Effects of a traditional herbal medicine on peripheral blood flow in women experiencing peripheral coldness: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, a traditional herbal medicine, Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TJ-38), is often used for the treatment of peripheral coldness, which is a common complaint among Japanese women. However, the effects of this herbal medicine have yet to be examined in a randomized controlled trial. In the current study, the effect of TJ-38 on the peripheral blood flow in women experiencing peripheral coldness was investigated using a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Fifty-eight women aged 23 to 79 years with peripheral coldness were randomly divided into the intervention or control group. They were examined using cold bathing tests, physical examinations, and questionnaires in January 2010 for the baseline and in March 2010 for the follow-up, and January 2011 and March 2011, respectively. RESULTS: At the baseline, there were no differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. In the intervention group, peripheral coldness improved after the intervention term; however, it persisted in the control group. Mean values of percentage recovery of the peripheral blood flow after cold bathing tests were 17.2% and -28.2% for the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.007), and the proportions for percentage recovery of >50% were 32% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.0007). Mean values of percent recovery of skin temperature did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present clinical trial supports that a traditional herbal medicine relieves peripheral coldness in women probably through the improvement of peripheral blood flow.

Visible and near-infrared spectra collected from the thumbs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is based on clinical symptoms and therefore relies on the experience and skill of the doctors. Here, we have examined the possible diagnosis of CFS based on spectral information and chemometrics analysis, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and soft modeling of class analogy (SIMCA). METHODS: Visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy was used to examine possible changes in the region of 600-1100 nm in thumbs and assessed. RESULTS: The Vis-NIR spectra of thumbs from 57 CFS patients and 74 healthy volunteers were subjected to PCA and SIMCA to develop multivariate models to discriminate between CFS patients and healthy individuals. The model was further assessed by the prediction of 120 determinations (60 in the healthy group and 60 in the CFS patient group). The PCA model predicted a discrimination of the masked samples; specifically the SIMCA model correctly predicted 51 of 60 (83.3%) healthy volunteers and 42 of 60 (70%) CFS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relatively small number of subjects involved in this trial, who were exclusively Japanese, our results imply that Vis-NIR spectroscopy of the thumb combined with chemometrics analysis may provide a valuable tool for diagnosing CFS.

Non-invasive prediction of hematocrit levels by portable visible and near-infrared spectrophotometer.

BACKGROUND: After blood donation, in some individuals having polycythemia, dehydration causes anemia. Although the hematocrit (Ht) level is closely related to anemia, the current method of measuring Ht is performed after blood drawing. Furthermore, the monitoring of Ht levels contributes to a healthy life. Therefore, a non-invasive test for Ht is warranted for the safe donation of blood and good quality of life. METHODS: A non-invasive procedure for the prediction of hematocrit levels was developed on the basis of a chemometric analysis of visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra of the thumbs using portable spectrophotometer. Transmittance spectra in the 600- to 1100-nm region from thumbs of Japanese volunteers were subjected to a partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis and leave-out cross-validation to develop chemometric models for predicting Ht levels. RESULTS: Ht levels of masked samples predicted by this model from Vis-NIR spectra provided a coefficient of determination in prediction of 0.6349 with a standard error of prediction of 3.704% and a detection limit in prediction of 17.14%, indicating that the model is applicable for normal and abnormal value in Ht level. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest portable Vis-NIR spectrophotometer to have potential for the non-invasive measurement of Ht levels with a combination of PLSR analysis.

A two-year follow-up study of chronic fatigue syndrome comorbid with psychiatric disorders.

