The explosive power output of both legs during extension movement was assessed in 271 male (aged 16-84 yr) and 248 female (aged 16-82 yr) subjects, and the table of evaluation for the value obtained was prepared with the function of sex and age. From a sitting position on a seat, leg extension movement was performed toward the foot plate in the forward, to which the body mass of each subject was applied as a resistance. The reliability of the power measurement was ascertained from the result that the coefficients of variation were under 5 x 10^-2 when the power output of 6 subjects was measured once a day for 10 days. On both sexes, the power output per body mass declined linearly with age. The regression equations between age (x) and the power output per body mass (y) were as follows.
male: y=-0.22 x+28.38 (r=.659, n=271; p<0.001)
female: y=-0.13 x+18.36 (r=.583, n=248; p<0.001)
For all groups classified by 10 years, the male indicated greater value than the female in corresponding groups. The ratio of the value for the female relative to that for the male was between 64.8% and 72, 0%. These results suggested that the power output for the male decreased at a higher rate, and the sex difference of it decreased as the age increased.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes of left and right leg movement on curved path during the latter half of 400m sprint. Subjects were 8 male university sprinters (age 20.0 ± 1.2, height 1.75 ± 0.07m, weight 64.7 ± 6.2kg, personal best for 400m 50.98 ± 2.36sec). The subjects performed 400m sprint with maximal effort on the 1st lane in outdoor track. Trials were recorded and analyzed by two-dimensional motion analysis method focusing on 160-360m section during 400m sprint. This section was divided into five 40m phases (In straight , Beginning of curve, Center of curve, End of curve, and Out straight). The kinematics parameters were averaged for each phase and compared between the phases and between the left and right legs. The running velocity and the step frequency decreased significantly after the Center of curve in both legs. The stance time and the flight time increased significantly after the Center of curve in left leg and the right leg, respectively. Although, the step length of the left leg decreased significantly after the End of curve, the right leg showed no significant difference. Also, the stance distance of the left leg decreased significantly after the End of curve. Form these results, the present study demonstrated that the changes of movement and the factors affecting the decline in running velocity are different between left and right legs on curved path during the latter half of 400m sprint.

Resting O₂ consumption following exercise at ventilatory threshold (VT) intensity was measured in order to investigate the magnitude and duration of excess post-exercise O₂ consumption in untrained men. Nine untrained males (mean age 24.8±1.5 years) exercised for one hour at VT intensity (58.2±1.7% of VO₂max) on a cycle ergometer, and then rested for 12 h sitting in a comfortable armchair (post-exercise) . On a separate day the subjects rested for 12 h but without preceding exercise (non-exercise) . O₂ uptake (VO₂) and heart rate (HR) were measured for 5 min every 30 min throughout the 12 h rest period and again at 24 h following the exercise. High-carbohydrate meals (carbohydrate 112.8±5.1 g, protein 9.7±0.4 g, fat 1.8±0.1 g) were given to the subjects at 2, 7 and 12 h following the exercise. The total energy intake per day was 1591.7±71.8 kcal. V0₂ and HR were significantly higher, and respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly lower at most of the measured time-points for post-exercise than for non-exercise. Total energy consumption for the 12 h rest period was 957.3±25.5 kcal for post-exercise and 840.3±15.8 kcal for non-exercise, respectively. After 24 h no difference was observed in VO₂ and HR between post-exercise and non-exercise, but RQ was significantly lower in the former than in the latter (0.86±0.05 vs. 0.90±0.04, p<0.05) . These results suggest that exercise for one hour at VT intensity enhances resting VO₂ for at least 12 h, and elevates the rate of fat utilization for at least 24 h.

The purpose of this study was to examine the age- and athletic event-related differences in trunk muscularity among junior and senior athletes. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the rectus abdominis, lateral abdominal muscle group, psoas major and erector spinae were determined on magnetic resonance imaging for 188 junior athletes aged 12-18 years and 164 senior athletes aged ≥ 19 years in six different athletic events (male: archery, table tennis, Nordic combined, basketball, and wrestling; female: archery, table tennis, and gymnastics). To examine the age-related differences for each athletic event and sex, the subjects were classified into the following age groups: 12-15 years, 16-18 years and senior (≥ 19 years). The main results were as follows. 1) The magnitude relationships of trunk muscle CSA/height² differed among the age groups by athletic event and muscle. 2) The values of CSA/height² of the lateral abdominal muscle group and erector spinae were significantly larger in female gymnasts aged 12-15 years than in female athletes from the other athletic events. These results respectively indicated that 1) each trunk muscle has the potential to specifically develop according to the athletic events and 2) selective hypertrophy of the trunk muscles can be induced by training reflecting athletic event-specific characteristics in female junior high school athletes.

