Serum estrogen levels and bone mineral contents were measured to study their changes during treatment of climacteric disorder with Kampo therapy.
Sixty-five patients who visited the outpatient department of climacteric hormones received either (1) estrogen, (2) Kampo therapy (Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Keishi-bukuryo-gan, or Tokaku-joki-to) or (3) a calcium preparation alone or only psychological therapy (no drug treatment), for six months. Group (3) was treated as the control. Serum E2 levels, bone mineral contents, and cortical bone width index, etc., were determined before and after treatment.
In patients treated with Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, blood E2 levels increased. In patients treated with Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to or Tokaku-joki-to, reductions in bone mineral content and the cortical bone width index were suppressed. We therefore concluded that Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to is effective in preventing osteoporosis. This study also suggests that a combination of Kampo therapy and a calcium preparation may be highly beneficial in preventing menopausal osteoporosis.

This study aims to examine the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on explosive muscle and sustained maximal muscle exertions of lower limbs in pre- and post-strenuous exercises (SE) up to exhaustion. Twenty healthy college males (mean age 20.4 ± 1.08 yr) participated in the experiment for both the conditions of strapping KT (KT group) and no strapping KT (control group) . They all took pre- and post-SE isokinetic tests (IK test) .
The KT was strapped around muscle groups related to flexion and extension motions of a knee joint before the experiment. The effects of KT were confirmed on the exertion of the explosive muscle strength in flexion motion of post-SE, and the sustained muscle strength in pre- and post-SEs. It was inferred that the effects of KT relate to the fatigue state of muscle groups related to motion and motion types, and interpretation of these effects differs by the load intensity and the variables used for evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the relationship between residual walking ability and monthly care cost as well as long-term care insurance (LTCI) certification level in elderly patients after surgical treatment for hip fractures in Japan. METHODS: Elderly patients aged >75 years who underwent surgical treatment for hip fractures in our hospital were included. The preand post-surgical (6-month) walking ability and LTCI certification and the presence or absence of dementia was determined from medical records and questionnaires. Walking ability was classified into 6 levels used in our daily medical practice. Based on these data, we correlated the relationship between walking ability and the LTCI certification level. Further, based on the official statistics pertaining to the average monthly costs per person at each LTCI certification level, we evaluated the relationship between walking ability and monthly care cost. RESULTS: A total of 105 cases (mean age, 80.2 years; 16 men; 39 patients with dementia) were included. The correlation between walking ability and average monthly cost per person as well as LTCI certification level at 6 months postoperatively (r=0.58) was demonstrated. The correlation was found in both groups with and without dementia. CONCLUSION: The ability to walk reduced the cost of care in elderly patients who experienced hip fracture, regardless of the presence of dementia.
Aged* ; Certification ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Dementia ; Hip Fractures* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Japan ; Long-Term Care ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mobility Limitation ; Walking*