Type and timing of exercise during lunch breaks for suppressing postprandial increases in blood glucose levels in workers.

OBJECTIVES: Suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia may aid in preventing lifestyle-related diseases in working people. The present study aimed to identify the types and timings of exercises that can be performed by working people during a 60-minute lunch break that are effective in attenuating postprandial increases in blood glucose levels. METHODS: Healthy working people aged 20 years and older were subjected to aerobic (AER) or resistance (RES) exercise before (Pre) and after (Post) lunch, assuming a 60-minute lunch break, with fixed 20-minute lunch and rest periods. These exercise sessions of 4 different patterns were performed by each participant. Serial measurements of blood glucose levels were obtained every 15 minute using a Flash Glucose Monitoring System. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 11 participants who completed the protocol. Our incremental area under the curve (IAUC) analysis indicated that the AER-Post condition was associated with the most significant hypoglycemic effect, followed by the AER-Pre condition. Although the RES-Post showed no significant difference, a decrease in the IAUC comparison is apparent. However, the RES-Pre condition exerted no acute effect on blood glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: Workers may benefit from a 20-minute aerobic exercise period, following a 20-minute lunch and a 20-minute rest period, as this may help prevent progression to diabetes. Furthermore, performing 20-minute aerobic exercises prior to lunch may also attenuate postprandial increases in blood glucose levels. Therefore, if the lunch breaks are short, aerobic exercises are recommended before lunch.

Decreased arterial dye-filling and venous dilation in the macular choroid associated with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To compare the angioarchitecture of choroidal arteries and veins in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to the angioarchitecture of age-matched normal subjects using indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. METHODS: ICG angiography was performed in 35 consecutive AMD patients and 18 normal age-matched volunteers with a fundus ICG camera. ICG video images, including the arterial and venous phases, were quantitatively analyzed using image analyzing software. RESULTS: In patients with AMD, the choroidal arterioles are dilated, fewer, run a straighter course, and possess fewer bifurcations. The number of choroidal arteries and the macular fluorescent intensity in the arterial phase of choroidal filling was significantly less in patients with AMD as compared to age-matched normal controls (P = 0.008). The mean and maximum caliber of choroidal veins in the macula was dilated in AMD eyes than in age-matched normal control eyes (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in arterial dye filling or venous caliber observed in AMD eyes, with or without choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV). CONCLUSION: Choroidal arterial perfusion in the macula was significant decreased in eyes with AMD with and without CNV, and was associated with choroidal venous dilation. These observations implicate poor choroidal perfusion of the macula in the pathogenesis of AMD.