RESUMEN
We asked 50 ambulatory patients with cerebrovascular disease whether their sleep had been disturbed due to cramp in the calf while they were sleeping soundly at night. Their age ranged from 32 to 81 years. Eleven patients (22%) gave an affirmative answer, and eight of these answered that they had cramp from one to three times a week or more. These eight patients received Syakuyaku-kanzo-to extract granules (2.5g) daily for two weeks. Those who responded sufficiently remained on the same dose, and those who did not received double the dose for further two weeks before the efficacy was evaluated.<br>All five patients who were able to comply with the treatment for four weeks improved either markedly or slightly. The onset of its action was rapid. These results are comparable to those of muscle relaxants and minor tranquilizers and suggest that Syakuyaku-kanzo-to extract granules are beneficial for spasm of the calf in patients with cerebrovascular disease.<br>With regard to its side-effects, one patients who received the treatment for more than two weeks developed pseudoaldosteronism. This was the only negative point of the treatment, but this disappeared rapidly after treatment was discontinued.
RESUMEN
The changes of blood viscosity, clotting and fibrinolytic system after hot bathing at 42°C and 39°C were studied on old patients admitted to the hospital for more than one year because of cerebral thrombosis.<br>The following results were obtained.<br>1) The blood and plasma viscosity as well as hematocrit value increased markedly immediately after taking a bath at 42°C. On the other hand, they slightly decreased after bathing at 39°C. Partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin III, plasminogen, α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin and α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin were also elevated just after bathing at 42°C, though they showed no significant alteration after bathing at 39°C.<br>2) 30 minutes after bathing at 42°C, blood and plasma viscosity and hematocrit returned to the level before bathing, while they were reduced 30 minutes after bathing at 39°C. 30 minutes after bathing at 42°C, various examinations on clotting and fibrinolytic system described above returned to the range before bathing. Prolonged prothrombin time and reduced fibrinogen were observed 30 minutes after bathing at 39°C when compared to the condition before bathing or immediately after bathing. 30 minutes after bathing, α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin level was found to be lower than the level before bathing, but not different from the level just after bathing.<br>3) The effects of bathing at 39°C and 42°C on the hepaplastin test, fibrin or fibrinogen degradation products and plasma platelets were not recognized.<br>4) The changes of clotting and fibrinolytic system were prominent immediately after bathing and 30 minutes after bathing at 42°C. In contrast, such changes were slight and limited after bathing at 39°C.