1.THE ACTN3 R577X NONSENSE ALLELE IS UNDER-REPRESENTED IN ELITE-LEVEL JAPANESE ENDURANCE RUNNERS
DAICHI SAITO ; NORIYUKI FUKU ; ERI MIKAMI ; TAKASHI KAWAHARA ; HIROAKI TANAKA ; MITSURU HIGUCHI ; MASASHI TANAKA
Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2011;60(4):443-451
Background: Although previous reports have shown a lower proportion of the ACTN3 XX genotype (R577X nonsense polymorphism) in sprint/power athletes compared with controls, possibly attributed to the importance of skeletal muscle function associated with alpha-actinin-3 deficiency, the findings on association between endurance athlete status and R577X genotype are equivocal. Purpose: The present study was undertaken to examine association of ACTN3 R577X genotype with elite Japanese endurance athlete status. Subjects and Methods: Subjects comprised 79 elite Japanese endurance runners (E) who participated in competition at national level and 96 Japanese controls (C). We divided endurance runners into two groups, i.e., 42 national level runners (E-N) and 37 international level runners (E-I) who had represented Japan in international competition. R577X genotype (rs1815739) was analyzed by direct sequencing. Frequency differences of polymorphisms between athletes and controls were examined by Chi-square tests. Result: The R allele frequency tended to be higher in E group than in C group (P=0.066). When we divided E into two groups, the R allele frequency in E-I group was significantly higher than that in C group (P=0.046); whereas there were no significant differences between E-N and C groups (p=0.316). Then, the three genetic models were tested. In the additive genetic model (RR>RX>XX), there were significantly differences between E-I and C (P=0.038), but not the dominant (RR vs. RX+XX) and the recessive (RR+RX vs. XX) genetic models. Conclusion: R allele of the R577X genotype in the ACTN3 gene was associated with elite Japanese endurance athlete status.
2.Effects of Hot Footbath on Motor Function in Healthy Volunteer
Noriyuki TANAKA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA ; Hiroya SHIMAZAKI ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Eri SUZUMURA ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ; Chihiro MIWA ; Nariaki SHIRAISHI
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2009;72(2):141-147
Purpose
This study aimed to clarify the effects of footbath (FB) on motor functions (MFs).
Subjects
The study population comprised 26 healthy volunteers (12 males and 14 females; age, 21-30years, Standard Deviation,25.5±2.8).
Method
(1) Study design: The footbath group (FBG; 6 males, 8 females) received FB at 42°C for 20 min after 5-min rest. The control group (CG; 6 males, 6 females) was instructed to sit on the chair for 20 min after 5-min rest. (2) Evaluation of MFs: MF was evaluated using the following parameters: long sitting reach (LSR), grips (GP), quadriceps power, stick reaction, and functional reach (FR). MF was evaluated before the rest period (pre-MF) and after load application (post-MF). The results obtained from pre-MF and post-MF assessments were compared. (3) Measurement of tympanic membrane temperature (TM temp) : TM temp was measured every 1 min duimg load application and after the rest period.
Result
TM temp: Significant increase in the TM temp in the FBG was observed at 18 min in the males and at 20 min in females.
MF before and after FB: (1) Analysis of all 26 cases: There was no significant difference betweenthe pre-MF and post-MF parameters in both the FBG and CG. (2) Analysis of the findings in males only: The post-FR value in the FBG increased significantly as compared to the pre-FR value, although there was no significant difference between the pre-MF and post-MF results in the CG. (3)Analysis of the findings in females only: In the FBG, post-LSR value increased and the post-GP value decreased significantly as compared to the corresponding values, although there was no significant difference between the pre-MF and post-MF in the CG.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that FB improves MF in healthy volunteers. Gender ditiference should be considered while establishing effective FB treatment programs in Balneology.
