Age-related changes of body composition structure based on differences in morphological qualities of Japanese preschool children.

This study aims to clarify age-related changes of body composition structure in terms of the percentages of body fat and muscle (muscle mass/weight×100) in preschool children by using BMI. The subjects were 533 preschool children, comprising 260 boys and 273 girls. Regression analysis for BMI was performed and a regression polynomial of a proper order was determined.

Comparison of the body-sway characteristics of young adults compared to healthy elderly and elderly with equilibrium disorder.

The study compared body-sway characteristics of 380 young adults, 342 generally healthy elderly without disequilibrium disorders, and a group of 33 elderly with disequilibrium disorders. Center of foot pressure (COP) was measured for 1 min. using an Anima's stabilometer G5500 with a data sampling frequency of 20 Hz.

Gait characteristics when walking with rounded soft sole shoes.

This study aimed to examine the effect of shoes with a rounded soft sole (Stretch Walker: SW) on gait. Fifteen healthy male (mean age: 23.2) walked under three conditions (SW, Flat-bottomed Shoe: FS, Barefoot: BF).

Influence of restricted vision and knee joint range of motion on gait properties during level walking and stair ascent and descent.

Because elderly individuals experience marked declines in various physical functions (e.g., vision, joint function) simultaneously, it is difficult to clarify the individual effects of these functional declines on walking.

Proposal for a new body sway evaluation method.

This study is aimed at examining body sway factors for 1107 healthy people aged 16 to 69 years and to propose a practical body sway evaluation method. The center of foot pressure measurement was carried out twice for 1 min. with a 1-min.

Different step-over movement strategies for disturbance stimulations.

This study examined differences in performance when 10 healthy adult participants took steps under three different disturbance stimulations (with opened and closed eyes and with the use of light), with and without an obstacle present. In the voluntary condition, participants recognized the obstacle beforehand and stepped over it quickly; in the light condition, participants recognized the obstacle beforehand and quickly stepped over it after light stimulation; in the closed eyes condition, participants did not recognize the obstacle beforehand, but after opening their eyes when hearing a sound, they quickly stepped over the obstacle. The swing time of the gait was significantly longer in obstacle conditions for all stimulations.

Laterality and age-level differences between young women and elderly women in controlled force exertion (CFE).

This study aimed to examine laterality and age-level differences in maximal handgrip strength and CFE using women as subjects. The subjects were 50 young women (mean age 20.9±1.

Relationship between upper-body strength and bat swing speed in high-school baseball players.

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between upper-body strength and bat swing speed in high-school baseball players and to examine the physical characteristics of home run hitters (sluggers). The subjects were 30 male high-school baseball players with national tournament experience at the Koshien Stadium. Bat swing speed exerted by full effort was measured with a microwave-type speed-measuring instrument.

Severity of injuries associated with falls in the community dwelling elderly are not affected by fall characteristics and physical function level.

Many elderly people experience difficulty with independent living after injuries associated with falls. This study aimed to examine the influence of fall characteristics and physical function level on the severity of fall related injuries. The surveys were conducted in 1955 community dwelling elderly.

Examination of balance ability evaluated by a stipulated tempo step test.

This study is aimed at examining the correlation between age and gait time using a Single-leg forward step (SFS) test. Two groups consisting of sixty healthy elderly women (age 71.4 ± 6.

Different gripping intervals in reproducibility of force-decreasing curve and muscle oxygenation kinetics during sustained maximal gripping.

The purpose was to examine the properties and reproducibility of the force-decreasing curve and muscle-oxygenation kinetics measured by near infrared spectroscopy in sustained isometric grip and rhythmic repeated grip measurements using various contraction intervals (2 to 5 sec.). 10 healthy young adults performed both grip tests for 6 min.

Effect of linear polarized near-infrared light irradiation and light exercise on muscle performance.

This study aimed to determine the effect of active warm-up by local muscle light exercise and passive warm-up by polarized light irradiation on skin and muscle temperatures and forearm muscle performance (muscle strength, power, endurance, and controlled force-exertion). Ten healthy males performed various grip tests before and after active (local muscle light exercise) and passive (linear polarized near-infrared light irradiation) warm-ups. An active warm-up involved intermittent gripping exercise (contraction: 1 second and relaxation: 1 second) for 10 minutes using a sponge.

Effect of subjective knee-joint pain on the laterality of knee extension strength and gait in elderly women.

This study aimed to examine the effect of subjective knee-joint pain on the laterality of knee extension strength and gait in elderly women. The subjects were 144 elderly women (62-94 years old; mean age 76.2±6.

