Interview with Dr. Nyu, Chief Physician, Hosei University Clinic (School Physician and Industrial Physician, Ichigaya Campus): "A Pinch is a Chance for Growth! Three things I want to put into practice to overcome critical situations"

The highly infectious new coronavirus (COVID-19) is raging around the world. In Japan, a state of emergency has been declared and schools across the country have been temporarily closed due to the rapid increase in the number of infected people.

Since around January 2020, I have been collecting the latest clinical information, cases, and papers on a daily basis to warn of the spread of infection worldwide, including Japan. At that time, there were still many unknowns about the true nature of the new coronavirus, prevention methods, and treatment methods, and there was little media coverage of the virus in Japan. Fortunately, I am from China and have experience practicing medicine in both Japan and China. I can have prompt discussions with Chinese experts, my peers and mentors working in Europe and the United States, and I am in the habit of reading cutting-edge papers usually written in English, so I was able to learn about the situation in the medical field around the world from an early stage.

Upon closer examination of the information, I realized that the situation was more serious than I had imagined, and I felt a sense of crisis. Considering the infectivity of this virus, it seemed only a matter of time before the infection became more serious around the world. So, I analyzed cases and papers to gather the latest information I could get my hands on about the characteristics of the new coronavirus, how it differed from previous viruses, and what we could do to respond to it, and shared this information within the university.

The cases we learned about varied widely, with some showing symptoms such as diarrhea and conjunctivitis in addition to typical symptoms such as cough and fever, and others showing pneumonia already confirmed by imaging tests without symptoms. In the midst of all this, we began preparing to share scientifically supported information with the staff of the clinic as soon as possible by comparing it with papers published overseas. In response to COVID-19, we are actively sending out "alerts" and other information to faculty, staff, and students to raise their awareness of preventive measures against infectious diseases, and at the same time, the Health Committee and the Crisis Management Task Force meetings are discussing the latest information and scientific data on health maintenance, campus infection control, prevention of cluster outbreaks, and other issues. At the same time, we made step-by-step proposals based on the latest information and scientific evidence at meetings of the Health Committee and the Crisis Management Headquarters.

Later, a notice from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to medical personnel was almost identical to the information obtained earlier. Since prompt initial response is crucial in dealing with viruses, we believe it was good that the university was able to start preparing for countermeasures ahead of time.

There have been several instances in the past when serious viral infections have shaken the world. For example, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), in which HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) destroys immune cells and causes immunodeficiency. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which was highly infectious and damaged the body's organs, causing many people to suffer from pneumonia and other severe respiratory illnesses. In both cases, many people suffered.

The new coronavirus was named "SARS-CoV-2" as a sister species of the virus that caused SARS (SARS-CoV). However, there are reports that it may have the properties of both SARS, which damages the lungs and other organs in the body, and AIDS, which can weaken the immune system of the entire body, and medical professionals are becoming increasingly alarmed.

The mixed symptoms of infected individuals and the difficulty in predicting trends have also caused public concern. It has been reported that some people, while infected with the virus, may only have mild cold-like symptoms, and others may recover asymptomatically. On the other hand, some people become severely ill and suffer from high fever and breathing difficulties. Many people may have been shocked by the news of a celebrity whose condition suddenly changed and he or she died within a few days of the onset of the disease.

Initially, it was said that the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions were at risk, but now there are reports of cases of young people becoming seriously ill. Research on treatments and vaccines is being conducted around the world, but it is difficult to establish an effective treatment for each individual's medical condition. That is why we need to listen to the right information and fear correctly.

The fight against infectious diseases is a long-term battle. It is undoubtedly a critical situation now, with an uncertain future for everyone. However, things are always two-sided. This crisis is also an opportunity for personal growth. This is because how we overcome the tough times will practically train our autonomy to survive strongly in the future.

In order to keep one's own mind and body healthy in the midst of stressful daily life, one must develop a sense of independence so that one can calmly decide where one should go based on correct information. There are three lifestyle habits that we would like you to keep in mind as advice for this purpose. Rather, it is no exaggeration to say that those who can create the following three habits are the ones who can overcome this crisis and live with the virus.

