(Press-News.org) Tendon disorders cost the UK economy more than £7bn a year and now scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have identified a vital component of tendons which could help treat them.
The research, published in the highly regarded Royal Society journal Interface today (4 July), found that a component of tendons known as the interfascicular matrix (IFM) is essential for their function.
"Tendon disorders are highly debilitating and painful, and may herald the end of an Olympic athlete's career," said co-author Dr Hazel Screen, a senior lecturer in medical engineering at Queen Mary, University of London.
"Even today, with advancements in sports science, little is known about tendon health management, and we still do not understand why some people are more prone to tendon injury than others.
However, we have now found that the matrix which binds the fascicles together in the tendon, the IFM, is essential for tendon function and that changes to this structure may be responsible for tendon injury."
Scientists at Queen Mary, along with colleagues from University of Liverpool and University College London, are working on a project funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, in which they have been dissecting tendons from horses in order to better understand the role of the IFM.
Tendon injury is common in horses as well as humans, with an economic impact of more than £3bn a year in horse racing. Around 16,000 horses are in training each year and the tendon injury rate is as high as 43% with few horses returning to racing after injury.
Lead author Dr Chavaunne Thorpe from the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary, University of London explained: "A specific tendon in horses known as the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) stretches and recoils in the same way as the Achilles tendon and is injured in the same way.
"We tested how the components within the SDFT worked to enable the tendon to stretch and function effectively.
"When we looked at its capacity to stretch, we found that the IFM, previously thought to be unimportant in tendon function, was essential to SDFT extension in horses. We found that tendons with a stiffer IFM were not able to stretch as far before they failed."
The finding suggests that the IFM may be critical in preventing tendon overuse injury, and the authors are now trying to find out exactly how this is achieved.
Dr Screen added: "If we are able to manipulate the IFM, we could potentially design a diagnostic test to see whether someone is more susceptible to tendon injury than others, and also pave the way for prospective treatments."
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(TORONTO, July 4, 2012) – A team of international scientists led by principal investigator Dr. Tak Mak at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, has identified a causative link between the product of a mutated metabolic enzyme and the onset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the most common types of leukemia in adults.
Called an "oncometabolite" for its role in cancer metabolism, the metabolite2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) is a by-product of a gene mutation of an enzyme known as isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH).
Says Dr. Tak Mak of the findings ...
Researchers have taken a step toward personalized medicine for Parkinson's disease, by investigating signs of the disease in patient-derived cells and testing how the cells respond to drug treatments. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers collected skin cells from patients with genetically inherited forms of Parkinson's and reprogrammed those cells into neurons. They found that neurons derived from individuals with distinct types of Parkinson's showed common signs of distress and vulnerability – in particular, abnormalities in the ...
Fotoclipping.com, a complete graphic design solution provider is now offering seasonal offers for image on Image Manipulation service together with Clipping path, Image masking, model photo retouch, Color correction, Photo Re-shaping, HDR Photoshop effect, Pop Art Creation, Typography, Panoramic Photography 360 & Photo Album services with guaranteed top most quality service and fast turnaround time.
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MobiPixie team today announced the official launch of its MobiPixie platform and mobile applications. Mobipixie is an advanced photo media sharing & social networking platform for mobile phone users. Mobipixie provides a unique platform for sharing life's memories captured as photos with people that a user loves & cares, with full privacy control. The application is currently available on Android. iPhone, Blackberry and J2ME applications are to be released shortly.
The Mobipixie platform can be accessed at http://www.mobipixie.com. The MobiPixie Android application ...
http://www.clampitt.com: Despite economic challenges faced by the pulp and paper industry, Clampitt Paper Company continues to experience progressive growth opportunities across the Southwest. The firm recently hired almost a dozen new staff members in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas, a result of "quality relationships with consumers," says Don Clampitt, chairman and CEO of Clampitt Paper Company. "Our willingness to remain customer-driven and passionate about paper has enabled us to stay productive in a declining industry." The firm also acquired ...
Livewire Concepts, Inc. Will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure August 12, 2012.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Kansas City began with a Race for the Cure event in 1994 organized by three inexperienced, headstrong women who relocated to Kansas City from Washington, DC who had "can do" attitudes. In those days, a small core of committed women kept files in their homes and cars, had all Race phone calls on an answering machine in a spare bedroom and treated Komen as their second job. It was truly a grassroots effort.
The ...
Edge One Media is pleased to announce the redesign of http://www.millardlaw.com. Millard & Bragg Attorneys at Law P.C. is a Litigation Firm out of Portland Oregon that Specializes in First Party Insurance Claims, Fire, Wind and Water Claims, Construction Law, Civil Litigation and Business Law. They help Individuals and Property Owners who have been the victims of Property Damage from a Fire, Flood, Storm, Accident, Theft, or Vandalism, as well as Individuals and Business Owners who need representation in Civil and Commercial Litigation in both Oregon and Washington. ...
Tampa's Shoe Heaven, a ladies' fashionable and high-quality footwear store, opens a second location. The store's grand opening will be held on the weekend of July 6-8 at 2108 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL 33510. The celebration will be held on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
"The second Shoe Heaven store provides a more accessible location for customers who live in the Brandon/Valrico area and for those who frequently drive near the Brandon Mall. While our first shoe store opened in the summer of 2011 in the University Mall ...
With so many different islands to explore in the Cooks, why settle for visiting just one! The Pacific Resort Hotel Group is making island getaway wishes come true by offering free flights between their two award winning properties! Visitors can experience the best of Aitutaki and Rarotonga, splitting a seven-night stay between the two islands. Guests will start their vacation with four nights in a Premium Garden Suite at the 4-Star Pacific Resort Rarotonga. From here, Pacific Resort Hotel Group picks up the tab on their domestic flight, flying guests to Aitutaki where they ...
How Divorce May Affect Your 401(k) in Nevada
The laws governing how property is divided during divorce vary from state to state. Nevada uses a "community property" system of property division, which means that assets acquired by either spouse during a marriage are generally treated as shared property and will be divided equally upon divorce. Therefore, in Nevada, contributions to your 401(k) account may be split between you and your spouse if you decide to divorce.
One of the best ways to prevent your 401(k) from being divided with an ex is to plan ahead ...
