Seika Women's Junior College

Abstract When lowlanders are exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) environments such as high mountains, hemodynamic changes occur to maintain oxygen levels in the body. However, changes to other physiological functions under such conditions have yet to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate changes to endocrine, inflammatory and immune responses and individual differences during acute HH exposure using a climatic chamber (75 min of exposure to conditions mimicking 3500 m) in healthy lowlanders. Aldosterone and cortisol were significantly decreased and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and white blood cell (WBC) count were significantly increased after HH. Lower peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was associated with higher IL-6 and WBC count, and higher IL-8 was associated with higher cortisol. These results suggest that endocrine, inflammatory and immune responses are evoked even with a short 75-min exposure to HH and individuals with lower SpO2 show more pronounced responses. Our results provide basic data for understanding physiological responses and interactions of homeostatic systems with acute HH.

Character education in the US aims to establish good habits corresponding to good character. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure of character strengths and the relations among these strengths and wellbeing in Japanese children and youth. Peterson and Seligman (2004) developed a classification of character strengths called VIA-IS. We thought, however, that VIA-IS had too many items to use with school children. We selected 15 categories and developed a questionnaire for Japanese children and youth. Fourth to eighth grade students (N = 1,351) answered questionnaires in Study 1. We found four categories of character strengths, each of which consisted of 25 items: perseverance-honesty, courage-ideas, compassion-gratitude, and fairness-care. These categories were very similar to previous research findings which simplified the categories. In Study 2, we found a positive relationship among four categories of character strengths and well-being, which we called the hope scale, life satisfaction scale, subjective happiness scale, and social support scale. We discussed what additional research was needed for establishing good habits using our categories with children and youth in schools.

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in body size, composition and structure between three somatotypes of Japanese college-aged women. The study sample consisted of 30 sedentary female college students between 18 and 20 years of age. Ten subjects had an endomorphic ectomorph somatotype (mean weight 41.95 kg), 10 had an endomorph-ectomorph somatotype (mean weight 47.12 kg) and the remaining subjects had a mesomorphic endomorph somatotype (mean weight 55.37 kg). The mean heights for these groups did not differ significantly. The mesomorphic endomorph group had a higher gross weight and a higher percentage of all adipose variables than the other two groups, though these measurements were not significantly different between the endomorph-ectomorph and the endomorphic ectomorph groups. The mean lean body weight (LBW) for the mesomorphic endomorph group was significantly larger than that of the other two groups. The endomorph-ectomorph group had the next largest LBW, and the mean for the endomorphic ectomorph group was significantly smaller than that of the other two groups. Inversely, mean values of LBW/weight(WT), LBW/total adipose tissue weight (TATW) ratio and total body water/WT were significantly lower for the mesomorphic endomorph group than for the other two groups. Furthermore, the ratios of internal adipose tissue to weight (IATW)/WT and subcutaneous adipose tissue to IATW (SATW)/IATW did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, college-aged women of different somatotypes within the same age and height range varied in body composition. Consequently, the notion of a small frame is incorrect. An accurate assessment of the human body's composition may provide a valuable insight into the ideal weight for optimal physiologic function.

An educational intervention trial to increase calcium (Ca) intake was conducted on female college students taking a dietician course and the efficacy of the trial was assessed by a prospective cohort study. The one hundred and eight 18- or 19-year-old students were divided into two cohorts, i.e., a control group and an intervention group. The educational intervention was given to the intervention group only and both group received 3 surveys, before the intervention (baseline, BL), 1 week after the intervention (WAI), and 1 year after the intervention (YAI). The amount of Ca intake at BL did not differ significantly between the cohorts. The Ca intake of the control group did not change significantly in the 3 surveys. The intervention group significantly increased Ca intake at WAI and maintained a higher level of Ca intake at the time of YAI. These results suggest some efficacy of the educational intervention to increase Ca intake in the female college students.

To evaluate the utility of subperiosteal tissue expansion (STE) for mandibular augmentation with hydroxylapatite (HA) particles, two experimental studies in adult mongrel dogs were performed. One was to observe histologic changes following STE and to compare the tissue response to STE with that to subcutaneous expansion. The other was to observe clinical and histologic changes following implantation of HA particles in the subperiosteal expanded bed. In the first experiment, small tissue expanders were placed and inflated subperiosteally in the mandible and subcutaneously in the breast. A fibrous connective tissue capsule was formed surrounding the implanted expanders. Periosteum was replaced by simple connective tissue during expansion. Capsule formation during STE was much more rapid than the subcutaneous expansion. In the subperiosteal group, a thick fibrous capsule consisting of coarse collagen fibers was observed one week after full inflation. Leaving the fully inflated subperiosteal expanders in place more than one month accelerated the resorption of the underlying bone. In the second experiment, one week after full expansion of the mandibular subperiosteal expander, the expander was removed and HA particles were implanted in the expanded bed. Despite marked augmentation with excessive amounts of HA particles, there was no deformity or infection of the grafts, which maintained their designed controur. The firm fibrous capsule formed by STE permitted consolida tion of HA particles easily and effectively, and prevented migration of the particles. Immobilization of the grafts was achieved within two months following implantation of the HA particles.