As part of the curriculum of the Introduction to Medicine course, a questionnaire designed to clarify the images of physicians ten years after graduation was distributed to 120 young physicians affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, in order to analyze the prevailing self-image of physicians and their professional identity.
Answers from 14 of the physicians suggested that their self-images and hopes related to private lifewere me same as those typically of non-physicians, that is having a happy family life, enjoying hobbies and cars, and owning real estate. However, their identity as professionals was based on not only specialist qualifications and a M.D. degree, but also “new” criteria such as conducting research, publication of articles, and presentations at academic meetings.
The findings of this survey prompted us to discuss our images of ourselves as physicians and our hopes for the future.

Twenty six adult patients who underwent prosthetic heart valve replacement and treated anti-thrombogenic therapy, were divided into 2 groups. One was administered Warfarin alone, another was administered Warfarin plus Aspirin (162mg/day) as antiplatelet therapy. Trapidil (300mg/day) was administered to all of the patients. Platelet aggregation, plasma level of TXB₂ (stable metabolite of thromboxane A₂), and 6-keto-PGF₁ (stable metabolite of PGI₂) were measured before and 1, 3, 6 months after Trapidil therapy. Platelet aggregability suppressed in both 2 groups. Plasma TXB₂ level, and TXB₂/6-keto-PGF₁ ratio showed a tendensy to decrease (p<0.05) 6 months after administration. In the Aspirin plus Trapidil group, platelet aggregability, serum TXB₂ level, and TXB₂/6-keto-PGF₁ ratio are significantly lower than that in the Trapidil only. These results suggest that Trapidil is clinically useful for antiplatelet agent, but the combined Aspirin plus Trapidil therapy is more efficacious than the Aspirin or Trapidil single therapy.