Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation on Long-Term Recovery following Achilles Tendon Rupture in a Rat Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-332
Author(s):  
Miwa Imaeda ◽  
Tatsuya Hojo ◽  
Hiroshi Kitakoji ◽  
Kazuto Tanaka ◽  
Megumi Itoi ◽  
...  

Aims In this study we examined the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on the mechanical strength of the rat Achilles tendon after long-term recovery. Methods Using 20 rats, an Achilles tendon rupture model was created in an invasive manner. The rats were assigned to one of three groups, that received EA treatment (EA group), minimal acupuncture (MA group) or remained untreated (Control group). In the EA group, EA stimulation (5 ms, 50 Hz, 20 µA, 20 min) was applied to the rupture region over a period of 90 days (five times/week). In the MA group, needles were inserted into the same positions as in the EA group but no electrical current was applied. After 90 days the tendon was measured to calculate the cross-sectional area of the rupture region. Then, the mechanical strength of the tendon was measured by tensile testing. Results No significant differences were observed between the three groups in cross-sectional area of the injured tendon. For maximum breaking strength, the EA group showed a significantly higher threshold compared with the Control group (P<0.05) but not the MA group (P=0.24). No significant difference was seen between the MA group and the Control group (P=0.96). Conclusion Given the EA group showed a significant increase in maximum breaking strength, it is likely that EA stimulation increases the mechanical strength of a repaired tendon after long-term recovery, and EA stimulation could be useful for preventing re-rupture.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianru Li ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Yehua Cai ◽  
Yinghui Hua

Purpose. To evaluate differences of Achilles tendon (AT) hardness and morphology between asymptomatic tendons in patients with acute AT ruptures on the contralateral side and asymptomatic tendons in healthy people by using computer-assisted quantification on axial-strain sonoelastography (ASE). Methods. The study consisted of 33 asymptomatic tendons in 33 patients (study group) and 34 tendons in 19 healthy volunteers (control group). All the tendons were examined by both ASE and conventional ultrasound. Computer-assisted quantification on ASE was applied to extract hardness variables, including the mean (Hmean), 20th percentile (H20), median (H50) and skewness (Hsk) of the hardness within tendon, and the ratio of the mean hardness within tendon to that outside tendon (Hratio) and three morphological variables: the thickness (THK), cross-sectional area, and eccentricity (ECC) of tendons. Results. The Hmean, Hsk, H20, H50, and Hratio in the proximal third of the tendon body in study group were significantly smaller than those in control group (Hmean: 0.43±0.09 vs 0.50±0.07, p=0.001; Hsk: -0.53±0.51 vs -1.09±0.51, p<0.001; H20: 0.31±0.10 vs 0.40±0.10, p=0.001; H50: 0.45±0.10 vs 0.53±0.08, p<0.001; Hratio: 1.01±0.25 vs 1.20±0.23, p=0.003). The THK and cross-sectional area of tendons in the study group were larger than those in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions. As a quantitative objective method, the computer-assisted ASE reveals that the asymptomatic ATs contralateral to acute rupture are softer than those of healthy control group at the proximal third and the asymptomatic tendons in people with rupture history are thicker, larger, and rounder than those of normal volunteers especially at the middle and distal thirds of AT body.


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1085
Author(s):  
Jaeho Cho ◽  
Hyun-Joo Kim ◽  
Jeong Seok Lee ◽  
Jahyung Kim ◽  
Sung Hun Won ◽  
...  

We aimed to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and corresponding clinical outcomes of repaired Achilles tendons using absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures. Patients who underwent Achilles tendon repair were divided into 2 groups, with 11 in the absorbable group (group A) and 11 in the nonabsorbable group (group B). For all patients, MRI findings taken 6 months postoperatively were evaluated for morphological changes in the tendon. Concurrently, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score and incidence of postoperative complications were evaluated. Regarding MRI findings, the extent to which the cross-sectional area of the repaired tendon was thicker than that of the preoperative tendon was significantly greater in group B than in group A (p = 0.0012). Notably, more stitches remained within the tendon in group B than in group A (p = 0.0063). No other MRI findings showed a significant difference between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in the AOFAS score, and there was one re-rupture each in both groups. Because nonabsorbable suture material in the treatment of Achilles tendon rupture yielded a thicker postoperative MRI cross-sectional area, enhanced rehabilitation is recommended in order to prevent scar formation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 165 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
EA Smith ◽  
EP Frankenburg ◽  
SA Goldstein ◽  
K Koshizuka ◽  
E Elstner ◽  
...  

