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Skeletal muscle in individuals with CP also contains lower amounts of mtDNA, potentially indicating fewer mitochondria in CP skeletal muscle compared with typically developing muscle. We compared skeletal muscle samples from children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing children and observed evidence of reduced mtDNA and OXPHOS protein content in CP skeletal muscle, indicating reduced mitochondrial abundance. Cerebral palsy (CP) muscle contains fewer energy-generating organelles than typically developing muscle. [Extracted from the article]

Achilles tendinopathies display focal tissue thickening with pain and ultrasonography changes. Whilst complete rupture might be expected to induce changes in tissue organization and protein composition, little is known about the consequences of non-rupture-associated tendinopathies, especially with regards to changes in the content of collagen type I and III (the major collagens in tendon), and changes in tendon fibroblast (tenocyte) shape and organization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). To gain new insights, we took biopsies from the tendinopathic region and flanking healthy region of Achilles tendons of six individuals with clinically diagnosed tendinopathy who had no evidence of cholesterol, uric acid and amyloid accumulation. Biochemical analyses of collagen III/I ratio were performed on all six individuals, and electron microscope analysis using transmission electron microscopy and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy were made on two individuals. In the tendinopathic regions, compared with the flanking healthy tissue, we observed: (i) an increase in the ratio of collagen III : I proteins; (ii) buckling of the collagen fascicles in the ECM; (iii) buckling of tenocytes and their nuclei; and (iv) an increase in the ratio of small-diameter : large-diameter collagen fibrils. In summary, load-induced non-rupture tendinopathy in humans is associated with localized biochemical changes, a shift from large- to small-diameter fibrils, buckling of the tendon ECM, and buckling of the cells and their nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Real-time harmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound ( CEU) is used in several diseases to visualize the microvascularization in various tissues, due to its high sensitivity. Aim The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CEU could be used to detect an increase in the microvascular volume ( MV) in healthy tendon tissue in response to exercise comprising a 1-h run. Methods After a bolus injection of the ultrasound contrast Sono Vue®, CEU measurements of ( MV) in the Achilles tendon were taken prior to exercise, immediately after a 1-h run, and 24 h after exercise in nine healthy young subjects (seven men and two women) mean age 31 ± 4 years. In addition, the effect of 15 min of arm cycling exercise on the flow within the Achilles tendon was tested in four athletes (mean age 33 ± 6 years) using the CEU method before and after exercise. Results The present data show a significant increase in the ( MV) of the Achilles tendon for all subjects following the run compared with before exercise. No significant change in ( MV) was seen in the Achilles tendon after 15-min arm cycling exercise ( P = 0·96). This indicates that the increase in microvascular blood volume within the Achilles tendon in response to running is a local response. Conclusion The present data reveal that real-time harmonic CEU can be used to determine the MV of healthy Achilles tendons both at rest and after 1 h of running exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]