[Objective] To examine the effect of press tack needle (PTN) treatment on muscle soreness after triathlon race in a placebo (P) -controlled study.
[Method] Subjects were 149 healthy triathletes randomly divided into 2 groups, PTN group and P group. PTN and P were placed on the L 3 to S 2 dermatome area (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26 and BL32) only during the race. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure muscle soreness at 6 points (Quads, Hamstrings, Calves, Tibialis anteriors, Glutes and lower back). Measurements were obtained before the race (PRE), after the race (POST1), and on the day after the race (POST2) to evaluate the effect of PTN treatment.
[Results] Each VAS score was increased on POST1 compared to that on PRE (p<0.01) for both groups. With PTN treatment, VAS scores were decreased on POST2 compared to those on POST1 except for Glutes (p<0.01, p<0.05), and had recovered to the PRE-race condition. In the P group, VAS score of the hamstrings was decreased on POST2 compared to that on POST1, while VAS scores were significantly higher than those on PRE for Quad, Hamstrings, and Calves.
[Conclusion] It is suggested that PTN stimulation during triathlon race suppresses delayed-onset muscle sore-ness.

[Objective]To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of lower back pain of sailors that participated in the National Sports Festival of Japan to assess whether or not acupuncture can be used as a pre and post race treatment.
[Methods]The study was conducted at the National Sports Festival of Japan sailing games. The focus was on sailor's complaints of lower back pain. Acupuncture treatment for lower back pain was executed pre and/or post race, and the respective therapeutic effect was evaluated. Acupuncture was executed by several techniques and on several points of the lower back.
The depth of insertion was the most critical criteria and must be shallow. The insertion depth of the study was approximately 5 mm.
Acupuncture points were chosen by the therapist. The insertion point was selected based on characteristics such as tenderness and induration of tissue. As needed, the dermis was stimulated continuously utilizing the acupuncture needle. The effect of acupuncture treatment was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
[Results]Lower back pain in sailors was alleviated by acupuncture and decreased by a VAS value (p < 0.01). The result was the same in pre and/or post race patients. Organic disease was confirmed in 19.0%of the patients. Both lumbar disc herniation and isthmic spondylolisthesis were diagnosed. There were no adverse events.
[Conclusion]Acupuncture was an effective treatment method and as such can be used as a method of treatment of sailors at pre or post race. However, to attain the maximum efficacy, the depth of the needle insertion must be shallow.

[Purpose] This report examines the immediate effect of acupuncture treatment for subjective symptoms in competitive sailors.
[Method] The investigation was performed in the conditioning room at the national sports festival. Acupuncture treatment was performed for lumbago (n=108), dorsal pain (n=72). Acupuncture treatment was performed only on the area where players complained of pain. The variety of chief complaints, number of chief com-plaints, and visual analog scale (VAS) score were used for the investigation. Significance of differences in VAS score was compared by t-test.
[Result] There were numerous chief complaints involving lumbago, followed in orderby dorsal pain, and othercomplaints. Acupuncture treatment decreased the VAS score fbr lumbago (n=108) from 52.3±215mm to 21. 5±16.4mm. Dorsal pain (n=72) was also decreased from 48.0±18.7mm to 18.5±15.2mm. These values were both significantly different at p<0.01.
[Discussion] Acupuncture treatment was effective for lumbago, and dorsal pain of competitive sailors. As a result, it was suggested that the acupuncture treatment is an effective condition adjustment methods.

Urinary mineral excretions were measured on five healthy 19-years-old female students in domestic sciences course of a woman's college and five healthy 18-19-years-old female students in physical training course, during the training camp of ski events.
The examination for the female students in domestic sciences course was done on 22 December as of ordinary time at school and on 23-25 December 1969 in training camp of ski event at a skiing ground. For the female students in physical training course the examination was done on 9-13 January 1970 in training camp at the same skiing ground and on 3-5 February 1970 in ordinary time at school. Every three hours urine was collected during the examination periods.
(1) Whole urine volume per 24 hours decreased in training camp in comparison with that in ordinary school time, while the excretion increased after the physical exercise and decreased during the sleeping hours.
(2) Creatinine excretion per 24 hours increased in the training camp and diurnally the excretion increased after the physical exercises. The variation of creatinine excretion seemed to be effected by the physical exercise.
(3) Decrease of Na excretion and increase of K excretion were observed in the students of domestic sciences course in training camp. Increase pattern of Na and K excretion with diurnal variation in training camp was observed with physical exercises.
(4) Urinary excretion of Ca and Mg increased by the female students of physical training course in training camp. On the diurnal pattern, the increase of Ca and Mg excretion caused by physical exercise showed some time lag of the peak compared to that of Na and K.
(5) Phosphorus excretion increased both in the students of domestic sciences course and of physical training course in training camp. The decrease of P excretion in the daytime and the increase in the sleeping hours was commonly observed for both groups.
(6) Following up the diurnal variations of urine volume and urinary excretions of Na, K, Ca and Mg in the female students of physical training course through the training camp for five days, difference between the increase of the excretions after, physical exercises and the decrease in sleeping hours got less day by day. Such a change seems to be the physiological adaptation of human body in order to control excess excretions of the important substances.
(7) Although the value of Na f K ratio fell in both student groups during training camp, the decrease was smaller for the physical training course group than for the domestic sciences course group. The fact that more excretions of urine volume and creatinine and less lowering of Na/K ratio than those of the domestic sciences course students were observed in the physical training course students seemed to be the effect of the daily training.

[Purpose]The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the Press Tack Needle (PTN) treatment enhances the recovery process from muscle fatigue which assists in the therapeutic exercise rehabilitation process. By using the PTN, this paper investigates the recovery effect of the fatigued muscle. Randomized controlled trials were used to compare outcomes.
[Method]Twenty-nine healthy male adults were chosen as subjects. However, crossover study was used to compare the PTN group and the sham group. After two sets of arm curl exercises with isotonic contraction at 10%weight of maximum voluntary contraction, the decrease percentage of exercise repetition was calculated. A PTN or sham was inserted at the posterior cervical region using the double masking method. After the intervention of the PTN or sham needle, the subjects were asked which intervention was inserted into them. A Kappa statistics value was used to evaluate the validity of the sham group and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine the upper arm fatigue.
[Result]The Kappa statistic value was 0.17. The decrease percentage of the exercise repetition of the PTN group was 35.4±20.1%, and of the sham group was 45.1±11.1%. The PTN group indicated a significantly smaller percentage than the sham group (p<0.01). Both groups showed no difference in Upper arm fatigue.
[Conclusion]The PTN seems to help in recovery from muscle fatigue. It is thought that by inserting the PTN, somato-automomic reflex was induced to promote the increase of blood flow in to the muscle. Faster recovery of physical function of the patient can be possible as well as the improvement of QOL. In conclusion, this investigation showed that the PTN treatment method can be useful in assisting in therapeutic exercise rehabilitation.

Integrated lecture programs for high school students involving university teaching staff have recently become popular. Here, we report on such a program involving lectures on tumor pathology attended by 110 high school students at the Yokohama City University School of Medicine. Two weeks before the lectures at our university, the students were given a 45-minute introductory lecture by a teacher at their school. The 1-day course at our university comprised an overview lecture by the author (40 minutes), light-microscopic observation of histologic specimens of normal and tumor tissues (50 minutes), and a summary with an introduction to diagnostic pathology (20 minutes). During light-microscopic observation, medical students served as teaching assistants. The high school students were given handouts of microscopic