Evaluation and Comparison of Daiokanzoto and Lubiprostone for Constipation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Daiokanzoto (DKT) and lubiprostone (LPS) are drugs used for constipation, but few studies have compared them. This study examined the effectiveness, adverse events, and medical economic efficiency of DKT and LPS for constipation. Patients who received DKT (DKT group) and those who received LPS (LPS group) during admission to Ogaki Municipal Hospital between November 2012 and May 2016 were enrolled. Drug efficacy was evaluated based on the median value of bowel movement frequency over 1 week before and after drug administration, and their safety was evaluated by the presence or absence of diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. To assess medical economic efficiency, drug costs for constipation per week were calculated. The median values (quartile ranges) of bowel movement frequency at 1 week after drug administration were 8.5 (6.0-12.0) in the DKT group and 5 (3.0-7.0) in the LPS group, which was significantly different (p < 0.01). Diarrhea occurred significantly less often in the DKT group (4 cases) than in the LPS group (17 cases) (p < 0.01). The median cost of drugs administered for constipation for 1 week was significantly lower in the DKT group (631 [quartile range, 513-653] yen) than in the LPS group (1431 [1135-2344] yen) (p < 0.01). DKT had a higher immediate effect on constipation and was associated with more frequent bowel movement and fewer adverse events of diarrhea than LPS, suggesting that it may be effective and safe for treating constipation, and DKT is inexpensive.

[A Survey of Health Food Use and Patient Satisfaction among Patients Undergoing Cancer Pharmacotherapy].

This study aimed to clarify the situation of use of health foods by patients and the level of satisfaction of patients in order to make use of information on cases where patients undergoing cancer medication therapy use health foods. Between May 7, 2018 and June 29, 2018, we conducted a questionnaire survey of patients with progressive cancer who were undergoing cancer chemotherapy at Ogaki Municipal Hospital. In addition, we conducted a multivariate analysis of patients who were using health foods and those who were not. The questionnaire items included the objectives of use, product effectiveness and satisfaction, and QOL. The rate of health food use was 81/281 (29.5%). The primary objectives of use were, "to maintain health" (29.8%) and "to alleviate symptoms" (24.0%). The primary sources of information about health foods were "a friend" (50.6%) and "TV" (13.5%). The satisfaction level was 0-3 points in 8.3% of patients, 4-6 points in 38.1% of patients, and 7-10 points in 53.6% of patients. For "stage of illness (recurrence)," the odds ratio was 1.810 (95% CI, 1.040-3.150; p=0.035), and for "QOL value," the odds ratio was 2.210 (95% CI, 1.220-4.020; p=0.009), indicating that these factors had a significant influence on health food use. Health foods tended to be used in patients who had recurring cancer with low QOL and various symptoms, and friends and other people close to the patient had a large influence on the patient's decision. It was clear that the patients' satisfaction level was high.

Efficacy and Safety of Daikenchuto for Constipation and Dose-Dependent Differences in Clinical Effects.

BACKGROUND: Daikenchuto (DKT) is a Kampo medicine used for the treatment of constipation. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of DKT against constipation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients administered DKT for constipation were selected and divided into low-dose (7.5 g DKT; n = 22) and high-dose (15 g DKT; n = 11) groups. We retrospectively evaluated weekly defaecation frequency, side effects, and clinical laboratory data. RESULTS: Median defaecation frequencies after DKT administration (5, 5.5, 5, and 8 for the first, second, third, and fourth weeks, resp.) were significantly higher than that before DKT administration (2) in all 33 cases (P < 0.01). One case (3%) of watery stool, one case of loose stools (3%), and no cases of abdominal pain (0%) were observed. Median defaecation frequencies in the high-dose group (7 and 9) were significantly higher than those in the low-dose group (4 and 3) in the first (P = 0.0133) and second (P = 0.0101) weeks, respectively. There was no significant change in clinical laboratory values. CONCLUSION: We suggest that DKT increases defaecation frequency and is safe for treating constipation.

