A study was designed to examine the effects of exercise intensity on renal clearance parameters. Five healthy male subjects underwent exercise tests on an bicycle ergometer at 4 different work loads for 15 min. The indicators of exercise intensity employed were the percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (%VO₂max), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate level (La) . As parameters of renal clearance, para-aminohippurate clearance (CPAH), thiosulfate clearance (C_thio) and creatinine clearance (C_cr) were measured by the continuous infusion technique during the exercise.
1) The renal clearance parameters during exercise decreased linearly as the exercise intensity increased. The percentage of maximal oxygen uptake at the onset of the decreases in %C_PAH, %C_chiu and %C_cr were 36, 45 and 47%VO₂max, respectively.
2) Among the indicators of exercise intensity, the decrease in La showed the closest correlation with renal clearance during the exercise.
3) The renal plasma flow, which was measured as C_PAH, began to decrease linearly at a significantly lower exercise intensity than the glomerular filtration rate, which was measured as both C_thio and C_cr.
The above results suggest that renal clearance parameters begin to decrease at the threshold as exercise intensity increases.

To promote habitual participation in physical activity, a 3-month program for lifestyle physical activity intervention (L group) and structured exercise intervention (E group) was carried out in a community in Okayama Prefecture. One year later, we compared the two intervention groups in terms of cost-effectiveness and behavioral change in habitual physical activity. A total of 250 subjects voluntarily participated in the lifestyle physical activity intervention ; and a total of 42 subjects participated in the structured exercise intervention. The number of participants decreased to 115 (46%) and 21 (50%), respectively, one year later. However, the proportion of subjects who practice endurance exercise increased significantly in both L and E groups ; and an additional 35 subjects (30%) started to practice endurance exercise in L group and 5 (24%) in E group after the interventions. The cost-effectiveness for a person newly starting the endurance exercise practice in the L group intervention was 29,206 yen ; and the E group intervention was 124,731 yen, a ratio of 1/4.3. The study suggests that the cost-effectiveness for the lifestyle physical activity intervention was 4 times better than the structured exercise intervention.

[Background]Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) represents a chronic pain disorder localized in the abdomen and the symptoms largely are unrelated to food intake and defecation, which differ from other painful functional gastrointestinal disorders.
We report a case of FAPS whose symptom was successfully improved by acupuncture.
[Case Report]A 75-year-old female had been hospitalized at Meiji University of Integrative Medicine Hospital because of left lower abdominal pain from which she had repeatedly suffered for more than 2 years. Despite strict medication, her symptom had not been improved. After admission to the hospital, according to recommendation by her physician, acupuncture treatment was started. The patient received TCM-based acupuncture treatments five times a week over 13weeks. Primary acupuncture points used for the patient were LV3(Taichong), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST36 (Zusanli) and PC6 (Neiguan). Evaluation of the left lower abdominal pain was carried out with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was used to evaluate QOL related to the digestive symptoms. VAS for the left lower abdominal pain showed a remarkable decrease immediately after the initial acupuncture session. The symptom disappeared within 4 weeks after commencement of the treatment and never appeared during her hospitalization. GSRS was also improved and it was maintained during hospitalization.
[Conclusion]We suggested that acupuncture treatment might be one of the useful, non-pharmacological alternatives for symptoms of FAPS.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The aims of the current study are to evaluate the minimum 10-year follow-up clinical results of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: ALIF has been widely used as a treatment regimen in the management of lumbar spondylolisthesis. Still much controversy exists regarding the factors that affect the postoperative clinical outcomes. METHODS: The author performed a retrospective review of 20 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis treated with ALIF (follow-up, 16.4 years). The clinical results were assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for low back pain, vertebral slip and disc height index on the radiographs. RESULTS: The mean preoperative JOA score was 7.1 +/- 1.8 points (15-point-method). At 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years or more after surgery, the JOA scores were assessed as 12.4 +/- 2.2 points, 12.7 +/- 2.6 points, 12.0 +/- 2.5 points, respectively (excluding the data of reoperated cases). The adjacent disc degeneration developed in all cases during the long-term follow-up. The progressive pattern of disc degeneration was divided into three types. Initially, disc degeneration occurred due to disc space narrowing. After that, the intervertebral discs showed segmental instability with translation at the upper level. But the lower discs showed osteophyte formation, and occasionally lead to the collapse or spontaneous union. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of the long-term follow-up data after ALIF became worse due to the adjacent disc degeneration. The progressive pattern of disc degeneration was different according to the adjacent levels.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbosacral Region ; Osteophyte ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

