Effects of acupuncture on gastric motility in anesthetized rats
Acupuncture has been used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms in. China for more than 3, 000 years. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of acupuncture remains mysterious. Strain gage transducers were implanted on the serosal surface of the stomach to record circular muscle contractions in thiobutabarbialanesthetized rats. Acupuncture on the right lower abdomen caused a transient relaxation of the stomach. Acupuncture-induced gastric relaxations were abolished by guanethidine, propranolol, splanchnic ganglionectomy, spinal cord transection, and spino-medullary transection. In contrast, NG-nitro-L-arginine, phentolamine, truncal vagotomy and ponto-medullary transection had no effect. Acupuncture increased the number of c-Fos immunopositive cells at the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). It is concluded that acupuncture-induced gastric relaxations are mediated via somato-sympathetic reflex. Its afferent limb is composed of abdominal cutaneous and muscle afferent nerves. Its efferent limb is the gastric sympathetic nerve and the reflex center is within the medulla. RVLM neurons may play an important role in mediating this reflex.
Effects of acupuncture on gastric motility in conscious rats
Of 35 rats studied, 60% showed no cyclic groupings of strong contractions (type A) and 10 rats (40%) showed the cyclic phase III-like contractions (type B) in conscious rats. In 73 % of type A rats, acupuncture on the hind limb (ST36), but not on the back, produced strong cyclic contractions lasting for more than 3 hrs. Acupuncture failed to produce phase III-like contractions in type A rats treated with atropine, hexamethonium and vagotomy. Pretreatment with naloxone significantly shortened the duration of enhanced phase III-like contractions. In 60 % of type B rats, acupuncture suppressed phase III-like contractions. These results suggest that the acupuncture on the ST36 induces dual effects, either stimulatory or inhibitory effects, on gastric motility. The stimulatory effects of acupuncture on the hind limb are mediated via wagal efferent pathway and opioid pathway.
Effects of acupuncture on vasopressin-induced emesis in conscious dogs
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a posterior pituitary hormone and recent evidence implies an involvement of AVP in vomiting and nausea of humans and animals. Vasopressin was intravenously infused at a dose of 0.1U/kg/min. Number of retching and vomiting were visually counted during the experiment. Intravenous administration of vasopressin induced retching and vomiting in all dogs tested. Retrograde peristaltic contractions (RPCs) occurred before the retching and vomiting.
Electro-acupuncture (EA) of 10 HZ at PC6 decreased the number of retching and vomiting induced by vasopressin. EA also suppressed the RPCs. EA at the PC6 significantly reduced the number of episodes of retching and vomiting to 20-30 % compared to that without EA, while EA at BL21 had no significant effects on the number of episodes of retching and vomiting induced by vasopressin.
To investigate whether opioid pathway is involved in EA-induced anti-nociceptive effects, naloxone was administered before EA and vasopressin infusion. EA at PC6 had no more inhibitory effects on vasopressininduced nausea and vomiting when naloxone was given. This suggests that anti-emetic effects of acupuncture is mediated via (central) opioid pathway.
Effects of acupuncture on EGG in healthy volunteers
The point of PC6 and ST36 are the common points for the treatment of gastric symptoms. We compared the effect of EA between PC6 and ST36 on gastric myoelectrical activity using surface electrogastrography (EGG). Eight healthy volunteers were fasted for 12 hours. On the separate days, four sessions of EA (1 Hz, 30 min) were randomly performed to each subject. The percentage of normal slow waves and tachygastria, peak dominant frequency (PDF) and peak dominant power

I report a case of scalp hair loss and nail destruction as possible side effects of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) doping in a Japanese athlete. The patiet, a 27-year-old man, was an amateur bodybuilder who won the championship in a bodybuilding contest. However, he tested positive in a doping test for drostanolone and stanozolol, and was deprived of his championship.
In Japan, positive results in doping tests are very rare. The patient suffered from loss of scalp hair and destruction of the nails before the contest. In addition, he presented with hoarseness and soft tumors of the lower extremities. Laboratory data showed hypotestos-onemia caused by AAS doping. However, a hCG test revealed that he still had positive of sex function capacity. Therefore the patients natural course was observed without medical treatment, and the symptoms were resolved within four months after the contest. This is considered to be the first case of nail destruction caused by AAS doping reported in the world.

Unfortunately, anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is prevalent in Japan. Most steroid abusers are amateur bodybuilders, powerlifters, wrestlers, and “fitness enthusiasists.” The case presented is of a young amateur bodybuilder, who suffered gynecomastia, whose only significant risk factor was his nonmedical use of an AAS.
A 27-yr-old male was admitted to our hospital in December 1992 with gynecomastia. He reported starting to use an AAS, oxymetolone (Anadrol^®) 30 mg daily, at the age of 23 yrs in 1987. He had developed bilateral painful gynecomastia, impotence and decreased sex drive within 3 months of starting AAS use. He stopped using it, and was admitted to another clinic in 1991. He took testosterone propionate (Testinon^®) 25 mg weekly, but, as he was anxious about the long-term use or this medication, he was adimitted to our clinic.
On physical examination his gynecomastia had diminished slightly, but he still had breast tenderness. All his laboratory examination results were almost within the normal ranges. Neverthless his serum free testosterone level was slightly low, so he took tamoxifen (Nolvadex^®) and Chinese medicines. Consequently, his gynecomastia improved after treatment, for 5 months.
Gynecomastia develops when an AAS is converted to estrogen. In conclusion, tamoxifen administration may be useful to reverse gynecomastia caused by AAS doping in sportsmen.

My epidemiological studies on ascaris and hook-worm infection in heavy snowing area, Tamugiyama, Chida, Kamioguni and other villages in Niigata Prefecture, conducted from 1951 to 1955, have revealed the following facts.
1. Incidence of ascaris and hook-worm infection in heavy snowing area did not differ much from the one in non snowing area.
2. Epidemiological studies on ascaris.
a. The average rate of ascaris infection per year in Tamugiyama village was 23%, during the 3 years from 1952 to 1955.
b. The average rate of ascaris infection per year among schoolchildren in Tamugiyama and Kamioguni villages was 60.4% from 1951 to 1952.
c. The seasonal fluctuation of ascaris infection indicated higher ratesfrom harvest time to winter (from October to January), then became lower.
d. By the mass treatment conducted in every winter, the incidence of ascaris infection gradually decreased from 54% in 1952 to 35% in 1955.
3. Epidemiological studies on hook-worms.
a. Both species of hook-worms were found; however, Ancylostoma duodenale Dubini predominated in Niigata Prefecture, especially in snowy areas.
b. By the mass treatment conducted in every winter, the incidence of hook-worm infection decreased rapidly, from 52% in 1952 to 21% in 1955.
4. By these various investigations, I found out that the speed of ascaris and hook-worminfection (how soon reinfection occurred) was lower in heavy snowing area than those in non snowing area.