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Week 1, Elective Posting at Forensic Department of pathology at Shiga University of Medical Science (SUMS)

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Week 1, Elective Posting at Forensic Department of pathology at Shiga University of Medical Science (SUMS)

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1.Name : Afiq Nur Aiman bin Abdul Mustafa Kamal

Matric Number : A179238

Date : 29/7/2024 - 2/8/2024

2. Your Progress so far

During the first day at SUMS we were guided around the university by Miss Mai the international agent that will be our contact person while were are staying there. She gave us the necessary document and schedule for the 2 weeks we are staying there. I also receive my student card for SUMS.

It is also the first day at the department of forensic pathology, we were welcomed by Associate Professor Nakamura and she tell us more about our schedule while were are studying there. After that we went to the autopsy room because there was an autopsy being perform. We were able to join this autopsy about an accident that happen to an elderly woman while working. I cannot tell more about the data as it is a privacy.

After we have finish the autopsy, we were introduced to the head of department, Professor Hitosugi. After we have a short introductory session, Prof. Hitosugi bring us to a mall nearby to let us buy something. Then, me, Aisyah and Darwisya went to the welcome party that were organised by Prof. Hitosugi. We were also able to meet the other doctors and students in the department. It is really a fun experience for us.

On the second day, there was autopsy in the morning, involving an elderly male that is found dead after 10 days. The body is filled with maggot. The autopsy is lead by Prof. Hitosugi. The cadaver has a strong odor but it is a test for us medical student because we are going to faced more challenges in the future. After we finish the autopsy, we were given lecture by Prof Hitosugi with the topic towards a safe and secure society. Prof. Hitosugi have given us the task to do autopsy report after every autopsy that we do.

On the third day i have 2 lecture, first lecture by Prof. Hitosugi about the characteristics of traffic injuries, second lecture is motor vehicle collision due to driver's health problem by miss Kataoka. Other than that we learn to observe the autopsy slide of maggot by miss Tojo and we also learn to do tea making ceremony by miss Kataoka.

On the fourth day, also we have 2 lecture. First lecture is about morphological changes of the heart in psychiatric victims by Dr. Takaso and safety for pregnant women vehicle passengers by Miss. Kuwahara.

On the fifth day, in the morning, lecture about the system of determining cause of deaths in Japan by Dr. Nakamura and critical care for children lecture by Dr. Takashima. There is also autopsy in the evening about adult male head injury.

3. Points to remember

It is a very important things for us as a medical students to be prepared to face any challenges. For example it is the first time for me to see a cadaver. With the strong odor that fills up the room, nevertheless we must stay strong and focus to learn something new and to gain experience from it.

It is important for us to learns that different country have their own rules how to do things. What might be considered taboo and our country might not be so same with other country

4. Your thoughts and feelings

My thoughts during my first week at SUMS is full of curiosity. I wonder about many things while i was there. How was the weather? How much is the cost? How is people living here? Sometimes i ask about this to the students there and the teachers. It is wonderful how they try to convey the message to me as much as possible.

5. One good thing from what you did you can practice now

I can now accurately know the organ anatomically and the specific placement of the organ. I can feel the consistency of the organ. I can differentiate between left and right side of organ. I can also help a bit during autopsy.

6. Any difficulties or concerns? How did you cope?

One of the difficulties while staying there might include finding a food that is consumable for muslim. In a country that is not muslim majority, sometimes the food is contain something that not consumable for muslim. I cope with this proble by using google lens and translate the ingredients to English to find any food that is not suitable for us to consume.

7. Plan for my EP week 2

My plan for the second week of my study at SUMS would be observing more autopsy to understand the main reason for a person to die. I would also prepare a presentation about job related death or injury in Malaysia and Japan. The task was given to us by Prof. Hitosugi to observe the difference betweeh 2 country.

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Week 1: Clinical Elective Posting in Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Epidemiology Research Center of SUMS

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Week 1: Clinical Elective Posting in Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Epidemiology Research Center of SUMS

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1. Name: Nurul Nuhaa ‘Aaliyah Binti Abdul Hanin

Matric Number: A182103

2. Your progress so far

My elective posting began with an introduction from Ms. Mai Nakamura, who is the person in charge and will assist us throughout our time at SUMS. We received our student ID cards and were taken to the NCD Epidemiology Research Center on the second floor. The professors and PhD students in this department were very welcoming and greeted us warmly. We introduced ourselves and made sure everyone felt comfortable before starting the first lecture of the week.

