Levels of exposure to dichlorvos by farmers were investigated during or after the application of the organophorous insecticide to an apple orchard. One farmer applied 500 g of the pesticide as an active ingredient to the 30-are orchard for 20 min with an airblast sprayer. During the spraying work, a large amount of the chemical fell on his head and arms, but the quantities on his trunk and legs were smaller. The operator's dermal exposure level was estimated at 4.4 mg (=56μg/kg of b. w.), or 0.0009% of the total amount of dichlorvos sprayed. At 1 hr and 6 hrs after application, two other farmers entered the orchard for 30 min. They were expected to be systemically exposed to a small amount of the pesticide residues through contact with apple plants first entry, and their estimated exposure levels were 105 to 120μg (1.8-2.3μg/kg). However, it was found that the apple growers were not exposed to the residues during the subsequent reentry. The residue of 331 ng/cm² at the initial entry reduced rapidly thereafter and was not detected on the leaves at 2 days after application. Although the mean level of the pesticide in the air was 13.9μg/m³ at 1 hr, it lowered also rapidly and was not found at 1 day after application. It was considered that the workers in the orchard were not affected at 1 day after the spraying of dichlorvos.

Exposure levels of workers to fenpropathrin were studied during or after the application of the insecticide in a grape orchard. One farmer applied 25 g of the pesticide as an active ingredient to the 30-are orchard for 15 min with an airblast sprayer. The operator was most exposed on his legs, back and head. Consequently, his dermal exposure level was estimated at 783 μg (=12 μg/kg of b. w.), corresponding to 0.003% of the total amount of fenpropathrin sprayed. Another worker entered the orchard for 20 min at reular intervals during the period of 9 days after application. Upon entering 1 hr after application, the farmer was exposed predominantly on his head and to a lesser extent on his arms and back, and his estimated exposure level was 272 μg (=4.7μg/kg). At the subsequent reentries, his exposure level was reduced gradually, and no trace of exposure was recognized at the 9th day. Foliar residues were worked out at about 130ng/cm² 1 to 6 hrs after application, and thereafter decreased to 14ng/cm² at the 9th day. The dissipation of foliar residues of fenpropathrin was expressed in the following regression equation: Y (ng/cm²) =116-0.5 X (hrs). Thus, the half-life of fenpropathrin was estimated at 100 hrs on grape-leaf surfaces. Also, the dermal exposure levels of the reentering worker were correlated with the foliar residues, and when the residues on the leaves were reduced to less than 27 ng/cm², it was suggested that contact with leaves do not cause dermal exposure.

Exposure of applicators to metalaxyl was assessed during the spraying to greenhouse cucumbers by power sprayers. Of four applicators wearing work clothes with a hood, a mask and gloves, two moved forward holding the nozzle in their hands so that they passed through the area sprayed by them. The other two went backward and sprayed both sides. Each of the applicators sprayed 14 to 18 g of metalaxyl during one hour of application. The estimated systemic expoure level in the forward moving group was 1 to 10 mg, 3 to 40 times higher than the exposure level of 0.25 to 0.29 mg in the backward group. But, skin exposure was insignificant or not detected in both groups. Also it was suggested that respiratory exposure was higher in the forward moving group than that in the backward group. In conclusion, when applying metalaxyl by any spraying techniques, the risk of poisoning was thought to be negligible under this research condition. However, the workers should employ the spraying technique moving backward, and be protected with suitable protective gear for preventing acute or chronic pesticide intoxications.

