Acmella oleracea extract increases collagen content and organization in partially transected tendons.

Acmella oleracea contains spilanthol as the main active compound, which possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that can favor tendon reorganization. To analyze the effect of A. oleracea on the content and organization of collagen in injured tendons, the calcaneal tendon of male Lewis rats was partially transected and treated at the site of injury with a topical application of 20% A.

Role of metalloproteinases and TNF-α in obesity-associated asthma in mice.

Numerous population studies conducted worldwide indicate that the prevalence of asthma is higher in obese versus lean individuals. It has been reported that sensitized lean mice has a better recovery of lung inflammation in asthma. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an essential role in the structural support of the lungs regulating the airways diameter, thus preventing its collapse during expiration.

Chronical treatment with sildenafil causes Achilles tendinopathy in rats.

Aims: The primary goal was to assess the effects of chronic sildenafil treatment over the Achilles tendons in rats.

Main Methods: Animals were divided into two groups, control and sildenafil administration (n = 5). After 60 days, the tendons were subject to biochemical and image analysis to compare tendons between the groups: collagen I and decorin content, polarisation microscopy and birefringence analysis, and tissue zymography.

Injured Achilles Tendons Treated with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Transplantation and GDF-5.

Tendon injuries represent a clinical challenge in regenerative medicine because their natural repair process is complex and inefficient. The high incidence of tendon injuries is frequently associated with sports practice, aging, tendinopathies, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the use of corticosteroids. The growing interest of scientists in using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) in repair processes seems to be mostly due to their paracrine and immunomodulatory effects in stimulating specific cellular events.

Glycine improves the remodeling process of tenocytes in vitro.

Tendinitis changes the biochemical and morphological properties of the tendon, promoting an increase of activity of metalloproteinases and disorganization of collagen bundles. Tenocytes, the primary cells in tendon, are scattered throughout the collagenic fibers, and are responsible of tendon remodeling and tissue repair in pathological condition. In vivo, glycine, component of the typical Gly-X-Y collagen tripeptide, showed beneficial effects in biochemical and biomechanical properties of Achilles tendon with tendinitis.

Effect of different resistance-training protocols on the extracellular matrix of the calcaneal tendon of rats.

The calcaneal tendon extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of collagen, non-collagenous glycoproteins and proteoglycans, and able to adapt to various biomechanical stimuli. The objective of this study was to analyze the response of different resistance-training protocols, such as hypertrophy, strength and resistance, on the organization of the calcaneal tendon after training. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untrained (UT), resistance training (RT), hypertrophy training (HT), and strength training (ST).

Effects of aging and resistance training in rat tendon remodeling.

In elderly persons, weak tendons contribute to functional limitations, injuries, and disability, but resistance training can attenuate this age-related decline. We evaluated the effects of resistance training on the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the calcaneal tendon (CT) in young and old rats and its effect on tendon remodeling. Wistar rats aged 3 mo (young, = 30) and 20 mo (old, = 30) were divided into 4 groups: young sedentary, young trained, old sedentary (OS), and old trained (OT).

Differing energy densities with laser 670nm InGaP controls inflammation and collagen reorganization in burns.

Purpose: This study compared different energy densities of laser on second degrees burns in rats aiming to determine the most effective dosimetry in stimulation of the healing process.

Methods: Burns were induced in the dorsal skin of 54 animals divided into three groups (n: 18): 1-without treatment; 2-irradiated lesions by the Indium Gallium Phosphide (InGaP) 670nm (4.93J/cm) laser; 3-irradiated lesions by the InGaP-670nm (9.

Low level laser therapy accelerates the extracellular matrix reorganization of inflamed tendon.

In tendon lesions, inflammation indicates the beginning of tissue repair and influences cell proliferation and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Low level laser (LLL) therapy has been an important method to induce tissue repair, and several studies have sought to better understand the therapeutic possibilities of this modality. This study analyzed the effect of LLL on the ECM of rat tendons during the early phase of the inflammatory process.

Low-level laser therapy stimulates tissue repair and reduces the extracellular matrix degradation in rats with induced arthritis in the temporomandibular joint.

The objective of this study was to characterize morphological and biochemistry action of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on induced arthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups with 12 animals each: (AG) group with arthritis induced in the left TMJ and (LG) group with arthritis induced in the left TMJ and treated with LLLT (830 nm, 30 mW, 3 J/cm(2)). Right TMJs in the AG group were used as noninjected control group (CG).

Effects of microcurrent therapy on excisional elastic cartilage defects in young rats.

The effects of microcurrent application on the elastic cartilage defects in the outer ear of young animals were analyzed. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into a control (CG) and a treated group (TG). An excisional lesion was created in the right outer ear of each animal.

Green Tea and Glycine Modulate the Activity of Metalloproteinases and Collagen in the Tendinitis of the Myotendinous Junction of the Achilles Tendon.

The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is the weakest element in the muscle-tendon unit of the heel, and thus the most susceptible to injuries. The scarcity of adequate treatments means that tendinitis is a major concern to athletes and other groups who depend on their physical fitness, although green tea and glycine have both been shown to have beneficial effects on the inflammation. The present study investigated the remodeling effects of green tea and glycine in the MTJ of rats with tendinitis.

