15th Grant

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Sapporo), held at Hokkaido University, and gave an oral presentation titled "DDX5-Mediated Carcinogenesis Induced by the MPN-Causing Gene Product JAK2V617F Mutant."

A point mutant (V617F) of the tyrosine kinase JAK2 has been identified as a causative gene product of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). I had previously discovered that the expression of RNA helicase DDX5 is essential for the cellular transformation induced by the JAK2V617F mutant. At this conference, I presented on the therapeutic effects of FL118, a DDX5 inhibitor, on MPN. At low concentrations, FL118 suppressed the expression of DDX5 in cells expressing the JAK2V617F mutant and also induced apoptosis in these cells. Furthermore, FL118 demonstrated a high antitumor effect against tumor formation by the JAK2V617F mutant in nude mice. These findings suggest that FL118 has the potential to become a new therapeutic agent for MPN.

Through discussions with other researchers at this conference, it was concluded that further investigation is needed to elucidate the detailed mechanism of DDX5 expression regulation, as well as to compare the therapeutic effects and side effects of FL118 with existing drugs. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support, which made my participation in this conference possible.

(Kengo Takeda / 1st-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Sapporo), held at Hokkaido University, where I gave a poster presentation.

The entry of hepatitis B virus (HBV) into hepatocytes requires the interaction between the PreS1 domain of the LHBs protein in the HBV envelope and the bile acid transporter NTCP in the hepatocyte membrane. Compounds that inhibit this interaction are expected to form the basis for the development of new hepatitis B therapies. Oolonghomobisflavan C (OHBFC) is known as a compound that inhibits the interaction between PreS1 and NTCP by binding to PreS1. Although OHBFC has epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as a partial structure, EGCG itself does not have HBV infection inhibitory activity, and the mechanism by which OHBFC inhibits HBV infection remains unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction mechanism between PreS1 and OHBFC by analyzing the interactions of PreS1 with OHBFC and EGCG using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). At this conference, I presented that the interaction of OHBFC with PreS1 is experimentally stronger than that of EGCG, and that both PreS1 and OHBFC have multiple interaction sites.

By participating in the conference, I was able to hear about important and up-to-date findings related to my research theme, which allowed me to deepen my own research considerations. On the day of my presentation, many professors listened to my talk from beginning to end, and we were able to have a lively discussion. Participating in this conference was an extremely valuable and stimulating experience. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support of my presentation at this conference.

(Tomoaki Ishiba / 4th-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 61st Annual Meeting of the NMR Society of Japan, held in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, and gave a poster presentation titled "Elucidation of the Inhibition Mechanism of Transcription Factor FOXO3a by 14-3-3ζ."

The transcription factor FOXO3a acts as a tumor suppressor in normal cells. However, in cancer cells, after being phosphorylated, it binds to the highly expressed protein 14-3-3ζ, dissociates from its target DNA, and loses its transcriptional activity, leading to sustained cancer cell proliferation. Until now, it was unclear how 14-3-3ζ causes FOXO3a to dissociate from DNA. Therefore, we used NMR to estimate the interaction sites on both phosphorylated FOXO3a and 14-3-3ζ during the formation of the phosphorylated FOXO3a/14-3-3ζ complex. At this conference, we presented a model in which 14-3-3ζ competitively dissociates DNA from phosphorylated FOXO3a. During the presentation, I gained new perspectives through discussions with various NMR researchers. In addition to presenting my own work, I also attended other poster and oral presentations, which allowed me to learn about cutting-edge NMR research and gain inspiration for my future studies. This conference was particularly valuable as it provided an opportunity to exchange opinions in person with peers whom I had not been able to interact with during the long COVID-19 pandemic. Participating was an extremely precious experience for me.

Finally, my participation in this conference was made possible by the support of Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.

(Tomoya Kuwayama / 2nd-Year Student, Master's Program, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held at Hokkaido University from March 25 to 28, 2023, and gave a poster presentation titled "Evaluation of Methylmalonic Acid Transport via Proximal Tubule Organic Anion Transporters."

