The effect of isokinetic training was investigated for the strength development in the thigh muscles under various training conditions. Thirty one males from healthy high-school students served as subjects of this study. Training was performed using a Cybex II machine with two kinds of repeated load conditions (number of repetitions, cf. Table 1 & Fig. 1) at to different rotational speeds (30 degrees and 180 degrees per second) . The training was done three times per week for nine weeks. The effects of training were evaluated on the basis of the amount of increase in the strength during knee flexion and extension.
The results were summarized as follows :
1) The effect of training became apparent most swiftly under the rotational speed of 180 degrees per second and light load of repetitions, respectively.
2) The largest increase in the muscluar strength was observed for the group with training speed of 180 degrees per second and hevey load of repetitions, respectively.
3) The strength increased periodically every four or five week for all conditions.

We developed a new double-lumen balloon catheter for retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) via jugular vein cannulation. Between November 1996 and September 2000, 34 of 73 patients treated with surgical procedures for thoracic aortic aneurysms underwent RCP using the new catheter during circulatory arrest under deep hypothermia. Nine patients underwent a median sternotomy, and 25 underwent a left thoracotomy. In all cases, the new catheter installation under fluoroscopy was easy, and it took about 15min. The mean RCP time, pressure, and flow rate were 26.8min, 20.0mmHg, and 202.6ml/min, respectively. Our procedure using the new catheter was safe and easy in RCP during circulatory arrest in aortic arch replacement regardless of surgical approaches such as a left thoracotomy or median sternotomy.

During the perioperative period after total hip arthroplasty (THA), much attention has been recently paid to deep venous thrombosis, yet there are few reports concerning stroke after THA and there is no such data at all in Japan at present. The purpose of this retrospective study was to elucidate the occurrence rate and the characteristics of stroke cases during the THA perioperative period. A total of 1,551 primary THAs performed between January 1999 and December 2008 were investigated. Cerebral infarction occurred in three patients (0.19%) during three weeks after THA. Concerning the related factors, one male had foramen ovale, one female had untreated diabetes and atrial fibrillation, and one female had severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Cerebral infarction occurred at Day 1 in one male, at Day 2 in one female, and at Day 5 in the other female, and they underwent anticoagulant therapy just after their diagnosis. In all three patients, motor paralysis fully improved and they came back to the THA rehabilitation program within Day 9. One male was discharged at 4 weeks, and another two females were discharged at 8 weeks. Because many people eating a more European diet are now getting older in Japan, prophylaxis for not only DVT but also stroke after THA should be emphasized.