Effects of Choto-san (Diao-Teng-San) on microcirculation of bulbar conjunctiva and hemorheological factors in patients with asymptomatic cerebral infarction

In this study, the effects of Choto-san ( 釣藤散 ) on the microcirculation of bulbar conjunctiva in 16 patients with asymptornatic cerebral infarction were investigated with a video-microscopic system. After the administration of Choto-san for four weeks, variables of microcirculatory flow of the bulbar conjunctiva, that is, the internal diameter of vessels, flow velocity and flow volume rate were increased (p<0.05) . Erythrocyte aggregability, evaluated by measuring the maximum diameter of a column of intravascular erythrocyte aggregation, was also improved (p<0.05) . Simultaneously, hemorheological factors such as whole blood viscosity, plasrna viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and leukocyte deformability were examined. Choto-san improved deformability of both erythrocytes and leukocytes (p<0.05) , but not blood viscosity. These results suggest that Choto-san may have favorable effects on cerebrovascular disorders through changes in microcirculatory flow, erythrocyte aggregability and blood cell deformability. 今回,無症候性脳梗塞患者16名を対象に,眼球結膜微小循環に及ぼす釣藤散の効果をビデオ顕徴鏡システムを用いて検討した。釣藤散を4週間投与後,眼球結膜微小循環の血管内径,血流速度,血流量が増加した(p<0.05)。血管内赤血球集合現象を認める血管の最大内径で評価ざれる赤血球集合能も改善した(p<0.05)。同時に,血液レオロジー因子である全血粘度,血漿粘度,赤血球変形能,白血球変形能も検討したところ,釣藤散は赤血球と白血球の変形能を改善したが(p<0.05),血液粘度は改善しなかった。以上の結果から,釣藤散は徴小循環血流や赤血球集合能,血球変形能を改善することで,脳血管障害に好影響を与える可能性が示唆された

Correlation between "oketsu" syndrome and autonomic nervous activity : a diachronic study on the same subjects

In order to confirm that autonomic nervous activity changes with the change in the "oketsu" state using a diachronic study with the same subjects, 20 patients were evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry and spectral analyses of the R-R intervals (RRs) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). According to the diagnostic criteria of "oketsu", the "oketsu" score (OS) was evaluated. After evaluation of OS and measurement of the parameters, each subject underwent his own Kampo treatment. Twelve weeks later, OS and the parameters were re-evaluated for each subject. The changes in OS and the parameters between week 0 and 12 weeks later were investigated, with the quantity of each change being calculated as Δ-. Δ-SBF showed a significant negative correlation with Δ-OS, and Δ-RR-L/H, Δ-SBP-LF and Δ-. SBP-L/H revealed significant positive correlations with Δ-OS. It is known that SBF changes with sympathetic nervous activity, and SBP-LF and SBP-L/H reflect α-sympathetic nervous activity. These results suggest that the significant relationship between OS and sympathetic nervous activity was maintained even after change in the "oketsu" state in the same subjects. 瘀血病態の経時的変化と自律神経活動の変化との関連性を明らかとするために,レーザードプラ血流計,R-R間隔および収縮期血圧のスペクトル解析を用いて検討した。患者20名を対象とし,瘀血スコアの変化と自律神経活動の変化との関連について統計学的に解析した。結果として,皮膚血流量(SBF)の変化量は瘀血スコアと負の相関を示し,R-R間隔成分比(RR-L/H)・収縮期血圧低周波成分(SBP-LF)・収縮期血圧成分比(SBP-L/H)は瘀血スコアと正の相関を示した。CVRR,・R-R間隔高周波成分(RR-HF)・収縮期血圧高周波成分(SBP-HF)については瘀血スコアとの間に有意な相関を認めなかった。SBFは交感神経活動にともない変化し,SBP-LFはα作動性交感神経活動と関連するとされている。今回の結果は,血病態がα作動性交感神経活動と密接に関連していることを示唆するものである

Immunological and Psychological Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage

