196,678 research outputs found
Molecular events in tendinopathy: a role for metalloproteases.
No full textDisorganized, haphazard ineffective healing is a constant feature of chronic tendinopathy. Normal tendon is composed mostly of type I collagen. Tendinopathic tendons, conversely, have a greater proportion of type III collagen, which is associated with tendon rupture. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tendons, because they are either up- or down-regulated in tendinopathy. A balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases is required to maintain tendon homeostasis. The mechanism of activation of MMPs is poorly understood, and their precise role in tendinopathy is unclear
Genetic aspects of tendinopathy.
No full textTendinopathy is characterised by a disorganised, haphazard healing response with no histological signs of inflammation. Research on tendon injuries is limited to the description of the condition and its management, and the pathogenesis is still ill defined. Together with known intrinsic and extrinsic factors, genetics may play a significant role in the aetiopathogenesis of tendinopathy. ABO and other closely linked genes, COL5A1, and tenascin-C have all been implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of tendinopathy. However, the precise role of these genes in causing or protecting individuals from developing tendinopathy is yet to be defined. An interaction between the various intrinsic and extrinsic factors with the genetic make-up of an individual may increase the likelihood of one individual developing tendinopathy over another. Tendinopathy may well be polygenic, involving complex interactions between multiple genes, and could possibly run in families. Further investigations should determine the exact role played by genetic influences in maintaining tendon homeostasis and pave the way for gene transfer therapy to be developed for the management of tendinopathies
Arte magra: from the opaque
No full textArte Magra: From the Opaque was a project, held over four weeks in different sites across the city of Adelaide, which incorporated the works of fourteen artists. The title of the project translates from the Italian as "lean or meagre art", it borrows from ideas that have emerged from arte povera, conceptual art and relational aesthetics. The Arte Magra project may be situated in a continuing line of inquiry extending from these artistic movements, and is influenced by what North American art historian Claire Bishop, author of Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship, calls the “social turn” in contemporary art. Artistic process and art's consumption were central focuses for Arte Magra, and the project often recalled the exploration of the forces of tension and gravity, iconoclasm and risk and, in particular, the ironic alchemy of Piero Manzoni selling his own shit for the price of its weight in gold
A review of epidemiology of paediatric elbow injuries in sports.
No full textThe elbow is a common site of orthopaedic injury in the paediatric population. The number of these injuries continues to rise following increased levels of participation in paediatric recreational and competitive sport. Injuries to the paediatric elbow can be classified as either overuse or acute. Delineating injury patterns to the elbow in children can be challenging, given the cartilaginous composition of the distal humerus and the multiple secondary ossification centres that appear and unite with the epiphysis at defined ages. Pitching in baseball, serving in tennis, spiking in volleyball, passing in American football and launching in javelin-throwing can all produce elbow pathology by forceful valgus stress, with medial stretching, lateral compression and posterior impingement. In children and adolescents, the epiphyseal plate is weaker than the surrounding ligaments, predisposing them to epiphyseal plate injuries. On the other hand, post-pubescent or skeletally mature athletes are more prone to tendinous or ligamentous injury. Injuries may cause significant impact on the athlete, parents and healthcare system. With the exception of baseball, there are few prospective cohort studies on the epidemiological trends of childhood elbow injuries in other sports. This paper aims to describe the epidemiological trends in paediatric elbow injuries related to sports, suggests prevention strategies and discusses the scope for further research. A web-based search of existing articles pertaining to paediatric elbow injuries in sports was performed. The implications of acute and overuse injuries and the possibility of permanent damage should be understood by parents, coaches and the athletes. Proper understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that could lead to elbow injuries is thus required. Measures to prevent elbow injuries should include proper coaching, warm-up, officiation, legislation, medical expertise and protective gear. There are still many opportunities for prospective studies and other research projects among young athletes in various sports. Current studies will serve as a baseline for future research to assess the success of specific interventions in reducing the incidence of elbow injury in the paediatric athlete. Further epidemiological studies in various sports will help expand our knowledge and prevent potential disability and deformity in the paediatric elbow
VOCCs and TREK-1 ion channel expression in human tenocytes.
