Tongue diagnosis is a noninvasive diagnosis and is traditionally one of the most important tools for physicians who practice Kampo (traditional Japanese) medicine. However, it is a subjective process, and its results can depend on the experience of the physician performing it. Previous studies have reported how to measure and evaluate the shape and color of the tongue objectively. Therefore, this study focused on the glossy component in order to quantify tongue moisture in tongue diagnosis. We hypothesized that moisture appears as a gloss in captured images and measured the amount of water on the tongue surface in 13 subjects. The results showed a high correlation between the degree of gloss and the amount of water on the tongue surface and suggested that the moisture on the tongue can be estimated by the degree of gloss in a captured image. Because the moisture level on the tongue changes during the course of taking photos, it became clear that we had to wait at least 3 minutes between photos. Based on these results, we established the tongue image analyzing system (TIAS), which can consistently record the gloss and color of the tongue surface simultaneously.

No abstract

Aim:For the purpose of reducing both the consumption of crude drug resources and patient burden in preparing the decoctions, we developed a new preparation method for the decoctions of Kampo formula: immersion of powdered crude drugs in hot water (IPCD method), inspired by a method of decoction that was widely used in the Song period of China. Methods: Ephedra herb (terrestrial stem of Ephedra sinica), scutellaria root (root of Scutellaria baicalensis), and Kampo formulas that contain several crude drugs including ephedra herb and scutellaria root were powdered, and then immersed in hot water to extract the ingredients. The residue was filtered out using a commercially available tea server. The contents of marker compounds in the decoctions were measured. Results: Using the IPCD method, the amounts of marker compounds from ephedra herb and scutellaria root transferred to hot water exceeded by 1.3-1.4-fold that obtained by the standard method of decocting the same amounts of cut crude drugs for >30 min. The amount of transferred marker compounds reached a plateau within 4 min after the beginning of immersion, suggesting that only 4 min of immersion is sufficient for the IPCD method. The sludge residue of powdered crude drug produced by immersion could be easily filtered with a commercially available tea server. Conclusion: Using this method, the same or greater amounts of marker compounds were transferred in the decoctions in a much shorter time with lower consumption of crude drugs than with the usual decoction method.

A melittin derivative carrying a spiropyran group at the third residue (MSp) was prepared by a semisynthetic method. M S p showed reversible photochromism in a phospholipid bilayer membrane. The kinetics of thermal decolouration and the maximum absorption of M S p in the merocyanine form indicated that the merocyanine moiety is located at the membrane surface. The disturbance of the Paper 410388 3E

No abstract