The expression levels of heat shock proteins after heat stress on rat slow soleus and fast plantaris muscles were examined and compared during a recovery period following 1 h of heat stress. The left hindlimbs of adult male Wistar rats (n=15) were carefully inserted into a stainless steel can and subjected to heat stress for 1 h by raising the air temperature inside the steel can to 54-58t with a flexible heater so as to bring the muscle temperature up to 42°C. The muscles of the contralateral right hindlimb served as the control. The expression levels of HSP 60, HSP 72, and HSC 73 were analyzed by Western blotting after 0, 2, and 4 h of recovery following 1 h of heat stress. In the soleus muscle, all of the HSP levels analyzed were significantly increased during 0-4 h of recovery. On the other hand, heat stress had no effect on the expression levels of HSPs, except HSP 60, in the plantaris muscle during recovery after 1 h of heat stress. These results suggest that the slow soleus muscle has a higher ablility to respond quickly to heat stress than the fast plantaris muscle.

The frequencies of the urinary complaints oa the outpatients (male 188, female 339, average age 59.2+14.9) of the five acupuncture clinics were surveyed. The elder patients showed the higher frequencies of the urinary complaints. The frequencies of the complaints were as follows: nocturia (25.8%), urinary urgency (17.7%), stress incontinence (16.3%), sense of residual urine (15.2%), protracted micturition (12.0%), and retarded micturition (11.3%), respectively. The nocturia was accompanied with the majority of the other urinary complaints. These results suggest that the survey of the patient's complaint of nocturia is useful.