Shigeyuki Kanai

Study on Application of Static Magnetic Field for Adjuvant Arthritis Rats

In order to examine the effectiveness of the application of static magnetic field (SMF) on pain relief, we performed a study on rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). Sixty female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (age: 6 weeks, body weight: approximately 160 g) were divided into three groups [SMF-treated AA rats (Group I), non-SMF-treated AA rats (Group II) and control rats (Group III)]. The SD rats were injected in the left hind leg with 0.6 mg/0.05 ml Mycobacterium butyrium to induce AA. The rats were bred for 6 months as chronic pain model. Thereafter, the AA rats were or were not exposed to SMF for 12 weeks. We assessed the changes in the tail surface temperature, locomotor activity, serum inflammatory marker and bone mineral density (BMD) using thermography, a metabolism measuring system and the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method, respectively. The tail surface temperature, locomotor activity and femoral BMD of the SMF-exposed AA rats were significantly higher than those of the non-SMF-exposed AA rats, and the serum inflammatory marker was significantly lower. These findings suggest that the pain relief effects are primarily due to the increased blood circulation caused by the rise in the tail surface temperature. Moreover, the pain relief effects increased with activity and BMD of the AA rats.

Mechanism of the Protective Effects of Sumac Gall Extract and Gallic Acid on the Progression of CCl4-induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats

To examine the mechanism of the preventive effect of tannins on the progression of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in rats, sumac gall (SG) extract and gallic acid (GA) were used as substitutes for crude tannins, because SG is a kind of Chinese traditional medicinal herb containing large amounts of various tannins, and GA is one of the major constituents of SG. The protective effect of oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of each substance on progression of CCl4-induced hepatitis was investigated in rats. Speculating that the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities (O2 radical-scavenging activities) and/or protective effects of these substances on cell membranes might play a key role in the mechanism opposing the progression of CCl4-induced hepatitis, the O2 radical-scavenging activities in liver cells and serum in rats were monitored. Both substances significantly prevented the progression of acute liver injury with both p.o. and i.p. administration. These findings suggest that the mechanism for this prevention might be due mainly to the protective effect of these substances on cell membranes rather than O2 radical-scavenging activities.

Efficacy of Toki-shigyakuka-gosyuyu-syokyo-to (Danggui-Sini-Jia-Wuzhuyu-Shengjiang-Tang) on Peripheral Circulation in Autonomic Disorders

To investigate the improvement in peripheral circulation in autonomic disorders, we monitored skin temperature in the tails of rats by thermography before and after the oral administration of boiled water extract of Toki-shigyakuka-gosyuyu-syokyo-to (TSGS-to). Oral administration of this extract elevated the temperature, calculated as the calories of radiant heat in the rat tail 5-10 min after uptake. The temperature elevation remained stable for more than 20 min. Calories were significantly reduced 60 min after uptake and almost returned to initial values 90 min later. Some of the constituent herbs, especially Angelicae radix, Cinnamomi cortex, Evodiae fructus, and Zingiberis rhizoma, appeared to be active in relieving hypothermia.

Efficacy of Static Magnetic Field for Locomotor Activity of Experimental Osteopenia

In order to examine the effectiveness of applying a static magnetic field (SMF) for increasing bone mineral density (BMD), we assessed the degree of osteopenia by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the metabolism measuring system, and histological examination of bone tissue in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Thirty-six female Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 160–180 g) were divided into three groups. The rats in the OVX-M group were exposed to SMF for 12 weeks after ovariectomy. The ovariectomized rats in the OVX-D group were not exposed to SMF as a control. The rats in the normal group received neither ovariectomy nor exposure to SMF. Twelve-week exposure to SMF in the OVX-M group inhibited the reduction in BMD that was observed in the OVX-D group. Moreover, in the OVX rats, before exposure to SMF, there was no clear difference in the level of locomotor activity between the active and resting phases, and the pattern of locomotor activity was irregular. After exposure of OVX rats to SMF, the pattern of locomotor activity became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, as was observed in the normal group. In the OVX-M group, the continuity of the trabecular bone was maintained more favorably and bone mass was higher than the respective parameters in the OVX-D group. These results demonstrate that exposure to SMF increased the level of locomotor activity in OVX rats, thereby increasing BMD.