Setting the criterion for fall risk screening for healthy community-dwelling elderly.

This study aimed to develop a criterion for screening high risk elderly using Demura's fall risk assessment chart (DFRA), compared with the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of gerontology (TMIG) fall risk assessment chart. Participants included 1122 healthy elderly individuals aged 60 years and over (380 males and 742 females) 15.8% of whom had experienced a fall.

Effect of L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion on intermittent maximal anaerobic cycle ergometer performance and fatigue recovery after exercise.

L-Ornithine plays an important role in ammonia metabolism via the urea cycle. This study aimed to examine the effect of L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion on ammonia metabolism and performance after intermittent maximal anaerobic cycle ergometer exercise. Ten healthy young adults (age, 23.

The route of metastatic vertebral tumors extending to the adjacent vertebral body: a histological study.

Background: Each vertebra can be regarded as a compartment surrounded by several anatomically characterized barriers. However, in some cases tumors extend beyond these barriers. The route of vertical extension to the adjacent vertebrae is unclear.

Total en bloc spondylectomy for spinal metastases in thyroid carcinoma.

Object: Thyroid carcinoma generally has a favorable prognosis, and patients rarely present with distant metastases. Authors of several studies have proposed piecemeal resection for spinal metastases in thyroid carcinoma; however, few have analyzed the impact of local curative surgery such as total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for thyroid carcinoma. The purposes of the present study are to determine the strategy of surgical treatment for spinal metastases of thyroid carcinoma and to evaluate the surgical results of and the prognosis associated with TES.

Cervical pachymeningeal hypertrophy as the initial and cardinal manifestation of mucopolysaccharidosis type I in monozygotic twins with a novel mutation in the alpha-L-iduronidase gene.

We describe a pair of monozygotic twins with an attenuated form of mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS-I). At age 24, they both developed cervical myelopathy as a cardinal manifestation. They each also had mild valve abnormalities and both inguinal and umbilical hernia, however, other characteristic features of MPS-I were absent or very mild.

Selection of useful items for fall risk screening for community dwelling Japanese elderly from the perspective of fall experience, physical function, and age level differences.

This study aimed to examine useful items for screening the fall risk of community dwelling elderly from various perspectives, including fall experience, physical function level, and age level difference. 968 independently living elderly persons over the age of 60 (age: 70.0 ± 7.

Age differences in hand grip power in the elderly.

This study aimed to clarify the age-level difference of hand grip power in females. The subjects were 15 healthy young females (mean age 21.5 ± 1.

Influence of high ambient temperatures on the physiological responses and body sway in healthy young adults after quickly standing.

This study was aimed to compare the variations in cerebral oxygenation, blood pressure and center-of-foot pressure after standing from sitting and supine positions at normal (22 degrees C) and high (32 degrees C) room temperatures. Thirty young adults stood up from a resting posture (sitting or supine position) and kept the static standing posture for 90 sec. Meanwhile, their center-of-foot pressure (COP), blood pressure, and cerebral oxygenation kinetics were measured in continuity.

[The mechanism of lung tissue remodeling in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

The aim of the investigation was to study the specific features of morphological manifestations and the molecular bases of lung tissue remodeling in progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The investigation used open and transbronchial biopsy specimens from 110 patients with IPE/idiopathic pneumonia syndrome in 1997 to 2008. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on serial paraffin-embedded lung tissue slices from 20 patients with IPF and 20 control patients.

Static one-legged balance in soccer players during use of a lifted leg.

The goal was to describe static one-legged balance during use of a lifted leg and to compare balance between the dominant and nondominant legs of soccer players. Participants were 17 male soccer players and 17 untrained male students (control). Balance ability was evaluated with four sway measures: sway velocity, anterior-posterior sway, medial-lateral sway, and high-frequency sway.

Examination of validity of fall risk assessment items for screening high fall risk elderly among the healthy community-dwelling Japanese population.

We aimed to examine the validity of fall risk assessment items for the healthy community-dwelling elderly Japanese population. Participants were 1122 healthy elderly individuals aged 60 years and over (380 males and 742 females). The percentage who had experienced a fall was 15.

Venous thromboembolism after spine surgery: changes of the fibrin monomer complex and D-dimer level during the perioperative period.

Object: The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after spine surgery. Another purpose was to clarify the rapid changes of the fibrin monomer complex (FMC) and D-dimer levels during the perioperative period of spine surgery for early diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods: The participants were 72 patients who underwent spine surgery between September 2007 and March 2008.