Electromyographic muscle activities of the shoulder muscles during shoulder external rotation with reference to load magnitude were studied in 8 healthy male subjects without history of shoulder injuries. In addition, we discussed the relationship between rotator cuff muscles and superficial muscles. The subjects performed shoulder external rotation from 60°internal rotation to 45° external rotation at 20° of shoulder abduction and 20° of flexion. A Cybex dynamometer used to prescribe angle and velocity of the shoulder movement. At the same time, intramuscular wire electrodes were inserted into the supraspinous, infraspinous and teres minor muscles, and then surface electrodes were placed over the posterior deltoid and middle trapezius muscles. The load magnitude ranged 2-18 Nm and the angle velocity was set at 15 deg/sec. The rotator cuff muscles became significantly to be activated from 2 Nm (the supraspinous and infraspinous m.) and from 4-5 Nm (the teres minor m.) compared with the muscle activity during non-load. The superficial muscles became significantly to be activated from 4-7 Nm (the posterior deltoid m.) and from 3-6 Nm (the middle trapezius m.) compared with the muscle activity during non-load. Within the load range (18 Nm 46.8% MVC), %iEMG of the rotator cuff muscles was always larger than that of the superficial muscles. Therefore, we concluded that the contribution of the rotator cuff muscles was larger than that of the superficial muscles up to 3-4 Nm, and activities of the superficial muscles increased gradually from 3-4 Nm during shoulder external rotation.

Electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscle at 20 and 90°abduction (20 Abd, 90 Abd) during external rotation was investigated in seven healthy men with no history of injury or instability of the shoulder joint.
Electromyography (EMG) was recorded using intramuscular fine-wire electrodes inserted into the M. Supraspinatus, M. Infraspinatus and M. Teres minor, and with bipolar surface electrodes on the middle and posterior parts of M. Deltoid anti the upper and middle parts of M. Trapezius. To compare activity in different muscles, the integrated EMG (iEMG ) activity of each muscle was normalized.
M. Infraspinatus and M. Teres minor showed significantly higher activity at both the 20 Abd and 90Abd compared with the middle and posterior parts of M. Deltoid and upper parts of M. Trapezius. M. Supraspinatus, the middle and posterior parts of M. Deltoid, and upper and middle parts of M. Trapezius all showed a difference in activity level between the two positions.
These findings suggest that when M. Infraspinatus and M. Teres minor contribute to external rotation as a stabilizer and prime mover, consecutively, M. Supraspinatus, the middle and posterior parts of M. Deltoid, and upper and middle parts of M. Trapezius function according to the positions. Moreover, the activity of the upper and middle parts of M. Trapezius in 90Abd should influence stabilization, adduction and upward rotation of the scapula. Therefore, we conclude that the external rotation position is closely related to shoulder muscle activity and coordination.

[Purpose] A leg press generally included in a weight training program to develop the quadriceps. However little is known about the mechanism of the load in lower extremity by the different knee alignment. The purpose of this study is to compare the muscle activity in the different knee align ment during leg press exercise. [Methods] Four normal knee and Five gene varum performed the leg press using three stance of narrow, medium and wide stance with the load of 75%/1 RM. Surface EMG date were collected (1000Hz) from vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), adductor longus (AL), biceps lemons (HF), tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (GAS), soleus (SQL) . Integrated EMG (iEMG) values were calculated for each muscle during each rep. A video camera recorded the performing form during leg press from the frontal plane. [Results and Discussion] As the leg press was to strengthen of the thigh muscle, VM, VL and RF of both groups worked strongly. However SQL of genu varum worked as strong as the level of activity of the thigh, iEMG of the SQL showed low value significantly by using wide stance. When the genu varum group performed maximal knee flexion using the narrow, their ankle was valuus on the video screen. This result may become cause of SQL higher activity during leg press. From this we can derive the argument that it will be necessary to take that stance into consideration when athletes who are genu varum performs leg press.

BACKGROUND: The immunological mechanisms of asthma remission remain unclear although several reports have suggested that balance between T helper (Th) 2 cytokines and regulatory cytokines is related. OBJECTIVE: To study the balance between interleukin (IL) 10 and IL-5 in asthma clinical remission. METHODS: We measured the numbers of IL-5 and IL-10 producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with mite antigen obtained from patients with active asthma (group A, n = 18), patients in clinical remission (group R, n = 15) and nonatopic healthy controls (group H, n = 14). RESULTS: The numbers of IL-5 producing cells in groups A and R were significantly higher than in group H. The number of IL-5 producing cells was lower in group R than in group A, although the difference was not statistically significant. The number of IL-10 producing cells was higher in group R than in group A, although again the difference was not statistically significant. There was a significant difference in the number of IL-10 producing cells between groups A and H but not between groups R and H. The ratio of the number of IL-10 to IL-5 producing cells was highest in group H followed by groups R and A, and the differences were statistically significant for each pair of groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the IL-10/IL-5 balance is related to clinical asthma. The balance differs between patients in clinical remission and healthy controls, suggesting that allergic inflammation may continue even after clinical asthma remission.
Asthma ; Child ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Mites ; Prognosis

