1.On the Fatigue-Reducing Effects of Green Tea
Eri WATANABE ; Mari KIMURA ; Jiro IMANISHI
Japanese Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013;10(1):9-16
Objective: On the psychological, physiological and immunological parameters, the effects of green tea drink were comprehensively investigated.
Design: This study used a randomized cross-over design.
Methods: After a 120-minute computer fatigue task, participants were randomized into two groups: one tasked to drink green tea and the other water. Blood collection, measurement of the P300 event related potential and questionnaire were executed three times: before and after the computer fatigue task and then, 30 minute after drinking green tea or water. These data were then compared. High Frequency (HF) and average Low Frequency/High Frequency Ratio (LF/HF) were calculated.
Result: In a state of fatigue, drinking green tea showed dominance of the parasympathetic nervous system, an improvement in their attentiveness, and elevation of NK activity; thereby, reducing fatigue, particularly, mental fatigue.
Conclusion: This study comprehensively showed the fatigue-reducing eggect of green tea in psychological, physiological and immunological parameters. It is hereby, suggested that green tea is indeed, helpful in reducing fatigue.
2.Effects of Essential Oil Odor Exposure on Psychophysiological and Immunological Parameters of Fatigue due to Computer-Related Tasks
Eri WATANABE ; Mari KIMURA ; Kenny KUCHTA ; Tsutomu KAMEI ; Jiro IMANISHI
Japanese Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013;10(2):107-115
Objective: The psychophysiological and immunological effects of exposure to different varieties of essential oils on fatigue were extensively investigated in students performing personal computer tasks.
Design: Randomized crossover study
Methods: This study was approved by the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Research Ethics Committee, and informed consents were obtained from all subjects. Eight healthy male university students with mean age of 22.38±1.30 (range 21–24) who served as the subjects in this study were given a 120-minute personal computer task with 10-minute rest period before and after the task.
During the course of performing PC task, subjects were either exposed to one of the five essential oil odors (grapefruit, peppermint, true lavender, blend A, blend B) or not exposed to any odor at all, serving as the control in the study. Each of the six odor setting were carried out on separate days upon which psychophysiological and immunological parameters of fatigue in the subjects were evaluated.
Results and Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that exposure to essential oil odors affects the autonomic nervous and immunological system when engaged in a personal computer task. Moreover, different varieties of essential oils cause different vital reactions. In particular, peppermint essential oil exhibits fatigue-reducing effects.
3.Two Cases of Water Polo Athletes Successfully Treated with the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy
Mari KIMURA ; Naotoshi SHIBAHARA ; Masaki TSUDA ; Yutaka NAGATA ; Makoto FUJIMOTO ; Ryosuke OBI ; Hiroaki HIKIAMI ; Hirozo GOTO ; Yutaka SHIMADA
Kampo Medicine 2009;60(6):623-628
Recently, the number of athletes who receive acupuncture therapy is increasing. However, most of these athletes receive acupuncture therapy with single-acupuncture and/or electro-acupuncture to a local point, or a trigger point. We experienced two water polo athletes who were improved using acupuncture and moxibustion therapy with “zuisho” therapy. Case 1 was 16 year old man. He became aware of pain in his right thumb after training, which continued with extended training time, a numbness in his left hand appeared more, and he received acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. These symptoms disappeared immediately with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods, such as contact needling to a yuan point, and in situ acupuncture to a back shu point, etc. Case 2 was 17 year old man. He received acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for lumbago and stiffness of the neck. These symptoms disappeared immediately after acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods such as contact needling to a yuan point, and inserting needles into a back shu point, an extra meridian, etc. In these two cases, symptoms were improved with “zuisho” therapy, and both could continue with longer and more strenuous training. This suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using the standard traditional methods are useful for athletes.
