The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of hyperoxia and hypercapnia on respiration and metabolism during a steady-state exercise. Thirteen healthy subjects were examined during bicycle-ergometer rides at approximately 50% Vo_2max under four different breathing gas conditions : 1)room air (control) ; 2)40% oxygen ; 3)3% carbon dioxide ; 4)40% oxygen and 3% carbon dioxide. Hyperoxia, with or without hypercapnia, decreased respiratory ventilation and carbon dioxide elimination significantly. On the other hand, oxygen uptake in hyperoxia was not significantly different from that of normoxia. Hypercapnia increased respiratory ventilation more than 30% compared to normocapnia, but it did not change oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination significantly.

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In order to clarify the effects of walking under various psychosocial and occupational conditions on psychophysiogical health, we examined the relationship between the number of steps walked in several situations, such as on all weekdays, at work, and over the weekend, and the results of medical chechups, psychological tests, Breslow's 7 health practices, and other attitudes toward walking as well as health by using a pedometer in a certain manufacturing company. Most of the workers estimated their usual number of steps walked as being less than actual levels on both weekdays and holidays. Generally, the increased number of steps walked was significantly correlated with increased HDL-cholesterol levels, and decreased Triglyceride levels. Contrary to such physical effects, there were more variations with respect to the relationship between walking and psychological health. Moreover, the development of a walking habit at work resulted in some factors becoming worse, such as relaxation, trait anxiety, and serum AST levels when compared to those on all weekdays and over the weekend. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider several situations in which woekers usually walk and we must slao practice counseling and education for health promotion, to promote walking for health care in the workplace.

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The purpose of this paper is to clarify some patterns of utilization of an external employee assistance program (EAP) we have conducted for other public and private facilities in the Tokyo Kenbikyoin Foundation between April, 1986 and December, 1996. The subjects were 26 men and 12 women in 7 facilities under the following conditions : (1)Employees who have already had their own psychiatrists at the first interview of the external EAP ; (2)Facilities utilize the EAP for two or more employees who met the first criterion. As a result, utilization patterns differed depending on medical staffs attitude toward the external EAP. There was a significant difference according to sex. The rate for men was 54% in worksites where medical staff understood this external program (worksite A1) and 93% in worksites where they did not (worksite A2-3, B). As to expectations for the program, there were more consultations for organizational measurements (63%) in worksite A1, while less organizational matters (27%) and more personal complains about their psychiatrists in the worksite A2-3, and B. These results suggest that the involvement of medical staff is the key to utilizing the external EAP effectively.

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