This study investigated the effects of black garlic (BG) supplementation on exercise-induced increase of oxidative stress (EIOS) and recovery of muscle function. 20 healthy males were assigned to either a BG group (n=11, GG) or placebo group (n=9, PG), during a 14-day-study. Before and after eccentric exercise of elbow flexors, we measured muscle function, blood and urinary biochemistries. Maximal voluntary contraction strength decreased by 35% immediately post exercise in both groups. Recovery of circumference of biceps brachii in GG was significantly faster than in PG during 3-7 days post-exercise. reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) level was lower in GG than in PG during 1-3 days post-exercise, but no significant difference in anti oxidative potential (BAP) was observed between groups. Exercise induced leukocytosis and monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils all exhibited significant time effects. A significantly greater creatine kinase level was found on day 3 post-exercise in PG than in GG. Lipid peroxide concentration was lower during 3-7 days post exercise in GG than in PG and the 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α level was significantly greater in PG than in GG at every post-exercise point. These results suggest that BG supplementation had certain effects on suppression of EIOS and might promote the recovery of edema in injured tissue.

Children need a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day, a standard proposed by various national guidelines. To our knowledge, however, it is unclear whether there is any positive association between motor ability and vigorous intensity time in preschool children. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between motor ability and step counts or vigorous physical activity time in preschool children (n＝754, 383 boys and 371 girls). We measured the subjects' motor ability while performing 6 activities. The performance in each activity was rated on a 5-point scale (5-1), as suggested by Japanese previous study. Daily physical activity was assessed using accelerometers (Lifecorder EX, Suzuken, Japan) throughout the day for 7 consecutive days. LC intensity assessed LC1-6 (lower intensity than runnning) and LC7-9 (higher intensity than running). LC7-9 time (min/day) was from 23.4±8.3 to 24.4±8.2 in boys and from 18.0±5.2 to 18.9±7.8 in girls on weekdays and from 15.5±9.1 to 17.0±10.7 in boys and from 15.2±8.3 to 15.5±9.4 in girls on weekends, respectively. The total fitness scores were weakly but significantly positively correlated with step counts in both sexes and LC7-9 time in girls. Until B rank in the total fitness scores, step counts (step/day) needed 14685.4 boys and 12419.0 girls on weekdays, and 11384.4 boys and 10398.0 girls on weekends, respectively. LC7-9 needed 24.1 boys and 18.5 girls on weekdays, and 21.4 boys and 17.1 on weekends at least, respectively. Our findings were suggested daily step counts and LC7-9 time to improve motor ability in preschool children.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between footprint, motor ability, and obesity with aging in 4- to 12-year-old children (n＝3944, 1957 boys and 1987 girls). We measured the footprint using Pedoscope, and measured the subjects' motor ability while performing 25m sprint, broad jump, and ball throw. The footprint was classified into normal feet and flat feet. Sprint and broad jump ability with non-normal foot girls were significantly lower than those for the normal foot after the age of 7. Obesity with non-normal foot types was significantly higher than obesity with normal feet after the age of 10 boys. Sprint ability with non-obesity boys were significantly higher than obesity after the age of 10, jump ability with non-obesity was significantly higher than obesity after the age of 8, and throw ability with non-obesity boys were significantly higher than obesity after the age of 10. Sprint ability with non-obesity girls were significantly higher than obesity after the age of 7, jump ability with non-obesity was significantly higher than obesity after the age of 8, 11, and 12. Sprint ability with non-obesity of normal feet were significantly higher than obesity of normal feet from 10- to 12-year-old boys and the age of 12 girls, obesity of flat feet the age of 12 boys and the age of 9 and 10 girls. Broad jump with non-obesity of normal feet were significantly higher than obesity of normal feet the age of 11-12 boys and 12 girls, obesity of flat feet the age of 12 boys and 10 girls, non-obesity of flat feet the age of 12 girls. In conclusions, in terms of footprint, motor ability, and obesity in children, it was suggested that it was important occasion to change after 9 years old.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the postural sway rate (ENV. Area) and higher brain function (level of phonological awareness, level of drawing ability, and intellectual level) in normal children under school age. We also tried to examine the possibility of dyslexia screening using ENV. The test items were used 1) measurement of physical fitness,2) height and weight, 3) postural sway, 4) a phonological test, 5) a drawing test and 6) an intelligence test in 291 children at a kindergarten. Correlation analyses for age and other test items were related to all them. The phonological awareness was related to ENV. Two groups (a higher ENV and a lower ENV) were compared with a t-test and the results showed a significant difference. The group with a higher ENV score showed higher scores in phonological awareness. From these results, the possibility of ENV measure was discussed in relation to employ as a dyslexia screening test item.

Antioxidants, including garlic, are beneficial to suppress exercise-induced oxidative stress (EIOS), and black garlic (BG) is a recently-developed whole food with strong antioxidant properties. This study investigated the effects of BG supplementation on physiological responses, especially on EIOS and recovery of muscle function. Nineteen untrained males were assigned to either a BG group (n=11, GG) or placebo group (n=8, PG), with a similar age and body mass index, during a 14-day-study. Before and after eccentric exercise of elbow flexors, we measured muscle function, blood and urinary biochemistries concerning muscle injury proteins, inflammatory cells, cytokines, reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), and antioxidative potential (BAP). Maximal voluntary contraction strength decreased by 35% immediately post-exercise in both groups. Recovery of circumference of biceps brachii in GG was significantly faster than in PG during 3-7 days post-exercise. d-ROMs level was lower in GG than in PG during 1-3 days post-exercise, but no significant difference in BAP was observed between groups. Exercise induced leukocytosis, and monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils all exhibited significant time effects. A significantly greater creatine kinase level was found on day 3 post-exercise in PG than in GG. Lipid peroxide concentration was lower during 3-7 days post-exercise in GG than in PG, and the 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α level was significantly greater in PG than in GG at every post-exercise point. These results suggest that BG supplementation had certain effects on suppression of physiological responses, including EIOS, and might promote the recovery of edema in injured tissue.

