These results suggest that blackcurrant anthocyanins act as phytoestrogens in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lower extremity muscle mass, leg extension strength and muscle power of hemiplegic stroke patients and to examine the differences in walking independence levels (dependent and independent groups) between each variable. [Subjects] The subjects were 21 hemiplegic patients at the first onset. [Methods] The affected and unaffected thigh muscle mass (TM), lower leg muscle mass, and lower extremity muscle mass (LEM) were measured by segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis. The leg extension peak torque (LEPT) and mean power (MP) were measured using a recumbent ergometer. Values obtained by dividing the affected and unaffected LEPTs by each LEM (LEPT/LEM) and the MP by total LEM (TLEM) of the affected and unaffected lower extremities (MP/TLEM) were calculated. [Results] The affected TM was significant lower than the unaffected side. The affected and unaffected TM was significantly correlated with the LEPT of each side. The affected TM, affected and unaffected LEPT, LEPT/LEM, MP and MP/TLEM of the dependent group were significantly lower than their respective values in the independent group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that a decrease in muscle mass in hemiplegic patients decreases anaerobic exercise capacity through weaker leg extension strength or muscle power.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to establish an optimal load setting method for a 9-second modified-Wingate Anaerobic Test (m-WAnT) and to examine the reliability and validity of the test.[Subjects] The subjects were 28 hemiplegic stroke patients and 18 of them were examined as to the test's validity.[Methods] The mWAnT was performed twice on two different days to calculate the Mean Power (MP). In order to derive an optimal load setting expression, multiple regression analysis was performed using the optimal load (a value roughly 10% higher than the torque value achieved at the time-point of 6 seconds) as the dependent variable and 6 items as the independent variables. The Five-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (FRSST) and Maximum Walking Speed (MWS) were measured and their correlations with were examined the MP.[Results] The ICC (1,1) of the MP of the first and second values of MP was 0.982 (95% CI, 0.961-0.991). The result of multiple regression analysis showed that the unaffected side and affected side LEPT were significantly related and the coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was 0.812. MP significantly correlated with FRSST and MWS of the 18 subjects. [Conclusion] This study confirmed the reliability and validity of m-WAnT and derived the optimal load setting equation as well.

Objectives: Smoking causes endothelial dysfunction, but it still remains unclear whether oral administration of anthocyanin brings benefits to endothelial function and redox states in young healthy smokers. We tested the hypothesis that supplement anthocyanin may rescue endothelial dysfunction and redox states in young healthy smokers. Methods: Young healthy male non-smoker (n = 8) and smokers (n = 14) were enrolled to measure the derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) levels and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and 2 hours after one cigarette smoking or resting under administration of blackcurrant supplements (anthocyanins 210 mg) or not. Results: FMD, d-ROMs, and BAP at baseline were similar between non-smokers and smokers. One cigarette smoking induced a decrease in FMD at 2 hours (9.0% ± 2.6% vs 7.5% ± 2.3%, p < 0.05) without affecting plasma levels of d-ROMs and BAP in young healthy smokers. Single oral administration of anthocyanin at 210 mg abolished smoking-induced decrease in FMD (8.3% ± 3.4% vs 9.5% ± 3.6%, p = ns) without changes in plasma levels of d-ROMs and BAP in young smokers. In non-smokers, however, administration of anthocyanin at 210 mg slightly but significantly elevated plasma level of d-ROMs at 2 hours (249.6 ± 30.3 vs How to cite this paper: Yoshizaki, A., Tomisawa, T., Osanai, T., Nanashima, N., Kitajima, M., Mikami, K., Fujita, T., Maeda, H. and Kato, Y. (2018)

[Purpose] To investigate the hemodynamic change after exercise load of stroke patients, focusing on overlaps of comorbidity. [Subjects] Nineteen stroke patients.[Methods] The subject performed a warm-up, and muscle strength and muscle power were measured by a recumbent type ergometer. Blood pressure was measured at rest before exercise and after each exercise, and was initially analyzed without consideration of comorbidities, followed by comparisons to determine whether or not there were overlaps of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. [Results] The systolic blood pressure after each exercise showed no significant difference from at rest, but the average blood pressure after muscle power measurement was significantly higher than after the other exercises. In addition, in cases with overlap of hypertension and dyslipidemia, average blood pressure was significantly higher.[Conclusion] The results suggest it is important to evaluate the hemodynamic change after exercise with consideration of comorbidities.