Low-level laser therapy modulates pro-inflammatory cytokines after partial tenotomy.

Tendon injuries give rise to substantial morbidity, and current understanding of the mechanisms involved in tendon injury and repair is limited. This lesion remains a clinical issue because the injury site becomes a region with a high incidence of recurrent rupture and has drawn the attention of researchers. We already demonstrated that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) stimulates the synthesis and organization of collagen I, MMP-9, and MMP-2 and improved the gait recovery of the treated animals.

Birefringence of collagen fibres in rat calcaneal tendons treated with acupuncture during three phases of healing.

Background: Birefringence is an optical anisotropy that is investigated by polarisation microscopy, and has been valuable for the study of the oriented organisation of collagen fibres in tendons. However, the application of this technology to evaluate the effect of different acupuncture points during tendon healing has not yet been described.

Objectives: To evaluate the concentration of non-collagenous proteins (NCP) and birefringence in rat calcaneal tendons following injury during the three different phases of healing: inflammatory (7th day), proliferative (14th day), and remodelling (21st day).

Structure and composition of arytenoid cartilage of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) during maturation and aging.

The aging process induces progressive and irreversible changes in the structural and functional organization of animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aging on the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix of the arytenoid cartilage found in the larynx of male bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) kept in captivity for commercial purposes. Animals at 7, 180 and 1080 days post-metamorphosis (n=10/age) were euthanized and the cartilage was removed and processed for structural and biochemical analysis.

Effects of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid on induced arthritis of the temporomandibular joint in rats.

High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA) has been used to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, but controversial results have been described. This study aimed to characterize the morphological and biochemical actions of HMWHA on induced arthritis of the TMJ. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used, and arthritis of the TMJ was induced through an intra-articular injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) (50 μl).

Biochemical and morphological alterations in the Achilles tendon of mdx mice.

Dystrophin-deficient muscles have repeated cycles of necrosis and regeneration, being susceptible to injury induced by muscle contractions. Some studies have demonstrated that tendons are also affected in mdx mice, based especially on the changes in biomechanical properties arising from the respective linked muscles. However, most studies have focused only on alterations in the myotendinous junction.

Glycine improves biochemical and biomechanical properties following inflammation of the achilles tendon.

Tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon is a clinical problem that motivates the scientific community to search for treatments that assist in restoring its functional properties. Glycine has broad biological effects, acting as a modulator of the inflammatory cascade, and is the predominant amino acid in collagen. A 5% glycine diet provided beneficial effects against toxicity and inflammation since glycine may restructure the collagen molecules faster due to its broad anti-inflammatory effects.

Effect of Aloe vera application on the content and molecular arrangement of glycosaminoglycans during calcaneal tendon healing.

Although several treatments for tendon lesions have been proposed, successful tendon repair remains a great challenge for orthopedics, especially considering the high incidence of re-rupture of injured tendons. Our aim was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of Aloe vera on the content and arrangement of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) during tendon healing, which was based on the effectiveness of A. vera on collagen organization previously observed by our group.

Acupuncture increases the diameter and reorganisation of collagen fibrils during rat tendon healing.

Background: Our previous study showed that electroacupuncture (EA) increases the concentration and reorganisation of collagen in a rat model of tendon healing. However, the ultrastructure of collagen fibrils after acupuncture is unknown.

Objectives: To assess the effect of acupuncture protocols on the ultrastructure of collagen fibrils during tendon healing.

Exhaustive exercise with different rest periods changes the collagen content and MMP-2 activation on the calcaneal tendon.

Tendons adapt to different mechanical stimuli through a remodeling process involving metalloproteinases (MMPs) and collagen synthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the collagen content in tendons after exhaustive acute exercise sessions over the course of 1, 3, or 6 days, with 1-hr or 3-hr rest periods between each session. Wistar rats were grouped into control (C), trained with 1-hr (groups 1d1h, 3d1h, and 6d1h) and trained with 3-hr (groups 1d3h, 3d3h and 6d3h) groups with rest periods between the treadmill running sessions, for 1, 3, and 6 days.

A hypothesis for the anti-inflammatory and mechanotransduction molecular mechanisms underlying acupuncture tendon healing.

A previous study demonstrated that acupuncture increases the synthesis and reorganisation of collagen molecules in rat tendons after injury. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture improves pain and functional activity in patients with tendinopathy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown.

Pulsed LLLT improves tendon healing in rats: a biochemical, organizational, and functional evaluation.

In the last decades, the tendon injuries have increased substantially. Previous results suggested that low-level laser treatment (LLLT) promotes synthesis of extracellular matrix and improves the functional properties of the tendon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different protocols of LLLT on partially tenotomized tendons.

Mechanical and morphological aspects of the calcaneal tendon of mdx mice at 21 days of age.

A relationship between compromised muscles and other tissues has been demonstrated in mdx mouse, an animal model studied for understanding of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The hypothesis is that changes in the calcaneal tendon of mdx mice occur previous to the onset of rigorous and most marked episodes of muscle degeneration, which start suddenly after 21 days of life. Thus, this study aimed to identify possible alterations in the calcaneal tendon of mdx mouse at 21 days of age.