Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan最新文献

{"title":"Exploratory Analysis of Student Characteristics Contributing to Improved Learning Outcomes in Gamified Organic Chemistry Education.","authors":"Mai Aoe, Tadashi Shimizu, Sumio Matzno, Noriaki Nagai, Hidekazu Ouchi, Hideto Miyabe, Shunji Aoki","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, chemistry education using gamification has been introduced. Although many studies have been conducted in various countries, there have been few reports evaluating the characteristics of students that lead to higher learning outcomes. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing learning outcomes in gamified education of organic chemistry for pharmacy students. We implemented Game-ed., which is a four-stage online learning program that covers key topics in organic chemistry, including nomenclature, aromaticity, and acidity/basicity of organic compounds, simultaneously with regular coursework for pharmacy students at a private university in Japan. A questionnaire was administered to assess the perceptions of the students for organic chemistry and gaming. Cluster analysis was used to classify students based on their responses, and final examination scores in organic chemistry were compared between the Game-ed. intervention, and non-intervention groups. In addition, the relationships between final examination scores in organic chemistry and 12 explanatory variables were determined using partial least squares regression analysis. Students who reported frequent gaming habits and those who completed a greater number of stages in Game-ed. tended to achieve higher final exam scores. Conversely, game preference and baseline total test scores were negatively associated with performance. Notably, students with a self-reported lack of confidence in organic chemistry still achieved score improvements when expressing a positive impression toward the game. Chemistry education using gamification effect is moderated by learner characteristics, with habitual gaming and the number of stages completed emerging as key contributors to improved performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 1","pages":"71-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145901211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Recent Insights into HLA-dependent Idiosyncratic Liver Injury].","authors":"Shigeki Aoki, Akira Kazaoka, Kousei Ito","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00145-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00145-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (iDILI) is a rare but serious adverse reaction that occurs only in a small subset of individuals. Traditionally, drug-induced liver injury has been studied primarily through the lens of hepatocellular toxicity; however, this approach fails to explain the unpredictable nature of iDILI, which often evades detection in preclinical models. Recent studies have shifted the paradigm toward an immune-mediated mechanism, with CD8⁺ T cell activation restricted by specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles playing a central role. Nevertheless, the presence of a risk HLA allele alone is insufficient to induce disease, underscoring the importance of additional host-specific factors that regulate immune responsiveness. Among these, breakdowns in immune tolerance-such as impaired regulatory T cell function or immune checkpoint failure-appear critical in unleashing pathological T cell activity. Importantly, effective CD8⁺ T cell activation also requires more than antigen recognition. While HLA-mediated antigen presentation (signal 1) provides specificity, co-stimulatory signals (signal 2) from activated antigen-presenting cells are necessary to drive full activation. The convergence of these two signals, in the context of a permissive immune environment, initiates tissue-damaging immune responses. This stepwise framework offers a more accurate understanding of iDILI as an immunologically orchestrated process rather than a purely toxicological phenomenon. Although HLA-transgenic mouse models seldom reproduce overt liver injury, they serve as valuable platforms for investigating HLA-restricted immune responses in vivo and lay the foundation for improved risk prediction, mechanistic modeling, and safer therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 2","pages":"115-122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Providing Evidence to Support Pharmacists as Gatekeepers of Overdose Prevention].","authors":"Kazuki Nagashima, Yuko Sekine","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00163-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00163-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incidence of overdoses is increasing, especially among young people, and patients with a history of overdoses are more likely to engage in subsequent suicidal behavior, even if their initial goal was self-harm. Drugs used in overdose cases include not only over-the-counter drugs but also prescription drugs, and, in many instances, the pharmacist dispenses the drug to the patient immediately before it is taken. Pharmacists working in insurance-affiliated pharmacies and drugstores should serve as gatekeepers to prevent overdose and suicide. This review aimed to generate concrete evidence to support pharmacists in preventing medication overdose and, ultimately, suicide. Specifically, we sought to (1) identify psychotropic drugs that may lead to tracheal intubation following an overdose, based on GC-MS analysis of samples of patients with drug overdose transported to emergency care facilities; (2) determine measures adopted by pharmacies to enable pharmacists and registered sales representatives to act as gatekeepers for medication overdose prevention; and (3) establish an OD score to rapidly identify overdose cases among patients transported to emergency care facilities and to characterize such patients based on the collected data. The abovementioned information may serve as concrete evidence to support the role of pharmacists as gatekeepers in overdose and suicide prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 4","pages":"315-318"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Prospects for Improving the Efficiency