Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent periods of remission and relapse. Despite standard treatments, several patients continue to experience symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. This report presents two cases of patients with IBD who achieved remission using Kampo decoctions instead of extract formulations. Case 1 involved a man in his forties with Crohn’s disease. He remained in remission for four years after receiving treatment with aminosalicylic acid and a Kampo decoction following partial resection of the small intestine. However, when he switched to an extract formulation with the same content as the decoction, he experienced worsened diarrhea and bloody stool. The patient’s symptoms and inflammatory markers improved following a comprehensive Kampo medical evaluation and administration of a decoction of daikenchuto and hochuekkito. Case 2 involved a woman in her forties with ulcerative colitis who had been in remission for four years with infliximab and a Kampo decoction consisting of hochuekkito, shimotsuto, and keishibukuryogan. However, four months after changing to an extract formulation with the same ingredients as the decoction, the patient experienced erosion of the rectal mucosa and bloody stool. After returning to the decoction and adding mesalazine suppositories, her symptoms improved. These cases suggest that Kampo decoctions may be useful in maintaining IBD remission, particularly when extracts are not significantly effective.

Tohoku University Hospital served as the research office for two projects of Kampo medicine treatment: an observational study and a randomized controlled study on Coronavirus Disease 2019 led by the Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine. We review the practical operations together with the results of a questionnaire survey conducted after the completion of the studies, and discuss issues and areas for improvement in the management of the multicenter research office. Questionnaire 1 surveyed the participants’ impressions and opinions of the implementation system and responses at the research-sharing facilities, as well as future issues. Comments on observational studies were dichotomized into “no particular problems” and “difficulties.” In the randomized controlled trial, most respondents answered, “It was difficult to understand the administrative procedures for specific clinical research.” Questionnaire 2 surveyed the status of clinical research support staff, their impressions and opinions of being entrusted with the work, and future issues. We were able to collect opinions about impressions, issues, and areas for improvement from a variety of perspectives. Looking back at the summary of the questionnaire survey and the practical experience, smooth promotion of research is expected through appropriate research planning and system construction, as well as improvement of research support skills.

In Japan, where natural disasters occur repeatedly, it plays an important role in future disaster-related health management to pass on not only knowledge of disaster situation but also response strategies to future generations. The symposium “The Role of Oriental Medicine in Repeated Natural Disasters” was held at the annual conference of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine on June 2, 2024, and included presentations on the following topics “The Role of Oriental Medicine in the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake,” “The Role of Oriental Medicine in Repeated Natural Disasters, Great East Japan Earthquake and Kumamoto Earthquake,” “Acupuncture and Moxibustion Massage Support in the Kanto and Tohoku Heavy Rain Storms,” “Use of Kampo in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake,” and “Summary of the Society’s Response: In the Event of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.” The speakers presented and discussed the role of Oriental medicine in repeated natural disasters. Support through Oriental medicine is one of the activities that can contribute to addressing social issues in disasters. This report summarizes the contents of the symposium.

Fatigue is a common symptom of long COVID. Fatigue can majorly disrupt daily life and be challenging to treat. Herein, we describe the effect of saikokeishito, a Kampo medicine, on fatigue in patients with long COVID.Between October 2020 and March 2023, we prescribed saikokeishito to 22 patients with long COVID in the general medicine outpatient department of our hospital. Among them, seven patients (age: 15-58 years, two females) had fatigue, a previously confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, and no concomitant use of other Kampo formulas. We compared their condition at the start of saikokeishito administration to that 3 months later. Five patients had a slight fever, and four had inflammatory findings on blood tests. Within 3 months, all patients had a 20% or greater reduction in fatigue on a visual analogue scale. Six patients had a 20% or greater increase in health-related QOL and were able to return to society. On the other hand, one patient required a transition to an alternative medication, and one patient's follow-up was prematurely discontinued. Fatigue after COVID-19 may be improved by saikokeishito, especially for the treatment of patients with slight fever or inflammatory findings.

The Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society (KAMMS) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a commemoration ceremony and a Japan-Korea Symposium held in Seoul in November 2023. This report outlines the participation and highlights from the commemoration ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of KAMMS on November 11 (Saturday), along with insights shared during the Japan-Korea Symposium held as a special session within KAMMS' Fall Academic Conference 2023 on November 12 (Sunday). The summary includes presentations delivered by four speakers during the symposium. The Korean session focused on "Collaborative-Based Integrated Healthcare," discussing endeavors in integrated medicine involving Western medicine and Korean medicine. Meanwhile, the Japanese session titled "Introduction of Acupuncture Clinics in Japanese University Hospital" highlighted efforts in acupuncture and moxibustion education within the Tohoku University Hospital in Japan.

"Brain fog" is a symptom of long COVID. Brain fog is suspected to be a neurocognitive dysfunction; however, the underlying pathology remains to be elucidated. To provide better medical care for patients with "brain fog", we collaborated with a hospital outpatient department that specializes in the assessment and treatment of cognitive impairment. For the establishment of the collaborative system, we devised a questionnaire for "brain fog" based on medical reports, internet resources, and clinical experiments to be used as a screening tool. The questionnaire was used to calculate a "brain fog score" (BFS). A BFS of more than 5 points was established as the criterion for patient referral. The present retrospective evaluation suggests that BFS is useful for predicting prognosis and prioritizing patients within limited outpatient appointment slots.

Some simulation-based education tools have been introduced in Kampo medicine. However, there are only a few brief simulation tools to learn qi-blood-fluid (QBF) patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this study, we developed a self-diagnostic questionnaire that allows students learn TCM interviews and QBF patterns by answering the questionnaire and evaluated its reliability and validity. We extracted questionnaire items to classify six QBF patterns (qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis, and phlegm-fluid retention) based on some textbooks of TCM and Kampo medicine. Then we developed an initial questionnaire comprising 35 items. Fifth year medical students at Tohoku University School of Medicine answered the questionnaire of small group teaching during 2017-2020. We evaluated the accuracy of the questionnaire if compared with the diagnosis of academic supervisors. To improve the accuracy, we adjusted the questionnaire’s thresholds and created a predictive model of the patterns using logistic regression analysis. The questionnaire’s sensitivity improved by adjusting the thresholds. Logistic regression analysis resulted in a predictive model that could determine QBF patterns with the same level of accuracy as the original for 20 items overall. The results suggest that the use of a simple questionnaire with ensured accuracy may contribute to better pre-graduate education by making it easier for students to understand their own Kampo medicine patterns.

As part of the studies to build evidence for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) conducted by the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, the observational research and the clinical trials were designed to examine the effectiveness of Kampo medicine in the treatment of COVID-19. These studies were initiated in the context of limited information about the clinical findings of COVID-19 and previous clinical study. Therefore, through literature review, we compared these studies with clinical trials on oral antiviral drugs in terms of endpoint, analysis methods, and results. Results of this review showed that the rate of severe disease and time to symptoms relief, which were focused on in observational research and clinical trials of Kampo medicines, were also used in antiviral drug trials. Furthermore, we discussed that when interpreting the results of clinical studies, it was important to take into account factors that may affect the results, such as the number of cases, the characteristics of the endpoint, and the characteristics of the target population.

At the 73rd Academic Conference of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine held in June 2023, a report on an establishment of evidence for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was presented. As part of this project, we reported how we conducted the observational study and the clinical trial that evaluated the effectiveness of Kampo medicine on the acute symptoms of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. In this article, we have summarized our experience in these studies from the viewpoint of a statistician, including important things to be considered when writing a research plan and selecting endpoints and statistical analysis methods.

In May 2024, the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Miyagi Conference, was held in Sendai city under the title of " Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Connection, Communication, and Utilization - Exploring Diversity and Developing Cooperative Medicine-". Overcoming the "fracture of connections" caused by disasters and pandemics, this congress organized to connect people involved in acupuncture and moxibustion, deepen mutual understanding, and find a direction to contribute to society. In the future, we believe that the entire academic society will work together to raise the level of acupuncture and moxibustion from a cycle in which advanced treatment techniques are disseminated, clinical research is advanced, and research results are applied to each treatment.