Positive Effects of Uyakujunkisan Therapy (Kampo Medicine) for Postherpetic Neuralgia With Concomitant Pregabalin: Two Case Reports With a Literature Review.

Context • The hallmark of herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful, blistering rash, but neuropathic pain can persist beyond the clearing of the rash and is diagnosed as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic pain syndrome. However, the pain in PHN is often refractory to treatment. Objective • The study investigated the ability of Uyakujunkisan (UJS), or Kampo medicine, a traditional herbal medicine, to treat PHN successfully.

Immunoglobulin G4-Related Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Treated with Hochuekkito, a Kampo Medicine, following Steroid Treatment.

We report a case of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF) with complete remission and no relapses after therapy with steroids and Hochuekkito, a Kampo (i.e. traditional Japanese herbal) medicine.

Investigation of clinical characteristics as predictive factors for the humoral immune response to the influenza vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this observational study is to determine characteristics as predictive factors for the humoral immune response to the influenza vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifty-seven RA patients who visited our department between 2011 and 2012 were recruited for the present study. The anti-influenza antibody titers of a trivalent influenza subunit vaccine (A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like strain (A/H1N1 strain), A/Victoria/210/2009 (H3N2)-like strain (A/H3N2 strain), and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like strain (B strain)) were measured at baseline and 4 weeks after the vaccination using the hemagglutination inhibition assay.

The long-term effects of a kampo medicine, juzentaihoto, on maintenance of antibody titer in elderly people after influenza vaccination.

We have performed a broad-ranging analysis of the adjuvant effect of a Kampo medicine, juzentaihoto (JTT), on influenza vaccination in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. In this study, the enhancing effect of JTT on antibody titer after influenza vaccination was studied for 28 weeks in elderly people who were in the high-risk group for influenza infection. In total, 91 subjects over 65 years old were recruited from four long-term-care facilities located in Chiba, Gunma, and Toyama prefectures in Japan.

Recent clinical applications of Japanese oriental (Kampo) medicine for rheumatoid arthritis: search for Kampo responder.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease. In rheumatology, researchers have not identified useful clinical markers to predict the effects of biological agents or of nonbiological, antirheumatic drugs before administration. Since the advent of biological agents, therapeutic strategies for RA have focused on early detection and early intensive treatment.

Benzofuran derivatives inhibit 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in rat adipose tissue.

Excess glucocorticoids promote visceral obesity and insulin resistance. The main regulator of intracellular glucocorticoid levels are 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), which converts inactive glucocorticoid into bioactive glucocorticoid such as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents; therefore, the inhibition of 11β-HSD1 has considerable therapeutic potential for metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes. Benzofuran is a key structure in many biologically active compounds such as benzbromarone, malibatol A and (+)-liphagal.

The observation of humoral responses after influenza vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Japanese oriental (kampo) medicine: an observational study.

Objective. The efficacy of influenza vaccination in patients treated with Japanese Oriental (Kampo) Medicine is unknown. The objectives of this study were to observe the efficacy of influenza vaccination in RA patients treated with Kampo.

Effect of kampo medicine on pain and range of motion of osteoarthritis of the hip accompanied by acetabular dysplasia: case report and literature review.

We report a 52-year-old female with end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip accompanied by acetabular dysplasia in whom quality of life (QOL) was improved by Kampo treatment.When she was 42 years old, she developed pain in the left hip joint, and early-stage OA of the hip was diagnosed by hip joint x-ray. Therefore, she took NSAIDs, and received conservative therapies such as diet and muscle training.

Edematous erythema at the hands and feet probably caused by the traditional herb "radix astragali".

Objective: To describe a patient with erhythema and edema after Radix Astragali was added to a kampo formula.

Case Summary: A 21-year-old male, who was diagnosed as having atopic dermatitis in 1989, demonstrated systemic dry eruptions and consulted our department for treatment with traditional herbal medicine (THM) in 2004. The oral administration of herbal medicine resulted in decreased symptoms as well as a reduction in the serum IgE level.

Traditional herbal medicines (Kampo) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving concomitant methotrexate: a preliminary study.

Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of traditional herbal medicines (THM: Kampo) used in combination with oral methotrexate (MTX) in order to control the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients whose disease remains active despite treatment with MTX.

Methods: Patients (n=13; male:female = l:12) with RA who achieved only a suboptimal response to MTX therapy (> or =6 mg/week and > or =6 months) were enrolled in this assessment. All patients were treated with Keishinieppiittokaryojutsubu (KER; decoction) according to the traditional diagnostic system.

Four cases of dysthymic disorder and general malaise successfully treated with traditional herbal (kampo) medicines: kamiuntanto.

