ABSTRACT
<p><b>PURPOSE </b>: To create a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) to screen for excessive sensitivity to cold (ESC).<br><b>PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS </b>: Subjects were 99 women who visited a specialty outpatient clinic for ESC. The controls were 371 female nurses. A numerical rating scale (NRS ; from 0 indicating someone is asymptomatic to 10 indicating profound discomfort) was used to determine the extent of chills in both groups. ROC curves were created to distinguish ESC based on their score on the NRS. An ROC curve was created for each premenopausal and postmenopausal woman.<br><b>RESULTS </b>: The ESC group had a mean score on the NRS of 7.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] : 6.9 to 7.6) while normal subjects had a mean score of 4.0 (CI : 3.7 to 4.3). The ESC group had a significantly higher mean score on the NRS. When the cut-off point for the NRS was set at ≥5, it had 98% sensitivity and 54% specificity for distinguishing premenopausal ESC. Similarly, that cut-off point had 96% sensitivity and 67% specificity for distinguishing postmenopausal ESC.<br><b>CONCLUSION </b>: If an individual with chills has an NRS score of ≥5, that individual may be experiencing discomfort sufficient to warrant being seen by a medical facility. Using an NRS to assess chills should help to screen for ESC.</p>
ABSTRACT
[Objectives]We investigated the behaviour factors in Hiesho (excessive sensitivity to cold symptoms), a summary score of Health-related QOL (SF-8) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects who feel Hiesho (hereinafter referred to as Hiesho Subjects), in relation to sex, and showed the future direction of acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.<BR>[Methods]After approval by the Ethics Committee, we obtained written informed consent from the participants in this study. Participants were 753students in a vocational college. The study was performed with questionnaires, which were delivered by hand to the participants in September, 2008. We analyzed 629 subjects (538 males and 91 females, mean age of 27.4 ± 6.8) whose responses were valid. The questionnaire consisted of age, sex, height, weight, subjective Hiesho, 24 behaviour patterns of Hiesho according to a previous study, and Health-related QOL (SF-8, Japanese version). We used two summaries -physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) -which are derived from standard values (scores) in the nation on eight scales of SF-8 calculated using the special scoring software. Total scores of behaviour patterns of Hiesho subjects (HIE Scores) and summary scores and BMI in male and female subjects were statistically analyzed using covariance structure analysis technique in multiple populations (Amos Ver. 7).<BR>[Results]In our model, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Squares Error of Approximation were 1.00, 75.886 and 0.00, respectively, which showed a high degree of compatibility. We found the relations from Hiesho Scores to PCS (β=-0.175, p < 0.01) and MCS (β=-0.179, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.089, p=0.038) in male Hiesho subjects. In contrast, in female Hiesho subjects, there were relations from Hiesho scores to MCS (β=-0.601, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.244, p < 0.05).<BR>[Discussion]From the results of our investigation, Hiesho was considered not to be associated with Health-related QOL in male Hiesho subjects but to be associated with mental factors in female Hiesho subjects.<BR>[Conclusions]It was shown that we should consider the patient's sex in acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE : To determine risk factors for excessive sensitivity to cold (ESC) in relation to physical features.DESIGN : A prospective cohort study carried out between July 7 and November 14,2008.PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS : Seventy female junior college students with no ESC at baseline, and a median age of 20 years, participated. We used a numerical rating scale (NRS) to classify each ESC sensation over the five days in this July-November period.To confirm physical symptoms, we used Terasawa's diagnostic scores for ki, ketsu, and sui. We defined ESC as mean NRSgeq ≥ 5.RESULTS : We documented 17 participants with ESC in November. The multivariate adjusted odds ratio for ESC was11.6 (95% CI 1.9 to 97.5) for the physical characteristic “edema”. Participants with ESC were shorter in stature than participants without ESC (-5.9cm ; 95% CI -8.6 to -3.1).CONCLUSION : Participants with edema and short stature have a high risk for ESC.
