Our results confirmed the long-term effects of the transfer package in constraint-induced movement therapy.

To examine whether the kinetics of local muscle oxygenation reflect systemic oxygen intake, we measured the kinetics of local muscle oxygenation and systemic oxygen consumption (VO2). This study included 16 healthy males who performed an exercise tolerance test on a bicycle ergometer. During the exercise test, expiratory gas analysis was performed with an expiratory gas analyzer, and the kinetics of vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHb) and tissue blood oxygen saturation (StO2) gradually decreased during the exercise test, while deoxygenated hemoglobin (DeoxyHb) gradually increased. We examined correlations between the mean values of these parameters, which were calculated by time-integrating the values obtained using NIRS and dividing them by the integral time, and VO2. There was a marked positive correlation between DeoxyHb and VO2 (r = 0.893-0.986), and a marked negative correlation between StO2 and VO2 (r = 0.859-0.995). There was a negative correlation between VO2 and OxyHb (r = 0.726-0.978), and no correlation between TotalHb and VO2. These results suggest that the kinetics of peripheral muscle oxygenation reflect systemic VO2.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on COPD awareness in a regional city in Japan. Methods Self-administered questionnaires were completed by the residents of the city of Matsuura, Japan. Residents (! 50 years) of the mainland in Matsuura were included in a COPD intervention project (mainland group), while residents of the islands district received no intervention due to geographical issues (island group). The rates of COPD awareness and accuracy of responses to the questions about COPD were compared between the two groups. Materials The study included 5,891 residents 40 to 74 years of age of Matsuura in 2013. The mainland group comprised 4,419 subjects, and the island group 1,472 included subjects. Results The overall response rate to the questionnaire was 24.6%, with similar response rates between the two groups. The rate of COPD awareness in the mainland group was 24.5%, which was significantly higher than that observed in the island group (11.8%) (p<0.01). The rate of awareness tended to decrease in association with increasing age. Among 276 responders who stated they were aware of COPD, the accuracy rate for responses to the questions about COPD was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion In the present study, there was a difference in COPD awareness between the two groups, suggesting that COPD interventions may increase awareness of the disease. However, the level of knowledge regarding COPD remained low and modifications to the intervention are required to improve awareness of the condition, especially among elderly subjects.

No abstract

This study examined the relationship between acute cardiorespiratory and muscle oxygenation and blood volume changes during prolonged exercise. Eight healthy male volunteers (mean maximum oxygen uptake VO(2max) = 41.6 +/- 2.4 mL/kg/min) performed 60 min submaximal cycling at 50% VO(2max). Oxygen uptake VO(2) was measured by indirect spirometry, cardiac output (CO) was estimated using a Portapre, and right vastus lateralis oxyhemoglobin/ myoglobin (oxyHb/Mb), deoxyhemoglobin/myoglobin (deoxyHb/Mb), and total hemoglobin/myoglobin (total Hb/Mb) were recorded using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). After 40 min of exercise, there was a significant increase in VO(2) due to a significantly higher arteriovenous oxygen difference ((a - v)O(2diff). After 30 min of exercise CO remained unchanged, but there was a significant decrease in stroke volume and a proportionate increase in heart rate, thus indicating the occurrence of cardiovascular drift. During the first few minutes of exercise, there was a decline in oxyHb/Mb and total Hb/Mb, whereas deoxyHb/Mb remained unchanged. Thereafter, oxyHb/Mb and total Hb/Mb increased systematically until the termination of exercise while deoxyHb/Mb declined. After 40 min of exercise, these changes were significantly different from the baseline values. There were no significant correlations between the changes in the NIRS variables and systemic VO(2) or mixed (a - v)O(2)diff during exercise. These results suggest that factors other than localized changes in muscle oxygenation and blood volume account for the increased VO(2) during prolonged submaximal exercise.