AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) is an extract from mycelia of Lentinula edodes, a mushroom of the basidiomycetes family, which is cultivated in liquid media in a large tank. It is one of the most frequently used products in complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients in Japan. Also in recent studies, it has been reported as efficacious in treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. AHCC has been proved as safe food by various safety evaluations and drug interaction studies have been conducted. The result of a Phase I trial in healthy volunteers concluded that AHCC is safe as a supplement in clinical practice. The present paper reviews the effects of AHCC in ameliorating the side effects of anti-cancer drugs, in modulating the immune system, in reducing inflammation and in infection prophylaxis.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, routinely utilized in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, does not decrease serum levels of triglyceride (TG) as much as it decreases levels of cholesterol. Clofibrates, on the other hand, quite effectively decrease triglyceride levels but severe adverse effects have been reported. Dandao-paishi-tang, a Chinese herb combination, generally used to promote the passage of gallstones, was modified and used to treat three patients with hypertriglyceridemia. A male with hypertriglyceridemia, mild hypertension, and cholelithiasis began to take modified Dandao-paishi-tang when 55 years old. Serum TG level decreased from 634mg/dl to 273mg/dl over four years of treatment. A 66-year-old female patient with hypertriglyceridemia and diabetes took the prescription for four months and TG decreased from 815mg/dl to 442mg/dl. A 76-year-old female with mild hypertriglyceridemia showed a decrease in TG from 154mg/dl to 132mg/dl in four months.

Objective Peritoneal lymphatic features are studied to provide necessary data for understanding transport capabilities of the endothelial and mesothelial cells. Methods Enzyme\|histochemical staining methods were employed to investigate organization of the lymphatic networks and their endothelial ultrastructures in the monkey peritoneum using light,scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Results 5' Nase positive initial lymphatics showed extensive network,obvious valve like structures and numerous blind ends.The calibre of lymphatics with extremely irregular lumen varied greatly from 40 to 120?m.Lymphatic endothelium was usually separated from mesothelium by a small quantity of loose connective tissue,or they directly contacted each other in some areas.No basal lamina occurred between the peritoneum and the lymphatics originating from milky spots in the omentum and mesovarium.Milky spots are oval or round visible bodies aggregated by macrophages and lymphocytes.Both the endothelium of lymphatic lacunae and the mesothelium that forms the peritoneal stomata,represent a strong 5' Nase activity.Abundant microfibrils attached the stomatal edge. Conclusion The distribution and structure of peritoneal initial lymphatics reveal significant regional variations,and lymphatic endothelium has a close morphological and functional relationship with the mesothelium. [

The effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on lower back pain in clinical trials were reviewed. First, the effects of Western medicine on lower back pain, patients with specific and nonspecific lower back pain, were systematically reviewed based on online data, and possible mechanisms were discussed. Secondly, the role and potential of acupuncture and moxibustion on lower back pain were considered based on a review of research literature. Finally, the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion on several kinds of lower back pain was systematically examined based on online data. These results suggest that acupuncture and moxibustion may be more effective on non-specific lower back pain.

A 61-year-old woman underwent a regular echocardiography in October 2008 in which a mass of 1 cm in diameter was pointed out in the left ventricle apex. It did not dcrease, in spite of anticoagulation therapy, and therefore we performed surgery. The tumor was confirmed on the septal side of the cardiac apex by intraoperative cholangioscopy, and it was excised through the mitral valve. It was diagnosed as myxoma on immediate intraoperative pathological examination, and we confirmed that there was no tumor remnants on the resected stump histologically. The patient was discharged on the 13th day after the operation and 2 years later she was alive without recurrence of the tumor. This is the 25th case of left ventricular myxoma in Japan. In these reports, an initial resection of the tumor in the left ventricle was performed in 23 cases and the approach methods were described in 20 cases. The evaluation of the resected stump, regardless of remaining tumor, was described in only 3 cases. There were no reports of relapse after the operation. There are many reports which emphasize the usefulness of echocardiography, which is very helpful not only in the diagnosis, but also in periodic evaluations after the operation.