Efficacy of daiokanzoto in chronic constipation refractory to first-line laxatives.

There are only a few treatment options for constipation and limited evidence of suitable treatments. Daiokanzoto (DKT) is a Kampo medicine often used clincally to treat constipation. DKT is a laxative used predominantly in Japan; however, clinical data on its efficacy and safety is lacking. Patients who used DKT, but were intolerant to either magnesium oxide (MgO; MgO group; n=16) or senna extract (Senna group; n=26) were included in the present study. The frequencies of their bowel movements were compared during the 1 week prior to and following DKT administration. Within 24 hours after DKT administration, 93.8% of the patients in the MgO group evacuated their bowels. The median bowel movement frequency 1 week prior to DKT administration was 2.5 and 1 week after DKT administration was significantly increased to 7.5. In the Senna group, within 24 h of DKT administration, 80.8% of the patients evacuated their bowels. The median bowel movement frequency 1 week prior to the DKT treatment was 2.0, which significantly increased to 8.5 1 week after the administration of DKT. The adverse events from DKT treatment were mild and controllable.

Adherence and awareness of the therapeutic intent of oral anticancer agents in an outpatient setting.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the adherence and awareness of oral anticancer agents by type and therapeutic purpose in outpatients prescribed with tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium (S-1) or capecitabine. Outpatients undergoing treatment with the S-1 or capecitabine oral anticancer agents at Ogaki Municipal Hospital (Ogaki, Japan) in June 2013 completed a questionnaire survey and the survey findings were evaluated. No significant differences in medication adherence were identified between the patients administered S-1 and the patients administered capecitabine (P=0.4586). In addition, no significant differences were identified in therapeutic purpose between adjuvant therapy, and advanced and recurrent therapies. However, for S-1 and capecitabine, medication adherence was significantly higher in those undergoing combination therapy compared with those undergoing monotherapy (P=0.0046). In addition, for patients taking S-1, the median age for good adherence was significantly lower than that for insufficient adherence (66.1±10.5 vs. 72.1±7.9 years, respectively; P=0.0035). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was identified between the awareness score of research regarding the medication and age (n=109; P=0.0045). In conclusion, for patients treated with S-1 or capecitabine, the type and therapeutic purpose of oral anticancer agents did not affect medication adherence. Elderly patients expressed a low interest in medications and typically exhibited insufficient medication adherence. Therefore, patient guidance by pharmacists is important, as it may result in improved medication adherence and an improved understanding of the treatment side-effects in patients self-administering prescribed drugs.

Evaluation of hypokalemia and potassium supplementation during administration of liposomal-amphotericin B.

Patients prescribed liposomal-amphotericin B (L-AMB) frequently require supplemental potassium to prevent hypokalemia. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the appropriate potassium supplementation conditions to treat hypokalemia induced by L-AMB. The subjects were 100 hematological patients who received L-AMB for the first time between April 2012 and March 2013. A total of seven patients were excluded. Of the remaining 93 patients, 48 (51.6%) were assigned to the group receiving supplemental potassium (supplementation group), and 45 (48.4%) were assigned to the group without potassium supplementation (non-supplementation group). Hypokalemia greater than grade 3 was exhibited by 50 of the 93 (53.8%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the minimum serum potassium levels during L-AMB administration (≤2.98 mEq/l) were an independent factor significantly contributing to the effectiveness of potassium supplementation [odds ratio (OR), 3.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-9.59; P<0.01]. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that the serum potassium levels (≥2.83 mEq/l) prior to the potassium supplementation were an independent factor significantly contributing to the development of proper potassium supplementation (OR, 14.21; 95% CI, 1.95-310.72; P=0.02), and no significant difference was observed in the dosage of the potassium supplementation administered to the patients who recovered from hypokalemia and those who did not. In conclusion, it is necessary to begin potassium supplementation prior to the reduction of the serum potassium levels to <2.83 mEq/l. Potassium supplementation at an early stage of L-AMB treatment is important to prevent severe electrolyte abnormalities.