Hyaluronan (HA) is a high molecular weight glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is particularly abundant in soft connective tissues. Solutions of HA can be highly viscous with non-Newtonian flow properties. These properties affect the movement of HA-containing fluid layers within and underlying the deep fascia. Changes in the concentration, molecular weight, or even covale...

The success of a complete denture depends on the fit of the denture, occlusion, esthetics, and other factors. A poorly fitting denture, irritation and other discomforts currently are treated by dentists with the use of tissue conditioners and soft liners.i-3 It is desirable for tissue conditioners to adapt to the oral mucosa as it heals and also to absorb stresses during mastication. Soft liner...

We performed simultaneous high-fidelity left ventricular pressure and echocardiographic dimension measurements in 30 patients with normal left ventricular function (group 1; n = 6), moderate-tosevere aortic regurgitation (group 2; n = 14) or congestive cardiomyopathy (group 3; n = 10). We determined diastolic stress, strain and strain rate in all 30 patients and fitted the data to a simple elas...

Elasticity imaging is emerging as an important tool for breast cancer detection and monitoring of treatment. Viscoelastic contrast in lesions is generated by disease specific processes that modify the molecular structure of connective tissues. We showed previously that gelatin hydrogels exhibit mechanical behavior similar to native collagen found in breast tissue and therefore are suitable as p...

Understanding the viscoelastic behavior of collagenous tissues with complex hierarchical structures requires knowledge of the properties at each structural level. Whole tissues have been studied extensively, but less is known about the mechanical behavior at the submicron, fibrillar level. Using a microelectromechanical systems platform, in vitro coupled creep and stress relaxation tests were p...