A study was conducted to analyze the height growth velocity curve based upon the maturity rate. Ninety-eight longitudinal data points for height (for subjects aged 6 to 17 years) were obtained retrospectively from health examination records in 1983. Growth distance and growth velocity curves of each individual were described by the wavelet interpolation method, and PHV age was determined with the described graph using computer simulation. We classified the growth velocity curve by the maturity rate approximated according to the PHV age. As a result, it was shown that the after-growth spurt in early maturity and somewhat early maturity type appeared more than in the average and somewhat late maturity types, and that conversely, the mid-growth spurt in the late maturity and somewhat late maturity types appeared more than in the early maturity and somewhat early maturity types. Specifically, it was demonstrated that two mid-growth spurts appeared in the late maturity and somewhat late maturity types.

Cross-sectional growth and developmental data on physique and motor fitness in preschool children aged 3.75 to 6.25 years were obtained at ten year intervals between 1969 and 1999. This study attempted to verify the secular trends in growth and development in preschool children (four- and five-year-old boys and girls) using the wavelet interpolation method (WIM). Height and weight were used for physique, and 20 m dash, standing long jump, and tennis ball throwing for motor fitness. The growth distance and velocity curve for physique and motor fitness of children aged 3.75 to 6.25 years in 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 were described using the WIM, and the age at local peak velocity (LPV) was derived from the velocity curve. The age at LPV of the physique in boys and girls shifts annually, as does that of motor fitness. Thus, the maturation level was inferred to be early. However, no clear association was shown with age at LPV of physique and motor fitness. A trend was shown for the velocity curve to become more gradual on an annual basis for motor fitness, and a decrease in exercise stimulation of the body was inferred to reflect individual biological variation.

The relationship between body fat growth and physical fitness and motor ability development in school age children is not well understood. We determined the similarities and differences in body fat growth and physical fitness and motor ability development curves by applying cross correlation functions, and attempted to show the structure of growth and development between these attributes. The subjects were 647 boys aged 7 to 15 years. The measurements were height, weight, body mass index and body fat percentage as physical characters; and 20-m sprint, Pro Agility test, side steps, standing long jump, vertical jump, and rebound jump (RJ) index as physical fitness and motor ability. The wavelet interpolation method was applied to growth and distance values for physique, body fat and physical fitness and motor ability, and growth and development curves were derived. Cross correlation functions were then applied to the respective pairs of the compared velocity curves. There were large changes in the behavior of the growth velocity curve around the take off age for height, and so the relationship between body fat percentage and physical fitness and motor ability was investigated using the respective cross correlation functions around the take off age. Before the take off age, positive correlations were seen between body fat percentage and physical fitness and physical fitness and motor ability except for the RJ index. After the take off age, in contrast, there were negative correlations between body fat percentage and physical fitness and motor ability except for the RJ index. These results show the new finding that after the take off age in boys, there are contrary similarity between body fat and speed, agility, and instantaneous force.

In the present study we conducted a regression analysis of age at menarche against Maximum Peak Velocity (MPV) of height in non-athlete Korean girls which was derived with the wavelet interpolation method, and composed linear to quartic regression polynomials to obtain the best regression polynomial. We then applied the age at menarche and age at MPV of height of athletes to the best polynomial regression evaluation, and investigated the validity of a delayed menarche evaluation that we constructed. Moreover, the relation between delayed menarche and menstrual status was examined by investigating delayed menarche and menstrual pain in individuals for the first time. The subjects were 124 second year female students at a physical education high school in the suburbs of Pusan, South Korea. A questionnaire survey of these girls was conducted, from which their date of birth, age at menarche, and athletic activities in elementary, junior high, and high school were obtained. In addition, health check records were examined retrospectively, and longitudinal growth data for height were obtained from the 1st year of elementary school (7 years old) until the second year of high school (17 years old). Next, the same survey as above was also done for second year students at a general high school in the same area, as a control group. Three hundred forty-five non-athletes for whom all data were available were selected. As the results, the third order polynomial was found to be most suitable for the regression polynomial. When it was applied to individual female Korean athletes with respect to the regression evaluation, positive scores were obtained for many athletes and an overall delay in menarche was seen. Delayed menarche was not seen, however, in archery athletes. A strong delay in menarche was thus found in Korean athletes. And it was shown that 80% had moderate or greater menstrual pain and a close relation with menstrual abnormalities, the effectiveness of the delayed menarche evaluation was further validated.

