The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 (MG2809) intake on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) secretion and incidence of upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms among college rugby athletes. Sixty-seven subjects were assigned to a MG2809 group (n = 33) or a placebo group (n = 34) using a double-blind procedure. Each subject took MG2809 or placebo tablets for 9 weeks. Resting saliva samples were collected before (0 week) and after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 weeks of the MG2809 intakes. A log of URTI symptoms was kept every day during the study period. Our results showed that salivary SIgA level was significantly increased at 6 weeks in the MG2809 group (p < 0.05), although the placebo group did not show significant change. The duration of URTI symptoms episode in the MG2809 group was significantly shorter than that in the placebo (p < 0.05). These results suggest that regular intake of MG2809 may enhance oral immune function mediated by SIgA and reduce the risk of URTI in athletes.

Sports Acupuncture is used for alleviating physical disorders of athletes and it helps them to keep up the quality of their performance. Acupuncture has been used for sports injuries to relieve the pain, and lately, is also applied for preventing injuries, conditioning, or health maintenance. However, the definition of "Sports Acupuncture"is still unclear and there is no guideline to apply acupuncture for athletes.
As Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic will be held in Tokyo in 2020, we decided to review past researches related with sports acupuncture. These researches examine the effects of acupuncture for muscle pain, muscle fatigue, muscle atrophy, and sports injuries. Moreover, we invite one former athlete and she speaks how she used acupuncture when she was a player. After this panel discussion we will be able to make a step to next level, so that we re-create "Sports Acupuncture"on athletes'demand.

[Objective]The purpose of this study was the analysis of factors that are connected with acupuncturists'hand hygiene, and suggestions for improvement of hand hygiene inclinical practice of acupuncture.
[Design]A cross-sectional study.
[Methods]Subjects were 122 acupuncturists. Using a questionnaire, we investigated the difference in years of experience, daily number of patients, therapy policy, method of needle insertion, education, gender and age according to the difference in hand hygiene behavior. Furthermore, each items relation to hand hygiene behavior was examined.
[Results]The number of valid responses was 109 (89.3%). The group that does not wash its hands had a younger average age (P<0.01), shortness of clinical experience (P<0.01), and much higher number of patients per day (P<0.05) as compared with the group that washes its hands. The group with the behavior of using tools to prevent bare hands from touching needles (tools such as individual finger stalls) had a high ratio of a policy of contemporary medicine (P<0.05) and experience of education (P<0.05) as compared with the group using bare hands. Neglectfulness of hand washing was associated with younger age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.10, 95%confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.20]and higher daily number of patients (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.83-0.98). Furthermore, behaviors of the use of tools such as individual finger stalls was related to experience of education (OR = 3.45, 95%CI = 1.27-9.36).
[Conclusion]Performance of hand washing before therapy is related with youth and greater numbers of patients per day, which cause hygiene neglect. Educational experience promotes the use of tools such as individual finger stalls.

Introduction   Redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker changes by exercise. Therefore, oxidative stress marker has been used to evaluate the physical condition of athletes. In athletics it is important to prevent fatigue for peak performance. Acupuncture has been used for fatigue prevention of athletes. However, there is little scientific evidence to prove the effect. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the change in redox state of glutathione as an oxidative stress marker in the blood by ergometer exercise. Methods   In this crossover study, the EA and control (CONT) groups each included 12 healthy male volunteers. EA at 2 Hz and optimum intensity was performed on each subject at both the SP10 (Xuehai) and SP11 (Jimen) locations for 10 min before exercise. Respiratory metabolism was recorded during bicycle ergometer exercise by ramp rate until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected from the fingertip of each subject before and after exercise. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) concentrations in the blood were biochemically determined as a marker of oxidative stress. The degree of fatigue before and after exercise was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results   The ventilatory threshold (VT) and the respiratory compensation point (RC), parameters of respiratory metabolism during exercise, did not differ significantly between the EA and CONT groups. Between both groups, the significant difference was not recognized to the amount of change in tGSH, GSSG, GSH, GSSG/tGSH by exercise. The GSSG/tGSH values after exercise was significantly lower than that before exercise in the EA group (p<0.05). In contrast, this level did not change significantly in the CONT group. The VAS values increased significantly after exercise in both groups (p<0.05); however, the VAS value in EA group showed a low tendency in comparison with that in CONT group. Discussion   VT and RC did not differ between the two groups, indicating that the level of exercise was nearly the same for both groups. In comparison of both groups, there was no significant difference on the amount of change of each glutathione parameters by exercise. On the other hand, The GSSG/tGSH and the VAS values after exercise were lower than those values before exercise in the EA group. Therefore, it might be possible that the EA affects the change of the glutathione due to the exercise. Our results might suggest that EA-mediated change of GSH bear some related to suppression of fatigue.

