Medical university students were divided into 5 types according to the process they used to decide on a course when entering a university, and the relationship between the decision-making process and occupational identity after entering the university was examined. The largest number of students, approximately 50%, were of the “meeting” type, followed in descending order by the “early decision” type, the “changing during 4 years” type, the “deciding at the last moment” type, and the “avoidance” type. There were differences in the frequency of decision-making types among departments, including the nursing department, which showed a large number of students of the “early decision” type. We examined the relationship between the decision-making process and occupational identity after entering the university and found that students of the “early decision” type were stable after entering the university, whereas students of the “avoidance” type had the lowest scores on all 4 subscales of occupational identity. This tendency was seen during the 4 years of university, and the importance of deciding on a course when entering the university was indicated.

We investigated original texts for yokukansan, a familiar Kampo formula, focusing on the classical literature Xue-shi yi-an (薛氏医案) . Yokukansan was described in the Bao-ying jin-jing-lu (保嬰金鏡録) written by Xue ji (薛己) in 1550, the Xiao-er yao-zheng zhi-jue (小児薬証直訣) revised by Xue ji (薛己) in 1551,the Bao-ying cuo-yao (保嬰撮要) by Xue kai (薛鎧) in 1556, and the Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun (小児痘疹方論) in 1550. The phrase “one's own work” was used in “Bao-ying jin-jing-lu (保嬰金鏡録)” and in the Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun (小児痘疹方論) by Chen wen-zhong (陳文仲). However, there was no mention of “one's own work” in the same title, the Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun (小児痘疹方論), as summarized by Xiong zong-li (熊宗立).
Yokukansan was found only in the Xiao-er yao-zheng zhi-jue (小児薬証直訣) revised by Xue ji (薛己) in 1551, but not in the other copies of the same text. Therefore, it seems likely that yokukansan was created by Xue ji (薛己) himself.
Yokukansan was previously thought to have originated with the Bao-ying cuo-yao (保嬰撮要). However, based on use of the phrase “one's own work” in the classical literature, it appears that the original text for yokukansan should be the Bao-ying jin-jing-lu (保嬰金鏡録). Therefore, yokukansan seems to have been made by Xue ji (薛己), and not Xue kai (薛鎧), who was his father.

OBJECTIVEChronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces skin photoaging (premature skin aging). UV irradiation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are shown to play a pivotal role in skin photoaging. Ayurveda is a holistic traditional medical system, and Chyawanprash is one of the most popular formulations in Ayurveda. Since maintenance of the function and appearance of skin is important, we examined whether Chyawanprash has a protective effect on skin photoaging.

METHODSTo examine the effect of Chyawanprash on skin photoaging, hairless mice were administered with Chyawanprash in drinking water for 3 weeks, and then repeatedly exposed to ultraviolet light B (UVB) irradiation (225 or 450 mJ/cm) to induce skin photoaging. To further examine the function of Chyawanprash, its effects were examined in cells cultured in vitro. Chyawanprash was added in culture medium, and examined for the effect on the growth of human keratinocytes, and for the ability to eliminate ROS which generated by paraquat (50 μmol/L) in HeLa cells.

RESULTSUVB irradiation caused symptoms such as rough skin, erythema, and edema on the skin in hairless mice, but administration of Chyawanprash relieved these symptoms. Further, Chyawanprash significantly suppressed epidermal thickening, a typical marker of skin photoaging, in mice. We then analyzed the effect of Chyawanprash in human cells in culture, and found that Chyawanprash enhanced the growth of human keratinocytes, and efficiently eliminated ROS, which are causally involved in skin photoaging, in HeLa cells.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggested that Chyawanprash may have beneficial effects on slowing skin photoaging.

OBJECTIVE: Keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in the epidermis and play key roles in epidermal function. Thus, identification of the compounds that regulate the growth of keratinocytes is of importance. Here we searched for such compounds from the herbs used in traditional medicine Ayurveda. METHODS: Human keratinocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of the herbal extracts for 2 weeks; the effect of the extracts on cell growth was determined by staining the cells with Coomassie brilliant blue. To detect the compounds that regulate the growth of keratinocytes, the herbal extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: We found that the extract of Emblica officinalis enhanced the growth of keratinocytes in culture. Further, we fractionated the extract of E. officinalis using HPLC and identified the fractions responsible for the enhanced growth of keratinocytes. CONCLUSION The extract of E. officinalis enhanced the growth of human keratinocytes in culture. E. officinalis contains the compounds that would be beneficial for human skin health because enhanced growth of keratinocytes would promote wound healing.