Effects of low- and high-intensity endurance training on the capillary luminal diameter and number were studied morphometrically in the rat plantaris muscle. Male Wistar-Imamichi rats were divided into three groups: sedentary control group (Cont, n = 9), low-intensity (running speed of 20 m/min) training group (T-20, n = 8) and high-intensity (running speed of 40 m/min) training group (T-40, n = 7). Rats in both training groups were subjected to each treadmill running program for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 9 weeks. After 9 weeks of training, citrate synthase activity significantly increased in T-40 compared with Cont, but did not change in T-20. All morphometric parameters with respect to capillary and muscle fiber area were determined in the perfusion-fixed plantaris muscle. The mean muscle fiber areas in both T-20 and T-40 were similar to that in Cont. The capillary-to-fiber ratios were significantly higher in T-20 (2.28 +/- 0.06) and T-40 (2.29 +/- 0.06) than in Cont (2.00 +/- 0.07). The number of capillaries with a small luminal diameter (2-4 microns) was significantly higher in T-20 than in Cont. In contrast, T-40 had a significantly higher number of capillaries with a large luminal diameter (8-10 microns) compared with Cont. This study indicates that endurance training induces changes in the capillary luminal diameter as well as capillary number, and that the adaptive response of the capillary luminal diameter to endurance training depends on the training intensity.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Arteriovenous malformation with auricular hypertrophy.

We report a case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) restricted to the auricle fed by the external carotid artery. The patient showed severe hypertrophy of the left auricle, remarkably spreading throughout the auricle. At first, we chose to surgically ligate the superficial temporal artery. After the operation, however, pulsation recurred, and we ligated the external carotid artery at an inframandibular site in a second operation. Two months after surgery, plasty of the left auricle was performed at the patient's request.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies of acquired tracheobronchomalacia: an autopsy case report.

A 72-year-old patient was reported to have 'saber-sheath-type' acquired tracheobronchomalacia after irradiation therapy for laryngeal cancer. The pathogenetic features of this case were demonstrated immunohistopathologically using CD68, HLA-DR, UCHL1, L26 and Ki-67 antibodies. The principal features were (a) selective destruction of the cartilage with Ki-67 stainability from the trachea to the segmental bronchi with inflammatory infiltrations of predominant T lymphocytes (UCHL1-positive) and activated macrophages (CD68-positive with marked HLA class II antigen) and (b) replacement by collagen fibers through the affected lesion. The tissues, except for the cartilage in the airway tract, were preserved without marked change, including the membranous portion. The cartilage at organs other than the airway showed no changes. We first clarified the immunohistopathology of tracheobronchomalacia. We proposed that the characteristic cell-mediated immunity against cartilage with T lymphocytes and activated macrophages in the pathogenetic features may be related to a cancer-healing tendency.

Aged↗