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Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Kampo-sommelier practice, an active learning program on crude drugs used in Kampo formulations. Methods: The participants were fourth-year Tokai University School of Medicine students as of 2017. Eighteen small teams attended a 20-minute Kampo-sommelier practice session and were provided 10 kinds of crude drugs (Licorice, Cinnamon, Ginger, etc.) in three forms, original, cut, and powdered, while blinded to the drugs. Each team was asked to distinguish each drug in terms of form, scent, flavor, and color with reference to described characteristics. The ability to match the names of the drugs with their descriptions was assessed in the participants one month later, and also in human science "A" and medicine "B" students, without prior education, and pharmacy "C" students, with professional education. Results: The 117 participants received an average score of 6.2 ± 2.4 (mean ± S.D.) out of 10, which was significantly higher than 3.4 ± 1.8 in 97 "A" students and 3.1 ± 2.4 in 85 "B" students and lower than 8.4 ± 2.1 in 135 "C" students (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: The effectiveness of this team-based learning approach is suggested by the significantly higher scores of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Case Patients with dysphagia frequently suffer from aspiration pneumonia, are frequently hospitalized, and are often deprived of the joys of eating. Although dysphagia is life-threatening, treatment for dysphagia is still limited. Recently, the effectiveness of hangekobokuto ( Banxia-houpo-tang in Chinese; HKT) for dysphagia has attracted attention. We treated two dysphagic patients with HKT and evaluated deglutition before and after HKT treatment on imaging. Outcome The first patient was a 69-year-old alcoholic liver-cirrhosis patient who was diagnosed with dysphagia after hospital admission, and the second patient was a 92-year-old aspiration pneumonia patient. After treating the chief complaint, HKT ( TJ-16) extract (7.5 g/day) was given and continued indefinitely. Deglutition before and after HKT commencement was evaluated on video endoscopy and video fluoroscopy, respectively. Deglutition after the treatment was monitored visually. Conclusion Deglutition improved after HKT treatment, as judged on endoscopy and fluoroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]