HIDENORI URATA, YOICHI TANABE, AKIRA KJYONAGA, MASAHARU IKEDA, HIROAKI TANAKA, MUNEH1RO SHINDO, AND KLKUO ARAKAWA SUMMARY After a general clinical observation period of over 4 weeks, 20 essential hypertensive subjects (Japanese) were randomly divided into two groups. One group (n = 10; 4 men and 6 women; 51.4 ± 2.8 years of age) agreed to physical training using bicycle ergometer exercise with the intensity at blood lactate threshold for 60 minutes three times a week for 10 weeks, while the other group (n = 10; 4 men and 6 women; 51.0 ± 2.9 years of age) did no particular physical training and was followed once a week as the control. Changes in blood pressure, hemodynamics, and humoral factors of the exercised group were compared with values in the controls. The following significant changes were found only in the exercised group. Blood pressure was significantly (p<0.01) reduced. Whole blood and plasma volume indices were significantly reduced (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The change in ratio of serum sodium to potassium positively correlated with the change in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.76, p<0.02). Plasma norepinephrine concentrations both at rest and at the workload of blood lactate threshold during graded exercise tests were significantly reduced (p<0.05, p<0.02 respectively) after 10 weeks of exercise training. The change in the resting level of plasma norepinephrine positively correlated with that in the mean blood pressure. No such changes were observed in the control group. In both groups, body weight and urinary sodium excretion showed no statistically significant changes. In conclusion, the antihypertensive effect of mild exercise training was confirmed in a well-matched, controlled study, and reduction in blood volume and plasma norepinephrine concentrations had an apparent association. (Hypertension 9: 245-252, 1987) KEY WORDS • blood pressure • training • electrolytes • catecholamines • lactate D ESPITE widespread interest in nonpharmaco logical therapy for hypertension, physical exercise has not gained acceptance for its antihypertensive effectiveness and mechanisms. 12 This may be attributed to the fact that there has been no well-controlled study of factors such as age, sex, race, number, and life-style in matched hypertensive control subjects. Even when positive effects 1 " 8 were obtained, the related mechanisms remained unclear. Supported in part by giants-in-aid from the Japanese Ministries of Education, Science, and Culture (B-58480246), Health and Welfare (60A-6), Uehara Memorial Foundation, and from the Fukuoka University Research Institute.Address for reprints: Kikuo Arakawa, M.D., The Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Fukuoka, Japan 814-01.Received February 4, 1986; accepted October 31, 1986. We reported the antihypertensive effect of exercise training with the workload at blood lactate threshold and noted a significant reduction of plasma catecholamine concentration and an elevation of plasma prostaglandin E concentration. 9 ' l0 In addit...

The mitochondrial protein SP-22 has recently been reported to be a member of the thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase family, suggesting that it may be one of the antioxidant systems in mitochondria, which are the major site of reactive oxygen intermediate generation. The aim of this study was to examine whether SP-22 is involved in mitochondrial antioxidant mechanisms and whether its expression is induced by oxidative stresses, particularly those in mitochondria. The expression of SP-22 protein was enhanced by about 1.5-4.6-fold when bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) were exposed to various oxidative stresses, including mitochondrial respiratory inhibitors which increased the superoxide generation in BAEC mitochondria. The expression of SP-22 mRNA increased 2.0-3.5-fold with a peak at 3-6 h after exposure to Fe2+/dithiothreitol or a respiratory inhibitor, antimycin A. BAEC with an increased level of SP-22 protein caused by pretreatment with mild oxidative stress became tolerant to subsequent intense oxidative stress. On the other hand, BAEC that had been depleted of SP-22 with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against SP-22 mRNA became more labile to oxidative stress than control BAEC. The induction of SP-22 protein by oxidative stress in vivo was demonstrated in an experimental model of myocardial infarction in rat heart. These findings indicate that SP-22 functions as an antioxidant in mitochondria of the cardiovascular system.

Effect of the Physical Activities in LeisureTime and Commuting to Work on Mental Health: Masanori OHTA, et al. Department of Health Development, University of Occupational and Environmental Health-Although some evidence suggests that exercise may improve mental health status, information regarding the intensity and duration of exercise is incomplete. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between physical activities in both leisure time and commuting to work and mental health. A questionnaire survey was conducted at three municipal offices in Japan. A total of 670 men and women completed the questionnaire. Mental health status was assessed by the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Respondents were asked about weekly hours of leisure-time exercise for four levels of exercise, and the volume of exercise was assessed using a metabolic equivalent task index. Information about commuting to work on foot or by bicycle was also obtained. The mean GHQ scores were calculated according to physical activity levels using analysis of covariance with adjustment of potential confounders including job stress. In men, the GHQ score decreased steadily with increasing levels of leisure-time exercise, and an inverse association was evident even for mild intensity exercise. Moreover, the GHQ score decreased according to increasing duration of time on commuting to work by either walking or cycling in men, but not in women. These relations did not materially change after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In women, there was no significant association between any of the indices of physical activity. In conclusion, leisure-time exercise and walking or cycling during commuting to work may be associated with better mental health in men. (J Occup Health 2007; 49: 46-52)

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Objective: To clarify the influences of age on dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of fatty acids (FAs) in Japanese female dietitians. Subjects and methods: In autumn 1996, we estimated dietary FA intakes based on 7 day weighed diet records and analyzed plasma FA concentrations in 79 healthy Japanese female dietitians, and investigated their relationships with age, dividing into three age groups (young (32 -42 y), middle-aged (43 -50 y) and elderly (51 -66 y)). Results: Dietary intakes of total FA, saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) and a-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) were significantly highest in the middle-aged group, and lowest in the elderly. Similar trends were observed for dietary intakes of n-6 PUFAs and linoleic acid (18:2n-6), but there were no differences with regard to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and n-3 highly unsaturated FAs (HUFAs ¼ EPA þ 22:5n-3 þ DHA). On the other hand, plasma concentrations of all FAs except for arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) demonstrated positive correlations with age. Moreover, plasma concentrations of EPA in all age groups, DHA in the elderly and n-3 HUFAs in the middle-aged and the elderly were all positively correlated with dietary intakes. Conclusions: We should take into account the influence of age on dietary habit and lipid metabolism when interpreting associations between dietary FA intakes and plasma FA concentrations.

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Angiotensin II is locally produced in the ischaemic heart by both serine protease(s) and chymostatin inhibitable protease(s), but not by angiotensin converting enzyme. From the reduction in myocardial infarct size produced by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, it seems that bradykinin accumulation may play a more important role than the suppression of angiotensin II formation.

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