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Chan, Lai Shan. / Thesis submitted in: Dec. 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-152). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.I / PUBLICATIONS --- p.II / ABBREVIATION --- p.III-IV / INDEX OF FIGURES --- p.V-IX / INDEX OF TABLES --- p.X / ABSTRACT (English) --- p.XI-XIII / ABSTRACT (Chinese) --- p.XIV / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1-22 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.23-49 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.50-97 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.98-117 / BIBLIOGRAPHY / APPENDIX

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Recent findings regarding corrosion of post-tensioned bridges have highlighted the urgent need to develop reliable methods to predict the behavior of the structural system after damage has occurred and inspection techniques to assess the condition of the structure. Corrosion in strands is undesirable in that it often progresses without visual signs of distress, but may cause a brittle failure. To complicate the inspection, access to the strands for visual inspection is usually blocked by the concrete cross section. To date, significant efforts have been taken to improve the durability of the post-tensioned bridges. However, the behavior of the post-tensioned bridges with corrosion damage is not clearly understood and the currently available inspection techniques tend to provide only limited information about the nature and extent of the damage. The research project discussed in this dissertation was developed is to evaluate the feasibility of using the vibration technique to detect and estimate the extent of damage in an external tendon due to corrosion. To accomplish this goal, damage was induced in five specimens, which were monitored periodically to correlate the measured changes in the frequency response to the level of damage. The induced damage simulated the degradation of a post-tensioned structure from corrosion. This dissertation describes the experimental program and the numerical scheme used to estimate the condition of the specimens. Three types of specimens were tested during the experimental phase of the research: individual strands, cables specimens, and external tendons. A series of tension tests of individual strands were conducted to investigate changes in the uniaxial behavior after damage was induced. Simulated damage included uniform corrosion of the strand, mechanical wire cuts, and an initial defect in one wire. Three cable specimens and one tendon specimen were subjected to fatigue loading. The loading was selected to simulate the loss of cross-sectional area in the strands, and also caused grout damage. The frequency response of the specimens was recorded periodically during the fatigue tests and acoustic sensors were used to detect the occurrence of wire breaks. A second tendon specimen was exposed to an acid solution to simulate the hydrogen induced cracking in the strand at three different locations along the length of the specimen. A number of wires fractured during the exposure test and damage was inspected visually. Natural frequencies were also measured periodically. The residual prestressing force in of the specimens was extracted from the measured natural frequencies. The stiff string model was used to determine optimum values of tension and flexural stiffness from the frequency response. The numerical results from this optimization demonstrated the feasibility of using the vibration technique as a nondestructive testing method for external tendons.

