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It is generally accepted that immune function decreases in overtraining syndrome. The nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are impaired in overtraining syndrome. It was reported that intensive training causes upper respiratory tract infections, dysfunction of neutrophils, dysfunction of NK cells, and decrease of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A. Further investigations are required on the immune function in overtraining syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine body conditioning requirements during foreign expeditions with prolonged air travel, we investigated the changes in condition that accompany long flights among top Japanese athletes. Athletes from the Japanese delegation who participated in the 14th Asian Games (2002/Busan) were surveyed using a questionnaire on their foreign travel in 2002, regarding the experiences of change in their condition and the influence on performance in the competition, and activities performed in the air plane during the flight. We collected effective data from five hundred and twenty-nine (529)athletes. Countries most frequently visited were China, followed by France, the United States of America, Australia, and Canada. Two hundred and fifty (250)athletes experienced swelling of the crus and lower back and crus pain in the past. One hundred and forty-one athletes also noted deterioration in their condition due to prolonged travel. In forty-one (41)athletes, the deterioration of their condition influenced their performance in the competition. About three hundred and ninety (390)to four hundred (450)athletes did not organize the timing or content of breakfast, dinner or sleep in the days before travel or on the day of travel, in consideration of the time difference. The most frequently performed activities in the airplane were sleeping, reading books, listening to music, and watching movies. However, exercises such as stretching, massage, flexibility exercises, and easy training were less frequent. Many athletes drunk beverages such as tea, coffee, water, or alcohol, and took care over keeping their bodies warm and preventing dry nose and/or throat. As the drinks mentioned are diuretics thus causing dehydration, athletes should be advised to take isotonic drinks with minerals. These findings suggest that prolonged air travel that accompanies foreign expeditions influenced the condition of top Japanese athletes, which was related to performance in competitions. We concluded that fluid intake to prevent dehydration, gentle exercise to facilitate peripheral blood circulation, and attention to timing and volume of sleep and meals before and during travel were required to prevent condition deterioration in top Japanese athletes. Then, circadian rhythm disorder related to jet-lag characterized by fatigue, depression and sleep problems was discussed and resynchronization with the local time recommended. Consequently, subliminal problems during foreign travel were clarified to improve the conditioning of representative athletes. Coaches should educate athletes on the importance of conditioning during prolonged air travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many proteins, in particular those in the plasma membranes, are glycosylated with carbohydrates, which are grouped into O-glycans and N-glycans. O-glycans are synthesized step by step by glycosyltransferases, whereas N-glycans are synthesized by en-bloc transfer of the so-called high-mannose-type oligosachharide from lipid-linked precursor to polypeptide. The high-mannose-type N-glycans are then modified by processing α-mannosidases. Alpha-mannosidase IIx (MX) was identified as the gene product of processing α-mannosidase II (MII)-related gene. MX apparently plays subsidiary role for MII in many cell types, as N-glycan patterns of MX null mouse tissues are not altered significantly. Surprisingly MX null male mice are infertile due to a failure of spermatogenesis. This review provides a brief overview of the in vivo role of N-glycans which are revealed by the gene knockout mouse approach, and introduce our studies on the MX gene knockout mouse. The MX gene knockout experiments unveiled a novel function of a specific N-glycan, which is N-acetylglucosamine-terminated and has a fucosylated triantennary structure, in the adhesion between germ cells and Sertoli cells. The study of MX is a good example of how the in vivo roles of an apparently redundant gene product are determined by the gene knockout approach. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document here the first case of bulimia nervosa associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. The binge eating and self-induced vomiting that occurred for more than 10 years disappeared completely after the surgical cure of primary hyperparathyroidism. Depressive and anxiety symptoms also improved dramatically. The possible influence of derangement in calcium metabolism on the neurobiochemical mechanism of bulimia nervosa is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and malignancy has been controversial in the literature. We report a case of lung cancer in a 50-year-old woman with a 4-year history of SLE. She underwent surgery at a pathological stage of T2N2M0, but she eventually died of rapid recurrence of the cancer in the abdomen resulting in massive haemorrhage from the inferior vena cava (IVC). Immunological disorders related to SLE are thought to contribute to rapid progression of the malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]