Aromatherapies using Osmanthus fragrans oil and grapefruit oil are effective complementary treatments for anxious patients undergoing colonoscopy: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colonoscopy can be painful and uncomfortable. Aromatherapy is often used for the relief of anxiety or discomfort. Recently, it has been reported that olfactory stimulation induces various physiological effects. We investigated the effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and abdominal discomfort during colonoscopy. METHODS: The investigation was carried out using a randomized controlled study. Aromatherapy was performed by vapor diffusion, and each patient was given one of the following treatments: no inhalation (control group), essential-oil-less vapor (vehicle group), lavender oil (lavender group), grapefruit oil (grapefruit group), or Osmanthus fragrans oil (Osmanthus fragrans group). Following total colonoscopy procedures, each patient estimated their anxiety and abdominal discomfort using the Numeric Rating Scale. RESULTS: Total colonoscopy was performed on 361 patients. No complications caused by colonoscopy or aromatherapy were experienced. In the Osmanthus fragrans group, anxiety was significantly attenuated. The abdominal discomfort of patients who reported strong anxiety during colonoscopy was significantly attenuated in the grapefruit group and the Osmanthus fragrans group. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapies using Osmanthus fragrans oil and grapefruit oil are effective complementary treatments for anxious patients undergoing colonoscopy.

[A case of Sjögren syndrome with nifedipine-induced pneumonia].

A 54-year-old woman started to take nifedipine orally for hypertension on February 18, 2006. From April 10, 2007, fever, tachycardia and chest pain appeared. Chest radiography showed a consolidation shadow in the right upper lobe. Administration of antibiotics was started because bacterial pneumonia was suspected. After the administration of antibiotics, the condition of the patient was aggravated and the consolidation shadow in the chest radiograph increased. Consequently, she was hospitalized for examination. Transbronchial lung biopsy was carried out on April 27, 2008. Pathological analysis revealed organization and inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in alveoli. Eosinophils were increased in the bronchial washing fluid. After halting administration of all drugs, the fever was alleviated. Since nifedipine was positive in DLST, drug-induced pneumonia caused by nifedipine was diagnosed. Salivary-gland biopsy was carried out on May 25, 2008 on the suspicion of Sjögren syndrome, because she continued to complain of dryness in the mouth and eyes. The pathological findings were consistent with Sjögren syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of drug-induced pneumonia caused by nifedipine. Since the case was complicated with Sjögren syndrome, some immunological dysregulation might have been a factor. In cases of lung impairment caused by a drug, it is necessary to consider the possibility of a immunologic disorder.