We examined the clinical effects of the administration of Saiboku-to (TJ-96 7.5g/day) on 14 patients suffering from chronic bronchial asthma. The observation period was from 22 to 52 weeks, and the administration period 26 to 52 weeks. Eight out of 14 cases (57.1%) showed slight improvement or better with respect to asthmatic points and clinical phenomenon. A Steroid-sparing effect was evident in 6 out of 14 cases (42.9%). From urinary excretions following the administration of Saiboku-to, we detected the magnolol component of magnoliae cortex. Effective cases showed increased free magnolol in urine, suggesting the value of combined magnolol as a clinical parameter. We also investigated the function of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD) inhibition, one of the mechanisms of the steroid-sparing effect, in healthy subjects using three Saiko-zai. Saiboku-to lowered the activity of 11-HSD and increased the concentration of prednisolone (PSL), while Sairei-to had no influence on the metabolism of PSL. Shosaiko-to, on the other hand, increased the activity of 11-HSD and lowered the concentration of PSL. Thus the three Saiko-zai showed different results.

Primary cardiac tumors are comparatively rare. Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is the most common cardiac malignant tumor and the most common site of this tumor is in the right atrium. It is usually difficult to diagnose and treat this condition before death. The present case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma was located in the left atrium, which is very rare. A cardiac malignant tumor was suspected in this 56-year-old man based on chest MRI examination. The operation was performed successfully but its outcome was very poor.

Surveys on the snail intermediate hosts were undertaken in the paddy fields in Yatomi-cho, Aichi Prefecture, once a year over a 5-year period (1983-1987).
And the cercariae of two different avian schistosomes were detected from snails in paddy fields.
The cercariae from Polyplis haemisphaerula were identified as species beloning to the genus Gigantobilharzia and the cercariae from austropeplea ollula as species belonging to the genus Trichobilharzia.
It was concluded that the paddy field dermatitis occurring in Yatomi-cho was proved to be caused by the invasion of these cercariae.

Crowned dens syndrome is a type of pseudogout that occurs in the elderly. It is associated with calcification around the dens of the atlas and can cause recurrent pain. We report successful treatment for crowned dens syndrome by using Kampo medicine. An 85-year-old woman was seen in our clinic after 3 days of neck pain and active exercise pain without trigger. Physical examination revealed tenderness in the bilateral upper cervical spine. Computed tomography (CT) revealed calcifications around the dens of the atlas and blood test data showed inflammatory reaction. Thus, she was diagnosed with crowned dens syndrome. In view of her medical history of gastric ulcer treatment, we prescribed Kampo medicine eppikajutsuto and daiobotampito, instead of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. The cervical pain and tenderness in her bilateral upper cervical spine disappeared, and her laboratory data also improved 6 days after treatment without side effects. Thus, her medications were discontinued.

We herein report a case of 91-year-old woman with antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) developed during treatment for osteoporosis with intravenous ibandronate. Although she was treated with several antibiotics and had an incision for the drainage of a pus discharge at a dental clinic for two months after the onset of ARONJ, the discharge persisted. We then added hochuekkito to her treatment, which resulted in a gradual decreased in pus discharge and decrease in wound size and the wound resolved after approximately one month. ARONJ is considered a refractory disease, however, it was successfully treated with hochuekkito in this patient. ARONJ is also a rare condition and to our knowledge, this is considered to be the first case of ARONJ, which has been successfully treated with Kampo medicine.

We report three patients with acute lumbago who did not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but were treated successfully with daiobotampito and shimotsuto. Case 1 (86-year-old man) and Case 2 (56-year-old woman) were diagnosed with acute lumbago. Case 3 (69-year-old man) was diagnosed with acute lumbago and mild left sciatica. All three patients were initially administered orally NSAIDs, but this treatment was ineffective. Therefore, daiobotampito and shimotsuto were administered after choeikatsurakuto according to “Manbyokaishun.” Following this treatment, the patients' acute lumbago and sciatica resolved within 1-2 weeks. In conclusion, daiobotampito in combination with shimotsuto seems to be a useful Kampo medicine for treatment of lumbago.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease, and administration of antibiotics should be the first choice for UTI. However, it often recurs, and recurrent UTI is generally treated with antibiotics. Many reports describe the use of choreito for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and ureteral stones, but only a few reports are dedicated to the treatment of recurrent UTI with choreito. An 84-year-old woman had a UTI that recurred 4 times, and every time she was hospitalized. Although we treated her condition with an antibiotic and α 1-blocker for neurogenic bladder, and provided her home-care advice, her UTI recurred 4 times. Thus, we gave her choreito, which successfully treated her recurrent UTI. Before the treatment, she was hospitalized 4 times within 2 months. However, in the recent 7 months after the treatment with choreito, she did not need to be hospitalized. She is currently visiting a hospital once every 2 months. The present case indicates that choreito is beneficial in terms of health economics.