We report two cases of ulcerative colitis successfully treated with Kigi-kenchu-to. Case One was a 35-year-old male. He had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at another hospital, had been receiving corticosteroid (prednisolone) treatment, but his symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia) improved little. He visited our department and was admitted. Treatment with Kigi-kenchu-to for 2 weeks improved his symptoms and colonoscopic findings, and he was discharged.
Case Two was a 28-year-old female. She had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at another hospital. She had received modern medicinal treatments, including steroid pulse therapy and granulocytapheresis for 10 years. But her symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia more than 10 times a day) showed little improvement. She visited our department, and Kampo treatment with Kigi-kenchu-to-ka-gaiyo-akyo was begun. After 4 weeks, her symptoms and colonoscopic results had improved. Based on these experiences, it is suggested that Kigi-kenchu-to might be an effective formulation in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

We report a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that was successfully treated with Kei-kyo-so-so-o-shinbu-to. A 56-year-old woman had been receiving treatment in our department for RA since 1992, and polyarthralgia and multi-joint swelling had become exacerbated from the beginning of April 2003. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were elevated. She was hospitalized on_??_, but even with some Kampo formulas, these levels did not improve. The epigastric region was extended and appeared to be in a state of “Hotori-senpai” from _??_, and the administration of Kei-kyo-so-so-o-shinbu-to was begun on _??_. From the next day, pain, swelling of joints, and the “Hotori-senpai” status began to improve, as did the inflammatory reactions. Thus, it was considered, when Kei-kyo-so-so-o-shinbu-to was prescribed, focusing on the “Hotori-senpai”, “Ki-bun” and “Sui-in” status of this patient, that this prescription exerted immediate favorable effects.

Case1was a 91-year old man diagnosed with multiple cerebral infarctions. He had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in the same year. One year later, we initiated acupuncture treatment because of recurrent respiratory tract infections. The acupuncture points selected were LU 5, Chize and KI 13, Taixi. Before acupuncture, the frequencies of antibiotics-use and feverish days were 6.3 days and 2.7 days per month on average. During acupuncture therapy, these frequencies were reduced to 1.2 days and 0.6 days per month, respectively.Case 2 was an 81-year old man diagnosed with right thalamic hemorrhage. He underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in the same year. After 6 months, we began acupuncture treatment, also because of recurrent respiratory tract infections. The acupuncture points were the same as in Case 1.Prior to acupuncture, antibiotics-use and feverish days were 8 days and 4.5 days per month, which were then reduced to1and 0.6 days per month, respectively.Case 3 was a 93-year old man diagnosed with dementia. He was being fed via nasoenteric tubes. After 3 months, again because of recurrent respiratory tract infections, acupuncture treatment was begun. The acupuncture points were the same as in Cases 1 and 2.His use of antibiotics and feverish condition were 9 days and 10 days per month on average before acupuncture, but with acupuncture therapy these were improved to 2 days and 1.3 days per month.Based on this experience, it is suggested that acupuncture be considered for the treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infections in elderly, tube-fed patients.
Acupuncture ; days/month ; Respiratory ; therapeutic aspects ; Cases

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Nevertheless, much remains unclear regarding the bone metabolism dynamics associated with COPD. The present study focuses on the associations between the COPD severity and serum bone metabolism biomarkers. Methods: We enrolled 40 patients who visited the orthopedics departments at our institutions and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry between September 2015 and December 2017. Only male osteoporosis patients over 45 years of age were included, and 5 patients were excluded due to disease or use of internal medicines affecting bone metabolism. All subjects underwent lung function testing, spine radiography, and blood tests. We measured percent forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV1), which reflects COPD severity, and we examined the relationships between %FEV1and serum levels of bone metabolism biomarkers. Results: All subjects were diagnosed with osteoporosis based on T-scores. %FEV1 correlated with body weight, body mass index (BMI), and Z-score/T-scores. %FEV1 moderately correlated with serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b in the partial correlation analysis adjusted for BMI or T-score in the lumbar vertebrae. We performed a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to identify that serum ALP and P1NP were the independent explanatory variables to %FEV1 independent of other factors. Conclusions The data suggest that the COPD severity in middle-aged and older men with osteoporosis associates with decreased bone formation. COPD patients may exhibit bone metabolism dynamics characterized by low bone turnover with osteogenesis dysfunction as COPD becomes severe.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Nevertheless, much remains unclear regarding the bone metabolism dynamics associated with COPD. The present study focuses on the associations between the COPD severity and serum bone metabolism biomarkers. Methods: We enrolled 40 patients who visited the orthopedics departments at our institutions and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry between September 2015 and December 2017. Only male osteoporosis patients over 45 years of age were included, and 5 patients were excluded due to disease or use of internal medicines affecting bone metabolism. All subjects underwent lung function testing, spine radiography, and blood tests. We measured percent forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV1), which reflects COPD severity, and we examined the relationships between %FEV1and serum levels of bone metabolism biomarkers. Results: All subjects were diagnosed with osteoporosis based on T-scores. %FEV1 correlated with body weight, body mass index (BMI), and Z-score/T-scores. %FEV1 moderately correlated with serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b in the partial correlation analysis adjusted for BMI or T-score in the lumbar vertebrae. We performed a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to identify that serum ALP and P1NP were the independent explanatory variables to %FEV1 independent of other factors. Conclusions The data suggest that the COPD severity in middle-aged and older men with osteoporosis associates with decreased bone formation. COPD patients may exhibit bone metabolism dynamics characterized by low bone turnover with osteogenesis dysfunction as COPD becomes severe.