Cilostazol increases the level of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) by inhibiting cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase-3. Its main role was induced by the increased cAMP, including the inhibition of platelet aggregation, anti-thrombosis, vasodilation, and anti-endothelial cell proliferation. Recent experimental studies line indicated that cilostazol is promising in the intervention of acute cerebral ischemia and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Clinical trials have also demonstrated its efficacy. This article summarizes the pharmacological effect and mechanism of cilostazol, as well as its protective effect during ischemic stroke.

　　Many patients carried into the emergency room or intensive care unit are suspected to have risk factors for deep-seated mycosis. Using the Actions Bundle, which itemizes diagnosis and treatment of invasive candidiasis, we carried out investigations into facts about the use of antifungal drugs in the intensive care unit of our hospital. The subjects of this retrospective study were 11 ICU patients who were given antifungal drugs intravenously between April 2013 and March 2014. Their medication records revealed that micafungin was administered to five patients, fosfluconazole to another five patients and fulconazole to the remaining one patient. The ratio of the cases where the dugs were used in compliance with what the Actions Bundle suggested worked out at 71.4±15.9%. When it came to the collection rate of two sets of blood culture and the proper dosage, the compliance rates were the lowest with 36% each. As regards dosage, 18% was excessive, 36% proper and 45% insufficient. As pharmacists in charge of the ICU, we have to use the checklist more effectively and intervene in the care of patients with invasive candidiasis at an early stage.

In our previous study, a prolactin elevation was more frequently in risperidone than in blonanserin; however, it was more often in blonanserin than in olanzapine. Therefore, while a rate of PRL rising is low to moderate, hyperprolactinemia is a considerable adverse effect in the blonanserin treatment. In this study, to examine detailed characteristics of hyperprolactinemia of blonanserin, we analyzed the prolactin data in six schizophrenic patients who were switched to blonanserin from other antipsychotics and followed for one year. As a result, blonanserin dose was clearly associated with serum prolactin level. The average prolactin level was almost normal when the mean blonanserin dosage was 8.0 mg/day. Regardless of the dose decrease of blonanserin, there were no remarkable changes in symptoms and social functions. Based on our findings, we conclude that low dose blonanserin medication may be useful for schizophrenia maintenance treatment without hyperprolactinemia and a high rate of relapse.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Prolactin* ; Recurrence ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia*

Background/Aims: Several studies have assessed the effect of cool temperature on colonic peristalsis. Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) is a temperature-sensitive ion channel activated by mild cooling expressed in the colon. We examined the antispasmodic effect of cool temperature on colonic peristalsis in a prospective, randomized, single-blind trial and based on the video imaging and intraluminal pressure of the proximal colon in rats and TRPM8-deficient mice. Methods: In the clinical trial, we randomly assigned a total of 94 patients scheduled to undergo colonoscopy to 2 groups: the mildly cool water (n = 47) and control (n = 47) groups. We used 20 mL of 15°C water for the mildly cool water. The primary outcome was the proportion of subjects with improved peristalsis after treatment. In the rodent proximal colon, we evaluated the intraluminal pressure and performed video imaging of the rodent proximal colon with cool water administration into the colonic lumen. Clinical trial registry website (Trial No. UMIN-CTR; UMIN000030725). Results: In the randomized controlled trial, after treatment, the proportion of subjects with no peristalsis with cool water was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (44.7% vs 23.4%; P < 0.05). In the rodent colon model, cool temperature water was associated with a significant decrease in colonic peristalsis through its suppression of the ratio of peak frequency (P < 0.05). Cool temperaturetreated TRPM8-deficient mice did not show a reduction in colonic peristalsis compared with wild-type mice. Conclusion For the first time, this study demonstrates that cool temperature-dependent suppression of colonic peristalsis may be associated with TRPM8 activation.