Improvement of Health Awareness among Pharmacy Students through Holding a Women's Health Care Cafe / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

In Japan, there are insufficient measures to ensure that women can maintain good health while working. In addition, many women have limited health literacy, making it difficult for them to access information on physical and mental health problems that are specific to them. In this context, it is essential for pharmacists to become the first point of contact for women seeking information about their physical health, as they are familiar with healthcare providers in the community. To address this issue, we organized a Women's Health Care Cafe for pharmacy students to provide them with an opportunity to learn about women's health.

Online Workshop to Improve Telemedicine and Medication Counseling Skills in Diabetes Care / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

In the field of diabetes mellitus, medical practice and medication counseling that elicits self-management by patients are desired. Thus, the improvement of communication skills of healthcare professionals and adopting an interdisciplinary approach to diabetes patients are considered important.In the COVID-19 pandemic era, the adoption of telemedicine and remote medication counseling to actual clinical practice has become an important issue; however, training opportunities for the skills required, especially in the diabetes field, are scarce. Therefore, we held an online training session for healthcare professionals to improve their telemedicine and remote medication counseling skills.

Evaluation of the sperm DNA fragmentation index in infertile Japanese men by in-house flow cytometric analysis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Semen analysis has long been used to evaluate male fertility. Recently, several sperm function tests have been developed. Of those, the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), which describes the status of the sperm DNA, is thought to be a suitable parameter for evaluating male fertility. However, there have been no large-scale studies on the sperm DFI of Japanese men. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of using an in-house flow cytometry-based sperm DFI analysis based on the sperm DNA fragmentation test of sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) to assess male fertility in Japan. This study enrolled 743 infertile and 20 fertile Japanese men. To evaluate reproducibility, inter- and intraobserver precision was analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to set a cutoff value for the sperm DFI to identify men who could father children by timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination. The variability of the sperm DFI among fertile volunteers was determined. The relationship between semen parameters and the sperm DFI was assessed by Spearman's rho test. A precision analysis revealed good reproducibility of the sperm DFI. The cutoff value of sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men was 24.0%. Semen volume had no relationship with the sperm DFI. Sperm concentration, sperm motility, total motile sperm count, and percentage of normal-shaped sperm were significantly and negatively correlated with the sperm DFI. The median sperm DFI was smaller in fertile volunteers (7.7%) than that in infertile men (19.4%). Sperm DNA fragmentation analysis can be used to assess sperm functions that cannot be evaluated by ordinary semen analysis.

Evaluation of Publicity Activities to the COVID-19 Website for Community Pharmacists / 医薬品情報学

Objective: The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 led to a lack of information even at Japanese pharmacies, which are at the forefront of community medicine. Therefore, the Kyoto University Graduate School of Public Health Pharmacy Information Group has developed information materials related to COVID-19 for pharmacies0and released them on the COVID-19 countermeasure website, which was launched in haste. However, these days in the information society, the amount of information distributed is explosively expanding. Therefore, it is not possible to reach the target people just by publishing the countermeasure website. Therefore, we set up a public relations team to carry out publicity activities for pharmacists and analyzed the effectiveness of these activities by focusing on changes in the number of page views (PV) on the countermeasure website.Methods: PV and public relations(Facebook, industry media , e-mail) activities during the first 18 days(EARLY period), which is half of the total PV, and the remaining 164 days(MIDDLE period), covering 182 days from the day before the countermeasure website was opened. The changes in quantity were compared. Furthermore, we also compared the changes in the level of interest in the new coronavirus during the target period using Google Trends.Results: PV was remarkably large in the EARLY period, and the amount of public relations activity was generally concentrated in the EARLY period and PV. The number of searches for related words on Google Trends was almost the same as PV except for some. Conclusion: The study revealed the importance of establishing a pandemic countermeasure website for pharmacists at an appropriate time and conducting intensive public relations activities in the early stages.