Methylmalonic acidemia, one of the diseases targeted by newborn mass screening, develops from the neonatal to infantile period and is the most common organic acid metabolism disorder diagnosed post-onset in Japan. Renal impairment in this disease is one of the symptoms that greatly affects the patient's prognosis, but no treatment has been established in current medicine. This study investigated the transporters involved in the uptake of methylmalonic acid into proximal tubule epithelial cells, a potential cause of nephrotoxicity, and we were able to present data that serves as a foothold for elucidating the transport mechanism.

Many others researching drug transport also attended this conference, making it a meaningful time where I could receive valuable opinions. Furthermore, the opportunity to have discussions with students and professors specializing in different fields provided new perspectives on the data I presented and the future direction of my research, making it a great learning experience.

Finally, my participation in this conference was made possible by the support of Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. Thank you very much.

(Saori Kobayashi / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held at Hokkaido University, and gave a poster presentation titled "The Effect of Ultrafine Bubbles on the Passive Diffusion of Drugs across Caco-2 Cell Monolayers." Ultrafine bubbles (UFBs) are bubbles with a diameter of approximately 1 µm or less. Due to their unique properties, they are applied in various fields, but their use in the pharmaceutical field is limited. For example, it has not been investigated whether the gastrointestinal absorption of drugs changes when UFBs are present in gastrointestinal fluid. Therefore, in this study, we used human colon cancer-derived cultured epithelial cell (Caco-2 cell) monolayers to examine the effect of UFBs on the membrane permeability of propranolol, a transcellular pathway marker, and polyethylene glycol, a paracellular pathway marker.

At the conference, I received valuable opinions and questions from professors regarding my research results, which enabled me to think about and discuss my research content from new, multifaceted perspectives. I intend to conduct further studies on what I have learned this time as a future task. It was also an extremely valuable experience to see research presentations from various fields and absorb a great deal of knowledge.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support in allowing me to participate in this conference.

(Rina Furuhara / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I gave an oral presentation at the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, titled "Analysis of Absolute Transporter Expression in Rat Liver, Kidney, and Small Intestine Tissues and the Effect of Irinotecan Exposure."

Using the quantitative targeted absolute proteomics (QTAP) method, which allows for the quantification of proteins based on molar mass, we evaluated the comprehensive expression levels of transporter proteins in rat liver, kidney, and small intestine tissues—something that had been largely unclarified—and determined the extent to which these expression levels fluctuate with irinotecan administration. We believe that clarifying the comprehensive expression distribution of transporters in rats provides important insights for predicting the pharmacokinetics and interactions of transporter substrate drugs in humans during drug development. Furthermore, the fluctuation in transporter expression levels due to irinotecan administration suggests that it may be necessary to pay attention to kinetic fluctuations of transporter substrates in clinical practice.

During the Q&A session of my presentation, I was able to have a lively discussion, mainly about the mechanisms of transporter expression fluctuation, with professors active in the field of pharmacokinetics. I intend to further develop my research based on the questions and opinions I received from the professors.

Additionally, listening to the presentations and lectures of other researchers, professors, and presenters of my own generation and being exposed to cutting-edge research was very stimulating.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support of my participation in this conference.

(Momoko Henta / 2nd-Year Student, Master's Program, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, I gave a poster presentation titled "The Effect of Curcumin on the Gastrointestinal Absorption of Axitinib in Rats."

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib is a therapeutic agent for renal cell carcinoma widely used both in Japan and internationally. It has been suggested to be a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and curcumin, found in turmeric, has P-gp and BCRP inhibitory effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of curcumin on the gastrointestinal absorption and systemic kinetics of axitinib using the rat ex vivo everted gut sac method and in vivo studies. While CUR was suggested to increase the gastrointestinal absorption of axitinib ex vivo, I presented results showing that its effect on the amount of absorption was small in vivo, and that it delayed gastrointestinal absorption. We believe these research findings provide important evidence for understanding the interactions of axitinib.

