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An overwhelming surge of information regarding preparedness for postvaccination side effects had caused widespread confusion approximately since April 2021, when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination had started for the general population in Japan. Notably, this resulted in a remarkably increased shortage of OTC acetaminophen formulations. The aim of this study was to elucidate the actual responses of the public in such an environment, how individuals acquired and understood information related to the management of postvaccination side effects, and how they obtained and used antipyretic analgesics before and after COVID-19 vaccination. We conducted a web-based survey in January 2022, targeting 400 individuals aged ≥20 years, who had received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, and excluded qualified professionals such as physicians and pharmacists. The results revealed that 67% of the respondents had obtained antipyretic analgesics in anticipation of adverse effects after vaccination, whereas 38% had taken these medicines before and/or after the second vaccination. Possible misappropriation of medicines from others, preventive administration, and lack of dosage and administration confirmation are the problems identified in medication acquisition and usage. Additionally, avoidance of antipyretic analgesics based on information without scientific evidence was observed. This study revealed no small amount of inappropriate use of medicines in situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where there is an "infodemic" of mixed-quality information. Pharmacists, as experts in medication, should play a crucial role in promoting appropriate medication usage by consistently staying updated with the latest scientific evidence and proactively supporting OTC drug selection and counseling medication.

The difficulty and anxiety of nursery staff in administering medication to children at nursery schools has been reported, and its reduction is desired. However, the attitudes of mothers in requesting medication and the factors related to a high frequency of requests are not clear. We conducted an online survey of 600 mothers from April to May 2019 regarding the administration of medication at nursery school, and 301 mothers who had previously made such requests were analyzed. The results showed that 100.0% and 76.4% of the mothers felt gratitude and were apologetic for requesting medicine administration, respectively. In total, 47.5% of mothers expected pharmacists to support nursery staff in administering medication. Mothers' attitude of "I think the nursery staff should administer medication to my child more often" was significantly positively associated with a high frequency of the request in adjusted Model [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-5.55, p=0.005], while "I think the parents should manage so that the children do not have to take medicine in the nursery school so often" showed a negative association (AOR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17-0.66, p=0.002). Factors related to the involvement of community pharmacists were not significant. It is suggested that a change in mothers' attitudes could decrease the frequency of requests and consequently reduce the burden on nursery staff. Community pharmacists may support nursery staff to contribute to changing mothers' attitudes through medication consultations at the pharmacy.

Previous studies have reported the inappropriate administration of medication at nursery schools by the staff and a lack of drug-related information from caregivers at the time of request. However, the situation concerning medication administration at nursery schools from the mothers' perspective is unknown and it is not clear what information the mothers provided to nursery staff at the request. We conducted an online survey between April and May 2019 regarding the administration of medication at the nursery school with input from 600 mothers. Overall, 510 (85%) individuals replied that the requests to administer medication were acceptable for all or some of the medications. Application forms for medications were used by 91% of the 301 mothers who had previously made such requests. Although information including the child's name, medication times, illness of the child, parent's name, and dosage form was specified by over 70% of mothers, drug-related information such as effectiveness, side effects, and drug interactions was insufficient. In total, 41 instances of inappropriate medication administration by staff were reported by 35 mothers. It is suggested that the drug information sheets provided by community pharmacies should make up for inadequate drug-related information on application forms for medications to avoid the risk of adverse events and reduce staff burden. Toward this end, it is necessary to provide easily understandable information sheets for nursery staff, as the medication is usually administered by nursery staff, not a nurse. Community pharmacists should support these measures as pharmaceutical professionals.

Malignant lymphoma of the skin is a type of extranodal lymphoma with a benign prognosis, in which the main organ involved is the skin. Some 80-90% of the cases in Japan show a T-cell phenotype. Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are common T-cell lymphomas of the skin. The tumor cells of mycosis fungoides, small and medium-sized cells with cerebriform nuclei, are detected in an epidermo-dermo junction. The tumor cells show CD3, CD4 and CLA, (cutaneous lymphocyte associated antigen) positivity. Various forms of topical therapy, such as topical steroid, photochemotherapy (PUVA), and interferons, have been indicated for the good-risk group (stages I A, I B and II A). Electron-beam irradiation, various chemotherapy, such as low-dose etoposide, low-dose MTX and CPT-11 and deoxy coformycin (DCF) plus IFNs, have been indicated for intermediate-risk group (stage II B, III and IV A). BRMs plus low-dose etoposide, electron-beam irradiation and a multiagent combination chemotherapy, such as MACOP-B, M-BACOD or ProMACE-CytaBOM, have been indicated for the high-risk group (stages IV A and IV B). Cutaneous B cell lymphoma (CBCL) can be diagnosed using a molecular biological assay. The tumor cells of CBCL do not express T-cell antigens such as CD2, CD3 and CD43 and show B-cell antigens such as sIg, CD19, CD20 and CD22. Electron-beam irradiation has been indicated for early-stage CBCL (stages I and II). An effective multiagent combination chemotherapy, such as MACOP-B, M-BACOD or ProMACE-CytaBOM, is required for patients with advanced stage CBCL (stages III and IV).

Objectives: (1) To define the clinical and laboratory findings predictive of early mortality after myocardial infarction (AMI), 100 consecutive patients were studied. (2) To elucidate the serum potassium (K) concentration and its clinical significance after AMI, 38 patients were studied., Results: (1) The 30-day mortality was greater for women than for men, for patients with diabetes mellitus than for those without, and for patients with previous MI than for those without. Clinical and laboratory findings predictive of early mortality were cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, perforation or rupture of the ventricle, and presence of bundle branch block and extensive anterior AMI on electrocardiogram. The presence of bradyarrhythmia, ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and high blood levels of peak creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) or myosin or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were not independent predictors of early mortality. Patients complicated with congestive heart failure showed higher levels of peak CPK and ANP and patients with cardiogenic shock showed higher levels of ANP. (2) Serum K concentration was lower on admission than the following days, and it showed a negative correlation with plasma epinephrine. The lower serum K was accompanied with more severe ventricular arrhythmias on 24-hour electrocardiogram., Conclusion: (1) Early mortality after AMI is related to left ventricular function rather than to arrhythmias. (2) Serum K is lower in the early phase of AMI and is related with plasma catecholamines and severe ventricular arrhythmias.