The first is to develop a regular lifestyle. Irregular lifestyle habits, such as staying up late and living day and night in reverse, sap the energy of the mind and body. It is in times like these that we should try to lead a regular life and develop a healthy lifestyle. Be careful not to smoke or consume more than the appropriate amount of alcohol. Smoking, in particular, damages lung function and increases the risk of serious illness when infected with a virus. There are also recent reports that even just quitting smoking for two weeks can show a trend of improvement in lung function. As an example of turning a crisis into an opportunity by seizing the opportunity, I believe that now is the time to quit smoking and to make an effort to reduce the amount of smoking.

Second, we should eat a scientifically balanced diet. We should make it a habit to eat three meals a day and be aware of the nutritional balance of our diet.

Third, we must be aware of safety and take actions to avoid danger. This new type of coronavirus cannot be said that you are not infected with the virus because you are asymptomatic. Overconfidence in one's physical condition and careless behavior may unknowingly transmit the virus and spread the infection. Until the infection situation settles down, it is very important to be aware of crisis management to protect yourself and those around you by taking safety measures to "avoid infection and prevent it from spreading" such as avoiding "close, dense, and close quarters" and washing your hands frequently.

If we can make these three behaviors a habit, we will not only overcome this crisis, but also develop our qualities as members of society. Nevertheless, self-management is difficult. I hope that you will overcome this crisis by mutually encouraging and helping each other with your family and friends.

Hosei University has established clinics on the Ichigaya, Tama, and Koganei campuses to support students and faculty in their healthy university life by diagnosing and treating illnesses and providing health counseling.

Usually, spring is a busy time for student health checkups, but this year, we regret that some students have had to change important events and plans due to infectious diseases, and some students are suffering from mental and physical discomfort due to accumulated anxiety and fatigue. If you are experiencing mental and physical discomfort or have any other concerns, please consult the clinic. If you need mental counseling or other support, we will support you in cooperation with the Student Counseling Center and other on-campus facilities.

For other daily life precautions and notices, please check the "Notice from the Clinic" on the university website. We will continue to provide information from the perspective of "what we can do now" so that students and their parents can lead their daily lives with as much peace of mind as possible.

If you are exposed to information about the new coronavirus every day and find it too hard to restrain yourself, we recommend that you enjoy reading. Concentrating on reading will help you encounter an even more enjoyable world and stabilize you mentally. You can also try some light physical exercise at home, such as muscle training, yoga, or gymnastics.

Students, I hope that you will now exert yourselves to the fullest, support each other, and enjoy your fulfilling student life to the fullest.
Parents, please watch over them warmly. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to share information with us.

Information from the Clinic" on the university website
https://www.hosei.ac.jp/campuslife/support/kenko_sodan/

Clinic User Guide" on the university website
https://www.hosei.ac.jp/campuslife/support/kenko_sodan/sinryo/riyoannai/

Chief Physician, Hosei University Clinic / Ichigaya Campus School Physician / Industrial Physician
SUBUTABU Pei, M.D.

Graduated from Harbin Medical University, Faculty of Medicine. Obtained Chinese medical license and Master's degree in Clinical Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine).
He came to Japan in 1998 as a scholarship student of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and completed his graduate studies at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree in Internal Medicine from the University of Tokyo.
He was an assistant professor at Shinshu University School of Medicine and an associate professor at Harbin Medical University, and published many papers. He is currently certified as a diabetes specialist, board-certified in internal medicine, board-certified in general internal medicine, and industrial physician.
In 2010, he was appointed as a contract physician at Hosei University Tama Clinic, and in 2012, he started working at Ichigaya Clinic, where he has been the chief physician (school physician and industrial physician) since 2016.
In addition to his extensive medical knowledge, he is available in Chinese, English, and Japanese, which has earned him the trust of students and faculty members.