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.
knuckle. 1  a joint of the finger; esp., the joint connecting a finger to the rest of the hand. 2  the knee or hock joint and nearby parts of a pig or other animal, used as food. 3  something resembling a knuckle, as any of the projecting, cylindrical parts through which a pin is passed to form a hinge. [ 4 pl.] brass knuckles.