The atmospheric pollen counts of Ceder (Cryptomeria japonica) and Cypress (Chamaecypanis obtsusa) were measured with Durham's standard devices installed on the roofs and ground in Yanai city, Yamaguchi prefecture, during the period between 1984 and 1987, and the following results were obtained.
1) The number of atmosphreic pollen counts changed significantly every year. There was a large quantity of pollen counts recorded in 1984 and 1986, but a small quantity in 1985 and 1987. 2) Scattering period of atmospheric pollen counts also changed every year. In 1987 the atmospheric pollen began early in February. In 1985 and 1986, it began in late February and in 1984 in late March.
3) The atmospheric pollen counts on the roofs were recorded 3 times as much as those on the ground. But there were no substantial difference between those on the roofs and ground concerning the scattering peroid of atmospheric pollen and the daily change of it's counts. There was observed significant correlation between those on the roofs and ground.(coeffecient of multiple correation=0.987)

In the present study, we investigated the effects of fracture fixation on joint contracture and disuse muscle atrophy. We surgically fractured the right hind limbs of male Wistar rats, and then fixed the right ankle joints at maximal plantar flexion for two weeks using dorsal splints. Compared with immobilized healthy and sham operated joints, the fractured joints concomitantly showed highly restricted range of motion and significantly higher degrees of disuse atrophy in soleus muscle; decrease of muscle fiber cross sectional area, development of central core lesion and a change in myosin heavy chain isoforms from slow type myosin to fast type myosin. Therefore, it is suggested that orthopedic fracture fixation induces intense disuse muscle atrophy to aggravate joint contracture.

Since students who would like to study Kampo medicine more have no opportunity to communicate each other in Northern Japanese Universities, we newly started joint study conferences held by medical students in 2013. The objectives of this paper are to report on these annually held student-based Kampo study conferences in the Hokkaido and Tohoku areas, and the ways each university studies Kampo medicine. In the conference, the students reported on their club activities. Then they studied the history of Kampo medicine and simulation of abdominal diagnosis, and performed group work on case reports together. The number of student participants in these conferences has tripled over 3 years from 18 to 58 (for a total of 111 participants). All members were satisfied with the content. And this reflects medical students' need for a wider perception of Kampo medicine, rather than a limited one gained in their university club activities. We hope this conference will play a major role in other nationwide student-based Kampo study conferences in the years to come.

The background and course of Kampo treatment in 39 patients with uncontrollable otolaryngeal symptoms treated between April 2013 and March 2016, in the Department of Kampo Medicine at Tohoku University Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. An improvement in overall symptoms was noted with Kampo treatment in 28 of 39 cases (71%). The commonly reported subjective symptoms included glossodynia (7 cases), postnasal drip (4 cases), oral discomfort (4 cases), dizziness (3 cases), and taste disorder (3 cases). Analysis using the classification of qi, blood, and fluid revealed that cases with qi stagnation pattern (15 of 18 cases) were effectively treated with Kampo treatment. Prior reports support our finding that smoothing qi with Kampo medicine is effective in alleviating some chronic symptoms. The symptoms improved within 6 weeks after the treatment was initiated. Therefore, a 6-week period can be considered sufficient to determine the effectiveness of Kampo medicine. Many of the patients for whom Kampo treatment was not effective had depression and domestic stress. In conclusion, Kampo treatment may be effectively used to treat uncontrollable, chronic otolaryngeal symptoms in selected cases that are unresponsive to Western medicine.