This preliminary investigation compares peripheral blood cell counts including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD16(+) lymphocytes, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, hematocrit, humoral parameters including serum interferon-γ and interleukin-6, salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA). Psychological measures including the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) between recipients (n = 11) of carrier oil massage and aromatherapy massage, which includes sweet almond oil, lavender oil, cypress oil and sweet marjoram oil. Though both STAI and SDS showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) after treatment with aromatherapy and carrier massage, no difference between the aromatherapy and control massage was observed for STAI and SDS. Aromatherapy, in contrast to control massage, did not significantly reduce RBC count or hematocrit. However, aromatherapy massage showed a significant (P > 0.05) increase in PBLs, possibly due to an increase in CD8(+) and CD16(+) lymphocytes, which had significantly increased post-treatment (P < 0.01). Consequently, the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The paucity of such differences after carrier oil massage suggests that aromatherapy massage could be beneficial in disease states that require augmentation of CD8(+) lymphocytes. While this study identifies the immunological benefits of aromatherapy massage, there is a need to validate the findings prospectively in a larger cohort of patients

Identification of a Predictive Biomarker for the Beneficial Effect of Keishibukuryogan, a Kampo (Japanese Traditional) Medicine, on Patients with Climacteric Syndrome

Keishibukuryogan (KBG; Guizhi-Fuling-Wan in Chinese) is one of the Kampo (Japanese traditional) medicines used to treat patients with climacteric syndrome. KBG can be used by patients who cannot undergo hormone replacement therapy due to a history of breast cancer. We evaluated whether cytosine-adenine (CA) repeat polymorphism of the estrogen receptor β gene can be a predictor of the beneficial effect of KBG on climacteric syndrome. We also investigated the relationship between CA repeat polymorphism, the patients’ profiles, and the therapeutic effect. We found that CA was an SS, SL, or LL genotype according to the number of repeats. We studied 39 consecutive patients with climacteric disorders who took KBG for 12 weeks. The diagnosis of climacteric disorders was made on the basis of the Kupperman index. KBG significantly improved the patients’ climacteric symptoms (i.e., vasomotor symptoms in the patients with the LL genotype and melancholia in the patients with the SL genotype). No relationship between the patients’ profiles and CA repeat polymorphism was recognized. CA repeat polymorphism could thus be a potential biomarker to predict the efficacy of KBG in climacteric syndrome, and its use will help to reduce the cost of treating this syndrome by focusing the administration of KBG on those most likely to benefit from it

ジョウチョウカンマク ジョウミャク ケッセンショウ ノ イチレイ

We report a case of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis successfully saved by resection of enteral necrosis. A ６７ years-old man who admitted for abdominal pain was diagnosed with acute enterocolitis and treated. After two days, abdominal pain increased and abdominal CT revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. He was referred to the department of surgery. We conducted emergency operation. During surgery, bloody ascites and the enteral necrosis about５０cm in length was confirmed. The necrotic ileum was resected and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Immediately after surgery, we started anticoagulation therapy. The patient recoverd well and was discharged on POD３２． In a slow pattern like this case, we should suspect superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and diagnose by abdominal CT

ダイチョウ ガン ニ タイスル 5 FU アイソボリン リョウホウ デ コウカ ガ ミトメラレタ 2レイ

We report 2 cases of rectal cancer responding to postoperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin. Case 1 : A 60 years-old woman underwent low-anterior resection for rectal cancer in 1994 and partial right lung resection for metastatic lung cancer in 1998. She underwent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin for mediastinal lymph node metastasis and high score of serum CEA in 2000. After the chemotherapy, the lymph node shrank and serum CEA normalized. Case 2 : A 75 years-old woman underwent low-anterior resection and hysterectomy for rectal cancer with multiple lung metastasis in 2000. She underwent postoperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin for metastatic lung cancer. The lung tumor shrank and serum CEA decreased. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and isovorin seemed to be effective for advanced colon cancer. We should reconfirm the effectiveness and improve the directions for use