The practice of diabetes self-care plays an important role in achieving and maintaining good glycaemic control. However, not all patients with insulin-treated diabetes engage in their self-care activities. There is some evidence that self-care practices in patients with insulin-treated diabetes can be understood and predicted by their health beliefs, although studies are often hampered by methodological weaknesses, and the fact that less is known about adults with insulin-treated diabetes in Malaysia. This study was conducted to examine whether health beliefs (as specified in the Health Belief Model: HBM) can predict self-care practices and glycaemic control in patients with insulin-treated diabetes in Malaysia. Longitudinal design with self-reported questionnaire measures was administered at baseline (Time 1:T1) and six months later (Time 2: T2). Participants were recruited from three endocrinology clinics in Malaysia. The measures included self-care practices (diet, insulin intake, exercise and self-blood glucose monitoring: SMBG), health beliefs and diabetes knowledge. Participants’ glycaemic control was examined based on their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) results. Data analysis was performed at different points of the study times; T1, T1-T2 and T2. Diabetes knowledge and demographic data were controlled for in predictive statistical analyses. A total of 159 patients with insulin-treated diabetes (aged 18-40 years) completed the measures at T1. Of these, only 108 (67.9%) completed follow-up measures at T2. However, demographic characteristics were not significantly different between those who completed and dropped out of the study (p>0.05). The HBM was significantly predictive of diet self-care at T2, insulin intake practice at T1 and HbA1c at T1-T2 andT2. Of the HBM constructs, perceived benefits significantly predicted good dietary habits at T1 (OR 1.92) and T2 (OR .23) and adherence to insulin injection at T1 (OR 3.17) and T1-T2 (OR 2.68). With the exception of perceived severity, all other HBM constructs significantly predicted HbA1c [perceived susceptibility (β .169) at T1, perceived barriers (β -.206) and perceived benefits (β -.397) at T2 and cues to action (β -.233) at T1-T2]. Health beliefs predict self-care practices and glycaemic control in young to middle-aged adults with insulin-treated diabetes in Malaysia. Diabetes educators could use this knowledge in their efforts to improve diabetes self-care in this patient groupby modifying those beliefs through their diabetes education.
Insulin-treated diabetes ; health beliefs ; Health Belief Model ; longitudinal design ; self-care ; diet ; exercise ; insulin adherence ; self-monitoring blood glucose ; glycaemic control.

We report a case of a 65-year old man who suffered from hyperhydrosis for 15 years and was treated with the combined formulation of hangekobokuto and ryokeijutsukanto as determined by Kampo diagnosis according to traditional logic. Not only excessive sweating but also complications such as a feeling of obstruction in the throat, palpitation at rest, panting at times of light work, and a feeling of residual urine were diagnosed. We conclude that these symptoms were induced by a dysfunction of the qi (vital energy) and jin (nourishing fluids) circulation between the upper and the middle aspect of the body caused by the existence of wet phlegm, which were ameliorated by the effects of eliminating phlegm, and regulating stagnated or regurgitated qi with this combined formulation.
Treated with ; Combined ; Patients ; Feelings ; hyperhydrosis

We report on a case of severe generalized pain due to fibromyalgia syndrome, which was successfully treated with a variation of byakkoto. A 65-year-old Japanese woman had severe generalized pain which grew worse in warm environments, such as during the summer or when bathing. She also had pollakidipsia. We utilized a variation of byakkoto on the assumption that she was suffered from high inner heat. Her severe generalized pain resolved with this therapy. Although bushi-zai and saiko-zai are common prescriptions for fibromyalgia syndrome, byakkoto-variations may also be effective in cases where conditions are worsened by heat effect.
Fibromyalgia ; Pain ; Treated with ; Generalized aches and pains ; Syndrome

