薬理と治療

Background Parkinson’s disease(hereinafter, PD)is a degenerative disease indicated by extrapyramidal signs, and characterized by degeneration of the substantia nigra dopamine nerve cells. In Japanese traditional medicine(called Kampo medicine), symptoms causing aging unsuitable for a particular age and a decline in body functions are believed to be symptoms of‘Jinkyo’(kidney deficiency). The purpose of this research was to investigate the efficacy of hachimijiogan and rokumigan, the representative medicines prescribed for Jinkyo, towards the onset and advancement of PD in model mouse. Methods Hachimijiogan and rokumigan were administered to rotenone-induced PD model mice, and the efficacy thereof was evaluated from the motor activity and drop in substantia nigra dopamine nerve cells. Furthermore, in order to investigate the action mechanism thereof, the 8-OH-dG in urine, which is the oxidative stress marker, was measured. Results A declined motor activity, reduced substantia nigra dopamine nerve cells, and increased 8-OH-dG concentration in urine were observed in PD model mice;however, these were significantly suppressed due to the administration of hachimijiogan. On the other hand, the significant effect did not observed by the administration of rokumigan. Conclusions From the above results, it was suggested that hachimijiogan could restrain the increase in oxidation stress as one of its action mechanisms, and include a suppressing effect against the onset and advancement of PD.

Treatment of elderly type 2 diabetes patients with cognitive impairment is complicated as it involves the risk of hypoglycemia and glycemic control failure. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment in elderly type 2 diabetes patients(>65 years)using a simple screening test. The prevalence rate was 41.2% and the progression of cognitive impairment was associated with higher HbA1c levels.

Objectives In order to examine the effects of hot-water extract of Chlorella on mental fatigue in healthy volunteers, a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind parallel group study was conducted. Methods Thirty three subjects(21 males and 12 females, 52.2±6.6 years)were received 2 placebo drinks or 2 test drinks daily for 8 weeks. Test drink contained 14.4 mL of hotwater extract of Chlorella. As a fatigue-inducing task, subjects performed Kraepelin’s arithmetic test(KAT)before and after the administration period. Evaluation of the subjective sensation of fatigue by profile of mood state(POMS)questionnaire, and determination of the concentrations of saliva cortisol, urine vanillylmandelic acid(VMA)and urine homovanillic acid(HVA)as biochemical markers for mental stress and fatigue were performed at pre- and post-KAT. Results The increase in the POMS fatigue score by KAT significantly decreased after the administration period compared with the start in test group(T-gr., p=0.002), but did not decrease in control group(C-gr.). Although, the increase in saliva cortisol concentration by KAT significantly increased after the administration period in both C-gr. and T-gr.(p<0.001), those in urine VMA and HVA concentrations significantly increased only in the C-gr. (p=0.022, 0.025). Urine VMA and HVA concentrations also significantly increased post-KAT compared with pre-KAT at the end of the administration period in C-gr(p<0.05), but did not significantly increase in T-Gr. Conclusion These results suggest that the administration of hot-water extract of Chlorella might be useful for attenuation of acute mental fatigue.

Objective To examine the potential of bilberry anthocyanins-containing diet(BA diet)to protect the development of asthenopic symptoms induced by video display terminal(VDT)work in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative study with healthy adults. Methods Eleven and 10 subjects were allocated to placebo(placebo group)and BA diet(test group), respectively. BA diet was taken orally for 28 days in a daily dose of 500 mg(57.6 mg as anthocyanins). At day-0(baseline), day-14 and day-28, all subjects were subjected to VDT work-induced asthenopic stresses, and those subjects and those eyes that were susceptible to the stresses were selected for evaluation of subjective asthenoscopic symptoms based on symptom VAS scores and accommodative eye functions using the near point distance and the amplitude of accommodation as parameters. In addition, serum levels of two oxidative stress markers, d-ROMs and BAP, were also determined at each test point. Results BA diet intake for 28 days significantly suppressed VDT work-induced worsening of symptom VAS scores(in within-group comparison), as well as two accommodative function parameters, the amplitude of accommodation(in between-group and within-group comparisons)and the near point distance(in within-group comparison). Our data also show that serum levels of BAP, a marker of antioxidant activity, significantly increased after 28-day intake of BA diet compared to baseline. Conclusions BA diet appears to have a protective effect on the VDT work-induced development of subjective asthenopic symptoms and impairment of the accommodative eye function.

Objectives Pueraria flower extract(PFE)is a crude extract of the Kudzu flower(Pueraria thomsonii). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety of an excessive intake of the powdered drink containing PFE. Methods Twenty nine healthy adults(male=15, female=14)were divided into two groups, one is test group and the other is placebo group. The subjects ingested a test food(7.5 g powdered tea containing PFE)or a placebo food(7.5 g powdered tea without PFE)for 4 weeks, respectively. A blood, urinalysis, and physical tests were performed at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6. Results No abnormal changes were noted in blood, urinalysis, endocrine, and the other parameters for any of the both groups. In addition, no treatment-related side effects were observed. Conclusions These results suggest that the powdered drink containing PFE is safe in the case of excessive intake.