[Objective]To investigate whether acupuncture is effective to prevent fatigue and oxidative stress in distance runners.
[Methods]A total of 17 runners were recruited and randomized to receive acupuncture (Press Tack Needle) or placebo treatment. Subjects received treatment from licensed acupuncturists before a 10 km race. The primary outcome measures were oxidative stress, as determined by electron spin resonance (ESR), and fatigue, as assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures were GOT, LDH, and CPK.
[Results]Fatigue was significantly increased in both groups after the race. There was no difference in both groups.
Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity tended to increase in both groups after the race.
[Conclusion]The study found no useful acupuncture aspects of oxidative stress and fatigue.

[Objective]Skeletal Muscle atrophy is induced in response to unloading by Hindlimb Suspension (HS). Numerous studies have been performed to prevent Skeletal Muscle atrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Electro-acupuncture (EA) on skeletal muscle have not been identified, and the effect of EA to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of EA and Chishin (where the needles are kept in muscle for thirty minutes) on skeletal muscle atrophy in an animal experiment.
[Methods]Twenty mice (8 week, C57BL6) were randomly grouped into 4 groups;Normal group (N group), Hindlimb Suspension Group (HS group), HS +Chishin group (Chishin group), and HS +EA 1Hz group (1Hz group) (n = 5/group, respectively). Acupuncture interventions were conducted on the gastrocnemius of the Chishin and 1Hz groups. We measured the muscle mass, the cross sectional area, the percentage of Antrogin-1 and MuRF1 (Atrophy related E3ubiquitin ligases) expressions of the soleus 0f each mouse at 2 weeks after acupuncture interventions.
[Result]The weight and Cross sectional area of the soleus of the 1Hz group were significantly greater than the HS group (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). On the contrary, the percentage of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expressions of the 1Hz group was significantly less than the HS groups (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively).
[Conclusion]These results suggest that EA and Chishin may influence the activity of Atrogin-1 &MuRF1 expression.

 Electroacupuncture (EA) is an acupuncture technique that is stimulated by acupuncture needles with low-frequency microcurrent. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of EA and it's molecular mechanism on muscle atrophy by using an animal model: hindlimb-suspended (HS) mice in the disuse muscle atrophy model. To compare the effects of EA in HS mice and HS mice treated with EA (EA/HS), soleus muscle mass and soleus myofiber diameter were measured. We then used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to analyze the expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in atrophic muscles of HS mice and in muscles of EA/HS mice. We found that EA/HS mice maintained a soleus muscle mass that was not significantly different from that of wild mice (WT), whereas HS mice had significantly reduced muscle mass. Also, the diameters of myofibers in EA/HS mice, which were not significantly different from wild values, were significantly larger than those in HS mice. Repeated EA treatment suppressed gene expression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase genes in skeletal muscle of EA/HS mice but induced expression of these genes in HS mice. These findings suggest the molecular mechanism by EA: suppression of myostatin and ubiquitin ligase gene may be a key reaction of inhibiting the disuse muscle atrophy.

[Objective]The influence of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on physical inactivity is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA on the recovery of mouse soleus muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb suspension (HS).
[Methods]We used 8-week-old male ICR mice (n = 20). The mice were divided into 4 groups:the No treatment group (NT, n = 5), HS group (HS, n = 5), Control group (CT, n = 5), and Reloading-with-EA-stimulation group (EA, n = 5). HS mice were suspended for up to 14 days. CT and EA mice were reloaded for an additional 14 days after the HS for 14 days. The HS method used a modified version of an apparatus used in a previous study. EA mice received EA every other day immediately after reloading and were stimulated in the triceps surae muscle at 10 Hz for 30 min with a stainless steel needle. The weight, muscle fiber area size and number of macrophages in the soleus muscle were analyzed.
[Results]The number of skeletal muscle macrophages was increased significantly in EA mice compared with that in CT mice (P < 0.01). The soleus muscle weight and muscle fiber cross-sectional area were decreased in HS mice compared with NT mice (P < 0.01). However, the muscle weight of EA and CT mice increased significantly compared with that of HS mice (P < 0.01). In addition, the muscle weight of EA mice was significantly higher than that of CT mice (P < 0.01), without a significant difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area between CT and EA mice.
[Conclusion]These results indicate that EA was effective in facilitating the recovery of skeletal muscle atrophy in mice. In addition, resolution of the skeletal muscle atrophy suggested the satellite cell activation by macrophages, because macrophages invaded the skeletal muscle after EA stimulation.

