[Purpose] In Kampo medicine, blood deficiency is considered to cause systemic symptoms such as insomnia and dizziness, in addition to skin-related symptoms such as xeroderma. Diagnosis of blood deficiency does not appear to be definitive since it is based on subjective judgment. To resolve this problem, we have attempted to establish an objective method for diagnosing blood deficiency by measuring skin moisture.[Methods] Using a skin moisture meter, we measured the skin moisture (at the neck, forearm, and abdomen) of 80 women during their first examination at our clinic. The patients were also classified according to their blood deficiency scores.[Results] A statistically significant difference was observed between patients with blood deficiency and those without blood deficiency with regard to the skin moisture at the neck and forearm. The coefficient of correlation between the skin moisture of the neck and the blood deficiency score was -0.41.The results of statistical analysis performed using a type1quantification method revealed high values even for some conditions not associated with the skin, such as hypomenorrhea and excessive strain of the abdominal muscles, in addition to high values for skin-associated conditions. And in pre-post-treatment comparisons, improvements in blood deficiency scores generally matched transitions in keratinous moisture.[Discussion] Due to the absence of a high correlation between skin moisture and the blood deficiency score, it is unlikely that skin moisture can be used instead of the blood deficiency score as a parameter for the accurate diagnosis of blood deficiency.[Conclusion] Although skin moisture levels may be an indicator of blood deficiency, further studies are required before this parameter can be applied in clinical diagnosis.
deficiency ; In Blood ; Integumentary system ; Neck ; Diagnosis

We report a case of atopic dermatitis that was successfully treated with daiseiryuto. The patient was a 31-year-old Japanese female, who had atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma since childhood. Recently, her itching, as well as her bronchial asthma, had simultaneously worsened. We diagnosed the patient with “exterior excess” (hyoujitsu), because she complained of anhidrosis. She also complained of being thirsty, suggestive of “interior heat” (rinetsu). Furthermore, her severe itching reminded us of “restlessness” (hansou). According to these Kampo observations, we prescribed daiseiryuto. After several weeks of taking the medication, the patient's asthma attacks had disappeared completely. The severe itching had also improved within a couple of months, and the skin eruptions disappeared in about 6 months. We think that daiseiryuto is a useful formulation for itching of the skin, and that it could be applied to many skin disorders besides atopic dermatitis, because severe itching of the skin can be interpreted as “restlessness” (hansou) in many cases. Daiseiryuto is safe for long-term use by comparatively young, strong patients, but a precaution must be taken in prescribing it to patients with a past history of ischemic heart disease, because daiseiryuto has a high Ephedrae herba content.
Pruritus ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Integumentary system ; Patients ; Asthma

Objects : The purpose of this study is to evaluate objective measurements of skin moisture and its usefulness in the Kampo clinic.Methods : We measured the skin moisture of 6 male volunteers using a sensor twice, in a one to two week interval, and calculated the correlation of both data sets at 66 points. Secondly, we compared the skin moisture data at 10 regions in 81 patients without any skin disease, in a wide age range from 30 s to early 70 s. The ten regions measured were : face, chest, back, abdomen, leg and 4 forearm points, i.e. the inside and outside of the bilateral center forearm, and palm.Results : The correlation of two successively measured data sets showed excellent relation (r=0.716, p<0.0001). The sensor measurement of skin moisture was quite reliable. Measurements of the face, chest and back showed them to be significantly wetter than the abdomen, leg or any of the 4 forearm points. Palm measurements indicated a wetter tendency than for any forearm measurements. Back and abdomen measurements in males were significantly wetter than those in females. There were no significant differences among the data sets, with regards to age. Therefore, any forearm points are clinically useful for the standard measurement of skin moisture. We also demonstrated a case in which skin moisture measurements with a sensor were useful in prescribing and observing the effects of shigyakusan.Conclusion : Utilizing this method may be helpful in acquiring much more objective measurements for Kampo medicine.
Integumentary system ; seconds ; Forearm ; Medicine, Kampo ; Measurement