and Precision of Pharmaceutical Preparations: The Perspective of Pharmaceutical Equipment and Machinery Manufacturers].","authors":"Masashi Yuyama","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00176-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00176-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pharmacist's responsibilities are shifting from product-based to patient-centered services. This review examines the current status and effectiveness of dispensing equipment and highlights the challenges to achieving efficient and high-precision pharmaceutical preparations. Automation, especially for powder medications, has reduced dispensing time and simplified workflows. However, full automation remains limited because manual intervention is still necessary to integrate processes. Unit-of-use dispensing, which is common in Europe, can improve efficiency but faces structural and systemic barriers in Japan. Three key challenges must be addressed to enable safe task delegation. First, dispensing instruction systems need equipment-based design changes, which restrict pharmacists to the dispensing room. Second, quality control systems lack adequate worker identification and traceability. Third, medication tracking relies on follow-up verification, which offers insufficient safety during distribution. This review proposes implementing real-time dispensing design systems, comprehensive quality control frameworks, and automated medication recording systems. These solutions are achievable with current technology, and phased implementation could allow pharmacists to focus more on patient care, improve safety, and expand their roles in community healthcare. Achieving true efficiency and precision requires integrated solutions that cover dispensing instructions, quality control, and medication follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 5","pages":"453-458"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Inflammasome Activation and Idiosyncratic Drug-induced Liver Injury: Fusion Study of Basic and Real-world Data].","authors":"Ryuji Kato","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00145-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00145-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is particularly problematic due to its severity and unpredictability. Various pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed for IDILI; however, these mechanisms have yet to be comprehensively elucidated. Although the hapten hypothesis has long been posited as a possible pathogenic mechanism, it is believed that other mechanisms may also elicit a strong immune response. We hypothesized that reactive metabolites generated by drug metabolism cause cellular stress and release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that may activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs). We have shown that the metabolites of drugs such as acetaminophen, flutamide, and bicartamide activate the inflammasome response in APCs. Moreover, we confirmed that these reactions are suppressed by steroids. Meanwhile, we are also investigating drugs that are suspected to have an immune-mediated mechanism of action based on basic studies using real-world data. If the pathogenic mechanism of IDILI is indeed immune-mediated, it may be suppressed by steroid administration or activated by the concomitant use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, we are analyzing the relative risk rates of these drugs in combination. In this review, we present the findings of our previous studies on the pathogenesis of IDILI, including those on reactive metabolites and immune activation. We also present the results of the real-world data analysis which validated the pathogenic mechanism of IDILI that was previously elucidated through basic research, showcasing our efforts to integrate basic and clinical research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 2","pages":"111-114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Challenging the Elucidation of Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms Using Chemical Probes of Resolvins].","authors":"Hayato Fukuda","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Resolvins are endogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids that show strong anti-inflammatory activity and are therefore expected to be promising new anti-inflammatory drug candidates. However, resolvins have many problems, including instability. This article reviews efforts to improve the stability of resolvin E2 (RvE2) and develop chemical probes to elucidate its anti-inflammatory mechanism. First, to improve the oxidative stability of RvE2, α- and β-CP-RvE2 were designed and synthesized by introducing cyclopropanes (CP) to C11-C12 of RvE2, and the oxidative stability of RvE2 was significantly improved. Next, 5-, 18-, and 20-AP-β-CP-RvE2 were designed and synthesized by introducing azidopropyl (AP) groups to C5, C18, and C20 of β-CP-RvE2 so as to determine the position of introduction of functional groups. The anti-inflammatory activity and phagocytosis of macrophages were evaluated, and it was revealed that 5-AP-β-CP-RvE2 has the same activity as RvE2 and β-CP-RvE2. In addition, to simplify the structure of RvE2, o-, m-, and p-BZ-RvE2 were designed and synthesized by introducing a benzene (BZ) ring into C9-C14 of RvE2. It was found that the metabolic stability of o-BZ-RvE2 was improved compared with RvE2, and the anti-inflammatory activity of o-BZ-RvE2 was equal to or greater than that of RvE2.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 2","pages":"97-104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Development of a Liver Fibrosis Treatment Targeting Inhibition of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation].","authors":"Momoka Yamaguchi","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic liver disease causes approximately 2 million deaths annually worldwide, accounting for nearly 4% of global mortality. Liver fibrosis is a central pathological feature driving the progression of chronic liver disease (CLD), irrespective of the underlying etiology-be it hepatitis viruses, alcohol consumption, or the increasingly prevalent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis. Liver fibrosis arises from a dysregulated wound-healing response following sustained liver injury and inflammation, leading to excessive extracellular matrix deposition that intersects normal liver architecture and function. Despite the significance of fibrosis in CLD progression, effective antifibrotic therapies have not been deduced. A limited subset of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients progresses to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) characterized by inflammation and fibrosis, which indicates that this progression involves specific triggering mechanisms or factors. