Impact of psychotropic pro re nata prescription-monitoring programme on prescriptions for inpatients with psychiatric disorders: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Pro re nata (PRN) medication is used "as needed" for symptoms such as agitation and insomnia, in addition to regular daily pharmacotherapy of mental disorders. However, there is no high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of psychotropic PRN medications and concerns have been raised about their potential to contribute to polypharmacy. This study introduced a psychotropic PRN prescription-monitoring programme for psychiatric inpatients with the aim of examining the change before and after the implementation of the programme.

Vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury in underweight patients: a propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of being underweight on the incidence of vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) using propensity score matching analysis.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of patients who received vancomycin and had their serum concentration measured at Kitasato University Hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into underweight and non-underweight groups based on body mass index (BMI), and propensity score matching analysis was used to evaluate whether underweight affected the incidence of acute kidney injury.

Development and implementation of an online formulary exercise for fifth-year pharmacy students during an experiential hospital practice training.

Background And Purpose: Formulary systems play a crucial role in healthcare organizations by promoting collaboration and ensuring the rational and cost-effective utilization of medications. With a rise in pharmacist involvement in hospital formulary management, this study aims to describe the components of an online formulary exercise, assess fifth-year students' perceptions of this exercise, and evaluate its effectiveness in understanding formulary management and the pharmacist's role.

Educational Activity And Setting: The online formulary exercise was initiated during hospital practice training at Kitasato University Hospital since October 2021.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic target attainment analysis of cefazolin using total and unbound serum concentration in patients with prostatectomy or nephrectomy.

The aim of this study was to analyze the population pharmacokinetics of total and unbound concentrations of prophylactic cefazolin (CFZ) in patients with prostatectomy or nephrectomy. We also aimed to calculate a pharmacodynamics target unbound concentration that exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), to design an effective dosing regimen. Briefly, 614 total concentration and 610 unbound concentration samples from 152 individuals were evaluated, using a nonlinear mixed-effects model.

Frequency of missed doses and its effects on the regulation of glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the association between medication adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for more than 48 weeks, as well as the factors affecting long-term adherence to OHAs. This retrospective study included 83 patients who had been receiving OHAs for T2DM for ≥48 weeks. Medication adherence values (MAVs) were calculated using the following formula: (total prescription days - prescription days of OHAs brought at admission)/(days from the initiation of OHAs to hospitalization).

Comparing the Efficacy of Fosnetupitant, an NK Receptor Antagonist in CDDP-Based Regimens, with That of Fosaprepitant and Aprepitant: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Existing antiemetic therapy against emetic-risk agents across malignancies 24 h post-dose in the acute period in cisplatin (CDDP)-based regimens yields a satisfactory complete response (CR) rate of ≥90%. However, the control rate after 24 h in the delayed period is unsatisfactory. This study compared the efficacy of fosnetupitant (F-NTP), a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist, with that of fosaprepitant (F-APR) and aprepitant (APR) in the treatment of patients with cancer at high emetic risk due to chemotherapy.

Risk Factors for Non-Adherence to Pharmacist or Non-Pharmacist Explanations on Preoperative Medication Discontinuation: A Retrospective Japanese Study.

Purpose: The risk factors for non-adherence to pharmacist or non-pharmacist explanations of preoperative medication discontinuation are unknown. The primary outcome of this study was to determine whether the final explainer's occupation was a risk factor for non-adherence. The secondary outcomes were to determine the risk factors for non-adherence after limiting the departments or adjusting for age.

Efficacy of the bleeding risk scoring system for optimal prophylactic anticoagulation therapy of venous thromboembolism in trauma patients: a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Background: We developed a bleeding risk scoring system (BRSS) using prophylactic anticoagulation therapy to comprehensively assess the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in trauma patients. This study evaluated the usefulness of this system in trauma patients, with a focus on minimizing the rate of bleeding events associated with prophylactic anticoagulation therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of BRSS in trauma patients who received prophylactic anticoagulation therapy for VTE at the Kitasato University Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center between April 1, 2015, and August 31, 2020.

Investigating effective methods of clinical pharmacy training on oncology for community pharmacists: An observational study.

Introduction: Kitasato University Hospital offers a training course for community pharmacists that focus on advanced pharmacy management care in outpatient cancer chemotherapy. The objective of this training program is to facilitate the transition from general to oncology certification for community pharmacists with limited experience in outpatient oncology to support the acquisition of an oncology specialty.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between the changes in awareness, knowledge, and self-assessment that advanced pharmacy management care traineeship in an outpatient oncology unit for community pharmacists brings to trainees and the duration of training.

Association between ratio of area under the concentration-time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin and clinical outcomes in Enterococcus faecium bacteremia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the treatment resolution of Enterococcus faecium bacteremia and the pharmacodynamic targets of vancomycin. This is a retrospective single-center cohort study involving patients with E. faecium bacteremia on vancomycin therapy hospitalized between January 2010 and December 2021.

