The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the strength of the foot muscles that control the toes and disorders such as shin splint. In order to this, we designed and built a toe dynamometer to compare the muscle power exerted through the toes in top female marathon runners and age-matched women not involved in sports. The subjects were 12 top-level female marathon runners (Group A) and 37 student nurses who were not involved in sports (Group B). We devised a dynamometer to measure the total power exerted by the flexor muscles of the 5 toes of a single foot (total flexor power) and the combined power of the abductors of the big (1st) and little (5th) toes (abductor power). In Group A, the total flexor power was 14.3 +/- 5.3 kg in the right foot and 15.4 +/- 4.7 kg in the left foot. The abductor power was 1.9 +/- 1.8 kg in the right foot and 2.2 +/- 1.9 kg in the left foot. In Group B, total flexor power was 18.3 +/- 6.7 kg in the right foot, while the abductor power was 1.9 +/- 1.7 kg. The subjects from Group A with an arch index < 1.0 (n = 8) or > 1.0 (n = 4) were respectively classified as Group I and Group II. In Group I, total flexor power was 14.9 +/- 5.3 kg (right) and 15.5 +/- 5.2 kg (left), while the abductor power was 2.6 +/- 1.9 kg (right), and 3.1 +/- 1.7 kg (left). In Group II, the total flexor power was 13.2 +/- 5.8 kg (right) and 15.1 +/- 4.2 kg (left), while the abductor power was 0.7 +/- 0.6 kg (right) and 0.3 +/- 0.2 kg (left). The abductor power of toes was significantly lower in Group II than in Group I. The incidence of posteromedial shin pain was higher in Group II (75.0%) than in Group I (12.5%).
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SendaMasuo en-aut-sei=Senda en-aut-mei=Masuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaharaYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YagataYukihisa en-aut-sei=Yagata en-aut-mei=Yukihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKazushi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Kazushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagashimaHiroaki en-aut-sei=Nagashima en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TukiyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Tukiyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueHajime en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Hajime kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=toe muscle power kn-keyword=toe muscle power en-keyword=female marathon runner kn-keyword=female marathon runner en-keyword=toe dynamometer kn-keyword=toe dynamometer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=149 end-page=169 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1999 dt-pub=199908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Height, body size and longevity. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Life expectancy, mortality and longevity data related to height and body size for various US and world population samples are reviewed. Research on energy restriction, smaller body size and longevity is also examined. Information sources include various medical and scientific journals, books and personal communications with researchers. Additional information is presented based on research involving eight populations of the world noted for their health, vigor and longevity. This information includes the findings of one of the authors who led research teams to study these populations. While conflicting findings exist on the cardiovascular death rates for shorter people, many examples of short populations with very little heart disease are described. Most cancer studies indicate that shorter people have significantly lower mortality risk. Considerable data suggest that shorter people generally have greater longevity than taller people, and extensive animal research supports human longevity findings. Tall populations with low mortality rates are also described. Shorter stature and smaller body weight appear to promote better health and longevity in the absence of malnutrition and infectious diseases. Several theoretical reasons for this greater longevity potential are covered. Also discussed, is the role of socioeconomic status, diet, relative weight, environment and other factors in increasing or decreasing the longevity of individuals, regardless of their heights and weights.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SamarasThomas Theodore en-aut-sei=Samaras en-aut-mei=Thomas Theodore kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ElrickHarold en-aut-sei=Elrick en-aut-mei=Harold kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Reventropy Associates affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Foundation for Optimal Health and Longevity en-keyword=body height kn-keyword=body height en-keyword=body size kn-keyword=body size en-keyword=health kn-keyword=health en-keyword=longevity kn-keyword=longevity en-keyword=nutrition kn-keyword=nutrition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=185 end-page=188 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1999 dt-pub=199908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of zonisamide in rats. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of zonisamide, an antiepileptic drug, were investigated in rats. Absorption of oral zonisamide was significantly inhibited by exposure to cigarette smoke. The Cmax, T1/2 and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve 0-24 values in the cigarette smoke exposure group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Although tonic extension (TE) induced by maximal electroshock was completely blocked by the administration of zonisamide in the control group, 50% of rats showed TE in the cigarette smoke exposure group. Exposure to cigarette smoke influences both the pharmacokinetics and antiepileptic effects of zonisamide. The effects of smoking on epileptic patients using zonisamide warrants further attention.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ArakiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiMachiko en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Machiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Matsuka en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakatsumaAkira en-aut-sei=Nakatsuma en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeKazuhide en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Kazuhide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FutagamiKoujiro en-aut-sei=Futagami en-aut-mei=Koujiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=GomitaYutaka en-aut-sei=Gomita en-aut-mei=Yutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=cigarette smoking kn-keyword=cigarette smoking en-keyword=nicotine kn-keyword=nicotine en-keyword=absorption kn-keyword=absorption en-keyword=convulsion kn-keyword=convulsion en-keyword=zonisamide kn-keyword=zonisamide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=179 end-page=183 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1999 dt-pub=199908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of Release Surgery for Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Endoscopic Versus Open Method en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=To evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) on patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple aspects of the results of 44 hands (42 patients) treated by ECTR and 40 hands (40 patients) treated by open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) were