The first lecture was delivered by Prof. Miura, the director of the NCD department, who provided an overview of NCD cases in Japan and the ongoing research at the university. It was fascinating to learn how NCD cases vary between countries based on residents' lifestyles. Over the next few days, lectures were given by the department's PhD students. They briefly presented their current research projects and shared their findings with us. What I found particularly interesting was that after each lecture, we always had a 30-minute discussion about the topic. The presenters were enthusiastic and eager to share their knowledge and answer our questions.

On the last day of the attachment, my friends and I were tasked with presenting on the most common NCD cases in Malaysia. We presented in front of the lecturers and PhD students, which was a new and valuable experience for all of us. We exchanged information and engaged in a lively discussion afterward. Fortunately, everyone was pleased with the discussion, and I think that wrapped up my first week of posting at the department nicely.

3. Points to remeber from week 1

Based on my experience in week 2, I learned the value of networking with professors, PhD students, and peers, which created a supportive and enriching learning environment. Actively participating in discussions after lectures not only deepened my understanding but also helped with the exchange of information between us. Observing the differences in NCD cases between countries highlighted how lifestyle and environment influence health, which broadened my perspective on global health issues. Presenting on NCD cases in Malaysia helped me enhance my presentation skills and gain confidence in a professional setting. Overall, adapting to the new learning environment and working closely with my friends emphasized the importance of flexibility and teamwork in overcoming challenges and achieving success.

4. Your feelings and thoughts

I felt both excited and grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in such a rich learning environment. Networking with professors, PhD students, and peers was inspiring, and their warm reception made me feel welcome. The lectures and discussions significantly deepened my understanding of NCDs and broadened my perspective on global health. I was particularly amazed by Japan’s thorough approach to research, with their ability to conduct detailed studies and analyze data over long time frames. Presenting in front of the department enhanced my confidence, and working with my friends highlighted the importance of teamwork. Overall, it was an enlightening and fulfilling experience for me.

5. One good thing from what you did that you can practice now

The good thing I can practice is getting involved in discussions after learning sessions. I found that discussing the material not only helped me understand it better but also facilitated meaningful connections with others. Engaging in these discussions improved our communication skills and enhanced our ability to share and exchange knowledge effectively. It also makes learning more enjoyable and helps create a supportive atmosphere.

6. Any difficulties/ concerns? How did you cope?

The difficulty I faced in the first week was understanding some of the terms and concepts used during the lectures. Since the lectures were presented by PhD students, a lot of the information was a bit too advanced for me to fully comprehend. Additionally, the topics were focused on prevalence and research, which involved specialized terminology not commonly used in general medical discussions. Thankfully, the discussions afterward provided an opportunity to ask questions and clarify any points I didn’t understand.

7. Your plan for next week

In the second week of my posting, I will be attached to the Molecular Neuroscience Research Center department. I am excited to prepare myself for learning how they conduct research on neurological topics. I look forward to exploring their cutting-edge techniques and gaining insights into their work on brain function and disorders.

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Week 1 of Elective Posting at Forensic Department of Shiga University of Medical Science

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Week 1 of Elective Posting at Forensic Department of Shiga University of Medical Science

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1. Name: Nur Aisyah Binti Mohamad Noor Azman

Matrics no: A189023

Date of arrival: 26th July 2024

2. What have you done?

29/7/2024

First day in SUMS started with a warm welcome by Miss Mai Nakamura, who is the person in charge of international students. She also gave us a briefing on our 2 weeks schedule of respective departments.

Then, we were welcomed to the forensic department by Associate Professor Nakamura. She explained in detail about our daily schedule in the department. After that, we also had a welcoming session with the head of department, Professor Hitosugi. We were having an introductory session with him.

Despite it being the first day in the department, we went straight to observe our first autopsy in our life as a medical student. We had to use proper autopsy PPE and our first autopsy lasted for 2 hours. The first autopsy was an eye opening experience and also an early exposure to forensic. The case was about an 84 year old woman who died instantly due to her neck being caught on a machine when she was working.

After finishing the autopsy in the afternoon, we had a welcome party organized by the department to welcome Darwisya, Afiq and I.

It was at a restaurant near seta station. It was fun as we got to know a few students from the department as well as the lecturers and staff members.