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the effects of decreasing ambient temperature on peripheral blood flow and body temperature of males and females in a thermal neutral zone for references to the thermal standard of office workers. Methods: Peripheral blood flows of the hand and feet, and body temperatures and so on of male and female subjects were measured in a climatic chamber. Air temperature was maintained at 28.5°C at the beginning. After this, air temperature was decreased linearly to 21.0°C over a period of 60 minutes. Finally, air temperature was maintained at 21.0°C. Results: Blood flows and skin temperatures of male and female subjects became similar or showed no significant difference at beginning and the end of the experiment. Skin blood flow of the hand and skin temperatures of the hand and fingers decreased, and these values in females were lower than in males, when air temperature was decreased linearly in a thermal neutral zone. However, there were no remarkable differences between males and females in sublingual and mean skin temperatures during the experiment. Conclusion: Minimum air temperature at the thermal standard for offices in Japan is 17°C, which may be too low to be comfortable or neutral. Even in a neutral thermal condition, it is better that office workers are provided some protection such as a blanket or clothing, to protect peripheral body parts from cooling in winter, as there are individual differences in physiological thermal reactions.
Temperature ; Carbon ion ; seconds ; Integumentary system ; Hand

Skin is the largest organ in human system and plays a vital role as a barrier against environment and pathogens. Skin regeneration is important in tissue engineering especially in cases of chronic wounds. With the tissue engineering technology, these skins equivalent have been use clinically to repair burns and wounds. Consented redundant skin samples were obtained from patients aged 9 to 65 years old. Skin samples were digested with dispase, thus separating the epidermis and the dermis layer. The epidermis layer was trypsinized and cultured in DKSFM in 6-well plate at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2. Once confluent, the culture were trypsinized and the cells were pooled. Cells were counted using haemacytometer. Doubling time and viability were calculated and analysed. From the result, we conclude that doubling time and viability of in vitro keratinocytes cultured in DKSFM media is not age dependant.
Cultural ; Integumentary system ; Human ; Age, NOS ; monolayer

Artificial feeding of mosquitoes with blood meal is an important technique in the studies of mosquito feeding. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitable artificial membranes for mosquito feeding from other sources, several easily obtainable membranes in Malaysia were tested for their suitability as a replacement. Skin of chicken, fish, and salted sausage were obtained and tested against cattle skin membrane as a control. The results showed that cattle skin is still the most favorable membrane to be used, with full engorgement rate of around 57% using fresh human blood. However, processed chicken skin was shown having potential for further testing since with feeding using human blood kept overnight at 4 degrees C, an engorgement rate of 50% was obtained.
Feeding ; Integumentary system ; Culicidae ; In Blood ; Engorgement

The tegumental ultrastructure of juvenile and adult Himasthla alincia (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) was observed by scanning electron microscopy. One-, 5- (juveniles) and 20-day-old worms (adults) were harvested from chicks experimentally fed metacercariae from a bivalve, Mactra veneriformis. The juvenile worms were elongated and curved ventrally. The head crown bore 31 collar spines, arranged in a single row. The lip of the oral sucker had 12 paired, and 3 single type I sensory papillae, and the ventral sucker had about 25 type II sensory papillae. The anterolateral surface between the two suckers was densely packed with tegumental spines with 4-7 pointed tips. The adult worms were more elongated and filamentous, and had severe transverse folds over the whole body surface. On the head crown and two suckers, type I and II sensory papillae were more densely distributed than in the juvenile worms. Retractile brush-like spines, with 8-10 digits, were seen on the anterolateral surface, whereas claw-shaped spines, with 2-5 digits, were sparsely distributed posteriorly to the ventral sucker. The cirrus characteristically protruded out, and was armed with small spines distally. The surface ultrastructure of H. alincia was shown to be unique among echinostomes, especially in the digitation of its tegumental spines, the distribution of sensory papillae and by severe folds of the tegument.
Aging ; Animals ; Integumentary System/*anatomy & histology ; Sense Organs/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure ; Trematoda/*anatomy & histology/*ultrastructure

Skin-Sparing Mastectomy (SSM) is a method of removing a minimum amount of the skin and a mammary gland under the skin and conserving the native skin. Therty-eight patients (39-73 years old) with breast cancer underwent SSM and immediate breast reconstruction by the use of silicon natrium solution bags. Before cancer operation, none of them said they hoped for immediate breast reconstruction by autogenous tissue. Two patients were considering the reconstruction with autogenous tissue after silicon natrium solution bag reconstruction. By the reconstruction of an implant insertion, it was difficult to achieve a good result by one operation. About half of the reconstructed breast was asymmetry. But, nobody hoped for a revision operation or re-implant operation. There patients said they were not afraid of going to a hot spring but two patients said they were hesitant to do so. The Hokushin district is an agricultural area. So, there was no one who wanted to take time off from to undergo a revision operation to preserve a cosmetic appearance. We should advise secondary reconstruction in the Hokushin district.
Solutions ; Neoplasm of uncertain or unknown behavior of skin ; Integumentary system ; Simple mastectomy ; Lower case dee

