Pharmacological evaluation of Shokyo and Kankyo (1).

Zingiberis Rhizoma (Shokyo, [Japanese characters: see text]) showed significant ameliorative effect on the BaCl2-induced delay of gastric emptying in rat. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aqueous extract of Shokyo resulted in isolation of 6-gingesulfonic acid (1) and shogasulfonic acid A (3). These compounds significantly improved the delay of gastric emptying on both BaCl2-induced and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA)-induced model in rat.

The herbal medicine Dai-kenchu-to and one of its active components [6]-shogaol increase intestinal blood flow in rats.

The present study investigated the effects of the herbal medicine Dai-kenchu-to (DKCT) and its 4 individual ingredients on intestinal blood flow (IBF) in rats by laser Doppler flowmetry. Intraduodenal administration of DKCT (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) increased IBF in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the mean arterial blood pressure was not affected. One of the ingredients in DKCT is dried ginger rhizome (150 mg/kg), whose main component is [6]-shogaol (2 mg/kg), both of which showed similar effects to those shown by DKCT, while the other ingredients in DKCT only slightly increased IBF or had no effect.

Dai-kenchu-to enhances accelerated small intestinal movement.

The present study was conducted to clarify the effects of Dai-kenchu-to on accelerated small intestinal movement. We evaluated the effects of Dai-kenchu-to and its constituent herbs (dried ginger root, ginseng, zanthoxylum fruit, and malt sugar) on carbachol-accelerated mouse small intestinal transit, and contractions induced by low-frequency electrostimulation (ESC), KCl, or acetylcholine (ACh) using isolated guinea pig ileum. Dai-kenchu-to (10-300 mg/kg, p.

[The influence of septal perforation on measurement by acoustic rhinometry].

The influence of septal perforation on results of acoustic rhinometry was studied using cases of septal perforation and a human-nose model. Acoustic rhinometry was conducted before and after closing the perforation (average 16 mm in diameter, 23 mm from the nostril) by thin cotton patches in 33 cases (19 men and 14 women). The decrease in cross-sectional area and volume after closure was statistically significant.

Correlation between cell death and induction of non-rejoining PCC breaks by carbon-ion beams.

We have shown a correlation between cell death and induction of non-rejoining chromatin breaks in two normal human cells and three human tumor cell lines irradiated by carbon-ion beams and X rays. Non-rejoining chromatin breaks were measured by counting the number of remaining chromatin fragments detected by the premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique. Carbon-ion beams were accelerated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC).

Residual chromatin breaks as biodosimetry for cell killing by carbon ions.

We have studied the relationship between cell killing and the induction of residual chromatin breaks on various human cell lines and primary cultured cells obtained by biopsy from patients irradiated with either X-rays or heavy-ion beams to identify potential bio-marker of radiosensitivity for radiation-induced cell killing. The carbon-ion beams were accelerated with the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC). Six primary cultures obtained by biopsy from 6 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were irradiated with two different mono-LET beams (LET = 13 keV/micrometer, 76 keV/micrometer) and 200kV X rays.

[Anterior turbinectomy: experimental and clinical study].

Introduction: Minimal cross-sectional areas situated at the anterior end of the inferior turbinate have the most influence on nasal patency. To improve persistent nasal obstruction, 2 types of inferior turbinectomies--conventional complete resection including the anterior and posterior mucosa and anterior resection of the anterior mucosa--were conducted and preoperative and postoperative nasal patency and stuffy sensation were compared and analyze.

Objects And Methods: Cases undergoing 2 types of turbinectomies between July 1997 and March 2000 numbered 63--conventional in 32 (64 sides) and anterior in 31 (62 sides).

Effects of Dai-kenchu-to, a herbal medicine, on uterine and intestinal motility.

The effects of both Dai-kenchu-to and PGF(2alpha) on intestinal and uterine motility were studied in anaesthetized rabbits with force transducers implanted in the jejunum, ileum and uterus. A single intraduodenal administration of Dai-kenchu-to (300 mg/kg) enhanced the intestinal motility but not the uterine motility. However, intravenous administration of PGF(2alpha) (20 microg/kg) enhanced both intestinal and uterine motility.

