BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

BACKGROUND:Ultrasound guidance is commonly used for accessing difficult peripheral veins.For successful access,a tourniquet is required for venodilation.Tourniquets decrease the compressibility and increase the diameter of veins;they also obfuscate artery-vein differentiation on ultrasound.We aimed to establish the upper limit of sphygmomanometer cuff pressure that facilitates artery-vein differentiation during ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access. METHODS:We employed the sphygmomanometer cuff as a tourniquet for venodilation and tested it on seven participants at six different levels as follows:0 mmHg,DBP/2,DBP,(DBP+SBP)/2,SBP,and SBP+20 mmHg.We used an ultrasound probe attached to a pressure-measuring instrument to record cross-sectional images of the cubital artery and vein.During ultrasonography,compression was applied to the blood vessels through the skin.The following day,we measured the wrist pulse pressure and observed the oximeter pulse wave at six different tourniquet pressure levels.Repeated-measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)on ranks and Tukey's post-hoc analysis were used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:Arterial pulsation was maintained at tourniquet pressures between 0 mmHg and(DBP+SBP)/2.However,arterial pulsation decreased or disappeared when the tourniquet pressure reached or exceeded the SBP.Moreover,at this pressure level,the superior compressibility of veins compared to that of arteries was no longer observed.Compression of the artery to 75%and 50%of its original diameter increased arterial pulsation. CONCLUSION:Arterial pulsation and the superior compressibility are useful indicators for differentiating veins from arteries until the tourniquet pressure reaches(DBP+SBP)/2.However,these indicators are not reliable once the tourniquet pressure exceeds the SBP.

Objective: Currently, limited information is available on the milk transfer properties of drugs when consumed by lactating women. Therefore, we aim to construct a prediction model of milk transfer of drugs using machine learning methods.Methods: We obtained data from Hale’s Medications & Mothers’ Milk (MMM) and SciFinder®, and then constructed the datasets. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic data were used as feature variables with M/P ratio ≥ 1 and M/P ratio < 1 as the objective variables, classified into two groups as the classification of milk transferability. In this study, analyses were conducted using machine learning methods: logistic regression, linear support vector machine (linear SVM), kernel method support vector machine (kernel SVM), random forest, and k-nearest neighbor classification. The results were compared to those obtained with the linear regression equation of Yamauchi et al. from a previous study. The analysis was performed using scikit-learn (version 0.24.2) with python (version 3.8.10).Results: Model construction and validation were performed on the training data comprising 159 drugs. The results revealed that the random forest had the highest accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and F value. Additionally, the results with test data A and B (n = 36, 31), which were not used for training, showed that both F value and accuracy for the random forest and the kernel method SVM exceeded those with the linear regression equation of Yamauchi et al. Conclusion: We were able to construct a predictive model of milk transferability with relatively high performance using a machine learning method capable of nonlinear separation. The predictive model in this study can be applied to drugs with unknown M/P ratios for providing a new source of information on milk transfer.

Objective: There have been reports of health hazards caused by medical devices, cosmetics, quasi-drugs, daily necessities, hygiene products, etc. (health-related products) sold in pharmacies and drugstores. However, the role pharmacists play in dealing with the health hazards caused by health-related products has not been clarified. Therefore, we conducted a survey on the cases of health hazards related to health-related products and the views of pharmacists.Methods: A questionnaire was administered anonymously by email to 601 pharmacists working in community pharmacies or drugstores between December 11 and 20, 2019.Results: The number of valid responses was 585. The breakdown of health hazard cases where pharmacists counseled customers were 60 for medical devices, 31 for cosmetics, 18 for quasi-drugs, 9 for hygiene products, and 20 for daily necessities and others. Of those 138 cases, 19 cases of medical devices were estimated to have an intermediate risk as a health hazard, and the other 119 cases were all classified as low. Of the cases that the pharmacists were not approached for help, but were aware of, 57 were medical devices (21 high, 31 intermediate, 5 low), 44 were cosmetics (12 intermediate, 32 low), 12 were quasi-drugs (7 intermediate, 5 low), 7 were hygiene products (7 low), and 64 were daily necessities and others (26 high, 34 intermediate, 4 low). With regard to health-related products, 95% of the respondents indicated that they had responded to customer questions with advice.Conclusion: Our results show that there are various cases that could develop into health hazards due to health-related products, and most respondents felt a need to alert the public. As such, pharmacists and other staffs in drugstores will continue to provide health support functions to their customers by advising them on not only pharmaceuticals but also these health-related products.