[Significant Prolongation of the International Normalized Ratio Associated with COVID-19 Treatment: Possible Drug Interaction with Remdesivir].

A 55-year-old man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a pacemaker was admitted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Before admission, the patient's medications included amiodarone, diltiazem, bisoprolol, atorvastatin, etizolam, and warfarin (WF). After admission, dexamethasone (DXM) and remdesivir (RDV) were initiated for treating COVID-19.

[Two Cases at Community Pharmacies of Mercaptopurine Removal from a Disk-type Powder-packaging Machine by Wiping It with Water].

"Leukerin powder 10%" containing mercaptopurine (6-MP) is an oral anticancer drug that requires careful handling. As a powder formulation, there are risks of exposure due to scattering during dispensing and possible 6-MP contamination to other drugs due to adhesion to the packaging machine. We previously reported that wiping with an alcohol-containing towel is useful for removing scattered powder after dispensing.

Long-term prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma using serum autotaxin levels after antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.

Introduction And Objectives: Continuous monitoring for hepatocellular carcinoma is necessary following treatment with direct-acting antivirals in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. We investigated whether the long-term follow-up of serum autotaxin levels could predict the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled adult patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who presented to the study center from January 2016 to March 2021.

Impact of overlapping risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity on coronavirus disease severity in the United States.

The impact of overlapping risk factors on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) severity is unclear. To evaluate the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity on COVID-19 severity, we conducted a cohort study with 28,095 anonymized COVID-19 patients using data from the COVID-19 Research Database from January 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020. The mean age was 50.

Pill Counting in the Determination of Factors Affecting Medication Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: For medication adherence, pill counting has higher accuracy in objective assessment. However, previous reports have shown that factors such as psychological bias and other people's involvement in managing and helping patients take their medications may influence the outcomes. In Japan, all prescription medicines of patients are checked by medical reconciliation, and a pill count is performed during hospitalization.

Mixture of clopidogrel bisulfate and magnesium oxide tablets reduces clopidogrel dose administered through a feeding tube.

Background: In clinical practice, a mixed suspension of clopidogrel bisulfate and magnesium oxide (MgO) tablets is administered frequently via a feeding tube. However, there is no report on the changes occurring when suspensions of these two drugs are combined, including the effects or potential decrease in dose following tube administration. Thus, the purpose of our study was to investigate the (i) changes caused by mixing clopidogrel bisulfate (ion form) and MgO tablets and (ii) effects on the administered clopidogrel dose after passing through a feeding tube.

[Safe Handling Method for Splitting Azathioprine Tablets].

The immunosuppressant azathioprine (AZA) is classified as a hazardous drug. AZA contamination during tablet-splitting increases exposure risk. However, there is no study on contamination and exposure during AZA tablet splitting and dispensing.

Determining whether the effect of liraglutide on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease depends on reductions in the body mass index.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) initially presents as steatosis, which can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and often presents clinically alongside metabolic syndromes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are regularly utilized to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. The GLP-1 RA-liraglutide-ameliorates liver enzymes, histological features, and liver fat content of patients with NASH.

[Antidepressant Medication Use and Development of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes Mellitus: A Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database Study].

Few studies have examined the relationship between the use of antidepressants and the onset of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus in Japan. We herein explored the possibility of this relationship using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database (JADER). The present study included 20 individual antidepressants, consisting of 6 subclasses, which have been approved for use in Japan.

Handling and packaging of medical bags at acute disaster sites under high-temperature conditions.

Objective: After the large-scale earthquake in 2011, the disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) was made responsible for medical activities during the hyperacute phase of a disaster or accident in Japan. The medicines to be administered at the disaster sites, packaged in medical bags, may be affected by the temperatures there. This study aimed at establishing a method to handle drug bags in high-temperature situations by determining the temperature changes in medical bags subject to high temperatures and examining the effect of opening the bag and using heat-insulating material (HIM) and coolants.

Evaluation of Measures against Exposure during Administration of Hazardous Drugs through a Feeding Tube.

Hazardous drugs (HD), which need to be handled with care, may be administered through a feeding tube using the simple suspension method. However, instrument contamination during HD administration with the simple suspension method remains unclear. Therefore, to minimize such contamination during the simple suspension method using an injector, we propose the following exposure countermeasures method: (1) Wear two layers of gloves.

Novel breast cancer screening: combined expression of miR-21 and MMP-1 in urinary exosomes detects 95% of breast cancer without metastasis.

Serum and tissue miR-21 expression in patients with breast cancer (BC) is a useful biomarker for cancer diagnosis, progression, and treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is also important in breast cancer carcinogenesis. However, miR-21 and MMP-1/CD63 in urine exosomes in these patients have not been examined.