Are Saunas Beneficial or Harmful for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease? Examination with Model Mouse / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

Are Saunas Beneficial or Harmful for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease? Examination with Model Mouse / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps), expression of which are induced by thermal treatment, function in the protection of kidneys by suppressing apoptosis and maintaining renal tubular viability. Moreover, recently, it has been indicated that the expression of Hsps can be a therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We investigated the effect of dry sauna therapy on ADPKD model mice.  Methods and Results: The mice (male DBA/2FG-pcy mice) were categorized into three groups: controls, TS: pcy mice subjected to prolonged sauna with administered water containing 4% sucrose, SW: pcy mice administered water containing 4% sucrose. The TS group was subjected to sauna sessions twice a week for four weeks. The TS group attained and were maintained at rectal temperatures of approximately 39.0°C, until they were carefully removed from the far infrared-ray device. After 4 weeks of sauna treatment, creatinine and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels determined by an enzymatic method. The heat shock protein (HSP) or cell growth and size related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The TS group exhibited marginally higher creatinine and BUN levels than did the control and SW groups, however, the differences were not significant. However, cyst enlargement in the TS group reduced significantly compared to that of the control group. HSP90 expression was slightly decreased in the TS and SW groups relative to the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001, vs. control), as was Erk expression, which is linked to cyst development and proliferation (p < 0.05, TS vs. control). Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation level in the SW group were comparable with that of the control group. However, the TS group had increased levels of Hsp27 and phosphorylation (NS). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in the TS group was marginally lower than that in the control group. However, the activity of caspase-3 in all groups showed no differences.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that 4 weeks of sauna treatment could cause transient dehydration and related renal dysfunction and led to the risk of stimulating cyst growth by increased Hsp27 expression. Moreover, we concluded that prevention of dehydration and cyst growth could be suppressed by taking an appropriate amount of water directly after sauna treatment.

Shoulder and elbow pain in junior high school baseball players: Results of a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite proposals and guidelines to prevent baseball injuries in young players by societies and organizations, many shoulder and elbow injuries continue to occur among junior high school baseball players. In order to investigate the training conditions of junior high school baseball players and the risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in the players, we conducted a questionnaire survey among junior high school baseball players throughout the country. METHODS: The questionnaire survey was conducted among junior high school baseball players in September 2016. RESULTS: A total of 11,134 junior high school baseball players belonging to 495 teams responded to the survey. Among these, 4004 players trained every day of the week and 1151 players played baseball games every month with no off-season. Among 9752 players who did not have shoulder and/or elbow pain in the spring and summer of 2015, 19.2% of players experienced elbow pain over the course of one year, 13.6% of players experienced shoulder pain, and 28.0% complained of shoulder and/or elbow pain. The frequency of elbow pain was more than that of shoulder pain. At risk for shoulder pain were pitchers and catchers and second-year students, while risk factors for elbow pain were playing pitcher and catcher positions, pitching or throwing ≥300 balls per week, playing ≥10 games on average per month and being left-handed. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for shoulder pain were different from those for elbow pain. To prevent elbow pain, coaches should pay attention to pitchers and catchers and left-handed players and not allow players to pitch or throw ≥300 full-power balls per week or participate in ≥10 games per month. They should also pay attention to pitchers and catchers and second-year students to prevent shoulder pain. It is important for coaches to train multiple pitchers and catchers.

EFFECTS OF THE USE OF CONTACT LENS ON STATIC AND KINETIC VISUAL ACUITY, OCULAR PAIN, AND BLURRED VISION DURING A WATER POLO MATCH / 体力科学

