The Effects of Foot Baths on Energy Consumption / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Foot baths reportedly reduce pain and improve sleeplessness. In addition, foot baths may induce vasodilation, and thereby improve blood flow, reduce swelling, induce relaxation, and increase deep body temperature. However, the influence of foot baths on energy metabolism and physiological indices are unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to clarify the effects of foot baths on energy consumption and physiological indices (e.g., heart rate, tympanic temperature, and blood pressure). Nine healthy males were included in this study (age, 23.0±1.0 years; body weight, 66.5±5.6 kg; body fat percentage, 15.1±4.3%). Expired gas composition (i.e., oxygen and carbon dioxide consumption) was analyzed using the Food method in an environmentally-controlled room (room temperature 25°Cand humidity 40%). Subjects were rested in the hood during the measurement. After 30 min rest in the sitting position, a 30 min foot bath was performed, after which the subjects sat for 60 min. Expired gas composition and heart rate were measured over time, and tympanic temperature and blood pressure were measured every 15 min. The foot bath involved immersion of the knees, and the temperature of the water was maintained at 41°C. There were no significant changes in energy consumption after the foot bath, and no significant changes in heart rate, tympanic temperature, and blood pressure. Therefore, our results suggested that there were no significant energy metabolism changes after 30 min of foot bathing at 41°C.

Daily steps corresponding to the reference quantity of physical activity of Exercise and Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2006 (EPAR2006) assessed by accelerometer / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to determine daily steps corresponding to the reference value for the quantity of Physical Activity and Exercise for Health Promotion 2006 (23 METs·h/wk) considering non-locomotive activities. Two hundred and thirty one men and 224 women wore a tri-axial accelerometer for two weeks. We analyzed the data in each age group (young (less than 40 years), middle-aged (40 to 59 years), and elderly (60 years or more) groups), also. There were significant relationships between daily steps and locomotive activity (r = 0.762 to 0.820, p < 0.001) and total (locomotive and non-locomotive) physical activity (r = 0.706 to 0.824, p < 0.001) with intensity of 3 METs or more in all groups. The daily steps corresponding to 23 METs·h/wk, calculated using regression lines between the daily steps and total physical activities with intensity of 3 METs or more in men and women were 6,534 steps/d and 6,119 steps/d. On the other hand, the daily steps corresponding to 23 METs·h/wk, calculated using regression lines between the daily steps and locomotive activities with intensity of 3 METs or more in men and women were 7,888 steps/d and 8,584 steps/d. These results suggest that non-locomotive activity should also be taken into consideration in the case of assessment of a daily physical activity.

Effects of cow's milk on reproduction in ICR male mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Cow's milk on the reproduction in male mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four male mice were divided randomly into two groups: milk group (M) and control group (C). Each mouse was given 10 mL milk per day from 4 to 16 weeks in the group M. At the age of 17 weeks, all the mice were sacrificed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum testosterone was decreased in the group M (P=0.037). No significant difference was found in weight of testes, seminal vesicle or adrenal gland of mice between the groups C and M. However, the weight of seminal vesicle decreased when expressed in g/100 g body weight in the group M. Epididymal sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and sperm head number were not affected by milk.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cow's milk has adverse effects on the reproductive system in ICR male mice. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific effects of milk on reproductive health.</p>

Correlation between the arsenic concentrations in the air and the SMR of lung cancer

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To verify whether the concentrations of arsenic (As) and its compounds in the air (referred to here as arsenic concentrations) affect the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) associated with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using monitoring survey data on arsenic concentrations published by the Ministry of the Environment, we classified the municipalities for which arsenic concentrations were measured (measured municipalities) into ten groups according to the average arsenic concentration. We then determined the SMR of lung cancer, stomach cancer, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease and cardiac disease for each group using socio-demographic data, such as the national census and demographic trends. The relationships between these factors were compared and investigated by statistical means.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No effect of arsenic concentrations on stomach cancer, cerebrovascular disease or cardiac disease was observed, and while significant differences in pneumonia were observed among several of the male subjects, there were no significant effects of arsenic concentration. However, lung cancer and arsenic concentration showed a significantly positive correlation for both males and females (males: Spearman r = 0.709, P < 0.05; females: Spearman r = 0.758, P < 0.05). The probability of type alpha error was less than 5% in areas with more than 1.77 ng As/m(3) (71st percentile) and less than 1% in areas with more than 2.70 ng As/m(3) (91st percentile). These results confirm that the SMR of lung cancer tends to be higher than the national average in areas of higher arsenic concentrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The SMR of lung cancer is significantly higher in areas with arsenic concentrations of 1.77 ng/m(3) or more.</p>

