A strong earthquake (magnitude 6.8) off the Sea of Japan struck the Chuetsu area of Niigata Prefecture on July 16, 2007. By way of investigating the impact of the earthquake on the health of maintenance hemodialysis patients, we examined several biochemical parameters including nutritional markers and psychological stress markers and checked up on the incidence of earthquake-induced complications (heart failure and shunt obstruction). Blood samples were collected and the values of several biochemical parameters were measured. Incidences of clinical complications one, three and six months after the quake were scrutinized. Significant decreases in the nutritional markers and a significant increase in the incidence of complications were found one month after the quake. During this period, the supplies of electricity, city gas and water were completely recovered one after another. The significant changes in the nutritional levels and the incidence of complications coincided with the time of the complete recovery of these utilities. The levels of these parameters recovered and the incidence of complications reduced three months after the quake. However, the serum albumin level did not recover and remained significantly lower even six months after. The psychological stress markers increased significantly three months after. These suggested that there was the time lag between the decrease in the nutritional markers, the increase in the incidence of complications (1 month after earthquake) and the increases in the psychological stress markers (3 months after earthquake). We concluded that these findings provided important information for the total medical plan to maintain the physical and psychological states of hemodialysis patients in an earthquake- stricken district.
month ; Complications Specific to Antepartum or Postpartum ; Earthquakes ; incidence of cases ; Hemodialysis

We report on 3 patients who presented with symptoms of Ki obstruction, Ki deficiency, and disorder of the body's fluid metabolism, successfully treated with bukuryoingohangekobokuto. In our experience, bukuryoingohangekobokuto has been effective in 25 of the 30 patients (6 men and 24 women) to whom is has been administered, who also presented with Ki obstructions, Ki deficiencies and disorders of the body's fluid metabolism as mentioned above. The most common subjective symptom in all these effectively-treated patients was hot flashes. Other signs were epigastric pain or discomfort accompanied by chest signs and symptoms, such as palpitations, heartburn, chest oppression or dyspnea. The most common objective findings in these effectively-treated patients were pulsation at the pit of the stomach and navel, and a fluid sound in the stomach upon palpation. Based on our experiences, we believe that prescription of bukuryoingohangekobokuto is best indicated when the presence of the above-mentioned symptoms and findings has been confirmed.
symptoms <1> ; Liquid substance ; Cases ; seconds ; findings

We successfully treated 5 patients with seborrheic dermatitis using Kampo medicine. Three of these patients presented with facial the lesions which had persisted for 1 to 2 years despite their having received treatment with steroid ointments or ketokonazol lotions. We treated these patients with jumihaidokuto and they recovered significantly within a few months. The two remaining patients presented with scalp lesions, which had persisted for10and 25 years respectively. We treated them with a combined formulation of keigairengyoto, makyoyokukanto and yokukansankachimpihange, and they improved remarkably after 2 and 8 months respectively.
Medicine, Kampo ; Seborrheic dermatitis ; Cases ; seconds ; month

In Kampo, “lung medicines” are usually used to treat patients with bronchial asthma, according to the type of cough and sputum, and the degree of dyspnea which presents. However, it is also important to exclude exacerbating factors. In Kampo, the lungs and large intestine are thought to have a close relationship. We report three bronchial asthma patients whose cough and dyspnea were ameliorated by improving bowel movements. We discuss the types of bronchial asthma patients who might be effectively treated by controlling their defecation. We suggest that, when patients with mild bronchial asthma who have not previously had trouble with their bowel movements complain of respiratory distress with abnormal bowel movement, it might be effective to apply “large intestine medicines” to relieve their respiratory problems. (122 words)
Asthma ; Respiratory ; Bowel action ; Defecation ; Cases