30/7/2024

On the second day of the posting, we went for an early morning autopsy at 9.30 am which was also lead by Prof. Hitosugi.

This is a more challenging autopsy to observe as it involved a patient who was found 10 days after death and his body was covered with maggots.

The smell of the rotten body was so strong that we could smell it even before we entered the room.

The autopsy needed to be done on this body as he was a missing person and they needed to match his autopsy findings with his medical history. At the end of the autopsy, his findings matched his medical history where he had a joint replacement on his left hip.

After we were done with it, we had lunch break and continued with a lecture by Prof. Hitosugi on the safe and secure society of Japan.

31/7/2024

On the third day, we started with a lecture by Prof. Hitosugi again on characteristics of traffic injuries in japan.The lecture was interesting as it shows how traffic accidents decreased in japan over the years as they implement a development in pre-hospital care towards traffic accident patients.

After that, we went to observe Associate Professor Nakamura doing slicing of the organs from the autopsies. The organs will be put in a designed case and stored at a cool temperature.

Then, we continued with another lecture by a 6th year research student, Miss Hitomi Kataoka explaining how driver’s health problems related to traffic accidents.

After that, we are introduced to a Japanese culture called Japanese Tea Ceremony with Miss Kataoka and Dr. Tojo. We get to learn how to make a japanese matcha as well as the right technique to whisk the matcha.

1/8/2024

On the fourth day, we started at 9.30 am with a mini lecture by Miss Kuwahara on the safety of pregnant women in vehicles. It was interesting to show how important wearing a seatbelt is for pregnant women even though it may be uncomfortable for some, especially in the abdomen area.

Then, we went to the forensic laboratory to observe Dr. Tojo preparing the maggots from the body of the missing person from the second autopsy for DNA study. She also explained a little bit on forensic entomology.

Lastly, we joined the department meeting discussing the use of CT Scan in autopsies.

2/8/2024

On the last day of the first week, we started the day by going to the laboratory again to put paraffin in the cases of sliced organs from the day before. I had the chance to do it.

In the afternoon, I observed my third autopsy and did gram staining. The third case was a firefighter’s death due to falling from height.

I got the chance to pull the testes out of the body and cut the rib cage.I also got the chance to see subarachnoid hemorrhage, comminuted fracture of the skull and brain contusion when they opened the skull and sliced the brain. Unfortunately, I cannot take any pictures of these as it is confidential.

We did the gram staining by taking samples from the tongue of the body. We were given the chance to do all the steps.

3. Points to remember from week 1

Firstly, wearing the PPE correctly is very important when doing or observing an autopsy. This is due to there being many body fluids that may spill or splash and also the smell from the body itself. The PPE includes double gloves, face mask, aprons and boots.

Secondly, job related death is among the main factors of autopsies in Japan as two out of three autopsies I observed this week were job related death cases.  This shows how important occupational safety health implementation is to avoid job related death.

Thirdly, entomology is very important in forensic especially when the bodies are covered with insects. It helps in determining the days of death according to the type of insects found. There are also not many forensic entomology experts in Japan as explained by one of the doctors.

4. Your feelings and thoughts

My feelings for the first week is I am grateful that I chose the forensic department as it is a very interesting department. I get to observe autopsies and learn about forensic from the experts. It is also a new experience for me which turned out to be fun to learn. I also am grateful that all the lecturers are really eager to teach us and make sure that we understand the whole process despite the language barrier.

5. One good thing from what you did that you can practice now

One good thing I can practice now is to always make sure I am always wearing PPE correctly especially when it involves a risky procedure or process. This is to ensure my own safety for a long run.

6. Any difficulties/ concerns

One of the difficulties that I faced is the language barrier as the Japanese do not really speak English and I do not speak Japanese. Sometimes, I had quite a difficult time asking them questions and also understanding what they were trying to say. It takes repeating the questions or answers a few times for us to understand each other. However, everytime we face this problem, we would just use google translate. At the end of the day, I get everything they are trying to explain. I also take this as a lesson to learn a little bit of the country’s language before coming to study at their place.

7. Your plan for next week

My plan for next week is to attend more autopsies and get myself involved actively during the autopsies. I also would like to prepare for a presentation with the other two students in this department. We need to do a presentation on statistics of job related injury or death in Japan compared to Malaysia which will be presented on Thursday.

