RESUMO
We studied the effect of Kampo for the size-limitation of myocardial infarct with morphometrical analysis, utilizing total of 19 male swine. A hand made metal-coil (2×1mm) was inserted in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of swine with catheterization, in order to induce acute myocardial infarction (AMI). After occurrence of AMI, the swine were divided into two groups, experimental group: Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (n=10) and control (n=9). This Kampo formula (0.66/kg/day) was administered via stomach tubes for 4 weeks. The control group received basal rations alone. After serial cross sections of heart, total infarct areas were weighed.<br>An infarct weight to heart weight of the experimental group (2.9±1.6%, n=10) was significantly decreased than that of the control group (8.2±4.8%, n=9). The infarct weight to left ventricular weight of the experimental group (4.9±2.6%) was significantly decreased than that of the control group (13.4±8.0%). Thus the infarct size of the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control. The histological character of the infarct in the control was numerous inflammatory cell infiltration and foci of fresh coagulate necrosis in the border zone, while the infarct of the experimental group was apparent in the border zone with marked fibrosis and few inflammatory cells. Angiogenesis in both the infarct and border zone was marked in the experimental group than in the control. We summarize that this Kampo formula inhibits size development of AMI in animal model.
RESUMO
[Objectives] Repeated episodes of anger are a risk factor for cardiac diseases such as ischemic heart disease and arrhythmia. In this context, controlling anger may ameliorate the severity of effective cardiac diseases. In traditional Chinese and/or Japanese (Kampo) medicine, anger is one of the five basic emotions and is related to the <i>liver</i>, and formulas coursing, clearing and calming the <i>liver</i> are thought to be able to control anger. Accordingly, it is possible that formulas targeted to the <i>liver</i> are useful for preventing and managing cardiac diseases. However, it has not been established how to use formulas that target the <i>liver</i> in modern cardiology. The objective of this study is to examine the usefulness and therapeutic implications of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (Chaff-Hu-Jia-Long-Gu-Du-Li-Tang) as a formula targeted to the <i>liver</i> in modern cardiology.<br>[Methods] We analyzed nine patients aged 44±13 years (mean±SD) who took Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to in our cardiological clinic. We examined the influence of selected formulas on the symptoms.<br>[Results and discussions] The total effectiveness of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to was 78%. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to improved symptoms such as palpitation, chest discomfort, cough and insomnia in patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, psychosomatic cough, hypertension and cardiac neurosis. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to also showed an anti-hypertensive effect, an anti-arrhythmic effect and an advantage over β-blockers in terms of its safety. These results suggest that Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to may be useful for treating and preventing cardiac diseases through its effects on palpitation and insomnia caused by emotional disturbances. We should therefore consider using Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to in cardiological clinics.
RESUMO
Most patients with taste disorders are usually treated with zinc, but there still remain many untreatable patients, including non-responders and those of advanced age. In this study, we report on three patients with hypogeusia who showed improvement after the administration of Kampo medicine. A 49-year-old female diagnosed with hypogeusia and hyposensation of the oral cavity responded to Oren-gedoku-to. A 43-year-old male diagnosed as having schizophrenia and hypogeusia and a 76-year-old female with idiopathic hypogeusia responded to Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to. Kampo medicines are considered to normalize zinc-related neuro-transmissions originating in the vallate taste buds. Furthermore, the curative effect of Oren-gedoku-to on inflammation-injured oral cavity membranes, and the psychotropic effect of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on improving hypogeusia, were shown in our patients. It should be noted that the recent increase in aged patients complaining of taste disorders might be related to aging-associated depression. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to or related Kampo formulations are considered to have wide applications for depressed or aged patients with hypogeusia.
RESUMO
The size of myocardial infarct has been proposed as one of the important prognosis factors. In this study, we examined the effect of Kampo for the size limitation of myocardial infarct. Twenty male swine were used. A metal-coil was inserted in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of swine, in order to induce acute myocardial infarction (AMI). After occurrence of AMI, the swine were divided into four groups: Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (TJ-12) group (n=5), Tokishakuyaku-san (TJ-23) group (n=5), Mokuboi to (TJ-36) group (n=5), and control group (n=5). Three kinds of Kampo formula were administrated via stomach tubes for four weeks. The control group received basal rations alone. The infarct size of the TJ-36 group was significantly smaller than that of the control (p<0.05). Each size of the TJ-12 and TJ-23 group had smaller tendency than that of the control, without significant difference. The histological character of the infarct in the control was numerous inflammatory cell infiltration and small foci of fresh coagulative necrosis in the border zone, which was not apparent in any Kampo administration group. We summarize that these Kampo, especially Moku-boi-to, inhibit the infarct size development. This inhibition is probably caused by suppression of harmful free radicals production from inflammatory cells, or by microcirculation improvement. This inhibitory effect by Kampo medicine led to rescue the border zone indicated as “jeopardized zone”.
