Experimental Study about Appropriate Time for Compounding Equal Volume Mixture of Heparinoid Oil-Based Cream and Steroid Cream Using Planetary Centrifugal Mixer / 医薬品情報学

Objective: The measurement of compounded topical medications’ uniformity is an important component of quality assessment. This study was aimed to evaluate appropriate mixing time for external preparations using a planetary centrifugal mixer.Methods: In order to evaluate the product uniformity of mixtures of five different steroid cream (Antebate®, Myser®, Methaderm®, Lidomex®, and Locoid®) with three different heparinoid oil-based cream (Hirudoid®, “Nichi-Iko” cream and “Nipro” cream), steroid cream and heparinoid oil-based cream (5 g each) were added into a 13 mL container and mixed using the mixer (NanKo Rentaro NRE-120®, THINKY) at rotation speed of 800 rpm and revolution speed of 2,000 rpm. We sampled 0.1 g of the mixture from three spots (top, middle, and bottom portions) of the container then, measured the steroid content by HPLC method. The yield value points of each cream and heparinoid oil-based cream were also measured by spread meter.Results: Our results showed that when the coefficient of variation (CV) is less than 15.2 %, a mixing time of at least 120 s was required to achieve proper mixing to obtain the permissible limit of steroid cream and heparinoid oil-based cream. Also the greater difference of the yield value between steroid cream and heparinoid oil-based cream tended to be mixed easier.Conclusions: These results suggest that the spread ability of steroid cream and heparinoid oil-based cream affects the mixing efficiency of a planetary centrifugal mixer.

Comparison of Brand-Name and Generic Products of Latanoprost Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution with Respect to the Formulation and Usability / 医薬品情報学

Objectives: The long treatment duration of glaucoma and multiple drug use have decreased patient adherence to anti-glaucoma drugs. This has prompted the recent marketing of a combination drug, Xalacom ® Combination Eye Drops (hereinafter referred to as the original drug), and its generic drugs (3 generics). In this study, we compared these eye drops from a pharmaceutical viewpoint,conducted research on usability, and evaluated the selection criteria for generics.Methods: The viscosity and pH of the original drug and its generics were measured. The total number of drops per container, mean mass per drop, and the squeeze force needed for one drop of individual eye drops were measured using a digital force gauge. In addition, a questionnaire survey on the usability of each eye drop was conducted in patients.Results: The total number of drops in the contain of the original drug and generics tested almost the same. The mean mass per drop of generics from two companies was significantly lower than that of the original drug, and the squeeze force of the generic from one company was significantly lower than that of the original drug. The usability of the containers some generics was significantly higher than that of the original drug.Conclusion: No difference was observed in the total number of available drops between the original drug and generics. However,differences in squeeze force and usability were observed between the original drug and generics and among the generics. This information should preferably be described in the interview form, patient instruction manual, etc. for providing medication instructions to pharmacists. All products investigated in this study contained more than 100 drops in the containers. The expiration date of tested eye drops after opening is about one month. Reducing the volume of filling into a container may be contribute to the medical economy and avoid the risk of microbial contamination.

The Effects of Short-term Clinical Pharmacy Learning Trips on English Learning Motives in 5th-year Pharmacy Students / 医学教育

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess changes in attitudes and motivation of selected Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (TUPLS) student pharmacists who participated in two-week Clinical Pharmacy Educational Programs (CPEPs) at two US schools of pharmacy.Method: Questionnaires were distributed to the fifth-year pharmacy students who had participated in two CPEPs groups at University of Southern California (USC) or University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) between August 2013-2016. Questionnaires contained items assessing attitudes and motivation toward English learning. Items were in the form of statements to which participants' responses were measured using a numerical rating scale (0-10; ranging from 0 = "I do not agree at all" to 10 = "I agree completely").Results: 128 responses were analyzed between both participants at USC and UCSF (The follow-up rate was 100%). After participation in CPEPs, the mean score (confidence interval) of ‘I like English' and ‘I feel comfortable talking with English speakers' significantly increased in both groups relative to the baseline (USC group vs. UCSF group, 0.6 (0.2-1.1) vs. 0.5 (0.1-0.9), 1.0 (0.6-1.5) vs. 1.3 (0.9-1.7), respectively). However, the mean increase in score of ‘English ability comes to be needed for me to make in my future careers' and ‘I hope to have opportunities for studying or working abroad in the future' in UCSF group was significantly greater than the baseline, which showed a mean score increase of 0.5 (0.2-0.9) and 0.7 (0.3-1.2), respectively.Conclusions: The current study suggests that CPEPs even two-weeks programs, may stimulate English learning motivation, especially integrative motivation for pharmacy student participants.

A survey of the death attitude of pharmacy students finished clinical training using the Death Attitude Inventory

<b>Purpose</b>: Pharmacists should play a positive role in palliative care. The pharmacy curriculum should also contain content promoting an appropriate attitude toward death. Hence, this study aims to gather fundamental information that can be used to understand the various death attitudes held by pharmacy students. <b>Methods</b>: We targeted 159 sixth-year students of the School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, in 2011. They studied "Up-to-date-Palliative-Care" (an elective subject). To investigate their overall perception of death, we used the Death Attitude Inventory (DAI), developed by Hirai and others (2000), and investigated their views of death on the basis of seven factors. We also classified students on the basis of type of death they had experienced, that is, the death of a household, relative, friend, or pet. We compared the scores obtained for each factor and conducted a logistic regression analysis. <b>Results and Conclusion</b>: We analyzed the data from 120 students (valid response rate: 75.5%). Students who had experienced the death of friend, had significantly higher scores on "Life Purpose" and "Death Concern" (<i>p</i><0.05). Students who had experienced the death of household etc., statistical positive correlation with "Death Concern" and statistical negative correlation with "Death Anxiety" were recognized.

Evaluation of progress of the appropriate use of drugs by the safety control manager / 医薬品情報学

[<b>summery</b>]<br>  Our hospital appointed a pharmacist to be safety control manager of drugs.  With the aim of promoting an appropriate use of drugs, the safety control manager of drugs ensures the appropriate storage, the expiration, and the use record with control drugs following the business procedure every month.  These requirements were confirmed at all divisions of hospital, and then the nonconformity was recorded following the procedure.<br>  The largest number of nonconformity were entry on drugs unseal date and an exceeded the cutoff point of inventory.  We couldn’t gain sufficient improvement about an appropriate use of drugs.  The causes of this nonconformity were dispersion of drugs at each division and insufficient inventory control of drugs.  We attempted to gather and to keep drugs into one group.  As a result, the number of nonconformity greatly decreased at all divisions.  The amount of money of stock in hospital was decreased by about 20%.<br>  These results suggested that the confirmation of requirements with business procedure by the safety control manager’s rounds of hospital was extremely helpful method with an appropriate use of drugs.