This study aims to determine the effects of formaldehyde exposure on self-reported symptoms of respiratory-eye mucosa and integumentary system during anatomy practices among Korean medical students. Data were collected using the web-based survey. Study subjects in 1st and 2nd grade medical student, and having anatomy dissection in medical college and medical graduate school. A total of 463 students from the 14 medical college and medical graduate school participated in this study. The results show that 261 (56.4%) of the participants responded feeling discomfort above moderate at anatomy dissection. After anatomy dissection, 104 (43.2%) students responded aggravating the symptom allergic rhinitis, xerophthalmia and so on. 209 (95.0%) of them responded the new symptom's appearance. In the result of multiple logistic regression, women (OR: 2.000, 95% CI: 1.169~3.421) and the students with feeling discomfort (OR: 3.190, 95% CI: 1.807~5.632) were more likely to increase the risk of pre-existing respiratory · eye mucosal system symptom's aggravation than the counter parts. For pre-existing integumentary system symptom's aggravation, risk is significantly higher in elder age group (OR: 2.612, 95% CI: 1.187~5.750) and with disapproval protective equipments (OR: 2.217, 1.006~4.885). In case of new symptom's appearance, people with feeling discomfort above moderate (OR: 5.097, 95% CI: 1.075~24.160) in respiratory · eye mucosal system were more likely to increase the risk of new symptom's appearance. And for integumentary system, risk was higher in people with feeling discomfort (OR: 1.921, 95% CI: 1.218~3.031), in woman (OR: 1.711, 1.090~2.686) and without enough protective equipments preparation (OR: 1.953, 1.189~3.210). This study confirms the protective equipments for minimizing exposure from chemicals for cytological fixation (e,g formaldehyde) is not worn enough and students in anatomy dissection experience discomfort and disease after anatomy dissection. Therefore, this study indicates that the safe guideline in anatomy dissection should be enhanced and institutional strategy to protect student's right of health should be provided.
Female ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans ; Integumentary System* ; Logistic Models ; Mucous Membrane* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Students, Medical* ; Xerophthalmia

Among several kinds of diabetic complications reported, diabetic foot ulcers and lower extremity amputations are serious and expensive one. About 10 to 15% of people with diabetes mellitus experience that complication during their life time and half of all nontraumatic lower extremity amputation occur in people with diabetes. The prevention and care of diabetic complication of the foot continue to represent a major challenge to physicians. Neuropathy, infection, deformity and ischemia are major threats to the diabetic foot and overall functional well-being is the main concern of the diabetic foot patients. This retrospective study based on chart reviews 108 cases of diabetic patients: 54 cases of diabetic patients without foot problems and the other 54 cases with foot problems. The mean age of DM foot patients was 57.4 years and they suffered from diabetes for 12.9 years. The diabetic foot problems developed to gangrene, ulcer, and mummification in 33.2 days and their healing time required more than 40 days(mean 42.9 days). The patient of diabetic foot problems had higher level of blood sugar(p=0.023) and longer duration of diabetes mellitus(p=0.040). The most common site was digit, especially 1st and 2nd toe. Multiple lesions were involved in more than 10% of the patients. The majority of operation were debridement and closure, amputation, skin graft. The complications were wound disruption or delayed wound healing and partial skin graft loss. The incidence of diabetic foot was 2.6 times higher in peripheral neuropathic patient and the healing time was related to velocity of development of noticeable diabetic foot(Pearsson correlation coefficient). The peripheral neuropathy was significantly related to diabetic foot(p=0.000), and that was noticed in patients with longer duration of diabetic mellitus (p=0.023) and older age(p=0.032). The majority of DM foot patients was in the 5th to 7th decades(83.3%) and most of DM foot developed more than 5 years after DM diagnosis(91.7%). The mean healing time was 42.9 days and most common healing time was 5 weeks(38.8%). Managements of the diabetic foot require a multisystem approach that addresses the component problems of the neurovascular, skeletal, immune and integumentary system. A coordinated team effort by the plastic surgeon, vascular surgeon, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist, neurologist, podiatrist as well as the physical therapist and social service representatives are often need to provide the diabetic patient with complete foot care.
Amputation ; Communicable Diseases ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Debridement ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Foot* ; Foot ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Incidence ; Integumentary System ; Ischemia ; Lower Extremity ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Physical Therapists ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Social Work ; Specialization ; Toes ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries