Effect of isometric and isokinetic muscle training on static strength and dynamic power

Summary This study investigated whether isokinetic strength training might induce changes in static and dynamic power already achieved as a result of isometric strength training. The subjects were twelve males. The isometric strength and dynamic power of elbow flexors were tested by means of an electric dynamometer and fly-wheel every two weeks. During the first 8 weeks all subjects trained the elbow flexors isometrically at four different positions of elbow joints. This training produced 27–36% gains in isometric strength and 34–46% in power. Thereafter the subjects were divided into two groups: the FG group who trained isokinetically at a fast velocity of 157·s^–1, and the SG group at slow velocity of 73·s^–1. After 6 weeks of training, the FG group produced a significant gain in power with light equivalent masses and the SG group did so with heavy equivalent masses. Neither group showed change in isometric strength.     

Infantile XX male: A case report

A case of infantile XX male syndrome with bilateral scrotal testes and penoscrotal hypospadias is presented. No evidence of XX/XY mosaicism or Y chromatin was obtained in preparations from cultures of the peripheral blood, skin fibroblast, or other tissues. Although true hermaphroditism was suspected, exploration of the bilateral gonadal structures failed to detect the presence of ovarian structures, either grossly or microscopically. Furthermore, exploratory laparotomy revealed no Mullerian structures. The difficulty of early diagnosis of XX males in infancy is emphasized.     

Immunohistochemical Investigation of Vimentin, Neuron-specific Enolase, α1-antichymotrypsin and α1-antitrypsin in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland

Fifty-four adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) arising in major and minor salivary glands as well as in normal salivary glands were studied by immunohistochemistry for the presence of vimentin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), α₁-antichymotrypsin (α₁-ACT) and α₁-_- antitrypsin (α₁-_- AT). Five patterns of histological differentiation were found in ACC, and for the cellular components of each, it was possible to establish a special immunohistochemical profile. In ACC, vimentin-positive cells were observed in the outer tubular, cyst-lining and small angular cells. NSE was positive in the myoepithelial cells of normal salivary gland. Neoplastic cells of ACC showed NSE positivity mainly in the small angular cells and partly in the duct luminal cells. α₁-ACT was localized in the intercalated duct cells and serous acinar cells of normal salivary gland, and in the duct luminal cells of ACC. α₁-AT could not be detected in any of the epithelial cells of normal salivary gland. In ACC, eosinophilic hyaline material in the cribriform spaces was positive for α₁-AT, but no positivity was demonstrated in tumor cells. The present study showed that there are at least two populations of tumor cells in ACC: duct luminal cells that express α₁-ACT, thus indicating their ductal character, and small angular cells that express vimentin, characteristic of non-luminal cells. Moreover, our results indicate that α₁-AT is a useful marker of basement membrane-like material.     

Demonstration of Borna disease virus (BDV) in specific regions of the brain from horses positive for serum antibodies to BDV but negative for BDV RNA in the blood and internal organs

Sero- and molecular-epidemiological studies on Borna disease virus (BDV) infection show that BDV RNA is not always detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from serum anti-BDV antibody-positive individuals such as horses, sheep, cattle, cats, and humans. In this study we demonstrated BDV RNA signals by polymerase chain reaction only in restricted regions of the brain from horses with locomotor disease. Four of six horses examined showed apparently positive reactions for anti-BDV antibodies. Specific regions of the brain of these four horses were positive for BDV RNA but the internal organs, lymph nodes, and PBMCs were negative. Histological studies of their brains revealed no apparent histological abnormalities such as inflammatory reactions. These results suggest that BDV chronically infects certain restricted regions of brain in seropositive horses. Received: 6 January 1997     

Impedance magnetocardiogram

We have developed an impedance magnetocardiogram (IMCG) system to detect the change of magnetic field corresponding to changes in blood volume in the heart. A low magnetic field from the electrical activity of the human heart--the so-called magnetocardiogram (MCG)--can be simultaneously detected by using this system. Because the mechanical and electrical functions in the heart can be monitored by non-invasive and non-contact measurements, it is easy to observe the cardiovascular functions from an accurate sensor position. This system uses a technique to demodulate induced current in a subject. A flux-locked circuit of a superconducting quantum interference device has a wide frequency range (above 1 MHz) because a constant current (40 kHz) is fed through the subject. It is shown for the first time that the system could measure IMCG signals at the same time as MCG signals.     

Usefulness of a stature-based standard of skinfold thickness,especially for short children

Skinfold thicknessess (SFT) were measured at ulnar, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac sites in 730 boys and 724 girls (age 3–12 years) whose stature ranged from 100 to 150 cm and whose weight was within ±20% of the average. Means and standard deviation (SD) were calculated after logarithmic transformation of the original skinfold readings to demonstrate stature-based standards of SFT in Japanese children. The means of SFT exhibited nadirs (boys/ girls: ulnar 5.1/5.9 mm, triceps 7.9/9.5 mm, subscapular 4.9/6.1 mm, suprailiac 4.5/6.2 mm) in subjects 110–115 cm tall except for ulnar SFT in girls. SFT values increased as children increased in stature. Standard deviations of SFT at the four sites in short children (staturte < mean ?1 SD) were estimated using the stature-based standard as well as an age-based standard. Susms of the SDs assessed by the age-based standard were significantly smaller than those assessed by the stature-based standard in boys (P < 0.05) and girls (P < 0.01) with short stature, suggesting that SFT in short children was falsely understimated by the age-based standard. Thus, the stature-based standard is beneficial for the assessment of SFT, especially in children whose stature is below the mean ?-1 SD. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression of serotonin2A receptors in Purkinje cells of the developing rat cerebellum

Previous physiological and pharmacological studies have shown that the serotonin_2A (5-HT_2A) receptor is involved in cerebellar functions. However, the expression of 5-HT_2A receptors in the developing cerebellum has not been elucidated to date. In the present immunohistochemical study, we examined developmental changes of the distribution of 5-HT_2A receptors in Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum from embryonic day 18 (E18) to postnatal day 21 (P21). The weak immunoreaction to 5-HT_2A receptors was found in the deep cerebellar nuclei on E19. In the cerebellar cortex of the hemisphere and the posterior vermis, somata of Purkinje cells became weakly immunoreactive on P0. With the dendritic elongation and arborization, the immunoreaction appeared in the proximal parts of Purkinje cell dendrites. Distal parts of the dendrites became immunoreactive after P12, and were strongly immunolabeled by P21. The present study may provide a structural basis to investigate the roles of 5-HT_2A receptors during the cerebellar development.