Achilles Tendon ; Ankle Injuries ; Humans ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Cicatrix ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen ; Contracture ; Desmin ; Down-Regulation ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis ; Follistatin ; Genetic Therapy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myofibroblasts ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; RNA, Messenger ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

The manipulation characteristic and experience in the treatment of tendon syndrome, by , the veteran TCM physician, were introduced in the article. The tendon syndrome is treated on the base of syndrome differentiation for the acupoint selection in the guidance of the theory on the tendon region of meridian in () and in accordance with the etiology and clinical characteristics of tendon syndrome. Focusing on the palpation and the responses under the fingers, as well as the application of warming method, the acupuncture (rubbing and twisting) and (relaxing, separating, warming and regulating) manipulations are adopted in combination on the positive points and the intermuscular spaces. This compound manipulation results in the rapid , prolonged needling sensation and obvious warming effects. With this therapeuticmethods, the clinical effects are achieved significantly, the symptoms and physical signs improved and the duration of sickness shortened.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Tendons

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSC) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) for patellar tendon injury repair in rat model.

METHODSTDSCs and BMSCs were isolated from patellar tendons or bone marrow of healthy SD rats. The patellar tendon injury model was induced in 60 SD rats, then the animals were divided into 3 groups with 20 in each group: rats in TDSC group received transplantation of TDSC with fibrin glue in defected patellar tendon, rats in BMSC group received BMSC with fibrin glue for transplantation and those in control group received fibrin glue only. The gross morphology, histology and biomechanics of the patellar tendon were examined at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTSGross observation showed that the tendon defects in TDSC group and BMSC group almost disappeared in week 8, while the boundary of tendon defects in control group was still visible. Histology examination showed that the neo-tendon formation in TDSC group and BMSC group was observed at week 8, while there was no neo-tendon formation in control group. Biomechanics study showed that the ultimate stress and Young Modulus, relative ultimate stress and relative Young Modulus increased with the time going in all groups(all P<0.05); the ultimate stress and Young Modulus, relative ultimate stress and relative Young Modulus of TDSC and BMSC groups were significantly higher than those in control group at week 4, 6 and 8(all P<0.05). There was no difference in ultimate stress and Young Modulus between TDSC group and BMSC group(P>0.05), however, the relative Young Modulus of TDSC group was significantly higher than that in BMSC group at week 8(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAllogeneic TDSC and BMSC transplantation facilitates the repair of tendon injury and improves the biomechanics of tendon. TDSC is more suitable for in vivo tendon regeneration than BMSC.

Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Elastic Modulus ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Tendons ; cytology ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUNDThe main goals of flexor tendon surgery are to restore digital motion by providing tendon healing and to preserve tendon gliding. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tendon adhesions in partially divided profundus flexor tendons (flexor digitorum profundus [FDPs]) following surgical repair and in partially divided FDPs without surgical repair, and to compare the results of the repair versus the nonrepair of zone two injuries via macroscopic and biomechanical evaluations of tendon adhesions.

METHODSWe used 32 adult male European rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) weighing from 2.5 to 3.5 kg. The study was performed on the deep flexor tendons of the second and third digits of the right hind paws of the rabbits; thus, a total of 64 tendons were examined in this study.

RESULTSBased on the results achieved in our experimental study, the load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared with subgroup 2a in which tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU.

CONCLUSIONSThe load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared to subgroup 2a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU. Therefore, these results revealed a decrease in adhesion formation in the subgroup that was treated with 5-FU due to increased resistance to tendon adhesions during their excursion through the tendon sheath, which in this case required greater traction force.

Animals ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tendons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tissue Adhesions ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDThe effect of selective and non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on tendon healing was variable. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of non-selective COX inhibitor, ibuprofen and flurbiprofen axetil and selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib on the tendon healing process in a rabbit model.

METHODSNinety-six New Zealand rabbits were used as rotator cuff repair models. After surgery, they were divided randomly into four groups: ibuprofen (10 mg·kg-1·d-1), celecoxib (8 mg·kg-1·d-1), flurbiprofen axetil (2 mg·kg-1·d-1), and control group (blank group). All drugs were provided for 7 days. Rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after tendon repair. Tendon biomechanical load failure tests were performed. The percentage of type I collagen on the bone tendon insertion was calculated by Picric acid Sirius red staining and image analysis. All data were compared among the four groups at the same time point. All data in each group were also compared across the different time points. Qualitative histological evaluation of the bone tendon insertion was also performed among groups.

