Objective：The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of hochuekkito to address reduced activities of daily living (ADL), nutritional status, and immunity in patients with severe conditions, represented by a functional independence measure (FIM) total score of ≤ 40.

Methods：Thirty-one patients who were undergoing rehabilitation for hemiplegia after cerebrovascular disease were randomized into 2 groups：those treated with hochuekkito (TJ-41 group) and those treated without hochuekkito (control group). Their conditions were observed for 24 weeks, focusing on items such as ADL and incidence of inflammatory complications.

Results：The FIM total score markedly improved after treatment in both groups, but the changes in the score between admission and discharge were similar between the two groups. The incidence of inflammatory complications was significantly lower in the TJ-41 group (P = 0.049). Among the patients with a motor FIM score of ≤ 20, those in the TJ-41 group showed a tendency of increase in total lymphocyte count after treatment. No adverse drug reactions were observed during the study period.

Conclusion：These results suggest that hochuekkito is effective in reducing the incidence of inflammatory complications in patients undergoing rehabilitation for cerebrovascular or other diseases.

Background: Imprinting tablet bodies is an essential element for the safe use of pharmaceuticals. It has been observed that reports on tablet imprint design that incorporate pharmacists’ perspectives are scarce. Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a better understanding of the concept of universal design in tablet body identification and differentiation, specifically in two scenarios: normal handling of tablets and encountering tablets with similar appearances. Methods: A survey was conducted among pharmacists registered with the Yamaguchi Prefecture Pharmaceutical Association to collect data on optimal tablet imprint designs from a dispensing perspective. Results: Analysis of the survey results indicated that: 1. In normal use of tablets, a simple design with “horizontal Kana notation without emphasis on one character” was most preferred. 2. In cases where tablets were similar in appearance, designs such as “horizontal Kana notation with an underline on one character” and “horizontal Kana notation with emphasis on one character” were preferred. Conclusions: The study may indicate that certain tablet imprint designs may enhance the ability to differentiate and recognize pharmaceuticals, particularly in cases where tablets have similar appearances. To aid in distinguishing tablets with similar appearances, it is suggested that the design should incorporate ‘horizontal Kana notation’ and give emphasis to one character. This design has been shown to result in a clear improvement in identification. It is recommended that tablet imprint designs prioritize high readability for pharmacists and provide appropriate pharmaceutical information. When considering similarity with other tablets, it may be advisable to use ‘emphasis on one character’ as a universal design for differentiating and identifying tablet bodies.

Background: This study surveyed pharmacists registered with the Yamaguchi Prefectural Pharmacists Association to determine the key elements of tablet printing design that enhance visibility and distinguishability during dispensing.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify suitable design components for tablets that enhance visibility and distinguishability by utilizing text data.Methods: Given the high risk of medication errors due to similar-looking tablets, the study employed KH Coder for text mining analysis of free-text responses.Results: Results indicated that design elements such as "horizontal writing," "straight lines, " and "emphasis on characters" significantly improve visibility and distinguishability, particularly for similar-looking tablets. The findings from this study provide specific guidelines for optimal tablet design, aiming to improve pharmacists' efficiency and enhance medication safety.Conclusions: KH Coder proved to be a valuable tool for analyzing qualitative data in the medical field. While the study focused on pharmacists in Yamaguchi Prefecture, expanding the survey to a national scale is recommended to validate and generalize the findings. This research supports the development of standardized tablet designs that can minimize dispensing errors and ensure patient safety, highlighting the importance of effective tablet printing design in pharmaceutical practice.