RESUMO
Before the administration of conventional medicines, outpatients with indefinite complaints answered 51 questions (six mental categories) from the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and 43 questions (seven physical categories) from the Abe questionnaire for vegetative syndrome. The subjects of this study were 18 cases with CMI III-IV scores who were effectively treated with Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (n=9; SR group) or Kami-shoyo-san (n=9; KS group). In order to compare the clinical features of both groups, the average complaint rates responding to the mental and physical categories were evaluated in each group.<br>Psychologically, the average complaint rates related to depression and tension were high in the SR group, and the average complaint rates related to hyper-sensitivity and anger were high in the KS group. Discriminant analysis revealed that three categories —tension, hyper-sensitivity and depression— contributed to a difference between the SR and KS groups. Physically, the average complaint rates responding to all of 7 categories of the SR group were not significantly different from those of the KS group.
RESUMO
Two cases of hyperthyroidism were treated with Kampo therapy alone, without the use of antithyroid drugs. The first case was a 47-year-old female who had been experiencing palpitations, weight loss, nervousness, tinnitus and vertigo for two years. She was diagnosed as having Graves'disease because of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and increases in free T3 (fT3), free T4 (fT4), TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII), and 24-hour thyroid radioactive iodine uptake (24-h RAIU). Shakanzo-to was given for palpitations and other symptoms. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to was later added in accordance with the Kampo diagnosis. After about one year and ten months, serum levels of TSH and fT3, fT4, and TBII are normalized.<br>The second case was a 40-year-old female, in whom palpitations had appeared about 3 years previously. Three months ago she was diagnosed as having hyperthyroidism. Thiamazole had been administered for two months. Serum TSH was decreased and fT3, fT4, TBII were increased when she first came to our clinic. Shakanzo-to was given for palpitations and other symptoms. After three weeks she refused to take thiamazole of her own accord. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to was given concomitantly in accordance with the Kampo diagnosis. The serum levels of fT3 and fT4 increased gradually, but the palpitations were reduced. After about 10 months, the fT3 and fT4 levels were observed to decrease. This suggests that some of the hyperthyroidism can be imprgved by Kampo therapy without antitnyroid drugs.
RESUMO
In Chinese medicine, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei -to (SRT; Chai-hu-jia-long-gu-mu-li-tang) and Saiko-keishi-kankyo-to (SKT; Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang) are frequently used for patients with nervous constitutions who exhibit psychoneurotic symptoms. Specifically, SRT is used for patients of the excessive constitution type (Shi Zheng), and SKT is used for patients of the deficient constitution type (Xu Zheng).<br>In this study, in order to clarify the action of SRT and SKT on the central nervous system, the effects of these formulas on the monoamines and their metabolism in discrete brain regions in mice were examined.<br>1) Single-dose administration of SRT and SKT increased the levels of neurotransmitters and stimulated the metabolism in the dopaminergic nervous system of the corpus striatum (including the serotonergic nervous system for SRT).<br>2) Repeated administration of SRT stimulated the metabolism in the dopaminergic nervous system of the hypothalamus and hippocampus, and inhibited metabolism in the adrenergic nervous system. On the other hand, SKT stimulated dopamine metabolism in the hippocampus and inhibited the metabolism of serotonin.<br>From these results, it became apparent that single-dose administration of SRT and SKT caused the hyperfunction of the dopaminergic nervous system, and that repeated administration of the agents caused the hyperfunction of the dopaminergic nervous system and the dysfunction of the serotonergic nervous system. This suggests that the actions of SRT and SKT on the central nervous systems may exert an influence on the regulation of psychoneuroic symptoms by stimulating the doperminergic nervous system and inhibiting the serotonergic nervous system.