RESULTSThe load to failure increased significantly with time in each group. There were significantly lower failure loads in the celecoxib group than in the control group at 3 weeks (0.533 vs. 0.700, P = 0.002), 6 weeks (0.607 vs. 0.763, P = 0.01), and 12 weeks (0.660 vs. 0.803, P = 0.002), and significantly lower percentage of type I collagen at 3 weeks (11.5% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), 6 weeks (40.5% vs. 66.3%, P = 0.005), and 12 weeks (59.5% vs. 86.3%, P = 0.001). Flurbiprofen axetil showed significant differences at 3 weeks (failure load: 0.600 vs. 0.700, P = 0.024; percentage of type I collagen: 15.6% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), but no significant differences at 6 and 12 weeks comparing with control group, whereas the ibuprofen groups did not show any significant difference at each time point.

CONCLUSIONSNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can delay tendon healing in the early stage after rotator cuff repair. Compared with nonselective COX inhibitors, selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly impact tendon healing.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Celecoxib ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Flurbiprofen ; pharmacology ; Ibuprofen ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rotator Cuff ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tendon Injuries ; drug therapy ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

Arthralgia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Tendon Injuries ; diagnosis ; therapy

Tendon tissue engineering is a novel therapeutic strategy for severe tendon injury and loss. Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) have been studied extensively, due to their potency to differentiate into musculoskeletal tissue precursors such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and tendocytes under specific cues and high ability of proliferation. Resources of ASCs are ubiquitous and isolation of ASCs is secure, simple and minimally invasive. Mounting evidences demonstrate that ASCs may be involved in tendon tissue engineering and repair the severe injury of tendon under stimulation of various growth factors and other appropriate fittings.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Chondrocytes ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Tendons ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) on accelerating the fibrocartilage layer repair of patella-patellar tendon junction. METHODS: A total of 60 mature female New Zealand white rabbits undergoing standard partial patellectomy were divided into 2 groups randomly. The control group was given comfort treatment and the treatment group was given LIPUS treatment starting from day 3 to the end of week 6 postoperatively. The scheduled time points of animal euthanization would be at week 6, week 12 and week 18 postoperatively. The patella-patellar tendon (PPT) complex would be harvested and cut into sections after decalcification for H&E staining, Safranine o/fast green staining. The thickness and gray value of fibrocartilage layer were analyzed by SANO Microscope Partner image analyzer. RESULTS: At week 6, week 12 and week 18 postoperatively, the fibrocartilage layer in the treatment group was significantly thicker than that in the control group (P<0.01), and the gray value of fibrocartilage layer was significantly smaller than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION LIPUS helps to accelerate the fibrocartilage layer repair of patella-patellar tendon junction in rabbit models.
Animals ; Female ; Fibrocartilage ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Patella ; surgery ; Patellar Ligament ; injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods ; Wound Healing ; physiology

OBJECTIVESSurgical repair of Achilles tendon (AT) rupture should immediately be followed by active tendon mobilization. The optimal time as to when the mobilization should begin is important yet controversial. Early kinesitherapy leads to reduced rehabilitation period. However, an insight into the detailed mechanism of this process has not been gained. Proteomic technique can be used to separate and purify the proteins by differential expression profile which is related to the function of different proteins, but research in the area of proteomic analysis of AT 3 days after repair has not been studied so far.

METHODSForty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into 3 groups. Group A (immobilization group, n equal to 16) received postoperative cast immobilization; Group B (early motion group, n equal to 16) received early active motion treatments immediately following the repair of AT rupture from tenotomy. Another 15 rabbits served as control group (Group C). The AT samples were prepared 3 days following the microsurgery. The proteins were separated employing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). PDQuest software version 8.0 was used to identify differentially expressed proteins, followed by peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) and tandem mass spectrum analysis, using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) protein database retrieval and then for bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTSA mean of 446.33, 436.33 and 462.67 protein spots on Achilles tendon samples of 13 rabbits in Group A, 14 rabbits in Group B and 13 rabbits in Group C were successfully detected in the 2D-PAGE. There were 40, 36 and 79 unique proteins in Groups A, B and C respectively. Some differentially expressed proteins were enzyme with the gel, matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We successfully identified 9 and 11 different proteins in Groups A and B, such as GAPDH, phosphoglycerate kinase 1, pro-alpha-1 type 1 collagen, peroxiredoxin 1, alpha-1-antiproteinase E a-1 and MAD2L1 binding protein, etc. And some with the molecular chaperone, oxidative stress, energy metabolism, signal transduction, coupled with the tendon cell expression and protein synthesis, proliferate, differentiate and are closely related to the AT healing. The GAPDH protein was further validated through Western blotting. It was indicated that some differentially expressed proteins were involved in various metabolism pathways and may play an important role in initial healing of AT rupture.

CONCLUSIONDifferentially expressed proteins in rabbit healing AT model may contribute to 3 days healing of AT rupture through a new mechanobiological mechanism due to the application of postoperative early kinesitherapy.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Computational Biology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Exercise Therapy ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; analysis ; Male ; Proteins ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Rupture ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Tendon Injuries ; metabolism ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Wound Healing ; physiology