This study explores the effects of chronic administration of vitamin D(3) compounds on several biological functions in mice. Knowledge of long-term tolerability of vitamin D(3) analogs may be of interest in view of their potential clinical utility in the management of various pathologies such as malignancies, immunological disorders and bone diseases. Four unique vitamin D(3) analogs (code names, compounds V, EO, LH and LA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1, 25(OH)(2)D(3)) were administered i.p. for 55 weeks to Balb/c mice. Each analog had previously been shown to have potent in vitro activities. After 55 weeks of administration, the mice had a profound decrease in their serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Likewise, several analogs depressed serum immunoglobulin G concentrations (compounds LH and LA), but levels of blood lymphocytes and splenic lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8 and CD19) were not remarkably depressed. The percent of committed myeloid hematopoietic stem cells was 4- to 5-fold elevated in the bone marrow of the mice that received analogs LH and V; nevertheless, their peripheral blood white and red cell counts and platelets were not significantly different in any of the groups. The mice that received 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) had a decrease in bone quantity and quality with a decrease in cross-sectional area and cortical thickness, and a 50% reduction in both stiffness and failure load compared with the control group. In contrast, the cohort that received a fluorinated analog (compound EO) developed bones with significantly larger cross-sectional area and cortical thickness as well as stronger mechanical properties compared with the control group. At the conclusion of the study, body weights were significantly decreased in all experimental mice. Their blood chemistries were normal. Extensive gross and microscopic autopsy analyses of the mice at the conclusion of the study were normal, including those of their kidneys. In conclusion, the vitamin D(3) analogs were fairly well tolerated. They did suppress immunity as measured by serum IL-2 and may provide a means to depress the immune response after organ transplantation and for autoimmune diseases. Use of these analogs prevented the detrimental effects of vitamin D(3) administration on mechanical and geometric properties of bone, while one analog (compound EO) actually enhanced bone properties. These results suggest that long-term clinical trials with the analogs are feasible.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivam Mehta ◽  
Dennis Wang ◽  
Chia-Ling Kuo ◽  
Jinjian Mu ◽  
Manuel Lagravere Vich ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objectives To evaluate the long-term effects on airway in patients with mini-screw–assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), rapid palatal expansion (RPE), and controls with three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis. Materials and Methods A total of 180 CBCTs of 60 patients were analyzed at different time points, such as pretreatment, postexpansion, and posttreatment. Patients were divided into three groups: mini-screw assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), rapid palatal expansion (RPE), and controls. The nasal cavity, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and laryngopharyngeal airway volume and area were measured. Changes in total airway volume, total airway area, minimal cross-sectional area, maxillary intermolar width, external maxillary width, and palatal width were also evaluated. Results Both MARPE and RPE caused a statistically significant increase in the airway after expansion as compared with the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference in the change in airway between MARPE, RPE, and the control group at posttreatment, except for nasopharyngeal volume, which was significantly increased in the MARPE group. There was no correlation between the amount of expansion and increase in total airway volume. Conclusions There was a significant increase in total airway volume, total airway area, and minimal cross-sectional area with MARPE and RPE immediately after expansion, but at posttreatment, the changes in the MARPE and RPE groups were similar to the change in the control group. However, MARPE led to a significant long-term increase in nasopharyngeal volume. The amount of expansion did not correlate with the increase in pharyngeal airway volume.


1994 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 560-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kallinen ◽  
H. Suominen

Ultrasonography was performed on the Achilles tendon of the dominant limb of 18 male elderly athletes and 11 sedentary men, aged 70 to 80 years. The tendons were examined with a real-time linear array scanner using a 7.5 MHz transducer. Both longitudinal and transverse images were taken. The mean width of the Achilles tendon was significantly larger in the athletes than in the control subjects. The tendon thickness and cross-sectional area did not differ significantly between the groups, but the figures may indicate a tendency for larger cross-sectional area in the athletes. The results suggest tendon hypertrophy following long-term training.