ENERGY EXPENDITURE, BODY COMPOSITION AND MAXIMAL OXYGEN UPTAKE IN MIDDLE-AGED JAPANESE WOMEN WHO HAVE LONG-TERM HABITS OF EXERCISING / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term habitual exercise on daily total energy expenditure (TEE) and its components, body composition and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) in middle-aged Japanese women. Twenty-eight subjects aged 39 to 58 years were assigned either to a nonhabitual exercise group (Control ; n=12) or a habitual exercise group (Exercise ; n=16). TEE, physical activity level (PAL) and the daily physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) were assessed by doubly labeled water (DLW) method. The exercise-induced energy expenditure (ExEE) and nonexercise-induced energy expenditure (NExEE) were evaluated based on the activity record investigation conducted simultaneously during the DLW measurement period. The result follows that TEE was significantly (p<0.01) higher in the Exercise group (2520 kcal · day^-1) than in the Control group (1921 kcal · day^-1). There was no significant difference in basal metabolic rate between the groups. PAEE and ExEE were significantly higher in the Exercise group than in the Control group (p<0.01). Habitual exercise induced an increase in TEE without resulting in a compensatory reduction of NExEE. The percentage body fat (fat%) was significantly lower in the Exercise group (25.5%) than in the Control group (30.9%). VO₂max was higher in the Exercise group (1788 ml · min^-1) than in the Control group (1417 ml. min^-1). After correction for body weight, fat% was negatively associated with TEE (p<0.01), PAEE (p<0.01) and ExEE (p=0.05), while VO₂max was positively associated with TEE (p<0.05), PAL (p<0.05), PAEE (p<0.05) and ExEE (p<0.01). These results suggest that habitual exercise is associated with the increase of TEE, the improvement of body composition and VO₂max. The improvement of VO₂max was mainly caused by the increase in ExEE, indicating that the exercise intensity is important to the improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance fitness.

MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN JAPANESE FIREFIGHTERS UNDER NORMAL WORKING CONDITION USING THE DOUBLY LABELED WATER METHOD / 体力科学

This study examined total energy expenditure (TEE) of Japanese firefighters under normal working conditions, and also evaluated several field methods for measuring TEE in comparison with the doubly labeled water (DLW) method. Ten male subjects belonging to Tokyo metropolitan firefighters departments, aged 30.0±2.8 yrs (mean±SD), were monitored for five consecutive days. While TEE was assessed by an accelerometer (AC) and activity records (AR) in additoin to DLW, energy intake (El) was evaluated by dietary record. There were three emergency calls over the assessment period, but no real operation of fire suppression. TEE obtained by the DLW method (4009±611 kcal/d) was significantly higher than that estimated by AC (2531±186 kcal/d) or AR (3704±476kcal/d) ; but significantly correlated with AR (r=0.876, p<0.01) . El (3539±286 kcal/d) showed no significant relationship with DLW. These results suggest that compared with AC, AR would be more feasible for estimating TEE of firefighters, who perform special activities carrying heavy equipment. The mean value of physical activity level (PAL) (2.2±0.3) indicates that firefighters can be categorized as heavy workers like soldiers or policemen.

Comparative study of total energy expenditure in japanese men using doubly labeled water method against activity record, heart rate monitoring, and accelerometer methods / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to examine total energy expenditure (TEE) in Japanese men under free-living conditions using various field methods, and compare these methods with the doubly labeled water method (DLW) . Ten Japanese men, aged 24.2±1.8 (mean±SD) yrs, were studied for 14 consecutive days. TEE was assessed by DLW, activity record method (AR ; using relative metabolic rate and calculated basal metabolic rate), heart rate monitoring methods (Two-line and FLEX-HR methods), and accelerometer method (AC) . Energy intake (EI) was also evaluated over the same period. Although TEE estimated by AR (2730±139 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>), Two-line (2925±433 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>), and FLEX-HR (2949±506 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>) did not differ significantly from the TEE determined by DLW (2910±524 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>), there was no significant relationship between each of these methods and DLW. In addition, El (2963±482 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>) and TEE determined by DLW were similar, and there was a significant correlation (r=0.809, P<0.01) . Compared with DLW, AC (2697±541 kcal⋅day<SUP>-1</SUP>) underestimated TEE at the group level ; however, AC was the only method to show a significant correlation with DLW (r=0.871, P<0.001) . Therefore, it seems possible that AC would accurately estimate TEE at the individual level by improving both the instrument and its methodology.

Effects of tu-chung extract administrating on serum testosterone in hindlimb-suspended rats / 体力科学

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of Tu-Chung extract (Eucommia ulmoides OLIV.) administration on serum testosterone and the possible mechanisms in hindlimb- suspended rats. 25 five-week old male Wistar rats were used. All rats were randomly divided into two groups : those treated with Tu-Chung extract (Tu-Chung G, n=suspended for 37 days in hindlimb. 1 mg/ml Tu-Chung extract was administered orally once daily at a dose of 1 ml/100 g body weight. Distilled water was administered in a similar way to the control group. The following results were observed :<BR>1. Serum testosterone concentration in Tu-Chung G was significantly higher than in Cont. G (P<0.001) .<BR>2. There was no significant difference between Tu-Chung G and Cont. G in serum LB concentrations.<BR>3. The Testicular cAMP level in Tu-Chung G was significantly higher than that in Cont. G (P<0.01) .<BR>4. 24-h urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroid in Tu-Chung G was significantly higher than that in Cont. G (P<0.001) .<BR>5. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the weights per body weight of the kidneys, adrenal grand and testes. These results suggest that the adininstration of Tu-Chung extract inducing high serum testosterone concentrations in hindlimb-suspended rats might be due to enhanced testicular and adrenal functions, not pituitary.