Protective activity from hydrophilic and lipophilic free radical generators of Wen-Pi-Tang and its crude drug extracts in LLC-PK_1 cells

We investigated Wen-Pi-Tang and its crude drug extracts to determine their protective effect from oxidative stress caused by the hydrophilic and lipophilic free radical generators, 2,2\u27-azobis (2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and 2,2\u27-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN) in LLC-PK_1 renal tubular epithelial cells. In response to AAPH and AMVN treatment, cell viability decreased significantly and significantly enhanced thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation was observed. However, Wen-Pi-Tang and its crude drug extracts showed scavenging of peroxyl radicals, which were generated by AAPH and AMVN, resulting in greater cell viability and lower TBARS formation than controls treated only with free radical generators. In particular, Wen-Pi-Tang, Rhei Rhizoma and Ginseng Radix demonstrated high protective activity, whereas Aconiti Tuber, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix showed relatively low activity. This result suggests that the antioxidant activity of Wen-Pi-Tang was attributable to the crude extracts, and that both act as hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. 水溶性アゾ化合物のAAPH(2,2\u27-azobis(2-amidino-propane)dihydrochloride)と脂溶性アゾ化合物のAMVN(2,2\u27-azobis(2,4dimethylvaleronitrile))で腎上皮細胞のLLC-PK1に酸化的ストレスを惹起させ,温脾湯と5種類の構成和漢薬の効果を検討した。AAPHとAMVNで処埋した場合,細胞生有率が著しく抵ドし,チオバルビツール酸反応物質の生成が著しく上昇したが,温脾湯と各構成和漢薬エキスをそれぞれ添加した場合,温脾湯と大黄,薬用人参では高い抗酸化活性を示した。しかし附子,乾姜,甘草では相対的に低いi活牲であった。このことから,温脾湯の抗酸化活性は構成和漢薬に起因し,また温脾湯は水溶性抗酸化物と脂溶性抗酸化物の両方の特徴を有していることが示唆された

Effect of Keishi-bukuryo-gan on asymptomatic cerebral infarction for short term

無症候性脳梗塞患者に対する桂枝茯苓丸の効果を検討した。142例(男性32例,女性110例,平均年齢68.9才)を対象とし,副作用のため内服を中止した3例を除く139例に対して,桂枝茯苓丸エキス1日量7.5gを12週間投与した。投与開始時と比較して,改訂長谷川式簡易知能評価スケール,Apathyスケール(やる気スケール),SDS(うつ状態スケール)は有意に改善した。また,頭重感,頭痛,めまいの自覚症状も桂枝茯苓丸の投与により改善し,拡張期血圧は投与前に比べ有意に低下した。これらの結果から,桂枝茯苓丸が無症候性脳梗塞に伴う認知機能の低下,精神症状や自覚症状の悪化に対して有効である可能性が示唆された。 The efficacy of Keishi-bukuryo-gan in patients suffering from asymptomatic cerebral infarction was studied. 142 patients, 32 males and 110 females, with a mean age of 68.9 years, were enrolled and analyzed, and 139 completed the study. They were given Keishi-bukuryo-gan extract (7.5g/day) three times a day for 12 weeks. In comparison to the beginning of the study, Keishi-bukuryo-gan showed improvement with statistical significance in the mean revised version of Hasegawa\u27s dementia scale, Apathy scale and Self-rating depression scale. The number of patients with subjective symptoms as headdullness, headache and dizziness decreased by the treatment with Keishi-bukuryo-gan, and diastolic blood pressure was decreased with statistical significance as compared to the beginning of the study. These results suggest that Keishi-bukuryo-gan is effective against dysfunction of acknowledgment, emotional disorder and subjective symptoms with asymptomatic cerebral infarction

Changes of peripheral lymphocyte population in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with herbal medicine (Maoto) and IFN-β

