{"title":"[Elucidation of the Molecular Mechanism Underlying Function of Therapeutic Antibodies and the Development of Quality Assessment Methods].","authors":"Masato Kiyoshi","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.26-00114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.26-00114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, therapeutic antibodies with various molecular modifications, such as antibody-drug conjugates, glycoengineered antibodies, and bispecific antibodies, have been developed to address unmet medical needs, resulting in increasingly complex and diverse molecular characteristics. Antibody therapeutics are multifunctional molecules capable of binding not only target antigens but also to Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) and complement. To ensure their proper effector functions, exemplified by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), it is essential to identify and appropriately control their quality attributes that influence the effector functions. To date, we have conducted studies on (1) development of novel analytical methods utilizing antibody-FcγR binding affinity, (2) control of characteristics of antibody molecules through peptide conjugation, and (3) establishment of methods for evaluating the higher-order structure of antibodies using spectroscopic and statistical approaches. The molecular mechanism underlying the effector function of therapeutic antibodies and the advanced quality assessment methods developed in this study are expected to contribute to the promotion of development and quality assurance of next-generation therapeutic antibodies that continue to evolve through diverse molecular modifications.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 9","pages":"757-763"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881636","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":"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":"[Design and Functionalization of Molecules Towards Drug Discovery].","authors":"Masaaki Kurihara","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00025","DOIUrl":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We performed the design, synthesis and evaluation of ligands of nuclear receptors [vitamin D receptor (VDR), retinoid receptor and a VDR mutant], stapled short helical peptides as VDR-coactivator interaction inhibitors, and estrogen receptor degradation inducers based on a protein knockdown strategy and selective estrogen receptor down-regulators. We also demonstrated the design and functionalization of helical peptides, and performed conformational analysis of peptides, as well as an in silico study on the prediction of bioactivity for the regulation of new designer drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 3","pages":"149-155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327317","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":"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":0.4,"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":"[Development of Clinical Practice and Clinical Pharmacy Research toward the Appropriate Use of Medications].","authors":"Kazunari Iwao","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.26-00128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.26-00128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We have engaged in clinical practice and pharmaceutical research aimed at the appropriate use of medications. In pharmacist-to-pharmacist collaboration using medication guidance information-sharing documents, it was possible to monitor treatment efficacy and adverse effects through sharing clinical data, or making prescription proposals. Our hospital's pharmacist services contributed to expanding the calculation of drug management and guidance fees by pharmacists in clinics with beds. The drug interaction that occurred between enteric-coated omeprazole tablets and Maalox<sup>®</sup> granules suggested the possibility of an unexpected drug interaction through a mechanism distinct from that reported for fluoroquinolones and Maalox<sup>®</sup> suspension. It has been suggested that certain components of black vinegar strongly inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function in the intestines, potentially enhancing the absorption of P-gp substrates. It has been suggested that aojiru strongly binds to cationic drugs with cyclic structures, significantly reducing their absorption. Based on these findings, we will continue to conduct pharmaceutical research in clinical practice and promote the appropriate use of medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 9","pages":"749-756"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881600","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":"[Escape Room Enhances Knowledge Acquisition of New Learning Content: A Controlled Study in Pharmacy Education].","authors":"Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Kokoro Nakata, Reiya Matsumoto, Motonori Fukumura, Daisuke Kamei, Hitomi Yamamoto, Rina Kato, Aya Kobayashi, Yasuna Kobayashi","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.26-00017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.26-00017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Active learning methods, such as team- and problem-based learning, are known to improve students' learning attitudes and teamwork skills in undergraduate education. This study conducted an experiment that incorporated an escape room (ER) in classes with the aim of improving students' motivation to learn and knowledge acquisition through collaborative learning. An ER was designed and administered to third-year undergraduate pharmacy students. Students were randomly assigned to a control group (regular lecture focused on knowledge transfer) or an ER group. Both groups completed pre- and post-tests. Learning outcomes and educational usefulness were evaluated using statistical