The aim of this study was to investigate which protocols Occupational Therapists (OT’s) use when rehabilitating clients after flexor tendon repairs, and to investigate the therapist’s knowledge regarding these protocols, to guide therapists and institutions in using effective methods within the South African context. A questionnaire was sent to OT’s in South Africa. Of the 32 responses, 50% had more than 10 years experience and 50%, less experience. 81.2% were private practitioners and 28% worked in government. The trend of protocol use was as follows: 18.8% used a Duran-type passive mobilization protocol, 25% used a Kleinert-type protocol - a passive flexion protocol (but labelled an active mobilization protocol in literature as it allows active extension of the fingers), 28.1% used Early Active Mobilization and 3.1% used an Immobilization-type protocol. 64.5% of the sample used static splints, 9.7% used dynamic splints and 25.8% used a combination. Most (83.3%) continued the splint at 4 weeks but only 26.6% were using the splint at 6 weeks. At week 1, 30% allowed active flexion of the fingers, whereas at week 4 and 5, 60% allowed active flexion. The referring doctor and confidence in one’s own skills were the main factors influencing protocol choice. Resources available influenced the protocol choice, which can be problematic in South Africa. Access to literature was mostly through textbooks (90.6%), although journal articles were accessed (internet - 50%, hard copy - 62.5%). More than half of the sample attended courses regularly. Most therapists were happy with their outcomes, regardless of which protocol used. Therapists need to build their confidence, realising the efficacy of various protocols is similar, according to research. Thus whatever factors influence protocol choice, they will likely not be critical to good outcomes. / Thesis (M.O.T.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Le tendon est un organe impliqué dans de nombreux troubles musculo squelettiques. Les connaissances des différentes molécules impliquées dans la biologie des tendons permettent d’envisager des traitements par thérapie génique. L'objectif de cette thèse a été d'évaluer la faisabilité de transférer des gènes dans les tendons par deux méthodes non virales : une méthode chimique utilisant des nanoparticules de silice mésoporeuses et une méthode physique reposant sur l’utilisation des ultrasons et des microbulles de gaz (sonoporation). Dans une première étude, nous avons montré que des nanoparticules de silice mésoporeuses sont capables de transférer efficacement des gènes dans le tendon d’Achille de rat. Celles-ci ont été utilisées pour transférer le gène du facteur de croissance PDGF dans des tendons lésés. Nos résultats indiquent une accélération de la réparation du tendon lésé. Dans une deuxième étude, nous avons utilisé la sonoporation, technique jamais appliquée aux tendons. Nous avons déterminé les paramètres acoustiques permettant un transfert de gènes efficace dans le tendon d'Achille de souris. Une expression stable d’un transgène a été maintenue pendant 100 jours suite à une injection locale d’ADN en présence de microbulles de gaz. Nous avons ensuite utilisé cette méthode dans un modèle de souris transgénique invalidée pour le gène de la fibromoduline possédant des fibres de collagène anormales. Une restauration remarquable du phénotype de ces souris a été observée suite au transfert du gène de la fibromoduline. Nous avons ensuite étudié les interactions entre les microbulles, la membrane plasmique et le transfert de gènes dans les cellules sous ultrasons. Ces études ont permis d’identifier pour la première fois, une pénétration des microbulles de gaz dans la cellule et un trafic intracellulaire de l’ADN impliquant la voie d’endocytose clathrine dépendante. En conclusion, les deux méthodes de transfert de gènes non virales ont permis de transfecter des gènes efficacement dans les tendons. Ces résultats prometteurs permettent d’envisager leur exploitation pour des applications thérapeutiques dans les pathologies tendineuses. / Tendons are often involved in many musculoskeletal disorders. Knowledge of the different molecules involved in tendons biology allows to consider treatments based on gene therapy. The goal of my work was to evaluate the feasibility of gene transfer in tendons by using two non-viral methods: mesoporous silica nanoparticles and a physical method based on ultrasound-assisted gas microbubbles (sonoporation). In the first study, we showed that mesoporous silica nanoparticles could efficiently transfer genes in rat Achilles tendon. They were used to transfer plasmid DNA encoding PDGF growth factor gene in injured tendons. Data demonstrated that DNA/MSN complexes have improved the healing of injured tendons. In the second study, we used the sonoporation method which has never been applied to the tendons. First, we determined the acoustic parameters for gene transfer in mice Achilles tendon. A stable expression of the transgene was maintained up to 100 days following one local injection of DNA in the presence of gas microbubbles. We then used this method to restore the fibromodulin knocked out gene in a transgenic mouse model having disorganized collagen fibers in tendons. Following the transfer of fibromodulin gene, a remarkable restoration of collagen fibers in these mice was observed. In the last part, we studied the interactions of microbubbles with the plasma membrane and the plasmid DNA internalization into the cells by sonoporation. These studies have identified for the first time a rapid penetration of gas microbubbles inside the cell and an intracellular routing of DNA involving the clathrinmediated endocytosis pathway. In conclusion, both methods of non viral gene transfer led to an efficient gene transfer in tendons. These promising results obtained during this project allow considering their use for therapeutic applications in tendon diseases.

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published_or_final_version / abstract / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Orthopaedics and Traumatology / Master / Master of Philosophy

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute Of Technology, 2006. / Purpose Repetitive strain injuries, especially rotator cuff tendonitis, are increasing and reaching epidemic proportions in certain industries and in most industrialized countries (Yassi et al. 1996). Fatigue of the rotator cuff allows the humeral head to translate anteriorly, with resultant mechanical impingement of the supraspinatus tendon. At this point inflammatory changes become evident (Fu et al. 1995). According to Greenman (1996), muscle energy technique (MET) is a 'manual medicine treatment procedure that involves the voluntary contraction of a patients muscle in a precisely controlled direction, at varying levels of intensity, against a distinctively executed counterforce applied by the operator.' It has been hypothesized that MET can be used to lengthen and strengthen muscles, to increase fluid mechanics and decrease local edema, and to mobilize a restricted articulation (Greenman 1996). However, these statements have been made in the absence or appropriate research in order to support such statements, therefore. the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Muscle Energy Technique in the treatment of rotator cuff tendonitis in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings. Methods Objective measures included: Diagnostic ultrasound which was used to evaluate changes in inflammation and thickness of the involved tendon, the algometer was used to assess point tenderness, whilst inclinometer readings were taken to evaluate the associated changes in range of motion that may have taken placei / M