Multi-center evaluation of oxidation-reduction potential by the MiOXSYS in males with abnormal semen / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oxidative stress (OS) is a significant contributor to male infertility. Seminal OS can be measured by a number of assays, all of which are either costly or time sensitive and/or require large semen volume and complex instrumentation. One less expensive alternative is to quantify the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) with the MiOXSYS. In this international multi-center study, we assessed whether ORP levels measured by the MiOXSYS could distinguish semen samples that fall within the 2010 WHO normal reference values from those that do not. Semen samples were collected from 2092 patients in 9 countries; ORP was normalized to sperm concentration (mV/106 sperm/ml). Only those samples with a concentration >1 × 106 sperm ml-1 were included. The results showed that 199 samples fell within the WHO normal reference range while the remaining 1893 samples did not meet one or more of the criteria. ORP was negatively correlated with all semen parameters (P < 0.01) except volume. The area under the curve for ORP was 0.765. The ORP cut-off value (1.34 mV/106 sperm/ml) was able to differentiate specimens with abnormal semen parameters with 98.1% sensitivity, 40.6% specificity, 94.7% positive predictive value (PPV) and 66.6% negative predictive value (NPV). When used as an adjunct to traditional semen analysis, ORP levels may help identify altered functional status of spermatozoa caused by OS in cases of idiopathic male infertility and in male partners of couples suffering recurrent pregnancy loss, and thereby directing these men to relevant medical therapies and lifestyle modifications.

Current status of sperm banking for young cancer patients in Japanese nationwide survey / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questionnaires requesting information on the number of patients, age, precryopreservation chemotherapy, semen analyses results and diagnoses, cryopreservation success rate, and causes of unsuccessful cryopreservation. Of these 695 institutes, 92 had cryopreserved sperm before chemotherapy within the study period. In all, 820 cancer patients (237 testicular, 383 hematological, 46 bone and soft tissue, 20 brain, and 134 other malignancy) consulted the responding institutes for sperm cryopreservation. Except for testicular tumor, the number of patients whose sperm was preserved before cancer treatment was low compared to that of young cancer patients. Approximately 20% of patients with malignancies other than testicular tumor underwent chemotherapy before cryopreservation. The success rate of cryopreservation in hematological malignancy was 82.5%, significantly lower than that of both the testicular cancer (93.6%) and other malignancy groups (95.6%) (P < 0.05). The primary reasons for preservation failure were azoospermia and poor semen quality. Patients with hematological malignancies had a higher rate of unsuccessful cryopreservation compared to those in other groups, possibly due to the large number of patients requesting sperm cryopreservation after chemotherapy induction. In Japan, information regarding sperm banking prior to cancer treatment appears to be lacking. Information regarding sperm preservation before chemotherapy should be provided to all Japanese oncologists.

Effect of Gosyajinkigan for Nocturia / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We evaluated the effect of gosyajinkigan in 30 cases of anticholinergic agent or α-1 blockers resistant nocturia with a sign of jinkyo which is the hypofunction of the kidney organ unit at Kampo medicine. As to subjective outcomes, storage symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of International Prostate Symptom Score, and sleep and energy items of King's Health Questionnaire and Nocturia QOL Questionnaire were statistically much improved. Concerning objective outcomes, nocturnal frequency of urination, nocturnal polyuria index and hours of undisturbed sleep by means of frequency volume chart, and total body water by body composition analyser were also statistically much improved. This study might demonstrate that normalization of body composition leads to reduce nocturnal urinary volume and improve nocturia.

Comparison of the Effects of a Brand-name Drug and Its Generic Drug on the Quality of Life of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

OBJECTIVE: The pharmacological effects of generic (GE) donepezil are the same as Aricept, its brand-name counterpart. However, little is known as to whether these two drugs provide the same quality of life (QOL). The study subjects were patients with Alzheimer's disease who were taking donepezil hydrochloride tablets, and were selected by visiting either the local pharmacies or the patients' homes. We chose the brand-name drug Aricept and its GE form donepezil to investigate, from a long-term caregiver's perspective, the influence of both drugs on the patients' QOL. METHODS: An EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) was used to assess the QOL of patients with Alzheimer's disease, before and after various Aricept and/or donepezil regimens. Patients were divided into four groups: first time users of Aricept (n=43), first time users of GE donepezil (n=45), users refilling previous prescriptions of Aricept (n=51), and users switching from Aricept to GE donepezil (n=51). RESULTS: The average change in the EQ-5D utility indices rose significantly in the patients starting a new regimen of Aricept and its GE drug. The patients continuing an existing regimen of Aricept showed no significant differences, even after Aricept was switched to a GE drug. CONCLUSION: The QOL of patients starting a new regimen of Aricept and its GE drug improved. The QOL was maintained upon switching to the GE drug form.