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Week 1 : Clinical Elective Posting in Forensic Medicine Department, SUMS

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Week 1 : Clinical Elective Posting in Forensic Medicine Department, SUMS

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1.⁠ Your name, matric number, date

Name : Nurdarwisya Shafiah Binti ‘Ainuddin

Matric no : A185594

Date : 29/7 - 2/8

2.⁠ ⁠How is your progress?

Upon arrival, I quickly adapted to the new environment with the help of local guides and university staff. My time at Shiga University of Medical Sciences started with an orientation to the Forensic Medicine Department by Ms. Nakamura and then all the international students received student cards. Then we proceed by a series of lectures and hands-on experiences, including several autopsy cases that deepened my understanding of forensic procedures. My first autopsy experience was an eye-opening experience for me and the knowledge we gain is innumerable.

Beyond the academic rigor, I also embraced the opportunity to explore Japan’s culture and natural beauty. On the first day, I attended a welcome party in Kusatsu Town and met and acquainted the local students who were also in the forensic department. We exchanged our socials and became friends. I also participated in a traditional matcha tea ceremony with fellow students, and took time to visit Biwa Lake enjoying the vast calm environment.

3.⁠ ⁠Points to remember from week 1!

These experiences, combined with the challenging yet rewarding academic activities, have set a strong foundation for both my professional growth and my cultural appreciation during this elective posting in Japan.

It is important to be in the present and enjoy the culture and environment Japan has to offer rather than focusing on the hardships while being there.

4.⁠ ⁠Your feelings & thoughts

I felt a mixture of excitement and curiosity as I quickly adapted to a new environment, aided by the support of local guides and university staff. The orientation and initial experiences at Shiga University of Medical Sciences, especially in the Forensic Medicine Department, left me feeling both intellectually stimulated and intrigued by the complexity of forensic procedures. The hands-on experiences, including autopsies, also deepened my appreciation for the field while also testing my adaptability in a professional setting.

On the cultural side, the welcome party in Kusatsu Town and the matcha tea ceremony have given me a sense of warmth and inclusivity, helping me bond with fellow students and immerse myself in Japanese traditions. Visiting Biwa Lake, with its serene environment, offered a moment of peace and reflection amidst my busy academic schedule. Overall, my thoughts are likely centered on balancing the rigorous learning experience with the joy of discovering Japan’s rich culture.

5.⁠ ⁠ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

The matcha tea ceremony left a lasting impression on me, bringing a sense of calm and serenity while I participated. I can now incorporate this peaceful practice into my daily routine, offering a mindful way to calm my nerves whenever I need a moment of tranquility amidst life’s hecticness. Not only will this ritual help me stay grounded, but it will also serve as a reminder of the cultural connection and the soothing effect it had during my time in Japan.

6.⁠ ⁠Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

The language barrier was a significant difficulty, as many of the detailed explanations and instructions during the procedures were in Japanese, making it hard to fully grasp the nuances of the process. However, later I found that a combination of basic Japanese, body language, and assistance from bilingual colleagues helped navigate these difficulties. I also learned some basic Japanese phrases to cope with this situation.

It is also quite challenging for us as a Muslim student to have halal meals as our location is more on the outskirts of Japan and is not really exposed to Muslim tourists or visitors. Thankfully, the convenience store offered seafood food selection with no ingredients that we cant eat so most of our meals were from there.

7.⁠ ⁠Your plan for next week (Week 3)

I will try to focus on improving my comprehension and participation during autopsies and other forensic procedures.

Firstly is by watching more autopsy cases and getting the most knowledge out of it and I plan to seek out more opportunities to ask questions and clarify any uncertainties with bilingual colleagues.

Next, In addition to my professional goals, I plan to make the most of my free time by exploring Japan and immersing myself in the local culture. I intend to visit nearby historical sites, temples, and museums to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese history and traditions. Engaging with local customs and festivals, if any occur during my stay, is also on my list.

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EP IN SHIGA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JAPAN, WEEK 1

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EP IN SHIGA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES JAPAN, WEEK 1

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1. Name: Siti Noor Masyitah Balqis binti Ibrahim

Matric number: A180877

Date: 28/7/2024

2. How is your progress?

For the first week, I did my EP in the Non-Communicable Disease Research Department at SUMS which started on the 29th of July. On the first day, we met with Ms Mai Nakamura who was the person handling our stay there for the whole 2 weeks. She gave us a briefing on our plans for the 2 weeks, toured us around the hospital and also navigated us to our posting departments. We also received a student ID card that we can use to enter certain restricted places inside the university. After that, we headed to the NCD Research Department and were introduced to the head of the department, Professor Miura sensei and also some PhD students. Professor Miura gave us a great introduction and toured us around the NCD Research building. In the days after, we had lectures given by the PhD students and also had discussions after every lecture regarding their research papers and the NCD issues in Japan and how it differs from Malaysia.