 Acupuncture treatment is one of the conditioning methods in the competition field. Athletes who are forced in regularly intensive training often induced deteriorating of condition. Good conditions are adjusted by interaction of immune system, nervous system and endocrine system. Neutrophils and lymphocytes which are blood components prevent infections of the human body in various ways. Intensive training causes an increase of neutrophils, a decrease of lymphocytes and a negative impact on the immune functions. It has been reported that acupuncture stimulation could be involved in the coordination of the immune system. Therefore, acupuncture treatment could be important to keep physical condition and participate physical activity according to the plan without deteriorating of condition. It may be useful not only for athletes but also for the general public who train for the purpose of health and sports enthusiasts. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture stimulation on fluctuation of neutrophils and lymphocytes by the transient high-intensity exercise.
Method : Twelve healthy men (23.6±O.3 yr [±SE]) participated in this study. Subjects exercised on bicycle ergometer for 60 minutes at 75% of their VO₂max. Acupuncture treatment was applied at LU6 (Kongzui), LI 4 (Hegu), ST 36 (Zusanli), and ST 6 (Jiache), for 30 min after the exercise. Blood samples were taken before exercise, immediately after exercise, hourly after exercise until 4 hours and 24 hours after exercise. Leukocyte, neutrophils, lymphocytes, Th cells and Tc cells were measured from the blood samples.
Result : The neutrophils significantly increased from Post 1h to Post 4h in the both trials (P < 0.05). However the neutrophils was significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group at Post 1h and Post 3h (P < 0.05). The lymphocytes significantly increased from immediately after exercise to Post 24h in the control trial, and increased significantly only at Post 1h to Post 3h in the acupuncture trail (P<0.05). The Th cells significantly decreased from Post 1h to Post 24h in the control trial and decreased significantly only at Post 1h, 2h and 24h in the acupuncture trail (P < 0.05).
Conclusion : These results suggested that acupuncture stimulation may reduce the increase of neutrophils and the decrease of lymphocyte and Th cells caused by high-intensity exercise. These results indicated that acupuncture stimulation may promote the recovery from high-intensity exercise.

Backgrounds : The one of the leading factors of deteriorating condition is upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in athletes. Athletes who are forced in regularly intensive training often decrease salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) which has important role of immune function in the buccal cavity. It causes increase of morbidity risk in URTI. Acupuncture treatment is one of the conditioning methods in the competition field and mainly treated for orthopedic injuries. On the other hands, acupuncture treatment induced increase of natural healing ability which involved immune response, and prevent and treat some diseases. It has been reported acupuncture increase SIgA level. However, the relationship between time course and diagnostic of cold by the acupuncture stimulation effect is still unclear. Thus, the purpose of this measurement is to investigate the effect of acupuncture stimulation on the SIgA during training camp. Furthermore, it is important to investigate questionnaire about diagnostic of cold during and 1 week after training camp, it leads to clear the effect of acupuncture stimulation on the URTI.
Methods : Eighty subjects men who have auditory difficulties (26.7±0.9 yr[±SE]) participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned two groups; acupuncture group and control group. The training camp conducted 3 days and training performed 3 hours each in the morning and afternoon. Acupuncture stimulation was applied at LU 6 (Kongzui), LI 4 (Hegu), ST 36 (Zusanli), and ST 6 (Jiache), for 30 min after dinner. To measure SIgA level, saliva samples were taken 7 times; daytime and evening of first day (Day1(D), Day1(E)), morning, daytime and evening of the second day (Day2(M), Day2(D), Day2(E)), morning and daytime in the third day (Day3(M), Day3(D)). The questionnaire about diagnostic of cold was conducted Day1(D), Day2(M), Day3(M) and 1 week after training camp.
Results : The secretion rate of SIgA in the control was not significantly changed during training camp. However, the acupuncture group was significantly higher level in the Day2(M) and Day3(M) compared to the Day1(D) (P<0.05). Both control and acupuncture group was significantly higher SIgA concentration in Day2(M) and Day3(M) compared to the Day1(D) (P<0.05), but acupuncture group was significantly higher in the Day3(M) compared to the control. The frequency of diagnostic cold was 1 in the acupuncture group and 4 in the control group. Moreover, 1 week after training camp, 6 in the acupuncture group and 6 in the control.
Conclusion : Acupuncture stimulation induced significant increase SIgA level during training camp. Moreover, the diagnostic of cold was lower during training camp in the acupuncture group. Therefore, acupuncture stimulation might reduce the risk of the morbidity of the URTI.