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Research paper thumbnail of Validation of a New Semi-Automated Technique to Evaluate Muscle Capillarization

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2016

The method of capillary domains has often been used to study capillarization of skeletal and hear... more The method of capillary domains has often been used to study capillarization of skeletal and heart muscle. However, the conventional data processing method using a digitizing tablet is an arduous and time-consuming task. Here we compare a new semi-automated capillary domain data collection and analysis in muscle tissue with the standard capillary domain method. The capillary density (1481 ± 59 vs. 1447 ± 54 caps mm(-2); R(2):0.99; P < 0.01) and heterogeneity of capillary spacing (0.085 ± 0.002 vs. 0.085 ± 0.002; R(2):0.95; P < 0.01) were similar in both methods. The fiber cross-sectional area correlated well between the methods (R(2):0.84; P < 0.01) and did not differ significantly (~8 % larger in the old than new method at P = 0.08). The latter was likely due to differences in outlining the contours between the two methods. In conclusion, the semi-automated method gives quantitatively and qualitatively similar data as the conventional method and saves a considerable amount of time.

Research paper thumbnail of Relationship between ventilatory function and age in master athletes and a sedentary reference population

AGE, 2013

Ageing is accompanied with a decline in respiratory function. It is hypothesised that this may be... more Ageing is accompanied with a decline in respiratory function. It is hypothesised that this may be attenuated by high physical activity levels. We performed spirometry in master athletes (71 women; 84 men; 35-86 years) and sedentary people (39 women; 45 men; 24-82 years), and calculated the predicted lung age (PLA). The negative associations of age with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ; 34 mL·year −1 ) and other ventilatory parameters were similar in controls and master athletes. FEV 1pred was 9 % higher (P<0.005) and PLA 15 % lower (P00.013) in athletes than controls. There were no significant differences between endurance and power athletes and sedentary people in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure. Neither age-graded performance nor weekly training hours were significantly related to lung age. Life-long exercise does not appear to attenuate the age-related decrease in ventilatory function. The better respiratory function in master athletes than age-matched sedentary people might be due to self-selection and attrition bias.

Research paper thumbnail of Validation of a New Semi-Automated Technique to Evaluate Muscle Capillarization

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2016

The method of capillary domains has often been used to study capillarization of skeletal and hear... more The method of capillary domains has often been used to study capillarization of skeletal and heart muscle. However, the conventional data processing method using a digitizing tablet is an arduous and time-consuming task. Here we compare a new semi-automated capillary domain data collection and analysis in muscle tissue with the standard capillary domain method. The capillary density (1481 ± 59 vs. 1447 ± 54 caps mm(-2); R(2):0.99; P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) and heterogeneity of capillary spacing (0.085 ± 0.002 vs. 0.085 ± 0.002; R(2):0.95; P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) were similar in both methods. The fiber cross-sectional area correlated well between the methods (R(2):0.84; P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) and did not differ significantly (~8 % larger in the old than new method at P = 0.08). The latter was likely due to differences in outlining the contours between the two methods. In conclusion, the semi-automated method gives quantitatively and qualitatively similar data as the conventional method and saves a considerable amount of time.

Research paper thumbnail of Relationship between ventilatory function and age in master athletes and a sedentary reference population

AGE, 2013

Ageing is accompanied with a decline in respiratory function. It is hypothesised that this may be... more Ageing is accompanied with a decline in respiratory function. It is hypothesised that this may be attenuated by high physical activity levels. We performed spirometry in master athletes (71 women; 84 men; 35-86 years) and sedentary people (39 women; 45 men; 24-82 years), and calculated the predicted lung age (PLA). The negative associations of age with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ; 34 mL·year −1 ) and other ventilatory parameters were similar in controls and master athletes. FEV 1pred was 9 % higher (P<0.005) and PLA 15 % lower (P00.013) in athletes than controls. There were no significant differences between endurance and power athletes and sedentary people in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure. Neither age-graded performance nor weekly training hours were significantly related to lung age. Life-long exercise does not appear to attenuate the age-related decrease in ventilatory function. The better respiratory function in master athletes than age-matched sedentary people might be due to self-selection and attrition bias.

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