by Pau Hon-Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-179). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.i / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT (English) --- p.v / ABSTRACT (Chinese) --- p.ix / FLOW CHART --- p.xi / INDEX OF FIGURES --- p.xxi / INDEX OF TABLES --- p.xxiv / PUBLICATION LIST --- p.xxv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Basic Structure of Tendons --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Anatomy of Patellar Tendon --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Cellular Characteristics of Fibroblasts --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Healing Process in Tendons --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5 --- Chronic Tendon Disorder --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims and Objectives --- p.25 / Chapter 1.7 --- Study Plan --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPRER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- Collection of human Tissues Samples --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2 --- Tissue Culture --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3 --- Preparation of Conditioned Medium --- p.46 / Chapter 2.4 --- Proliferation Response of Tendon Fibroblasts --- p.48 / Chapter 2.5 --- Invasion Assay --- p.53 / Chapter 2.6 --- Chick Chorioallantonic Membrane Model --- p.56 / Chapter 2.7 --- SDS-PAGE --- p.58 / Chapter 2.8 --- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay --- p.63 / Chapter 2.9 --- Immunocytochemical Staining --- p.68 / Chapter 2.10 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.69 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1 --- Patient's Information --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2 --- Primary Explant Cell Culture --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3 --- Proliferation Response of Tendon Fibroblasts --- p.79 / Chapter 3.4 --- Invasion Assay --- p.82 / Chapter 3.5 --- Chick Chorioallantonic Membrane Model --- p.83 / Chapter 3.6 --- SDS-PAGE --- p.85 / Chapter 3.7 --- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay --- p.86 / Chapter 3.8 --- Immunocytochemical Staining --- p.88 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1 --- Higher Proliferation Capacity of Tendinosis Fibroblasts --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2 --- Tendinosis Fibroblasts Secrete Angiogenesis Factors to Enhance Angiogenesis --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3 --- Tendinosis Fibroblasts Secrete More Proteolytic Enzyme --- p.126 / Chapter 4.4 --- Proinflammatory Characteristics in Tendinosis Fibroblasts --- p.129 / Chapter 4.5 --- Comparison of in vitro and Histological Study --- p.132 / Chapter 4.6 --- Tendinosis Fibroblasts Seems to be Transformed --- p.134 / Chapter 4.7 --- Limitation of Study --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTION --- p.140 / Chapter 5.1 --- Further Exploration of the Factors Secreted in Tendinosis Fibroblasts --- p.141 / Chapter 5.2 --- Proteoglycan Synthesis in Tendinosis Fibroblasts --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3 --- Tendinosis Animal Model and Clinical Study --- p.143 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.144 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.146 / APPENDIX --- p.180