ABSTRACT
Loss of muscle strength is not only associated with loss of muscle mass, but also affected by neural factors. It is well known that facilitatory and inhibitory responses of spinal motor neurons occur with cutaneous stimulation via spinal interneurons. The purpose of this study was to examine the neural adaptations associated with low load resistance training utilizing skin cooling (SC). 10 men trained both legs and each side was randomly assigned to SC training (SC-T) and non SC training (NSC-T). Subjects performed 30 isometric ankle dorsiflexion repetitions at 35% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The skin cooling condition was defined as when skin temperature was 25°C while repetitive resistance training was being performed. Dorsiflexor MVC significantly increased in both SC-T (n = 9) and NSC-T (n = 9) by 12.8 and 3.8%, respectively. A significant increase in root mean square of EMG (rmsEMG) was observed for 30 isometric ankle dorsiflexion repetitions in SC-T both pre- and post-training. Lower leg girths did not significantly increase post-training. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that muscle strength might increase via changes in neural activation and that SC-T may lead to greater increases in muscle strength compared with NSC-T because of improved muscle activation during resistance training with SC. Therefore, we suggest that low load resistance training with SC is an effective method to increase muscle strength.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective: </b>From the viewpoint of drug cost reduction, many generic drugs have appeared in the eye drops market. Although the price of eye drops is defined on a per bottle (or per mL) basis, the difference in the total number of drops per bottle between the original drug and its generic drug may alter the drug cost reduction effect greatly. Moreover, the difference in the total number of drops per bottle may also affect the number of pharmacy visits made by a patient in one year.<br><b>Methods: </b>The total number of drops per bottle of an original drug and a generic drug was computed, and the influence of the number of drops on the drug cost reduction effect, including drug cost, was evaluated.<br><b>Results: </b>Distinct differences in the volume per drop and the total number of drops per bottle were observed between the original drug and its generic drug, and those differences were found to clearly influence the drug cost reduction effect. Moreover, in a survey of patients who shifted to generic eye drops, there were some patients who returned to the original eye drops because they could not apply the generic eye drops with ease or their eyes started to smart after using the generic eye drops.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>This study revealed the need to take into consideration patient’s ease of use and the drug cost reduction effect, in the selection of eye drops.