ABSTRACT
Tokishakuyakusan has been used widely to treat various diseases including gynecological disorders. Currently, tokishakuyakusan is frequently used to treat female patients, while indications for use in male patients are unclear. Furthermore, there are few reports of male patients having been effectively treated with tokishakuyakusan or tokishakuyakusanryo. Here, we report four male patients successfully treated with tokishakuyakusanryo. Case 1 was an 84-year-old man who had uncontrolled nasal allergy, and treatment with tokishakuyakusanryo was effective in relieving the patient's allergy symptoms that were accompanied by chills and oketsu (blood stasis) findings. Case 2 was a 63-year-old man whose chief complaints were bronchial asthma, benign prostate hypertrophy, and nasal allergy. All his symptoms improved considerably with tokishakuyakusanryo and hangekobokuto, especially the symptoms of nasal allergy. Case 3 was a 70-year-old man whose chief complaint was persistent proteinuria. Tokishakuyakusanryo was prescribed, in consideration of his clinically observed condition, which included sensitivity to cold, blood stasis and fluid retention. His proteinuria disappeared four months later, along with his other complaints of chills, oketsu, and fluid retention. Case 4 was a 56-year-old man whose chief complaint was ulcerative colitis. He had responded well to treatment with ifuto, but he developed hypertension. His prescription was changed to tokishakuyakusanryo, a similar prescription that does not contain the Glycyrrhiza radix which can cause hypertension. Afterwards, his blood pressure decreased to normal levels and his abdominal symptoms remained stable. Nangai Yoshimasu published the opinion that tokishakuyakusan could be applied not only in female patients but also male patients. Additional reports on male cases would provide helpful information to clarify tokishakuyakusan indications in male patients.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b><br> We examined the effects of acupuncture electrotherapy in young women with hie symptoms (excessive sensitivity to cold), presented in conjunction with vasomotor dysfunction as determined by the postural change test.<br><b>Subjects and Methods</b><br> Subjects comprised 20 women (mean age, 20.6 years; range, 18-26 years) who exhibited symptoms of hie, evaluated as toe skin temperature after standing for 5 mins or a temperature difference between the right and left toes as compared to before standing. A stainless steel acupuncture needle (length, 40 mm; diameter, 0.2 mm) was inserted approximately 15 mm in SP6 (Shangqui). Acupuncture electrotherapy connected an acupuncture electrode to SP6 and a non-feeling electrode to lateral of the tibial tuberosity, and was undertaken at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 mins. Therapy was provided as a total of 5 sessions, with 1 session each week, and the postural change test was performed before and after therapy. Thermal images from the medial aspect of the foot to the tibial aspect of the lower leg were captured using a medical thermography device, and mean skin temperature was calculated in selected regions of the toes, metatarsals, ankle, and tibial aspect of the lower leg. Therapy was evaluated using a questionnaire with two originally designed scales: a categorical scale of 14 symptoms including hie; and degree of hie on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Subjects completed the questionnaire every day during a period from 1 week before therapy sessions began until 1 week after completion of all 5 sessions. Scores for hie symptoms were calculated as mean values from the total score of the 14 symptoms and VAS each week. Changes in health-related quality of life with acupuncture were evaluated using the SF-8 Standard Edition.<br><b>Results</b><br> Toe skin temperature just after standing was not significantly increased by therapy as compared to before standing. Skin temperature on the tibial aspect of the lower leg 20 mins after standing was significantly increased as compared to the adaptation period. In terms of hie, VAS and SF-8, no significant changes were seen before and after therapy, but total score for the 14 symptoms decreased significantly.<br><b>Conclusions</b><br> Acupuncture electrotherapy to SP 6 did not appear to exacerbate hie symptoms after reductions in air temperature, while normalizing the postural vascular reflex and improving hie-related symptoms.
ABSTRACT
We examined the complaints of adult patients with ‘weak’ sho symptoms using their first-visit medical questionnaires. Our subjects were 39 patients (3 males and 36 females) who fatigued easily, and who had a weak constitution with stress and the changing of seasons.Over 60% of these ‘weak’ patients complained of excessive sensitivity to cold. The majority had stiff shoulders, a stiff neck, low back pain, sleeplessness, headache, fatigue of the eyes and vertigo. Their gastrointestinal constitutions were poor because of over eating.Although we understood many of the complains these ‘weak’ patients had through their medical questionnaires, their chief complaints were various. We hope these results are useful in understanding treatments for patients with ‘weak’ sho.
Subject(s)
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersABSTRACT
We examined the complaints of adult patients with ‘weak’ <I>sho</I> symptoms using their first-visit medical questionnaires. Our subjects were 39 patients (3 males and 36 females) who fatigued easily, and who had a weak constitution with stress and the changing of seasons.<BR>Over 60% of these ‘weak’ patients complained of excessive sensitivity to cold. The majority had stiff shoulders, a stiff neck, low back pain, sleeplessness, headache, fatigue of the eyes and vertigo. Their gastrointestinal constitutions were poor because of over eating.<BR>Although we understood many of the complains these ‘weak’ patients had through their medical questionnaires, their chief complaints were various. We hope these results are useful in understanding treatments for patients with ‘weak’ <I>sho</I>.