At this conference, I received questions and opinions from other professors, which allowed me to consider my research from a new perspective. Additionally, listening to presentations from those conducting similar or different fields of research provided new insights and was a very valuable experience. I hope to apply the experience I gained this time to my future endeavors.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support, which enabled me to participate in this conference.

(Maho Yasunaga / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Hokkaido, and gave a poster presentation titled "The Effect of Cranberry Juice on the Gastrointestinal Absorption of Talinolol."

It has been shown that cranberry juice (CJ) inhibits the uptake transporters organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1A2 and 2B1, which are present in the gastrointestinal tract. However, because OATPs have different substrate specificities among molecular species and each has multiple substrate binding sites, the effect of CJ may vary depending on the substrate. Therefore, in this study, we used mice to evaluate the effect of CJ on the gastrointestinal absorption of the OATP substrate and beta-blocker talinolol.

At the conference, I received many questions and comments from people in various fields and was able to exchange opinions. Hearing considerations from perspectives I would not have noticed on my own was a great learning experience. I also had the opportunity to listen to many symposia, which was a good chance to learn not only about research content but also about effective presentation methods. I intend to devote myself to applying the knowledge and experience I gained through this conference to my future work.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for providing me with such a valuable opportunity.

(Nao Yoshida / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, I gave a poster presentation titled "Analysis of OATP1A2 and OATP2B1 Inhibitory Activity by Flavonoids in Cranberry Juice."

OATP1A2 and OATP2B1, expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, are uptake transporters responsible for drug absorption. It has been previously shown that cranberry juice inhibits OATP substrate transport in vitro, and the flavonoid glycoside avicularin has been identified as an inhibitory component. However, since the avicularin content in CJ is not sufficient to explain its inhibitory activity, this study evaluated the OATP inhibitory activity of other flavonoids found in cranberries—quercetin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, quercitrin, and reynoutrin—and quantitatively assessed the relationship between their structure and inhibitory strength.

On the day of my presentation, I received more comments, questions, and advice than I had imagined, which allowed me to deepen my own thinking and broaden my perspective. There were many times when I could not convey my explanations or answers to questions as well as I would have liked, but it was a good opportunity to review my areas for improvement and reflection. As this was my first time participating in a conference, everything was new to me, and I learned a lot from the presentations of other participants. It was a very valuable experience.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support in allowing me to participate in this conference.

(Akari Yamamoto / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, I gave a poster presentation on a study that analyzed medication instruction records using a disease name extraction system.

In recent years, natural language processing technology has made it possible to extract clinical patient information, such as disease names, from medical records. However, the systems developed so far have generally targeted physician records. If this system could be used to analyze medication instruction records, which are rich in side effect information, it could lead to the realization of signal detection and early discovery of side effects.

Therefore, in this study, we verified whether a disease name extraction system designed for physician records could be applied to medication instruction records. When the system was applied to medication instruction records written in SOAP format, it was possible to extract disease names and symptoms from all sections. The system performed similarly to its performance on physician records, especially for the "A" (Assessment) section. However, its performance on sections other than "A" was insufficient, suggesting a need to improve the system's performance by training it on medication instruction records.

With research on natural language processing in the medical field still developing and limited in number, this presentation allowed me to disseminate my research content to many professors in the pharmaceutical field and generate their interest. I also received many opinions and questions, which helped me to further explore the future potential of this research.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support of my conference presentation.

(Yukiko Ohno / 2nd-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan and gave a poster presentation titled "A Comparative Study of Voriconazole Concentration Measurements by the LM1010 High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph and LC-MS/MS Method."

In therapeutic drug monitoring, rapid measurement of blood drug concentrations is desirable for safe drug therapy, but when measurements are outsourced to external institutions, it can take several days to obtain the results. The LM1010 high-performance liquid chromatograph (LM1010) developed by Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation is an HPLC device for medical institutions. It is characterized by its ability to easily and rapidly measure multiple drugs, but it has not been long since its approval, and its usage record is still limited.

