A study was conducted to determine the effect of water running exercise (WRE) on renal function. The study involved 5 healthy males who performed maximal work by both WRE and bicycle ergometer exercise (BEE), and 6 males who performed head-out water immersion.
The results obtained were as follows;
1) The values of VO₂max and maximum heart rate (HRmax) during WRE and BEE were approximately similar, and blood lactate concentration after exercise was significantly higher then the basal value in both types of exercise, although the value was significantly higher after WRE than after BEE.
2) Compared with the resting values on land, significant decreases in HR and plasma aldosterone (Ald) concentration were noted in head-out water immersion, but plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentration and urinary volume were not changed significantly from the resting values.
3) The secretion of both plasma ADH and Ald was significantly increased at the end of both types of exercise. However, a larger increase in Ald and ADH was observed after BEE than after WRE.
4) The rate of urine flow was obviously decreased soon after both types of exercise; this was positively correlated with changes in creatinine clearance and negatively correlated with changes in Ald concentration.
The results of the present study suggest that a better venous return is induced by the water pressure and cardiac output during WRE, possibly inducing the release of atrial natriuretic fsctor (ANF) . ANF may inpair the release of ADH and Ald to a greater extent in WRE than in BEE.

In order to evaluate iron balance in the human body, we studied the effects of exercise on iron excretion in urine, sweat and feces. The subjects were five healthy male, college athletes. The daily intake of nutrients by the subjects was regulated by a prescribed diet (Calorie Mate, Ohtsuka), and the control measurements and the exercise measurements were performed within seven days. Excretion of iron in the urine during the exercise period was significantly higher than in the control period. The excretion of iron in the sweat was 1.076±0.118 mg, i. e, , about 70% of total iron physiologically excreted from the human body. The excretion of iron in the feces during the exercise period was significantly lower than during control period. Feces volume was positively correlated with energy expenditure and negatively correlated with the excretion of iron in the feces. Iron absorption during the exercise period was significantly higher than during the control period. These findings suggest that exercise stimulates not only iron excretion via urine and sweat, but iron absorption, and that iron balance remains positive in healthy male subjects who have normal iron status.

In order to give more effective instruction for running in sports medicine, the mechanical stresses in the knee joint during running at various speeds and step lengths were investigated.
The subjects were five male sprinters. Running conditions were as follows : 1) running at four speeds (2.5 m/s, 4.5 m/s, 6.5 m/s and maximum running speed) with natural step lengths, 2) run-ning with three different step lengths (1.0 m, 1.5m and preferred step length) at 4.5 m/s running speed, and 3) running at maximum speed using four different step lengths (1.0 m, 1.5m 2.5m and preferred step length) . Running movements were recorded using a high speed video camera. And ground reaction forces were also measured by a force platform. The compressive force and shear force in the tibiofemoral joint were computed from the results of two dimensional motion analysis. That is, the external force caused by ground reaction forces, the internal force produced by the mus-cle to develop joint torque and total force (external+internal force) were computed for both com-pressive and shear forces.
The total compressive force that affects the meniscus and articular cartilage in the tibiofemoral joint depended on the magnitude of internal force. The total compressive force increased with running speed and step length. Therefore, caution should be employed in changing running speed and step length for regulating the magnitude of total compressive force on the tibiofemoral joint. On the other hand, the total shear force that caused traction stress in the posterior cruciate ligament depended on the magnitude of external force. The posterior shear force was generated during the foot contact period, and increased with step length. As for total shear force in the tibiofemoral joint, care must be taken to regulate step length.

We evaluated the effect of Tu-Chung (Eucommia ulmoides OLIV.) extract on anabolic action in castrated exercise and non-exercise rats in which the effects of male sex hormone from the testis were excluded. Castration was performed on 32 male Wistar rats aged 4 weeks. The rats were then divided into 4 groups: a non-exercise group treated with Tu-Chung extract (non Ex. Tu-chung G, n = 8), on exercise group treated with the extract (Ex. Tu-Chung G, n = 8), a non-exercise control group not treated with the extract (non Ex. Cont. G, n8), = and an untreated exercise control group (Ex. Cont. G, n=8) .
The Tu-Chung extract was administered orally at a dose of 1g/kg body weight once daily for 4 weeks. Distilled water was given by a similar method to the control groups. As the exercise load, the rats exercised on an animal treadmill at a starting speed of 20 m/min with an increase of 10 m/min every week for 30 min without rest daily for 4 weeks.
The following results were obtained:
1. The relative weight of the adrenal gland (gland weight/100 g body weight ) after 4 weeks was significantly higher in the non Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the non Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) and in the Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the Ex. Cont. G or the non Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001 each) .
2. The relative weight of the kidneys (kidney weight/100 g body weight) after 4 weeks was significantly higher in the non Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the non Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) and was slightly higher in the Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the Ex. Cont. G.
3. The relative weight of the musculus levator ani (muscle weight/100g body weight) after 4 weeks was significantly higher in the non Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the non Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) and also in the Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) .
4. The 17-KS level in a 24h urine sample after 4 weeks was significantly higher in the non Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the non Ex. Cont. G or the Ex. Tu-Chung G (p<0.001 each) and also in the Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) .
5. The total urinary nitrogen level after 4 weeks was significantly lower in the non Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the non Ex. Cont. G (p<0.001) or the exercise group treated with the extract (p<0.05) and also in the Ex. Tu-Chung G than in the Ex. Cont. G (p<0.05) .
These results suggest that administration of Tu-Chung extract significantly increases the relative weight of the adrenal gland, enhances androgen secretion from the reticular layer of the adrenal cortex, and promotes protein anabolic action in castrated rats. In addition, this extract appears to increase the adaptation ability of the adrenal cortex to the stress caused by exercise.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is an important disease of the central nervous system caused by infection with Taenia solium metacestodes. In addition to the clinical findings and the imaging analysis, the results of immunological tests are informative for the diagnosis of NCC. To compare the usefulness of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples for antibody detection, paired serum and CSF samples from patients with NCC and other neurological diseases were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with low-molecular-weight antigens purified from T. solium cyst fluid in a blinded fashion. The sensitivity of both serum and CSF samples was 25.0% in inactive NCC cases (n = 4) and 90.9% in active NCC cases (n = 33), and the specificity of serum and CSF was 100% and 95.8%, respectively. When the serum and CSF samples were combined, the sensitivity in active NCC cases became 100%. There was no difference in test performance between serum and CSF samples. Based on these results, we recommend the detection of specific antibodies in serum for the diagnosis of active NCC because of the ease of collection. When the antibody test is negative, however, CSF should be used to confirm NCC and to rule out other medical disorders of the central nervous system. Antibody detection test using only serum or CSF has a limited diagnostic value and cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of suspected inactive NCC cases.

