Plasma concentrations of primidone, phenobarbital and phenytoin were assayed by AMES TDA^TM Kit (Miles-Sankyo Co., Ltd.), the newly developed Substrate-Labeled Fluorescent Immunoassay (SLFIA). The results were compared with those obtained by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method, where the SLFIA results showed high correlation with HPLC. The correlation coefficient was over 0.977 both in SLFIA and in HPLC and the coefficient variation was less than 6% in a spiked sample by the SLFIA method in the replicated analysis based on 147 plasma samples obtained from 144 epileptic patients given antiepileptics. The correlation coefficient obtained from the SLFIA method using the spiked sample was also over 0.998.
SLFIA procedure in clinical application for determination of plasma concentrations has considerable advantages over hitherto available methods. This method requires only 50μl of plasma for a single determination, which may eliminate deproteinization and extraction steps. These results suggest that SLFIA is a simple method for monitoring plasma concentration of antiepileptics.

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Quality tests such as weight, hardness, disintegration, content, content uniformity and dissolution were made on 6 brands of pentoxifylline enteric-coated tablets, consisting of 1 original product and 5 me-too products.
There were significant differences in the results of the tests among these products which were, however, confirmed to have fairly good qualities except in the dissolution properties of 2 me-too products. On the 2 products, the dissolution of pentoxifylline in the 1st fluid (pH 1.2) in JP X Disintegration Test was studied under a mild condition using rotating basket apparatus. Thus, both products were found to be unqualified. In this study, the original product was proved to have satisfactory qualitiy.

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The effect of high speed mixing granulation method, instead of fluidized bed granulation method, on dispensing drugs was studied by sensory profiling using dl-α-tocopherol nicotinate. Kolantyl granules (KL), Pantosin powder (×5, PTN), and bismuth subnitrate (JP, BIS) were used as controls.
The results of sensory evaluation showed no relation to a jet (stream) or fluidity coefficient. The results of the evaluation by the sensory test were given in the following order: KL>NJN (dl-α-tocopherol nicotinate fine granules prepared by high speed mixing granulaton) >PTN> JN (dl-α-tocopherol nicotinate fine granules prepared by fluidized bed granulation) >BIS.

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Bioavailabilities of commercially available VPA-Na in syrup (Depakene ^®syrup, VPA-syr) and in fine granules (Hyserenin ^®fine granules, VPA-FG) were compared.
Following oral administration of 15mg/kg of VPA-syr in single dose to 7 healthy male subjects at the age of 18 to 26, serum concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. After 7 days, VPA-FG was administered in the same dosage to the same subjects and the serum concentrations were measured. The results were analyzed in one-compartment open model.
Mean±S. D. of the maximum serum concentration level of VPA and the time required to achieve the level following administration of VPA-syr and VPA-FG were 31.9±20.3 min, 105.9±7.4μg/ml; and 24.8±3.8 min, 102.1±10.7μg/ ml, respectively, while the areas under the curve of the serum concentrations (AUC₀→∞) were 1602.2±219.8μg·hr/ ml for the former and 1554.6±192.1μg·hr/ ml for the latter. These results show that there is no statistically significant difference at the 5% significance level, and these drugs are equivalent preparations.

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Theophylline concentration in plasma sampled from asthmatic patients was determined by newly developed substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (9-SLFIA) method using antiserum produced from 9-theophylline-BSA immunogen with low cross-reactivity to caffeine. The results of this method were compared with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography and substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (8-SLFIA). The correlation coefficients of the results obtained by 9-SLFIA and the high-performance liguid chromatography (r=0.985), 8-SLFIA (r=0.977) showed good agreement. Cross-reactivity, as determined by the amount of compound required to increase the measured theophylline concentration by 20% when added to a 15μg/ ml theophylline sample, was 100μg/ ml for caffeine, 10μg/ ml for 8-chlorotheophylline, 1000μg/ ml for theobromine and 1000μg/ ml for 3-methylxanthine. The variation coefficient of the replicate analysis by 9-SLFIA on normal human plasma samples with known theophylline concentrations was below 10%.

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Susceptibility to antibacterial agents of the bacteria isolated from a hospital were studied, and the presence of the bacteria resistant to chemotherapeutic agents and disinfectants was found. Most of the strains were glucose non-fermentative rods and enteric bacteria. It was noted that these drug-resistant strains were highly resistant to cephem antibiotics used extensively in the last 6 months in the hospital. The cephem antibiotic-resistant strains were also highly resistant to disinfectants.

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Evaluations were made on a soft gelatin capsule of Ubidecarenone and commercially available product of the same compound in terms of weight variation, disintegration time, content uniformity, change on exposure to light, and sterility test.
When Ubidecarenone in soft gelatin capsule and in the other forms was compared for determination of content uniformity, the standard deviation and variation coefficient were small. Furthermore, the soft gelatin capsule did not show a significant difference in the results of the tests on disintegration time, change on exposure to light, and sterility.

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We investigated the current situation of computerization of hospital pharmacies at 40 national university hospitals (national), 2 private university hospitals and 12 general hospitals (others), all utilizing computers at present.
The computerized system is now used in many hospitals for efficient administrative and accounting functions. For example, 59.0% of the nationals and 92.3% of the others use the system for registration of patients, and 56.4% of the nationals and 92.3% of the others for accounting. Moreover, computers are rapidly introduced into other sections: 43.6 % of the nationals and 53.8% of the others use them for laboratory systems, 41.0% and 84.6% for pharmacy systems, 12.8% and 23.1% for X-ray systems.
45.7% of the nationals and 84.6% of the others use computer in control of drugs, 22.5%and 38.5% in dispensing service, and 12.5% and 30.8% in drug information services.
The hospital pharmacy practices are closely related to the works of the other hospital sections. Therefore, they are very important for the progress of hospital function when designing systems and for the development of medical treatment.

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