[A Survey on the Concurrent Administration of Erlotinib and Gastric Acid Suppressing Medications among Doctors:Concern for Drug Interaction].

Erlotinibis known as a key drug for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. It is known to interact with gastric acid suppressing medications(AS). Concurrent administration of erlotinibwith AS is reported to decrease AUC and Cmax of erlotinib. From the result of a survey on concurrent administration of erlotinib with AS in our hospital, we considered that intake of erlotinib between meals in the morning and intake of AS after dinner or at bedtime certainly reduce the chance of drug interactions to a minimum. We suggested a direction of use of erlotinibto the doctors who used to prescribe this medication in their daily medical practice. We surveyed the doctors' perceptions of drug interactions. The results of the survey showed that 29% of the doctors were not concerned about drug interactions, although 81% of the doctors approved our proposal. By providing a suggestion for drug administration by analyzing drug information, the expectations of the doctors can be met and it also demonstrates the efficiency of pharmacists.

Low-lying electronic states in bismuth trimer Bi3 as revealed by laser-induced NIR emission spectroscopy in solid Ne.

Laser-induced near-infrared (NIR) emission spectra of neutral bismuth timer, Bi3, embedded in solid neon matrixes at 3 K were recorded in a range 870-1670 nm. Using photoexcitation with low energy photons at 1064 nm, two emission band systems were newly identified by their origin bands at T0 = 6600 and 8470 cm⁻¹. Accordingly, spectral assignment for three NIR emission band systems reported recently was partly revised for the one with its origin band at T0 = 7755 cm⁻¹ and reconfirmed for the others at T0 = 9625 and 11,395 cm⁻¹. Energy splitting by spin-orbit coupling between the pair of electronic energy levels in the ground state of bismuth trimer, Bi3, both having a totally symmetric vibrational mode of frequency at ω(e)" = 150 cm⁻¹, was determined to be 1870 ± 1.5 cm⁻¹. Transitions from the pair of electronically excited states, locating at T0 = 8470 and 9625 cm⁻¹ above the ground state and separated by spin­orbit coupling of 1155 cm⁻¹, have relatively long decay constants of τ ∼0.2 and ∼0.1 ms, respectively.

Photoinduced reaction of hydrogen-end-capped polyynes with iodine molecules.

Hydrogen-end-capped polyynes, H(C≡C)(n)H (n = 5-7), were photoirradiated in the presence of iodine molecules in nonpolar solvents to find a dramatic change in the UV/vis absorption spectrum. Absorption bands of polyynes in the UV and the band of I(2) in the visible region disappeared, whereas weaker bands of polyynes were intensified in the near UV region. The emerging features are associated with vibronic bands in the symmetry-forbidden transition of the linear polyyne molecule. Stoichiometry for the reaction, i.e., C(12)H(2) + nI(2) → C(12)H(2)I(2n), was determined to be n = 3 from the concentration-dependence experiment. (13)C NMR spectra for 1:3 mixture of polyyne and iodine molecules, namely C(10)H(2)/3I(2) and C(12)H(2)/3I(2), exhibited five and six lines, respectively, all shifted to lower fields compared to those in the case without iodine. After removing excess I(2) by reductive reagent of Na(2)SO(3), recovery of the missing absorption bands for the components of C(10)H(2) and I(2) was observed. These observations strongly support the formation of an unique molecular complex of C(2n)H(2)I(6) (n = 5-7) upon photoabsorption by an I(2) molecule within a cluster of polyyne and iodine molecules, C(2n)H(2)(I(2))(m) (m ≥ 3).

[Preventing dermatopathy of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy].

Anticancer drug-associated dermatopathy tends to be disregarded because of its small systemic influence. However, it may affect daily living activities, and mental distress due to its appearance may interfere with the continuation of therapy. In this study, we surveyed the state of skin care, and found that patients had anxiety over vomiting and depilation rather than dermatopathy. Patients who developed dermatopathy performed skin care, but none performed preventive skin care. For patients to perform skin care to prevent adverse effects, we provided information on appropriate self-skin care methods based on pharmaceutical management/instruction and instruction in an outpatient chemotherapy room using documents. On conducting the second questionnaire survey after providing information, 74.3% of patients answered that information provided by pharmacists was useful. Since skin care is a form of self-care, it is necessary to continuously provide information to support patients.

[Analysis of a case of oxaliplatin - induced persistence sensory neuropathy].

Thirty-seven patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer were treated with mFOLFOX6 or mFOLFOX6 with a Bevacizumab regimen between September 2008 and March 2009. Then, we evaluated persistent neuropathy using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (ver. 3). As a result of the research, grade 1-3 sensory neuropathy was observed in 5.6% after 3 cycles, 44. 4% after 5 cycles, 83. 3% after 8 cycles, and 83. 4% after 10 cycles. The average dose of L-OHP (mg/m2) until persistent sensory neuropathy appeared was grade 1: 399.7+/-157. 0 (17/ 37 patients); grade 2: 418.0+/-214. 1 (5/37 patients); and grade 3: 498.0+/-152. 8 (3/37 patients). As has been shown in international clinical trials, the severity and frequency of L-OHP-induced neurotoxicity are associated with the cumulative dose and duration of L-OHP administration. Further research is necessary to develop strategies for preventing or treating this side effect.

Identification and characterization of the variants of metastasis-associated protein 1 generated following alternative splicing.

The metastasis-associated gene 1 (mta1) was identified initially in rat highly metastatic cancer cell lines and found to be a component of the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase (NuRD) complex. The gene for mouse mta1 was screened and its genomic structure was determined. It consists of 21 exons spanning 40 kb of genomic DNA. The full-length mouse Mta1 cDNA contained a 2145 nucleotide open reading frame encoding 715 amino acids. In addition to the full-length cDNA, several alternative splicing variants were found. Some differences in the splicing variants found were observed among various mouse organs and cells examined by the semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cDNAs of the splicing variants were inserted into green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression vector and the subcellular localization of the GFP-Mta1 fusion proteins were analyzed. Knowledge of the Mta1 gene expression pattern will be useful in better understanding its functional diversity.