We recently reported that the herbal medicine (Maoto) might have immunomodulatory effects when used in conjunction with IFN-β. In order to examine the relation between host immune reaction and virological effects upon treatment with Maoto and IFN-β, we monitored the changes in lymphocyte populations of peripheral blood by flow-cytometry. Twenty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study. They received a daily dose of 6 million units of IFN-β for 8 weeks. Maoto was given orally 4 times a day during the IFN-β administration, and we monitored the changes in lymphocyte populations of peripheral blood by flow-cytometry. Six patients were sustained virological responders (SR), 10 were transient responders (TR), and 9 were nonresponders (NR). The percentage of CD16^+CD56^+ lymphocyte populations was decreased in all groups between pretreatment and 4 weeks, but it was significantly increased in SR compared with TR and NR between 4 and 8 weeks. The percentage of HLADR^+CD8^+ lymphocyte populations was significantly increased in SR and TR compared with NR between pretreatment and 8 weeks. Our results suggested that monitoring of changes in peripheral CD16^+CD56^+ and HLADR^+CD8^+ lymphocyte populations could be useful to treat chronic hepatitis C with the combination therapy of Maoto and IFN-β. 我々は最近, 麻黄湯にはIFNβと併用療法時において免疫修飾作用があるのではないかと報告してきた。そこで今回我々は麻黄湯とIFNβ併用療法時における宿主の免疫反応とウイルス学的効果の関連性について検討する為に, フローサイトメトリー解析を用いて, 併用療法前後での末梢血リンパ球サブセットの変化について検討した。25名のC型慢性肝炎患者を対象として8週間の麻黄湯とIFNβの併用療法を行った。また麻黄湯はIFN投与中1日4回服用とした。ウイルス学的検討では, 6名が著効群(SR), 10名が一過性有効群(TR), 9名が無効群(NR)だった。CD16^+CD56^+陽性リンパ球数の比率は, 治療前と比較して, 4週後には3群ともその比率が低下したが, 4週から8週後では, SR群でTR群とNR群と比較して有意な上昇が認められた。またHLADR^+CD8^+リンパ球数の比率は治療前後においてSR群とTR群でNR群と比較して有意な上昇が認められた。我々の結果より, C型慢性肝炎に対する麻黄湯とIFNβ併用療法時において, CD16^+CD56^+, HLADR^+CD8^+リンパ球数の変化をモニタリングすることが有用である可能性が示唆された

Acupuncture Alleviated the Nonmotor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease including Pain, Depression, and Autonomic Symptoms

A woman started to feel intractable pain on her lower legs when she was 76. At the age of 78, she was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s disease (PD). The leg pain was suspected to be a symptom of PD after eliminating other causes. The patient also suffered from nonmotor symptoms, depression, anxiety, hot flashes, and paroxysmal sweating. Though the patient had received pharmacotherapy including levodopa for 5 years, she still suffered from the nonmotor symptoms and was referred to our department. We treated her with acupuncture based on the Chinese traditional medicine and electroacupuncture five times per week. After the 2-week treatment, the assessment for the symptoms was as follows; visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the leg pain was 16 mm (70 mm, before), Hamilton’s rating scales for depression (HAM-D) score was 9 (18, before), timed 3 m Up and Go took 20 steps in 30 sec (24 steps in 38 sec, before), and the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part 1 score was 13 (21, before). Autonomic symptoms, hot flashes and paroxysmal sweating, were also alleviated. Acupuncture may be a good treatment modality for nonmotor symptoms in PD

Analysis of clinical factors associated with Kampo formula-induced pseudoaldosteronism based on self-reported information from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database.

Drug-induced pseudoaldosteronism is a typical adverse effect of Kampo formulas. Previous research described the potential risks of Kampo formula-linked pseudoaldosteronism. However, few studies assessed the risk factors using a real-world database and a data-mining approach. Using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database, we extracted pseudoaldosteronism reports for 148 Kampo formulas covered by Japanese national health insurance. Adverse events were decided according to the preferred terminology of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities/Japanese version 25.1. We calculated reporting odds ratio (RORs) and identified Kampo formulas as suspected causes of pseudoaldosteronism. Moreover, we evaluated clinical factors associated with Kampo formula-induced pseudoaldosteronism via logistic regression. From April 2004 to November 2022, 6334 adverse events related to the Kampo formulas were reported. We selected 2471 reports containing complete clinical data, including 210 reports on pseudoaldosteronism. In the pseudoaldosteronism group, 69.0% of patients were female, and 85.2% were ≥70 years old. The formulas most commonly associated with pseudoaldosteronism were Shakuyakukanzoto, Yokukansan, and Ryokeijutsukanto (ROR [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 18.3 [13.0-25.9], 8.1 [5.4-12.0], and 5.5 [1.4-21.9], respectively). Logistic analysis identified female sex (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] = 1.7 [1.2-2.6]; P = 0.006), older age (≥70, 5.0 [3.2-7.8]; P 14 days, OR = 2.8 [1.7-4.5]; P < 0.001) were associated with adverse events. We did not observe an interaction between aging and hypertension. Careful follow-up is warranted during long-term Glycyrrhiza-containing Kampo formula use in patients with multiple clinical factors for pseudoaldosteronism