Post-dural puncture headache is a headache caused after lumbar puncture. We report two cases of post-dural puncture headache improved with goreisan. Case 1 was 37-year-old man, Case 2 was 36-year-old woman, and they both had orthostatic headache after lumbar puncture. We diagnosed them as having post-dural puncture headache, and their headaches were improved with goreisan. Based on the international classification of headache disorders, 2 nd edition (ICHD-II), post-dural puncture headache is classified as headache attributed to low cerebrospinal fluid pressure. We treated their cerebrospinal fluid as a “shin-eki” (a body fluid other than blood), and their low cerebrospinal pressure as “suidoku” (fluid retention or depletion, or mal-distribution of “shin-eki”). Goreisan is effective for “suidoku”, so we believe that goreisan was good for their low cerebrospinal pressure. These results suggest that goreisan is a useful option for the treatment of post-dural puncture headache.
Headache ; Cases ; Postdural Puncture Headache ; Spinal Tap ; Two

Although a laparotomy itself may be successful, various complaints, whose organic causes are not definite, occasionally arise afterwards. We report two cases of complaints after abdominal operations successfully treated with kososanryo. The chief complaints were anorexia in Case 1, and anxiety in Case 2. We treated the pathological states in these cases as qi stagnation, or qi obstruction in Japanese-oriental medicine sense. The symptoms in these cases improved soon after administration of kososanryo, which is traditionally used for qi stagnation. On closer investigation, we first report that kososanryo is useful for complaints after abdominal operations. Complaints after various operations lower quality of life and, what is even worse, may cause unreliability of medical treatment. The present cases suggest that Japanese-oriental medicine has therapeutic utility in the therapy of complaints after various operations.
seconds ; Complaint, NOS ; Surgical aspects ; Cases ; GENERAL OPERATIVE PROCEDURES

We report six cases with honton disease successfully treated with a combination of goshuyuto extract and ryokeijutsukanto extract. Five of the cases were diagnosed as panic disorder, and the remaining case as generalized anxiety disorder. All six cases complained of palpitation, nausea, dizziness, headache and anxiety attacks. We diagnosed them as a hontonto (Zhouhou fang) indication. Their various complaints disappeared after combination therapy with those extracts. Furthermore, efficacy of the combination therapy was proven to be equal to hontonto. These cases suggest that the combination therapy with goshuyuto extract and ryokeijutsukanto extract is useful in place of hontonto.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Cases ; Treated with ; Six ; Combined

The source of ryokankyomishingeninto, which has been used for chronic respiratory and nasal diseases by using “sunken pulse” as an indication, is the Jin-kui-yao-lue text. We, however, experienced a case of allergic rhinitis presenting with “floating pulse” successfully treated with ryokankyomishingeninto. On the basis of this case, we investigated efficacy with ryokankyomishingeninto in 16 other patients who visited our outpatient clinic from January 2007 to March 2008, and who had the all of same remarks in pulse diagnoses and nasal symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, and rhinorrhea or respiratory symptoms such as wheeze and shortness of breathing. As a result, ryokankyomishingeninto improved symptoms in all these patients. All the adult cases had a “stuck feeling in pit of stomach”. Furthermore, they had either a “water dabbling sound in the stomach”, or “cold area on the epigastrium”.
symptoms <1> ; Nasal ; Pulse taking ; Cases ; Respiratory

Although the patent ductus venosus is congenital, the symptoms due to hyperammonemia vary, possibly depending on the shunt ratio and individual tolerance to ammonia. We have experienced two adult patients with large caliber patent ductus venosus and compensated liver cirrhosis. In one case, the ductus venosus simply communicated to the portal vein, but in the other case there were multiple short communicating vessels between the ductus venosus and left portal vein. Both cases were successfully treated by the transvenous embolization with steel coils and ethanolamine oleate, which has an expansive nature.
Adult ; Cases ; Transvenous approach ; Two ; Open

Daikenchuto has been attracting nationwide attention in recent years, with its therapeutic efficacy on posto-perative complaints and complications. We treated three patients with acute abdomen using daikenchuto. They suffered from severe abdominal pains and abdominal radiographs showed small intestine gases. All three recovered from their pains or nausea after taking daikenchuto, and were discharged home without hospital admission. The use of daikenchuto against acute abdomen is recommended in emergency medicine.
Cases ; seconds ; Treated with ; Three ; Acute