Congratulation on the Publication of “Advances in Modern Medicine”
We congratulate Dr. Kiyomi Taniyama and Dr. Wataru Kamiike on the publication of this excellent eBook entitled “Advances in Modern Medicine.” This publication is the outcome of more than ten years of effort at the Institute for Clinical Research, Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center (KMCCCC), one of the major hospitals in the National Hospital Organization (NHO).
NHO is an independent administrative agency that manages 143 hospitals nationwide in Japan. The NHO is entrusted with three missions: providing medical care, promoting clinical research and educating medical care professionals. We are the largest domestic hospital network, providing services from acute to chronic care. There are more than 80 clinical research institutes attached to the hospitals. The Institute for Clinical Research of KMCCCC is one of the most powerful research institutes within NHO.
It has been pointed out recently that the clinical research should be more strenuously promoted in Japan, because domestically clinical research is not as active compared to basic medical research. As such, we are promoting high-quality clinical research including clinical trials with rapid progress by leveraging NHO’s large network. Looking forward, we expect continuous growth at the Institute for Clinical Research of KMCCCC, and hope that KMCCCC will be a leader for clinical research within NHO and also throughout Japan.
Hideo Kusuoka
President, National Hospital Organization,
Tokyo, Japan
Foreword 2
Toward Enhancement of Research Activities in Clinical Medicine
This publication was planned to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Institute for Clinical Research, Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center (KMCCCC). Dr. Kiyomi Taniyama has served as the director of this institute throughout these 10 years. In addition, the publication is intended to commemorate the contributions and dedication of Dr. Wataru Kamiike, the president of KMCCCC, who will retire from his position in July.
The city of Kure, home to Kure Medical Center, used to be one of Japan’s major naval bases. After World War II, operation of the Kure Naval Hospital was taken over by the United Nations. The hospital was transferred to the Japanese government 10 years later and began to serve the Japanese people as a national hospital. Since then, KMCCCC has stood as the leading hospital in the Chugoku-Shikoku region. The role of the center has not been limited to clinical services for people in the Kure area, however. The center has also been expected to enhance and advance research activities in clinical medicine. The Institute for Clinical Research, KMCCCC was established and has functioned for this purpose.
Japan is generally acknowledged as a nation with the highest standards and achievements in scientific research. This is true for basic research such as research to elucidate the molecular mechanism of diseases. However, Japan’s achievements in clinical investigation are somewhat limited. International rankings of research activities have listed Japan 3rd in the field of basic medical sciences, but 18th in clinical medicine.
The National Hospital Organization is expected to encourage each member hospital to enhance its research activities in clinical medicine, including case reports, case-controlled studies, clinical trials, and cohort studies. Progress in medicine has been accomplished only through careful observation of clinical cases. Evidence that is inevitably needed for daily clinical decision making is only possible through documentation of clinical experiences.
We anticipate that the strength of research at the Institute for Clinical Research, KMCCCC, led by Dr. Taniyama, will continue to grow; it is our hope that the institute will contribute significant advancements to the medical sciences well into the future.
Takaaki Kirino
Former President, National Hospital Organization,
Tokyo, Japan
Foreword 3
10 Glorious Years for the National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center
I want to express my great appreciation to Dr. Wataru Kamiike, president of national hospital organization (NHO) Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center (KMCCCC), for his 10 years of significant contributions to the hospital. In his first five years, he helped me in his role as vice president to reengineer hospital management and in the second five years he managed the hospital as its president. Over the past decade, KMCCCC has made remarkable progress in both clinical and financial performance, which resulted in the hospital being acknowledged as one of the best hospitals among the more than 140 hospitals within the NHO. I believe that our highly advanced medical treatment and diligent nursing by the hospital staff have produced these outstanding results.
Publication of this eBook titled “Advances in modern medicine during the last decade” upon Dr. Kamiike's retirement and the tenth anniversary of Dr. Taniyama as director of the Clinical Research Institute affiliated with KMCCCC is extremely timely.
Dr. Taniyama will serve as the next president of KMCCCC. He has also contributed to the hospital’s distinguished development in both basic and clinical research. He is a highly regarded scientist in the field of clinical pathology not only domestically but also internationally. The memorandum of understanding between KMCCCC and Rajavithi Hospital in Thailand, the Kure International Medical Forum, and other international activities could not have been a great successes without his effort.
I thank everyone who has contributed to this eBook. I hope its publication will be a key milestone for the KMCCCC and that the center continues to grow and contribute to the advancement of modern medicine.
Fumitaka Saji
Honorary President, NHO Kure Medical Center & Chugoku Cancer Center,
Kure, Japan
&
CEO, Ashiya Municipal Hospital,
Ashiya, Japan
Foreword 4
Congratulatory Message for Dr. Kiyomi Taniyama, Kure Medical Center
It is my great honor and pleasure to write this congratulatory message for Dr. Kiyomi Taniyama on the occasion of the publication of his eBook, Advances in Modern Medicine during the Last Decade which coincides with the tenth anniversary of his chairmanship at the Institute for Clinical Research and his appointment as the President of National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center (KMCCCC).
This eBook has taken up basic science, translational research and modern medicine in relation to both diagnosis and treatment, and reviews the latest cutting-edge therapeutics and diagnostics by KMCCCC's entire staff. I am deeply impressed by the eBook's descriptions of the achievements of the last decade. There is no doubt that this eBook is valuable to medical workers and researchers around the world.
I have known Dr. Taniyama for more than 30 years, since I became a member of the First Department of Pathology at Hiroshima University. Over the years, I have learned much, not only about medicine and pathology but also about social issues. I admire his foresight and action. In addition to his pathology practice and research, he organizes the annual Kure International Medical Forum and collaborates with many medical professionals across Asia. He is a leader and makes the resources of the Pathology Clinic available to cancer patients in Japan. When I, as the President, hosted the 103rd Annual Meeting the Japanese Society of Pathology in April 2014, he chaired the program committee of diagnostic pathology and ensured the great success of the meeting.
I wish Dr. Taniyama and his colleagues in KMCCCC all the best for a bright future. As the Director of Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, I look forward to our collaboration to achieve our goal of an even better understanding and treatment of our patients and the improvement of human health worldwide.
Wataru Yasui
Professor and Chairman, Department of Molecular Pathology
Director, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences
Dean, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences,
Hiroshima, Japan