3.Effects of Foot Bath on Cerebral Circulation and Mental Function in Elderly Persons
Chihiro MIWA ; Hiroya SHIMAZAKI ; Noriyuki TANAKA ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Eri SUZUMURA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA ; Yoiclhi KAWAMURA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2009;72(4):250-255
The purpose of this study was to clarify effects of foot bath at 42°C for 10 min on cerebral circulation and mental function in elderly persons. The subjects of this study were 12 elderly persons (average 83.1 years old). Tissue hemoglobin concentration and blood flow at the cerebral frontal cortex were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy and blood pressure and heart rate using an autonomic spygmomanometer during for each 10 minutes before foot bath, during foot bath, and after foot bath. We measured subject's arithmetic speed and mistaken numbers as mental function. During foot bath the blood flow and after foot bath oxyhemoglobin at frontal cortex were significantly increased. Heart rate was significant increased after foot bath. But deoxyhemoglobin and blood pressure did not changed during foot bath. In addition to arithmetic speed and mistaken numbers were same before and after foot bath. These findings suggest that cerebral circulation is changed by foot bath, but mental functions is not before and after foot bath.
4.Effects of the Footbath on Tympanic Temperature, Sweat Rate, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate in the Elderly Person
Chihiro MIWA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA ; Nariaki SHIRAISHI ; Noriyuki TANAKA ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Eri SUZUMURA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2007;70(2):84-88
The purpose of this study was to clarify difference in heating effect of the two types of bathing for the elderly, footbathing at 44°C and full bathing at 40°C.
The subjects of this study were nine elderly persons for footbathing (average 73.5 years old) and 10 elderly persons for full bathing (average 77.4 years old). The tympanic temperature was measured using a thermistor, sweat rate using the ventral capsule method, and blood pressure and heart rate using an autonomic spygmomanometer during control period 10 minutes before bathing, for 20 minutes during bathing, and for 10 minutes after bathing. Subjects wore plain clothes while taking a footbath time or swimming trunks while taking a full bathing. The ambient temperature was set to 20°C during the footbath or 26°C during the full bathing.
During the footbath, the tympanic temperature increased to 60% that of full bathing and a significant increase of sweat rate was observed. In contrast, during full bathing, a significant rise in systolic blood pressure was observed immediately after bathing started due to hydrostatic pressure and a significant drop of diastolic pressure was observed after bathing due to heating during bathing.
These findings suggest that the footbath is safe, does not cause any change in blood pressure and is expected to provide mild warming for the elderly.
5.Effects of the Foot Bathing on Hemiplegia Patients
Chihiro MIWA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA ; Nariaki SHIRAISHI ; Noriyuki TANAKA ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Eri SUZUMURA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2007;70(4):209-214
The purpose of this study was to clarify effects of foot bathing at 44°C for the patients with hemiplegia. The subjects of this study were six patients with hemiplegia (average 71.6 years old) and six healthy volunteers (average 74.3 years old). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured using an autonomic spygmomanometer, tympanic temperature using a thermistor, and sweat rate using the ventrilated capsule method during the control period of 10 minutes before foot bathing, for 20 minutes during foot bathing, and for 10 minutes after foot bathing. Subjects wore a plain clothes while taking a footbath and the ambient temperature was set to 20°C. During foot bathing, heart rate was significantly increased, but blood pressure and pressure-rate product did not changed. Tympanic temperature was no significant changed in both subjects during foot bathing. But a significant increase of sweat rate was observed in patients. In healthy volunteers, in contrast, skin blood flow on the bottom of the foot was significant increased. These findings suggest that regulation system of cardiovascular is slightly declined in the patient, and patient's thermoregulatory system was difficult in healthy humans.
