Toshitaka Nabeshima

Zonisamide (ZNS), a new antiepileptic drug which features a wide antiepileptic spectrum, is commonly prescribed concomitantly with other drugs. However, there appears to be little data on the drug interaction of ZNS with other coadministered drugs. Concentrations of ZNS and co-medications in plasma were measured simultaneously by HPLC. The ratio of plasma concentration to the administered dose of ZNS in the monotherapy was significantly higher than that in the polytherapy (P>0.05). When co-medications numbered more than two, the ratio was significantly decreased compared with ZNS alone, indicating the possibility that co-medications induce decreases in plasma concentration of ZNS. The present findings provide useful information that the monitoring of plasma concentration of ZNS is needed to adjust dosage regiments of ZNS in the polytherapy.

A conference on radiopharmaceuticals was put into operation regarding the present condition of radiopharmaceuticals in hospital pharmacy and its future problem. Two hundred twenty eight hospital pharmacies were at randam selected among them employed more eight pharmacists. The results indicated that preparation and control of radiopharmaceuticals in 1% of them was carried out in present, on the other hand intended in 33% of them in future.

We attempted to measure the change in the nerve growth factor (NGF) content in the hippocampus and parietal cortex following basal-forebrain lesions induced by ibotenic acid and electrolysis. The NGF content of the parietal cortex and hippocampus increased transiently on days 3 to 7, and then returned to the control level on day 14 after the lesion of the basal forebrain induced by ibotenic acid. Ibotenic acid decreased both the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the parietal cortex and the dopamine content in the striatum. Electrolytic lesions of the basal forebrain decreased the dopamine content in the striatum, but did not affect the NGF content and ChAT activity in any of the brain regions examined. These results suggest that the mechanism of NGF synthesis is related to cholinergic, but not to dopaminergic, neurons in the basal forebrain.

Unclaimed prescriptions directly increase the number of non-compliance patients. A survey of drug inventories was conducted prior to and following implementation of outpatient prescription ordering to determine how such ordering affects stocks of unclaimed patient-subscribed medications. Results showed that while the institution of ordering tends to increase the incidence of unclaimed prescriptions, measures can be taken to reduce these stockpiles. It was also found that, after ordering had been implemented, many patients were unaware that prescriptions had been issued. It is therefore necessary to create some sort of system enabling patients to check on prescriptions at any time.