This paper reports the results of clinical research on spring pollen disease based upon the Oriental medical diagnoses. Sixty-nine patients (twenty-four males and forty-five females) who were afflicted with the spring pollen disease were categorized into groups according to the types of Oriental herbal medicine that they responded to. Then, the authors compared the respective periods when the disease first developed in the patients of each group. A comparison was also made based on the differences between their objective signs and subjective symptoms.
As a result of the research, the types of spring pollen disease observed have been classified into the following three groups, with one exceptional type (see Example 4). The first is a group for which “a treatment for superficies-syndrome” (Kai-hyo) was effective using “the drugs of acrid taste and warm nature” (Shin-on) (see Example 23). The patients of this type first manifested their symptoms in the period between the end of January and mid-February. It was found that most of them exhibited a predisposition to a “hypofunctioning condition” (Kyo-sho), and were diagnosed as having pollen disease with the “wind-cold symptom” (Fu-kan-sho). The second is a group for which “a treatment for superficies-syndrome” was effective using “acrid and coldnatured drugs” (Sin-ryo) (see Example 22). Most of the patients of this type first manifested their symptoms after mid-February. It was found that they exhibited the symptom of “cold in the superficies” (Gai-kan) and “the pathogenic factor blending wind-evil and heat-evil” (Fu-netsu), and that most of them manifested “a hyper-functioning condition” (Jitsu-sho). They were diagnosed as having pollen disease with the “wind-warm symptom” (Fu-on-sho) of a “warm disease” (On-byo) with a strong “wind-evil” (Fu-ja) and weak “warm-evil” (On-ja). The third is a group with the mixture of “the treatment for superficies-syndrome” with “the drugs of acrid taste and warm nature” and those of “acrid and cold nature” (see Example 20). It was found that the patients of this group carried little predisposition to “a hypofunctioning condition, ” and that they exhibited a mixed condition of coldness and heat, carrying both characteristics of the first and second groups. They were diagnosed as having the pollen disease with “auxiliary symptoms” (Ken-sho), “the wind-warm symptom” of “a warm disease” combined with “cold-evil” (Kan ja).

Between 1970 and October, 1992, 120 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) were treated for surgical repair. Thirteen of these cases (11%) were performed with simultaneous repair for coexistent visceral vascular diseases and other intestinal organ diseases. Another 9 patients (7.5%) were treated with coronary revascularization for combined ischemic heart disease. Six of these cases received both operations during the same hospital stay. Our surgical strategy for coexistent AAA and ischemic coronary artery disease is basically a staged operation. Coronary revascularization should precede AAA repair. Operative mortality was 1.1 percent for elective AAA repair. Long-term survival was 78% for elective surgery with a mean follow-up of 51 months, and 52% for emergency surgery with a mean follow-up of 46 months. Major risks for late death were malignant neoplasms and ischemic coronary artery disease. Survival rate of the 9 patients with successful concomitant coronary revascularization and AAA repair was 89% after 51 months of mean follow-up. We conclude that re-evaluation for coexistent ischemic heart disease is the most important point for management before and after AAA repair.

Among the 203 cases of aortic valvular surgery, we experienced 8 cases of acute coronary insufficiency during the early postsurgical period. Five cases suffered from right coronary insufficiency. The other 2 cases had left coronary failure, and the remaining case had both. The main symptom of right coronary failure was right ventricular dysfunction, resulting in inability to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass in 3 cases, and left ventricular dysfunction due to inferior myocardial infarction in 2 cases. On the other hand, the main symptom of left coronary insufficiency was acute left ventricular pump failure with a broad anteroseptal infarction, and cardiac arrest occurred in the other 2. All patients receiving an emergency coronary artery bypass graft survived. Two cases expired due to thromboembolism in the interposed graft to the left coronary ostium in Cabrol's or Piehler's procedures. In the 6 survivors we could not detect any recent coronary lesions by postsurgical coronary cineangiography. We suggest that the pathophysiology of this phenomenon was coronary artery spasm and a lack of coronary reserve capacity in severe left ventricular hypertrophy of aortic valvular disease combined with diastolic dysfunction. Prompt coronary artery bypass grafting and a careful myocardial protection using retrograde cardioplegic solutions might save patients in this critical condition and an appropriate decision on the surgical indications for aortic valvular surgery is necessary before the occurrence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and demand ischemia.