Deformation of articular cartilage during static loading of a knee joint – Experimental and finite element analysis

Novel conical beam CT-scanners offer high resolution imaging of knee structures with i.a. contrast media, even under weight bearing. With this new technology, we aimed to determine cartilage strains and meniscal movement in a human knee at 0, 1, 5, and 30 min of standing and compare them to the subject-specific 3D finite element (FE) model. The FE model of the volunteer?s knee, based on the geometry obtained from magnetic resonance images, was created to simulate the creep. The effects of collagen fibril network stiffness, nonfibrillar matrix modulus, permeability and fluid flow boundary conditions on the creep response in cartilage were investigated. In the experiment, 80% of the maximum strain in cartilage developed immediately, after which the cartilage continued to deform slowly until the 30 min time point. Cartilage strains and meniscus movement obtained from the FE model matched adequately with the experimentally measured values. Reducing the fibril network stiffness increased the mean strains substantially, while the creep rate was primarily influenced by an increase in the nonfibrillar matrix modulus. Changing the initial permeability and preventing fluid flow through noncontacting surfaces had a negligible effect on cartilage strains. The present results improve understanding of the mechanisms controlling articular cartilage strains and meniscal movements in a knee joint under physiological static loading. Ultimately a validated model could be used as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to locate cartilage areas at risk for degeneration.     

Floral ontogeny and anatomy inKoelreuteria with special emphasis on monosymmetry and septal cavities

The floral ontogeny and anatomy ofKoelreuteria paniculata have been investigated to understand the developmental basis for the occurring monosymmetry and the origin of the septal cavities. Petals arise sequentially and one petal is missing between sepals 3 and 5, or rarely between sepals 2 and 5. The eight stamens arise sequentially before petal initiation is completed. The last formed petal and one stamen arise on a common primordium. Two stamen positions are empty (opposite the petal between the sepals 2 and 5, and the petal between sepal 1 and 3); consequently two antesepalous stamens have become displaced. The derivation of octandry from a diplostemonous ancestry, and reduction of the petal are discussed. The triangular gynoecium has a strong impact in obliquely reorganizing the symmetry of the flower, loss of organs, and shifts of stamens. The so-called septal slits occurring within the style are a deepreaching non-nectariferous extension of the stigma. Alternating locular furrows are present which could play a role as pollen transmitting tissue and in the loculicid dehiscence of the capsule.     

The Structure and Antifungal Functions of Vegetative Propagation Corm of Gastrodia elata

The growth of Gastrodia elata Bl. and Armillaria mellea (Vahl. ex Fr.) Quel. shares a special symbiotic relation. In general, A. mellea invades the G. elata , the epidermal cells, the cortical cells and the large cells of the growing vegetative propagation corm of G. elata . The empty cavity cells, the cork cells of the isolation in the vegetative propagation corms and the large cells of G. elata were the defensive structure, protecting the new G. elata from pathological invasion by A. mellea . In winter, G. elata enters the stage of hibernation.　The faulting layer derived from the cork cells of the isolation was the last defensive structure by which new G. elata could safely live through the winter.     

Stress relaxation behaviors of articular cartilages in porcine temporomandibular joint

In this study, we tested the compressive stress relaxation behaviors of the mandibular condylar and temporal cartilages in the porcine temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The aim was to determine the quantitative and qualitative similarities and differences of compressive stress relaxation behaviors between the two cartilages. Ten porcine TMJs were used; the articular surface was divided into 5 regions: anterior, central, posterior, lateral and medial. Compressive relaxation test was carried out at a strain level of 5% in each region of the two cartilages. The stress relaxation was monitored over a period of 5 min. In all the regions of the two cartilages, the time-dependent stress relaxation curves showed a marked drop in stress within the initial 10 s, which can be fitted by a standard linear viscoelastic model. The instantaneous moduli in the temporal cartilage were dominantly larger than those in the condylar cartilage, while the condylar cartilage had slightly larger relaxation moduli than the temporal cartilage except for the medial region. The both cartilages showed the regional differences in the compressive stress relaxation behavior, and in the temporal cartilage the lateral and medial regions revealed the largest values for the instantaneous and relaxation moduli. The present results demonstrate that the viscoelastic properties of compressive stress relaxation in both cartilages are region-specific, which might have an important implication for stress distribution and transmission along with the TMJ disc.     

