Point of care testing for proper use of warfarin in physician-pharmacist cooperative practice : assessment of patient adherence to therapeutic regimens and time in therapeutic range / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

<b>Objectives</b> : A pharmacotherapeutic system for safe and proper use of warfarin was developed through physician-pharmacist cooperative practice ; its effects on patient adherence to therapeutic regimens and the therapeutic benefit of warfarin were assessed.<br><b>Methods</b> : Subjects were 12 outpatients or home-care patients receiving warfarin. Patients' level of understanding of warfarin therapy and time in therapeutic range (TTR) were used as indices of adherence and therapeutic benefit, respectively. Before the physician examination, patients were interviewed by pharmacists using point-of-care testing with the CoaguChek ^®XS to check their prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR). Pharmacists reported status of warfarin administration, any adverse effects, and medication management status to each patient's physician using the medication record or inter-institute information exchange sheet. Patient adherence was assessed before and after the pre-examination interview and changes in TTR were evaluated.<br><b>Results</b> : Levels of understanding of warfarin therapy were significantly higher after pharmacists provided medication counseling (immediately before 4.8±1.9 vs 24 weeks after 6.8±2.4 ; P=0.0079, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). TTR significantly improved at 24 weeks after the interview (pre-interview 20.9±29.8% vs post-interview 60.5±30.5%, respectively ; P=0.0024, Wilcoxon signed-rank test).<br><b>Conclusion</b> : The results suggest that patients'adherence to warfarin regimens and the therapeutic benefit of warfarin is improved by pharmacists'obtaining information on PT-INR before patients'medical examinations, as well as by utilizing this information to establish a cooperative pharmacotherapeutic system for good TTR management, as supported by a common protocol across pharmacies and medical institutions.

Botulinum Toxin Treatment prior to Posterior Spinal Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in Patients with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy : A Report on Two Cases / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

There have been several reports on surgical interventions in patients with adult cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with cerebral palsy. We performed posterior fusion with pedicle and/or lateral mass screws combined with preoperative intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin in two patients. Two weeks before the surgery, we injected the patients with the botulinum toxin to alleviate cervical pain and to reduce the involuntary movement associated with cerebral palsy. Surgical results were good in both patients without rigid external fixation. Both patients were able to undergo rehabilitation after the surgery as soon as possible without any complication. We think that our pre surgical treatment with botulinum toxin is a useful optional treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with cerebral palsy.