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), located in the space of Disse as quiescent vitamin A-storing cells, are the key mediators of fibrosis. The activation and transdifferentiation of HSCs into myofibroblast-like cells following liver injury results in markedly increased collagen production. Our recent research has indicated that altered adenosine metabolism in hepatocytes leads to increased extracellular adenosine, which in turn drives the activation of HSCs, promoting the progression from MASLD to MASH. The regulatory mechanisms involving prostaglandin E₂ and adenosine signaling in the activation of HSCs are complex and have not been fully elucidated. Further detailed investigations that would uncover the complete pathways controlling the activation of HSCs and enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting liver fibrosis in CLD are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 2","pages":"91-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Characterization of Genetic Polymorphisms Related to 5-FU Metabolizing Enzymes in Japanese Populations].","authors":"Eiji Hishinuma","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00124","DOIUrl":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fluoropyrimidine anticancer agents, exemplified by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), induce severe adverse effects-such as myelosuppression, emesis, diarrhea, and hand-foot syndrome-in approximately 10-30% of patients. As such toxicities can result in delays or discontinuation of therapy, accurate prediction of drug response prior to treatment initiation is of critical importance. The metabolic degradation of 5-FU is primarily mediated by the drug-metabolizing enzymes dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and dihydropyrimidinase (DHPase). These enzymes are encoded by the DPYD and DPYS genes, respectively; polymorphisms in these genes that reduce or abolish enzymatic activity lead to elevated systemic concentrations of 5-FU, thereby increasing the risk of severe toxicity. In Caucasian populations, four DPYD polymorphisms have been identified as predictive markers of adverse drug reactions. However, these variants are rarely observed in Japanese individuals, and reliable pharmacogenomic biomarkers remain largely unreported in this population. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive in vitro functional analysis of DPD and DHPase activity of DPYD and DPYS variants identified through large-scale whole-genome sequencing databases. This review summarizes our findings and elucidates the underlying mechanisms affecting the function of 5-FU-metabolizing enzymes, as revealed by our prior research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145901069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Realization of Near-future Factories Using Linear Transportation Technology].","authors":"Tatsuyuki Iwasaki, Tetsumi Irie, Masahiko Kikuchi","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.24-00210-F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.24-00210-F","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 3","pages":"173-174"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Educational Value of Simulated Electronic Health Records in Pharmacy Education: Impacts on Clinical Reasoning, Interprofessional Perceptions, and ICT Literacy.","authors":"Ken Yamamoto, Yuzuki Monma, Yuri Yamauchi, Kei Konuma, Rinko Kato, Yoshihito Morimoto, Dan Kambayashi, Iori Hirosawa, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Masayoshi Hirohara","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00095","DOIUrl":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the rapid advancement of digital transformation (DX) in healthcare, pharmacists are increasingly expected to interpret and apply electronic health record (EHR) information to support clinical decision-making and patient care. Despite this shift, the integration of educational EHRs into pharmacy curricula remains limited, and their educational effectiveness is underexplored in Japan. This study implemented a structured EHR-based educational program for fourth-year pharmacy students and evaluated its impact on their clinical reasoning, interprofessional perception, and information and communications technology (ICT) literacy. Nineteen students participated in a 240-min program, featuring a pediatric Kawasaki disease case, and utilizing an educational EHR platform. The instructional design included case analysis, group discussion, role-play, and reflection. Educational outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-intervention tests; rubric-based performance evaluations; Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction model questionnaires; and qualitative analysis of open-ended feedback. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant improvements in knowledge and performance metrics (p<0.05). Students reported high motivation and satisfaction, and qualitative findings highlighted the program's effectiveness in fostering clinical thinking and team-based care perspectives. However, feedback also suggested the need for workload balance and instructional pacing refinement. These findings indicate that an EHR-based program can serve as a valuable model for developing essential competencies in pharmacy education aligned with evolving professional roles. Future iterations may benefit from incorporating flipped classroom elements, repeated exposures, and diversified assessment strategies to enhance long-term learning outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 3","pages":"239-252"},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}