Stiffness of the calcaneus was measured in 1995 and 1997 by using the ultrasound bone densitometer in 278 posmenopausal healthy Japanese women (aged 70.6±6.3 years, mean±SD). There was a significant negative correlation between age and stiffness. The genetic effects on stiffness were investigate with 49 among 278. The VDR gene polymorphisms were defined by PCR - RFLP using the endonuclease Bsml. No significant association between Bsml VDR gene polymorphisms and stiffness was found in either year. There was a possibility of higher stiffness in the subjects with bb genotype according to the simple regression analysis with the correlation of age but not significant. There was the significant difference in stiffness between 1995 and 1997 in the subjects with Bb genotype, but there was no significant association between VDR genotype and stiffness changes in all the subjects. Moreover, daily walking steps as physical activity, which influences bone, was evaluated. The significant difference in stiffness changes between low walking steps group in Bb and that of bb was observed, although the welking steps of low groups in Bb and bb were similarly on the increase in 1997. It is inferred from these results that the Bb genotype has good response to physical activity on bone.

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The pattern of dynamic sweating responses to periodic radiant heat and its difference in various sleep stages were examined. The subjects, wearing short - pants, lay on a bed and slept at 30±2℃, 40%RH. Throughout the entire period of sleep, irradiation was made on the chest and abdomen with a period of 2 minutes (1 min. on, 1 min. off). Sweat rates on the non - irradiated areas (upper chest) were recorded The basal level of sweat rate was higher during slow wave sleep and lower during REM sleep. The magnitude of responses was affected by the basal level of sweat rate. The patterns of sweat responses to periodic heating were similar among all sleep stages. These results suggest that the dynamic sweat response to heat load is well retained during REM sleep.

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There are few researchs into changes in bone mineral density (BMD) associated with increased intake of Calcium (Ca) in young adults. In this study, Ca - rich milk was given to 5 male college students for 2 months. BMD in lumber spine and ultrasound parameters in calcaneus were measured before and after supplementation and 2 months after the end of supplementation. After the period of supplementation, BMD in lumber spine showed significant increase and remained high level in 2 months after the of supplementation. In contrast, ultrasound parameters showed no changes. These results indicate that Ca supplementation for young adults is useful in enhancing BMD.

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There are many designer - label - oriented women in Japan, and we hypothesized that they may undergo physiological changes while wearing designer - label clothes. Thus, in this study, blood samples were taken from 6 designer - label - oriented female subjects at rest, after walking around a fashinonable street in casual clothes, and after walking around in their favorite designer - label clothes. Blood analysis showed that serotonin secretion of the 3 subjects who spend more than one million yen annually on designer - label clothes increased significantly when they wore their favorite designer - label clothes, but serotonin secretion increased in the other subjects when they wore casual clothes.

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