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Aim Methods Results Conclusion Interprofessional collaboration between medical professionals is an essential aspect of caring for Japan's super‐aging population, but studies on the subject have been geographically limited in scope. Therefore, we aimed to determine the factors necessary for pharmacists to achieve interprofessional collaboration in home‐based care in Japan.Our online questionnaire survey was conducted from February 1, 2023 to February 15, 2023. The Japan Pharmaceutical Association introduced this survey to their membership, and survey letters were sent to hospitals and community pharmacies that were not included in this association.The study involved 1156 and 36 participants working in a community pharmacy and a hospital, respectively. These participants were divided into the collaboration group and the non‐collaboration group. Enough time for visiting patients and for preparing the first visiting plan was important to achieve interprofessional collaboration in home‐based care for a hospital pharmacist. More than 5 years of experience working in home‐based care and participation in pre‐visit conferences, discharge conferences, meetings with persons in charge of services were independent factors in collaborating with other medical staff for a community pharmacist.Hospital pharmacists with enough time to prepare and visit for home‐based care and community pharmacists working in home‐based care for more than 5 years and who share information on home‐based care with medical staff achieved interprofessional collaboration in home‐based care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••–••. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Multiple risk factors are involved in geriatric syndrome (GS) occurring in older adults. Although drug therapy often contributes to GS, the specific causes among older adults in Japan remain unclear. In this study, we examined the possible prescribing cascade rate among older outpatients eligible for Late‐stage Elderly Health Insurance and elucidated the differences between GS and GS associated with medication (GSAM) trends. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients from health insurance claims data in Japan between October 2018 and March 2019; hospitalized patients were excluded. Two groups were identified among the participants with GS: GS (no use of GS‐causing medications) and possible‐GSAM (p‐GSAM; use of GS‐causing medications). The collected data were analyzed using the Bell Curve for Excel, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: In total, 137 781 outpatients were enrolled. Of the 32 259 outpatients who did not use GS‐causing medications, 7342 were classified into the GS group. Among 105 522 outpatients who used GS‐causing medications, 8347 were classified as having p‐GSAM. The mean number of prescriptions was significantly higher in the p‐GSAM group than in the GS group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, all GS symptoms showed significant differences, with impaired appetite being the most prevalent in the p‐GSAM group than in the GS group (P < 0.01). A possible prescribing cascade was suspected in 2826 (33.9%) of 8347 outpatients in the p‐GSAM group. Conclusion: Impaired appetite in patients taking GS‐causing medications might lead to prescribing cascades. Further studies are needed to prevent such prescribing cascades. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 61–67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We developed a new sternal fixation device, Super FIXSORB WAVE®, a corrugated plate made of u-HA/PLLA, to improve sternal stability after sternotomy. This present study aimed to evaluate the new device clinically. Methods: This prospective, single-blinded, multicenter trial randomized 69 patients to either wire cerclage only (group C, n = 30) or wire cerclage plus Super FIXSORB WAVE® (group W, n = 39). The primary endpoint was a degree of sternal displacement at six months. Displacement of the sternal halves in the anteroposterior and lateral directions was measured using computed tomography horizontal section images at the third costal and fourth intercostal levels. The secondary endpoints were sternal pain and quality-of-life over 6 months. Results: Group W showed significantly reduced sternal anteroposterior displacement at both the third costal (0 [0–1.9] mm vs. 1.1 [0–2.1] mm; P = 0.014) and fourth intercostal (0 [0–1.0] mm) vs. 1.0 [0–1.8] mm; P = 0.015) levels than group C. In group W, lateral displacement was suppressed without a significant increase from 2 weeks to 6 months, while it increased in group C. There was no significant difference in postoperative sternal pain and quality-of-life between the two groups. No adverse events, such as infection, inflammation, or foreign body reaction, were observed with this device. Conclusions: Using Super FIXSORB WAVE®, sternal displacement was significantly suppressed in both the anteroposterior and lateral directions. The use of this device results in safe and easy sternal reinforcement without any adverse events, and sternal healing can be accelerated. Clinical trial registry number: This study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (February 21, 2019; jRCTs032180146). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antithrombogenicity of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices, particularly oxygenators, is a current problem, with numerous studies and developments underway. However, there has been limited progress in developing methods to accurately compare the antithrombogenicity of oxygenators. Animal experiments are commonly conducted to evaluate the antithrombogenicity of devices; however, it is challenging to maintain a steady experimental environment. We propose an innovative experimental animal model to evaluate different devices in a constant experimental environment in real‐time. Methods: This model uses two venous–arterial ECMO circuits attached to one animal (one by jugular vein and carotid artery, one by femoral vein and artery) and real‐time assessment of thrombus formation in the oxygenator by indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging. Comparison studies were conducted using three pigs: one to compare different oxygenators (MERA vs. CAPIOX) (Case 1), and two to compare antithrombotic properties of the oxygenator (QUADROX) when used under different hydrodynamic conditions (continuous flow vs. pulsatile flow) (Cases 2 and 3). Results: Thrombi, visualized using ICG imaging, appeared as black dots on a white background in each oxygenator. In Case 1, differences in the site of thrombus formation and rate of thrombus growth were observed in real‐time in two oxygenators. In Case 2 and 3, the thrombus region was smaller in pulsatile than in continuous conditions. Conclusions: We devised an innovative experimental animal model for comparison of antithrombogenicity in ECMO circuits. This model enabled simultaneous evaluation of two different ECMO circuits under the same biological conditions and reduced the number of sacrificed experimental animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]