Reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurements made by a hand-held dynamometer and a belt: a comparison of two types of device.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to compare the reliability of 2 hand-held dynamometers (HHD-1, 2) with different designs, by performing isometric knee muscle extension measurements two times each. [Subjects] The subjects were 40 young healthy adults. [Methods] The reliability of the measurements was examined using Bland-Altman analysis.

Motion analysis of wheelchair propulsion movements in hemiplegic patients: effect of a wheelchair cushion on suppressing posterior pelvic tilt.

[Purpose] This study sought to ascertain whether, in hemiplegic patients, the effect of a wheelchair cushion to suppress pelvic posterior tilt when initiating wheelchair propulsion would continue in subsequent propulsions. [Subjects] Eighteen hemiplegic patients who were able to propel a wheelchair in a seated position participated in this study. [Methods] An adjustable wheelchair was fitted with a cushion that had an anchoring function, and a thigh pad on the propulsion side was removed.

Dopaminergic modulation of synaptic plasticity in rat prefrontal neurons.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to store the traces for a type of long-term memory - the abstract memory that determines the temporal structure of behavior often termed a "rule" or "strategy". Long-term synaptic plasticity might serve as an underlying cellular mechanism for this type of memory. We therefore studied the induction of synaptic plasticity in rat PFC neurons, maintained in vitro, with special emphasis on the functionally important neuromodulator dopamine.

Limits of the manipulative-fixed method for measurement of shoulder joint horizontal adduction muscle strength using a handheld dynamometer.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to verify the limit of isometric muscle strength of shoulder joint horizontal adduction using handheld dynamometer (HHD) manipulated by hand (referred to as the manipulative-fixed method). [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 33 healthy college students. The examiner was a healthy college student.

Reliability of Isometric Knee Extension Muscle Strength Measurements of Healthy Elderly Subjects Made with a Hand-held Dynamometer and a Belt.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of three isometric knee extension strength measurements (IKE) made with a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) and a belt of healthy elderly living in the community as subjects. [Subjects] The subject cohort consisted of 186 healthy elderly people, aged 65 to 79 years, living in local communities. [Methods] IKE of the leg subjects used to kick a ball was measured.

Effect of Stress-free Therapy on Cerebral Blood Flow: Comparisons among patients with metabolic cardiovascular disease, healthy subjects and placebo-treated subjects.

Background And Aims: We have developed a Stress-free Therapy(®) device wherein "Pinpoint Plantar Long-wavelength Infrared Light Irradiation (PP-LILI)" increases peripheral-deep body temperature and blood flow volume and stabilizes blood pressure as well as significantly reduces stress hormones such as adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol without using drugs. Moreover, we have found this therapy to significantly improve blood glucose and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on this background of clinical efficacy, we validated changes in cerebral blood flow in patients with metabolic cardiovascular disease and examined the efficacy of Stress-free Therapy(®) on cerebral blood flow as compared to that in healthy control subjects and placebo-treated patients.

An Investigation into Reliability of Knee Extension Muscle Strength Measurements, and into the Relationship between Muscle Strength and Means of Independent Mobility in the Ward: Examinations of Patients Who Underwent Femoral Neck Fracture Surgery.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement of patients who underwent femoral neck fracture surgery, as well as the relationship between independent mobility in the ward and knee muscle strength. [Subjects] The subjects were 75 patients who underwent femoral neck fracture surgery. [Methods] We used a hand-held dynamometer and a belt to measure isometric knee extension muscle strength three times, and used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to investigate the reliability of the measurements.

Preliminary results of pinpoint plantar long-wavelength infrared light irradiation on blood glucose, insulin and stress hormones in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: This study was aimed at the development of a novel noninvasive treatment system, "pinpoint plantar long-wavelength infrared light irradiation (PP-LILI)", which may be able to relieve mental stress and normalize blood glucose level via the reduction of stress hormones in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

Materials (subjects) And Methods: Based on this hypothesis, the present study was undertaken to examine effects of PP-LILI on stress hormones (ACTH and cortisol), blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels in 10 patients with type 2 DM. Each patient received PP-LILI of the foot for 15 minutes once weekly using a stress free apparatus (infrared wavelength, 9,000-12,000 nm/power 30 mW).

Effect of pinpoint plantar long-wavelength infrared light irradiation on subcutaneous temperature and stress markers.

Background And Aims: The current investigation was aimed at the development of a novel non-invasive treatment system, "pinpoint plantar long-wavelength infrared light irradiation (PP-LILI)", which may be able to relieve mental stress and reduce stress-related hormones. Materials (Subjects) and methods: We compared the subcutaneous temperature, blood pressure, the degree of secretion of stress hormones before and after pinpoint irradiations (wavelength: 8-11 μm; output: 30mW). The study enrolled 15 subjects (Japanese healthy adults; 8 males, 7 females; average age 47.

Association between body mass index and mortality among institutionalized elderly adults in Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality among nursing home residents in Japan.

Methods: A one-year prospective cohort study was conducted with 8,510 elderly individuals across 140 nursing homes. Baseline measurements included age, sex, height, weight, BMI, activities of daily living (ADL) (Barthel Index), and degree of dementia.

Lower extremity biomechanics during kendo strike-thrust motion in healthy kendo athletes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity during the kendo strike-thrust motion in experienced kendo athletes.

Methods: Fifteen experienced kendo athletes (age 20.4±1.

Decreased muscle oxygenation and increased arterial blood flow in the non-exercising limb during leg exercise.

We evaluated arterial blood flow, muscle tissue oxygenation and muscle metabolism in the non-exercising limb during leg cycling exercise. Ten healthy male volunteers performed a graded leg cycling exercise at 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 watts (W) for 5 min each. Tissue oxygenation index (TOI) of the non-exercising left forearm muscle was measured using a near-infrared spatially resolved spectroscopy (NIR(SRS)), and non-exercising forearm blood flow ((NONEX)FBF) in the brachial artery was also evaluated by a Doppler ultrasound system.

The common mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in judo: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Although high prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL) in judokas has been reported, there has been very little research concerning events preceding the injury.

Objective: To determine the common situations and mechanisms of ACL injury in judo.

Methods: A total of 43 cases of ACL injuries that had occurred during judo competition or practice were investigated, using questionnaires with interviews conducted by a single certified athletic trainer who has 20 years of judo experience to obtain information regarding the situation and mechanism in which the ACL injury occurred.

Muscular outputs during dynamic bench press under stable versus unstable conditions.

Previous studies have suggested that resistance training exercise under unstable conditions decreases the isometric force output, yet little is known about its influence on muscular outputs during dynamic movement. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of an unstable condition on power, force, and velocity outputs during the bench press. Twenty male collegiate athletes (mean age, 21.

Review of the histological effects of the anti-androgen, flutamide, on mouse testis.

This is a mini-review summarizing recent findings on the effect of flutamide (FLUT), an anti-androgenic toxicant, on the mouse testis, particularly on the ectoplasmic specialization (ES) in the testis. FLUT induces a reduction in the weight of male reproductive tissues, such as the prostate, because it inhibits the formation of the androgen receptors and testosterone retention. The present review summarizes the abnormal histological changes produced in the mouse testis by FLUT.