In order to examine the effect of ear-acupuncture on functional constipation, 37 cases were divided into two groups: group A of scybalum (20 cases) and group B of non-scybalum (17 cases). Intracutaneous needles were applied to the bilateral lung point for two weeks, and the changes of their bowel movement were compared. In addition, the same treatment was undertaken for 7 cases (group C, spastic constipation group), in which efficacy of Scopolamine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan), a parasympathetic nerve blocker, was proved. Improvement was noticed in 18 cases (90%) of group A, whereas only in 6 (35.3%) cases of group B. Moreover, 7(41.2%) of group B experienced aggravation. In group C, improvement was noted in 6 (85.8%) cases. It is suggested that ear-acupuncture to the lung point inhibits the parasympathetic nerve activity and relieves spastic constipation.

Differences between right-side and left-side stimulations in ear acupuncture treatment for obesity were examined. In Method I, 39 patients with simple obesity were randomly divided into two groups: bilateral lung points stimulation group (BL) and right cardia point stimulation group (R₁). In Method II, 24 patients with simple obesity were randomly divided into two groups: right cardia points st mulation group (R₂) and that of left one (L). Ear acupuncture was undertaken for both groups for four weeks. The appetite depressing effect and change of body weight and taste were compared. In Method I, BL showed better appetite-depressing effect and body weight loss than R₁. Highly increased salt-taste sensitivity was seen in both BL and R₁ groups. Positive correlation was seen between pretreatment salt-taste threshold and amount of body weight loss in (R₂) group (r=0.794), and the same tendency was also seen in L (r=0.536), i. e. the higher pretreatment threshold, the larger amount of wight loss. The fact that more abrupt tilt of regression line was seen in (R₂) suggests that stimulation of the right-side pointI was more effective than that of left-side.

Purpose
In the 31st and 32nd conference of the J. S. A., we reported that stimulation of an electrodermal point (i. e. the lung point) in the cavity of the concha depressed appetite and affected the metabolism of water. Since there are, however, so many electrodermal points, the question arises as to whether stimulation to any other electrodermal point has the same effect as this lung point. The purpose of this study is to clarify this question.
Method
Forty-two cases (men and women aged 18 to 50) of simple obesity (over+10% of standard body weight) were randomly divided into two groups: the group of the Cardia point stimulation (L-group), and the group of the cardia point stimulation (c-group). An intracutaneous (subcutaneous) needle was inserted in the point and kept there for two weeks, renewed once a week. The effects on depressing appetite and the metabolism of water were analysed as follows: The questionnaires for changes of the food intake, the feeling of hunger, the feeling of plenitude, the water intake, and the urinary output were given to the subjects, and they rated their responses into 4-6 grades according to our criteria. The body weight, serum osmotic pressure, and the concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was measured before and after the stimulation.
Result
The following changes were seen in both L- and C-group: the food intake decreased; the feeling of hunger decreased; the feeling of plenitude increased; the water intake decreased. The body weight decreased 0.8±0.1kg for L-group and 1.2±0.3kg for C-group. There was no significant intergroup difference. The urinary output showed a tendency to increase in L-group (p<0.10).
The serum osmotic pressure and ADH decreased significantly in L-group (p<0.02, p<0.02), while there was no significant change in C-group. However, there was no significant intergroup difference.
Conclusion
Stimulation applied to the lung point or the cardia point, which are electrodermal points in the cavity of the concha, was equally effective in depressing appetite and caused the same amount of weight loss. Stimulation to the lung point caused the decrease of the serum osmotic pressure and ADH, and the upward tendency of the urinary outout, while stimulation to the cardia point showed no significant change.
On the basis of this result, it is reasonable to presume that there is some difference between the lung point and the cardia point in affecting the metabolism of water, and that these two electrodermal points have different meanings.

Here we report the results of a long-term analytical study on the utilization of antihypertensive and antibacterial agents, which was performed using the Integrated Medical Information System (IMIS) developed by Kochi Medical School. The results indicate clear (increasing or decreasing) patterns in the numbers of patients and the dosages. Specifically, the total amount of antibacterials recently prescribed is significantly lower than in the year analysis began (1983). This reduction provides evidence of a steady improvement in the quality of medication and is particularly important for macrocosmic evaluation of the primary focus of our study, which was the “proper use of drugs”. Furthermore, the results also showed medication prescribed by non-specialists to be less inventive than that prescribed by specialists. This study highlights the importance of reforming institutions providing medical treatment from the perspective of effectively utilizing medical resources (by employing specialist personnel) and the proper use of medications. Because non-specialists prescribe medication in numerous medical facilities throughout Japan, these issues must be seriously considered.