In this study, to verify the performance of the LM1010, we measured residual blood samples from patients administered VRCZ using the LM1010 and compared the results with the reported values measured by an external institution using the LC-MS/MS method. The results showed a good linear relationship between the two methods, indicating that the measurement results were equivalent. I hope that this presentation will serve as a reference for medical institutions when introducing blood drug concentration measurement equipment and contribute to safe drug therapy.

This was my first time participating in a conference, and receiving opinions from healthcare professionals active in clinical practice and from medical device manufacturers allowed me to see my research from a different perspective, which was a great learning experience. Additionally, by listening to the presentations and lectures of other presenters, I was able to learn about the latest findings.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support, which enabled me to participate in this conference.

(Erika Kimura / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and gave a poster presentation titled "A Systematic Review on the Association between Falls and Hypnotics with Novel Mechanisms of Action." Falls in the elderly can lead to being bedridden or requiring long-term care, so prevention is important in terms of medical safety management. Insomnia treatments with novel mechanisms of action, such as ramelteon, suvorexant, and lemborexant, are thought to have less muscle relaxant effect and a lower risk of falls, but the data is insufficient, and they are not yet recommended in current guidelines. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to clarify the association between hypnotics with novel mechanisms of action and falls.

At the conference, I received many questions and comments from professors in various fields and was able to engage in discussions. Among them, I received valuable opinions from new perspectives, such as on search terms, case extraction methods, and correlations with other studies, which I hope to incorporate into my future research.

Also, participating in a conference and experiencing a poster presentation for the first time was a good opportunity to review my own research. By listening to the presentations of other researchers, I was able to learn many things, not just knowledge, but also how to prepare materials and give clear presentations. I would like to work even harder to apply the experience I gained through this conference to my future endeavors. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support in allowing me to participate in the conference.

(Rika Kuwahara / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I gave a poster presentation at the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, titled "A Systematic Review of the Sedative Effects of Antihistamines."

Antihistamines are classified as sedating, mildly sedating, or non-sedating based on their brain histamine H1 receptor occupancy. While there are concerns about the sedative effects and carry-over effects of sedating antihistamines, there have been few comprehensive systematic reviews or meta-analyses conducted based on this classification. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the sedative effects of sedating/mildly sedating antihistamines and non-sedating antihistamines. The results showed that non-sedating antihistamines have a lower risk of causing drowsiness compared to sedating/mildly sedating antihistamines, while their efficacy is comparable. I also presented that the subjective degree of drowsiness may also be lower with non-sedating antihistamines.

This conference brings together a wide range of people involved in pharmacy, and during the poster session, I was able to have discussions and receive diverse opinions based on perspectives from clinical and other fields. In addition, listening to a variety of presentations, including those in basic pharmaceutical sciences, clarified the challenges for my future research and also allowed me to think more deeply about the kind of pharmacist I aspire to be. I intend to further develop this research based on the knowledge I have gained. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support of my conference presentation.

(Mayu Suzukawa / 1st-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, I gave a poster presentation titled "A Comparison of the Risk of Falls among Inpatients for Various Hypnotics and Anxiolytics."

Falls are one of the major in-hospital medical accidents, and it has been reported that fractures and falls are the third leading cause of the need for care for both those requiring support and those requiring long-term care. Furthermore, while hypnotics and anxiolytics are typical examples of drugs that induce falls, there are not many reports comparing the fall risk of these drugs. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the association between various hypnotics/anxiolytics and falls in inpatients to clarify the differences in fall risk.

During the poster presentation, I received opinions and questions from many professors. Being able to exchange opinions with a professor conducting research on a similar theme was a valuable experience for me. Through discussions with the professors, I not only gained new knowledge but also learned what approaches can be taken to further deepen the content of this research in the future.

This was my first time participating in a conference, and it was a very good experience as I was able to learn about presentation methods and more. I hope to make use of this experience when I give conference presentations as a working professional in the future.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support, which enabled me to participate in this conference.

(Yuki Takano / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and gave a poster presentation on "A Preliminary Study on the Construction of an AI System to Extract Patient Expressions Regarding Symptoms from Medication Instruction Records."

