Irradiation as a hazard for mucociliary clearance.

OBJECTIVES: In this paper we study effects of irradiation to pulmonary tissue on a micro and ultrastructural level to get insights into the dynamics of morphological changes and associated post-radiative physiological conditions. METHODS: Animal and human pulmonary tissue with and without radiation damage was subject to light, transmission, scanning and polarization microscopy and morphometric evaluation. RESULTS: The present investigations on the influence of irradiation on experimental and human lung tissue demonstrate that complex changes are induced in the cells which are essential for mucociliary clearance. These changes are a shortage of alveolar macrophages, cell apoptosis, proliferation of collagen ligament in the barrier of gaseous exchange, retraction of endothelial lining of capillaries and significant broadening of the gaseous exchange barrier, resulting in serious damage for the O2 and CO2 exchange. CONCLUSIONS: These changes at microscopic, cellular, and ciliary level trigger conditions for various diseases of the respiratory system, which is further assessed by a simultaneous computer aided estimation of ciliary function. With the concurrent world-wide increase of respiratory diseases, these findings are important knowledge for the clinical practice.

A thermomechanical framework for reconciling the effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure time and wavelength on connective tissue elasticity.

Augmentation of the mechanical properties of connective tissue using ultraviolet (UV) radiation-by targeting collagen cross-linking in the tissue at predetermined UV exposure time [Formula: see text] and wavelength [Formula: see text]-has been proposed as a therapeutic method for supporting the treatment for structural-related injuries and pathologies. However, the effects of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] on the tissue elasticity, namely elastic modulus [Formula: see text] and modulus of resilience [Formula: see text], are not entirely clear. We present a thermomechanical framework to reconcile the [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-related effects on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The framework addresses (1) an energy transfer model to describe the dependence of the absorbed UV photon energy, [Formula: see text], per unit mass of the tissue on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], (2) an intervening thermodynamic shear-related parameter, [Formula: see text], to quantify the extent of UV-induced cross-linking in the tissue, (3) a threshold model for the [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text] relationship, characterized by   [Formula: see text]-the critical [Formula: see text] underpinning the association of [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]-and (4) the role of [Formula: see text] in the tissue elasticity. We hypothesized that [Formula: see text] regulates [Formula: see text] (UV-stiffening hypothesis) and [Formula: see text] (UV-resilience hypothesis). The framework was evaluated with the support from data derived from tensile testing on isolated ligament fascicles, treated with two levels of [Formula: see text] (365 and 254 nm) and three levels of [Formula: see text] (15, 30 and 60 min). Predictions from the energy transfer model corroborated the findings from a two-factor analysis of variance of the effects of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] treatments. Student's t test revealed positive change in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with increases in [Formula: see text]-the findings lend support to the hypotheses, implicating the implicit dependence of UV-induced cross-links on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for directing tissue stiffness and resilience. From a practical perspective, the study is a step in the direction to establish a UV irradiation treatment protocol for effective control of exogenous cross-linking in connective tissues.

Effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the biochemical composition and metabolic activity of tenocytes in normal tendinous structures in ponies.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has recently been introduced as a new therapy for tendon injuries in horses, but little is known about the basic mechanism of action of this therapy. OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of ESWT on biochemical parameters and tenocyte metabolism of normal tendinous structures in ponies. METHODS: Six Shetland ponies, free of lameness and with ultrasonographically normal flexor and extensor tendons and suspensory ligaments (SL), were used. ESWT was applied at the origin of the suspensory ligament and the mid-metacarpal region of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) 6 weeks prior to sample taking, and at the mid-metacarpal region (ET) and the insertion on the extensor process of the distal phalanx (EP) of the common digital extensor tendon 3 h prior to tendon sampling. In all animals one front leg was treated and the other front leg was used as control. After euthanasia, tendon explants were harvested aseptically for in vitro cell culture experiments and additional samples were taken for biochemical analyses. RESULTS: In the explants harvested 3 h after treatment, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and protein syntheses were increased (P<0.05). The synthesis of all measured parameters was decreased 6 weeks after ESWT treatment. Biochemically, the level of degraded collagen was increased 3 h after treatment (P<0.05). Six weeks after treatment, there was a decrease of degraded collagen and GAG contents. DNA content had not changed in either tendon samples or explants after culturing. CONCLUSIONS: ESWT causes a transient stimulation of metabolism in tendinous structures of ponies shortly after treatment. After 6 weeks metabolism has decreased significantly and GAG levels are lower than in untreated control limbs. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The stimulating short-term effect of ESWT might accelerate the initiation of the healing process in injured tendons. The long-term effect seems less beneficial. Further research should aim at determining the duration of this effect and at assessing its relevance for end-stage tendon quality.

Combined treatment of therapeutic laser and herbal application improves the strength of repairing ligament.

The present study investigated the effects of combined therapeutic laser and herbal medication protocols on injured medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) of rat knees. Fully 36 rats were evenly divided into 9 groups. Right MCLs of groups 1 to 6 and 8 were transected, while that of groups 7 and 9 remained intact. After surgery, group 1 was treated with 1 session of high-dosed laser; group 2 with 9 sessions of low-dosed laser; group 3 with an herbal plaster; groups 4 and 5 received combined treatments of groups 1 and ss and 2, and 3 respectively; groups 6 and 7 received only bandaging; groups 8 and 9 received placebo laser and no treatment, respectively. All MCLs were subjected to biomechanical testing at 3 weeks postsurgery. Results revealed significant differences among groups in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and stiffness (p < 0.01). Combination of multiple low-dosed laser treatment with herbal treatment (group 5) resulted in higher UTS than either no treatment (groups 6 and 8), single high-dosed laser treatment (group 1), multiple low-dosed laser treatment (group 2), or herbal treatment (group 2) alone. We concluded that combined applications of laser and herb can enhance further biomechanical properties of repairing rat MCLs than separate applications at 3 weeks postinjury.

Calculation of electric fields induced in the human knee by a coil applicator.

Calculations are presented of the induced electric fields and current densities in the cartilage of the knee produced by a coil applicator developed for applying pulsed magnetic fields to osteoarthritic knees. This applicator produces a sawtooth-like magnetic field waveform composed of a series of 260-micros pulses with a peak to peak magnitude of approximately 0.12 mT in the cartilage region. The simulations were performed using a recently developed 3 dimensional finite difference frequency domain technique for solving Maxwell's equations with an equivalent circuit model. The tissue model was obtained from the anatomically segmented human body model of Gandhi. The temporal peak electric field magnitude was found to be -153 mV/m, averaged within the medial cartilage of the knee for the typical dB/dt excitation levels of this coil. The technique can be extended to analyze other excitation waveforms and applicator designs.