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OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the weight loss and isotonic core exercise on oswestry disability index (ODI), trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength in obese middle-aged women with chronic low back pain. METHODS Eighteen obese middle-aged woman with chronic low back pain were randomly assigned into weight loss + core exercise group (WL+CE, n=6), core exercise group (CE, n=6), and control group (CON, n=6). The weight loss goal was set at approximately 0.5-1 kg per week, and core exercises were conducted for 60 minutes, three times a week, for 8 weeks. Body composition (weight, % body fat, muscle mass, WHR), ODI, trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength were measured before, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after core exercise. RESULTS WHR and ODI significantly decreased at 4 and 8 weeks of exercise in both the WL+CE and CE groups compared to before exercise (p

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to figure out the effects of kendo training on the activity of brainwaves by analyzing changes in brainwaves during chudan-no-kamae and three-movement-striking, which are basic movements of kendo, in elementary school students who undergo kendo training and comparing left and right side brainwave activities to find out differences. METHODS This study was conducted with 29 male elementary school students living in K City who were experts in kendo with a career as an athlete or a kendo training period not shorter than six months. The brainwave activity was measured by measuring and analyzing brainwaves at eight regions at the prefrontal lobe, the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe using brainwave measuring equipment. Brainwaves were measured for 5 minutes in a sitting position in a stable state and were also measured for 5 minutes after 15 minutes of the chudan-no-kamae movement, which is aiming at the opponent with the point of the sword while moving along eight moving lines of the opponents, and for 5 minutes after 15 minutes of three striking movements. RESULTS Alpha waves showed higher brainwave activity during the stable state than during the kendo movements (three striking movements, chudan-no-kamae) while SMR, M-beta, and H-beta showed higher brainwave activity after kendo movements than during the resting state. The asymmetry between the left and right sides increased after the movements compared to during the resting state. CONCLUSIONS These results are considered attributable to kendo training that partly increased their concentration thereby increasing brainwave activity. However, it is unclear that kendo training will be helpful for concentration through physical activities and brain activity in this study. Therefore, further study should be conducted with the measurement of factors related to emotional aspects, concentration, and brainwaves according to kendo training.

PURPOSE The current study identified effects of the health risk information strategy on risk perception to diseases related to physical inactivity, and test the relationships between changes in risk perception and changes in physical activity. METHODS A total of 37 adolescents voluntarily participated in the 12-week health risk information strategy. In the initial stage of this study, adolescents were randomly classified into the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was instructed the health risk information twice a week, while the control group lived a routine life. Health vulnerability, objective risk factors related to physical inactivity, and physical activity were measured to the study variables and 2× 2 repeated measure analysis of variance and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS Results indicated that the adolescents at health risks related to physical inactivity showed significant increase in risk perception on waist size and BMI after the health risk information strategy. In addition, changes in risk perception on obesity and diabetes significantly influenced on changes in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS This study implies that it needs to actively promote not only health risks due to physical inactivity, but health benefits of physical activity in order to reduce diseases associated with physical inactivity in health promotion and preventive medicine.

We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis induced by gemcitabine. The patient was a 48-year-old male who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas head. Twenty-two days after operation, adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine(1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks)was started. During three courses of chemotherapy, no adverse event of WHO grade 2 or more was observed. Seven days after the last infusion, fever and consciousness disorder emerged without respiratory symptoms. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed severe hypoxemia. Chest X-ray and CT showed diffuse bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Oxygenation and respiratory support were immediately given, and steroid pulse therapy with 1,000 mg/day of methylprednisolone was started. His symptoms and radiolographical findings were dramatically improved. The patient could be discharged on the 14th day after admission. Acute pulmonary toxicity induced by gemcitabine is rare, but could lead to severe complications. The review of reported cases showed the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy for pulmonary toxicity due to the agent.