AIMS: Chronic fatigue syndrome patients often have comorbid psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. However, the outcomes of chronic fatigue syndrome and the comorbid psychiatric disorders and the interactions between them are unknown. Therefore, a two-year prospective follow-up study was carried out on chronic fatigue syndrome patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A total of 155 patients who met the Japanese case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome were enrolled in this study. Comorbid psychiatric disorders were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria. Patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders received psychiatric treatment in addition to medical therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome. Seventy patients participated in a follow-up interview approximately 24 months later. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, 33 patients were diagnosed as having comorbid psychiatric disorders including 18 major depressive disorders. Sixteen patients with psychiatric disorders and eight patients with major depressive disorders did not fulfill the criteria of any psychiatric disorders at the follow up. As for chronic fatigue syndrome, nine out of the 70 patients had recovered at the follow up. There is no significant influence of comorbid psychiatric disorders on the outcome of chronic fatigue syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have a relatively high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders, especially major depressive disorders. The outcomes of chronic fatigue syndrome and psychiatric disorders are independent. Therefore treatment of comorbid psychiatric disorders is necessary in addition to the medical treatment given for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Visible and near-infrared spectral changes in the thumb of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients show a persistent fatigue condition with muscle pain and impairment of concentration, memory, and sleep. Presently, the physiological basis of CFS remains unclear. In this study, spectroscopic differences in the thumb were compared between 103 CFS patients and 122 healthy controls to examine possible changes of levels of oxygenated or deoxygenated hemoglobin. METHODS: Visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy was used to examine possible changes in the region of 600-1100 nm. RESULTS: Vis-NIR spectra showed sharp peaks at 694, 970 and 1060 nm and broad peaks in the regions of 740-760 and 830-850 nm. As these peaks are possibly related to oxyhemoglobin, cytochrome c oxidase and water, levels of these factors were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis of the absorbance of Vis-NIR spectra showed a significant decrease in water content, a significant increase in oxyhemoglobin content, and a significant increase in the oxidation of heme a+a(3) and copper in cytochrome c oxidase in CFS patients. CONCLUSIONS: These changes imply accelerated blood flow and energy metabolism in the thumbs of CFS patients.

Secondary structural changes of proteins in fingernails of chronic fatigue syndrome patients from Fourier-transform infrared spectra.

BACKGROUND: Generally, nails can be an index of health, with abnormalities sometimes found under diseased conditions. Fatigue is also supposed to affect the condition of nails. Possible differences in infrared (IR) spectra of nail plates of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients compared to healthy control subjects were investigated in this study. METHODS: Using an attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, spectra in the region of 4000-600 cm(-1) were obtained. The amide I region was then separated by Fourier deconvolution and curve fitting based on the Gauss and Lorentz formula and revealed differences in the secondary structural content of proteins compared to healthy donors. RESULTS: The specific secondary structural pattern commonly observed in nails of male and female CFS patients in the absence and presence of medication indicated a decreased alpha-helix content and increased beta-sheet content, suggesting reduced levels of normal elements of the nail plate. CONCLUSIONS: This provides the first evidence of alterations in the fingernails of CFS patients which could be detected by IR spectroscopy. Possible explanations for the alterations will be discussed.

Portable visible and near-infrared spectrophotometer for triglyceride measurements.

An affordable and portable machine is required for the practical use of visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy. A portable fruit tester comprising a Vis-NIR spectrophotometer was modified for use in the transmittance mode and employed to quantify triglyceride levels in serum in combination with a chemometric analysis. Transmittance spectra collected in the 600- to 1100-nm region were subjected to a partial least-squares regression analysis and leave-out cross-validation to develop a chemometrics model for predicting triglyceride concentrations in serum. The model yielded a coefficient of determination in cross-validation (R2VAL) of 0.7831 with a standard error of cross-validation (SECV) of 43.68 mg/dl. The detection limit of the model was 148.79 mg/dl. Furthermore, masked samples predicted by the model yielded a coefficient of determination in prediction (R2PRED) of 0.6856 with a standard error of prediction (SEP) and detection limit of 61.54 and 159.38 mg/dl, respectively. The portable Vis-NIR spectrophotometer may prove convenient for the measurement of triglyceride concentrations in serum, although before practical use there remain obstacles, which are discussed.

Visible and near-infrared spectral changes in plasma of psychiatric patients.

In the present study, the possible difference in visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra of plasma in psychiatric patients compared to healthy control subjects was investigated. Mean Vis-NIR spectra of 60 psychiatric patients showed several specific peaks in the 630- to 930-nm region. Principal component analysis (PCA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were applied to manifest the spectral characteristics of each group. The PCA and SIMCA models demonstrated successful discrimination of the two groups using a score plot of the third versus fourth principal component and a Coomans plot, respectively. The PCA loadings were generally consistent with the discriminating power of the SIMCA model, indicating a specific pattern of Vis-NIR spectra in the plasma of psychiatric patients. The specific pattern possibly indicates altered superoxide, amine, and primary and secondary amides in plasma and may provide a possible indicator for the diagnosis of heterogeneous psychiatric disorders. This is the first step toward a clinical tool which has the potential to be applied in the diagnosis of psychiatric disease. Yet, there remain obstacles to its practical usage.