The hematological effects of Sokeikakketsu-to, Yokuinin-to, Keisi-ka-jutsubsu-to, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, and Sairei-to observed on the AA rats were investigated. The time course of blood count and albumin, sialic acid and acid-soluble glycoprotein in the serum whs. were measured. Sokeikakketsu-to had the strongest anti-inflammatory effect on the improvement of Inflammatory Index Substances, platelets, and the Arthritis Score for changes in synovitis. Yokuinin-to was also effective. When these Kampo medicines were administered in the early stages of AA, Sokeikakketsu-to improved the AA signficantly. The results may suggest that Sokeikakketsu-to works for the control of autoimmunity. On the other hand, Keisi-ka-jutsubu-to aggravated the AA when it was administered in the early stages of the AA.

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The hypoglycemic effects of Fun-boi (Stephania Radix, SR), Boi (Sinomeni Cauli set Rhizoma, SCR) and Boi-Ogi-to (Fang-ji-huang-qi-tang, FJHQ) were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic ddY mice, a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus model. The STZ-diabetic mice were prepared by a bolus treatment with 150mg/kg STZ into a tail vein. Blood glucose levels of 14-hour-food-deprived mice were determined before, and 4 and 6 hours after, intraperitoneal administration of these drugs by the glucose oxidase method. SR and FJHQ containing SR (FJHQ-SR) significantly reduced blood glucose levels of STZ-diabetic mice. FJHQ-SR also reduced blood glucose levels of age-matched normal mice. However, SCR and FJHQ containing SCR (FJHQ-SCR) have a tendency to reduce blood glucose levels of STZ-mice. Glibenclamide, a positive control, had a greater antihyperglycemic action than FJHQ-SR, but the induction time of its action was delayed more than that of FJHQ-SR. These results demonstrated that FJHQ-SR improved the hyperglycemic state of the diabetic mice, providing an experimental basis for its use as a clinical treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus.

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Recovery of reduced physical strength is important for quality of life after surgery, especially in aged patients. In this report, we demonstrated the effect of Ninjin-youei-to (NIN) on prostatauxe after surgery, and also studied clinical effects of NIN by a traditional Chinese method to assess the patients.
Following this method, patients were classified as belonging to one of three groups (Sho) such as Kyo-sho (condition of deficiency, n=8) and Jitsu-sho (condition of excess, n=15). Patients were judged by the original score to determine the type of Sho. The score value was low in patients with Kyo-sho and high with Jitsu-sho. Total recovery rate from disorders was 70.6% after NIN-treatment, and the value of patients with Jitsu-sho was significantly higher than that of patients with Kyo-sho (P=0.049). The mid-value of scores after NIN-treatment was higher than the value at the start (P=0.002), particularly in the group of patients with Kyo-sho (P=0.039).
Additionally, the score to determine the type of Sho became higher after NIN-treatment in patients with improved scores for skin condition and sweat volume. These results indicate that NIN will be useful for patients with Kyo-sho who suffer from systemic wasting diseases.

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Thirty-three patients with complaints of idiopathic oligo-asthenozoospermia were treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Their symptom complexes were diagnosed from the states of qi and blood, the conditions of body fluid, and pathological changes of zan-fu organs by means of four traditional methods in Chinese medicine, i. e., inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and pulse-feeling and palpation. The patients were classified into Stagnation of the Liver-Qi (Kankiutsu-sho, 11 cases), Deficiency of Kidney (Jinkyosho, 5 cases), Deficiency of the Spleen-Qi (Hikikyo-sho, 9 cases), Phlegm-Dampness (Tanshitsu-sho, 5 cases), Damp-Heat (Shitsunetsu-sho, 3 cases).
The changes in target symptoms and signs, semen qualities, and serum hormones were compared before and after six months of treatment with the corresponding prescriptions. Seven successful pregnancies have been accomplished, with a pregnancy rate of 21.2%. Although no significant increases in sperm concentration and motility were recorded, most target symptoms and signs were improved, and the serum testosterone and estradiol were significantly decreased after treatment.

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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”.

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Bronchial asthma is now considered to be caused by airway hyper-responsiveness due to airway inflammation. Accordingly, inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation, have become the main treatment for this disorder. However, airway hyper-responsiveness would not improve in spite of using inhaled corticosteroids.
Kampo medicines such as Sho-seiryu-to, Makyo-Kanseki-to, Eppi-ka-hange-to, Shimpi-to and Saiboku-to are reported to be effective for bronchial asthma. However, it is still difficult to treat adult asthmatic patients by with these Kampo formulae.
We reported that Hachimi-jio-gan or Bakumi-jio-gan improved airway hyper-responsiveness and could reduce the doses of corticosteroids, or discontinue corticosteroids in four asthmatic patients. Case 1 is a patient induced by cold weather, Case 2 is a patient with hoarseness, Case 3 is a patient whose attacks are induced with exercise, and Case 4 is an intractable patient with recurrent pulmonary infection. These formulae consist of Rokumi-jio-gan, which is considered a basic prescription for moisturizing the dryness of airway mucosa and improving pulmonary function in Kampo medicine. These results suggest that moisture in airway mucosa following oral administration of these formulae is important to improve airway hyper-responsiveness.

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The authors report a case of secondary renal amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, which responded well to Kampo therapy. A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis in April 1992. Her disease activity was not controlled well with any anti-rheumatic drugs. In September 1996, proteinuria and hematuria were found, and a renal biopsy showed secondary amyloidosis. Proteinuria and hematuria were progressive. The patient was treated with Sairei-to, and by April 1998, proteinuria and hematuria nearly disappeared. This clinical course suggests that Sairei-to is an effective treatment for secondary renal amyloidosis.

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