This study was conducted to examine the reliability of three-dimensional photonic image scanning (3DPS) for measuring body surface area (BSA), and formulate equations for predicting BSA based on 3DPS. The surface area (SA) of a cylinder with known SA and BSA of 7 males were repeatedly measured by 3DPS. BSA was determined by 3DPS for 122 subjects (25–76 yrs). BSA prediction equations for both genders were developed for the validation group (16 males and 45 females) using body height and mass as independent variables, and were cross-validated for the cross-validation group (16 males and 45 females). The standard error of measurement was 2.2cm² (0.16%). The coefficients of variation (CV) for repeated measurements of SA were less than 0.2%. The BSA of subjects did not differ significantly on any given day nor between days, with a CV of less than 1%. The coefficient of determination and standard error of estimation of the prediction equations were 0.98 and 183cm² (1.1%), respectively, for males and 0.98 and 204cm² (1.3%), respectively, for females. There was no significant difference between the predicted and measured values. In the cross-validation group, there was no significant difference between the predicted and measured values without systematic errors. These findings indicate that 3DPS is reliable for measuring BSA, and the formulated equations are valid and applicable to individuals within a wide age-range.

In this study, we examined applicability of existing equations to predicting the body surface area (BSA) of children, and newly developed prediction equations for the BSA of children. BSA of 87 children of both genders (7∼12 yr) was determined by the three-dimensional photonic image scanning (3DPS), which was used as reference. BSA predicted using existing equations yielded overestimation or underestimation and/or a systematic error with respect to the reference. BSA prediction equations for boys and girls were developed using height and body mass as independent variables for the validation group and cross-validated for another group. The standard errors of estimation of the prediction equations were 105 cm² (0.9 %) for boys and 158 cm²(1.4 %) for girls. In the cross-validation group, there was no significant difference between the predicted and measured values without systematic errors. These findings indicate that existing equations cannot accurately predict BSA of children, and that the newly developed prediction equations are capable of predicting BSA of children with adequate accuracy.

In our medical district, home care physician-led liaison system has not yet been established for pain relief using a patient-controlled analgesia（PCA）pump. Therefore, it has been difficult to perform continuous opioid infusion at home. We investigated the liaison system based on our experience with breast cancer patients in whom oral drug administration became difficult during palliative care at home and thus continuous opioid subcutaneous infusion was started in cooperation with a palliative care hospital team and based on the discussion among home care study group physicians of the medical association. Based on the results of our study, we established the system called“Home PCA Raku-raku（Easy）Pack”that are characterized by the following：（1）opioids are prescribed by a home care physician；（2）a certified cancer pain management nurse accompanies a nurse to visit the patients’ home, assesses their conditions, and changes the drug solution；（3）the pump rental fee is paid by the home care physician, and the cost of consumables is paid by the hospital；and（4）the home care physician calculates the fee for home management of malignant tumors, and the hospital calculates the collaborative medical management fee and the visiting nursing management fee. This system was applied to 6 patients during a period of approximately 2 years. The result of a questionnaire survey for home care physicians and visiting nurse stations using this system showed that the system was generally beneficial.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the prevalence of food allergies during childhood is increasing, with fruits being common allergens. However, data on allergens that cause fruit and vegetable allergies and pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) in childhood are relatively few. This study aimed to examine the allergens in fruit and vegetable allergies in pediatric patients and to determine the association between fruit and vegetable allergies and PFAS.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the current status of fruit and vegetable allergies in Japanese children.METHODS: This was a multicenter case series observational study. The participants included children aged <15 years who developed allergic symptoms after eating fruits and vegetables and subsequently received treatment in the Pediatric Department of 6 hospitals in the Osaka Prefecture in Japan during the study period from August 2016 to July 2017. Participants' information was obtained using a questionnaire, and data were obtained by performing several types of allergy tests using blood samples.RESULTS: A total of 97 children (median age, 9 years; 56 males) were included in the study. Apple was the most common allergen, followed by peach, kiwi, cantaloupe, and watermelon. A total of 74 participants (76%) exhibited allergic symptoms due to PFAS; moreover, pathogenesis-related protein-10 (PR-10) was the most common allergen superfamily. On the contrary, in the group where neither PR-10 nor profilin was sensitized, kiwi and banana were the most common allergens, and the age of onset was lower than that in the PFAS group. Specific antibody titer was significantly associated with Birch for Bet v1 and latex for Bet v2 (r = 0.99 and r = 0.89).CONCLUSION: When we examine patients with fruit and vegetable allergies, we should first consider PFAS even in childhood specifically for children greater than 4 years old.
Age of Onset ; Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Child ; Citrullus ; Clinical Study ; Cucumis melo ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Japan ; Latex ; Musa ; Observational Study ; Prevalence ; Profilins ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Vegetables

Objective: In patients with specific backgrounds, comprehensive identification of health problems and proactive pharmacist intervention are crucial to providing safe and effective medical care. However, there are insufficient reports on chemotherapy regimen selection and supportive care management in patients taking immunosuppressants. In this study, to circumvent adverse events, pharmacists intervened with a patient administering tacrolimus (TAC) using known information, focusing on multiple factors attributable to the patient in addition to drug interactions.Methods: The patient was a male in their 70s who received palliative chemotherapy for gastric cancer during their dermatomyositis treatment with TAC. Pharmaceutical support for cancer chemotherapy was provided using the following four procedures: (1) Patient information was collected from interviews and electronic medical records to identify patient-specific problems; (2) Basic pharmacological information was collected from tertiary sources, focusing on the interaction between TAC and aprepitant (APR). Furthermore, clinical reports were collected, and the pharmacokinetic drug interaction significance classification system was used for quantitative predictions; (3) The information obtained in steps 1) and 2) was evaluated, and comprehensive proposals linked to the patient information were presented; (4) Adverse events, TAC blood level, and patient outcomes were monitored after treatment initiation.Results: A chemotherapy regimen consisting of S-1/oxaliplatin therapy without APR was selected. The adverse effects were controllable, and the treatment was completed without many adverse events. Meanwhile, TAC adherence was unaffected by cancer chemotherapy, and the TAC blood concentration or dose ratios were controlled within the same range as previously reported.Conclusion: In cancer chemotherapy, for cases with limited evidence or information, comprehensive pharmaceutical support was provided using known patient information, considering multiple patient factors. This report is beneficial as an example of supportive care management by a pharmacist and contributes to providing optimal service in cases with specific backgrounds.