Correlations between "hie-sho" interview score and progesterone, fat intake, and Kupperman index in pre- and post-menopausal women: a pilot study.

Japanese menopausal women who feel cold, even in a warm room, are said to be experiencing "hie-sho." We assessed the magnitude of coldness by a "hie-sho" interview score. The association between the magnitude of coldness and female hormones, fat intake, and menopausal symptoms is unknown. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between the hie-sho interview scores and female hormones, fat intake, Kupperman index in pre- (pre group) and post- (post group) menopausal women. The hie-sho interview scores, Kupperman index questionnaire results, dietary survey to analyze fat intake, and body weight were analyzed, and plasma estradiol, progesterone, and lipid levels were measured in the subjects in the pre (n = 9) and post (n = 11) groups. Plasma female hormones and fat intake were different, but the total Kupperman index was not different between pre and post groups. Plasma progesterone was positively correlated with the hie-sho score only in the post group. Plasma triglyceride was positively correlated with the hie-sho score only in the pre group. Intake of cholesterol, arachidonic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid was negatively correlated with the hie-sho score only in the pre group. The positive correlation between total Kupperman index and hie-sho score was observed only in the pre group. These results indicated that progesterone level was related to coldness in post-menopausal women. Fat intake, plasma triglyceride, and menopausal symptoms may be related to coldness in pre-menopausal women.

The definition and diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet: Finding from the experts survey.

BACKGROUND: Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a symptom patients usually feel cold in their hands and feet, but not dealt with a disease in western medicine. However, it is often appealed by patients at a clinic of Korean medicine (KM), considered to be a sort of key diagnostic indicator, and actively treated by physicians. Nevertheless, there is no standardized diagnostic definition for CHHF. Therefore, we surveyed KM experts' opinions to address the clinical definition, diagnostic criteria, and other relevant things on CHHF. METHODS: We developed a survey to assess the definition, diagnosis, causes, and accompanying symptoms on CHHF. 31 experts who work at specialized university hospitals affiliated with KM hospitals consented to participation. Experts responded to survey questions by selecting multiple-choice answers or stating their opinions. RESULTS: Vast majority of experts (83.8%) agreed with our definition on CHHF ("a feeling of cold as a symptom; that one's hands or feet become colder than those of average people in temperatures that are not normally perceived as cold"). 77.4% of experts considered subjective symptoms on CHHF were more important than medical instrument results. Constitution or genetic factors (87.1%) and stress (64.5%) were the most common causes reported for CHHF. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers an expert consensus regarding the themes, opinions, and experiences of practitioners with CHHF. Our results underscore the need for standardized definitions and diagnostic criteria for CHHF.

The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a common symptom in Korea and patients with CHHF complain of coldness in the hands and feet in an environment that is not considered cold by unaffected people. In traditional East Asian medicine, CHHF is believed to be accompanied by various diseases and symptoms, and is considered a symptom that needs active treatment. CHHF is used for pattern identification in the cold pattern, yang deficiency, and constitution. This study aimed to examine the differences in frequencies of chronic diseases with respect to the presence of CHHF. METHODS: Disease history, CHHF, body measurements, and blood test survey data from 6149 patients collected by 25 medical institutes in Korea were obtained from the Korean Medicine Data Center. The participants were divided into CHHF (n = 1909) and non-CHHF groups (n = 3017) according to the CHHF survey. The differences in frequencies of 18 diseases were analysed using chi-square tests, and the odds ratios (ORs) for each disease according to CHHF status were examined via logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Based on chi-square test results, the CHHF group showed a higher frequency of the following diseases: anaemia, hypotension, chronic gastritis, reflux oesophagitis, chronic rhinitis, dysmenorrhoea, and gastroduodenal ulcer. Diseases found in lower frequencies were as follows: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia, stroke, fatty liver, and angina pectoris. In addition, from the logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, the CHHF group showed a lower OR in diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia than the non-CHHF group, but a higher OR in degenerative arthritis, chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer, reflux oesophagitis, and chronic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CHHF is associated with chronic disease. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to validate these associations.

Research on Proteomic Spectra Expression of Traditional Chinese Medicine Cold and Heat Constitution Rats Based on Two-dimensional Gel Electrophoresis / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This article was aimed to study the proteomic spectra expression of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cold and heat constitution rats with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), in order to search for the cold and heat-associated proteins for the investigation of the biological basis of TCM cold and heat body constitution formation. The total protein in rat’s liver cell was extracted. The 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry (MS) were used in the screening and identification of differentially expressed proteins of cold and heat constitution rats. The results showed that a total of 10 different points in the protein expression were obtained with statistical significance after screening and MS, which were carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, protein disulfide isomerase associated 3, catalase, hydroperoxide isomerase, cytosol aminopeptidase, glutamate dehydrogenase 1, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 2, heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) precursor, homocysteine, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor. It was concluded that some differences were existed in the proteomic spectra expression of TCM cold and heat constitution rats. The abnormality of enzyme protein metabolism may be one of the material bases for the formation of cold and heat constitution.

Clinical Indications of Kumibinroto / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Kumibinroto is a Kampo formulation which was first produced by Sohaku Asada (1815-1894) and which has since been used for patients with stasis of body fluids presenting beriberi like symptoms. Previously, we reported that tympanic sounds on right side of the abdomen might be an indication for the use of kumibinroto. In this study, having both symptoms with stasis of body fluids, and tympanic sounds on right side of the abdomen were used as a target when prescribing kumibinroto. To the best our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that the effects of kumibinroto give significant improvement in dermatological disorders such as chronic prurigo, cutaneous pruritis and chronic urticaria, and susceptibility to chills. These findings suggest that tympanic sounds on right side of the abdomen may an extremely useful indicator for kumibinroto, and position it for practical use for various disorders, for which it has not been formerly used.