Author(s):  
T.I. Kuznetsova

The aim of the paper is to study the effect of long-term feeding with finely ground food on the dynamics of cytometric hepatocyte parameters in white rats in postnatal ontogenesis. Materials and Methods. On the 21st day of postnatal ontogenesis, 100 male white rats were divided into a control group and two experimental groups (experiment 1 and experiment 2). The animals of the control group were fed with natural food, while the animals of the experimental groups similar food (in terms of quality and quantity), but after careful mechanical grinding. To assess the reversibility of the homogenized food feeding, animals of experimental group 2 were fed natural food, as the control animals (days 120–240). The authors studied the liver, using cell morphometry of standard histological staining. They measured cross-sectional area of the nuclei and hepatocyte cytoplasm, calculated nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, and counted the number of hepatocytes on the standard cross-sectional area, including binuclear hepatocytes. Results. It was revealed that long-term consumption of homogenized food affects the postnatal morphogenesis of the liver parenchyma. From the 21st to the 120th day, the growth rate of hepatocytes and the number of binuclear cells in the experimental animals exceeded those of the control animals, and from the 120th up to the 240th day, the growth rate of hepatocytes in the experimental animals was significantly inferior to that of the control animals. As a result, the number of cells per standard cutting area increased. In case of transition to normal food with natural mechanical properties (120th–240th days of postnatal ontogenesis) there was a tendency to the restoration of cytometric hepatocyte parameters. However, the authors did not observe complete recovery. Keywords: liver, hepatocyte, homogenized food. Цель работы – изучить влияние длительного питания мелко измельченной пищей на динамику цитометрических параметров гепатоцитов белых крыс в постнатальном онтогенезе. Материалы и методы. На 21-е сут постнатального онтогенеза 100 самцов белых крыс были разделены на контрольную и две опытные группы (опыт I и опыт II). Животных контрольной группы содержали на естественном для грызунов корме, а животные опытных групп получали аналогичную по качественному и количественному составу пищу, но после тщательного механического измельчения. Для оценки обратимости воздействия питания диспергированной пищей животных II опытной группы со 120-х по 240-е сут переводили на питание кормом контрольных животных. Исследовали участки печени, морфометрию клеток которой проводили на стандартно окрашенных гистологических срезах. Измеряли площадь сечения ядер и цитоплазмы гепатоцитов, вычисляли ядерно-цитоплазматическое отношение, на стандартной площади среза подсчитывали количество гепатоцитов, в т.ч. двуядерных. Результаты. Выявлено, что длительное потребление диспергированной пищи оказывает воздействие на постнатальный морфогенез паренхимы печени. С 21-х по 120-е сут интенсивность роста гепатоцитов и количество двуядерных клеток опытных животных превышает таковые значения контрольных, а с 120-х по 240-е сут интенсивность роста гепатоцитов опытных животных существенно уступает показателям контрольных животных, вследствие чего количество клеток на стандартную площадь среза увеличивается. При переходе к питанию пищей с естественными механическими свойствами со 120-х по 240-е сут постнатального онтогенеза наблюдается тенденция к восстановлению цитометрических параметров гепатоцитов, однако полного восстановления не происходит. Ключевые слова: печень, гепатоцит, диспергированная пища.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596712198998
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Tramer ◽  
Lafi S. Khalil ◽  
Patrick Buckley ◽  
Alexander Ziedas ◽  
Patricia A. Kolowich ◽  
...  