No full textMechanosensitive and voltage-gated ion channels are known to perform important roles in mechanotransduction in a number of connective tissues, including bone and muscle. It is hypothesized that voltage-gated and mechanosensitive ion channels also may play a key role in some or all initial responses of human tenocytes to mechanical stimulation. However, to date there has been no direct investigation of ion channel expression by human tenocytes. Human tenocytes were cultured from patellar tendon samples harvested from five patients undergoing routine total knee replacement surgery (mean age: 66 yr; range: 63-73 yr). RT-PCR, Western blotting, and whole cell electrophysiological studies were performed to investigate the expression of different classes of ion channels within tenocytes. Human tenocytes expressed mRNA and protein encoding voltage-operated calcium channel (VOCC) subunits (Ca alpha(1A), Ca alpha(1C), Ca alpha(1D), Ca alpha(2)delta(1)) and the mechanosensitive tandem pore domain potassium channel (2PK(+)) TREK-1. They exhibit whole cell currents consistent with the functional expression of these channels. In addition, other ionic currents were detected within tenocytes consistent with the expression of a diverse array of other ion channels. VOCCs and TREK channels have been implicated in mechanotransduction signaling pathways in numerous connective tissue cell types. These mechanisms may be present in human tenocytes. In addition, human tenocytes may express other channel currents. Ion channels may represent potential targets for the pharmacological management of chronic tendinopathies
210Pb mass accumulation rates in the depositional area of the Magra River (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)
No full textNine sediment cores were collected between 2009 and 2012 in the inner continental shelf (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) mainly influenced by the Magra River, at water depths ranging from 11 to 64 m. Mass Accumulation Rates (MARs) were calculated through 210Pb analysed by Gamma spectrometry. Three different dating models (single and two-layer CF-CS, CRS) were applied to clay normalised 210Pbxs profiles and 137Cs was used to validate the 210Pb geochronology. The maximum MAR values (>2 g cm-2 yr-1) were found in the region adjacent to the Magra River mouth and outside the Gulf of La Spezia (0.9±0.1 g cm-2 yr-1 at St. 3-C6 and 4-C4). Results from 137Cs/210Pbxs ratios calculated in Surface Mixed Layers (SMLs) evidenced the coastal boundaries of the Magra River depositional area, which is very limited towards south. Differently, in the north-west sector, fine sediments are generally driven by the Ligurian Current and move towards north-west: at the deepest and most distant station from the River mouth, the MAR value is the lowest one in the study area.Few major Magra River floods occurred during the sediment core sampling period. By using the short-lived radioisotope 7Be as a tracer of river floods, a clear 7Be signature of 2009 flood is present at St. 1-SA1C. Finally, by analyzing the clay normalised 210Pbxs profiles, a decrease of its activity dating the years 1999 and 2000 is observed in four cores, corresponding to two major Magra River floods occurring in those years. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Caratterizzazione meristica e genetica di Ciprinidi atipici presenti nel bacino spezzino del Magra-Vara
No full text"Meristic and genetic characterization in atypical Cyprinids from the Magra-Vara basin (Province of La Spezia, Italy)" - A mitochondrial gene and eight meristic features were investigated in five taxa of Cyprinids belonging to Leuciscinae subfamily. Research was carried out on: 1) atypical specimens collected from Magra-Vara basin; 2) specimens of Leuciscus cephalus, Leuciscus souffia and Rutilus rubilio collected from Magra-Vara basin; 3) specimens of the controversial taxon Leuciscus lucumonis collected from River Nestore, Province of Perugia, Italy. Results show that meristic features of the atypical cyprinid specimens are statistically similar to those found in “lucumonis” specimens. Genetic analysis seems to support morphological investigations but additional molecular data will be necessary to define levels of population variability and appropriate identification of the “lucumonis” taxon
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