The usage of "Taiji sense"(a kind of image) is required during Taijiquan (TJQ) exercise, but some practitioners virtually ignore it all the time while exercising. The significance for the usage of "Taiji sense" is still completely unknown. This study assessed the psycho-physiological effects of "Taiji sense" during 24-style TJQ exercise (24TJQ). 25 middle-elderly 24TJQ-experienced subjects were divided into Taiji-sensed group (TS), non-Taiji-sensed group (NTS) and ergometry exercise group (EE) by balancing their age aud TJQ experience time. The division of TS and NTS was determined by a self-reported investigation, based on whether the practitioner usually use or do not use the image of "Taiji sense" while exercising TJQ. Electroencephalography and profile of mood states were examined and compared. After exercise, TS showed greater increase of a activity (P < 0.05) and greater decrease of beta activity (P < 0.05) than EE, respectively. a hemispherical asymmetry score indicated by Fp1-Fp2 showed significant decrease change (P < 0.05) in TS after exercise (Post2), and tended to be lower (P=0.056) than that of NTS. Even though all conditions significantly decreased Tension-Anxiety (T-A) scores (P < 0.05, for all), only TS significantly increased Vigor (V) score (P < 0.05). The change of a activity inversely correlated to the change of T-A score (r= -0.78, P < 0.0001) in all conditions. Conclusively, the usage of "Taiji sense" might help to produce stronger psycho-physiological respouses during 24TJQ practice, and give rise to effective relaxation after exercise, as classics pointed out.

This study was conducted to determine whether 24-style Taijiquan (24TJQ) exhibits measurable psychological and physiological effects. Twenty-two middle-aged female subjects performed 24TJQ and cycle ergometry exercises at the same intensity determined by the same heart rate during 2 exercises. Electroencephalography and Profile of Mood State (POMS) were monitored before and after 2 exercises. The responses to 24TJQ exercise were different from those to cycle ergometry exercise when the heart rate returned to the resting level: (1) alpha increased and theta decreased significantly in the frontal region, while theta decreased significantly in the central and occipital regions; (2) in the POMS test, an improved positive mood was found following 2 exercises, while negative mood was suppressed following 24TJQ exercise; (3) significant correlations were found between the increased alpha in the frontal region, the decreased theta in the central or occipital region and the vigor of the POMS test. These results suggest that 24TJQ exercise induced a resting awakening state and exhibited a relaxing effect on both mind and body.

The purpose of this study is to find out the differences in physical activity (PA), energy expenditure (EE) and energy intake (EI) under free-living conditions between Japanese prepubertal obese and nonobese boys. The subjects were 15 prepubertal obese boys (Age: 11.7+/-0.4 years old, Body fat: 35.2+/-1.6%) who do not have obese parents and siblings and 15 prepubertal nonobese boys (Age: 11.8+/-0.4 years old, Body fat: 18.5+/-0.8%). We assessed their daily PA by heart rate (HR) monitoring, pedometer step counts (PSC) and time for sedentary activities (SA). We also examined calculated EE from HR-VO(2) regression, EI and percentage of macronutrient EI. Results are as follows: Percentage of body fat had significant correlation with weight, BMI, time for SA, percentage EI of protein (positive, p<0.001), VO(2max), VO(2max) per body weight, VO(2max) per LBM, PSC, TEE per body weight, TEI per body weight (negative, p<0.001), percentage of EI of carbohydrate (negative, p<0.01). The values of the obese were significantly lower in total EE per body weight and in total EI per body weight. EI from dinner was significantly higher in the obese group. The values of the obese were significantly higher in percentage EI from protein and that from carbohydrate. The results of this study showed prepubertal obese boys who do not have obese parents and siblings have low PA and spend much time for sedentary activities. Obese boys consume higher percentage energy of protein and lower percentage of carbohydrate though differences in EE and EI were found only in total EE per body weight and total EI per body weight between obese boys and nonobese boys.

This study examined the physiological benefits of 24-style Taijiquan (24TJQ) exercises by comparing heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), exercise intensity, electroencephalograph, surface electromyography and surface thermograph, as well as the results of physical fitness test in 20 middle-aged women (10 skilled participants and 10 novices). The data from the skilled participants showed greater values in sit-ups (p<0.01), side step (p<0.01) and stand trunk flexion (p<0.05), moreover, the statistic data demonstrated not only greater HR (p<0.05) or lower RR during exercise, but also higher beta%-power during the experiment, higher alpha%-power in the eye-closed period and central alpha dominant after exercise. These results suggest that 24TJQ is effective to promote physiological benefits in middle-aged women. It attracts strong interest and is helpful to induce psychological relaxation and mental concentration.

Classified as medical devices, surgical instruments require standardised and validated reprocessing. The procedure conventionally employed here is cleaning and disinfection in a washer/disinfector followed by sterilisation in an autoclave. Since the organic contamination of surgical instruments encountered in practice can be very pronounced, cleaning constitutes the basis for the subsequent reprocessing steps of disinfection and sterilisation. In this respect, blood represents the most common and hence the most important form of contamination.