ABSTRACT
<b>Object: </b>A multicenter survey was conducted to investigate the status of use of supplements and related problems in patients with diabetes mellitus.<br><b>Methods: </b>A questionnaire was mailed to institutions where members of the Drug Information Section, Tokyo Hospital Pharmacists Association, worked, and hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus were surveyed with a questionnaire.<br><b>Results: </b>The response rate of the questionnaire was 85%, and 22 patients reported taking supplements. The most common motivation to purchase supplements was a recommendation from an acquaintance, followed by a recommendation from a family member and TV. Only 9.1% of the patients consulted healthcare professionals when purchasing supplements. The patients who did not follow the dosage and administration instructions and those who were not aware of precautions regarding proper use accounted for 31.8% and 63.6%, respectively. The proportion of patients who did not inform their physicians about the use of supplements was 65.2%, and 4.5% reported some health damage (rash).<br><b>Conclusion: </b>Our results revealed that supplements were used without careful consideration and were not administered properly, suggesting that scientific evaluation of efficacy and safety was warranted in future studies. It is important for pharmacists to actively collect information on patient use of supplements and share the information within the medical team.
ABSTRACT
Rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA rats) show obvious inhibition of the local inflammation when steroids (DXM) are administered. But the contraction of thymic or adrenal atrophy, spleen hypertrophy, and reduction of activity of serum dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV are recognized. In rats where Sokei-kakketsu-to or Yokuinin-to was administered, prominent anti-inflammatory effects like dexamethasone were not found; however the contraction of thymic or adrenal atrophy, spleen hypertrophy, and reduction of activity of serum dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV was not recognized. In addition, after withdrawal of drugs, rebound in regional joints did not occurr as with steroids, and the reducing effect for arthrocele was prolonged. Therefore, it was concluded that those two formulations have an effect on the immune system —with anti-inflammatory effects for AA rats— and these action mechanisms are different from that of steroids (DXM).
ABSTRACT
The hematological effects of Sokeikakketsu-to, Yokuinin-to, Keisi-ka-jutsubsu-to, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, and Sairei-to observed on the AA rats were investigated. The time course of blood count and albumin, sialic acid and acid-soluble glycoprotein in the serum whs. were measured. Sokeikakketsu-to had the strongest anti-inflammatory effect on the improvement of Inflammatory Index Substances, platelets, and the Arthritis Score for changes in synovitis. Yokuinin-to was also effective. When these Kampo medicines were administered in the early stages of AA, Sokeikakketsu-to improved the AA signficantly. The results may suggest that Sokeikakketsu-to works for the control of autoimmunity. On the other hand, Keisi-ka-jutsubu-to aggravated the AA when it was administered in the early stages of the AA.
ABSTRACT
The effects of Sokei-kakketsu-to, Yokuinin-to, Keisi-ka-zyutsubu-to, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, and Saireito extracts on Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats were investigated. After administering AA, we measured the volume of rat hindpaw as the inflammation index, and observed the changes of synovitis histologically. Each extract showed different effects on AA rats. Yokuinin-to and Sokei-kakketsu-to had remarkable effects on inflammation and changed the histological observations of synovitis. Eppi-ka-jutsu-to also had effects on the uninjected hindpaw, but Keisi-ka-jutsubu-to and Sairei-to had no effect on hindpaw inflammation, nor did they change synovitis histologically.
ABSTRACT
The relation between “Sho” in Kampo medicine (traditional Japanese medicine) and fingertip volume pulse wave (=pulse wave) was studied. The number of patients enrolled was 147. Patients were classified into 6 groups on the basis of their prescription and subjective and objective symptoms observed at the first visit: Kitai, Kikyo, Oketsu, Kekkyo, Suitai, Jinkyo. Anacrotic pulse time in Oketsu group was significantly longer than those in other groups (p<0.01). T-wave in Suitai group was significantly higher than those in other groups (left: p<0.01, right: p<0.05). Meanwhile, T-wave in Jinkyo group was significantly lower than those in other groups (p<0.01). In addition, factors which affect pulse wave were examined. There were significant relationships among anacrotic pulse time, blood viscosity, amount of T-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol value. Moreover, T-wave showed a significant relationship to aging.
ABSTRACT
The effects of Rikkunshi-to (Liu jun zi tang), Hochu-ekki-to (Bu zhong yi qi tang), and Hange-shashin-to (Ban xia xie xin tang) on morphological changes in the small intestinal mucosa of mice with age were observed. The results indicated that Rikkunshi-to and Hochu-ekki-to had a beneficial effect on intestinal mucosal changes in 36-weeks-old mice. In particular, the improvement of the absorptive area of the intestinal villi and microvilli depending on the concentration of medicine was found. Ninjin-yoei-to had a strong effect on aged mice of 50 and 70 weeks. The morphology and absorptive function were significantly improved.
ABSTRACT
Twenty-four patients, who had been diagnosed by specialists as having nasal allergy and had not benefited from western medicine in terms of symptomm relief, visited us for Kampo therapy and received Keishi-to plus Mao-saishin-bushi-to. of these, 21 patients improved, of these, eightpatients with other allergic disorders which had not responded to Kampo medicine mainly consisting of Sho-seiryu-to did improve markedly with the above combination. We herein report their Kampo diagnosis and also make a comarison with Sho-seiryu-to.
ABSTRACT
The Chinese herbal medicine (_??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??__??_) suppressed the injury of intestinal mucosa in mice with excess zinc administrations. The increase of serum zinc concentration with excess zinc administrations was also inhibited by administrations of the Chinese herbal medicine.
ABSTRACT
The injury of intestinal mucosa of mice with zinc-deficiency was inhibited by the Chinese herbal medicine (_??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??_, _??__??__??_), while the concentration of serum zinc in zinc deficient mice was not increased after administrations of the Chinese herbal medicine.