The present study examined the effects of having bigger amount of protein than usual in competitive season on lean body weight (LBW), cross-sectional area of thigh and abdomen, muscle strengths, blood constituents and urinary urea nitrogen. Seventeen male varsity throwers (javelin, discus, hammer and shot put) ranging from 19 to 22 years of age, were divided into two groups ; Group A (N=9) with a more protein diet (2.1 g·kg^-1·d^-1), and Group B (N=8) with a usual amount diet (1.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1) . The experimental period was 62 days. During this period, they practiced six days a week. Three days were for throwing practice. Other three days were for weight training. All subjects lived in the same dormitory, and their life styles were similar to each other. The averaged daily diet of Group A evaluated by means of a weighing method had 3824 kcal with 175 g of protein (2.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1), 115 g of fat and 552 g of carbohydrate. The averaged daily diet of Group B had 3441 kcal with 130 g of protein (1.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1), 76 g of fat and 559 g of carbohydrate. All the intakes of vitamins (A, B₁, B₂, C) and minerals (calcium and iron) of the diet of each group were higher than the Japanese recommended dietary allowance. After the period, body weight, %fat, fat and LBW of both groups did not change significantly. Muscle strengths and cross-sectional areas in abdomen and thigh of both groups did not change significantly. Urinary urea nitrogen of both groups did not change significantly. Blood constituents (RBC, Hb, Ht, TP, Alb, BUN) of each group were still in normal ranges in spite of significant changes. No significant changes in body composition and muscle strengths were found in each group. These results, therefore, indicated that the more protein diet (2.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1) was not effective for increasing LBW and muscle strength of varsity throwers in competitive season.

To clarify methodological issues in clinical research involving acupuncture, a randomized controlled trial was performed on subjects complaing of neck stiffness. Thirty-two volunteers who gave informed consent were randomly alloca-ted into experimental and control groups by the envelope method. In the experimental group, the acupuncture needle was inserted to a depth of 20 mm and the swallow-pecking technique was repeated 5 times. In the control group, the acupuncture needle penetrated the skin and was removed immediately. Bilateral Tianzhu points (BL 10) were used in both groups. Acupuncture treatment was performed once a week for 3 sessions and the effect was evaluated by the subjective intensity of stiffness using a visual analogue scale. In both groups subjective evaluation was immediately reduced by acupuncture treatment and the effects tended to persist for 7 days.There was significant difference between the two groups. Methodological issues listed below were discussed for further to promote clinical research on acupuncture. 1) acupuncture points and stimulation conditions, 2) adequate control groups, 3) entry criteria, 4) volunteer bias, 5) masking technique, 6) sample numbers

Objective : To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy on hiesho in maturate stage females.
Design : Multicenter, randomized, prospective, open blind, waiting list-controlled trial.
Setting : A clinical center attached to three universities and one vocational school.
Participants : Twenty two females between 18-39 years of age and with a level of more than four points on the “hiesho sensation scale” proposed by Kusumi et al for hiesho. Interventions : Participants were randomly assigned to receive therapies of either acupuncture or no therapy (waiting list controls). Acupuncture therapy was provided by needle retention to SP 6 and electro-acupuncture therapy to BL 32 at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 minutes. One session per week of this therapy was provided for a total of four sessions. Method of Measurement : The primary outcome of change in hiesho intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary changes were measured by an eight heading score and three component summaries of the standard edition SF-36 v 2.
Results : The statistical analyses used an intent-to-treat analysis that included two participants who dropped out, and the mixture of one participant targeted for exclusion who was censored from the analyses. As a result, 21 participants were classified as either in the acupuncture group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 9). Efficacy with acupuncture therapy was not found for effect size (Cohen d, point-biserial correlation r) for VAS and the scores of SF-36 between the two groups.
Conclusions : Effectiveness of the acupuncture therapy was not found, which suggests that it may be due to the smaller sample size, frequency of intervention, and symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Japan, it is customary to take a daily bath during which the body is immersed in water to the neck. During full-body immersion, hydrostatic pressure is thought to compress the chest and abdomen, which might influence esophageal motor function and intra-gastric pressure. However, whether water immersion has a significant influence on esophageal motor function or intragastric pressure has not been shown. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of full-body water immersion on esophageal motor function and intragastric pressure. METHODS: Nine healthy male volunteers (mean age 40.1 +/- 2.8 years) were enrolled in this study. Esophageal motor function and intragastric pressure were investigated using a high-resolution 36-channel manometry device. RESULTS: All subjects completed the study protocol. Intragastric pressure increased significantly from 4.2 +/- 1.1 to 20.6 +/- 1.4 mmHg with full-body water immersion, while the lower esophageal high pressure zone (LEHPZ) value also increased from 20.5 +/- 2.2 to 40.4 +/- 3.6 mmHg, with the latter being observed regardless of dietary condition. In addition, peak esophageal peristaltic pressure was higher when immersed as compared to standing out of water. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal motor function and intragastric pressure were altered by full-body water immersion. Furthermore, the pressure gradient between LEHPZ and intragastric pressures was maintained at a high level, and esophageal peristaltic pressure was elevated with immersion.
Abdomen ; Baths ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Immersion ; Japan ; Male ; Manometry ; Neck ; Peristalsis ; Thorax ; Water

Since a skin infiltration of breast cancer may increase hemorrhage and malodorous exudates, it significantly reduces the quality of life. Local treatment is usually performed with zinc oxide starch, Mohs paste or its alternatives. However, the Mohs paste causes pain due to necrobiosis of normal tissues, while the topical therapy with zinc oxide starch ineffectively suppresses hemostasis and odor. We hereby report a case of an 86-year old woman with skin infiltration by breast cancer. The patient’s symptoms including bleeding, infection signs, odor, exudates, necrotic tissue objectively improved with Shiunko ointment, Zinc oxide starch, and Metronidazole (MNZ) combination therapy. The gauze was exchanged once a day and this treatment was simple and easy. The combination therapy with Shiunko ointment, Zinc oxide starch, and MNZ may become an effective new regimen for bleeding and odor from skin involvement in breast cancer.