Circadian rhythms (diurnal variations) in many physiological parameters have been reported. However, there are no data on gas exchange kinetics at the onset of exercise. The purpose of this study was to establish whether there are circadian rhythms in gas exchange kinetics at the onset of exercise.
Six male subjects performed 120W exercise on a cycle ergometer for 7 min in the morning (AM; 7: 30-8: 30) and evening (PM; 16: 30-17: 30) . Rectal temperature (Tr) and mean skin temperature (T_sk) at rest were significantly higher PM than AM, the differences being 0.9±0.2°C and 0.7±0.2°C, respectively. Respiratory and circulatory parameters at rest and during exercise were not different between AM and PM. The time constants of oxygen uptake (Vo₂), carbon dioxide output (Vco₂), minute ventilation (V_E), heart rate (HR), and oxygen pulse (Vo₂/HR) showed the same results. There was no relationship between temperature parameters (Tr, T_sk) and the time constants.
It is suggested that circadian rhythms reflected by the change in body temperature do not have any effect on gas exchange kinetics at the onset of moderate bicycle exercise.

Under the condition that entrainment between breathing rate and exercise rhythm was minimized. The limitation for deciding anaerobic threshold (AT) by respiratory frequency (f) was studied. Ten healthy subjects (5 male and 5 female) have volunteered to take part in two incremental cycle exercises (male : 30 watt/2 min, 50 rpm ; female : 20 watt/2 min, 50 rpm) . The subjects were either sedentary or active and performed tests under two different condi-tions. The different conditions are explained below.
1) Condition M : Use a metronome to maintain pedalling frequency so entrainment would easily occur.
2) Condition S : Use a tachometer to maintain pedalling frequency so entrainment would not easily occur.
Oxygen uptake (VO₂) at AT were determined by two different methods. The first method was to detect the point of non-linear increase in minute ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) and then to increase detection in the ventilatory equivalent for O₂ (VE/VO₂) without increasing the ventilatory equivalent for CO₂ (VE/VCO₂) (AT-V) . The second method was to detect inflection in f by multisegment linear regression (AT-CF) . There were no significant differences between AT-V (condition M : 26.0±6.2, condition S : 26.4±6.0 ml/kg/ min) and AT-CF (condition M : 31.6±10.2, condition S : 24.7±10.0 ml/kg/min) . A significant positive correlation between AT-V and AT-CF was observed in condition S (r=0.850, p< 0.05), but not in condition M (r=0.563, p>0.05) . The error between AT-V and AT-CF had individual variations. An error within±5% was observed in only 4 out of 10 subjects. These results suggested that even though the ability to detect AT using f is superior in condition S, f is an inadequate indicator for the AT, though the exercise entrained breathing is minimized.

Objective: To examine how best to provide information on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the future, the Japan Self-Medication Industry (JSMI) conducted an online survey on public attitudes toward changes in the system for controlling the sales of OTC drugs specified by the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Act effective since June 2009.
Methods: A secure web-based questionnaire system was developed and linked to the JSMI website.  The survey was conducted between July 17 and August 31, 2009.
Results: Of the 4,257 people who responded to the questionnaire, 56.8% indicated they understood the provisions of the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.  More than half of the responders had positive opinions of the revision.  They welcomed the improvement in convenience resulting from the availability of drugs at convenience stores, but “Druggists,” who are responsible for sales of the drugs, were not sufficiently represented among responders.  It was inferred that the general public feels that they should be able to purchase OTC drugs for self-medication after receiving sufficient information about the drugs from qualified sources.

In 1991, the committee on postgraduate clinical training proposed revised behavioral objectives for basic clinical training in the initial two years. We present here a model for a clinical training program that should enable most residents to attain these objectives within two years.
The program begins with orientation for 1-2 weeks, including a workshop on team care, and nursing practice.
Basic clinical skills for primary care and emergency managements should be learned by experience during rotations through various clinical specialities. All staff members, even senior residents, should participate in teaching beginning residents in hospitals.