Objective: We investigated the incidence of side effects related to contrast medium employed in our hospital based on monitoring materials to improve the safety of contrast-enhanced examinations.  Furthermore, we compared the incidence of side effects between the original product and generic drugs to confirm the safety of each preparation.
Methods: The survey period was from April 2007 until March 2011.  Based on the number of patients who underwent contrast-enhanced examinations and that of patients with side effects, we calculated the incidence of side effects in our hospital, and confirmed its annual changes.  Subsequently, we again collected the incidence of side effects per each manufacturer’s preparation employed, and confirmed the state of side effects of individual preparations.  Furthermore, we evaluated the symptoms as side effects, interval until appearance, and treatment for side effects during the data collection period, as well as the subsequent state, symptoms as side effects, and interval until appearance.  The chi square independence test was employed to compare the results among groups.  p<0.05 was regarded as significant (paired test).
Results: There were no changes in the annual incidence of side effects.  There were also no significant differences in the annual incidence of side effects among the preparations.  Furthermore, there were no marked differences in the symptoms, interval until appearance, treatment for side effects, or subsequent state among the preparations.
Conclusion: We investigated the appearance of side effects regarding contrast-enhanced examinations for 4 years.  We confirmed that there were no differences in the incidence of side effects among the preparations.

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Objective: The care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a significant impact on the life of caregivers.  Some of the major daily tasks for caregivers are the administering and management of patients’ medications.  The aims of the present study were to evaluate the current state of administering and management of medications by caregivers, and the usefulness of medicated patches for improving compliance.
Methods: We sent questionnaires to 62 caregivers of AD patients, and 60 responses were analyzed (response rate: 96.8%).
Results: We found that approximately half of caregivers had some difficulties with administering and managing medications.  A total of 80% of caregivers took less than 3 min to administer and manage medications.  Approximately half of caregivers responded that patches were useful, but 15% stated that current medications were not the cause of difficulties.  These respondents were concerned that patches may result in adverse skin reactions.
Conclusions: The results of this survey indicate that caregivers do not have difficulties with administering and managing medications, and further concern is needed about the usefulness of medicated patches.

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Objective: To determine the factors affecting the antimicrobial effect of VCM on MRSA.
Study Design: Case series study.
Methods: This study was conducted on pneumonia patients admitted to a university-affiliated hospital between January 2000 and December 2008 and had MRSA in their sputum culture.  From seven days prior to the starting VCM administration through the end of the administration, detailed information such as underlying diseases, VCM serum concentration and quantity of MRSA were recorded.  Logistic regression analysis was carried out on current diseases, trough concentration, surgery experience, and the detection of Gram-negative bacteria to verify the antimicrobial effect of VCM.
Results: The number of subjects investigated this study was 55 subjects.  Multiple logistic regression analysis did not yield any significant factors when carried out using the factors affecting the antimicrobial effect of VCM on MRSA as independent variables.
Conclusions: Multivariable analysis yielded no factors as being significant in affecting the antimicrobial effect of VCM, but did indicate in that patients aged 70 and older, the antimicrobial effect of VCM was poor for MRSA.  This suggests that when pharmacists intervene in antimicrobial treatment for improved effects, it is important to consider not only the serum concentration of VCM, but also the background of the patient.

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Objective: Collection of the latest information for appropriate and safe drug use is clinically essential, and the “Japan Pharmaceutical Association Drug Information” (JPADI) is a useful source.  We prepared a text on the basis of JPADI for undergraduates to learn adverse drug events (ADEs).  The objective of this study was to report the outcomes of our educational plan and student perspectives regarding the management of ADEs.
Methods: We provided 20 students with a self-study text for ADEs, including ADE reports, relief services by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, and pharmacist medication errors.  Case reports were categorized by disease discipline. Students were administered a questionnaire regarding their evaluation and interest regions of our text, the significance of relief services, and roles of drug information specialist.
Results: Fifteen students (75%) completed the questionnaire.  Interest regions were pharmacist medication errors (n=9), systemic and multi-organ disorders (n=9), and cardiovascular disorders (n=5).  We received comments such as “these errors are experiences creating cascades for the prevention of recurrence” (n=2).  In terms of relief services, “expenses relief ” (n=4) as a merit and “vagueness of relief standards” (n=4) as a demerit were provided.  Roles of drug information specialist included “provide easy-to-understand drug information to patients” (n=4) and “share with other medical staff ” (n=2).  No specific improvements for the text were suggested.
Conclusion: Our educational plan using a self-study text based on drug information is useful for developing student responsibility and expertise for becoming pharmacist.

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