Comparison of the Benefit Feeling Rate Based on the Sho of OTC Kakkonto, Cold Remedy and Cold Remedy with Kakkonto Combination Product.

Kakkonto (KK), a traditional Japanese Kampo formulation for cold and flu, is generally sold as an OTC pharmaceuticals used for self-medication. Kampo formulations should be used according to the Sho-symptoms of Kampo medicine. These symptoms refer to the subjective symptoms themselves. Although with OTC pharmaceuticals, this is often not the case. We surveyed the relationship of agreement of Sho with the benefit feeling rate (BFR) of patients who took KK (n=555), cold remedies with KK (CK, n=315), and general cold remedies (GC, n=539) using internet research. BFR of a faster recovery was greater in participants who took the medication early and who had confidence in their physical strength in all treatment groups. BFR was significantly higher in the GC group than in the KK group for patients with headache, runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing, and cough. BFR was also significantly higher in the GC group than in the CK group for headache (males) and cough (females). BFR was the highest in the KK group for stiff shoulders. All cold remedies were more effective when taken early, and the larger the number of Sho that a patient had, the greater the BFR increased. Therefore, a cold remedy is expected to be most effective when there are many cold symptoms and when it is taken at an early stage of the common cold.

The inhibitory effect of kakkonto, Japanese traditional (kampo) medicine, on brain penetration of oseltamivir carboxylate in mice with reduced blood-brain barrier function.

Oseltamivir phosphate (OP) is used to treat influenza virus infections. However, its use may result in central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects. In Japan, OP is used with Kampo formulations to improve clinical effectiveness. We evaluated the potential for using Kampo formulations to reduce CNS adverse effects by quantifying the CNS distribution of oseltamivir and its active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) when administered with maoto and kakkonto. We administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by intraperitoneal injection to C57BL/6 mice to reduce blood-brain barrier function. Saline, maoto, and kakkonto were administered orally at the same time as LPS. OP was orally administered 4 hours after the last LPS injection and the migration of oseltamivir and OC was examined. Additionally, we examined the brain distribution of OC following intravenous administration. Changes in OC concentrations in the brain suggest that, in comparison to LPS-treated control mice, both Kampo formulations increased plasma levels of OC, thereby enhancing its therapeutic effect. Additionally, our findings suggest kakkonto may not only improve the therapeutic effect of oseltamivir but also reduce the risk of CNS-based adverse effects. Considering these findings, it should be noted that administration of kakkonto during periods of inflammation has led to increased OAT3 expression.

Analysis of body constitution of fifty-two patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) using Kampo Medical Questionnaires: prediction of SJS based on body constitution using decision tree.

UNLABELLED: Reports have indicated a relationship between adverse drug reaction (ADR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) polymorphism and a relationship between Body Constitution (BC) and HLA polymorphism. Thus, a relationship between ADR and BC is suggested. We therefore created a questionnaire (hereinafter "Questionnaire") to survey the typical BC of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) patients to determine how they differ from healthy persons, and studied the relationship between the development of SJS and BC. The Questionnaire had 30 typical items selected from those relevant to the BC necessary for the diagnosis and therapy of Sho-syndrome in Kampo Medicine. In the comparison of the prevalence of BCs between SJS patients and control persons, the prevalence of three BCs in the SJS group was significantly higher than that in the control group: 1) Does your throat ever feel closed up? ANSWER: Yes, 2) Do you easily feel hot flashes or burning cheeks even though your hands and feet feel cold? ANSWER: Yes, and 3) Do your lips or gums look dull red? ANSWER: Yes. In the analysis using the decision tree, the concentrated group of SJS patients (eighty-fold) was extracted using two decision trees consisting of 3 index variables. Persons with BCs from any of 1) to 3) are suggested to be at high risk of developing SJS.