Objective:Many epidemiological studies revealed that the varicella and herpes zoster have inverse correlation. This paper examines to confirm these associations by using Prescription Surveillance. Design: Multiple regression analysis about association between the incidence rate of herpes zoster and varicella adjusting for prefecture, fiscal year and week. Methods: We used the general public data from Prescription Surveillance. Prescription Surveillance estimates the number of patients who were prescribed anti-varicella zoster virus drug with age class. We assumed the patients under 15 years old were varicella patients, and over 65 years old were herpes zoster patients. Each the number of patient was aggregated by week and prefecture from April 5, 2010 to March 31, 2013. We regressed the incidence rate of herpes zoster on the incidence rate of varicella adjusting for prefecture, fiscal year and week. Moreover, we regressed it on the several lag of the incidence rate of varicella. Results: The incidence rate of varicella was significantly positive, however the estimated coefficient was 0.030. The lag of incidence rate of varicella were also significantly positive, however these estimated coefficient were less than 0.030. Conclusion: We found that the incidence rate of herpes zoster and varicella have positive correlation, however its magnitude was not so important. It needs attention that our finding means positive correlation when we remove seasonality and regionality of both incidences.

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We explored the association between understanding a proper use of over-the-counter cold medicines and a choice of information source to purchase such medicines. We conducted an internet survey in March 2011 regarding false perceptions about cold medicines as well as understanding of package inserts. Respondents (20〜69 years old) to the main survey were individuals who purchased cold medicines based on TV commercials (CM group) and those who purchased these medications in consultation with pharmacists (consultation group). We surveyed 121 and 159 respondents in the CM and consultation groups, respectively. We calculated the principal component scores for false perceptions of cold medicines and the respondents’ understanding of the package inserts. The median scores were 0.20 (CM group) and -0.08 (consultation group) false perceptions, and -0.18 (CM group) and 0.15 (consultation group) for understanding. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that the CM group had more misconceptions regarding cold medicines compared with the consultation group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the consultation group acquired greater understanding of the package inserts than the reference CM group (P＝0.005). These results suggest an association between understanding the proper use of over-the-counter cold medicines and choice sources of information on purchasing these medicines. They further suggest that a lack of knowledge or understanding of cold medicines does not lead to consultations with a pharmacist about the purchase.

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Enteric-coated aspirin tablets are marketed as generic drugs in Japan. However, data on the results of the pharmaceutical tests of enteric-coated aspirin tablets are insufficient. Therefore, we performed a disintegration test according to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (sixteenth edition) and tablet hardness test on five brands of enteric-coated aspirin tablets. In the disintegration test, four out of five brands were in accordance with the regulation criteria of disintegration media No. 1 (pH1.2). However, one brand was unsuitable; it disintegrated in purified water and buffer solution (pH3.5) as well as in disintegration media No. 1. In addition, in the tablet hardness test, this brand was found to have the lowest values compared with the other four brands. In contrast, all brands of tablets disintegrated in disintegration media No. 2 (pH6.8) within the regulation criteria. If enteric-coated aspirin tablets disintegrate in the stomach, gastrointestinal injury may occur. All the studied brands used methacrylic acid copolymer LD as the enteric-coating agent. Thus, it may be assumed that the production method of tablets and ratio of additives may affect disintegration, even if the same enteric-coating agent is used. We suggest that pharmaceutical companies should further promote the use of generic drugs by producing products that pass various pharmaceutical tests.

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We implemented a questionnaire survey targeting mothers who are in child care and had participated in consultations regarding drugs and diseases. We examined the future roles of community pharmacists by exploring the mothers’ concerns and, anxieties about child cares and their backgrounds, and their expectations for profession of community pharmacist. Mothers have listed anxiety and concerns of child care about “dermatitis such as rash and atopic eczema”; “food allergies”; “infectious diseases such as measles, chicken pox, and mumps”; and “side effects of vaccination”. In addition, most of them indicated their own concerns and anxiety about “solutions to children’s illnesses.” Despite their anxieties and concerns, however, approximately 60% of the mothers have never consulted with community pharmacists. Among them, approximately a half of them indicated the following three reasons why they have never consulted with pharmacists: “I have nothing to talk about,”, “I do not know what I should talk about,”, and “I was not sure if it was alright to talk about my concerns.”. From these results, we concluded that community pharmacists in the future should improve their communication skills and inform their availability to consult about medicine and disease to local residents.

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To assess the changes in attitudes toward smoking after the smoking-prevention classes presented by Kumamoto Tobacco-Free Forum, this study administered a questionnaire survey to first-year junior high school students before and after a smoking-prevention class at a junior high school. The questionnaire that was used to pre and post comparison comprised thirteen items, ten from the Kano Test for Social Nicotine Dependence (KTSND-Youth) and three as follows: “I think I will be a smoker in the future,” “I think I will smoke about once,” and “What do you think of people around you who smoke tobacco?” The results of this pre- and post-class questionnaire indicate that attitudes toward seven items improved in a statistically significant way. These included four from KTSND-Youth: “Smokers cannot stop even if they want to,” “Smoking is adult-like and cool,” “Smoking is enjoys taste and a fragrance,” and “If it’s a place with an ashtray, it’s okay to smoke.” The smoking-prevention classes significantly decreased total KTSND-Youth scores. Furthermore, the analysis has clarified that the KTSND-Youth items: “Smoking is adult-like and cool” and “Doctor and school teachers say, ‘Tobacco is no good too much”, as well as the item “What do you think of people around you who smoke tobacco?” are significantly influencing factors for the item “I will be a smoker in the future.” These results indicate that the smoking-prevention classes presented by Kumamoto Tobacco-Free Forum were effective for decline in social nicotine dependence of the first-year students in junior high school.

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