1) Although maternity leave can facilitate the professional success of female students.The extent to which maternity leave is implemented remains unknown.A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all Japanese medical schools and postgraduate schools in medicine (N=81) was performed.Responses were received from 55 medical schools and postgraduate medical schools (response rate=67.9%).The results showed that no school had formally established a maternity leave policy for students.
2) We found that medical educators had reorganized clinical clerkship programs to accommodate the pregnancies of students but expressed confusion about how to manage such situations.
3) We also found that many female postgraduate students drop out because of pregnancy or child-care responsibilities. Medical schools and postgraduate schools should recognize the importance of maternity leave and should not close their doors to pregnant students who are contending with both motherhood and academic achievement.

Objectives : High and medium-dose combination hormone agents have long been used in their off-label use as oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill) are expected to be approved by the standing committee of the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council in June 1999, and are expected to be on the market by autumn, available to anyone bearing a doctor's prescription. A survey was conducted of pharmacy students to determine their acceptance and their perceptions of oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill). The results are discussed along with ways of dealing with the scientific information on the possible soon to be approved oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill), and some proposals are made for the future.
Methods : The survey was conducted by distributing questionnaire sheets to female pharmacy college students in September 1996. Of the 670 subjects, 98 responded positively to the use of oral contraceptives (the positive group), while 572 preferred not to use them (the negative group). The two groups were compared and the data was analyzed. Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate demographic and background data, their views on using oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill) and ways of obtaining necessary information.
Results : In the responses to the questions on how the subjects feel about oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill), the positive group gave these reasons more frequently than those in the negative group : simple to use (p<0.001), a method with a high contraceptive rate (p<0.001), a means of contraception controlled by the woman (p<0.001). On the other hand, the reasons given more frequently by the negative group : feeling concerned about adverse drug reactions (p<0.001), a method allowing sexually transmitted diseases to propagate (p=0.009), a method increasing the burden on the woman (p<0.001).
In terms of the subjects' knowledge of oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill), although there has been some improvement observed during their four-year college life, they did not seen to understand accurate information.
Conclusion : The surveyed subjects had not understood accurate information, and this lack of knowledge may have formed their biased views on oral contraceptives (the low-dose pill). Given such results, it is anticipated that such misconceptions may affect their own decision-making in their use of the drug, and that it would cause inefficiency in providing future users with accurate information when these students become pharmacists. In the near future, there is expected to be a deluge of information concerning the low-dose pill. It is clearly necessary in pharmaceutical education to provide proper training of pharmacy students for self-education so as to increase efficiency when considering and evaluating information.

　For female physicians, it is important to nurture an environment that enables them to take advantages of support for child rearing as well as for their return to their original jobs. It is also critical for physicians, whether female or male, to receive education to recognize the professional/occupational missions of being a physician. Once they have received environmental support and mission clarification, they will be able to realize an uninterrupted career in order to attain their social contributions.

　The Committee on Studies of Career Education for Female Physicians has set five learning objectives by examining the required abilities and capabilities of a physician.

The proposed five learning objectives are to acquire:

(1) Professional awareness of the missions of being a physician,

(2) Ability to make career plans,

(3) Flexibility to embrace diverse values of the profession,

(4) Appropriate attitudes for both those receiving and those offering the support, because it should be the responsibility of the medical community,

(5) Recognition of social gender differences and acquires the capability to deal with such differences.

All organizations related to medical education should promote these five learning objectives.

　The Committee on Studies of Career Education for Female Physicians set five learning objectives for all physicians to nurture abilities for continuous public participation by women physicians. Next, we discussed the learning objectives corresponding to the learning period and made a road map. Further more, we proposed our new target-based education program and methods for its assessment.

1) To our knowledge, medical student abuse has not previously been studied in Japan.
2) In our survey, 68.5% of respondents experienced medical student abuse.
3) Several students reported that they had been frequently neglected or ignored by teaching physicians during clinical clerkships and that such attitudes discouraged them and decreased their motivation.
4) To improve the learning environment, medical educators must take action to resolve this serious issue.

Effects of anti-oketsu drug, Keishibukuryogan (Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan) and Tokishakuyakusan (Dang-gui-shao-yao-san) in vivo and in vitro on platelet aggregation were investigated in normal volunteers.
Of 20 volunteers who were given Keishibukuryogan, there were 6, 3 and 11 subjects whose dose-response curves of collagen-induced aggregations were shifted to the right, to the left, or who had no shift, respectively. The control aggregations of these 20 people were in the same range. In ADP-induced aggregation, there were 5 curves shifted to the right. Their potencies in the control aggregation were higher than those of 9 subjects who were not affected by the drug. There were 6 curves shifted to the left, and their potencies were lower than those of the 9 unaffected subjects. Of 12 volunteers who were given Tokishakuyakusan, there were 2, 2 and 8 subjects whose dose-response curves in collagen-induced aggregation were shifted to the right, the left, or who had no shift respectively. With ADP-induced aggregation, there were 1, 1 and 10 subjects whose doseresponse curves were shifted likewise. In vitro, Keishibukuryogan caused inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation but not that of collagen-induced aggregation.