The effect of bathing with NY-008 (3-octylphthalide, a newly synthesized vasodilative compound) on skin temperature was examined. The subjects were 28 healthy male adults (22±4 years old). The group bathed for 10min in 40°C water containing 3ppm of NY-008. On alternate days, the group bathed similarly but without NY-008 (control bathing). Skin temperature (Ts), blood pressure, and heart rate (HR) were then measured in a room in which the ambient temperature was maintained at 24°C and relative humidity at 60%. To eliminate any effect of diurnal fluctuations in skin temperature, each subject bathed at the same hour each day. Measurements were performed in random order by the double-blind method. The mean values of Ts after bathing were slightly higher after NY-008 bathing than after control bathing, and a significant difference was noted 10min after bathing (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure between NY-008 bathing and control bathing. Diastolic blood pressure was slightly lower after NY-008 bathing. Mean blood pressure, measured 5 min after bathing, was significantly lower after NY-008 bathing than after control bathing (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in HR. These findings suggest that NY-008 bathing increases skin blood flow through vasodilation of skin vessels and lower peripheral resistance, and may have longer lasting warming effects than ordinary bathing.

Several studies have described "Alternate activity", in which individual muscles of the synergistic muscle group alternate between high activity and silent periods, and rotate in a complementary pattern to maintain constant torque, during sustained low-level contractions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological property of alternate activity among the synergists. Eight human subjects performed static contractions at an ankle joint angle of 110° plantar flexion at 10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 120 min. Simultaneously, a surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded of the triceps surae muscles. Doppler ultrasound techniques were used to measure blood velocity and the arterial diameter of the popliteal artery during exercise. Maximal torque at MVC and mean EMG (mEMG) level decreased significantly after sustained isometric low-level contractions, but there was no significant difference in the mEMG/maximal force ratio of triceps surae muscles, which is thought to indicate peripheral fatigue between pre- and post-exercise. Throughout the "Alternate activity", arterial diameter and pulse rate did not change, but blood flow significantly increased (p<0.001) depending on an increase in blood velocity. These results suggest that "Alternate activity" among the triceps surae muscles may be one mechanism that functions either to decrease or to postpone peripheral fatigue during sustained low-level contraction.

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.

OBJECTIVESIn addition to having health-promoting effects, exercise is considered to induce oxidative stress. To clarify whether increased oxygen consumption during exercise induces oxidative stress, we investigated the effects of aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise on a series of oxidative damage markers.

METHODSOne group of subjects performed aerobic exercise and another group performed anaerobic exercise with similar workloads, but with different levels of oxygen consumption. Blood and urine samples were collected before, immediately after, and 3, 9, and 24 h after exercise. Serum uric acid (UA) and creatine phosphokinase were evaluated. As markers of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA, we evaluated serum 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, urinary F(2)-isoprostanes, serum protein carbonyls, and leukocyte 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine.

RESULTSOxygen consumption was significantly greater during aerobic exercise. Although UA level increased immediately after aerobic exercise and decreased thereafter, UA level did not change after anaerobic exercise. The two types of exercise had significantly different effects on the change in UA level. After anaerobic exercise, the levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal significantly increased at 24 h and 3 h, respectively. The levels of creatine phosphokinase and F(2)-isoprostanes decreased after exercise. The two types of exercise caused no apparent significant differences in the levels of these biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that similar workloads of anaerobic exercise and aerobic exercise induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) differently: aerobic exercise seems to initially generate more ROS, whereas anaerobic exercise may induce prolonged ROS generation. Although more oxygen was consumed during aerobic exercise, the generated ROS did not induce significant oxidative damage. Oxygen consumption per se may not be the major cause of exercise-induced oxidative damage.

Present study aimed to examine the effects of high-intensity intermittent training on metabolic or circulatory parameters and exercise time during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise. Six healthy males (22 ± 1yrs) had an intermittent training four days a week for four weeks. The intermittent training consisted of 8 or more sets of 20s exercise bout at an intensity of 170%VO2 max separated by 10-s recovery. Before and after training period, VO2 max and maximal accumulated O2 deficit (MAOD) were determined as indices of metabolic capacity. During 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise, VO2, O2 deficit, and circulatory parameters, such as heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output, were also determined every 10s. After the training, VO2 max and MAOD were significantly increased. During 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise, exercise time, stroke volume, and cardiac output were also significantly enhanced. However, no significant differences were observed in VO2 and O2 deficit every 10s during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise. Therefore, these findings suggest that high-intensity intermittent training enhances exercise time during 30s-lasting exhaustive exercise and that the improvement of exercise performance is closely related to an increase in anaerobic capacity.