Background. Ligamentization has been accepted in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate ligamentization of different allografts and autografts used as plasties through histological and type I collagen (COL1), tenascin (TEN) and elastin (ELA) expression analysis. Methods. Prospective study of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with at least 1-year follow-up. Biopsies were taken by arthroscopy and tissue sections were stained with hematoxilin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. Relative COL1, TEN and ELA expression was studied by RT-PCR. Hamstring tendon and intact ACL biopsies were used as controls.Results. Eleven patients with a mean age of 36.6 ± 12.0 years were included. In 9 cases, ACL reconstruction was carried-out with autologous hamstring tendons while in the 2 remaining patients ACL was reconstructed using an achilles allograft. COL1, TEN and ELA expression of plasties was significantly different to ACL but similar to hamstring tendon. Histological analysis showed a dense fibroconnective tissue with cells similar to tenocytes, which could not be classified neither as a tendon nor as a ligament.Conclusions. An ACL plasty, independently of its origin (autologous hamstring or allogeneic achilles) does not become a ligament, at least in our study period (5 years) but it does maintain ACL functionality.

Purpose:To compare the therapeutic effect of rimonabant, a new drug which is a selective antagonist of CB1 receptors, with the sibutramine. Methods: It is an experimental clinical trial, prospective, placebo controlled. Our test was performed in 38 rats, adults females with a hyper caloric diet. We collected their blood 3 times and weighted them once a week. We divided the rats in 3 groups: Rimonabant, Sibutramine and Control. Statistic analysis has been made through ANOVA test, Tukey test and t Student test. Results:The Rimonabant group demonstrated a significant reduction of the weight increase in rats. The Sibutramine group showed a significant reduction on blood glycemia compared to Rimonabant group and Control group. Conclusions: Rimonabant showed to be more effective than Sibutramine by decreasing weight gain. Sibutramine has been more effective than Rimonabant and Control groups by decreasing the blood glycemia. Key words: Obesity. Drug Effects. Animal Experimentation. Rats. RESUMO Objetivo:Comparar o efeito do rimonabanto, nova droga seletivamente antagonista dos receptores CB1, com a sibutramina. Métodos: Ensaio clínico experimental, prospectivo, placebo controlado. Realizado com 38 ratas, adultas, submetidas a dieta hipercalórica. Foram coletadas 3 amostras de sangue e o peso controlado semanalmente. Foram divididas em 3 grupos: Rimonabanto, Sibutramina e Controle. Analise estatística realizada com ANOVA, teste t de Student e teste de Tukey. Resultados: O grupo Rimonabanto obteve redução significante do ganho de peso. O grupo Sibutramina teve redução significativa da glicemia quando comparado aos demais grupos. Conclusões: Rimonabanto foi mais efetivo que a Sibutramina na redução do ganho de peso. A Sibutramina foi mais efetiva na redução da glicemia do que os grupos controle e Rimonabanto. Descritores: Obesidade. Efeitos de Drogas. Experimentação Animal. Ratos.