The growing prevalence of outpatient chemotherapy highlights the vital role that community pharmacists have in patient care. An online interaction meeting was held annually over a three-year period that aimed to foster mutual understanding between patients with cancer and community pharmacists. Each session involved six pharmacists and seven to eight cancer patients, with the same pharmacists participating each year. These meetings highlighted the potential of community pharmacists to reduce patient anxiety and provide treatment guidance, underscoring the importance of connecting patients with pharmacists.

Sports medicine requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach, making it highly compatible with primary care. Internationally, there are many primary care physicians in the field of sports medicine; however, there are few in Japan. Although the demand for learning about sports medicine is high, there are few facilities where primary care physicians can undergo training. This report discusses the initiatives and prospects of the Kameda Family Clinic Tateyama Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, which was established in 2009 and revised and implemented in 2022.

Sports medicine requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach, making it highly compatible with primary care. Internationally, there are many primary care physicians in the field of sports medicine; however, there are few in Japan. Although the demand for learning about sports medicine is high, there are few facilities where primary care physicians can undergo training. This report discusses the initiatives and prospects of the Kameda Family Clinic Tateyama Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, which was established in 2009 and revised and implemented in 2022.

Background/Aims: Pathological evaluation is crucial for diagnosing biliary lesions and determining appropriate treatment strategies. However, tissue sampling via the transpapillary route can be difficult. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel tapered-tip sheath system for tissue sampling from biliary strictures. Methods: This single-center, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial included patients aged 20 to 85 years admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for biliary strictures. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to a new or conventional method group. The primary outcome was technical success of biopsy at the target bile duct using the assigned method, as determined in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Adverse events were assessed in all eligible patients. Results: Fifty-six patients were assessed for eligibility between September 2020 and March 2023; 50 patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into the new (n=25) method group and the conventional (n=25) method group. Technical success was achieved in 96.0% (24/25) and 48.0% (12/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 3.03; risk difference, 48.0%; 95% CI, 27.0% to 69.0%; p<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 4.0% (1/25) and 36.0% (9/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.81; risk difference, –32.0%; 95% CI, –52.3% to –11.7%; p=0.005). Conclusions The novel tapered-tip sheath system is a promising option for precisely and safely delivering biopsy forceps to target sites, thereby facilitating the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

Background/Aims: Pathological evaluation is crucial for diagnosing biliary lesions and determining appropriate treatment strategies. However, tissue sampling via the transpapillary route can be difficult. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel tapered-tip sheath system for tissue sampling from biliary strictures. Methods: This single-center, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial included patients aged 20 to 85 years admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for biliary strictures. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to a new or conventional method group. The primary outcome was technical success of biopsy at the target bile duct using the assigned method, as determined in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Adverse events were assessed in all eligible patients. Results: Fifty-six patients were assessed for eligibility between September 2020 and March 2023; 50 patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into the new (n=25) method group and the conventional (n=25) method group. Technical success was achieved in 96.0% (24/25) and 48.0% (12/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 3.03; risk difference, 48.0%; 95% CI, 27.0% to 69.0%; p<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 4.0% (1/25) and 36.0% (9/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.81; risk difference, –32.0%; 95% CI, –52.3% to –11.7%; p=0.005). Conclusions The novel tapered-tip sheath system is a promising option for precisely and safely delivering biopsy forceps to target sites, thereby facilitating the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

Background/Aims: Pathological evaluation is crucial for diagnosing biliary lesions and determining appropriate treatment strategies. However, tissue sampling via the transpapillary route can be difficult. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel tapered-tip sheath system for tissue sampling from biliary strictures. Methods: This single-center, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial included patients aged 20 to 85 years admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for biliary strictures. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to a new or conventional method group. The primary outcome was technical success of biopsy at the target bile duct using the assigned method, as determined in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Adverse events were assessed in all eligible patients. Results: Fifty-six patients were assessed for eligibility between September 2020 and March 2023; 50 patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into the new (n=25) method group and the conventional (n=25) method group. Technical success was achieved in 96.0% (24/25) and 48.0% (12/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 3.03; risk difference, 48.0%; 95% CI, 27.0% to 69.0%; p<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 4.0% (1/25) and 36.0% (9/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.81; risk difference, –32.0%; 95% CI, –52.3% to –11.7%; p=0.005). Conclusions The novel tapered-tip sheath system is a promising option for precisely and safely delivering biopsy forceps to target sites, thereby facilitating the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

Background/Aims: Pathological evaluation is crucial for diagnosing biliary lesions and determining appropriate treatment strategies. However, tissue sampling via the transpapillary route can be difficult. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel tapered-tip sheath system for tissue sampling from biliary strictures. Methods: This single-center, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial included patients aged 20 to 85 years admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for biliary strictures. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to a new or conventional method group. The primary outcome was technical success of biopsy at the target bile duct using the assigned method, as determined in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Adverse events were assessed in all eligible patients. Results: Fifty-six patients were assessed for eligibility between September 2020 and March 2023; 50 patients were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into the new (n=25) method group and the conventional (n=25) method group. Technical success was achieved in 96.0% (24/25) and 48.0% (12/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 3.03; risk difference, 48.0%; 95% CI, 27.0% to 69.0%; p<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 4.0% (1/25) and 36.0% (9/25) of patients in the new and conventional method groups, respectively (risk ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.81; risk difference, –32.0%; 95% CI, –52.3% to –11.7%; p=0.005). Conclusions The novel tapered-tip sheath system is a promising option for precisely and safely delivering biopsy forceps to target sites, thereby facilitating the diagnosis of biliary strictures.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.

We assessed the association of employee lifestyles (e.g., smoking, exercise, drinking, and sleep habits) with mental health-related absenteeism and turnover rates utilizing data from the annual Health and Productivity Management survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This analysis included data from 1,748 companies, encompassing 4,199,021 employees. The average proportions of mental health-related absenteeism and employee turnover rates were 1.1±1.0% and 5.0±5.0%, respectively. In multivariable regression models that incorporated all lifestyle factors and confounders, a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who slept well was associated with reductions in their turnover rate (mean, -0.020%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.038 to -0.002) and in mental health-related absenteeism (mean, -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.009 to 0.001). A similar increase in the proportion of employees engaging in regular physical activity corresponded with a 0.005% decrease in the prevalence of mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.010 to -0.001). A 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of employees who smoked was associated with a 0.013% reduction in mental health-related absenteeism (95% CI, -0.017 to -0.008). Nonetheless, the current study’s observational and cross-sectional design restricted the ability to establish causality between employee lifestyle factors and mental health issues.