We have twice previously reported the results of our preliminary investigation regarding patients with hypertension. Recently, the focus of our interest has been on the blood pressure levels at the time of the third sound of korotkoff. We reported our findings regarding this topic in an oral presentation titled “Evaluation of acupunctural treatment in hypertensive patients” at the 9th Annual Central Japan Block Meeting of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy.
Since then, we have accumulated further clinical experience regarding hypertensive patients. In this study, we investigated the third sound of korotkoff in patients diagnosed as borderline hypertension according to the WHO criteria for hypertension. The blood pressure during the third sound of korotkoff ranged from 100mmHg to 110mmHg in our patients. This difference in blood pressure noted during the decreasing phase of the blood pressure cycle may serve as a useful prognostic indicator in hypertensive patients.

A 74-year-old woman was referred to our unit with a chief complaint of dysphagia. Enhanced CT showed a Kommerell diverticulum with a maximum diameter of 46 mm, associated with a right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery. We performed two-staged operations : left subclavian-common carotid artery bypass followed by total arch, and descending aortic replacement by an antero-lateral thoracotomy with partial sternotomy (ALPS). The postoperative course was uneventful. Total arch and descending aortic replacement for a Kommerell diverticulum by an ALPS approach is rare. ALPS approach for Kommerell diverticulum achieves safe surgery with good exposure.

With the aim of investigating the effect of drop in blood pressure of the Zusanli (ST36), a multi-center randomized controlled trial was conducted with the envelope method. Patients showing the high blood pressure condition were divided into 2 of the group treated with use of the Zusanli point and the group with non-use of Zusanli point.Changes in blood pressure were then measured.The present results show no significant difference was seen between the 2 groups, thus did not find the Zusanli point to be effective.

Endovascular treatment for chronic aortic dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome is still controversial. A 60-year-old man developed an extended chronic type B dissection involving the aortic arch and thoraco-abdominal aorta with a large entry at the distal aortic arch and patent false lumen. He had undergone David procedure for type A aortic dissection at age 42, and aortic valve replacement for recurrent aortic valve insufficiency at 58, which was complicated with mediastinitis. He also suffered drug-induced interstitial pneumonitis. Considering his complicated surgical history and impaired pulmonary function, conventional graft replacement of thoraco-abdominal aorta was thought to be quite a high risk. Thus, we chose debranch TEVAR with a staged approach. First, debranching and Zone 0 TEVAR with the chimney technique were performed. Then, 4 months later, abdominal debranching and TEVAR was performed. The patient tolerated both procedures well and was discharged home. Two years after last procedure, he is in good condition and computed tomography shows that complete entry closure and false lumen had thrombosed. This strategy may be worthy to be considered even for a patient with Marfan syndrome, in case the patient's condition is unsuitable for conventional surgery.

A 79-year-old man, who had a history of intravesical instillations of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for urinary bladder cancer, developed bloody sputum 4 years after BCG therapy. BCG was detected from the sputum by detailed examination. Medical therapy for tuberculosis (TB) was started, but bloody sputum continued. Computed tomography (CT) for the chest was performed to evaluate the state of TB, and surprisingly, found impending rupture of tuberculosis mycotic thoracic aneurysm. He was emergently transferred to our hospital. CT revealed that the aneurysm made a lump with surrounding lung and lymph nodes. It seemed to be quite difficult to dissect and to be quite high risk to perform graft replacement with pneumonectomy. On the other hand, TB infection was controlled with antibiotic therapy. Thus we chose debranch TEVAR for this complicated situation. His bloody sputum regressed soon after the procedure and disappeared during his hospitalization. He was discharged home on POD 13 without serious complication and continued to have antibiotic therapy under the instruction of his primary physician.

Research on pulse diagnosis conducted so far by Kurono et al. includes a study on pulse diagnosis and six basic pulses and a study on the application of AMI (an apparatus for measuring the function of the meridian and corresponding internal organs) to pulse diagnosis.
In this study, fluctuation of the meridian functions with or without acupuncture treatment according to the law of the five elements were examined objectively using BP values measured by AMI. When BP values were measured for 10 times without acupuncture treatment, the values for the respective meridiansfluctuated in a stable manner, averaging 4% or less. As a result of testing 6 subjects using this meridian treatment according to the law of the five elements, fluctuation of the meridian functions increased in the oriental medical diagnosis of all the subjects.
Thus, the results of this study showed the feasibility of using AMI for objectively evaluating the fluctuation of meridian functions. The authors intend to continue to examine the relationship between diagnosis and acupuncture using AMI.

At the 45th Japanese National Acupuncture and Moxibustion Conference, Kitakoji et al. of the Research Committee's Urology Group reported the results of controlled clinical trials, using the envelope method, on the effectiveness of acupuncture for urinary dysfunction. This was presented as a case in which the “Guidelines and Recommendations for clinical Trials in Acupuncture” were applied in actual clinical research. A controlled investigation was carried out by the Information and Evaluation Group, Research Section, Aichi Regional Association, at multiple institutions (9 hospitals and clinics) on the effectiveness of the zhongji (cv-3) point for urinary dysfunction, using the envelope method of Kitakoji et al. Although the zhongji (cv-3) point was not found to be effective against urinary dysfunction, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to conduct controlled clinical trials at multiple institutions based on soft data.

We present herein the case of a 45-year-old man with a coronary artery aneurysm (diameter 19 mm) in the proximal part of the left anterior descending branch associated with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). As coronary angiography showed #6 : 100% and #12-2 : 90%, and Tc-99 m myocardial scintigraphy showed exertional ischemia in the anterior septum, revascularization was considered to be indicated. Prednisolone and mepolizumab were administered preoperatively to suppress the activity of vasculitis due to eosinophilia, and surgery was performed when the eosinophil count normalized. The patient underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (LITA-LAD, SVG-OM2). The patient was discharged, and the postoperative course was uneventful. In coronary artery bypass grafting for EGPA, eosinophils may infiltrate the internal thoracic artery and result in vasculitis, which may affect the patency rate. Perioperative management of vasculitis may thus be important.