We surveyed side effect incidences with Kampo therapies in 2530 patients based on their Kampo diagnoses. The number of side effects seen, including taste disorder, was 569 in 503 patients. Side effects were noted in 64 (3.0%) of 2139 patients administered Glycyrrhizae radix. The average 63.4±13.8 age of these patients was statistically higher than the overall 54.9±18.1 year mean. Symptoms which led to diagnosis of side effects were high blood pressure in 45 patients, edema in 16 patients, and hypokalemia in only 5 patients. Glycyrrhizae radix dose as an extract was 2.0±1.0 (mean±SD) g/day in 34 patients, and as a decoction was 2.2±1.1 g/day in 29 patients. There was no difference in administration or recovery periods between these two groups. Liver dysfunction was noted in 13 (1.0%) of 1328 patients administered prescriptions containing Scutellaria radix. Scutellaria radix was administered as an extract at 2.3±0.5 g/day in 7 patients, and as a decoction at 2.8±0.8 g/day in 6 patients. Although there was no difference in administration periods, the 69.0±52.5 day recovery period from side effects in the extract group was longer than that of 22.7±16.0 days in the decoction group. Symptom improvement was had for a large portion of these side effects with the first visit, indicating that initial diagnoses were correct. Care should be exercised with regard to inducing side effects, with Kampo medicines, even when using traditional diagnostic standards.

We report three cases with somatoform disorder which were considered as “Hontonki” disease, successfully treated with keishikakeito. Case1 was a 34-year old male who was suffering from headache and palpitation. He said ‘Something pierces and it goes up from the chest to the head.' We considered his complaint as Hontonki disease and administered keishikakeito. After one week, the headache disappeared and four weeks later, palpitation and tinnitus were definitely improved. Case2 was a 22-year old male. His complaints were excessive strain and general fatigue. Because he had coldness of lower extremities and spasmodic headache, we interpreted these symptoms Hontonki disease and administered keishikakeito. After that these symptoms and his psychological test scores improved markedly. Case 3 was a 75-year old female. Severe headache and palpitations presented after remodeling her home. Three weeks later taking keishikakeito, her symptoms had disappeared dramatically. Recently, Hontonki disease are often compared with panic disorder, and it is possible that some somatoform disorder cases include Hontonki disease. It is important to consider the possibility of Hontonki disease behind the physical complaints such as headache and palpitation, when we use keishikakeito.

We administered daikenchuto to the patients having recurrent aspiration pneumonia with tube feeding, who had good responses. Case 1 : A 94-year-old-man with congestive heart failure suffering from recurrent aspiration pneumonia even after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement : following daikenchuto administration, he did not suffer from pneumonia, and his general condition became stable. Case 2 : An 80-year-old-man suffering from severe pneumonia after PEG placement, and experiencing recurrent pneumonias after treatment with antibiotics:following daikenchuto administration, we did not find gastric contents in his oral cavity as before, and his general condition became stable. Case 3 : An 85-year-old-man with congestive heart failure and cerebral infarction also suffering from aspiration pneumonia : a nasogastric tube was placed, but he suffered from recurring pneumonias with tube feeding. After administering daikenchuto, he did not suffer from pneumonia and was discharged from the hospital. Case 4 : An 81-year-old-man with recurrent pneumonia and congestive heart failure : after treatment with antibiotics, we placed a PEG tube because of his severe anorexia caused by oral feeding difficulties. In order to prevent aspiration pneumonia, we administered daikenchuto prophylactically. He subsequently developed very little fever until his discharge to a nursing home.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) score of 3 or 4.Patients and Methods: We reviewed the data of 287 patients with native papillae who underwent therapeutic ERCP for biliary disease at our hospital between October 2016 and October 2018. The patients were divided into two groups; those with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4 (group A; n=78) and those with an ECOG-PS score of 0–2 (group B; n=209).Results: The rate of technical success was not significantly different between the two groups (95% versus 89%, P=0.13). Although the occurrence rate of overall adverse events (10% versus 11%, P=0.95) was not significantly different between the groups, the occurrence rates of aspiration pneumonia (3.8% versus 0%, P=0.0044) and heart failure (2.6% versus 0%, P=0.020) were significantly higher in group A.Conclusion: The rates of technical success and overall adverse events did not significantly differ between patients with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4 and those with a score of 0–2; however, aspiration pneumonia and heart failure were more likely to occur among patients with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4.

Objectives: Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) can result from bleeding into the rectus abdominis muscle or a direct muscular tear; nontraumatic spontaneous RSH is a rare condition. Here, we report a case of spontaneous RSH associated with warfarin administration for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Patient: An 87-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for 3 days. She was receiving warfarin for treating CTEPH. She had a bulging and hard lower abdomen with ecchymosis. Moreover, the bulging portion was highly tender, and a positive Carnett’s sign was also observed. She reported no history of abdominal trauma. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed right RSH.Results: She was diagnosed with spontaneous RSH and admitted to our hospital. Warfarin was antagonized with an intravenous injection of vitamin K; hemostatic agents were intravenously administered. Gradually, her abdominal pain improved. She was finally discharged 12 days after the admission. Abdominal CT scan performed 17 days after the discharge revealed a reduction in the size of RSH.Conclusion: Despite not having a history of trauma, it is necessary to consider the possibility of RSH for patients receiving warfarin and complaining of abdominal pain.