1.Pharmaceutical Students’ Awareness of Drug Abuse and Assessment of the Effects of Education
Moemi Saito ; Isao Murakami ; Gen-ichi Atsumi ; Masao Tsuchiya ; Hideaki Natsugari
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2014;16(1):1-9
Objective: In this study, we evaluated to examine the short-term educational effects for drug abuse prevention, including lectures and students’ awareness of drug abuse.
Method: A questionnaire consisting of eleven items and SD method-based image survey were conducted three times, prior to and following the lectures and after the summer vacation for first-year students of the Department of Pharmacy.
Results: The numbers of responses to the questionnaire surveys conducted prior to and following the summer vacation were 323 (response rate: 95.8%) and 332 (response rate: 97.9%), respectively. When asked: “Do you think that people should be allowed to use cannabis (illegal herbal drugs) as long as they do not cause any trouble to others”, 2.8 (3.4) and 6.9 (6.6)% of students answered “Yes” after the lectures prior to the summer vacation and following it, respectively; there were both increased. Following the summer vacation, 28.6% of students answered “Yes” to the question: “Have you ever seen or heard of people using cannabis or illegal herbal drugs ?” A total of 2.1% of students had been “solicited to use cannabis or illegal herbal drugs”, and all of them stated that it would be “easy to obtain illegal herbal drugs”. As the reason for drug abuse by young people, 140 students (42.2%) cited “curiosity”, and 81.6%, or 271 students, stated that they would “refuse” to use any illegal drugs even if they were asked to do so. The results of the SD method-based image survey suggested significant changes in students’ awareness of drug abuse during the summer vacation; they had the image of little risk on drug abuse prevention following the vacation.
Conclusion: The effects of learning were not maintained in some first-year students because they faced a variety of temptations during the short summer vacation and their normative consciousness and images of drug abuse easily changed. Therefore, it is necessary to provide lectures for new students to help them acquire accurate knowledge of drug abuse, enhance their normative consciousness, and increase their self-awareness as health care professionals, develop curriculums on a continuing basis, and deploy specialists so that students with psychological problems as identified by the survey, including stress, escapism, mental weakness, and anxiety, can consult them.
2.Attitude Survey of Pharmacy Students before and after Long-term Practical Training, and the Evaluation of Pre-clinical Training
Moemi Saito ; Eri Nakamura ; Yoshitada Nodate ; Tamaki Watanabe ; Shigekazu Watanabe ; Isao Murakami ; Masao Tsuchiya ; Jyunichi Kurihara
Japanese Journal of Social Pharmacy 2013;32(2):54-61
We conducted a questionnaire survey involving 270 interns in the year 2011 at the pharmaceutical department of Teikyo University, in order to clarify pre- to post-practical training changes in: 1) the degree of pre-clinical training’s usefulness, 2) desired workplace in the future, 3) degree of satisfaction, 4) confidence degree of practical training, etc. The degree of pre-clinical training’s usefulness exceeded 80% in all training periods. Regarding the desired workplace in the future, a large proportion of students answered that they want to become a pharmacist in a pharmacy or hospital, both before and after their practical training in all training periods. Also, it was estimated that students decide their career with reference to their practical training experience. In terms of the degree of satisfaction with practical training, the proportions of those who answered “Satisfied” or “Somewhat satisfied” were: 95.1% in the 1st, 95.6% in the 2nd, and 86.1% in the 3rd periods. The confidence degree significantly increased after practical training in all periods. Because the confidence degree showed a tendency to be higher before the 3rd period of training compared to the other two periods, it was considered that students’ experience of practical training led to increased confidence degree. Regarding communication abilities, the degrees of before-after confidence degree and pre-clinical training’s usefulness were low, and, hence, it was suggested that pre-clinical training needs to be further improved regarding these areas.
3.Tumor volume and lymphovascular space invasion as a prognostic factor in early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix.
Isao MURAKAMI ; Takuma FUJII ; Kaori KAMEYAMA ; Takashi IWATA ; Miyuki SAITO ; Kaneyuki KUBUSHIRO ; Daisuke AOKI
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2012;23(3):153-158
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and recurrence of early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix, and to determine whether non-radical methods of management could be performed. METHODS: The medical and histopathological records of 50 patients with early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix treated at Keio University Hospital between 1993 and 2005 were reviewed, and compared with the literature. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 64.3 months. The depth of stromal invasion was < or =3 mm in 33 cases and >3 mm, but < or =5 mm in 17 cases. The horizontal spread was < or =7 mm in 25 cases and >7 mm in 25 cases. One of the 33 cases that had tumor volumes of < or =500 mm3, and three of the 17 cases with tumor volumes of >500 mm3 were positive for lymph node metastasis. When our data were combined with previously reported results, statistically significant differences were observed between the tumor volume and the frequency of pelvic lymph node metastasis/the rate of recurrence (p<0.0001). The frequency of pelvic lymph node metastases was significantly higher in the lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI)-positive group than in the LVSI-negative group (p=0.02). No adnexal metastasis or parametrial involvement was noted. CONCLUSION: Assessment of the depth of stromal invasion, tumor volume, and LVSI is critical for selecting an appropriate therapeutic modality. Non-radical methods of management are considered suitable for patients with LVSI-negative adenocarcinoma of the cervix exhibiting a stromal invasion depth of < or =5 mm and a tumor volume of < or =500 mm3.