We report the first case demonstrating an association between Kawasaki disease (KD) and erythema nodosum (EN). A 3-year-old girl presented with EN as an initial manifestation of KD. At the initial visit, she showed high fever of 40℃, injection of the oropharynx, cervical lymphadenopathy, and red-purple cutaneous nodules, particularly on the lower limbs. She complained of severe pain in the neck and cutaneous lesions. Initially, the development of EN was attributed to Salmonella spp infection, which was detected in stool culture. However, the patient did not respond to high-dose ampicillin/sulbactam to which the Salmonella spp is sensitive. Echocardiography performed as screening for fever of unknown origin revealed medium-sized aneurysms of the left anterior descending artery. EN masked the diagnosis of KD, and the patient developed a coronary artery lesion. KD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory EN in pediatric patients.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Bacterial Infections ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Erythema Nodosum ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Masks ; Mass Screening ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Neck ; Oropharynx ; Salmonella ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It remains uncertain which patients with stricturing-type Crohn's disease (CD) require early small bowel surgery after the initial diagnosis. We aimed to clarify clinical characteristics associated with the intervention in such condition of CD. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of 53 patients with CD and small bowel strictures who were initially treated with medications after the initial diagnosis. We investigated possible associations between small bowel surgery and the following: clinical factors and radiologic findings at initial diagnosis and the types of medications administered during follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (53%) required small bowel resection during a median follow-up period of 5.0 years (range, 0.5–14.3 years). The cumulative incidence rates of small bowel surgery at 2, 5, and 10 years were 26.4%, 41.0%, and 63.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that obstructive symptoms (P=0.036), long-segment stricture (P<0.0001), and prestenotic dilation (P<0.0001) on radiography were associated with small bowel surgery, and immunomodulatory (P=0.037) and biological therapy (P=0.008) were significant factors during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that long-segment stricture (hazard ratio [HR], 4.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78–10.53; P=0.001) and prestenotic dilation (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.24–9.62; P=0.018) on radiography showed a positive correlation with small bowel surgery, and biological therapy (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.15–0.99; P=0.048) showed a negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: CD patients with long-segment stricture and prestenotic dilation on radiography seem to be at a higher risk of needing small bowel surgery. For such patients, early surgical intervention might be appropriate, even at initial diagnosis.
Biological Therapy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestine, Small ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies

Background/Aims: Recent studies suggested a favorable effect of indigo naturalis (IN) in inducing remission for refractory ulcerative colitis (UC), however, the maintenance effect of IN for patients with UC remains unknown. Therefore, we conducted a prospective uncontrolled open-label study to analyze the efficacy and safety of IN for patients with UC. Methods: Patients with moderate to severe active UC (clinical activity index [CAI] ≥ 8) took 2 g/day of IN for 52 weeks. CAI at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 52 and Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) and Geboes score (GS) at weeks 0, 4, and 52 were assessed. Clinical remission (CAI ≤ 4), mucosal healing (MES ≤ 1), and histological healing (GS ≤ 1) rates at each assessment were evaluated. Overall adverse events (AEs) during study period were also evaluated. The impact of IN on mucosal microbial composition was assessed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Results: Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The rates of clinical remission at weeks 4, 8, and 52 were 67%, 76%, and 73%, respectively. The rates of mucosal healing at weeks 4 and 52 were 48% and 70%, respectively. AEs occurred in 17 patients (51.5%) during follow-up. Four patients (12.1%) showed severe AEs, among whom 3 manifested acute colitis. No significant alteration in the mucosal microbial composition was observed with IN treatment. Conclusions One-year treatment of moderate to severe UC with IN was effective. IN might be a promising therapeutic option for maintaining remission in UC, although the relatively high rate of AEs should be considered.