In this study, we constructed a system capable of extracting symptoms from records of patient statements in medication instruction records (the "S" information in SOAP format) and compared its performance with MedNER-J, an existing Japanese disease name extraction system for disease name extraction. The difference between the systems was the presence or absence of "S" information in the training data (the correct data for AI learning). While MedNER-J, which does not include "S" information, had low versatility for symptom extraction, the system created in this study, which included "S" information, showed a relative improvement in performance. This result suggested that training using the target data is useful.

During the presentation, I received opinions from various professors and was able to engage in discussions. I also received opinions from different perspectives, such as on ensuring the quality of "S" information and on bias during data extraction, which I would like to use as a reference as I advance my research.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support in allowing me to participate in this conference.

(Rena Fujiki / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being selected for the Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Research Encouragement Award. The research encouragement fund was fully allocated to cover the participation costs for the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held from March 25 to 28, 2023.

I gave an oral presentation in English titled "A Survey of Pharmacovigilance Systems in ASEAN Countries." Giving an oral presentation in English, which was a first-time experience for me, was a major challenge. Also, while preparing the materials and practicing for the presentation, I was keenly aware of my lack of English proficiency every day and felt anxious right up until the presentation. During the actual presentation, I was able to finish my explanation as practiced, and in the Q&A session, I received a question from a participant from the Asian region, which allowed me to achieve my long-held goal of having a research discussion in English. On the other hand, I also found a new challenge: because I couldn't fully comprehend the English, I was unable to understand the intent of some questions and could not provide an appropriate answer. Through this conference participation, I was able to confirm a certain level of growth in my English ability. Acknowledging my efforts so far, I have renewed my determination to sincerely accept the shortcomings of this presentation and strive for further growth. In the future, I want to improve both my logical thinking and English skills so that I can have academic and business discussions in English with international representatives without hesitation. I believe that gaining these important insights, which will serve me well in the future, is a direct result of the support from everyone at Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude and thanks for the kindness of everyone at Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

(Chiaki Sugita / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being selected for the Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Research Encouragement Award. The research encouragement fund was fully allocated to cover the participation costs for the 14th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Clinical Trials and Research in Kanazawa.

I participated in the conference as a presenter for a poster on my research theme, "Evaluation of Important Potential Risks of SGLT2 Inhibitors." Using the large-scale claims and health checkup database owned by DeSC Healthcare, Inc., we established a comparison control group and evaluated the relative risk to clarify the association between SGLT2 inhibitors and important potential risks.

It was a very important opportunity to communicate my results to others. In discussions with questioners, I was able to deepen my own thinking and also gain new insights.

In addition to presenting my own work, I also had the valuable experience of attending symposia on the current state of clinical trials over the two days. The opportunity to interact with researchers from different backgrounds, such as those from pharmaceutical companies and universities, was stimulating, and I learned a great deal, including about presentation methods. I would like to work even harder to apply the knowledge I gained at this conference to my future endeavors.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for subsidizing the expenses related to my participation in the conference.

(Takuya Maekawa / 2nd-Year Student, Master's Program, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and gave an oral presentation titled "Evaluation of the Usefulness of Doxorubicin-Loaded Carbon Monoxide-Bound Hemoglobin-Albumin Clusters against Breast Cancer Cells."

Doxorubicin is an anticancer drug widely used in today's cancer drug therapy because it exhibits antitumor effects against a wide variety of cancers, including breast cancer. However, it has cumulative and dose-dependent cardiotoxicity as a side effect, raising concerns about limitations on the total dose and a decline in QOL after cancer treatment. Therefore, at this conference, I presented that the novel doxorubicin formulation I have designed and created, doxorubicin-loaded carbon monoxide-bound hemoglobin-albumin clusters, is effective against breast cancer cells and reduces the induction of cardiotoxicity.