Modulatory effect of aliphatic acid amides from Zanthoxylum piperitum on isolated gastrointestinal tract.

beta-Sanshool and gamma-sanshool, unsaturated aliphatic acid amides isolated from the pericarpium of Zanthoxylum piperitum De Candolle (Rutaceae), relax the circular muscle of the gastric body, as well as contract the longitudinal muscle of the ileum and distal colon in an experimental system using the gastrointestinal tract isolated from a guinea pig.

Mechanisms for contractile effect of Dai-kenchu-to in isolated guinea pig ileum.

The mechanisms by which Dai-kenchu-to (TJ-100), a kampo medicine, enhances gastrointestinal motility was investigated using isolated guinea pig ileum. TJ-100 induced contractions accompanied by autonomous contraction at a concentration of more than 3 x 10(-4) g/ml in a dose-related manner. The TJ-100-induced ileal contraction was suppressed by atropine and tetrodotoxin, but not by hexamethonium.

[Evaluation of nasal valve by CT imaging].

Unlabelled: The nasal valve was studied using coronal scans by computed tomography (CT).

Subjects: Coronal images were 5 mm thick obtained from 133 subjects 93 men and 40 women averaging 46 years of age.

Methods: The valvular area was studied in 2 slices containing nasal valve, anterior and posterior slices 5 mm apart.

[Nasal foreign bodies in 299 cases].

Although nasal foreign bodies very commonplace in daily clinical practice, their simplicity in pathology and diagnosis is so unique that case reports based upon a large number have been rather scarce. We report 299 verified cases of nasal foreign bodies seen during the past 13 years from January 1986 to December 1998, at our institute, together with clinical and statistical analysis. The total number of first visits during the surveyed period was 55,312 and nasal foreign bodies comprised 0.

[Nose bleeds and nitric oxide in the nose].

Most of the nitric oxide (NO) in expiratory air is produced by the nose and its accessory sinuses, and nasal allergies related to NO have been often reported. In the present study, we postulated that nose bleeds may be somehow related to reactive oxygen species. The expression of NO synthase (NOS) by the nasal mucosa was evaluated using the RT-PCR method, and the concentration of NO in air expired through the nose was measured.

[A study on the mechanism of enhanced diuresis following direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber].

In the present study, we applied direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber(PMX-DHP) to patients who developed endotoxin shock after laparotomy, and examined the influence of PMX-DHP on the kidney function. Seven patients were enrolled in this study, whose conditions were matched to the following criteria: 1) endotoxin shock was highly suspected, 2) blood pressure became stable before PMX-DHP was indicated, 3) renal function(demonstrated with creatinine clearance(CCr) and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa)) was proven before the surgery. All patients underwent emergency surgery in Fuji City General Hospital because of perforative peritonitis.

Correlation between cell killing and residual chromatin breaks measured by PCC in six human cell lines irradiated with different radiation types.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between cell killing and residual chromatin breaks after irradiation with qualitatively different types of radiation in six human cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Six human tumour cell lines and normal human cells were irradiated with 200 kV X-rays and two carbon-ion beams accelerated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) differing in LET. At the sample position the carbon-ion beams had LET infinity values of 13.

Change in radiosensitivity with fractionated-dose irradiation of carbon-ion beams in five different human cell lines.

Purpose: To investigate the change in the surviving fractions by fractionated-dose irradiations with carbon ions, based on the recovery of potentially lethal damage (PLDR) and the change of radiosensitivity by every fractionated-dose irradiation.

Methods And Materials: One normal human and four human-tumor cell lines were used. Cells were irradiated with carbon ions accelerated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan.

Relative biological effectiveness for cell-killing effect on various human cell lines irradiated with heavy-ion medical accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) carbon-ion beams.

Purpose: To clarify the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values of various human cell lines for carbon-ion beams with 2 different linear energy transfer (LET) beams and to investigate the relationship between the cell-killing effect and the biophysical characters, such as the chromosome number and the area of the cell nucleus, using qualitatively different kinds of radiations.

