Characteristics Of Articular Cartilage Research Articles

Morphofunctional features of articular cartilage structure.

Articular cartilage is highly-organized nonvascularized tissue which is responsible in humans for pressure absorption under load, as well as for the smoothness of the opposite tangential bone surfaces. The purpose of our research is to study structural and functional features of articular cartilage at light- optical level by using state-of-the-art research methods of bone-cartilage tissue. the study was conducted on samples of femoral heads. Hyper fine sections were subject to hematoxylin and eosin, Van Gieson's and PAS staining. In order to identify the receptor profile of chondrocytes and the features of protein arrangement in extracellular matrix we undertook an immunohistochemical study. An articular cartilage is quite organized tissue. As any other organ, it has parenchyma and stroma. Parenchyma is represented by one type of cells - chondrocytes, which, depending on how deep they are located in cartilage, have a different shape, size and functional features. The chondrocytes and extracellular matrix have different degrees of receptors expression. the cartilage is being constantly self-renewed, what is manifested by means of a rather slow division of the surface-located chondrocytes and programmed death of dystrophic-modi ed cells. The features of extracellular matrix structure determine the originality of cell location in different areas of cartilage tissue. Due to synthesis of specific proteins, chondrocytes self-regulate properties of cartilage tissue.

Application of ANSYS to the stress relaxation of articular cartilage in unconfined compression

The purpose of this paper is to establish a poroelastic model of cartilage for stress relaxation using the new elements in ANSYS version 12. Articular cartilage was modeled as a fluid-saturated solid because of its high water content and biphasic property. The biphasic theory for cartilage, which is capable of investigating the essential mechanical features of articular cartilage, was developed by Mow et al. (1980). In order to calibrate the material properties of the tissue-engineered cartilage, which is now emerging as a potential alternative treatment of osteoarthritis, the capacity of commercial software for modeling the cartilage needs to be verified. The aim of this research is to evaluate the porous elements available in ANSYS software and to promote the expanded application of the finite element method for analyzing soft tissues. By creating cartilage models using the fluid–solid coupling finite element analysis of porous media, ANSYS has been used in this paper to demonstrate the unconfined compressive behaviors of articular cartilage during stress relaxation. Furthermore, the validation of the fluid–solid coupling finite element model by ANSYS software ensures that the results of the present study are consistent with the analytical results of the linear Kuei, Lai, and Mow (KLM) biphasic theory.

Proposal for a nomenclature for Magnetic Resonance Imaging based measures of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of articular cartilage has evolved to be an important tool in research on cartilage (patho)physiology and osteoarthritis (OA). MRI provides a wealth of novel and quantitative information, but there exists no commonly accepted terminology for reporting these metrics. The objective of this initiative was to propose a nomenclature for definitions and names to be used in scientific communications and to give recommendations as to which minimal methodological information should be provided when reporting MRI-based measures of articular cartilage in OA. An international group of experts with direct experience in MRI measurement of cartilage morphology or composition reviewed the existing literature. Through an iterative process that included a meeting with a larger group of scientists and clinicians (December 2nd, 2004, Chicago, IL, USA), they discussed, refined, and proposed a nomenclature for MRI-based measures of articular cartilage in OA. The group proposes a nomenclature that describes: (1) the anatomical location and (2) the structural feature being measured, each name consisting of a metric variable combined with a tissue label. In addition, the group recommends minimal methodological information that should be described. Utilization of this nomenclature should facilitate communication within the scientific community. Further, the uniform adoption of comprehensive nomenclature to describe quantitative MRI- features of articular cartilage should strengthen epidemiological, clinical, and pharmacological studies in OA.