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Age-related changes of element contents in the human meniscus

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Abstract

The relative contents (RCs) of elements in the human menisci from 23 subjects in the age range between 65 and 93 yr were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The RCs of sulfur, calcium, and phosphorus in menisci increased progressively until the 80s, being the highest in the 80s, and thereafter decreased. The RCs of magnesium in menisci increased progressively until the 90s. Regarding the medial and lateral menisci, higher RCs of magnesium and iron, and a lower RC of phosphorus were found in lateral menisci in comparison with those in medial menisci.

There were sexual differences in the RCs of calcium and phosphorus of medial and lateral menisci. The RCs of calcium and phosphorus were about 50% higher in women’s menisci than in men’s. Histological examinations showed that structureless mucoid masses were observed in the menisci, with very high RCs of calcium and phosphorus being detected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634, Nara, Japan

    Yumi Moriwake, Yoshiyuki Tohno, Setsuko Tohno, Takeshi Minami, Masako Utsumi, Fumio Nishiwaki & Masa-oki Yamada

  2. The Second Department of Anatomy, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634, Nara, Japan

    Hiroshi Yamamoto

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, 634, Nara, Japan

    Yuko Okazaki

  4. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University, Higashi-Osaka, 577, Osaka, Japan

    Tadashi Fujii & Yoshinori Takakura

Authors
  1. Yumi Moriwake
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  2. Yoshiyuki Tohno
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  3. Setsuko Tohno
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  4. Takeshi Minami
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  5. Masako Utsumi
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  6. Fumio Nishiwaki
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  7. Masa-oki Yamada
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  8. Hiroshi Yamamoto
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  9. Yuko Okazaki
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  10. Tadashi Fujii
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  11. Yoshinori Takakura
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Moriwake, Y., Tohno, Y., Tohno, S. et al. Age-related changes of element contents in the human meniscus. Biol Trace Elem Res 64, 229–235 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783339

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783339

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