Traumatic avulsions of ligament or tendon insertions rarely occur at the actual interface with bone, which suggests that this attachment is strong or otherwise protected from injury by the structure of the insertion complex. In this study we describe the terminal extent of quadriceps tendon fibres where they insert into the patellae of adult rabbits, humans, dogs and sheep. Specimens were exami...

Retrograde or antidromic stimulation of the nociceptive C fibres is known to lead to the release of sensory neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP), by the peripheral endings of sensory unmyelinated C nerve fibres. These neuropeptides play a role in the healing of soft tissues. Burst TENS (Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation) is known to be most effective in influencing retrograde C fibre...

OBJECTIVE The maintenance of youthful skin appearance is strongly desired by a large proportion of the world's population. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the effect on skin wrinkling, of a combination of ingredients reported to influence key factors involved in skin ageing, namely inflammation, collagen synthesis and oxidative/UV stress. A supplemented drink was develope...

Human amniotic membrane has been used as a material to accelerate wound healing and reconstruct damaged organs. The aim of the present study was to assess histologically human amniotic membrane transplantation on rabbit's gingival wound. Three- to 4-month-old male rabbits were divided into 2 groups, i.e., control (group I) and amniotic membrane-transplanted animals (group II). Buccal gingival w...

BACKGROUND The decision whether to retain or resect the posterior cruciate ligament in total knee arthroplasty is at present determined clinically by preoperative radiological variables focusing upon the amount of joint destruction, and subsequent soft tissue contractures. However, these variables give only indirect information on the histological integrity and proprioceptive properties of the ...

Age related changes in thoracic aorta (TA) and abdominal aorta (AA) of male APA hamsters from 3 to 12 months of age were examined morphometrically and ultrastructurally. The nuclear density of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was larger in AA than in TA, and it decreased with advancing age. In contrast, the collagen fibre density was larger in TA than in AA, and it increased correlatively with aging,...

We utilized fluorescence microscopy and affinity-purified antibodies to probe the form and function of cytoplasmic actin in endothelial cells (EC) recovering from injury and grown on extracellular matrices in vitro. Bovine aortic EC were seeded onto glass microscope coverslips that had been coated with either BSA, fibronectin, type I and III (interstitial) collagens, type IV (basement membrane)...

Plantar heel pain is often caused by plantar fasciitis (fasciopathy) and treatment has traditionally included stretching, gel heel inserts and injections. However, in line with the increased clinical focus and evidence regarding mechanotherapy, as re-introduced by Khan and Scott, a novel approach was recently taken by Rathleff et al using exercise and load (mechanotransduction) to treat the inj...

One theory which seeks to explain the production of fibrous tissue in silicosis postulates the interaction of collagen precursors with polysilicic acid. This stage has been questioned because it is doubtful whether polymerized silicic acid is normally formed when quartz dissolves in aqueous media. A mechanism by which silicic acid may be polymerized in vivo has been demonstrated by studying the...

Human extensor tendons of the hand were pulled to rupture, and the torn ends, when observed in the scanning electron microscope, appeared to be knotted, possibly owing to the denaturation of the collagen. This confirmed by fluorimetry assays of both the ruptured ends and the middle unbroken sections of the same tendons. The use of a proteolytic enzyme, trypsin, to remove the denatured material ...