Background : Menstrual migraine is more resistant to treatment than that of nonmenstrual episodes. Hormonal progesterone changes may cause sui (water/fluid) disturbance, in Kampo medicine terms. We therefore treated patients with menstrual migraine in which goshuyuto was ineffective, with the combination of goreisan and goshuyuto.
Subjects & Methods : Subjects were 37 female patients with coldness (mean age 37 years, age range 23-48 years), whose migraine during their intra-menstrual periods was successfully treated with goshuyuto for 3 months. In order to treat migraine in the menstrual period, goreisan was added to goshuyuto from 1 week before onset, until the end of their menstrual period. Results : Among 37 patients, the treatment was effective in 26 patients (70%). Significant variables were found to be dull headache (p = 0.003), edema (p = 0.006), vertigo (p = 0.014) and oliguria (p = 0.014) during attacks, as well as worsening before rain (p = 0.004). Conclusion : The periodical combination of goreisan and goshuyuto seems to be effective in patients with menstrual migraine who report symptoms of sui disturbance, such as dull headache and oliguria during their attacks.

Neurocysticercosis(NCC) is an important disease in central nervous system caused by infectionwith Taenia solium metacestodes. Inaddition to clinical findings and the imaging analysis, the results ofimmunological tests are informative to diagnose NCC. To compare the usefulnessof serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples for antibody detection test,paired serum and CSF samples from NCC and other neurological disease patientswere examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with low-molecular-weightantigens purified from T. solium cystfluid in a blinded fashion. Sensitivities of both serum and CSF samples were25.0% in inactive NCC cases (n = 4) and 90.9% in active NCC cases (n = 33) and specificitiesof serum and CSF were 100% and 95.8%, respectively. By the combination of serumand CSF samples, sensitivity for active NCC cases became 100%. There was nodifference in the test performance between serum and CSF samples. Based onthese results, we suggest the detection of specific antibodies in serum for thediagnosis of active NCC because of an easy collection of it. However, in caseof the antibody test negative, CSF should be used to confirm NCC and to ruleout other medical disorders of central nerve system. For diagnosis of suspectedinactive NCC cases, antibody detection test using either serum or CSF has alimited diagnostic value and cannot be recommended.

PURPOSE : The purpose of this study is to compare sagittal spinal alignment and mobility among standing and sitting (which are fundamental postures in daily activities), and four point kneeling (FPK: the imitation of quadrupedal animal posture).METHODS : Fifty three healthy young men have participated in this study. Spinal alignment is measured using a non-invasive skin surface measurement device (Spinal Mouse®: Index Ltd, Japan). The spinal alignment is measured in 3 positions: upright, flexion, and extension, in each posture (standing, sitting, and FPK), and then the thoracic and lumbar curvature and sacral slope are analyzed.RESULTS : Even between 2 fundamental positions, upright standing and sitting, the lumbar lordosis is statistically different (17.1±8.9° at upright standing, 3.5±10.0° at upright sitting, p<0.001). But the sacral slope is not different between those 2 positions. The lumbo-pelvic rhythm (lumbar-hip or lumbar-pelvis flexion ratio) is also different among the 3 postures, especially in FPK posture. In this posture the lumbar spine and pelvis (sacrum) move to opposite direction each other; this phenomenon is not observed at standing and sitting postures. CONCLUSION : The spinal alignment and mobility are different in many segments among standing, sitting, and FPK.

Cestode zoonosis cases confirmed by PCR-based mitochondrial DNA analysis were investigated. The cestodiosis included taeniasis, cysticercosis, alveolar echinococcosis, cystic echinococcosis, sparganosis mansoni, diphyllobothriasis and diplogonoporiasis. DNA samples were extracted from the ethanol-fixed, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, HE-stained, and the PAS- or acetocarmine-stained samples submitted for histopathology. For PCR-based analysis, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and⁄or cytochrome b genes were amplified by multiplex PCR or conventional PCR coupled with DNA sequencing. Although DNA molecules were degraded in most formalin-fixed samples, smaller gene fragments were successfully amplified and the species causing cestodiosis could be identified by DNA sequence analysis of the amplicons. This review describes cestode zoonosis cases in which mitochondrial DNA analysis was useful not only for routine and retrospective diagnosis, but also for genetic polymorphism analysis and molecular identification of the species associated with pathogenicity. The significance of molecular diagnosis using histopathological specimens for cestode zoonoses is also discussed.