Eight male and female physically active students performed bicycle ergometer exercises for 100min in cool(9.5°C), neutral (22.0°C) and hot (34.5°C) environments. Relative humidity was 55-65% and air velocity was 20cm/sec. Work load for each subject was based on 40% Vo₂ max as determined in neu-tral environment. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), rectal temperature (Tre), pulmonary ventilation (Ve), oxygen uptake (Vo₂) and sweat rate (SR) were measured during exercise.
There were no sex differences in the magnitudes of HR and Tre increases in cool and neutral environments. However in hot environment, the final exercise HR and Tre for the males were significantly higher than those for the females. While SBP of male subjects tended to decrease after 80min exercise in hot environment, this trend was not observed for female subjects. Significant increases in Ve during exercise in hot environment were only shown in male subjects, and the increases in Vo₂ through the exercise time were more severe for the male than for the female subjects. The male had significantly more SR per degree increase in Tre than did the female subjects, indicating that evaporative cooling in the males was not as effective as in the females in the humid heat environment.

View full abstract

In order to trace the progressing sequence of tooth to denture base discrepancy, and to confirm its pathogenic actions on dental diseases, the authors have previously investigated skeletal remains mainly from East Japan. The present study is to expand the objects into the skeletal populations from West Japan, so as to compliment the lack of materials in the previous study to obtain more continuous information on the progressing sequence of the discrepancy and also to compare these changes between East and West Japan. In this study, 218 skulls with well preserved occlusion, which are stored in the Departments of Anatomy, Kyushu University and Nagasaki University were used. The results indicate dominant increase of malocclusion and the discrepancy through Japanese prehistoric and historic ages. A specific characteristic of the Yayoi people was detected to have high frequency of anterior cross-bite of the skeletal type. This fact seems to be very interesting and informative for the purpose of discussing the regional differences and the origin of Japanese in further studies.

View full abstract

A mature male skeleton excavated from a medieval castle site (Katsu-yama-Tate) at Kaminokuni township on the southwestern coast of okkaido showing characteristic pathological changes on the bones which could be diagnosed as typical or demonstrable osseous syphilis is described palaeopatho-logically. From archaeological and chronological evidences, the skeletal materials used seem to belong to the latter half of the 16th century (the late Muromachi period).
The case of osseous syphilis presented in this paper is worthy of special note in that it is an indication of how serious and virulent the early prevalence of syphilis was among the Japanese population during the period immediately following the transmission of this vicious venereal infection into Japan.

View full abstract

Polymorphism of γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABAT) was investigated in a total of 75 liver samples from unrelated Japanese using a orizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Three common phenotypes were observed, which corresponded to GABAT 1, GABAT 2-1, and GABAT 2, controlled by two alleles, GABAT¹ andGABAT². The estimated allele frequencies of GABAT¹ and GABAT² were 0.547 and 0.453, respectivly. This result was not significantly differerent of European samples reported by JEREMIAH and POVEY (1981).

View full abstract

The purpose of this study were to confirm the steady-state V_o2 during work and the fast component of bi-exponential curves durving recovery at a constant-load works below anaerobic threshold (AT) level, and to examine the adequacy of criteria for determination of AT. Subjects (5 young males) performed an incremental-load ergometer work test in which the initial work load was 4min unloaded cycling, and thereafter the work load was increased 150kgm every 2min until exhaustion. Furthermore, subjects performed five constant-load ergometer tests in which work loads consisted of 8min of 300, 450, 600, 750, and 900kgm/min, respectively. During work and recovery, changes of respiratory gas exchange parameters and heart rate were recorded continuously. Criteria to detect the AT were 1) non-linear increase in _??_E, 2) non-linear increase in _??_co2, 3) increase in VE/V02 without a corresponding increase in VE/Vco2i and 4) increase in FEO2 without a corresponding decrease in FECO2.
Vo₂-AT by each criterion showed little differences. However, use of criterion 1 or 2 prod vided a more clear detection of AT than criterion 3 or 4. Differences in V_o2 at 5th and 8th min during constant-load works below AT level were nearly equal zero, and were increased with increments of work load above AT. Also, slow (lactic) component of bi-exponential curves on V_o2 during recovery was found at work loads beyond AT, and increased with increments of work load. It was considered that the criteria to detect AT, especially 1 and 2 in this study were valid and available to evaluate the physical work capacity in man, in addition to Vo2max.

View full abstract

In 1982, a female skeleton was excavated from protohistoric scallop-shaped (small square front with circular rear) mound. This skeleton generally shows typical characters as those from the same age (BABA et al., 1983). There, however, can be seen abnormal temporomandibular joint and dental attrition.
The articular surface of the mandibular fossa is extended postero-inferiorly onto the tympanic plate (Plate I, Fig. I-B). A corresponding facet is seen on the posterior surface of the mandibular condyle (Plate I, Fig. I-b).
Two kinds of abnormal attrition are seen as follows: first, oblique attrition on the lingual side of the upper cheek teeth and on the buccal side of the lower cheek teeth (Plate II-1, 2, 6, Figs. II, Ill-B); second, so-called wedge-shaped defect on the buccal side of the neck of the lower teeth (Plate II-6, Figs. II, III-C).
There are also two occlusal positions in this specimen. First is that the mandibular condyle is dislocated postero-inferiorly and the normal occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth contact with each other (Figs, I-1, IV-2). Second is that the condyle fits with the original mandibular fossa and the surfaces by oblique attrition contact with each other (Figs, III-3, IV-3).
These two types of abnormal attrition were considered to be caused chiefly by a small chopstick-like object, and the oblique attrition had to be closely related with the abnormal expansion of the temporomandibular joint.

View full abstract

In 1982, we published a paper dealing with the morphology of the human innominate bones from the Pleistocene in Japan (ENDO and BABA, 1982). As a part of the results of our investigation, it was concluded that the Akashi innominate is morphologically very modern unlike other specimens and that it must be of a Holocene Sapiens. Recently, NAORA (1983) and YOSHIOKA (1983) criticized these conclusions from various viewpoints.
However, as far as the morphological characteristics and their statistical treatments are concerned, we consider that their arguments are based on various misunderstandings and that nothing can alter the above conclusions.
We believe, as WEIDENREICH (1943) maintained, that we should not discuss the problems on geology and prehistory, because we are not specialized in these sciences.

View full abstract