This is a rare case report of systemic allergic reaction to fish allergen ingested through breast milk. Mother ate raw fish more than 3 times a week. Her consumption of fish was associated with urticaria and wheeze in an infant via breast-feeding. Fish-specific IgE antibodies were detected by skin prick test but not by in vitro IgE test. This case demonstrates that fish protein ingested by mother can cause an immediate systemic allergic reaction in offspring through breast-feeding. Although fish intake is generally recommended for prevention of allergy, one should be aware that frequent intake of fish by a lactating mother may sensitize the baby and induce an allergic reaction through breast-feeding.
Allergens ; Antibodies ; Breast ; Fishes ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infant ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Skin ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports on neonates with milk allergy in a neonatal ward. This type of allergy is mostly categorized as a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. Although most cases of milk allergy occur in the first few months of life, the differences in clinical characteristics between premature and full-term neonates are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the differences in clinical characteristics of milk allergy between premature and full-term neonates. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 2,116 neonates admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Chiba Kaihin Municipal Hospital, between 2001 and 2007. RESULTS: We identified 24 neonates strongly suspected of having milk allergy because of symptoms, such as bloody stools, repeated vomiting, diminished sucking and abdominal distension, as well as objective laboratory findings of eosinophilia in stool cytology and/or positive results for a rectal milk challenge test. Twelve of these 24 neonates were premature (median gestational age, 31 ± 3 weeks; median birth weight, 1,656 ± 592 g) and the other 12 were full-term (median gestational age, 38 ± 1 weeks; median birth weight, 2,760 ± 560 g). There were no differences in symptoms and time to start of feeding between premature and full-term neonates, but there was a significant difference in the median postnatal age at onset (premature neonates: 23 days; vs. full-term neonates: 3.5 days; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: All premature neonates developed a milk allergy after 32 weeks of corrected gestational age, suggesting that the development of milk allergy requires a certain degree of immunological maturation.
Age of Onset ; Birth Weight ; Eosinophilia ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; Milk ; Neonatology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Leukotriene receptor antagonists have been used to prevent virus-induced asthma exacerbations in autumn. Its efficacy, however, might differ with age and sex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether pranlukast added to usual asthma therapy in Japanese children during autumn, season associated with the peak of asthma, reduces asthma exacerbations. It was also evaluated the effect of age and sex on pranlukast's efficacy. METHODS: A total of 121 asthmatic children aged 1 to 14 years were randomly assigned to receive regular pranlukast or not according to sex, and were divided in 2 age groups, 1–5 years and 6–14 years. The primary outcome was total asthma score calculated during 8 weeks by using a sticker calendar related to the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms. This open study lasted 60 days from September 15 to November 14, 2007. RESULTS: Significant differences in pranlukast efficacy were observed between sex and age groups. Boys aged 1 to 5 years had the lower total asthma score at 8 weeks (p = 0.002), and experienced fewer cold episodes (p = 0.007). There were no significant differences between pranlukast and control group in total asthma score at 8 weeks (p = 0.35), and in the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms (p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: There was a substantial benefit of adding pranlukast to usual therapy in asthmatic children, especially in boys aged 1 to 5 years, during autumn season.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; Seasons

There are few reports on the effects for children using the diagnostic method of Kampo medicine (called sho : pattern diagnosis). Therefore, we investigated the effects of combination therapy with Kampo medicines prescribed by specialists in this ancient form of medicine to children who were refractory to modern medicine. This was a retrospective observational study of 98 children (pre-school children (PS ; n = 21), elementary school students (ES ; n = 37) and junior high school students (JS ; n = 40)) younger than 16 years old at the first visit to our department of Chiba University hospital between April 2007 and April 2017. We collected the following information from their medical records : background, chief complaint, referral source, and efficacy of Kampo medicines. We evaluated efficacy for Kampo medicine as follows : Higher improvement (HI) (symptoms improved by 2/3 or more) ; Improvement (I) (symptoms improved by 1/3-2/3) ; Mild improvement (MI) (symptoms improved by 1/3 or less) ; constant ; aggravated ; and unknown or first visit only. Positive response (HI, I, and MI) due to Kampo medicines was observed in 76% (75/98) of patients. No aggravations were observed. The chief complaint by age was skin diseases in PS, digestive diseases in ES, and cardiovascular diseases in JS. Pediatrics was the primary referral in all ages, while 30% of JS were referred from psychiatry. Kampo medicine was significantly more effective for those in PS and ES compared to those in JS (p = 0.025). Combined use of Kampo medicine and modern medicine therapy is useful for children refractory to modern medicine.