analyses (t-test and chi-squared test) and text mining. The ER group had significantly higher average post-test scores compared with the control group, particularly in terms of new knowledge acquisition. The results of the questionnaire survey, which included free-form responses, indicated improvements in enjoyment, concentration, and motivation to learn. The ER provided opportunities for collaborative, active learning and demonstrated significant benefits in knowledge acquisition and educational usefulness, including increased motivation. These results could be attributed partly to the fact that ER provides a learning experience combining challenge and a sense of accomplishment, leading to a flow-like psychological state. Therefore, ER demonstrates its potential as an effective method of knowledge education in pharmacy education. Future research can clarify the effectiveness of ER by further examining the conditions that maximize the learning benefits of ER, such as the learning effects of review content and its application to other pharmacy-related subjects.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 9","pages":"791-802"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881598","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":"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<sup>+</sup> 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<sup>+</sup> 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":0.4,"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":"[Pharmacy Education in Hospital Pharmacy Supporting the Future of Drug Discovery].","authors":"Yoshito Zamami","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00167-3","DOIUrl":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00167-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recently, Japan's drug discovery capabilities have declined, prompting a national policy priority to address this issue. Thus, clinical research infrastructure and the development of practical human resources are important in promoting innovation. Hospital pharmacies, particularly within academic medical centers, may serve as core hubs supporting drug development through advanced clinical trial management and participation in decentralized clinical trials (DCTs). The Department of Pharmacy at Okayama University Hospital has established a comprehensive system for managing investigational drugs and actively engaged in DCTs, including remote monitoring and home delivery of investigational products. Furthermore, integrated educational initiatives involving pharmacy students, graduate students, and researchers from diverse academic backgrounds provide hands-on clinical trial experience and foster ethical decision-making and practical skills. Through collaboration with local governments and industry, field-based education that bridges society and pharmaceutical research has been implemented. These educational practices align with the core Japanese curriculum for pharmaceutical education, emphasizing research practices, healthcare decision-making, and societal relevance. This paper outlines a series of practical initiatives led by the Department of Pharmacy at Okayama University Hospital, which represent a sustainable educational model that reinforces Japan's drug discovery foundation. Accordingly, we proposed a vision for the future integration of hospital pharmacy practices with pharmaceutical education, highlighting the expanding professional role of pharmacists in drug discovery ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 6","pages":"577-580"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148138877","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":"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":0.4,"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":"Survey of Local Residents Nationwide to Build \"Mental Health Support\" in Pharmacies.","authors":"Kayo Ikeda, Tsuneyo Miura, Toru Hosoi, Yuji Nomura, Masafumi Toyomi, Masanori Sugiyama, Koichiro Ozawa","doi":"10.1248/yakushi.25-00182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.25-00182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For this study, we defined \"mental health support at pharmacies\" as \"mental support and reassurance through explanations for medications and illnesses, and health consultations,\" which are not difficult from a mental health perspective, and conducted a survey on how pharmacies can contribute to mental health in local residents (n=580). However, according to this definition, 80.3% answered that they had not received \"mental health support at pharmacies.\" We then asked 77 people who had experienced \"mental health support at pharmacies\" when they had obtained this support. The answers received were \"explanations of prescription medication\" (46.8%) and \"explanations of over-the-counter drugs [OTC drugs and pharmacist intervention required drugs (yo-shido-iyakuhin)]\" (31.2%) during the pharmacy's main duties. Furthermore, in the survey of all 580 residents, the \"initiatives that would be good to have in pharmacies to support mental health\" were \"mental health check\" (31.2%), \"explanations of prescription medication\" (30.2%). Moreover, regardless of whether there were difficulties with mental health, the reasons given by the 55 people who answered that pharmacies should not be involved in mental health were \"mental health is-difficult as a specialty\" (52.7%) and \"mental health is difficult in terms of personal information\" (43.6%). Therefore, it is suggested that pharmacy pharmacists should initially provide \"mental health support\" at pharmacies for mental health areas that do not require specialist knowledge.</p>","PeriodicalId":23810,"journal":{"name":"Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan","volume":"146 10","pages":"875-889"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115600","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}