Methods And Materials: Sixteen different human cell lines were irradiated with carbon-ion beams, having 2 different LET values (LET(infinity) = 13.3 and approximately 77 keV/microm), accelerated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan.

Significant increase in prostaglandin E-main urinary metabolite by laxative administration: comparison with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To assess the production of prostaglandin E(2), an important chemical mediator in diarrhea induced by laxative administration, a prostaglandin E-main urinary metabolite (7alpha-hydroxy-5,11-diketotetranor-prosta-1,16-dioic acid, PGE-MUM) was measured in healthy volunteers and compared with the values of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: PGE-MUM was determined by a simplified immunoassay of bicyclic PGE-MUM and analyzed for the influence of laxative administration and active/remission phases of ulcerative colitis.

Results: Administration of laxatives induced a significant increase in PGE-MUM in healthy volunteers.

Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang, a kampo medicine, promotes adaptive relaxation in isolated guinea pig stomachs.

Some patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia present impaired reservoir functions such as gastric adaptive relaxation. A traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang, has been identified as an effective drug against dyspeptic symptoms and is widely used for therapy in such patients. In this study, we examined the effects of this drug on the gastric adaptive relaxation in isolated guinea pig stomachs.

Chromosome breakage and cell lethality in human hepatoma cells irradiated with X rays and carbon-ion beams.

Prediction of radiosensitivity would be valuable for heavy-ion radiotherapy. Premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique has been a potential predictive assay in photon radiotherapy, but has not been investigated for hepatomas receiving heavy ions. Two human hepatoma cell lines, i.

Relationship between the antidiarrhoeal effects of Hange-Shashin-To and its active components.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between the antidiarrhoeal effects of Hange-Shashin-To (TJ-14) and its active components. Oral treatment with TJ-14 at 1000 mg/kg significantly inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhoea. Both the 50% methanol eluate fraction (fraction III) and the methanol eluate fraction (fraction IV) showed antidiarrhoeal effects at oral doses of 68 mg/kg and 63 mg/kg, respectively, corresponding to 1000 mg/kg of TJ-14.

Pharmacological studies of the effect of Dai-kenchu-to on spontaneous contraction of isolated rabbit jejunum.

We studied the effects of Dai-kenchu to on the spontaneous contraction in isolated rabbit jejunum. Dai-kenchu-to (10(-3) g/ml) increased jejunal contraction, such as phasic like contraction and contractile amplitude. Zanthoxyli Fructus (2x10(-4) g/ml) exhibited an action identical to that of Dai-kenchu-to.

Effects of Dai-kenchu-to on intestinal obstruction following laparotomy.

To confirm the usefulness of Dai-kenchu-to for intestinal obstruction, investigation of the effects of Dai-kenchu-to on postoperative intestinal adhesion was conducted. Repeated administrations of Dai-kenchu-to (100 or 300 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the formation of intestinal obstruction. Motor disturbance and inflammation are thought to be involved in the etiology of intestinal adhesion.

[A clinical treatise upon the nasal septal perforation].

Thirty nine cases of septal perforation of various origins were presented using clinical such as backgrounds age, gender, possible causes, and size of septal perforation evaluated by diameter. The cases included 26 males and 13 females with a mean age of 35 years range: 8 to 85 years. Possible causative factors were as follows: septal surgeries (9), other nasal and paranasal surgeries (17), nasal cautery or tamponade (2), occupational (2), collagen disease (2), inflammatory (1) and idiopathic (5).

Effect of Saiboku-to, an Oriental Herbal Medicine, on gastric lesion induced by restraint water-immersion stress or by ethanol treatment.

The effect of saiboku-to on gastric lesions induced by restraint water-immersion stress and ethanol has been examined in rats. Thirty minutes after oral administration of saiboku-to, the rats were placed in restraint cages and immersed in water at 23 degrees C for 7 h, or orally administered 99.5% ethanol (1 mL) and placed in normal cages for 1 h.