For the purpose of pharmacists to be able to be more involved clinically, the pharmacy education system in Japan was revised in April 2006 and the term length of pharmacy education was extended from 4 years to 6 years.
The Japanese Society for Pharmacoepidemiology is deeply concerned about the new curriculum which will be adopted for the 6-year course, especially the handling of pharmacoepidemiology education. Two questionnaire surveys were sent to the dean of all schools of pharmacy to inquire whether they lecture pharmacoepidemiology and, if not, what study in pharmaceutical sciences would be most closely related to pharmacoepidemiology. The surveys were conducted just before and just after the introduction of the new system, in October 2005 and July 2007. The recovery of the first and second survey were 90% and 76%, respectively.
In the first survey only 17 universities (31%) had lectures on pharmacoepidemiology but in the second survey 31 universities (57%) did, and in 55% of these 31 universities the lecture was required. The result indicates that the understanding of professors of pharmacy school regarding the lecture have been gradually promoted and they feel that pharmacoepidemiology is going to be considered to be one of the essential lectures in pharmacy education in Japan. However, many responders indicated that pharmacoepidemiology was still an immature field of study and there are few appropriate textbooks and no teaching experts, and therefore, the society should take these matters into reconsideration.

Background : A vitamin K₂ agent has recently been approved and is going to be marketed for the treatment of osteoporosis. Since vitamin K₂ agents are known to cause rebound of blood coagulation capacity lowered by an anticoagulant warfarin, a great caution is necessary for the concomitant use of these agents.
Objective and Design : A drug utilization survey to examine the use of warfarin and drugs for osteoporosis.
Methods : Fukui Medical School Database was surveyed to identify patients who used warfarin and/or drugs for osteoporosis during the period between January 1, 1988 and July 31, 1995. Patients with a diagnosis osteoporosis made between December 1, 1983 and July 31, 1995, were also identified and their prescription data were extracted to examine the combined use of warfarin and drugs for osteoporosis. In addition, 53 outpatients with cardiovascular diseases were interviewed to know the treatments and medications given by other clinics.
Results : Concomitant drug therapy for osteoporosis was given to 6.9% (56/813) of warfarin users. The proportion of concomitant use was 15% (36/234) in women, much higher than 3.5% (20/579) in men. More than 10% of the interviewed patients were receiving some treatments in other orthopedic clinics for osteoporosis or other diseases but few patients were aware of their medication.
Conclusion : Old female users of warfarin, especially those having osteoporosis concomitantly, are likely to berome a high risk group for the possible interaction between warfarin and the vitamin K₂ agent. Useful information on the safety associated with the interaction between these two drugs should be given to this group of patients as well as to the prescribers and dispensers.

Objective : Heparin lock flush solution is diluctes and divided into vials before its use while it is used in quantity in Japan. Then, we carried out the research on use of heparin lock flush solution.
Methods : We executed the nationwide questionnaire investigation concerning making heparin lock flush solution.
Results : The recovery of the nationwide questionnaire investigation was as high as 78% (64/82) indicating general concern for the problem.
Heparin lock flush solution was made in 97% (246/253) of wards. 69% (174/253) of wards had a standard for preparation. Therebon, it is thought that the standardization of heparin lock flush solution is possible. The use concentration employed most frequently for the peripheral intravenous injection was 10 units/ml and that for the central vein injection was 100/ml units. In many wards the amount used at 1 time for the peripheral intravenous injection was 5 ml or 10 ml and that for the central vein injection, was 5 ml, 10 ml, or 20 ml.
84% of nurses requested marketing of heparin lock flush solution.
Conclusion : We investigated the use realities and the problem of heparin lock flush solution from a past report etc. Heparin lock flush solution is listed to the pharmacopeia in the United States and Britain. Heparin lock flush solution should be supplied as the goods on the market immediately even if it is seen from the profit, the safety, the medical economy.

Objective : Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEIT) for hepatocellular carcinoma is basic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is off-label uses to use ethanol for this treatment in the current state. Then, we executed the drug utilization study of Absolute ethanol injections at this time.
Methods : We executed the drug utilization study of Absolute ethanol injections at this time.
Results : The recovery of the questionnaire was high with 84.4% (151/179 medical institutions). The ethanol injections was made by 85% (129/151 facilities). Facilities where 100 or more ethanol injections was made annually were 76%. The raw material for making the ethanol injections was the reagent which was not the medicine in 44% of facilities. Information on safety and effectiveness concerning the ethanol injections was hardly offered from pharmacy. Finally, 96% (124/129 facilities) demanded marketing the ethanol injections.
Conclusion : We investigated the research report number by using “ICHUSHI” CD-ROM version (1988-1998) which was the medical literature data base. We were able to collect reports concerning PEIT of hepatocellular carcinoma of 636 reports. We were able to collect reports which used PEIT as a treatment method of hepatocellular carcinoma by as many as 636 reports. It has been understood that PEIT is enforced in Japan. Next, we reviewed the document and collected and evaluated information on effectiveness and safety concerning the ethanol injections used for PEIT. The treatment object, the usage, and the dosage have been decided at the relating academic meeting. Moreover, there was a report concerning a lot of effectiveness and safety in the PEIT treatment method of hepatocellular carcinoma. The ethanol injections used for PEIT is one of the medicines where information and scientific evidence concerning effectiveness and safety are accumulated. Moreover, a large amount of ethanol injections are nationally made in the pharmacy in the hospital. However, it has been proved that there are a lot of problems about the making. The ethanol injections is the medicine which should be supplied and made by the pharmaceutical company.