Traditional herbal (Kampo) medicines have been used since ancient times to treat patients with mental disorders. In the present report, we describe four patients with dysthymia successfully treated with Kampo medicines: Kamiuntanto (KUT). These four patients fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for dysthymic disorder with easy fatigability and sleeplessness, but did not fulfill the criteria for major depressive disorder.

Serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies are associated with a beneficial response to traditional herbal medicine (Kampo) in rheumatoid arthritis.

This study investigated the usefulness of biomarkers indicating beneficial response to traditional herbal medicine (THM) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed 34 RA patients who received keishinieppiittokaryojutsubu (KER), one of the representative THM. The observational term was 12 months, and we calculated the disease activity score of 28 joints every 3 months and evaluated the response to KER using European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria.

Pueraria mirifica phytoestrogens improve dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women probably by activating estrogen receptor subtypes.

Impaired lipid metabolism is an important health problem in postmenopausal women with insufficient estrogens, because dyslipidemia is a risk factor for development of atherosclerosis and the incidence of cardiovascular disease markedly increases after menopause. Pueraria mirifica (PM), a Thai herb, has been noticed as a source of phytoestrogens, estrogen-mimicking plant compounds. However, the clinical effects of PM on lipid metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain undetermined.

The effect of traditional herbal medicines; Uyakujunkisan on trigeminal neuralgia in an elderly patient--a case report and literature review.

This report describes the successful treatment of a 72-year-old female with refractory trigeminal neuralgia using a traditional herbal medicine, Uyakujunkisan (UJS). The case report is of a 65-year-old female who developed right-sided trigeminal neuralgia that was partially responsive to carbamazepine (CZ). The pain gradually increased in intensity and at 72 years of age she presented for herbal medicine therapy.

Efficacy of Nyoshinsan/TJ-67, a traditional herbal medicine, for menopausal symtoms following surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for premenopausal breast cancer.

We report a 39-year-old woman with premenopausal breast cancer who developed estrogen-deficiency symptoms associated with chemotherapy-related amenorrhea, and was successfully treated with Nyoshinsan/TJ-67, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine (Kampo). Six other breast cancer survivors with menopausal symptoms were also treated with Nyoshinsan/TJ-67, and five of the six patients showed noticeable improvement without adverse effects. Managing estrogen-deficiency symptoms in breast cancer survivors is still problematic, and Nyoshinsan/TJ-67 may be a useful and safe agent for such symptoms in these patients.

[Quality evaluation of magnesium oxide tablets using acid neutralization test and dissolution test].

For the purpose of quality evaluation of commercially available magnesium oxide (MgO) tablets, we studied their acid neutralization and dissolution behaviors. The dissolution test was carried out by the paddle method in 1st fluid (pH 1.2).

[Effects of copper supplementation on lipid profiles in elderly patients with copper deficiency].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of copper supplementation on lipid profiles in elderly patients with copper deficiency.

Methods: Nine long-term bed-ridden, patients (5 men and 4 women, mean age 83.3+/-8.

No correlation exists between disease activity and the expression of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The genes for killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) have been cloned and their functions and expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been partially clarified. However, the correlation between their expression and disease activity has not been analyzed in patients with RA. Thus, we measured KIR expression on lymphocytes in patients with RA, and assessed the correlation between KIR expression and disease activity.

Insights to clinical use of serial determination in titers of cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody is a useful marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, clinical significance of follow-up in anti-CCP antibody titer has been pointed out. Thus, we investigated the serial determination in anti-CCP antibodies titer in RA patients.

Population of CD40L-expressing cells was slightly but not significantly decreased in lymphoid tissues of collagen-induced arthritic mice treated with Hochu-Ekki-To.

Objective: To clarify the mechanism of the action of Hochu-Ekki-To (HET) on collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) mice by analyzing the CD40L-expressing cells population.

Methods: CIA was induced in male DBA/1J mice by immunization with two injections of bovine type II collagen (CII). HET or water was orally administered.

Beneficial effect of complementary alternative medicine on lymphedema with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lymphedema of the limbs can be an added complication in a small number of rheumatoid arthritis cases, becoming a long-standing problem even when there is good control of inflammatory joint disease. In the present article, we describe a patient with RA who developed lymph-edema of the forearms successfully treated with TJ-48 (Juzentaihoto) as a complementary alternative medicine (CAM). This kind of edema does not seem to show any consistent relationship with the severity of arthritis in the literature surveyed.

[Relationships among urine pH, serum uric acid and pyuria in hospitalized elderly patients].

To identify risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) in geriatric patients, the levels of serum uric acid, serum creatinine, and urine pH were compared between pyuria-positive and -negative patients in a geriatric ward. The level of serum uric acid was higher with lower urine pH level in the pyuria-negative patients than in positive patients. The level of serum creatinine was relatively higher in the pyuria-negative patients than in the positive patients.