compared. Results of ECTR were compared with those of OCTR to study not only recovery rate and surgical safety but also cost-effectiveness. Although ECTR was much less invasive than OCTR, recovery of median nerve palsy in the ECTR group was not as good as that in the OCTR group one month after the surgery. Three months after surgery, the palsy of patients treated by ECTR had improved to almost the same extent as in those treated by OCTR. There were no major surgical complications in both ECTR and OCTR groups. The cost and time needed for ECTR treatment was 1/3 of those needed for OCTR. ECTR reduced both cost and treatment time, which is beneficial for both doctors and patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HasegawaKenya en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Kenya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashizumeHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Hashizume en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SendaMasuo en-aut-sei=Senda en-aut-mei=Masuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiAkira en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueHajime en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Hajime kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Medical School en-keyword=carpal tunnel syndrome kn-keyword=carpal tunnel syndrome en-keyword=surgical treatment kn-keyword=surgical treatment en-keyword=endoscopic carpal tunnel release kn-keyword=endoscopic carpal tunnel release en-keyword=open carpal tunnel release kn-keyword=open carpal tunnel release END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=171 end-page=177 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1999 dt-pub=199908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Papaverine-induced and endothelium-dependent relaxation in the isolated rat aortic strip. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In the present study, we aimed to obtain further evidence in favour of the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) is a major mediator of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and to clarify whether NO plays a role in papaverine-induced vasorelaxation. The relaxant effects of acetylcholine (Ach), acidified NaNO2 or papaverine were investigated on isolated helical strips of the rat thoracic aorta precontracted with phenylephrine in an organ bath containing Krebs solution aerated with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. The relaxation was quantified as % peak reduction of phenylephrine contracture. Saponin abolished the relaxant effects of Ach completely whereas it had no effect on the responses to acidified NaNO2 or papaverine. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) reduced the effects of Ach significantly, but it was ineffective on the relaxation induced by acidified NaNO2. The inhibitory action of L-NOARG was partly restored by L-arginine, but not by D-arginine. Hemoglobin, hydroxocobalamin and hydroquinone exhibited significant inhibition on the relaxation evoked by Ach and acidified NaNO2. L-NOARG, hydroxocobalamin and hydroquinone caused only limited but significant decrease in the relaxation due to papaverine. This phenomenon was also observed by increasing phenylephrine concentration leading to an enhancement in the contraction. Our findings strongly support the view that Ach-induced relaxation of rat aorta strips is mediated by free NO released from the endothelium and the results suggest that NO may indirectly contribute to papaverine-induced relaxation.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SecilmisAta en-aut-sei=Secilmis en-aut-mei=Ata kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OcalIsil en-aut-sei=Ocal en-aut-mei=Isil kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=GocmenCemil en-aut-sei=Gocmen en-aut-mei=Cemil kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=DikmenAtilla en-aut-sei=Dikmen en-aut-mei=Atilla kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SingirikErgin en-aut-sei=Singirik en-aut-mei=Ergin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnderSerpil en-aut-sei=Onder en-aut-mei=Serpil kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=BaysalFiruz en-aut-sei=Baysal en-aut-mei=Firuz kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Cukurova University en-keyword=rat aorta helical strips kn-keyword=rat aorta helical strips en-keyword=nitric oxide kn-keyword=nitric oxide en-keyword=papaverine kn-keyword=papaverine en-keyword=hydroxocobalamin kn-keyword=hydroxocobalamin en-keyword=hydroquinone kn-keyword=hydroquinone END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=193 end-page=200 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=1999 dt-pub=199908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Molecular typing of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated in Okayama Prefecture using pulsed field gel electrophoresis and random amplification of polymorphic DNA. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Three outbreaks and many isolated cases of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 occurred in 1996 and 1997 in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. In an attempt to investigate the route of these infections, the strains isolated from the 3 outbreaks (total 33 strains) and 15 isolated cases (total 15 strains) were investigated using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In addition, 10 strains from an outbreak in Tojo Cho, Hiroshima Prefecture (June 1996), 2 strains from the particular types of meat in Kochi Prefecture, and 42 strains isolated from bovine feces in a farm in Okayama Prefecture were also investigated in the same manner. PFGE was much more useful than RAPD for molecular typing of the clinical isolates, in that it allowed us to classify them into 10 PFGE groups. We noted that the strains differed according to the time and place of the outbreaks (or isolated cases). This indicates that O157:H7 infections in Okayama Prefecture were caused by different strains (although some cases were aggravated by the same strains as were found in other areas). The isolates from bovine feces were classified into 5 groups by PFGE profiles, but none of them were identical to those of the clinical isolates.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FunamoriYuka en-aut-sei=Funamori en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujinagaYukako en-aut-sei=Fujinaga en-aut-mei=Yukako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokotaKenji en-aut-sei=Yokota en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueKaoru en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraiYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Hirai en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgumaKeiji en-aut-sei=Oguma en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiraShohei en-aut-sei=Kira en-aut-mei=Shohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaketaKazuhisa en-aut-sei=Taketa en-aut-mei=Kazuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Jichi Medical School, Tochigi affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=molecular epidemiology kn-keyword=molecular epidemiology en-keyword=enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 kn-keyword=enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 en-keyword=pulsed field gel electrophoresis kn-keyword=pulsed field gel electrophoresis en-keyword=random amplification of polymorphic DNA kn-keyword=random amplification of polymorphic DNA END