This study aimed to investigate the changes in physical function, fatigue, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise training. Sixty-two hospitalized patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise were recruited. At the time of exercise initiation and hospital discharge, grip strength, knee extension muscle strength, maximum walking speed, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, a measure of functional independence, cancer fatigue pain, and hospital anxiety and depression were evaluated. When longitudinal data were analyzed in each group, changes in grip strength and knee extension muscle strength were unevenly distributed: some patients showed a decrease in knee extension strength. On the other hand, maximum walking speed, the measure of functional independence, and ECOG performance status were maintained or improved in more than 90% of the patients. Results of fatigue, anxiety, and depression tended to show an improvement in female patients, but not in male patients. In conclusion, physical function was maintained in nearly all patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy and low-intensity exercise training. Sex differences were found in changes of fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention that applied a behavioral change approach to the usual rehabilitation for patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy were divided into two groups: patients who underwent conventional rehabilitation (control group, n=12) and a counterpart who received a behavioral change intervention with feedback on motor function and physical activity (feedback group, n=13). We analyzed the changes in motor function and physical activity between the two groups from the start of rehabilitation to discharge. Results: There were a significant difference in walking speed between baseline and discharge. Changes in weekly steps were significantly higher in the feedback group than those in the control group. Conclusion: A behavioral change intervention with feedback on motor function and physical activity may improve voluntary exercise in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy.

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors associated with fatigue in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Method: A total of 90 patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. Simple regression analysis was performed using total, physical, emotional, and cognitive fatigue as dependent variables. On the other hand, the patient’s sex, age, blood test findings, physical function, activities of daily living (ADL), performance status, presence or absence of anxiety or depression, physical symptoms, and nutritional status were used as independent variables. Multiple regression analysis was conducted with the items that showed significant differences in the simple regression analysis as independent variables. Results: Multiple regression analysis with total fatigue as the dependent variable identified depression as an associated factor. Additionally, physical fatigue was noted to be associated with pain and depression, while emotional fatigue was reported to be associated with ADL and depression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients with hematological malignancies who have symptoms of fatigue should be managed taking in consideration possible causes of their fatigue, such as depression, pain, and ADL.

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the details of osteoporosis treatment for cancer patients provided by designated cancer hospitals. Methods: This web-based survey included questions on the evaluation and treatment of osteoporosis in cancer patients provided by physicians in the departments of urology, gynecology, hematology, respiratory medicine, respiratory surgery, gastroenterology medicine and gastroenterology surfery. Results: The gynecology, hematology, breast surgery, and urology departments had high rates of bone densitometry and prescriptions of osteoporosis treatment for cancer patients. The most frequently used selection criteria were age, hormone therapy, and steroid use. Conclusion: Osteoporosis treatment and associated selection criteria for cancer patients is different in each department, so we need to educate the evaluation and treatment of cancer treatment-induced bone loss.

Real-world data (RWD), such as a health insurance claim database and electronic medical record database, which records daily medical care information, is one of the most important data sources in pharmacoepidemiological studies. In Japan, a post-marketing database study has been added as a new category of post-marketing surveillance since April 2018. It is expected that the post-marketing database studies will be conducted in the actual risk management plan； however, at this point, few have reached the stage of publishing study results. On the other hand, overseas, many database research results using RWD have already been reported. Although it is necessary to keep in mind that there are differences in the characteristics of the databases (e.g., data contents, structures) and the differences in the medical environment between overseas and Japan, we think that critically reviewing these reports has a reference value for the planning, execution, and interpretation of the results in performing post-marketing database studies in Japan. The purpose of this report is to examine the characteristics and cautions of the database studies through a critical review of published articles of overseas RWD studies and to make recommendations that are useful for conducting post-marketing database studies in Japan. We hope this article will become a help in the planning and implementation of future post-marketing database studies.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the details of inpatient cancer rehabilitation interventions provided by designated cancer hospitals in Japan. Methods: This questionnaire-based survey asked specialists regarding the outline of their facilities’ inpatient cancer rehabilitation, Dietz classification, disease, and intervention details. Results: Restorative interventions were the most common, and the most common cancer was lung cancer followed by colorectal cancer; hematologic malignancy; gastric cancer; and liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic cancer. Intervention proportions for colorectal and gastric cancer were significantly higher in general hospitals than in university hospitals and cancer centers; in contrast, those for hematological malignancy were significantly higher in university hospitals than in general hospitals. For bone and soft tissue sarcomas, intervention proportions in cancer centers were significantly higher than those in university and general hospitals; and for oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers, they were significantly higher in university hospitals and cancer centers than in general hospitals. The most common intervention was walking training, followed by resistance training, basic motor training, activities of daily living training, and respiratory rehabilitation. Respiratory rehabilitation was performed significantly more frequently in university and general hospitals than in cancer centers.Conclusion: The diseases had differed according to the characteristics of the facilities, and the interventions were considered accordingly. In future, it will be necessary to verify the effectiveness of inpatient cancer rehabilitation according to facility characteristics and to disseminate information on inpatient cancer rehabilitation.