Bidirectional information sharing between Nagoya Memorial Hospital and health insurance pharmacies using a communication sheet for pharmaceutical cooperation.

Background: We collaborated with the regional pharmaceutical associations near Nagoya Memorial Hospital and created a communication sheet for pharmaceutical cooperation between the hospital and health insurance pharmacies.

Methods: The communication sheet for pharmaceutical cooperation was issued in October 2014. We conducted a questionnaire survey of both cancer patients and community pharmacists 1 year after the implementation of the use of this sheet.

[Cooperation between a Hospital without Dentists and Local Dental Associations in Oral Management of Cancer Patients].

Severe oral mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy can cause intolerable pain and increase the risk of systemic infections, necessitating dose reduction and discontinuation of antineoplastic agents. Moreover, this adverse effect may have an impact on patient nutrition and quality of life. An effective and prophylactic intervention should be useful for alleviating this complication.

[Pilot study on clinical effects of rebamipide gargle against oral mucositis induced by fluoropyrimidines].

Rebamipide, a cytoprotective agent, has been suspected to attenuate oral mucositis through anti-inflammatory potentials and induction of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis. This prospective study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy of rebamipide gargle against oral mucositis, which is induced by fluoropyrimidines in patients with stomach and colorectal cancer. We first conducted a pilot study on gargle flavors, because the solution in this agent has a strong and bitter after taste.

[Depression screening test for patients with metastatic gastric and colorectal cancer].

The prevalence of depression has been reported to be higher in cancer patients, especially those of advanced stage, compared to normal controls. However, depression is often under-recognized in clinical oncology settings. And this psychological problem is not routinely assessed even in patients with inoperable metastatic cancer who often have psychological disorders.