Although it has been established that exercise is useful for health promotion, physical exercise may induce oxidative stress in humans. Our previous study showed that the concentration of plasma protein-bound sulfhydryl groups (p-SHs) was significantly decreased after strenuous exercise, i. e. full-marathon running and participation in an athletic training camp. Reactive oxygen species may cause oxidation of plasma proteins in vitro. To study whether moderate exercise for health promotion, e. g. jogging or walking, induces oxidative stress in human circulating blood, the authors examined the change in plasma p-SHs concentration following ergometric exercise at moderate intensity and of relatively short duration {Exercise 1: 80% ventilatory threshold (VT), 100% VT, and 110% VT; 30 min, Exercise 2 : 90% VT; 120 min} in 8 (23-28 yr; Exercise 1) and 6 males (23-28 yr; Exercise 2) respectively. The plasma p-SHs concentration did not changed significantly after Exercise 1 or 2. The data indicated that the exercise did not cause significant modification of plasma proteins, suggesting that it did not induce significant oxidative stress in the circulating blood.

Introduction  The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record high in 2023 and is still increasing. Many foreign residents are in their 20s and 30s and of reproductive age. The study aim was to clarify the present nursing practices and challenges for foreign pregnant and postpartum women at perinatal medical centers in Osaka, which contains many foreign residents.Methods  A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted from October 1 to December 31, 2023. Questionnaires were sent to one representative of the obstetrics departments of 23 perinatal medical centers in Osaka that agreed to participate in the study.Results  A total of eight facilities (34.8%) returned questionnaires. Regarding the current status of nursing care for foreign pregnant and postpartum women, medical interpreters were frequently used during pregnancy to explain about abnormalities and precautions (87.5%); during delivery to explain about emergency cesarean section (62.5%); and during the postpartum/newborn period to explain about maternal abnormalities and precautions after delivery and discharge (75.0%) and about neonatal abnormalities and precautions after discharge (75.0%). Interpreters such as family members and friends were most frequently used during hospitalization for delivery (87.5%). More than half of facilities used various types of multilingual materials, such as cards with explanatory illustrations, communication cards, and childcare support information.Conclusions  Family and friends helped women to interpret medical information, and telephone interpretation and multilingual translation equipment were also used. Various multilingual materials were used to address linguistic issues, and cultural and religious considerations were implemented at all facilities. However, there is a lack of medical interpreters, particularly during the delivery period, and free multilingual resources are not being fully used.