Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine
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Tendon injuries are common and can dramatically impair patient mobility and productivity, resulting in a significant socioeconomic burden and reduced quality of life. Because the tendon healing process results in the formation of a fibrotic scar, injured tendons never regain the mechanical strength of the uninjured tendon, leading to frequent reinjury. Many tendons are also prone to the development of peritendinous adhesions and excess scar formation, which further reduce tendon function and lead to chronic complications. ⋯ In addition, we examine the mechanisms through which different cell populations contribute to the fibrotic response to tendon injury, and how these responses can be affected by systemic factors and comorbidities. We then discuss gaps in our current understanding of tendon fibrosis and highlight how new technologies and research areas are shedding light on this clinically important and intractable challenge. A better understanding of the complex cellular environment during tendon healing is crucial to the development of new therapies to prevent fibrosis and promote tissue regeneration.
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Review
Noninvasive assessment of renal fibrosis by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound techniques.
Renal fibrosis is a useful biomarker for diagnosis and guidance of therapeutic interventions of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a worldwide disease that affects more than 10% of the population and is one of the major causes of death. Currently, tissue biopsy is the gold standard for assessment of renal fibrosis. However, it is invasive, and prone to sampling error and observer variability, and may also result in complications. ⋯ Promising findings have been reported in both preclinical and clinical studies using these techniques. Nevertheless, limited specificity, sensitivity, and practicality in these techniques may hinder their immediate application in clinical routine. In this review, we will introduce methodologies of these techniques, outline their applications in fibrosis imaging, and discuss their limitations and pitfalls.
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Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a serious treatment complication that affects about 9%-30% cancer patients receiving radiotherapy for thoracic tumors. RIPF is characterized by progressive and irreversible destruction of lung tissues and deterioration of lung function, which can compromise quality of life and eventually lead to respiratory failure and death. ⋯ Recently, an increasing body of evidence suggests that induction of senescence by radiation may play an important role in RIPF and clearance of senescent cells (SnCs) with a senolytic agent, small molecule that can selectively kill SnCs, has the potential to be developed as a novel therapeutic strategy for RIPF. This review discusses some of these new findings to promote further study on the role of cellular senescence in RIPF and the development of senolytic therapeutics for RIPF.