Objective and Data Sources : To clarify where the crux of the problems lies in general usage of anticancer drugs in Japan, we examined the tracking reports on leading products in cancer market during 1994-1996. The results obtained were compared with 1995-6's actual purchase in National Cancer Center (NCC), Japan, and those in 1996 from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), USA.
Results : In Japan, oral agent of fluoropyrimidine such as UFT, doxifluridine (Furtulon), or 5-FU tablet, immunopotentiator such as Picibanil or Krestin, and anticancer hormonal agents accounted for approximately 70% of the market. As a result, the cytocidal anticancer injections which should be the leading agents for cancer chemotherapy are in the minority. In contrast, the actual purchase of NCC revealed that approximately 85% was for the cytotoxic injections and it was nearly the same with MDACC. In spite of this, the actual purchase for granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) and antiemetics such as granisetron was so much larger in MDACC (30% of the total) that in NCC (7% of the total).
Conclusion : The special circumstances in Japanese market reflects the poor development of medical oncology in this country where the truth-telling is uncommon, and less toxic chemotherapy is chosen without considering how much actually effective. Although, on the other hand, the similarity in NCC and MDACC indicates the expertness of cancer treatment, so big expense for G-CSF and antiemetics in USA makes us consider the importance of the rationalization for their usage in toxic chemotherapy in Japan.

Background： While the number of older cancer patients increases as the society ages, the current status of the pain control is not well characterized among older patients. To improve the quality of care, it is necessary to understand the current status. Objectives： The aim of this study was to describe the pain control for older cancer patients in comparison to younger counterparts and characterize it. Methods： During four months in 2013, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital started asking all hospitalized cancer patients about their pain every day using a standardized pain questionnaire. In addition, a questionnaire adopted to the outpatient setting was distributed to the patients who visited outpatient department of the hospital. The information about pain, quality of life (QOL) and the medical histories were included in the data analyses. Their responses were compared between outpatients versus inpatients and older ( ≥65 years) versus younger (＜65 years) patients. Results： The response rate was 57.0％. Pain management was less adequate among outpatients than among inpatients, with pain relief rate of 28.9％ for the former and 52.6％ for the latter (P＜0.001). Among outpatients, the pain relief rate for the older patients was particularly low (older：24.7％ vs younger：35.8％, P＜0.01). Conclusion： Pain management for older patients in the outpatient settings needs a particular attention for improvement. Resources should be allocated to enable better detection and relief of pain among outpatients.

Background : Fungal mycotic aneurysm is rare ; however, special care and treatment are required for the deep fungal infection itself. Case : The patient was a 69-year-old man with a history of sepsis due to Candida albicans. He suffered from back pain and moderate fever. CT revealed saccular-form aneurysm at the infrarenal abdominal aorta. After emergent in situ bifurcated graft replacement of the infected aneurysm, antifungal treatment was attempted in reference to the antifungal drug sensitivity of C. albicans from intraoperative cultures and findings of fungal endophthalmitis in an ophthalmic examination. After an uneventful acute course, follow up CT images after 12 months postoperatively revealed pseudoaneurysm formation proximal to the site of graft anastomosis. Reoperation was planned with a trans-thoracic and transabdominal approach because of concerns about thoracoabdominal aortic infection. However, the reoperation displayed only inflammatory tissue around the graft and aortic tissue. Removal of the previous graft and reconstruction of the bilateral renal artery, and the pararenal abdominal aorta to the bilateral common iliac artery was performed. Intraoperative tissue cultures revealed no evidence of microorganisms. He returned home with oral antifungal treatment and is doing well at 8 months after the reoperation. Conclusions : Management of fungal mycotic aneurysms requires both surgical treatment and antifungal treatment. Antifungal agents should be selected based on the results of a susceptibility test and after examinations for metastatic comorbidities.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAf) is an arrhythmia that often occurs in the elderly. The quality of life often declines due to severe palpitations caused by pAf. We present a case of recurrent pAf that occurred on postoperative day 2 of coronary artery bypass grafting and pulmonary vein isolation for unstable angina pectoris and pAf. The patient was a 62-year-old man who complained of palpitations, which was consistent with pAf on the monitor ECG. During hospitalization, the patient was constantly wearing an ECG monitor. During pAf, the heart rate was around 120 bpm, and pAf could continue for up to and beyond 24 hours. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with strong palpitations was observed every day, even after starting beta-blockers and anticoagulants. After discharge, a Japanese Kampo medicine called shakanzoto was taken for a month, but there was no improvement. After that, it was changed to another Japanese Kampo medicine called saikokaryukotsuboreito, because abdominal examination revealed kyokyokuman (hypochondriac discomfort and distension (resistance)) and saiboki (brisk pulsation in the para-umbilical region). Palpitations quickly improved dramatically. It was speculated that not only palpitations but also pAf had been improved.