Age-related changes of elements in the tendons of the peroneus longus muscles in Thai, Japanese, and monkeys

Calcium, magnesium, zinc and lead concentrations in the structures forming knee joint in patients with osteoarthritis‬

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between the concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in cartilage, anterior cruciate ligament, and meniscus samples obtained following knee joint surgery in patients with osteoarthritis in northwestern Poland.‬ Furthermore, we examined the relationships between the concentrations of these metals in the studied parts of the knee joint and the influences of gender, age, BMI and hypertension. We found significantly higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Zn in the cartilage of men than in women and a significantly higher Pb concentration in the meniscus of the men. We also found a higher concentration of Pb in the cartilage of patients over 65 years of age.‬ There were no differences in the concentrations of the studied metals between patients with and without hypertension.‬ There was no relationship between Ca, Mg, Zn, and Pb levels in analyzed materials and BMI. Furthermore, we noted some new interactions between metals in the studied structures of the knee joint. The results reported in the study shows the influence of age, gender and BMI on the Ca, Mg, Zn and Pb in the studied structures of the knee joint.

Age-related decrease of the phosphorus content in the ligamentum capitis femoris of monkeys

To elucidate compositional changes of the ligament with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) of monkeys with a wide range of ages by direct chemical analysis. Used rhesus and Japanese monkeys consisted of 9 males and 22 females, ranging in age from newborn to 31 years (average age = 10.4 ± 10.9 years). After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the P content decreased significantly in the LCFs of monkeys with aging, but other six element contents, Ca, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, did not change significantly with aging. Assuming that the P content indicated the active cell density and the S content indicated the protein amount, an age-related change of the mass ratio of P/S was examined in the LCFs. The mass ratio of P/S decreased significantly in the LCFs in childhood. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant direct correlations were found among the Ca, P, S, and Mg contents in the LCFs. It was suggested that the active cell density of the connective tissue cells might decrease significantly in the LCF in childhood.

Characteristics of the three ligaments of human spring ligament complex from a viewpoint of elements

To elucidate characteristics of the three ligaments constituting the spring ligament complex from a viewpoint of elements, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements, relationships among their elements, relationships among ligaments in the elements, and gender differences in the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex, the superomedial calcaneonavicular (SMCN), inferoplantar longitudinal calcaneonavicular (ICN), and third or medioplantar oblique calcaneonavicular (TCN) ligaments. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the SMCN, ICN, and TCN ligaments of the spring ligament complex were removed from the subjects. The subjects consisted of 10 men and 12 women, ranging in age from 62 to 99 years (average age = 80.5 ± 9.7 years). After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that although the Ca and P content hardly changed in the SMCN ligament with aging, the Ca and P content in the ICN ligament increased to about three and five times higher in the 80s in comparison with the 60s, respectively, whereas in the TCN ligament, it increased about 40% and 90% higher in the 80s compared with the 60s, respectively. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, and Mg in all the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex. This finding was in agreement with the previous finding obtained with the three ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament, and ligamentum capitis femoris. Whether there were significant correlations among the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex with regard to the Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, and Fe contents was examined using Pearson's correlation. It was found that there were significant direct correlations between the SMCN and TCN ligaments in all the Ca, P, Mg, and Zn contents and also between the SMCN and ICN ligaments in both the Mg and Fe contents but not between the TCN and ICN ligaments in the six element contents. Regarding the gender difference in elements, a significant gender difference was found only in the Mg content of the SMCN ligament, being significantly higher in men than in women.