We describe a ruptured internal iliac artery aneurysm associated with sigmoid colon infarction. The patient was referred to our hospital complaining of lower abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a massive hematoma with a ruptured left internal iliac artery aneurysm. Hypovolemic shock prompted immediate laparotomy, endoaneurysmorrhaphy of the ruptured aneurysm, and resection of the recto-sigmoidal colon. During treatment for ruptured internal iliac aneurysm, we should consider potential colon infarction.

A 66-year-old woman complained of dyspnea due to congestive heart failure, and was given a diagnosis of severe aortic insufficiency. Antiphospholipid syndrome and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) had been diagnosed with 9 years previously. We planned preoperative plasma exchange and steroid pulse infusion to reduce the level of auto-antibodies for phospholipids. The aortic valve replacement was performed safely. Anticoagulant therapy with low molecular weight heparin and oral steroid therapy was administered after the operation to avoid thrombosis or bleeding. The patient's postoperative course was stable. She was discharged without any complication. In conclusion, preoperative plasma exchange and steroid pulse infusion, postoperative anticoagulant therapy and oral steroids resulted in a favorable outcome in a case of heart surgery for a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Ogikeishigomotsuto is a Kampo formula used for numbness or body pains. We experienced 29 cases in which attending physicians believed the drug would be effective. In 18 cases the drug was effective and in 11 cases it was not. We analyzed the difference in subjective symptoms between the responder group and the non-responder group. We concluded that some symptoms could be indicators for choosing the formula. Hypersensitivity to cold and heaviness of the whole body has previously been reported in many articles. In our cases, we observed a high incidence and specificity of the symptoms reported above, as well as arthralgia, dry skin and irritability in the responder group compared to the non-responder group. We believe these newly detected subjective symptoms can also be indicators for choosing Ogikeishigomotsuto.

We present a case of megacolon successfully treated with Kampo medicine. A 65-year-old male diagnosed with megacolon in 1999, came to our department in July 2003 complaining of severe abdominal distention. We successively used different Kampo formulae, in accordance with the diagnostic standard known as “SHO” which were: Daikenchu-to, Koboku-sanmotsu-to, Chukenchu-to, and Koboku-sanmotsu-to again. Daikenchu-to was only partly effective. Koboku-sanmotsu-to made the abdominal distention worse, forcing a change of drug. Chukenchu-to relieved the symptoms for some time, but the patient had to be hospitalized because of pseudoaldosteronism caused by the drug. Koboku-sanmotsu-to, however, worked smoothly on the second occasion and the symptoms disappeared. The efficacy of Koboku-sanmotsu-to was completely different on the two occasions it was used. This suggests that the pathological conditions were in a state of change, and these changes were identical to changes of SHO. This case reinforces the importance of detecting changes of the SHO accurately.

We report three cases of pneumonia successfully treated with Kampo therapy. Case 1 was a 69-year-old female who was hospitalized with a fever and cough. Administration of Keishinieppiitto led to an improvement in her cough and a rapid reduction of fever, and we continued her treatment using Kampo medicine only. By the 7th day of admission, the infiltration shadow had disappeared, and on the 11th day, laboratory data on WBC and CRP had decreased to a normal range. Case 2 was a 66-year-old female who was hospitalized with cough, sputum and fever. She received modern western medical treatment, including antibiotics for one month, but her symptoms showed little improvement. After we administered Saiko-keishi-kankyo-to-go-Hange-koboku-to, her symptoms gradually improved. By the 15 th day of admission, her CRP levels had decreased to 0.7mg/dL, and the infiltrative shadow had disappeared. Case 3 was a 78-year-old male who was hospitalized with cough, sputum, anorexia and general malaise. A multiple nodular lesion in the lung was also detected by chest CT. Consequent diagnostic examinations were conducted, while providing him with Saikokeishito. Although the final diagnosis was pneumonia, of unknown etiology, his fever decreased and on further examination his laboratory data had improved. If a Kampo formula is selected in accordance with the diagnosis of Kampo medicine, we consider that pneumonia can be treated with Kampo medicine without the use of antibiotics.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading globally since 2019；however, comprehensive rehabilitation of elderly patients with COVID-19 pneumonia remains a challenge. A 76-year-old American woman with COVID-19 pneumonia was admitted to our hospital. Because her disease was complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), she was treated with intensive care, including invasive ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During and after intensive care, she exhibited physical symptoms such as weakness, pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty in movement and exercise. Furthermore, during approximately 3.5 months of hospitalization, she received swallowing and speech therapies along with physical therapy. These rehabilitation therapies enabled her to get home in the United States. Her rehabilitation schedule had to be carefully planned according to her symptoms and infectiousness of COVID-19. This paper highlights few important points regarding the difficulty in rehabilitation including that of physical function, mental health, and cognitive function of patients with COVID-19. Furthermore, this report provides a problem-solving approach for long-term rehabilitation in elderly patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Based on the social context of an aging society and surveys conducted since 2020, the need for comprehensive perspectives and approaches that consider patients'psychosocial background and a cross-organ perspective has been identified. As a result, a new quality and ability, namely comprehensive attitudes toward patients, has been established as part of the core curriculum for medical education in FY2022. Specific learning objectives include "holistic perspectives and approaches," "community perspectives and approaches," "life perspectives and approaches," and "social perspectives and approaches". An educational design that draws on multiple learning theories to enable reflection on one's own way of being has been proposed to integrate abstract and concrete, conceptual and experiential, and self and others perspectives. It is expected that this medical education will lead to improvement in the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.