Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic markers, including leptin, in healthy young adults.[Subjects] The subjects were 51 healthy young men (mean age, 21.6 years; range, 18-31 years).[Methods] Ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake were measured on a cycle ergometer. The metabolic markers, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and leptin, were also measured, as well as and body composition, body height, body weight, percentage fat mass, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Blood pressure levels were recorded at rest.[Results] Our results show that lower cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with higher storage of fat, lipid markers of developing atherosclerosis, and circulating leptin levels. Higher circulating leptin levels were also associated with metabolic risk markers such as obesity and insulin resistance.[Conclusion] Our results suggest that appropriate cardiorespiratory fitness may improve circulating metabolic markers even in healthy young men. It is therefore important that all persons should have high cardiorespiratory fitness from an early period of life for the effective prevention of cardiovascular disease.

[Purpose] The risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in females may be related to hormonal fluctuations resulting from increased laxity of muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate variation of stiffness and shortening of femoral muscles over the course of the menstrual cycle. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were nine healthy young women (measurements: 18 lower extremities) with regular menstrual cycles, mean age 25.9 ± 2.1 years. Measurements were performed during the periods of menstrual, ovulation, early luteal and late luteal in a menstrual cycle. Muscle stiffness of rectus femoris and biceps femoris was measured using a muscle hardness meter. Muscle shortening of rectus femoris and hamstrings was measured using a goniometer.[Results] Muscle stiffness of the belly region of rectus femoris and biceps femoris was significantly higher during the early luteal period than the other periods (p<0.05). However, muscle shortening did not change. [Conclusion] The results suggest that muscle stiffness of femoral muscles changes during regular menstrual cycles.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to find out the characteristics of large and small arterial compliance and regional body composition in middle-aged and elderly adults.[Subjects] The subjects were 103 middle-aged and elderly adults (33 men and 70 women; mean age, 53.7 ± 8.4 years; range, 34-69 years).[Methods] Large and small arterial compliances were measured as indices of arterial wall elasticity. Waist circumference, hip circumference and the waist-to-hip ratio were anthropometrically determined. As an index of regional body composition, peripheral and central lean and fat mass were measured by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry method.[Results] Large arterial compliance was negatively correlated with the waist-to-hip ratio. Small arterial compliance was positively correlated with peripheral and central lean mass. [Conclusion] We conclude that stiffness of large arteries is positively associated with increased abdominal fat mass relative to fat and lean mass of the hip and lower extremities in middle-aged and elderly adults, whereas stiffness of small arteries is inversely associated with muscle volume of the whole body.

Measurement of the thoracic kyphosis angle with a digital inclinometer may be as accurate as analysis of images captured by X-ray or digital camera. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship and degree of coincidence between the thoracic kyphosis angle measured with a digital inclinometer and that derived from an image captured by a digital camera. [Subject] The subjects were 79 healthy young women, mean age 20.2 ± 1.8 years. [Methods] The thoracic kyphosis angle in the upright standing position was derived from an image captured by a digital camera and measured with a digital inclinometer. [Results] The thoracic kyphosis angle of the digital inclinometer was significantly correlated with the angle derived from the digital image analysis (r = 0.66). We could adjust the thoracic kyphosis angle obtained with the digital inclinometer to the thoracic kyphosis angle derived from analysis of the image captured by a digital camera. [Conclusion] The results suggest that a digital inclinometer is an instrument which is simple and easy to use for measuring the thoracic kyphosis angle in the clinic.