Ten healthy adults lying in the supine position underwent ‘painless sohri-kifu technique’, ‘Oshide only’, ‘acupuncture only’ and ‘painfull sohri-kifu technique’ on the left ‘Tai-en’ point for one minute. Instantaneous heart rate was measured with a polygraph. Statistical analysis showed that ‘sohri-kifu technique’ and it's constituent—‘Oshide only’, and ‘acupuncture only’ caused significant the decrease of heart rate. The painless sori-kifu technique was more effective than ‘Oshide only’ and ‘acupuncture only’ in decreasing the heart rate. The ‘painful sori-kifu technique’ caused no significant change of heart rate. Sticking pain seems to effective in suppressing the decrease of heart rate.

We investigated sports disorders in 112 (82 men, 30 women) members of Field and Track Club, University of Tsukuba.
Before acupuncture treatment, they entered their painful and fatigued areas in our chart and were tested by Cornel Medical Index.
After six months, we questioned 51 (38 men, 13 women) members treated by acupuncture on effects.
The following results were obtained.
1. The painful areas varied with athletic events, that were muscles and joints they moved frequently.
The painful areas were mostly low backs and thighs in a short distance and hurdle race, hips and legs in a middle and long distance, low backs and legs in a jumping event, elbows and low backs in a throwing event.
2. As a result of Cornel Medical Index, it was proved that many members had more mental than physical symptoms.
3. Most of members treated by acupuncture could still go on with training in spite of pains.
4. The effects of treatment continued for 2-3 days.
5. The effects were rated as follows: better 78.4%, no change 14%, worse 6%.

Comparative trials were undertaken using 16 types of guide-tubes of different caliber and external diamter: small caliber (1.35mm) and large cliber (1.80mm) tubes of eight types of external diameter (i. e, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0mm). 540 tappings was performed with a hard needle (length: 58.0mm, diameter: 0.16mm, head diameter: 1.25mm).
The result can be summarized as follows:
1. Among the six small guide-tubes with 2.5-5.0mm external diameter, the larger external diameter was, the less sticking pain was experienced.
2. The four small caliber guide-tubes with 4.5-6.0mm external diameter caused significantly less sticking pain compared with the four small caliber guide-tubes of 2.5-4.0mm and the four large guide-tubes of 4.5-6.0mm.

We present a case of a patient with rapid deterioration of esophageal varices caused by portal hypertension accompanied by a large arterioportal shunt that developed after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma. We used n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as an embolic material to achieve pinpoint embolization of the shunt, because the microcatheter tip was 2 cm away from the shunt site. Under hepatic arterial flow control using a balloon catheter, the arterioportal shunt was successfully embolized with NBCA, which caused an improvement in the esophageal varices.
Aged ; Arteriovenous Fistula/etiology/radiography/*therapy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*surgery ; Catheter Ablation/*adverse effects ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Enbucrilate/*therapeutic use ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/etiology/*therapy ; Hepatic Artery/*abnormalities/radiography ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*surgery ; Male ; Portal Vein/*abnormalities/radiography

OBJECTIVES: One of the important risk factors of falling is decreased muscle mass and muscle strength. Recently, there has been an increasing concern on the role of vitamin D in muscle strength and physical activity. Aim of our study is to examine the relationships between vitamin D status and muscle mass and muscle strength in middle-aged healthy adults. METHODS: Subjects were 40 healthy volunteers aged 42.0 ± 10.6 years old. Evaluation was made for serum vitamin D₃ metabolites including 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ [25(OH)D₃] and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [24,25(OH)₂D₃] concentrations, lower limb muscle strength, and dietary intake by food frequency questionnaire. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI) was calculated as skeletal muscle mass/squared height. RESULTS: 70% of the subjects had vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (serum total 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL), and female subjects had significantly lower serum total 25(OH)D level compared with males. Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency group had significantly higher body fat, lower SMI and muscle strength, probably reflecting higher percentage of female subjects. Serum vitamin D₃ metabolites levels were significantly correlated with whole and site-specific ASMI, and lower limb muscle strength, except for the correlation between serum 24,25(OH)₂D₃ concentration and lower limb muscle strength. In addition, serum 25(OH)D₃ level was a positive significant predictor for both ASMI and lower limb muscle strength, while serum 24,25(OH)₂D₃ level was not their significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D₃ level was significantly correlated with both skeletal muscle mass and lower limb muscle strength.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Accidental Falls ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Body Composition ; Calcifediol* ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Muscle Strength* ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins