ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate dynamic balance capability, bathyesthesia, and the composite compensation of bathyesthesia and visual sense for dynamic balance assessed by use of force plates and to examine their correlation to age in a cross-sectorial manner. Participants of this study were 147 healthy people (55 men, 92 women). To evaluate dynamic balance capability, we evaluated the index of postural stability (IPS), which is the logarithmic value of the ratio of the area of stability limits to the area of postural sway, with participants standing on a hard surface with eyes opened. To measure bathyesthesia, we evaluated the modified index of postural stability (MIPS), i.e., the IPS with participants standing on a soft surface with eyes closed. As for the composite compensation index of bathyesthesia and visual sense for dynamic balance, we calculated the rubber IPS Romberg ratio (MIPS/IPS). The correlation coefficients (Spearman’s rho) of IPS, MIPS and MIPS/IPS to age were −0.666 (p < 0.001), −0.697 (p < 0.001) and −0.600 (p < 0.001), respectively. These results suggest that dynamic balance capability and bathyesthesia decline with advancing age, and the composite compensation of bathyesthesia and visual sense for dynamic balance strengthens with advancing age.
ABSTRACT
The present study examined the effect of the long-term intake of chicken breast extract (CBEX), which contains carnosine and anserine, on carnosine content in skeletal muscles of humans and on short-period exercise performance with high intensity.<BR>Before and after CBEX was orally given to 13 healthy male subjects for 30 days, pieces of their muscle (<I>M. vastus lateralis</I>) were excised and carnosine concentration in the muscle was measured. Before and after the test period, the subjects exercise performance (mean and peak power body weight) was determined by pedaling for 30 sec. On the basis of baseline concentrations of carnosine, the subjects were classified into two groups: low (n=8) and high (n=5) carnosine-baseline groups. In the former group, intake of CBEX increased carnosine concentration in the muscle (p<0.05), resulting in significant correlation between increased rate of carnosine concentration and mean power. These results suggest that exercise performance depends on carnosine concentration in the muscle, and that taking carnosine-containing foods may improve exercise performance.
ABSTRACT
It is known that lactic anions and hydrogen ions (H<SUP>+</SUP>) produced during intense exercise are partly transported or diffused from muscle to blood resulting in the production of non-metabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> through the bicarbonate buffering system. The purpose of the present study was to examine the reliability of the estimation of non-metabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> output using respiratory gas analysis during incremental exercise. Six healthy subjects underwent an incremental pedaling exercise test accompanied by respiratory gas and arterial blood sampling. The rate of non-metabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> output (VCO<SUB>2</SUB>-NM) was calculated by subtracting projected metabolic VCO<SUB>2</SUB> from actual VCO<SUB>2</SUB> after CO<SUB>2</SUB> threshold (CT) . CT was determined using a modified V-Slope method. Bicarbonate (HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>), pH, CO<SUB>2</SUB> partial pressure and lactate concentration were measured from arterial blood samples using automatic analyzers. The kinetics of VCO<SUB>2</SUB>-NM and HCO<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>-</SUP> were compared throughout the exercise test. VCO<SUB>2</SUB>-NM was significantly correlated with HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>decrease after CT (r=0.976, p<0.001) and the kinetics of VCO<SUB>2</SUB>-NM and HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP> decrease were similar during exercise. Furthermore, the amount of non-metabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> output (NM-CO<SUB>2</SUB>) calculated integrating VCO<SUB>2</SUB>-NM above CT was significantly correlated with the difference in HCO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>between CT and exhaustion (r=0.929, p<0.01) and with the difference in arterial blood pH between rest and exhaustion (r=0.863, p<0.05) . However, NM-CO<SUB>2</SUB> was not significantly related to maximum ventilation (r=0.111, ns) . These results suggest that the estimation of non-metabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> output during incremental exercise proposed in the present study is reliable. It was also suggested that the primary factor which influenced nonmetabolic CO<SUB>2</SUB> output during incremental exercise was the addition of H<SUP>+</SUP> into blood and not hyperventilation.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to determine the change in total excess volume of CO<SUB>2</SUB>output (CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess) due to bicarbonate buffering of lactic acid produced during exercise and change in swimming performance following resistance training for 8 weeks in competitive swimmers. Ten healthy university competitive swimmers were assigned to either a resistance training and swimming training group (COMBINE: N=5) or a swimming training only group (SWIM: N=5) . Muscle mass was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess and blood lactate concentration were measured during incremental exercise on a cycle ergometer and swimming performance was measured during competition. COMBINE showed a significantly higher percentage change in muscle mass (11.1±4.5%) than SWIM (3.5±2.5%) . The percentage change in CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess, CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess per body weight (CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess/BW) and CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess/BW per blood lactate accumulation (CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess/BW/ΔLa) during exercise was significantly higher in COMBINE (107.3±60.1, 102.6±56.8, 59.1±37.7%, respectively) than in SWIM (42.5±10.0, 42.9±10.4, 13.4±22.4%, respectively) . The percentage change in swimming performance was significantly higher in COMBINE (2.2±1.8%) than in SWIM (-2.0±3.6%) . A negative correlation between percentage change of muscle mass and percentage change of CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess/BW/ ΔLa (SWIM: r=-0.993, <I>P</I><0.01, COMBINE: r=-0.744, <I>P</I>>0.05) was found. It was suggested that combined swim and resistance training resulted in greater increases in the bicarbonate buffering system (CO<SUB>2</SUB>excess/BW/ΔLa) . However, increases in muscle mass may have subsequently caused a relative decrease in the contribution of the bicarbonate buffering system.
ABSTRACT
A survey through general questionnaires was performed on those who visited the Hijiori, Yutagawa and Akakura hot springs in Yamagata Prefecture for thermalisme.<br>A total of 548 replies were obtained and they were analyzed in comparison with the survey results reported by Sugiyama et al. about 30 years ago.<br>Most of visitors were regular customers living in Yamagata Prefecture. Further, most of them, both men and women, were of age 60 or over. This fact was remarkably different from the investigation results of 30 years ago.<br>The degree of satisfaction among visitors as to the effectiveness of thermalisme was high among most of those who visited there to relieve pain but not so high among those who visited there for their health or for resting.
ABSTRACT
In search of reasons for regional differences in the death rate from stroke, an extensive factfinding project was carried out in Yamagata Prefecture. Out of the total 44 municipalities in the prefecture, we picked out four townships; two are noted for their high standard mortality rate from cerebrovascular disease and the other two have a low mortality from the disease. In these four townships, a thorough investigation was conducted on the incidence of stroke, along with health examination for cardiovascular disease. The findings are as follows;<BR>1. Despite the fact that Yamagata Prefecture has a high rate of stroke, blood pressure levels stood on a par with, or even lower than, the national average.<BR>2. There were no correlations between the standard mortality rates and blood pressure levels, ECG readings, funduscopic observations, and total serum cholesterol levels.<BR>3. By occupation, white-collar workers showed higher values than blue-collar workers and farmers in diastolic blood pressure, obesity, and cholesterol levels in the blood serum. The occupational difference was observed in each and every one of the four townships.<BR>4. The standard mortality rate and other fatality indices were not correlated with the incidence rate of stroke among the middle-aged and the rate of detection in the health examination for the conditions that might lead to stroke. Interesting to note is the fact that the incidence rate among the middle-aged was parallel with the detection rate. This finding suggests that further study of the incidence rate and the prevalence rate in necessary.