Effect of polarity exchangeable permanent magnet on frozen shoulder pain

AbstractIn order to examine the effectiveness of a north-south polarity exchangeable permanent magnet (PEPM) similar to non-polarity exchangeable permanent magnet (N-PEPM), we performed a pathophysiological study on frozen shoulder pain by assessment of subjective (Visual Analogue Scale) and objective symptoms (thermography, blood flow and deep body thermometer). Sixty-four patients (32 males and 32 females, average age 43.1, 22–69 years old) were studied. PEPM therapeutic device and N-PEPM therapeutic device were randomly assigned to the patients under a double blind test. PEPM (5 mm × 12 mm, 120 mT, rotation/2 seconds, PIP Fujimoto Co., Ltd., Osaka) was applied externally at the site of pain. N-PEPM (5 mm × 12 mm, 120 mT non-rotation) was also applied as control. All patients received the treatment for 2 days. Significance was determined with ANOVA. In the subjective and objective symptoms, both PEPM and N-PEPM were effective, respectively. The improvement in PEPM patients was significantly greater than...

Effect of Kami-kihi-to (Jia-Wei-Gui-Pi-Tang) for Experimental Osteopenia

In order to examine the effects of Kami-kihi-to (KKT or Jia-Wei-Gui-Pi-Tang) on osteopenia, we measured bone mineral density using computed X-ray absorptometry and monitored metabolism and bone tissue in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Bone mineral density was significantly lower in the OVX group than in normal group 3 months after ovariectomy. However, the bone mineral density of the OVX group administered KKT was clearly higher than that of the untreated OVX group. Locomotor activity was regular in the normal group and in the OVX groups before administration of KKT. After 6-month administration of KKT, in OVX groups, the pattern of locomotor activity became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, as was also observed in the normal group. The locomotor activity did not decrease in the OVX groups after administration of KKT. At 6 months, the continuity of the trabecular bone was higher in the OVX group administered KKT than in the untreated OVX group. These results indicate that KKT improved the menopausal symptoms and increased the locomotor activity of the OVX group, thereby increasing bone mineral density.

Study of Sokei-Kakketu-To (Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang) in Adjuvant Arthritis Rats

To examine the effectiveness of the herbal medicine prescription, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang (SJHXT), for pain relief, we performed a study using rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA). After injecting the adjuvant, AA rats were maintained for 6 months as a chronic pain model. Starting at 6 months, SJHXT was administered for 12 weeks. We measured the tail skin temperature and locomotor activity of rats using thermography and a metabolism measuring system, respectively, before and after 12 weeks of SJHXT administration. Normal rats were used as controls. Before SJHXT administration, the tail surface temperature and locomotor activity were significantly lower in the AA rats than in the control rats. The tail skin temperature and locomotor activity of SJHXT-treated AA rats were significantly higher than those of the control rats. These findings suggest that the pain relief effects of SJHXT may be primarily due to increased blood circulation.

Study of moxibustion stimulation in the ovariectomized rat model

In order to examine the effectiveness of moxibustion stimulation for climacteric disturbance, we administered moxibustion stimulation to ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and compared the tail surface temperature, laboratory parameters, and the level of locomotor activity with those of untreated rats. Twenty-four female Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 160 - 180 g) were divided into three groups. The rats in the OVX-M group underwent moxibustion stimulation after ovariectomy. The rats in the OVX-C group underwent ovariectomy but did not receive moxibustion stimulation. The rats in the Normal group received neither ovariectomy nor moxibustion stimulation. The level of locomotor activity was determined by a metabolism measuring system. The tail surface temperature was significantly lower in the OVX rats before moxibustion stimulation than in the Normal group. In the OVX rats before moxibustion stimulation, there was no clear difference in the level of locomotor activity between the active and resting phases, and the pattern of locomotor activity was irregular. After moxibustion stimulation, the tail surface temperature of the OVX-M group did not significantly differ from that of the Normal group, and the pattern of locomotor activity of the OVX-M group became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, similar to that observed in the Normal group. These results demonstrate that moxibustion stimulation is effective for the treatment of climacteric disturbance.