ryuji Nomura, Etsuko Nogami, Takuya Yamamoto and Junko Yamane

With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, many universities switched to online classes to promote social distancing and reduce the risk of infection. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, however, requested universities hold face-to-face classes whenever possible. Therefore, after the national emergency was lifted, our university, the Kinjo University in Hakusan, launched the “Kinjo Infection Control Team” to help prevent infection on campus. Our university was one of the first universities in the Hokuriku region to resume face-to-face classes. Infection control teams were originally organized at hospitals and other medical facilities by professionals specializing in infection prevention and control. Although our university did not have an affiliated hospital, we had medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, as well as virology researchers, who conducted environmental patrols, hand hygiene education and monitoring, and infection education for students and faculty. The most important countermeasures against the spread of infectious disease in universities are the maintenance of the campus environment and the behavioral changes of students. To maintain a safe learning environment during a pandemic, it is necessary to consider the best measures to prevent infection from various aspects so that we can avoid spreading infectious diseases, and also maintain maximum student activity and provide a safe learning environment at all times.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University

By Tsutomu Kibayashi, Keisuke Machino and Shinichiro Maeshima

Universities are the centers of society’s intellectual activities and are places where highly skilled professionals are trained. For managers and businesses, universities are a valuable resource for revitalizing and promoting communities and industries. Achieving this requires multifaceted cooperation and collaboration with universities. In 2017, our university concluded a “comprehensive cooperation agreement” with the city of Hakusan, where the university is located. Last year, the university signed an agreement with Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., and this year it signed one with Eon Mall Co., Ltd. A variety of projects are currently being planned to be carried out at Eon Mall Hakusan, a major supermarket in the community. The main purpose of these agreements is to help the community develop by solving local problems and fostering new professionals.

Part of the book: Contributions to the Local Community Through the University

By Koki Kawamura, Shinichiro Maeshima, Aiko Osawa and Hidenori Arai

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a major impact on society and our lives. Many older people and those with underlying medical conditions have refrained from social activities and become housebound, increasing the risk of frailty. Therefore, we developed the Home Exercise Program for Older People, a multidisciplinary program that makes it easier for older people to exercise at home. We also provide outpatient rehabilitation for not only those affected by COVID-19, but also older people with frailty who have become confined under the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we overview the situations and lives of older people in Japan under the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss preventive strategies.

Part of the book: COVID-19 Pandemic, Mental Health and Neuroscience