Combined exercise training improved exercise capacity and lung inflammation in rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

AIM: Physical exercise training attenuates pulmonary inflammation, but its effects on impaired respiratory function caused by hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) have not been evaluated. We determined if the combination of moderate intensity aerobic and resistance training during HPS development modifies exercise capacity, respiratory system mechanics, and lung inflammation responses. MAIN METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, HPS, and HPS + combined exercise training groups. Fifteen days after HPS induction, a moderate intensity aerobic plus resistance exercise training protocol was performed five times a week for 5 weeks on alternate days. Exercise capacity, respiratory system mechanics, lung inflammation, pulmonary morphology, and immunohistochemistry were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: Overall, our findings indicated that combined exercise training efficiently increased the maximal running and resistance capacity of HPS animals. The training regimen reduced the expression of P2X7 in parenchymal leukocytes (P < 0.01), partially restored the expression of interleukin-10 in airway epithelium (P < 0.01), and increased the expression of TFPI in the airway epithelium (P < 0.01) as well as reduced its expression in parenchymal leukocytes (P < 0.01). However, exercise training did not attenuate HPS-induced respiratory mechanical derangements or lung tissue remodeling. SIGNIFICANCE: Combined exercise training can elicit adaptation with regard to both maximal running capacity and maximum strength and modify the expression of P2X7 and TFPI in parenchymal leukocytes and that of IL-10 in airway epithelium.

Aggressive spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma in an 11-month-old boxer dog.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant neoplasm derived from mesenchymal tissue with a tendency toward myogenic differentiation associated with the embryogenesis of skeletal muscle. According to the histological features, it can be classified in embryonal, botryoid, alveolar, and pleomorphic, which usually correspond to clinical behavior and prognosis. The spindle cell (SCRMS) variant is a rare subtype of the embryonal RMS and is considered to be less aggressive lesion. The aim of the present paper is to report an unusual case of SCRMS in an 11-month-old male boxer dog diagnosed as extensive SCRMS that affected the frontal region of the skull. Due to the aggressive nature of the lesion and poor clinical prognosis the dog's owners preferred euthanasia as a treatment. A full postmortem examination was carried out. Microscopically, the lesion was composed of a highly cellular proliferation of spindle cells arranged in long and intersecting fascicles. After performing the immunohistochemical studies (HHF-35, smooth muscle actin, desmin and MyoD1), the present case was diagnosed as SCRMS.