6.Effects of the Spa Water Ingestion on Electrogastrography and Heart Rate Variability in Humans
Chihiro MIWA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA ; Nariaki SHIRAISHI ; Noriyuki TANAKA ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Eri SUZUMURA ; Satoshi IWASE
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2008;71(3):161-166
The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of ingesting spa water on electrogastrography and heart rate variability in humans. The subjects were eight youths (average age 22.3 years old). We measured three and six circles per minute (cpm) power of electrogastrography (EGG), the high-frequency (HF: 0.15-0.4Hz) components, and the ratio of low-frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15Hz) components to HF components in heart rate variability (HRV) during 90 minutes. We also assessed the taste of water, pain or abnormalities in the stomach by questionnaire. The subjects ingested the spa water or purified water after thirty minutes, and ingested no water on a different day. The six cpm power of EGG, presumably reflecting instestinal activity, was significantly increased with spa water ingestion. The three cpm power of EGG, presumably reflecting stomach activity, did not change under any conditions. The HF components in HRV, presumably reflecting cardiac parasympathetic activity, tended to increase with ingestion of spa water. The ratio of LF to HF components in HRV, presumably reflecting cardiac sympathetic activity, significantly decreased with ingestion of spa and purified water. There was no difference in the answers of the questionnaire. These findings suggest that spa water ingestion activates instestinal activity, increasing parasympathetic nerve activity and suppressing sympathetic nerve activity in humans.
7.Three Cases of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Associated with Horseshoe Kidney
Noriyuki Sasaki ; Jun Kiyosawa ; Junichi Tanaka ; Masayoshi Kobayashi ; Kenji Hida ; Hiroo Shikata ; Shigeru Sakamoto ; Junichi Matsubara
Japanese Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2004;33(4):259-262
Horseshoe kidney is an unusual abnormality occurring in 0.25% of the population. In surgery for AAA with horseshoe kidney, reconstruction of aberrant renal and preservation of renal isthmus is important. We report 3 cases of AAA with horseshoe kidney treated successfully without division of the isthmus.
8.A Case of Iliopsoas Abscess and Cerebellum Abscess Caused by Misplacement of Central Venous Catheter
Aya Hiraoka ; Yusuke Iki ; Kazuya Odawara ; Noriyuki Fumoto ; Takeshi Morizane ; Hideo Tanaka
General Medicine 2015;16(2):113-116
A 64-year-old female was admitted due to iliopsoas abscess caused by misplacement of a central venous catheter (CVC) into the ascending lumbar vein (ALV). Despite removing the CVC and administering an antimicrobial agent, her general condition did not improve. Therefore, we performed a contrast-enhanced head computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT scan revealed a cerebellum abscess. Surgical cerebellum abscess drainage was thus performed urgently. We recommend using anteroposterior radiographs, J-guide wire catheter and ultrasound guidance to prevent misplacement. If misplacement of the CVC is suspected, it should be removed and a CT scan performed without hesitation as soon as possible.
10.Effects of Hot Spring Bathing on Salivary Secretion and Secretory IgA secretion in Healthy Volunteers
Eri SUZUMURA ; Akira DEGUCHI ; Hitoshi HAMAGUCHI ; Yoichi KAWAMURA ; Noriyuki TANAKA ; Naoto KAWAMURA ; Kenichi KAWAMURA ; Chihiro MIWA ; Kimiya SUGIMURA
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2007;70(3):127-132
This study examined the effect of hot-spring bathing (40 to 41°C) on salivary secretion and salivary secretory IgA (sIgA) in healthy volunteers. Ten volunteers (10 men, average 33.6±9.3 years old) bathed in a hot-spring for 10 minutes.
Saliva samples were collected before bathing, during bathing (from 5 to 7 min), and after bathing using the Saxon test. The saliva flow rates and sIgA concentration were determined and then the sIgA secretion rates were calculated.
The saliva flow rates increased significantly during the bathing (p<0.02) and decreased after bathing. The sIgA secretion rates during bathing were significantly higher than those before and after bathing (p<0.02).
The increases in saliva flow rates and sIgA secretion rates during bathing were considered to indicate the improvement of local immunity in the oral cavity and thus considered to be useful for preventing upper respiratory tract infections.