A general delay in menarche in female athletes has been confirmed based on comparisons of mean ages between athletes and non-athletes; however, it has not been possible to judge such delays individually. If delayed menarche could be evaluated for an individual, the athlete could be advised as to necessary precautions. In this study, the age at maximum peak velocity (MPV) of height, adopted as an index of physical maturation, was identified by the wavelet interpolation method (WIM). The relationship between the age at menarche and age at MPV of height in female athletes and non-athletes was then examined. For the athlete group, health examination records of 90 female ball game players in the first year of university in the Tokai area, all of whom had participated in national level competitions, were reviewed for the period from the first grade of elementary school until the final year of high school (from 1985 to 1996). A similar examination was conducted for the control group, among whom a final group of 78 female non-athletes were selected. The age at menarche was determined by questionnaires, and the longitudinal data for height and weight were obtained from the health examination records. Based on a comparison of the difference between the age at MPV of height and age at menarche in ball game players and the control group, a tendency was seen for the difference between the two ages to narrow as the age at MPV of height rose. A corrected regression evaluation of age at menarche against age at MPV of height was derived in the control group, and the evaluation system was applied to ball game players. The delay in menarche in ball game players could be individually evaluated.

Operations were performed 3 times on ventricular septal perforation after acute myocardial infarction which exhibited cardiogenic shock, and the patient's life was saved successfully. The case was a female aged 64. Ventricular septal perforation developed in 6 hours after onset of acute myocardial infarction, and an emergency operation was performed because the patient exhibited cardiogenic shock. Intraventricular re-shunt was observed on the postoperative 5th day, and second operation was performed on the postoperative 7th day because a trend of cardiac insufficiency was intensified. Intraventricular re-shunt was observed again on the 5th day of the second operation, but third operation with a principle that further operation is to be performed awaiting regeneration of the tissue on the perforated margin to occur since the circulatory kinetics were seen to have been stabilized. The postoperative course was favorable, and the patient was discharged on 53 rd day of the third operation with the symptom alleviated. It was considered that our policy is to have to repeat operation when the patient's movement of circulation deteriorate at re-shunt from our experience of this time.

A 2-month-old girl had been urgently seen on postnatal day 10 due to poor weight gain and tachypnea. Echocardiography showed congenital valvular aortic stenosis (AS), ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), and aortic valve dysplasia, but no cyst image was seen at the aortic valve level. Aortography revealed a dysplastic aortic valve along with coarctation of aorta (CoA) and patent ductus arterious (PDA). Balloon aortic valvotomy (BAV) was performed on day 53. Ballooning was satisfactory, but there was no change in gradient. Operation was performed on day 70 under a diagnosis of congenital AS and CoA complex. After cardiopulmonary bypass was established, the ascending aorta was transected. The blood cyst originated from the center of the anterior leaflet and was resected. The pressure gradient at the aortic valve decreased to 22.5mmHg. The patient was discharged 25 days after surgery.

Preservation is essential for successful cell transplantation. 1) Control group (n=13); Cells isolated from human right atrial tissues were cultured for 15 days. 2) Cell-cryopreservation (C. P.) group (n=23), Tissue-C. P. group (n=29); Human heart cells and minced tissues were cryopreserved in freezing medium containing 70% IMDM, 20% FBS, and 10% DMSO at a rate of 1°C/min. to -80°C by a programmed freezer and stored in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) for 1 week. After cryapreservation, the tissues and cells were thawed rapidly at 37°C. The cells, cryopreserved cells and cells isolated from cryopreserved tissues were cultured as passage 1, 2, and 3 for 15 days each. Cell proliferation was compared with a control group by determining growth curves, and 2-day proliferation rates. A growth factor, biochemical features and cell cycle were measured pre and post-cryopreservation. The cryopreserved group proliferated much more than the control group within 15 days at passage 1, 2, and 3 (1.7, 2.1, and 3.1 times, p<0.0001) respectively. The 2-day proliferation rates of cryopreservation group were higher than the control group in 15 days (p<0.05). The bFGF release after cryopreservation was on average 46.8 and 6.8 times greater than before cryopreservation for the Cell-C. P. and Tissue-C. P. groups, respectively. The TGF-β1 release was also accelerated by cryopreservation (Cell-C.P. group: 1.78 times, Tissue-C. P. group: 1.45 times in average) after cryopreservation. The cell cycle of human heart cells shifted to G2+M from the G1+G0 period by cryopreservation. Human atrial tissues and cells can be cultured and cryopreserved. The cryopreserved cells and cells isolated from cryopreserved tissue proliferate much more than non-cryopreserved cells at all cell ages. Cryopreservation enables human tissues and cells to proliferate more because of the greater release of growth factors and changing cell cycle.

Background: Although transferring drugs to a third party, even in a personal capacity, is illegal in Japan, many drug transactions are carried out via internet auction sites. Pharmacy consumers might not be aware of the illegality of transferring drugs to others due to various factors. To clarify pharmacy consumers’ awareness of this issue and its covariates, we carried out a questionnaire survey.Methods: A self-completed questionnaire, consisting of yes/no and multiple-choice questions, was used. The adult patients who visited Keio University Pharmacy were asked to fill out the questionnaire.Results and Discussion: One hundred and fifty-one response sheets were effectively collected from 173 responders. The subjects’awareness of the illegality of transferring drugs was significantly affected by the formulation (oral vs. patches) and pharmacological category of the drug, as well as the source of the drug (prescribed vs. over the counter). Patient education about the illegality of personally transferring drugs, especially patches, might be required to avoid illegal drug transfers, including via the internet.