Purpose : To investigate the cooling effect on muscles prior to continuous isometric muscle contraction. Furthermore, tissue compliance, pressure pain threshold, deep tissue temperature, and tissue circulation volume were measured to investigate the cooling effect on a physical reaction. Method : The biceps brachii muscle was contracted isometrically and continuously at the 90(-) degree in flexion position with 40% of maximum contraction. The task was ceased when subjects could not keep over 70 degrees of elbow flexion. An injection type cooling stimulator was used on the biceps brachii muscle as a cooling modality. Results : The continuous contraction time in the cooled group increased significantly compared with the control group. In addition, tissue compliance and pressure pain threshold showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion : This study suggested that the isometric continuous contraction time in cooled muscles can be extended to 40% of MVC. The inhibition of muscle metabolism, an increase in the pressure pain threshold, and tissue compliance may affect muscle endurance.

With an increasing number of patients suffering from chronic renal failure, the question of how to prolong the period before starting hemodialysis therapy has been attracting great attention. Kremezin^® and Daio-Kanzo-To, which have been reported to produce good clinical results, were administered to two patients with chronic renal failure in the preservation phase. When the treatment started, renal function tended to deteriorate, and hemodialysis had to be introduced in both patients. We investigated possible causes of this deterioration, and the effect of the combined use of Kremezin^® and Daio-kanzo-To the renal function could not be denied. This combination therapy needs to be studied very carefully.

Objective To study the antigen presenting function of keratinocytes to CD8 + T cells with specific TCR.Methods PAM212transfectants,which express H-2K b /ovalbumin complex,aa257-264,were used as stimulating cells,and naive or primed CD8 + T cells with ovalbumin specific TCR were used as respon-ders.3 H-thymidin uptake values were used as indicators of T cell proliferation.Results With prestimulation of IFN-?,the proliferation of primed T cells but not naive T cells could be stimulated by PAM-OK cells.Conclusion Keratinocytes have the potential to stimulate the proliferation of TCR specific CD8 + T cells,which might explain the persistence of local immune reaction in some involved skin.

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.

The patient, a 71-year-old man, was admitted to our department with fever from unknown causes. Ultrasonic examination of the abdominal regions revealed abnormal multiple low-density echo legions (that could be) associated with splenomegaly. For diagnostic purposes, splenic puncture was performed with the aid of an ultra-sound imaging device. Pale yellow-green pus was obtained from the lesions. Based on this finding, we made a diagnosis on the case as multiple abscess of the splean. The patient underwent intensive chemotherapy. However, he dontinued to have a high fever. On the ninth day from hospitalization, splenectomy was performed. Since then, his fever has subsided. Abscess of the spleen is a rare disease. It is generally classified into two types: one is a multiple type, and the other, a solitary type. Multiple splenic abscess mostly occurs as one of the abnormal conditions during the course of a primary disease, which is often severe. Our case, however, did not exhibit any sign of a primary disease.

Gastric cancers that fulfill the Japanese criteria for curative endoscopic resection show a low risk of lymph node (LN) metastasis. Here, we report a case of LN metastasis from early gastric cancer that fulfilled the curative criteria. A 74-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for treatment of early gastric cancer identified at the site of a hyperplastic polyp that had been diagnosed 10 years prior to presentation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography did not show any lymphadenopathy and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a predominantly moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma that measured 15 mm in size and was confined to the mucosa. However, a single metastatic regional LN was observed. A few cancer cells showed positive staining for alpha-fetoprotein. It should be noted that early gastric cancer can be accompanied by LN metastasis even if it fulfills the criteria for curative endoscopic resection.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVESTo clarify whether di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has immunotoxic effects on both the expression of surface molecules (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28) on T cells of the thymus and spleen in male C57BL/6 mice.

METHODSAnimals were orally administered a 0.1% or 0.2% DEHP-containing diet for 10 or 20 days. Dietary corn oil was used as the vehicle for DEHP in preparing the diet.

RESULTSSignificant hepatic hypertrophy was clearly observed in the DEHP-exposed groups, while no atrophy was seen in the thymus or spleen in any treatment groups. In the thymus and spleen, no variation in the proportions of both T cells expressing CD3, CD4 and CD8 was shown with cytometry analysis. The surface expression of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28 on both T cells was also invariable in all analyzed stages of thymic differentiation and in the spleen. No effect of DEHP on mitogenesis was shown in the splenic T cells with anin vitro [(3)H]-thymidine-incorporation technique.

CONCLUSIONSDEHP is probably not an immunosuppressor, particularly for T cells.

Objective: To develop an effective and safe therapeutic strategy, we studied the effect of the clinical characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication on the duration of hospitalization.
Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 89 patients hospitalized for acute drug intoxication. They were divided into two subgroups; the short hospitalization group (duration of hospitalization < 7 days) and the long hospitalization group (duration of hospitalization ≥ 7 days). We compared age, sex, vital signs, drugs, and therapy between the two groups.
Results: There were no significant differences in sex or severity of consciousness disturbance between the short- and long-hospitalization groups. Age in the latter group was higher than that in the former, and age was significantly and positively correlated with the duration of hospitalization. Prolongation of hospitalization in patients with Japan Coma Scale (JCS) I or II is associated with psychiatric disease, and in patients with JCSIII, with physical disease. We used direct hemoperfusion (DHP) to treat patients with severe acute drug intoxication. The duration of hospitalization in patients treated by DHP tended to be shorter than those not so treated.
Conclusions: The present results suggest that aging is associated with prolongation of hospitalization and the onset of physical disease among patients with acute drug intoxication. When elderly patients with acute drug intoxication are treated in a primary-care setting, the question of whether or not physical diseases are present as complications should be considered. The appropriate use of DHP for the treatment of patients with severe acute drug intoxication requires further study.

We administered electro-acupuncture with the purpose of preventing repeated attacks of repetitive tonsillities.
The majority of the 77 subjects were kindergarden and elementary shool children, who had high fiver more then 4 times a year.
The treatment method was as follows: 1Hz low frequency stimulation between Co 4 and lu 6 (and this bilateral) for 20 to 30 minutes.
The treatment interval was once a week, with 3 weeks constituting a treatment course.
And depending on the results of 1 course, the treatment was repeated or not. 53 patients followed 1 course, 24 patients followed 2 course.
The evaluaton of the results is based on a 1 year observation period.
RESULTS:
-9 patients (11.68%) didn't got any high fever.
-49 patients (63.63%) noticed a decrease of the high fever frequency [39 patients (50.64%) got less then 3 times a year a high fever.]
-19 patients (24.67%) didn't notice any effect [6 patients (7.79%) got tonsillectomy.]
This study showed the usefulness of acupuncture and as it's a general and easy to apply therapy, we can consider acupuncture as a first choice therapy for the prevention off repetitive tosillitis.

A 56- year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of right hypochondralgia. X-ray and endoscopic examinations revealed Borrmann 2 type gastric cancer in the anterior wall of an upper part of the stomach. Ultrasonography showed an echogenic mass in the suprarenal area. The mass which had septal formation within it, was about the same in density as fat on computerized tomography, and was hypovascular fed by the right inferior adrenal artery on angiography. These findings suggested that the mass might be adrenal myelolipoma. After total gastrectomy and right adrenectomy were done, histopathological study confirmed that the case is adrenal myelolipoma associated with Borrmann 2 type gastric cancer. In Japanese literature, only 54 cases of surgically resected adrenal myelolipoma have been reported, and this is the second case of adrenal myelolipoma associated with gastric cancer.