A Japanese Stretching Intervention Can Modify Lumbar Lordosis Curvature.

STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen healthy male adults were assigned to either an intervention or control group. OBJECTIVES: Isogai dynamic therapy (IDT) is one of Japanese stretching interventions and has been practiced for over 70 years. However, its scientific quantitative evidence remains unestablished. The objective of this study was to determine whether IDT could modify lumbar curvature in healthy young adults compared with stretching exercises used currently in clinical practice. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: None of previous studies have provided data that conventional stretching interventions could modify spinal curvatures. However, this study provides the first evidence that a specific form of a Japanese stretching intervention can acutely modify the spinal curvatures. METHODS: We compared the effects of IDT, a Japanese stretching intervention (n=9 males), with a conventional stretching routine (n=9 males) used widely in clinics to modify pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis (LL) angle. We measured thoracic kyphosis (TK) and LL angles 3 times during erect standing using the Spinal Mouse before and after each intervention. IDT consisted of: (1) hip joint correction, (2) pelvic tilt correction, (3) lumbar alignment correction, and (4) squat exercise stretch. The control group performed hamstring stretches while (1) standing and (2) sitting. RESULTS: IDT increased LL angle to 25.1 degrees (±5.9) from 21.2 degrees (±6.9) (P=0.047) without changing TK angle (pretest: 36.8 degrees [±6.9]; posttest: 36.1 degrees [±6.5]) (P=0.572). The control group showed no changes in TK (P=0.819) and LL angles (P=0.744). CONCLUSIONS: IDT can thus be effective for increasing LL angle, hence anterior pelvic tilt. Such modifications could ameliorate low back pain and improve mobility in old adults with an unfavorable pelvic position.

Folliculogenesis following syngeneic transplantation of young murine ovaries into the testes.

Background and Aim: To examine the effects of intratesticular transplantation on the growth and maturation of young murine ovaries. Methods: Two-week-old ovaries from transgenic mice with enhanced green fluorescent protein expression were transplanted under the testicular capsule of 4-week-old non-transgenic mice. Results: Two months after transplantation all successfully grafted ovaries had survived, based on the presence of bright green fluorescence. The grafts showed various stages of folliculogenesis, including expanded follicles. The neighboring seminiferous tubules had a normal structure and mature sperm in their lumens, indicating active spermatogenesis, and all the recipient males were fertile. There was no evidence of extensive cell migration from the grafted ovaries into the testis. Similar findings were obtained for the grafted ovaries 6 months after surgery, although cell death (as evidenced by yellowish or pale fluorescence) was more frequent. Conclusion: Young murine ovaries can grow and mature autonomously for at least 6 months unaffected by the male hormonal environment. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5: 71-77).