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4.Successful High-Dose Radiation Treatment for Chemo-Resistant Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Kindler’s Syndrome Patient
Yuka KIMURA ; Atsushi TANEMURA ; Yuma HANAOKA ; Eiji KIYOHARA ; Mari WATAYA-KANEDA ; Manabu FUJIMOTO ; Katsuto TAMAI ; Keisuke TAMARI ; Yuji SEO ; Kazuhiko OGAWA
Annals of Dermatology 2021;33(4):382-384
5.Successful High-Dose Radiation Treatment for Chemo-Resistant Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Kindler’s Syndrome Patient
Yuka KIMURA ; Atsushi TANEMURA ; Yuma HANAOKA ; Eiji KIYOHARA ; Mari WATAYA-KANEDA ; Manabu FUJIMOTO ; Katsuto TAMAI ; Keisuke TAMARI ; Yuji SEO ; Kazuhiko OGAWA
Annals of Dermatology 2021;33(4):382-384
6.A Case of Pelvic Abscess Caused by Mycoplasma hominis After Abdominal Total Hysterectomy
Naomi KIMURA ; Ayaka NAGAI ; Yuta KATO ; Keika YAMAUCHI ; Mari SHIBATA ; Teruko MIZUNO ; Yasushi MATSUKAWA ; Kyoko KUMAGAI ; Masahiro IKEUCHI ; Kazuhiro HIGUCHI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2024;73(1):32-37
A woman in her 50s underwent abdominal total hysterectomy for uterine myoma. She was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day (POD) 6 following an uneventful postoperative course but returned to the outpatient clinic on POD 11 with chief complaints of fever and abdominal pain. Blood tests at presentation showed a C-reactive protein level of 22.95 mg/dL and a white blood cell count of 21300/μL, indicating an increased inflammatory response. Transvaginal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a small amount of ascites and a thickened pelvic peritoneum. Based on these findings, pelvic peritonitis was diagnosed and the patient was readmitted to the hospital. After admission, antimicrobial treatment with cefmetazole 3 g/day was started, but transvaginal ultrasonography on POD 13 (3 days after readmission) revealed an intra-pelvic abscess. The abscess was punctured under transvaginal ultrasonographic guidance and the puncture fluid was submitted for microbiological examination, followed by CT-guided drainage. At the same time, the antimicrobial regimen was changed to sulbactam/ampicillin 9 g/day and doxycycline (DOXY) 200 mg/day (100 mg/day from the following day). On POD 18 (8 days after readmission), Mycoplasma hominis was detected in the abscess culture, leading to the decision to increase the dose of DOXY to 200 mg. Subsequently, with improvement of subjective and objective symptoms and reduction of the abscess cavity, the patient was discharged from the hospital on POD 21 (11 days after readmission). Although M. hominis is a common urogenital commensal, it can be a potential pathogen in a patient with a pelvic abscess that occurs as a late postoperative complication and does not respond to beta-lactam antibiotics, so treatment decisions should be made with this organism kept in mind.
7.A Case of Right Caudate Hemorrhage During Delivery
Mari SHIBATA ; Ayaka NAGAI ; Yuta KATO ; Keika YAMAUCHI ; Yasushi MATSUKAWA ; Teruko MIZUNO ; Kyoko KUMAGAI ; Naomi KIMURA ; Masahiro IKEUCHI ; Kazuhiro HIGUCHI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2024;72(6):544-548
The patient was a 36-year-old primipara with no comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. At 35 weeks and 3 days of pregnancy, she was admitted for rupture of membranes. She vomited often during the expulsive stage of labor, so a vacuum extraction was performed. Her vital signs were normal throughout the delivery. She vomited repeatedly after the delivery but did not complain of headache or arm weakness and her level of consciousness was Japan Coma Scale I-1. Head CT revealed right caudate hemorrhage and cerebral ventricular rupture. Head MRI showed no obvious cerebrovascular abnormality, so she was followed up with symptomatic treatment. Recovery was uneventful, without neurological sequelae, and she was discharged on postpartum day 27. Cerebral hemorrhage during pregnancy is caused in many cases by comorbidities such as cerebral aneurysm, cerebral artery malformation, and pregnancyinduced hypertension syndrome. Cerebral hemorrhage may occur in pregnant women with no risk factors, even when their vital signs are stable. It is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of new symptoms, such as vomiting, around the time of delivery.
8.A Case of Cervical Cancer With Rupture of Pyometra Immediately Before Cancer Treatment and Development of Colouterine and Enterocutaneous Fistulas After Chemoradiotherapy
Naomi KIMURA ; Yuta KATO ; Minami HASHIMOTO ; Keika YAMAUCHI ; Emi KONDO ; Mari SHIBATA ; Shoko KOZAKI ; Teruko MIZUNO ; Yasushi MATSUKAWA ; Kyoko KUMAGAI ; Masahiro IKEUCHI ; Kazuhiro HIGUCHI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2022;71(4):348-356
The patient was a 68-year-old woman who was diagnosed with stage IIIA cervical cancer and pyometra. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was planned. She was admitted to our hospital 3 weeks after the initial examination due to vaginal bleeding and worsening of lower abdominal pain. On hospital day 5, she developed a fever, and free gas in the peritoneal cavity and ascites were confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Emergency surgery was performed for suspected generalized peritonitis attributed to perforation in the digestive tract or uterus. A large amount of purulent ascites and 2 perforations in the anterior wall of the uterus, but none in the digestive tract, were observed. Peritoneal lavage and drainage were performed, and a colostomy was created. The patient was managed in the intensive care unit until postoperative day 13 due to septic shock and acute renal failure. After the peritonitis resolved, radiation therapy alone was provided, and then chemotherapy was started to treat residual lesions. Pyometra recurred, and transvaginal drainage was performed to prevent perforation of the uterus. However, a few days later, a colouterine fistula and an enterocutaneous fistula developed simultaneously, and her general condition worsened. In advanced cervical cancer complicated by pyometra, various complications can develop that are difficult to manage (e.g., uterine perforation and fistula formation due to radiation enteritis and dermatitis). This case demonstrates the importance of uterine drainage at appropriate timing, which can contribute to improved prognosis.