Adenocarcinoma
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Cervix Uteri
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Conization
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Lymph Nodes
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Neoplasm Metastasis
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Recurrence
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Tumor Burden
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Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
4.Study on Drug Release from 25 Products of NSAIDs for External Use (4 Components) Using the Franz Diffusion Cell
Isao MURAKAMI ; Shigekazu WATANABE ; Masao TSUCHIYA
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2018;20(2):90-97
Objective: An evaluation index for drug release was measured in 25 currently used non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for external use (4 components: indomethacin, diclofenac sodium, ketoprofen, and suprofen).Methods: All release tests were performed using the Franz diffusion cell with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as the receptor phase and an artificial membrane to maintain uniform measurement conditions. The receptor phase was collected over time and measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to calculate the release rate. The measurement time points were set over 0-4 h based on clinical use. Furthermore, the additives were compared among the products.Results: The release profile of diclofenac sodium was similar among all 8 products. On the other hand, the release rate of IN‐E (15.0% after 4 h) from indomethacin was higher than that from the other 6 products (6.2-9.1% after 4 h). The release rate of KE‐D (39.2% after 4 h) from ketoprofen was higher than that from the cream, KE‐C (30.6 % after 4 h). For suprofen, the release rate of SU‐E from the cream (18.1% after 4 h) was 1.6-1.7‐times higher than that of the other 2 products (10.9-11.3 %). No release was detected from 3 suprofen ointments.Conclusion: Differences in the additives may have been a cause of the observed differences in release over 0-4 h. This study may serve as a useful index for pharmacists to propose and select appropriate drugs.
5.Effects of a fertility-sparing re-treatment for recurrent atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer: a systematic literature review
Isao MURAKAMI ; Hiroko MACHIDA ; Tohru MORISADA ; Yasuhisa TERAO ; Tsutomu TABATA ; Mikio MIKAMI ; Yasuyuki HIRASHIMA ; Yoichi KOBAYASHI ; Tsukasa BABA ; Satoru NAGASE
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2023;34(4):e49-
Objective:
To examine the effectiveness of progestin re-treatment for recurrent endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN), atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AH) and endometrial cancer (EC) following initial fertility-sparing treatment.
Methods:
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by an Expert Panel of the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology Endometrial Cancer Committee. Multiple search engines, including PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database, were searched in December 2021 using the keywords “Endometrial neoplasms,” “Endometrial hyperplasia,” “Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia,” “Fertility preservation,” “Progestins,” AND “Recurrence.” Cases describing progestin re-treatment for recurrent EIN, AH and EC were compared with cases that underwent conventional hysterectomy. The primary outcomes were survival and disease recurrence, and the secondary outcome was pregnancy.
Results:
After screening 238 studies, 32 with results for recurrent treatment were identified. These studies included 365 patients (270 received progestin re-treatment and 95 underwent hysterectomy). Most progestin re-treatment involved medroxyprogesterone acetate or megestrol acetate (94.5%). Complete remission (CR) following progestin re-treatment was achieved in 219 (81.1%) cases, with 3-, 6- and 9-month cumulative CR rates of 22.8%, 51.7% and 82.6%, respectively. Progestin re-treatment was associated with higher risk of disease recurrence than conventional hysterectomy was (odds ratio [OR]=6.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.99–23.10), and one patient (0.4%) died of disease. Fifty-one (14.0%) women became pregnant after recurrence, and progestin re-treatment demonstrated a possibility of pregnancy (OR=2.48; 95% CI=0.94–6.58).
Conclusion
This meta-analysis suggests that repeat progestin therapy is an effective option for women with recurrent EIN, AH and EC, who wish to retain their fertility.
6.Delphi Method Consensus-Based Identification of Primary Trauma Care Skills Required for General Surgeons in Japan
Kazuyuki HIROSE ; Soichi MURAKAMI ; Yo KURASHIMA ; Nagato SATO ; Saseem POUDEL ; Kimitaka TANAKA ; Aya MATSUI ; Yoshitsugu NAKANISHI ; Toshimichi ASANO ; Takehiro NOJI ; Yuma EBIHARA ; Toru NAKAMURA ; Takahiro TSUCHIKAWA ; Toshiaki SHICHINOHE ; Kazufumi OKADA ; Isao YOKOTA ; Naoto HASEGAWA ; Satoshi HIRANO
Journal of Acute Care Surgery 2023;13(2):58-65
Purpose:
General surgeons at regional hospitals should have the primary trauma care skills necessary to treat critically ill trauma patients to withstand transfer. This study was conducted to identify a consensus on primary trauma care skills for general surgeons.
Methods:
An initial list of acute care surgical skills was compiled, and revised by six trauma experts (acute care surgeons); 33 skills were nominated for inclusion in the Delphi consensus survey. Participants (councilors of the Japanese Society for Acute Care Surgery) were presented with the list of 33 trauma care skills and were asked (using web-based software) to rate how strongly they agreed or disagreed (using a 5-point Likert scale) with the necessity of each skill for a general surgeon. The reliability of consensus was predefined as Cronbach’s α ≥ 0.8, and trauma care skills were considered as primarily required when rated 4 (agree) or 5 (strongly agree) by ≥ 80% participants.
Results:
There were 117 trauma care specialists contacted to participate in the Delphi consensus survey panel. In the 1st round, 85 specialists participated (response rate: 72.6%). In the 2nd round, 66 specialists participated (response rate: 77.6%). Consensus was achieved after two rounds, reliability using Cronbach’s α was 0.94, and 34 items were identified as primary trauma care skills needed by general surgeons.
Conclusion
A consensus-based list of trauma care skills required by general surgeons was developed. This list can facilitate the development of a new trauma training course which has been optimized for general surgeons.