In the Q&A session, I received questions regarding formulation design, the site of action of carbon monoxide, and safety, which allowed me to reconfirm the perspectives and issues that should be considered in advancing drug discovery research. I also realized the difficulty of accurately grasping and answering questions, and felt the importance of providing supplementary basic information to help the questioner better understand the presentation content. I felt the need to devote myself to improving my presentation skills. Furthermore, listening to presentations from a wide range of fields and by students of my own generation was a valuable opportunity to gather the latest knowledge and receive good stimulation. Based on the knowledge and experience gained at this conference, I intend to sincerely engage in my future research.

In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., whose generous support made this conference presentation possible.

(Chihiro Ito / 2nd-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, I gave an oral presentation on sepsis and immune pathology caused by skeletal muscle atrophy.

It is known that a state of skeletal muscle atrophy makes one more susceptible to infectious diseases and sepsis, and the risk of death when afflicted increases by about twofold. However, at present, there are no reports that have experimentally demonstrated a causal relationship between skeletal muscle atrophy and sepsis prognosis. Therefore, it is not understood how skeletal muscle atrophy worsens the prognosis of sepsis. In my oral presentation at this conference, I reported that we experimentally proved the causal relationship between skeletal muscle atrophy and sepsis prognosis using in vivo experiments with mice. I presented our findings that under skeletal muscle atrophy, the prolongation and severity of the septic condition become particularly problematic, and that an excessive suppression of the adaptive immune system may be involved. The content of this presentation provides important insights that contribute to elucidating the mechanism of sepsis exacerbation under skeletal muscle atrophy and to constructing therapeutic strategies. By exchanging opinions, engaging in Q&A, and seeing and hearing other research presentations at this conference, I believe I was able to gain ideas for further developing my own research.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their support in allowing me to participate in this conference.

(Yuka Cho / 4th-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

At the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held at Hokkaido University, I gave an oral presentation titled "A Study of a Remote Organ Fibrosis Induction Model Using Chronic Kidney Disease Model Mice."

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease where many complications are a problem, and fibrosis progresses in organs other than the kidneys, but there are few reports that have investigated the details of this. Therefore, in this study, we created three CKD models: a 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) model, a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, and a model combining a 2/3 nephrectomy of the right kidney with ligation of the left ureter (2/3Nx+UUO). We then evaluated fibrosis in the kidneys, heart, liver, and lungs histologically and biologically. As a result, in the 2/3Nx+UUO model, induction of fibrosis was observed in the liver and heart. Therefore, we clarified that the 2/3Nx+UUO model has the potential to be a CKD model capable of inducing fibrosis in other organs earlier than existing CKD models (5/6 Nx or UUO). At this conference, I received opinions based on various perspectives from experts, which became a valuable opportunity to re-examine my own research. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to presentations from professors in a wide range of fields, from healthcare professionals to researchers, which was very stimulating.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for their generous support on this occasion.

(Kyouka Honma / 2nd-Year Student, Doctoral Programs, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

I participated in the 143rd Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, held at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and gave a poster presentation titled "The Association of Adverse Events of Afatinib with Pharmacokinetics and Genetic Polymorphisms in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer."

Afatinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, but adverse events such as diarrhea and skin disorders are a problem. The blood concentration of afatinib and genetic polymorphisms are expected to serve as indicators for controlling adverse events. In this report, we interviewed patients with non-small cell lung cancer taking afatinib about adverse events, measured their afatinib blood concentrations, and performed genetic polymorphism analysis to examine the association between adverse events, serum concentrations, and genetic polymorphisms. The results showed a tendency for severe adverse events to be associated with high trough levels and AUC, similar to previous reports. In addition, a relationship was confirmed between adverse events and the ABCG2 and EGFR genetic polymorphisms, which have been reported to be related to adverse events and pharmacokinetics with afatinib and other EGFR-TKIs.

During the Q&A session, many people showed interest, and we were able to have a meaningful discussion. In that discussion, focusing on the binding mode of afatinib to EGFR and its receptor occupancy to discuss the relationship with adverse event occurrence and pharmacokinetics provided important perspectives for further consideration of this report and for future research.

Thanks to the support of Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., I was able to have this valuable experience. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.

(Hina Chishima / 6th-Year Student, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy)