Study protocol for J-SUPPORT 1604 (J-FORCE): a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study evaluating olanzapine (5 mg) plus standard triple antiemetic therapy for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

The Guidelines of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology recommend standard triple antiemetic therapy with aprepitant, a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Recently, a Phase III study demonstrated the significance of adding of olanzapine (10 mg) to standard triple antiemetic therapy. Olanzapine is associated with somnolence, and we have previously conducted a randomized Phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 10 mg and 5 mg olanzapine.

[Approval of additional management fee in medical insurance and its change].

An additional management fee was approved in 1996 due to the efforts of the Japanese Association of Clinical Pathology. This particular fee was increased after revisions, markedly contributing to the revenue of the departments of clinical laboratory in hospitals. In the revision of medical insurance fees, a marked reduction in medical costs with an increase in medical insurance for the elderly is performed.

[In-vitro susceptibilites to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 18,639 clinical isolates obtained from 77 centers in 2004].

A total of 18,639 clinical isolates in 19 species collected from 77 centers during 2004 in Japan were tested for their susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and other selected antibiotics. The common respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae showed a high susceptible rate against FQs. The isolation rate of beta lactamase non-producing ampicillin-resistant H.

[Activity of clinical laboratory physicians in national health insurance].

As places of activity of clinical laboratory physicians in national health insurance, there are committees of the Japan Medical Association and the Social Insurance Union of Societies Related to Internal Medicine. In 1996, additional management fee was approved due to the efforts of the then President Kinya Kono, and subsequently, fees were increased after every revision, markedly contributing to the income at the department of clinical laboratory in hospitals. Another activity of clinical laboratory physicians is work in the Social Insurance Union of Societies Related to Internal Medicine and that Related to Surgery toward the 2006 revision of medical insurance fees.

[Laboratory information and consultation service with a ordering system].

We built a laboratory information system that does not require resident medical technologists or medical doctors. The laboratory information system used the following two methods. In the first method, the receiver of questions/complaints/consultations about laboratory tests used e-mail carried by an ordering system.