We report a case of giant pancreatic pseudocyst after acute pancreatitis, successfully treated with saikokeishitokabushi. A 71-year-old man had been undergoing treatment in our hospital for cerebral infarction and diabetes. He was complicated with acute pancreatitis. He received conservative treatment, showing a tendency toward symptomatic improvement, although abdominal pain and anorexia subsequently developed. A giant pancreatic pseudocyst was identified on abdominal computed tomography. Therefore, we administered saikokeishitokabushi without changing the other oral medication. Many of his symptoms disappeared, and cyst reduction was noted. saikokeishitokabushi is generally prescribed for epigastric pain or anorexia after febrile illness. In this case, it is thought that saikokeishitokabushi exhibited an action leading to cyst reduction.
Acute pancreatitis ; Large ; Treated with ; Reduction (chemical) ; Pancreatic polypeptide, avian

Shakuyakukanzoto is effective for pain primarily related to muscle contractions and the powder works rapidly after oral intake. We successfully treated a patient who presented with spastic convulsions by using shakuyakukanzoto. A 32-year-old man had injury to his left hand from a dog bite, resulting in tetanus. Intravenous propofol was chosen as a sedative at first. On day1, shakuyakukanzoto was also administered to control his spastic convulsions. It was effective in reducing his propofol dose and improving various symptoms such as priapism, abdominal pain, tremor, and insomnia. The patient was discharged from our hospital on day 14. This is the first report we know of tetanus treated with shakuyakukanzoto. And we believe that shakuyakukanzoto may be useful for the control of muscle spasms and the management of dysautonomia caused by generalized tetanus.
shakuyaku-kanzoh-toh ; Propofol ; Shakuyaku ; Tetanus Toxoid ; Treated with

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

We experienced a case of erythema nodosum of unknown etiology successfully treated with therapy based on Kampo diagnosis. The case was 44 year-old woman who had erythema nodosum over her bilateral leg extensors several times a month, became cold easily and had stomatitis. At first, we administered seinetsuhokito, which resulted in the disappearance of her stomatitis. However, she still had a recurrence of her erythema nodosum. Because of a condition of interior heat and qi counterflow, we considered her situation heibyo. We administered seinetsuhokito and byakkokakeishito every other day, which resulted in the disappearance of both her stomatitis and erythema nodosum. Therefore, we suggest that it is worthy to think about heibyo situations, when treating patients with complications.
Erythema Nodosum ; Stomatitis ; Treated with ; Medicine, Kampo ; month

We report a case of neurogenic bladder that was successfully treated with hangebyakujutsutemmato. A 71-year-old Japanese male had difficulty in micturition because of a neurogenic bladder. We utilized hangebyakujutsutemmato on the assumption that he was suffered from qi deficiency, water retention, and qi stagnation. His symptoms disappeared with this therapy. Although kidney tonifying formulae, dampness-draining formulae, and blood stasis-resolving formulae are popular prescriptions for nerurogenic bladder, hangebyakujutsutemmato may be also effective for cases with qi deficiency, water retention, and qi stagnation.
Bladder, Neurogenic ; Treated with ; Water ; deficiency ; g <3>

We report a patient successfully treated with the herbal formulation seihaito for decreased percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) at night. A 90-year-old man was hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease post-pneumonia, and the introduction of home oxygen therapy (HOT) was prescribed. He demonstrated dyspnea symptoms mainly at night. On examanination with oximetry for 24 hours, he also showed decreased SpO2 at night. So we administered seihaito without changing his other oral medications. Hypoxemia improved remarkably and the patient showed improvement in ADL. In this case, seihaito may have contributed to clearance of the respiratory tract, and improvement of tracheobronchial change due to the circadian rhythm of this disorder.
Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease ; Qing Fei Tang ; night ; Treated with ; Patients

We successfully treated a patient with palmoplantar pustulosis, with a combined formulation of hainosankyuto and maobushisaishinto. The patient was a 64-year-old female, who had frequently occurring pustulae of about 2 mm in size on her palms and soles, from about May 2000. These pustulae became a crust over time, and the skin peeled off and healed. However, pustulae would persist again every two weeks. We diagnosed this as palmoplantar pustulosis and administered hainosankyuto, but with limited results, whereupon we added maobushisaishinto. As a result of this combined hainosankyuto and maobushisaishinto formulation, our patient with palmoplantar pustulosis recovered significantly after 4 weeks.
Patients ; week ; Treated with ; Combined ; SIZES