Low-grade but persistent inflammation is also thought to contribute to the progression of fibrosis in cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Indeed, in many fibrotic disorders, a persistent inflammatory trigger is crucial to the activation of the wound-healing program that leads to fibrosis.
Knickknacks are small objects which people keep as ornaments or toys, rather than for a particular use. Knickknacks filled three display cases and covered all the table tops. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary.
The term knickers is not generally used in the US and Canada, where the term panties is usually favored. In the UK, pants is also used, but can mean men's or women's underwear. This should not be confused with the North American usage of pants which are called trousers in the UK. That's what I've always assumed.