Mechanical, Morphometric, and Microstructure Properties of Foot Ligaments

足韧带的机械、形态和微观结构特性

• 批准号: 8636705
• 负责人: Joseph Iaquinto
• 金额: $ 7.28万
• 依托单位: SEATTLE INST FOR BIOMEDICAL/CLINICAL RES
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-02-24 至 2016-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8636705
• 关键词: Age; Aged, 80 and over; Ankle; Appearance; Area; Basic Science; Behavior; Calculi; Characteristics; Classification Scheme; Clinical; Clinical Treatment; Cluster Analysis; Collagen; Collagen Fibril; Complex; Computer Simulation; Data; Demographic Aging; Dependency; Development; Diabetes Mellitus; Diagnosis; Diagnostic; Disease; Fascicle; Future; Gender; Goals; Health; Image; Injury; Knowledge; Length; Life; Ligaments; Link; Magnetic Resonance; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Maps; Measurement; Measures; Mechanics; Methodology; Microanatomy; Microscopic; Molds; Molecular; Morphology; Older Population; Outcome Study; Patients; Pilot Projects; Population; Process; Property; Quality of life; Research Personnel; Research Project Grants; Resolution; Risk; Sample Size; Scheme; Series; Shapes; Structure; Symptoms; Techniques; Testing; Tissues; Trauma; Work; age group; balance testing; base; computer studies; diabetic; digital; experience; falls; follow-up; foot; holistic approach; joint function; mechanical behavior; neuromuscular; novel; public health relevance; research study; response; soft tissue

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): As the ligaments of the foot and ankle age, fall prone to disease, or suffer trauma, their mechanical properties change. These changes profoundly influence how the involved joints function, and the mobility, comfort, and patient's level of activity and overall quality of life. This study seeks to develop a means of classifying the mechanical behavior of ankle ligaments based on age demographics (younger: 25-40 years old and older: 60-75 years old populations), ligament size (e.g., from magnetic resonance (MR) imaging) and microstructure. The proposed methodology is such that once ligament morphology is measured (with MR), a researcher or clinician will immediately have a means of estimating the function of a ligament. With this classification scheme, both simple (such as clinical neuromuscular balance tests) and complex (such as computational modeling) processes can be employed to tailor diagnostics and treatment to specific patients. Thus we propose the following: Specific Aim 1: To assess independent mechanical, morphological and microstructural properties, considering population (younger and older), ligament, and strain rates dependencies. We will perform this analysis on eight pairs each (16 feet) of donor feet from two populations (younger and older). With mechanical testing, we are well versed in soft tissue isolation, tissue mechanical testing, and curve fitting. For the morphological measurements, our group has developed a novel technique of molding and casting soft tissues, to determine high resolution area measurements. Regarding the microstructural component, our group has the experience and expertise to analyze the molecular content of these tissues, as well as the fibril-level and fascicle-level organization of ligament tissues. Specific Aim 2: To identify the relationship between mechanical properties and morphology within each group (younger and older) and ligament type. Our group has performed preliminary analysis in combining morphological characteristics (length and area) with cluster analysis to determine if and to what extent ligaments can be grouped based on external appearance. Using linear mixed effects regression, a further analysis of the interrelationships between these factors will consider the relationship between ligament morphology and mechanical properties. Specific Aim 3: To identify the relationship between mechanical properties and microscopic structure within each group (younger and older) and ligament type. Using a similar linear mixed effects regression to Specific Aim 2, the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of ligaments will be determined. We anticipate direct benefit to ongoing experimental and computational studies. Furthermore, this foundational development motivates two future R01 proposals: (1) using MR imaging of live subjects to measure morphology and thus estimate material behavior - a stepping stone for, (2) evaluating other populations (such as diabetic) via MR to determine ankle function and injury risk.

描述（由申请人提供）：随着足部和踝关节韧带的老化，易患病或遭受创伤，其力学性能会发生变化。这些变化深刻地影响了关节的功能、活动能力、舒适度、患者的活动水平和整体生活质量。本研究旨在开发一种基于年龄统计（年轻：25-40岁，年长：60-75岁）、韧带大小（例如，从磁共振（MR）成像）和微观结构分类踝关节韧带力学行为的方法。所提出的方法是这样的，一旦韧带形态被测量（磁共振），研究人员或临床医生将立即有一种估计韧带功能的手段。有了这个分类方案，简单的（如临床神经肌肉平衡测试）和复杂的（如计算建模）过程都可以用来为特定的病人量身定制诊断和治疗。具体目标1：评估独立的力学、形态和微观结构特性，考虑人群（年轻人和老年人）、韧带和应变速率依赖性。我们将对来自两个人群（年轻人和老年人）的8对（16英尺）供体脚进行分析。在力学测试方面，我们精通软组织分离、组织力学测试和曲线拟合。对于形态学测量，我们的团队开发了一种新的成型和铸造软组织的技术，以确定高分辨率的面积测量。在微观结构成分方面，我们组有经验和专业知识分析这些组织的分子含量，以及韧带组织的原纤维水平和束状水平的组织。具体目标2：确定每组（年轻和年老）和韧带类型的力学性能和形态之间的关系。本研究小组将形态学特征（长度和面积）与聚类分析相结合，进行了初步分析，以确定是否以及在多大程度上可以根据外观对韧带进行分组。使用线性混合效应回归，进一步分析这些因素之间的相互关系将考虑韧带形态和力学性能之间的关系。具体目标3：确定每组（年轻和老年）和韧带类型的力学性能和微观结构之间的关系。使用与Specific Aim 2类似的线性混合效应回归，将确定韧带微观结构与力学性能之间的关系。我们期望对正在进行的实验和计算研究有直接的好处。此外，这一基础发展激发了未来R01的两项建议：(1)使用活体受试者的MR成像来测量形态学，从而估计材料行为——这是一个踏脚石；(2)通过MR评估其他人群（如糖尿病患者），以确定踝关节功能和损伤风险。