<b>Effect of Hachimijiogan for Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms</b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We evaluated the effect of hachimijiogan in 30 cases of anticholinergic agent and α-blocker resistant LUTS. International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), QOL scores, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) scores and urinary 8-OHdG of the patients were statistically much improved. This study demonstrated improvement in urinary symptoms, urinary QOL and oxidative stress, in LUTS resistant to anticholinergic agents and α-blockers. Further long-term studies will be needed not only in urinary symptoms, but also in effect as an anti-aging medicine.

A Study about “YARIGAI” : What Makes Work Worth Doing for the Community Pharmacists Who Participated in a Workshop of the COMPASS Project / 社会薬学

Objective : By extracting and modeling the component factors that community pharmacists have for “YARIGAI”—a Japanese colloquial expression commonly defined as “something worthwhile doing”—and by re-defining “YARIGAI,” we sought to help improve the quality of work lives of community pharmacists. Methods : All of 139 employee pharmacists participated in a workshop of the COMPASS Project (May 2011) were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Responses were collected on the scene. The seventeen, 6-point-scale questions focused on the “patient-pharmacist relationship,” which may be related to “YARIGAI.” Then “YARIGAI” factors were extracted using factor analysis, and modeled using covariance structure analysis. IBM SPSS (ver. 20) and Amos 5.0J were used for the analyses. Results : To the item “I feel ‘YARIGAI’ with pharmacy work,” 12.2% of the 139 respondents said, “Strongly agree”, followed by “Agree” (41.0%) and “Somewhat agree” (33.8%). A factor analysis extracted three factors related to “YARIGAI” (knowledge, patient counseling management, and sense of personal growth). After modeling (AGFI : 0.903, RMSEA : 0.048) with these factors as latent variables and items in them as observable variables, a positive correlation was indicated for all the following factor pairs : “knowledge” and “patient counseling management”, “knowledge” and “sense of personal growth”, and “sense of personal growth” and “patient counseling management” (standardized points of estimate : 0.71, 0.55, and 0.42, respectively). Standardized coefficients for all latent and observable variables were 0.7 or higher, showing a good fit. Conclusion : “YARIGAI” of pharmacists employed by community pharmacies can consist of “knowledge,” “patient counseling management,” and “sense of personal growth”. Our results suggest that the improvement of communication skills and knowledge can lead to improvement of “YARIGAI” of pharmacists working for community pharmacies.

<b>Effect of Hachimijiogan and its Additional Prescription for Anticholinergic Agent-resistant Overactive Bladder </b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We evaluated the effects of Hachimijiougan and its additional prescription in 11 cases of anticholinergic agent-resistant overactive bladder. The improvements in IPSS, QOL score, BII score and urinary 8-OHdG for the patients were statistically much improved. This study showed improvements of urinary symptoms and QOL in anticholinergic agent-resistant overactive bladder. Further long-term studies will be needed not only in urinary symptoms but also on effects as an anti-aging medicine.

Distribution of intracellular and extracellular expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in human testis and their association with spermatogenesis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>Spermatogenic dysfunction may result from thickening of seminiferous tubular basement membrane (BM) with tubular sclerosis. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays an important role in fibrogenesis. The intracellular and extracellular expression of TGF-beta1 in the testis were immunohistochemically determined, using LC antibody (LC) for intracellular TGF-beta1 and CC antibody (CC) for extracellular TGF-beta1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three testicular biopsy specimens were obtained from varicocele and five from Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) patients, and five from normal volunteers. The relative area involved by the expression of TGF-beta1 for CC or LC (TGF-beta1 index for CC or LC) was examined, and semen parameters and serum hormonal levels and TGF-beta1 were analyzed. The Johnson score (JS), the BM thickness, and the tubular diameter were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunoreactivity for CC was hardly detected. That for LC was detected in the Sertoli and germ cells. The TGF-beta1 index for LC was significantly higher in the varicoceles than in the normal testes. Interestingly, that for LC was significantly higher in the varicoceles than in the SCO. The level of serum TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in varicoceles than in the normal testes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distribution of the intracellular and extracellular expression of TGF-beta1 in human testis was demonstrated. It suggests that TGF-beta1 is related to fibrosis of seminiferous tubules and may lead to spermatogenic disruption.</p>