This study examined the effects of the use of contact lenses on static and kinetic visual acuity, ocular pain, and blurred vision during a water polo match. Eleven male water polo players participated in this study, and were assigned to one of two groups: contact lens users (CL, n=5) and non-users (NCL, n=5). Both groups participated in a typical water polo match with four 7-min periods and 2-min resting intervals between the four periods. Static and kinetic visual acuity, subjective ocular pain, and blurred vision were measured before the match (pre-test), during the match (after each of four 7-min periods), and during the recovery phase at 5, 15, and 30 min after the completion of the match.Results showed that kinetic visual acuity was significantly lower for the NCL group than for CL in the 4^th period of the match. In addition, for the NCL group, kinetic visual acuity was significantly lower in the 3^rd and the 4^th periods than at the pre-test time. On the other hand, static visual acuity did not significantly differ between the two groups; but, for NCL, static visual acuity was significantly lower in the 4^th period than at the pre-test time. According to self-evaluation scores, ocular pain significantly increased in NCL compared to CL in the 3^rd and 4^th periods. Ocular pain in NCL was significantly higher between the 2^nd period and recovery phase at 5 min than at the pre-test time. Blurred vision was significantly higher in NCL than CL between the 2^nd period and recovery phase at 5 min. Blurred vision in NCL was significantly higher at the same duration than at the pre-test time.These findings indicate that the use of contact lenses may prevent ocular pain and blurred vision, maintaining both the static and kinetic visual acuity at a normal level during a water polo match. Further, the results of this study suggest that the use of contact lenses is effective for water polo players.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS OF HOMEBOUND ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY / 体力科学

There have so far been no studies examining the physical fitness and physical activity (PA), measured using objective measures, in homebound elderly people. The purpose of this study was to examine physical fitness levels and PA patterns and evaluate their relationships in homebound elderly people. In 2004, a total of 3964 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over participated in a base line survey. The subject data were directly collected by in-home interviewer. Subjects were defined as being homebound if they went outdoors less than once a week. However, the subjects who could not go out without assistance due to sickness and/or disability were excluded from the analysis. In 2005, 38 homebound (22 men, 16 women) and 70 non-homebound (33 men, 37 women) older adults who participated in the base line survey were selected. Measurements of physical fitness levels and PA patterns measured using an accelerometer, were taken in 2005. The total steps per day did not significantly differ between homebound and non-homebound men and women. The time spent in 1.8 METs activity (corresponding to activity level 1 of the accelerometer) was significantly higher in women than in men for non-homebound and homebound, respectively. The time spent in lower-, moderate-, and high-intensity PA did not significantly differ between homebound and non-homebound men and women, respectively. Handgrip strength, knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, stepping and maximum walking speed were significantly higher in non-homebound than in homebound men and women. These results suggest that the physical fitness levels of homebound were lower than those of non-homebound, but no difference was observed in the PA levels between homebound and non-homebound.

CONTACT LENS USE AMONG WATER POLO PLAYERS AT DIFFERENT AGE LEVELS / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of contact lens use in the pool for water polo players. A total of 627 male subjects were studied : junior high school players (n=190), high school players (n=188), college players (n=121) and water polo club players (n=128).Results were summarized as follows : 1) The percentage of players using vision correction devices in daily life was 43.38%, and use of contact lenses during water polo play was 30.14% for all subjects. 2) Junior high school players using contact lenses during water polo play showed a significantly lower rate compared with other players (<i>X</i>²=34.38, p<.01). 3) There were a lot of users of disposable type contact lenses during water polo play. 4) Players using contact lenses during water polo play had significantly higher corneal and conjunctival damage than subjects using vision correction devices in daily life and subjects without vision correction devices (<i>X</i>²=13.64, p<.01).We concluded that it was a problem for junior high school players with low vision acuity during water polo play.

Lower extremity function for shock attenuation during landing on one leg / 体力科学

A study was conducted to investigate the cushioning effects of lower extremity functions on shock attenuation during landing on one leg.<BR>Optical methods were used to investigate the cushioning effects of lower extremity functions, since these facilitated the quantitation of kinematic variables such as angle, change in angle, position, displacement and velocity during the landing. The subjects were 5 healthy students ranging in age from 21 to 24 years. Ground reaction force (GRF) was measured with a force platform. The impact force peaks showed vertical force-time averages for 1 subject landing on one leg or two legs for 10 trials each from a height of 10cm.<BR>The peak/body weight of impact force of GRF upon landing was attenuated by the cushioning effects of the lower extremity functions, i. e. bending of the knee and ankle joints, more effectively on two legs than on one.<BR>Supination and pronation of the ankle joint influenced the impact force peaks, and the results of this experiment demonstrated significant difference between the number of discharge bursts of leg muscles upon landing on one leg and those landing on two, the former being higher.