When workers were applying the same volume of a TPN formulation to asparagus fields of the same acreage by a speed sprayer or a conventional power sprayer, their exposure levels to the pesticide were compared. The estimated body exposure level of workers using power sprayer was more than 10 times higher than that of workers using a speed sprayer. The fate of TPN residues in the fields was also assayed. The foliar residues reduced rapidly in one day, but thereafter its reduction rate was very slow, and TPN was expected to remain on the foliage for a long period. However, the airborne TPN concentration was reduced to nil at 1 day after application.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether amount of oral cortisol, immunoglobulin A (IgA), chromogranin A (CgA) and inflammatory cytokines, might be affected by prolonged strenuous exercise. Ten young male volunteers either exercised on recumbent ergometer at 75 % VO₂ max for 60 min (exercise session) or sat quietly (resting session). Saliva samples were obtained at 60 min intervals during sessions for measurements of salivary stress markers (cortisol, IgA and CgA), salivary inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and osmolality. Saliva flow rate was decreased and saliva osmolality was increased during the 60-min exercise. Saliva cortisol and CgA concentrations and secretion rates were increased during and after the exercise, whereas saliva IgA concentration and secretion rates were decreased after the exercise. Salivary inflammatory cytokines was increased during and after the exercise. The present findings suggested a single bout of prolonged strenuous exercise caused a transient increase in the salivary cortisol, CgA and inflammatory cytokines levels, whereas salivary IgA concentration and secretion rates were decreased after the exercise. Further studies, however, are needed to delineate whether or not salivary stress markers and inflammatory cytokines may be used as biological markers to determine the host responses to acute prolonged strenuous exercise.

Although there are a number of reported cases of increased cerebral blood flow during exercise, there are no reports on the relation between changes of blood flow during exercise and attentional function. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between changes of blood flow during exercise with AT intensity and attentional function, using near-infrared spectral analysis. The subjects were 10 healthy males. The research protocol was to conduct steady load exercise. We randomly conducted two invention trials: 1) an exercise/task trial in which a trail making test (TMT) was performed as an attentional assignment during steady load exercise, and 2) a rest/task trial in which TMT was performed during rest as a control. As a result, we observed the following: increase of oxy-Hb in the prefrontal cortex during AT exercise, the significant shortening of TMT during exercise from 69.1±10.2 seconds to63.2±7.2seconds, and, with further control, that the more oxy-Hb rises, the more TMT time is shortened. From these results, it is suggested that 10 minutes of exercise would improve attentional function, and furthermore, there is a possibility that increased cerebral blood flow may be involved with the improvement of attentional function.

We performed redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using lateral MIDCAB for 3 patients with severe symptomatic ischemia in the left circumflex system alone. When the descending thoracic aorta had no atherosclerotic lesions on chest CT, it was selected as the inflow of the bypass. According to the location of the target artery, we undertook sequential or T-composite off-pump bypass using the radial artery through a left lateral thoracotomy. On the other hand, when the descending aorta was diseased, the left axillary artery was chosen as the inflow of the bypass. We selected the saphenous vein as a conduit to obtain sufficient graft length. A proximal anastomosis was made through a left infraclavicular incision, and then a distal anastomosis was done through a left lateral thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. Moreover, care was taken not to kink the grafts. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Lateral MIDCAB technique was useful for redo revascularization to the circumflex system. We believe that selection of bypass conduits, routes, and bypass inflow according to the individual patient is essential for the procedure.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aquatic exercise training on the trunk muscles function and activities of daily living in abdominal obese women. Nineteen abdominal obese (abdominal circumference: 90 cm or more) and fifteen age-matched non-obese women were recruited as participants in this study. The aquatic exercise training (60 min/day, three days/week for 8 weeks) based on abdominal twists for activating the trunk muscle function. Physical parameters, biochemical characteristics, arteriosclerotic parameters and activities of daily living scores were assessed before and after the training period. In both groups showed abdominal circumference, percent of body fat, blood pressure and lower extremity muscle strength increased significantly after aquatic exercising training. In particular, endurance capacity of abdominal and back muscles increased significantly and activities of daily living scores were significantly improved in the obese group. Moreover, the improvement in the strength of lower extremities and improvement in the activities of daily living scores, such as climbing and descending stairs, in the obese group tended to be higher than non-obese women. Additionally, in abdominal obese group, the amount of the reduction of abdominal circumference was significantly associated with that of the increase in the strength of lower extremities. Taken together, these findings suggest the possibilities that the present aquatic exercise training based on trunk muscle exercise improving the function of trunk and lower extremity muscles with reduction in the abdominal obesity, contributing to improve activities of daily living in abdominal obese women.