Objective: There is enormous information flow via the Internet and papers.  Physicians require appropriate drug information from medical representatives (MRs), so fair promotion activities of MRs are necessary.  To clarify the activity and visiting aims of MRs, we investigated the visiting records for MRs.
Methods: We improved the visiting record form because there were some gaps in the records.  Subsequently, we investigated the validity of the records.  The correlations between visiting numbers of MRs and both purchase prices of our hospital and scale of drug companies were also investigated.  Two months after revision of the visiting records, a questionnaire survey was administered among MRs to determine their thoughts about promotion activities.
Results: The visiting numbers of MRs and companies did not change with revision of the visiting record.  Insufficient visiting records were significantly reduced from 5.1% to 0.8%.  There were no correlations between visiting numbers and purchase prices or scale of drug companies.  Meanwhile, sub-analysis of the visiting data indicated that MRs significantly promoted new drugs and drugs coming off patent.  The revision of visiting record format re-emphasized the importance of the visiting record on MRs.
Discussion: Almost all MRs promoted their products fairly, as there was no correlation between the purchase price and company scale.  However, they may actively promote new drugs and those with patents that have elapsed.  The visiting records are useful to determine the promotion activities of MRs.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an inherited autosomal dominant disease presenting with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), parathyroid tumors, or pituitary tumors. Using the PubMed database, we reviewed the literature on information regarding the proper diagnosis and treatment of MEN1-associated pNET. Many cases of MEN1-associated pNET are functioning pNETs. Gastrinomas and insulinomas tend to occur frequently in the duodenum and pancreas, respectively. In addition to diagnostic imaging, the selective arterial secretagogue injection test (SASI test) is useful for localizing functioning pNET. The standard treatment is surgical resection. However, in the case of a functioning pNET, the tumor should first be accurately located using the SASI test before an appropriate surgical method is selected. In cases of a MEN1-associated non-functioning pNET that exceeds 2 cm in diameter, the incidence of distant metastasis is significantly increased, and surgery is recommended. In cases of unresectable pNET, a somatostatin analog has been shown to demonstrate antitumor effects and is considered to be a promising treatment. In addition, molecular-targeted drugs have recently been found to be effective in phase III clinical trials.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Duodenum ; Gastrinoma ; Incidence ; Insulinoma ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Somatostatin