Motile fibroblasts generate forces that can be expressed as cell migration or as traction, the drawing-in of extracellular matrix. Traction by cultured fibroblasts can induce a rapid concerted reorganization of collagen gel, creating a pattern of collagen alignment similar to that seen in tendons and ligaments. In such fibrous connective tissues, after pattern morphogenesis is complete, ongoing...

Chemotaxing Dictyostelium discoideum cells adapt their morphology and migration speed in response to intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Using Fourier traction force microscopy, we measured the spatiotemporal evolution of shape and traction stresses and constructed traction tension kymographs to analyze cell motility as a function of the dynamics of the cell's mechanically active traction adhesions. ...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of conservative treatments for patients with cervical radiculopathy, a term used to describe neck pain associated with pain radiating into the arm. Little is known about the effectiveness of conservative treatment for patients with cervical radiculopathy. METHODS We electronically searched the Cochrane Controlled Tria...

This study aims to investigate the effects of shoe traction and obstacle height on friction during walking to better understand the mechanisms required to avoid slippage following obstacle clearance. Ten male subjects walked at a self-selected pace during eight different conditions: four obstacle heights (0%, 10%, 20% and 40% of limb length) while wearing two different pairs of shoes (low and h...

UNLABELLED An unknown percentage of patients who have internal fixation for hip fractures have sciatic neuropathy develop. In most cases, the cause for this complication is unknown. We retrospectively reviewed 2202 consecutive patients treated in our hospital for hip fractures to ascertain whether there was any relationship between duration of preoperative traction and postoperative sciatic neu...

Strong, actomyosin-dependent, pinching tractions in steadily locomoting (gliding) fish keratocytes revealed by traction imaging present a paradox, since only forces perpendicular to the direction of locomotion are apparent, leaving the actual propulsive forces unresolved. When keratocytes become transiently "stuck" by their trailing edge and adopt a fibroblast-like morphology, the tractions opp...

Fibreoptic orotracheal endoscopy under general anaesthesia may be more difficult to perform if the upper airway cannot be fully cleared. We have studied the effectiveness of jaw thrust, lingual traction and the application of both manoeuvres simultaneously, in opening up the orolaryngeal airspace in 30 ASA group 1 or 2 patients aged between 16 and 70 yr undergoing elective general surgery requi...