Background:Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players have a greater incidence of lower extremity injury compared with male players, yet no data exist on functional outcomes after Achilles tendon rupture (ATR).Purpose:To evaluate the effect of Achilles tendon repair on game utilization, player performance, and career longevity in WNBA athletes.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:WNBA players from 1997 to 2019 with a history of ATR (n = 12) were matched 1:2 to a healthy control group. Player characteristics, game utilization, and in-game performance data were collected for each athlete, from which the player efficiency rating (PER) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed comparing postinjury data to preinjury baseline as well as cumulative career data. Changes at each time point relative to the preinjury baseline were also compared between groups.Results:Of the 12 players with ATR, 10 (83.3%) returned to play at the WNBA level at a mean (±SD) of 12.5 ± 3.3 months. Four players participated in only 1 WNBA season after injury. There were no differences in characteristics between the 10 players who returned to play after injury and the control group. After return to play, the WNBA players demonstrated a significant decrease in game utilization compared with preinjury, playing in 6.0 ± 6.9 fewer games, starting in 12.7 ± 15.4 fewer games, and playing 10.2 ± 9.1 fewer minutes per game ( P < .05 for all). After the index date of injury, the players with Achilles repair played 2.1 ± 1.2 more years in the WNBA, while control players played 5.35 ± 3.2 years ( P < .01) Additionally, the players with Achilles repair had a significant decrease in PER in the year after injury compared with preinjury (7.1 ± 5.3 vs 11.0 ± 4.4; P = .02). The reduction in game utilization and decrease in PER in these players was maintained when compared with the matched controls ( P < .05 for both).Conclusion:The majority of WNBA players who sustained ATR were able to return to sport after their injury; however, their career longevity was shorter than that of healthy controls. There was a significant decrease in game utilization and performance in the year after return to play compared with healthy controls.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Seppel ◽  
Andreas Voss ◽  
Daniel J. H. Henderson ◽  
Simone Waldt ◽  
Bernhard Haller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While supraspinatus atrophy can be described according to the system of Zanetti or Thomazeau there is still a lack of characterization of isolated subscapularis muscle atrophy. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of muscle atrophy following repair of isolated subscapularis (SSC) tendon. Methods Forty-nine control shoulder MRI scans, without rotator cuff pathology, atrophy or fatty infiltration, were prospectively evaluated and subscapularis diameters as well as cross sectional areas (complete and upper half) were assessed in a standardized oblique sagittal plane. Calculation of the ratio between the upper half of the cross sectional area (CSA) and the total CSA was performed. Eleven MRI scans of patients with subscapularis atrophy following isolated subscapularis tendon tears were analysed and cross sectional area ratio (upper half /total) determined. To guarantee reliable measurement of the CSA and its ratio, bony landmarks were also defined. All parameters were statistically compared for inter-rater reliability, reproducibility and capacity to quantify subscapularis atrophy. Results The mean age in the control group was 49.7 years (± 15.0). The mean cross sectional area (CSA) was 2367.0 mm2 (± 741.4) for the complete subscapularis muscle and 1048.2 mm2 (± 313.3) for the upper half, giving a mean ratio of 0.446 (± 0.046). In the subscapularis repair group the mean age was 56.7 years (± 9.3). With a mean cross sectional area of 1554.7 mm2 (± 419.9) for the complete and of 422.9 mm2 (± 173.6) for the upper half of the subscapularis muscle, giving a mean CSA ratio of 0.269 (± 0.065) which was seen to be significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Analysis of typical atrophy patterns of the subscapularis muscle demonstrates that the CSA ratio represents a reliable and reproducible assessment tool in quantifying subscapularis atrophy. We propose the classification of subscapularis atrophy as Stage I (mild atrophy) in case of reduction of the cross sectional area ratio < 0.4, Stage II (moderate atrophy) in case of < 0.35 and Stage III (severe atrophy) if < 0.3.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Gimunová ◽  
Martin Zvonař ◽  
Kateřina Kolářová ◽  
Zdeněk Janík ◽  
Ondřej Mikeska ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During pregnancy, a number of changes affecting venous blood flow occur in the circulatory system, such as reduced vein wall tension or increased exposure to collagen fibers. These factors may cause blood stagnation, swelling of the legs, or endothelial damage and consequently lead to development of venous disease. Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of special footwear designed to improve blood circulation in the feet on venous blood flow changes observed during advancing phases of pregnancy. Methods Thirty healthy pregnant women participated in this study at 25, 30, and 35 weeks of gestation. Participants were allocated at random to an experimental group (n = 15) which was provided with the special footwear, or a control group (n = 15). At each data collection session, Doppler measurements of peak systolic blood flow velocity and cross-sectional area of the right popliteal vein were performed using a MySonoU6 ultrasound machine with a linear transducer (Samsung Medison). The differences were compared using Cohen’s d test to calculate effect size. Results With advancing phases of pregnancy, peak systolic velocity in the popliteal vein decreased significantly in the control group, whereas it increased significantly in the experimental group. No significant change in cross-sectional area was observed in any of the groups. Conclusions Findings in the experimental group demonstrated that wearing the footwear tested may prevent venous blood velocity from reducing during advanced phases of pregnancy. Nevertheless, there is a need for further investigation of the beneficial effect on venous flow of the footwear tested and its application.


2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (8) ◽  
pp. 998-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Hansen ◽  
Christian Couppe ◽  
Christina S. E. Hansen ◽  
Dorthe Skovgaard ◽  
Vuokko Kovanen ◽  
...  

Sex differences exist with regards to ligament and tendon injuries. Lower collagen synthesis has been observed in exercising women vs. men, and in users of oral contraceptives (OC) vs. nonusers, but it is unknown if OC will influence tendon biomechanics of women undergoing regular training. Thirty female athletes (handball players, 18–30 yr) were recruited: 15 long-term users of OC (7.0 ± 0.6 yr) and 15 nonusers (>5 yr). Synchronized values of patellar tendon elongation (obtained by ultrasonography) and tendon force were sampled during ramped isometric knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction to estimate mechanical tendon properties. Furthermore, tendon cross-sectional area and length were measured from MRI images, and tendon biopsies were obtained for analysis of tendon fibril characteristics and collagen cross-linking. Overall, no difference in tendon biomechanical properties, tendon fibril characteristics, or collagen cross-linking was observed between the OC users and nonusers, or between the different phases of the menstrual cycle. In athletes, tendon cross-sectional area in the preferred jumping leg tended to be larger than that in the contralateral leg ( P = 0.09), and a greater absolute ( P = 0.01) and normalized tendon stiffness ( P = 0.02), as well as a lower strain ( P = 0.04), were observed in the jumping leg compared with the contralateral leg. The results indicate that long-term OC use or menstrual phases does not influence structure or mechanical properties of the patellar tendon in female team handball athletes.


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