A model for predicting the permeation of dimethyl sulfoxide into articular cartilage,and its application to the liquidus-tracking method

Long-term storage of articular cartilage (AC) has excited great interest due to the practical surgical significance of this tissue. The liquidus-tracking (LT) method developed by Pegg et al. (2006) [29] for vitreous preservation of AC achieved reasonable survival of post-warming chondrocytes in situ, but the design of the entire procedure was more dependent on trial and error. Mathematical modeling would help to better understand the LT process, and thereby make possible improvements to attain higher cell survival. Mass transfer plays a dominant role in the LT process. In the present study, a diffusion model based on the free-volume theory and the Flory–Huggins thermodynamics theory was developed to predict the permeation of dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) into AC. A comparison between the predicted mean concentration of Me₂SO in the AC disc and the experimental data over wide temperature and concentration ranges [−30 to 37 °C, 10 to 64.5% (w/w)] shows that the developed model can accurately describe the permeation of Me₂SO into AC [coefficient of determination (R²): 0.951–1.000, mean relative error (MRE): 0.8–12.8%]. With this model, the spatial and temporal distribution of Me₂SO in the AC disc during a loading/unloading process can be obtained. Application of the model to Pegg et al.’s LT procedure revealed that the liquidus line is virtually not followed for the center part of the AC disc. The presently developed model will be a useful tool in the analysis and design of the LT method for vitreous preservation of AC.     

Medical ozone therapy as a potential treatment modality for regeneration of damaged articular cartilage in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and a growing health problem affecting more than half of the population over the age of 65. It is characterized by inflammation in the cartilage and synovium, resulting in the loss of joint structure and progressive damage to the cartilage. Many pro-inflammatory mediators are elevated in OA, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Damaged articular cartilage remains a challenge to treat due to the limited self-healing capacity of the tissue and unsuccessful biological interventions. This highlights the need for better therapeutic strategies to heal damaged articular cartilage. Ozone (O₃) therapy has been shown to have positive results in the treatment of OA; however the use of O₃ therapy as a therapeutic agent is controversial. There is a perception that O₃ is always toxic, whereas evidence indicates that when it is applied following a specified method, O₃ can be effective in the treatment of degenerative diseases. The mechanism of action of O₃ therapy in OA is not fully understood and this review summarizes the use of O₃ therapy in the treatment of damaged articular cartilage in OA.     

On the so-called cavum orbitonasale

Bjerring, H. C. 2000. On the so‐called cavum orbitonasale. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 81 : 167–175 Defined in the bowfin, Amia calva, the cavitas orbitonasalis (formerly the cavum orbitonasale) lies within the posteromesial part of the ethmoidal region of the endocranium and communicates with the fossa sacci nasalis and the orbita of its own side as well as with the cavitas encephalica endocranii. This intracranial compartment is probably called in being as a result of the pushing forward from the orbita of the points of origin of the ipsilateral oblique eye muscles. Its alleged presence in lizards as a part of the orbita and in mammals as a part of the cavitas encephalica cranii is shown to rest on false premizes. In reality, these two component parts are not homologous, and of all the craniate animals, extant and extinct, some actinopterygian fish alone have cavitates orbitonasales.     

猪苓与蜜环菌的关系

蜜环菌Armilla riella mcllea(Vahl：Ff．)Kgtst·侵入猪苓Gri[ola umbe』zd‘4(PetsFr．)PilOt)菌核,激活了猪苓菌抵御异体侵染免疫反应的本能,猪苓菌丝细胞木质化,形成与菌核表皮结构相似的隔离腔,将蜜环菌素和部分猪苓菌丝包围。在隔离腔中蜜环菌消化分隔在腔中的猪苓菌丝,另外猪苓菌丝也可侵入或附着在蜜环菌索及侵染带细胞间隙吸收其代谢产物,猪苓菌核即可萌发出新苓正常生长。当隔离腔中的猪苓菌丝被消化后,蛮环菌生活力也减弱,解体后被猪苓菌吸收利用,隔离腔变成空腔。从广义角度看,仍可把蜜环菌与猪苓菌寄生与反寄生的营养关系概括为共生关系。     

关于复合呼吸机械负荷生理、心理效应的观察与分析

以12名男性成年为被试者,观察了外加死腔(V_(ADS))与吸气阻力(RI)对呼吸型式、通气功能以及呼吸不适感觉的联合影响。结果表明:(1)V_(ADS)及R_I对吸气相面罩腔(口腔)压力(P_I)及外呼吸功率(W_I)具有协同的增强作用;复合呼吸机械负荷的强度越大,此种协同作用也越加明显。(2)无论V_(ADS)及R_I的比例关系如何,反应呼吸不适感觉强度的类别量值(S)与P_I(或W_I)之间,总是符合共同的线性关系,故可以P_I(或W_I)作为复合呼吸机械负荷的综合强度指标。(3)在所观察范围内,V_(ADS)并不影响对阻力性机械负荷的呼吸调节功能。以上结果对制订呼吸防护装备生理标准有一定意义。