We studied contemporary indication of daikankyoto and daikankyoganryo. We administered either of these Kampo prescriptions for thirty-three patients with intractable muscle stiffness of neck, shoulder and back.Twenty-four patients were able to take the prescriptions for more than four weeks (long term group), and nine patients stopped taking the prescriptions less than four weeks (interrupted group). In long term group, fourteen patients (58%) improved their chief compliant. The Kampo formulations of fourteen effective cases were daikankyoto (13 cases) and daikankyoganryo (1 case). Comparative analysis has been done between long term group and nine cases of interrupted group. The characteristics of long term group were higher body mass index, firmer abdomen and more positive cases of epigastric resistance sign. Kansui root dose was 0.81 gram a day in long term group and 0.57 gram a day in interrupted group, which showed statistically-significant difference. We found twenty-seven side-effects in twenty four patients (73%) including eighteen patients with nausea and six patients with diarrhea. In side effects, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. These side effects were promptly improved after discontinuation or dose reduction of Kansui root. We report clinical courses of six improved cases in this paper, two severe stiff neck, shoulder and back cases, each one case of psychosomatic disorder, depression, spasmodic torticollis and gastroesophageal reflux. These prescriptions should be administered more commonly to the patients with severe stiff neck, shoulder and back.

It is assumed that keishikaryojutsubuto was first described in the Ho-ki medical text, and it has been used to target neuralgia and the arthritic pain. We experienced cases of Crohn's disease, endometriosis, post-operative rectal carcinoma, acute gastroenteritis and Meniere's disease successfully treated with keishikaryojutsubuto. When this formulation is administered, it might be important to keep in mind the definition of prescriptions for keishikashakuyakuto and shimbuto, or ryokeijutsukanto, as described in the Kokan-igaku text. In addition, this formulation might be applicable to various other diseases.
symptoms <1> ; Application, NOS ; Acute ; Pain ; Meniere's Disease

Aberrations on the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p) are frequently observed in several human cancers. In this study, 20 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens from the tongue were examined in order to evaluate the role of 8p in SCC of the tongue. Microsatellite analysis using 14 markers demonstrated two commonly deleted regions (CDRs) on 8p. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed frequent down-regulation of the FEZ1 gene, mapped to 8p22, and frequent over-expression of the cathepsin B gene, mapped to 8p-21-22. These results suggested that genetic aberrations are involved in the development of SCC of the tongue. However, no significant relationship was observed to be established between the genetic alterations and clinicopathological features. Thus, further investigation is necessary in order to clarify the clinical role of 8p in carcinoma of the tongue.
Arm ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cathepsin B ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Tongue

There are few reports on the effects for children using the diagnostic method of Kampo medicine (called sho : pattern diagnosis). Therefore, we investigated the effects of combination therapy with Kampo medicines prescribed by specialists in this ancient form of medicine to children who were refractory to modern medicine. This was a retrospective observational study of 98 children (pre-school children (PS ; n = 21), elementary school students (ES ; n = 37) and junior high school students (JS ; n = 40)) younger than 16 years old at the first visit to our department of Chiba University hospital between April 2007 and April 2017. We collected the following information from their medical records : background, chief complaint, referral source, and efficacy of Kampo medicines. We evaluated efficacy for Kampo medicine as follows : Higher improvement (HI) (symptoms improved by 2/3 or more) ; Improvement (I) (symptoms improved by 1/3-2/3) ; Mild improvement (MI) (symptoms improved by 1/3 or less) ; constant ; aggravated ; and unknown or first visit only. Positive response (HI, I, and MI) due to Kampo medicines was observed in 76% (75/98) of patients. No aggravations were observed. The chief complaint by age was skin diseases in PS, digestive diseases in ES, and cardiovascular diseases in JS. Pediatrics was the primary referral in all ages, while 30% of JS were referred from psychiatry. Kampo medicine was significantly more effective for those in PS and ES compared to those in JS (p = 0.025). Combined use of Kampo medicine and modern medicine therapy is useful for children refractory to modern medicine.

Prevention, early diagnosis, and early treatment of skeletal-related events (SREs) are important in the treatment of potential or current cases of bone metastasis. In August 2020, our hospital established the bone metastasis team and the bone metastasis board (BMB) started actively engaging in activities aimed at improving the outcome of bone metastasis. We retrospectively examined whether a combined modality therapy started in the diagnosis of bone metastases could prevent the onset of SREs and whether it could prolong survival and improve activities of daily living. The 75 advanced cancer patients who underwent BMB at our hospital from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022 were divided into two groups according to when BMB performed before and after SREs for comparative analysis. Numerical Rating Scale improved, however Performance Status did not improve in both groups, and there was no difference in survival between the both groups (15.3 vs. 9.0 months, HR: 0.74, 95%; CI: 0.42–1.29, p=0.29). In conclusion, patients who suffered from SREs from the time of bone metastasis diagnosis were treated early. However, the incidence of SREs after BMB in our hospital was 22.6%, and it is necessary to actively work to prevent SREs in the future.