7 swimmers and 20 students majoring in physical education (call students for short) aged from 18 to 21 years were participated in this test.
Their height, weight and skinfold were measured, and their performance concerning with fingers-behind-back-touch (call f.b.b.t, for short) right and left flexibility, backward flexibility and forward flexibility were tested too.
Correlation of these data were investigated. The results were as follows;
1) The correlation between f.b.b.t. left and right, backward flexibility, and upper arm and back skinfold thickness were shown in swimmers and students.
2) The correlation between backward and forward flexibility, and Rohler's Index and upper arme, back skinfold thickness were shown in swimmers only.
3) In students, flexibility in these test items tended to be increased. In swimmers, those were a little or did not change.
4) In students, f.b.b.t. right, f.b.b.t. left and forward flexibility tended to be increased after exercise. In swimmers, those tended to be reduced after exercise. In all of the subject, backward flexibility tended to be reduced after exercise.
5) In swimmers, thickness of upper arm and back skinfold were thicker than those of students. In Rohler's Index, as same tendency was shown too.
6) In difference between f.b.b.t. right and left flexibility, swimmers' difference was smaller than that of students. And in total of right and left flexibility, swimmers' total was largely compared with that of sudents.

Before and after the physical fitness tests included 1000 meter endurable walking, aged males and females more than 61 to 80 years old were tested on the blood pressure, heart rate and blood components. The results were as follows.
1) The systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not varied so distinctly.
2) Heart rates were increased in all groups.
3) Serum cholesterol, GOT and GPT were not influenced.
4) Fatty acid, especially unsaturated one, was increased remarkably.
5) Fatty acid increasing observed on excellent performer of the endurable walking was higher than that of poor performer.
6) Increasing ratio of the fatty acid which was found on the subjects with abnormal ECG was higher than that of the subjects with normal ECG.
As above mentioned facts, the test of serum fatty acid seemed very important item to the aged people from the view point of security of the exercise.

OBJECTIVESPrevious types of rock wool has been recently replaced with high-temperature wool (HT wool). HT wool is characterized by a chemical composition with a higher concentration of Al(2)O(3) and a lower concentration of SiO(2), lower biopersistence, and a higher melting point than previous types of rock wool. To evaluate the safety of HT wool, an asbestos substitute, we examined the biopersistence of HT wool in the lungs, based on changes in fiber count according to the length and fiber size (length and width), by performing a nose-only inhalation exposure study in rats.

METHODSMale Fischer 344 rats were exposed to fibers at the target exposure concentration of 30 mg/m(3) continuously for 3 hours daily for 5 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed shortly after exposure, and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after exposure, and their lung tissues were incinerated at a low temperature. Then, fiber counts and sizes in the lungs were analyzed using a phase contrast microscope.

RESULTSThe fiber count in the lungs 4 weeks after exposure significantly decreased from the baseline value (shortly after exposure). The half-life of fibers calculated from the approximation curve was 34 days for all fibers and 11 days for fibers longer than 20 μm.

CONCLUSIONSBoth the length and width significantly decreased 4 weeks after exposure, probably because fibers were ingested by alveolar macrophages, discharged to outside of the body by mucociliary movement, or lysed by body fluid. In future studies, it is necessary to examine the long-term persistence of fibers in the lungs.