ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Infections with hepatitis B, C, and D virus (HBV, HCV, and HDV) are a major public health problem and lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, anti-HDV immunoglobulin G, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and dual and triple hepatitis virus infections in Mongolia. @*Methods@#A total of 2313 participants from urban and rural regions were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used to identify the risk factors for hepatitis virus infections, and the seromarkers were measured using immunoassay kits. @*Results@#Among all participants, the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HDV was 15.6%, 36.6%, and 14.3%, respectively. The infection rates were significantly higher in females and participants with a lower education level, rural residence, older age, and a history of blood transfusion. HBV and HCV co-infection was found in 120 (5.2%) participants and HBV, HCV, and HDV triple infection was detected in 67 (2.9%) participants. The prevalence of elevated AFP was 2.7%, 5.5%, and 2.6% higher in participants who were seropositive for HBsAg (p=0.01), anti-HCV (p<0.001), and anti-HDV (p=0.022), respectively. Elevated AFP was more prevalent in participants co-infected with HBV and HCV (5.8%, p=0.023), HBV and HDV (6.0%, p<0.001), and triple-infected with HBV, HCV, and HDV (7.5%) than in uninfected individuals. @*Conclusions@#Nearly half (49.8%) of the study population aged ≥40 years were infected with HBV, HCV, or HDV, and 22.4% had dual or triple infections.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#On July 20, 2012, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) provided a recommendation that limits the long-term use of calcitonin. Based on this recommendation, we investigate the presence or absence of a cancer diagnosis in subjects who participated in the ongoing clinical trial of elcatonin. @*Methods@#When the EMA gave this recommendation, we were conducting “a 3-year placebo-controlled clinical study for elcatonin” (hereinafter, referred to as “the original study”). In accordance with the recommendation of EMA, we performed an intermediate analysis on the subjects of the original study to assess whether the study could be safely continued. We also added a 2-year follow-up study to investigate the risk of carcinogenesis for 5 years from the start of administration. We compared the risk of carcinogenesis estimated by person-year method in elcatonin group with that in placebo group. @*Results@#In the original study, there were 433 subjects in the elcatonin group and 437 in the placebo group, of whom 322 and 323, respectively, agreed to participate in the additional follow-up study. The average cancer incidence rate per 100 person-years 5 years from the start of administration was 1.02 in the elcatonin group and 1.08 in the placebo group, respectively, and there was no clear difference. @*Conclusions@#Since the number of cases in this study was small, we cannot completely deny the cancer risk due to long-term administration of this drug. However, the results do not suggest that once-weekly administration of 20 units of elcatonin increases the carcinogenic risk.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#On July 20, 2012, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) provided a recommendation that limits the long-term use of calcitonin. Based on this recommendation, we investigate the presence or absence of a cancer diagnosis in subjects who participated in the ongoing clinical trial of elcatonin. @*Methods@#When the EMA gave this recommendation, we were conducting “a 3-year placebo-controlled clinical study for elcatonin” (hereinafter, referred to as “the original study”). In accordance with the recommendation of EMA, we performed an intermediate analysis on the subjects of the original study to assess whether the study could be safely continued. We also added a 2-year follow-up study to investigate the risk of carcinogenesis for 5 years from the start of administration. We compared the risk of carcinogenesis estimated by person-year method in elcatonin group with that in placebo group. @*Results@#In the original study, there were 433 subjects in the elcatonin group and 437 in the placebo group, of whom 322 and 323, respectively, agreed to participate in the additional follow-up study. The average cancer incidence rate per 100 person-years 5 years from the start of administration was 1.02 in the elcatonin group and 1.08 in the placebo group, respectively, and there was no clear difference. @*Conclusions@#Since the number of cases in this study was small, we cannot completely deny the cancer risk due to long-term administration of this drug. However, the results do not suggest that once-weekly administration of 20 units of elcatonin increases the carcinogenic risk.
ABSTRACT
A 31-year old woman with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris was treated by Kampo-medicine. At our outpatient clinic, her skin lesions were especially prominent on her calcaneal and plantal regions of both feet, although noticed also on her palmar regions of both hands.<br>Decoctions of Keishi-ka-Ôgi-Tô was prescribed according to her Shô (signs and symptoms on whole body). Pustules apparently increased in 2 weeks after this therapy, but afterwards decreased. After 4 months, the skin regions almost disappeared. Although a slight, transient recurrence was noticed at the 10 months of this therapy, the disease was almost completely healed after 12 months.<br>The therapeutic mechanism of the skin lesions was briefly discussed from both the stand point of “Cell pathology” and that of “Whole body pathology”.
ABSTRACT
A 19-year-old girl with atopic dermatitis was treated by Kampo-medicine. At our outpatient clinic, her skin lesions were especially prominent on her face and cervical region, although noticed also on chest, abdomen, cubital and popliteal regions.<br>At first, decoctions of Byakko-ka-Ninzin-To was prescribed in ordinary quantities of composite materials (crude drugs), and afterwards, the crude drug (Coptis japonica, Makino) was added. To improve facial flush and thirst, quantities of Coptis japonica and Gypsum were gradually increased. After 25 weeks of this therapy, the skin lesions almost disappeared, and afterwards, no remedy was needed at least for more than three years.<br>The therapeutic mechanism of the skin lesions was briefly discussed from both the stand point of “Cell pathology” and that of “Whole boby pathology”.
ABSTRACT
A 69-year-old housewife with chronic eczema was treated by Kampo-medicine. For about 20 years, she had suffered from episodes of general eruptions every summer. At our outpatient clinic, skin lesions, chiefly consisted of papules with erosions, were noticed on bilateral external surface of the nose, the back of right hand and the back of the neck.<br>At first, decoctions of Keishibukuryo-gan-ka-Daio was prescribed for one month, and afterwards, Keishibukuryo-gan-ka-Daio Yokuinin for the rest. The lesions was completely improved after two or five months of the treatment, and the other skin lesions appeared on bilateral forearms, disappearing also after two or three months of the same design of the treatment. After the therapy by Kampo-medicine, no skin lesions were noticed at least for more than two years.<br>The therapeutic mechanism of the skin lesions was briefly discussed from both the stand point of “Cell pathology” and that of “Whole body pathology”.
ABSTRACT
A 48-year-old man, suspected of erythema annulare centrifugum, was treated by Kampo-medicine. His clinical picture and findings were evidently consistent with those of erythema annulare centrifugum. Skin lesions, chiefly consisted of erythema with a little of exfoliation, were noticed both on the upper abdomen and on the bilateral lumbar regions.<br>Decoctions of Dai-saiko-to (Da-Chai-Hu-Tang) were mainly used for the treatment, concurrently with Keishi-bukuryo-gan (Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling-Wan). Lumbar eruption comp letely disappeared after one month of the treatment and abdominal one also after four months without any trace of lesions.<br>The therapeutic mechanism of the skin lesions was briefly considered from both the stand point of “cell pathology” and that of “whole body pathology”.
ABSTRACT
This paper reported a patient of a tendency to somnolence well treated with “Sansonin-to”. The patient was a 52-year-old house wife, small and lean, who always felt tired and had an intense desire and tendency to sleep in spite of a lot of sleep in nights. Her abdominal tonus was rather soft, and pulsation above the navel and tenderness besides the navel were evidently noticed.<br>At first, Toki-syakuyaku-san-ka-bushi (Dang-Gui-Shao-Yao-San-Jia-Fu-Zi) and Sansonin-to (Suan-Zao-Ren-Tang) were prescribed alternately every fourth day for one month, and afterwards, Sansonin-to was given predominantly, being Toki-syakuyaku-san concurrently. After about two months, the tendency to somnolence was completely improved.<br>In view of the effective results, already reported by us, of two insomniac patients with Sansonin-to, the decoction, Sansonin-to, can be inferred to have an effective function to both insomnia and somnolence. Regardless of the procedure of “roasting or no-roasting” the seed of Zizyphus jujuba Mill before boiling and making a medical decoction, some essential compositions of the seed might be necessary to be extracted into the decoction.
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This paper was primarily concerned with the effect of acupuncture treatment on blood pressure and heart rate.<br>Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after acupuncture treatment in one hundred new outpatients in the clinic of Research Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kinki University. Fifty patients were finally recognized to be worthy of the present analysis. Application of “t” test was done in these 50 patients and 18 normal persons.<br>In a comparison of acupunctured group with control group, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure showed a statistically significant rise, but heart rate did not.<br>According to the effect on blood pressure, acupuncture practitioners were divided into three groups. Among these groups, heart rate showed a statistically insignificant change.<br>These results suggest that the reaction pathway of the biological effect of acupuncture treatment on blood pressure is different from that on heart rate. It is also suggested that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment is highly influenced by the technique of acupuncture practitioners.
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A 52-year-old housewife with chalazion was non-operatively treated by Kampo-medicine.<BR>There were three chalazions on her right under eyelid and many infarcts of tarsal gland on her bilateral eyelids. Two of the three chalazions were successfully treated and the residual one became clinically non-troublesome. A large infarct of tarsal gland on her left upper eyelid disappeared through the process of conjuctival polyp formation, being well recorded photo graphically. Decoctions of derivatives of Saikokeishi-To were used for the therapy.<BR>The therapeutic mechanism of the clinical picture was briefly considered from both the stand point of “cell pathology” and that of “whole body pathology”.
ABSTRACT
A 14-year-old girl with atopic dermatitis was treated by Kampo-medicine. Both her clinical picture and laboratory findings were evidently consistent with those of atopic dermatitis. Skin Iesions were prominent on her forehead, upper eye lides, cervical region and cubital regions. The percentage of eosinophilic leucocyte was 9% before the therapy of Reikeijutsukan-To and was 1% after the therapy. The value of IgE (<500) was 3, 091 before the therapy and was 3, 567 after that. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was abnormal and essentially not changed before and after the therapy. The mechanism of the therapeutic effect of Reikeijutsukan-To was briefly discussed from the stand point of “whole body pathology”