Published papers

【目的】偽アルドステロン症発症にはMultidrug Resistance Protein 2 (Mrp2)の機能低下が示唆されている。我々の先行研究ではMrp2の機能低下の指標を直接ビリルビン(D-Bil)高値、偽アルドステロン症発症の指標を低カリウム(K)血症とし、グリチルリチン(GL)含有製剤使用患者(曝露群)におけるこれらの関係性を症例対象研究で示した。今回GL含有製剤未使用患者(対照群)を対象に含め、先行研究では検証できなかった他の因子について検討を行ったので報告する。

【目的】人参養栄湯は、がん患者や高齢者への効果を期待した研究が多く、特に婦人科がん患者の抗がん剤治療による骨髄抑制の軽減効果を検討した研究が多い。今回我々は、実臨床における人参養栄湯の使用実態を明らかにするために、当院における婦人科がん患者を中心とした人参養栄湯の使用について調査した。

目的：当院漢方医学センターでは、患者の年齢・性別、問診情報、医師の診察結果と漢方処方のデータベースを作成し、解析を進めている。今回、月経困難症患者の特徴と漢方処方の状況を明らかにし、漢方を専門としない医師が月経困難症患者に対して漢方薬を処方するための支援情報を得ることを目的として解析を行った。

Abstract Background: The pathogenesis of licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism is thought to involve the inhibition of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by glycyrrhetinic acid. Some risk factors have been reported, but differences between Japan and other countries have not been reported. Case Presentation: A 79-year-old woman was hospitalized because of pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis caused by ingestion of herbal medicines containing licorice. She had been prescribed shakuyakukanzobushito (decocted, 3 g of licorice) and keishikajutsubuto (decocted, 2 g of licorice) for the treatment of lower back pain and had been taking antihypertensive agents for the treatment of essential hypertension. After taking the herbal medicines for 2 weeks, the patient developed weakness of the extremities and pain in both thighs. On admission, she had hypertension, oliguria, an elevated serum creatine kinase level, hypokalemia, alkalemia associated with metabolic alkalosis, low plasma renin activity, and low plasma aldosterone levels. Intravenous and oral potassium supplementation and the administration of spironolactone resulted in the normalization of her condition within approximately 2 weeks. Discussion: An analysis of case reports of pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis revealed that in Japan, most cases occurred in elderly women with essential hypertension and were caused by drugs such as herbal medicines. In contrast, in other countries, many cases involved younger men, and the dominant causes were foods containing licorice. The use of herbal medicines is increasing all over the world, and when a patient with risk factors is prescribed an herbal medicine containing licorice, careful follow-up is required.

A cold sensation (hie) is common in Japanese women and is an important treatment target in Kampo medicine. Physicians diagnose patients as having hiesho (cold disorder) when hie disturbs their daily activity. However, differences between hie and hiesho in men and women are not well described. Hie can be of three types depending on body part where patients feel hie. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of patients with hie and hiesho by analyzing data from new patients seen at the Kampo Clinic at Keio University Hospital between 2008 and 2013. We collected information about patients' subjective symptoms and their severity using visual analogue scales. Of 4,016 new patients, 2,344 complained about hie and 524 of those were diagnosed with hiesho. Hie was most common in legs/feet and combined with hands or lower back, rather than the whole body. Almost 30% of patients with hie felt upper body heat symptoms like hot flushes. Cold sensation was stronger in hiesho than non-hiesho patients. Patients with hie had more complaints. Men with hiesho had the same distribution of hie and had symptoms similar to women. The results of our study may increase awareness of hiesho and help doctors treat hie and other symptoms.

Kampo medicine has been the primary medical model in Japan until the mid 1800s, regained a prominent role in today's Japanese medical system. Today, 148 herbal Kampo formulas can be prescribed under the national health insurance system, allowing physicians to integrate Kampo in their daily practice. This article aims to provide information about the extent to which Kampo is now used in clinics throughout Japan and about physician's current attitudes toward Kampo. We used the results of a 2008 survey that was administered to physicians throughout Japan (n = 684). The data showed that 83.5% of physicians currently use Kampo in the clinic, although the distribution of physicians who use Kampo differ widely depending on the specialty and provided a breakdown of Kampo usage by specialty. It will be interesting to see how each specialty incorporates Kampo into its respective field as Kampo continues to play a pertinent role in Japanese medical system.

