Recent status of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy with clinical beneficial effects

In the Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and Integrated Medicine (IM), hydrotherapy and balneotherapy have been important treatment. They have several pleiotropic effects, such as thermal effects, buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscous resistance and chemical effects. There is clinical efficacy to various diseases or states, including neck pain, low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, Parkinson disease, and so on. New trial with health promotion strategy with balneotherapy has been reported along World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy

Thermal Therapy for Patients with Heart Disease from the Perspective of Integrative Healthcare

Integrative Medicine (IM) and/or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) have been developing around the world. Author and colleagues have continued the management of Shikoku division of Integrative Medicine Japan (IMG) for years. One of the treatments of IM and CAM would be thermal therapy, which has categorized into two groups with A Warm-Water Bath (WWB) and Sauna Bath (SB). SB includes dry sauna in Western countries and Waon therapy originated from Japan. SB shows the reduction in cardiac preload and afterload by thermal vasodilation for patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Thermal therapy would be useful for further development of sauna and IM from the perspective of integrative healthcare

A case of subacute thyroiditis associated with complete occlusion of right coronary artery

Case presentation: A case is a 72-year-old male, and developed fever, sore throat and immigrating neck pain, without shortness of breath (SOB). He showed pulse 96/min, Temp 38.8C, BP 146/90mmHg, respiration and SpO2 normal. Physicals were slight tenderness in thyroid, and laboratory data revealed free T3/T4 10.7pg/mL/5.4ng/dL. He was diagnosed as subacute thyroiditis. ECG showed incomplete right bundle block branch (RBBB) and Holter ECG showed pulse rate 70-144/min and the average was 95.8/min for 24 hours. HbA1c increased from 6.4% to 7.4% for 6 weeks. For the treatment, prednisolone 20mg/day was started and reduced gradually, and thyroid function was normalized. Consecutively, he developed chest discomfort and oppression with unremarkable ECG changes and chest CT showed only the calcification of coronary arteries. Coronary angiography showed occlusion of the right proximal coronary artery (RCA, #2:100%), left anterior descending (LAD, #6:75%, #7:90%). Coronary angioplasty was operated immediately. By placing a drug-eluting stent, RCA was re-opened successfully. His symptoms disappeared, and clinical course was improved. Discussion: Subacute thyroiditis may bring hyperthyroidism and tachycardia, increased metabolism for circulatory system. Then, subacute thyroiditis would give burden and stress for coronary heart function. It is suggested that hyperthyroidism would aggravate the coronary stenosis. We have to consider such complex pathophysiology for the diseased states in the clinical medical practice

Abnormal social behavior, hyperactivity, impaired remote spatial memory, and increased D1-mediated dopaminergic signaling in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is involved in the regulation of a diverse population of intracellular messenger systems in the brain. In humans, abnormal NOS/nitric oxide metabolism is suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Mice with targeted disruption of the nNOS gene exhibit abnormal behaviors. Here, we subjected nNOS knockout (KO) mice to a battery of behavioral tests to further investigate the role of nNOS in neuropsychiatric functions. We also examined the role of nNOS in dopamine/DARPP-32 signaling in striatal slices from nNOS KO mice and the effects of the administration of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist on behavior in nNOS KO mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>nNOS KO mice showed hyperlocomotor activity in a novel environment, increased social interaction in their home cage, decreased depression-related behavior, and impaired spatial memory retention. In striatal slices from nNOS KO mice, the effects of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist, SKF81297, on the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 at protein kinase A sites were enhanced. Consistent with the biochemical results, intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of SKF81297 significantly decreased prepulse inhibition in nNOS KO mice, but not in wild-type mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings indicate that nNOS KO upregulates dopamine D1 receptor signaling, and induces abnormal social behavior, hyperactivity and impaired remote spatial memory. nNOS KO mice may serve as a unique animal model of psychiatric disorders.</p

Analysis of Delayed Bleeding after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Epithelial Neoplasms

Aim. Delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric epithelial neoplasms is a major complication. We investigated factors related to post-ESD bleeding to identify preventive measures. Methods. The study included 161 gastric epithelial neoplasms in 142 patients from June 2007 to September 2010. Post-ESD bleeding was defined as an ulcer with active bleeding or apparent exposed vessels diagnosed by an emergency endoscopy or a planned follow-up endoscopy. We analyzed associations between bleeding and the following factors: age, sex, morphology, pathology, tumor depth, ulcer presence/absence, location, size of the resected lesion, duration of the procedure, the number of times bleeding occurred during ESD, and the use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet drugs. Subsequently, we examined characteristics of bleeding cases. Results. Post-ESD bleeding occurred in 21 lesions. Univariate analysis of these cases showed that ulcer presence/absence (P < 0.001), middle or lower third lesions (P = 0.036), circumference (P = 0.014), and a post-ESD ulcer with an extended lesser curve (P = 0.009) were significant predictors of bleeding. Multivariate analysis showed that ulcer presence/absence (OR 9.73, 95% CI 2.28–41.53) was the only significant predictor. Conclusion. Ulcer presence/absence was considered the most significant predictor of post-ESD bleeding

Soft chromophore featured liquid porphyrins and their utilization toward liquid electret applications

Optoelectronically active viscous liquids are ideal for fabricating foldable/stretchable electronics owing to their excellent deformability and predictable π-unit-based optoelectronic functions, which are independent of the device shape and geometry. Here we show, unprecedented 'liquid electret' devices that exhibit mechanoelectrical and electroacoustic functions, as well as stretchability, have been prepared using solvent-free liquid porphyrins. The fluidic nature of the free-base alkylated-tetraphenylporphyrins was controlled by attaching flexible and bulky branched alkyl chains at different positions. Furthermore, a subtle porphyrin ring distortion that originated from the bulkiness of alkyl chains was observed. Its consequences on the electronic perturbation of the porphyrin-unit were precisely elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and theoretical modelling. This molecular design allows shielding of the porphyrin unit by insulating alkyl chains, which facilitates its corona-charged state for a long period under ambient conditions