3. Points to remember from week 2

During the first week, I learned a lot from the NCD Research Department. I learnt that the NCD cases in Japan are different from Malaysia in terms of risk factors because of our differences in lifestyle. For example, the Japanese are more physically active as they walk a lot to transport from one place to another. Japan provides proper walkways everywhere to their pedestrians. Different than in Malaysia, people mainly use cars or any wheeled transport instead of walking. Their diet is also healthier as their meals are prepared with less oil and salt. They prefer grilling meat and fish whereas in Malaysia, we commonly fry them. Other than that, I also learnt the methods they use to do their research which I find very interesting and they use a very large scale sample which makes their results more reliable and viable.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

I feel very impressed and intrigued by how they conduct their research and gain information from their samples. It is very systematic and reliable which eases researchers to conduct their research.

5. ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

During this week, I was ver well exposed to other research, which gave me a good exposure to make my own in the future.

6. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

It was quite hard for me to keep up with their research at first as it was my first time being exposed to large-scale research and there were new terms that I had never heard of before, But over time, I was able to learn more and understand better as they were very helpful in answeeting all of our questions.

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

I will be doing my second week of EP in the Molecular neuroscience research Center Department (MNRC)

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1. Name: Nurfaizah binti Amran

Matric number: A181313

Date: 2/8/2024

2. Your progress so far

My first medical attachment was at Non-communicable Disease Research department of SUMS. I started my first week of elective posting on 29th July. We were introduced to the director of NCD research department, which is Miura sensei and also other colleagues in the department. After a brief introduction session, we began our session with a lecture by the director himself, about the types of researches that they take part in NCD department. It was amazing on how their researches are organised and systematically done with the help of the willing patients. He then took us to a tour on their department where they have their own building for the department. He also showed us a storage room where they keep patients blood samples that need to be used for the researches. They also have specific rooms for types of researches that they are doing. The first session ended around afternoon. The rest of the days were just us attending lectures on their current research projects. We were also given a task to present about statistics and trends of Non-communicable disease cases in Malaysia. After being taught on how the researchers use the patient information and results to create conclusions, I have learned that researches sometimes take long periods to cover the progress of the patient’s health. Nyma san, which is one of the international PhD students also showed us the international researches she has done in her own country, which is in Bangladesh. Prof Azimah, who was with us during our first week, had also prepared a lecture on adolescent health and researches that she has done in previous years. During the last day of our week 1 elective, we prepared a presentation of the task given and we had a lot of question and answer sessions. The week ended with a feast from the colleagues of the department and we had such a great time.

3. Points to remember in EP Week 1

Things that I have learnt during my first week of elective posting is that firstly, I have learned deeply about how the researchers collect their data to obtain results of the variables that they are looking for. I was amazed on how the patient’s samples from very long time are being kept in a storage room. I have also learned that one of the reasons why the patients here are committed to being a part of the research is because they receive some rewards from the researchers. It was amazing on how the cohort studies in Japan took more than 5 years and the rate of them giving up on the research was very low.

4. Your thoughts and feelings

I was amazed by all the researchers that they have done in the past years. It shows the determination and commitment that the researchers have in order to obtain excellent outcomes. I was also grateful that this first week made me learn so many things and the communication skills among them were very great that we had almost no problems in trying to ask questions even though there is a language barrier.

5. ONE good thing from what you did you can practice now

One good thing that I can practice is to explore more on the patient’s overall health thoroughly so that we can gain trust from them.

6. Any difficulties/ concerns? How did you cope?

We had gone through a bit of difficulty when preparing our presentation. But luckily, our colleagues were very nice as they taught us on how to obtain the information alongside with Prof Azimah’s guidance to do a final cross-check of the information we had put in the slides.

7. Plan for my EP Week 2

I will be starting my second week at Molecular Neuroscience Research Center Department (MNRC). I will prepare myself with a basic knowledge of neuroscience taught in my second year of preclinicals.