© 2018 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society) Glycyrrhizin is used to treat chronic hepatitis, but it also plays an important role in pseudoaldosteronism. Multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 is important for glycyrrhizin excretion. Dysfunction of this transporter increases the serum levels of direct bilirubin, glycyrrhizin and its metabolites. Hence, elevated direct-bilirubin levels could predict the risk of pseudoaldosteronism. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between elevated direct-bilirubin levels and hypokalaemia, which is the most sensitive marker of pseudoaldosteronism. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a Japanese university hospital. The occurrence of hypokalaemia is defined as a serum potassium level of ≤3.5 mEq/L after the administration of a glycyrrhizin-containing medication, and a further decline of ≥0.5 mEq/L or an increase of ≥0.5 mEq/L after discontinuing the glycyrrhizin-containing medication was examined in patients with chronic hepatitis between January 2009 and December 2015. This analysis involved 1392 patients, including 596 women. Hepatitis C virus infections were the most common cause of chronic hepatitis in this study. Seventy-nine patients received glycyrrhizin (exposed group; mean age: 60.5 ± 14.2) and 1313 did not receive glycyrrhizin (control group; mean age: 58.3 ± 15.8 years). Synergistic effects of glycyrrhizin-containing medications and elevated direct-bilirubin levels were associated with hypokalaemia. Elevated direct-bilirubin levels and hypoalbuminaemia were associated with hypokalaemia in the exposed group. Older age, female sex, high daily glycyrrhizin dosage, longer duration of glycyrrhizin intake, and potassium-lowering medications were not associated with hypokalaemia after the model adjustment. Elevated direct-bilirubin levels and hypoalbuminaemia may predict pseudoaldosteronism caused by glycyrrhizin.

© 2019 The Author(s). Background: Influenza is a common viral infection worldwide. Maoto (ma-huang-tang) was developed in ancient China and is used to alleviate flu symptoms. Currently, no meta-analyses have evaluated the efficacy and safety of maoto for alleviating flu symptoms. Methods: In the present study, we searched MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, a Japanese database (Ichushi), two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP), and two Korean databases (Korean Medical database and Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors) for studies published in or before October 2017. Clinical studies that compared maoto plus neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) vs. NAIs alone, or maoto alone vs. NAIs alone, were included in the present analysis. The primary outcome measure (efficacy) was the length of time from the start of medication to resolution of influenza symptoms (fever, headache, malaise, myalgia, and chills) and virus isolation. The secondary outcome measures (safety) were as follows: (1) side effects and adverse reactions, such as nausea, abnormal behaviour, or discontinuation of symptomatic treatment; (2) morbidity (complications caused by influenza infection) or mortality; and (3) hospitalisation for any reason. Results: Twelve relevant studies were identified, including two randomised controlled trials (RCTs, N = 60) and ten non-randomised studies (NRSs, N = 1110). We found that maoto plus NAIs was superior to NAIs alone in terms of the duration of fever in one RCT (P < 0.05, median difference = - 6 h) and four NRSs (P = 0.003, weighted mean difference = - 5.34 h). The duration of symptoms or virus isolation did not differ between maoto and NAIs. No severe side effects or adverse reactions were reported related to maoto or NAIs. Conclusions: Although we could not reach a definitive conclusion because of the small sample sizes and high risk of bias in the analysed studies, maoto may lower the duration of fever when it is used alone or in combination with NAIs and may be a well-tolerated treatment. More RCTs are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of maoto.

An 83-year-old woman who resided in a nursing home presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting resulting in the diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus. She needed intermittent catheter reduction of the colonic air but no surgical intervention has been performed so far.

Aim: This study aims to assess the motivation, capability, and working environment of Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine (JTM) specialists and certified physicians affiliated with the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine regarding clinical research. Their awareness and perception of COVID-19 studies and their interest in clinical research based on traditional JTM diagnostic concepts are explored. Methods: An online survey was conducted between May 20 and June 30, 2024, using Google Forms, targeting 2146 Japan Society for Oriental Medicine-certified JTM specialists and physicians. The survey covered their awareness of and participation in COVID-19 research, barriers to research, and educational needs for clinical researcher training. Results: In total, 570 participants (26.6%) responded, 44.1% of whom had more than 15 years of certification experience. Approximately 50% were unaware of the COVID-19 studies, and participation rates were low. The most common barriers to conducting clinical research included lack of time (58.1%), funding (54.8%), and research personnel (51.1%). In terms of educational needs, 74.3% of respondents expressed a need for statistical analysis training, and nearly 90% felt clinical research education should occur within 10 years of obtaining their medical licenses. Conclusion: This study reveals gaps in awareness and participation in clinical research among JTM specialists. Many respondents expressed willingness to engage in research; however, barriers such as limited time, funding, and personnel remain critical challenges. Furthermore, the need for specialized educational programs was strongly emphasized. Addressing these issues is essential for promoting clinical research in JTM.