We investigated the influence of a long-term consecutive visual search (LTCVS) on a cerebral activity during visual search and spatial working memory (VSSWM).

  Ten subjects performed VSSWM tasks before and after LTCVS tasks. As for the LTCVS and VSSWM, the Advanced Trail Making Test Random Task (ATMT Task R) and the Advanced Trail Making Test Fixed Task (ATMT Task F) was introduced respectively, in which a subject, using a computer mouse, clicked a circle with the numbers from 11 to 40 in serial order. Once a numbered target was clicked, it was to disappear and another circle with the clicked number plus 30 showed up at the same time. In the Task R all the circles were rearranged at random, while the circles were not rearranged in the Task F; 30 circles were on the screen at any time in both tasks. Each subject performed Task R 40 times and Task F 10 times. The performance time, the error frequency and the electroencephalogram power values of the 13-30 Hz (beta power) before and after the LTCVS are compared.

  It was clarified that the performance of the Task F impaired and the beta power of F3 and F7 electrodes more significantly increased after the LTCVS than before the LTCVS. These results suggested that the LTCVS increased the activities of distraction and impaired the activities of the area.

[Introduction] It’s reported that body fat percentage increases with increasing weight class, with an especially rapid increase in ≥90 kg classes. Therefore, we divided the participants into 2 groups, and we intended to clarify whether weight class and body composition influenced changes in blood lactate concentration before and after the judo match.

[Methods] This study included 15 men who were divided into 2 groups: <90 kg and ≥90 kg. Body composition was measured before the match, while heart rate and blood lactate concentration were measured before and 1, 10, and 20 min after the match.

[Results] Body fat percentage in ≥90 kg was significantly higher than <90 kg, while skeletal muscle percentage and extracellular fluid in <90 kg were significantly higher than ≥90 kg. Blood lactate concentration measured at 1 min after the match were significantly higher in ≥90 kg than in <90 kg. Weight and extracellular fluid was no significant difference. However, there was significant correlation between extracellular fluid and skeletal muscle percentage, and between skeletal muscle percentage and blood lactate measured 1 min after the match.

[Conclusions] The results of study are as follows: blood lactate concentrations measured just after the match were significantly higher in participants weighing ≥90 kg than in those weighing <90 kg, and a tendency to depend on a skeletal muscle rate for was recognized.

  The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of sleeping habit of middle-aged and elderly men on clinical examination values in order to contribute new health information towards improved health behavior and preparations for the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

  Fifty men, aged 40-69 years who cooperated with the survey directed to the citizens of Niigata in 2007 were analysis subjects. This survey was intended as a random sampling of people who lived in Niigata city. Differences of blood test level, blood pressure, BMI into situations of health habits (sleep, diet, physical activity) were compared with Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney’s U test. We also analyzed the relation between non-HDL-C levels and health habit factor scores using a logistic regression analysis. The correlation among the test value, health habits were confirmed by Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

  Non-HDL-C showed negative correlation with the score of sleep sufficiency, sleep duration, sleep regularity (p = 0.012, p = 0.000, p = 0.016, respectively). A decrease in sleep sufficiency, short sleep duration, and irregular sleep were all associated with elevated non-HDL-C. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference in the sleep duration variable. This result shows that group A (non-HDL-C levels ≧150 mg/dL) tends to have lesser sleep duration than group B (non-HDL-C levels <150 mg/dL). On the other hand, a significant correlation was not found between serum lipids (T-C, HDL-C, T-C/HDL-C, TG) levels and diet score, physical activity score.

  This study aimed to investigate effectiveness of footbaths in preventing falls among hospitalized elderly people. Crossover experimentation involved respective 6-week-long footbath intervention and control periods, and a washout period. During the footbath intervention period, subjects received footbaths twice per week. Toe strength and the ankle dorsal flexion angle were measured. Toe strength is a function of leg muscle strength, whereas the ankle dorsal flexion angle reflects ankle flexibility. All 17 test subjects (mean age, 81 ± 6.7 years) were hospitalized elderly people. Footbath intervention significantly improved toe strength in both feet. The ankle dorsal flexion angle also increased significantly after footbath intervention. There was no difference in either toe strength or the ankle dorsal flexion angle after the control period. We believe that footbaths improved soft-tissue flexibility and resulted in the expansion of range of joint motion, which led to accelerated blood flow and improved muscle strength. Based on our findings, we conclude that a regular regimen of footbaths will improve leg muscle strength and ankle flexibility, thus helping to prevent falls among hospitalized elderly people.

  We investigated changes in ball speed by forehand stroke with take-back action using dorsal-palmar flexion in table tennis. Participants were eleven children aged 8-14 years. Under the forehand stroke with take-back action using dorsal-palmar flexion (take-back stroke condition) and usual stroke condition, electromyograms of the ulnar flexor muscle (UF) and the radial extensor muscle (RE), and motion picture were recorded. The mean ball speed just after the stroke was significantly larger in the take-back stroke condition than in the usual stroke condition. The difference in start timing of muscle activation between UF and RE, which were agonist and antagonist muscles for the forehand stroke, was significantly different between both stroke conditions. Under the take-back stroke condition, the start timing of RE activation was nearly 50-ms faster than that of UF activation. Furthermore, in both muscles, peak amplitude of electromyogram was larger in the take-back stroke condition than in the usual stroke condition. These results suggest that under the forehand stroke with take-back action using dorsal-palmar flexion, earlier activity of RE relative to UF would relate to the increments of the muscle activity and elastic energy in the agonist, and subsequently the mean ball speed just after the stroke would increase.