We report the case of a 63-year-old male with diabetes who was diagnosed with staphylococcal bacteremia. Paralysis of the extremities (right upper, left lower) and bladder and bowel dysfunction developed 5 days after treatment initiation. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spinal epidural abscess at the L4/5 level. Despite right upper extremity palsy, there was no visible cervical spine abscess. Emergency surgery was undertaken, which resulted in complete neurological recovery. General physicians must be aware that damage to the spinal cord can be caused not only by direct compression of an epidural abscess but also by impaired blood circulation or inflammation.

A 43-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation causing aortitis syndrome. The postoperative course had been uneventful and inflammation was controlled by steroid therapy. She developed a moderate degree of dyspnea with cardiomegaly. Two years after the first aorta valve replacement (AVR), severe aortic regurgitation was observed on both echocardiography and aortography. Dehiscence of the prosthetic valve was suspected and an emergency operation was performed. To secure the reimplanted prosthetic valve, we applied the technique of passing felt-pledgeted sutures through the aortic wall in the vicinity to the right coronary cusp and the noncoronary cusp and others through the left coronary cusp with everting mattress sutures. The postoperative course of the second AVR has been uneventful for two months. Since prosthetic valve detachment can occur even if inflammation of aortitis is well controlled, strict management of inflammation is recommended for a prolonged period to prevent reccurence of aortitis and subsequent valve dehiscence.

 Our hospital comprises nine departments of internal medicine that specialize in different organs, and the Department of General Internal Medicine is one of these departments. The inpatient department has 30 beds for providing medical care, and education is provided for junior and senior residents. We examined the diagnoses in 593 cases (289 men, 304 women ; mean age, 64.2±21.2 years old) who were hospitalized in the Department of General Internal Medicine at this hospital between April 2007 and March 2008. The major diseases included pneumonia, 111 cases ; urinary tract infections, 44 cases ; infectious enteritis, 34 cases ; bronchial asthma, 24 cases ; fever of unknown origin, 12 cases ; heart failure, 11 cases ; viral infections 9 cases, diverticulitis, 8 cases ; malignant lymphoma, 7 cases ; infectious mononucleosis, 7 cases ; polymyalgia rheumatica, 6 cases ; and others. In order to provide diagnoses and treatments for cases in which no diagnosis could not be obtained on the first outpatient visit, for example, it is necessary to have a ward for general internal medicine as a location for providing medical care that is not limited to any specialized field.

Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of analgesics in cancer patients based on their pain descriptions. Methods: The relationship between the words that patients used to describe their pain due to cancer and the efficacy of treatment with analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids was evaluated. Results: We recorded 529words that were used by 164patients to describe their pain and pain quality and classified them into 108types of pain.For patients who used the actual word 'dull' or one with a similar meaning, treatment with opioids was effective. However, treatment with opioids was less effective in patients who used words such as "numb" and "tingling". Conclusion: We were able to gain a good understanding of cancer pain by listening to the actual words that patients used when complaining of pain. These findings suggested that we could choose a suitable medication through evaluation of the actual words cancer patients used to describe their pain and successfully relieve their pain. Palliat Care Res 2009: 4(1): 207-213

　　The purpose of the present study was to reduce absorbed dose rates in air by means of the X-ray tube protector in the X-ray fluoroscopy room. We measured absorbed dose rates in air using an ionization chamber type survey meter, made the scatter radiation maps and worked out the reduction rate of absorbed dose rates in air. Absorbed dose rate in air reduced 75-90% with use of the X-ray tube protector. Especially, absorbed dose rate in air reduced 85-90% at the height of crystalline lens and thyroid gland of the X-ray technician near the patient. It was suggested X-ray protector could reduce the risk of radiation exposure of radiologists effectively.

We report the case of a 34-year-old man who was initially diagnosed with a tension-type headache after complaining of a headache and nausea. His headache worsened in severity and it was exacerbated on standing in the upright position. The patient was admitted to the hospital on suspicion of spontaneous low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure headache. Gadolinium-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement, brain sagging, cerebellar tonsillar herniation, brainstem descent and a subdural hematoma. Successful emergency surgery was undertaken.
Spontaneous low CSF pressure headache syndrome is characterized by orthostatic headache, and if such a headache worsens, clinicians should consider a subdural hematoma, a life-threatening complication of this unusual disorder.

A 51-­year-­old woman with a 10-­year history of diabetes visited our clinic for treatment of stiff shoulder and constipation. She was 156 cm tall and weighed 68 kg. The blood pressure was normal. Physical examination revealed no significant abnormalities. After she took the usual amount of tokakujokito for 3 days, hypertension and facial edema, legs edema, weight gain, and headache were observed. Pseudoaldosteronism inhibits 11 β-­hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 2, which is an active glycyrrhizin (GL) and its metabolites glycyrrhizic acid, 3-­monoglucuronyl-­glycyrrhizic acid metabolize and inactivate cortisol to cortisone. As a result, excessive cortisol acts on the mineralocorticoid receptor and promotes sodium reabsorption and excretion of potassium (K+), resulting in water retention and hypokalemia in the body. Insulin also causes hypokalemia because it also takes K+ at the same time as it takes blood glucose in the cell. As a result of these two different processes, it was thought that pseudoaldosteronism developed in low dose licorice. Glycyrrhizin-­containing preparation should be careful used in patients receiving insulin.

Mokuboito is a Kampo formulation consisting of four flavors of Sinomeni Caulis Radix (防已), Gypsum Fi­brosum (石膏), Cinnamomi Cortex (桂皮) and Ginseng Radix (人参). From a modern medical interpretation of the source “Kinkiyoryaku” it can be indicated for pulmonary edema, and if administered early in the onset, respiratory management by tracheal intubation can be avoided, which may contribute to improving the pa­tient's QOL. We experienced 10 cases of pulmonary edema that occurred during the postpartum period and were able to avoid tracheal intubation with mokuboito already. All patients complained of dyspnea and moist rales were heard. Their chest X-­rays showed decreased permeability of the lung field and increased pulmonary vascular shadow, increased cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), costophrenic angle (CP angle) blunting, therefore, they were diagnosed as pulmonary edema. After X-­ray confirmation, mokuboito was administered, and in 6 cases,the subjective symptoms decreased from 7 to 4 in NRS (numerical rating scale), the CTR decreased from 60 to 40%, and CP angle, lung field findings, moist rales also improved. In 3 cases, mokuboito+choreito or mokuboito+choreito+choijokito were administered, and the X-­ray findings were similarly improved. Mokuboito was useful for respiratory management of pulmonary edema during puerperium.

Asthma attack difficulty breathing rapidly worsens the condition over time. Especially when the condition worsens before surgery, general anesthesia (GA) may be indicated depending on the type of surgery. In Japan, there is a tendency to avoid GA in cesarean section (C/S) due to the risk of difficult intubation, adverse effects on the fetus, and concerns about resuscitation of the newborn. This time, foreign body sensation in the throat (baikakuki) was found in a case of asthma-like attack accompanied by difficulty breathing caused by disturbance symptoms on the day of C/S and in a case of difficulty breathing due to preoperative antibiotic intravenous drip. After oral administration of hangekobokuto to the patients, dyspnea disappeared in either case, and I was able to avoid GA and perform C/S with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Considering asthma in Kampo medicine, it is thought that psychoactive predispositions such as anxiety and impatience are the triggers that cause qi counter flow and qi stagnation, which causes phlegm to condense, resulting in baikakuki and symptoms. Therefore, it was thought that hangekobokuto, which remove phlegm, was adapted.