Kampo Medicine Treatment for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Series.

Aims: The present report aims to investigate the use of Kampo medicine for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in order to prolong survival. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with pancreatic cancer who presented to our Shimizu Clinic from 2000 to 2020. Patients who survived at least twice as long as the initial prognostic estimate were selected and their treatment was reviewed. The Kampo formula and crude drugs were selected according to the Kampo diagnosis and treatment strategy, which included qi and blood supplementation; qi, blood and water smoothing; and inflammation (termed "heat") and cancer suppression. Results: Ten patients aged 45-80 years (six males and four females) with stage IV advanced cancer were selected. All patients received hozai, which is a tonic formula, of juzentaihoto (JTT) or hochuekkito (HET) decoction. Anti-cancer crude drugs were included in the decoctions of nine patients. At the first visit, the estimated life expectancy for all patients was no more than 1 year; however, treatment with Western and Kampo medicine led to a relatively long survival period of over 2 years. Three patients were still living at the time of this writing, more than 2, 6, and 14 years after treatment initiation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Kampo medicine may be useful for disease control and supportive care for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Retrospective study revealed that Zn relate to improvement of swallowing function in the older adults.

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential micronutrient for maintaining biological activity. The level of zinc in the blood is known to decrease with age, especially in those over 75 years of age. In older adults patients with impaired functional status, aspiration pneumonia based on dysphagia often becomes problematic. However, the relationship between zinc deficiency and swallowing function has not been studied before. METHODS: A total of 52 older adults subjects (15 males and 37 females) living in a nursing home were enrolled for this study. At the time of enrollment, data of gender, age, body weight, serum zinc levels, serum albumin levels, and the time in a simple 2-step swallowing provocation test (S-SPT) were collected. In patients with serum zinc levels < 60 µg/dL, we initiated 2 months of oral zinc supplementation therapy with a 34 mg/day zinc load. Those who underwent zinc supplementation were re-evaluated after the treatment period and serum zinc levels and S-SPT time were measured. RESULTS: At the time of enrollment, serum zinc level was significantly correlated with serum albumin levels (Pearson's R = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (Spearman's rho = - 0.32, p = 0.0219). Twenty-five of the 52 patients had zinc deficiency with a serum zinc level < 60 µg/dL. After 2 months of oral zinc supplementation, both serum zinc levels (p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (p = 0.04) significantly improved. Meanwhile, serum albumin level (p = 0.48) or body weight (p = 0.07) did not significantly change following zinc supplementation. Zinc supplementation significantly improved swallowing function, especially in the older adults who had comorbid dysphagia and zinc deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc deficiency is associated with compromised swallowing function in older adults patients with impaired general functions. Oral zinc supplementation can alleviate dysphagia in older adults patients with zinc deficiency even though this is a retrospective study. Further study will be needed to confirm this positive effect.

Integrative therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer using Kampo and western medicine: A case report.

A 45-year-old male patient diagnosed as stage IVa pancreatic cancer received anti-cancer treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During the treatment, he complained of nausea, appetite loss, and fatigue. He received a Kampo diagnosis of qi deficiency, blood stasis, and heat with phlegm; consequently, qi supplementation, smoothing blood, and relieving fever were initiated using Juzentaihoto and Keppuchikuoto. After this treatment, the symptoms showed remarkable improvement. However, computed tomography revealed multiple lung nodules. We prescribed crude drugs with anti-cancer effects, including Scutellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusa. These drugs led to slowed development of lung metastases that could be surgically resected. He survived for 7 years after the advanced diagnosis without loss of quality of life. Kampo medicine may be useful for disease control and supportive care in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.

Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto.

We herein report the case of a 14-year-old girl who had been experiencing chronic fatigue, febricula, and social withdrawal for 20 months. No notable abnormalities were identified during routine checkups at a general pediatric hospital; symptomatic treatments did not affect her condition. She was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Based on the concepts of Japanese traditional medicine, she was administered shosaikoto-based treatment. After several weeks of treatment, all of the symptoms had been dramatically alleviated, consequently resolving the issue of non-attendance at school. Shosaikoto-based medication may be a therapeutic option for treating ME/CFS in patients presenting with chronic febricula.