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BACKGROUND: The patella-patellar tendon junction is a high-incidence area of injury in patellar tendinopathy. The rabbit patella-patellar tendon injury model is a commonly used animal experimental research object. At present, the stress analysis of the injury mechanism and modeling method is not comprehensive. OBJECTIVE: Based on the previous histological and mechanical measurements, this study used micro CT to scan and model the whole patella, the patellapatellar tendon junction and the tendon quadriceps junction, to analyze the characteristics of changes in stress, and explore the potential impact of different forms of exercise on patellar tendon degeneration so as to provide a theoretical basis for injury prevention and animal model establishment. METHODS: Female healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were selected to study the patella and tendons at both ends of the left knee joint. After the material was taken, the samples were scanned and saved with micro CT. Mimics, Geomagic Studio and SolidWorks were used to establish a three-dimensional model. Finite element analysis was carried out with Ansys Workbench. The equivalent displacement, stress and strain of the target region were analyzed under different loading conditions (load size and direction changes, different action modes). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Load direction change affected trend and value change; load size change affected value change. (2) Compared with other areas, the stress concentration was more obvious at the insertion point of the patellar tendon, and the strain value was the lowest. (3) At the insertion point of the patellar tendon, the stress concentration was greater in valgus than in varus and pronation than in extorsion. (4) The stress concentration effect and stress shielding during knee flexion and extension are the main causes of patellar tendon insertion injury. The stress in pronation and valgus states is also a potential factor leading to damage, which needs further study. The animal model established by jumping and running is more in line with the characteristics of sports injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity undertaken by stroke survivors is generally low. This trial investigated the feasibility of delivering a high-intensity treadmill and self-management program to people with stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and determine whether physical activity, walking ability and cardiorespiratory fitness could be increased. Method: A phase I, single-group, pre-post intervention study was conducted with stroke survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation who could walk. Participants undertook a high-intensity treadmill and self-management program for up to 30 min, three times a week for 8 weeks under the supervision of their usual physiotherapist. Feasibility was determined by examining compliance, satisfaction and adverse events. Clinical outcomes were amount of physical activity, walking ability, and cardiorespiratory fitness collected pre-training (week 0), post-training (week 8), and at follow-up (week 26). Results: Forty stroke survivors participated, completing 10 (SD 6) sessions, 94% at the specified training intensity, with high satisfaction and no adverse events related to the intervention. At week 8, participants completed 2749 steps/day (95% CI 933 to 4564) more physical activity than at week 0. Walking distance increased by 110 m (95% CI 23 to 196), walking speed by 0.24 m/s (95% CI 0.05 to 0.42), and VO2 peak by 0.29 ml/kg/min (95% CI 0.03 to 0.56). At week 26, increases in physical activity, walking distance and speed, and cardiorespiratory fitness were maintained. Conclusions: A high-intensity treadmill training program embedded within a self-management approach during inpatient rehabilitation appears feasible and potentially may offer sustained improvements in physical activity, walking ability, fitness, and quality of life. A randomised trial is warranted. Trial registration: This feasibility study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613000764730). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fontan circulation describes the circulatory state resulting from an operation in congenital heart disease where systemic venous return is directed to the lungs without an intervening active pumping chamber. As survival increases, so too does recognition of the potential health challenges. This document aims to allow clinicians, people with a Fontan circulation, and their families to benefit from consensus agreement about management of the person with a Fontan circulation. The document was crafted with input from a multidisciplinary group of health care providers as well as individuals with a Fontan circulation and families. It is hoped that the shared common vision of long-term wellbeing will continue to drive improvements in care and quality of life in this patient population and eventually translate into improved survival. KEYPOINTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We have shown previously that exercise training enhances endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular relaxation in rabbit kidney. This study aimed to investigate protein expression changes in the rabbit renal cortex induced by chronic dynamic exercise. Design: Kidneys were obtained from New Zealand rabbits either confined to pens (n = 8) or trained on a treadmill (0% grade) for 5 days/week at a speed of 18 m/min for 60-min periods over 12 weeks (n = 8). Expression of proteins in the renal cortex was determined by colloidal Coomassie blue staining after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Differential protein spots were excised and digested with trypsin, and peptides were sequenced by electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry. Results: Two pairs of matching differentially stained spots displayed an approximate threefold increase in trained compared with sedentary animals. These four spots presented a molecular mass of 23 kDa but different pl values. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed the pairs of matching spots as being rabbit apolipoprotein A-I. Conclusion: Chronic dynamic exercise increases apolipoprotein A-I expression in the rabbit renal cortex. This fact could be involved in the alterations observed in the renal circulation after exercise training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]