Here, we report on a rare case of a giant invasive sacral schwannoma. The patient was a 58-year-old woman who had a 6-year history of non-specific buttock pain. Histological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of cellular schwannoma. The following numerical aberration was detected using the GTG-banding method for karyotypes: 47,XX,-14,+18,+22. Cytogenetic studies of schwannomas have indicated a complete or partial loss of chromosome 22 as the most common abnormality, but this case is cytogenetically rare because of the recurrence of trisomy 22.
Buttocks ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; Recurrence ; Sacrum ; Trisomy

STUDY DESIGN: A case-series study. PURPOSE: To assess the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after vertebroplasty using calcium phosphate cement (CPC) for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Vertebroplasty has become common for the treatment of OVF. However, few studies have reported the clinical application of CPC to vertebroplasty. METHODS: We reviewed 86 consecutive patients undergoing 99 vertebroplasties using CPC. Following repositioning and curettage of the pathological soft tissue of the vertebral body (VB), vertebroplasty using CPC was performed in patients with osteoporotic burst fracture and pseudoarthrosis (procedure A). Vertebroplasty was also performed in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures (procedure B). Back pain and lower back pain were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The VB deformity index was measured in a lateral radiograph as the ratio of the VB's height to its longitudinal diameter. RESULTS: The mean age at time of surgery was 77 years old. The mean duration of follow-up was forty-four months. All patients reported decreased pain according to the VAS immediately after vertebroplasty, and pain relief was maintained at the last follow-up in all patients without new OVFs. Complete bone union was observed in all cases by six months after surgery. The mean recovery rate of deformity index was 5.9% in procedure A and 0.02% in procedure B at the final follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebroplasty using CPC gave a satisfactory outcome and no delayed complications in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures at follow-up times of at least two years.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Calcium ; Calcium Phosphates ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Dinucleoside Phosphates ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Osteoporosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Vertebroplasty

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic disease in which demarcated erythema and rashes with silvery-white scales occur at various sites, and it is sometimes intractable. We report that Kampo medicines are effective in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. An 83-year-old woman suffered from erythema with pruritus and strong redness on the trunk and upper limbs and she visited the dermatology department. She was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris and started treatment with betamethasone ointment. However, her symptoms did not improved, and she requested Kampo medicine treatment. After the administration of maorenshoshakushozuto, erythema gradually improved. Maorenshoshakushozuto is effective for the dermatological diseases with pruritus and strong redness like psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: With the aim to prevent sick building syndrome and worsening of allergic symptoms, primarily resulting from the indoor environment, the relationships among people's residential environment in recent years, their lifestyle habits, their awareness, and their symptoms were investigated using an online survey. METHODS: In the survey, respondents experiencing symptoms specific to sick building syndrome, although they were not diagnosed with sick building syndrome, were categorized in the pre-sick building syndrome group. The relationships among individual characteristics, residential environment, and individual awareness were analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that the prevalence of pre-sick building syndrome was high among young (aged 20-29 years) population of both sexes. In addition, "condensation," "moisture," "musty odors" in the house, and the "use of deodorant and fragrance" were all significantly associated with pre-sick building syndrome. Conversely, there was no significant association with recently built "wooden" houses that are highly airtight and have thermal insulation. CONCLUSIONS Efficient "ventilation" plans and "ventilation" improvement and air conditioning systems to prevent mold and condensation in rooms are necessary to maintain a good, indoor environment that is beneficial for health. Efforts should also be made to encourage individuals to regularly clean and effectively ventilate their homes.