Objectives. Little is known about tissue changes underlying bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in non-weight-bearing joints with osteoarthritis (OA). Our aim was to characterize BMLs in OA of the hand using dynamic histomorphometry. We therefore quantified bone turnover and angiogenesis in subchondral bone at the base of the thumb, and compared the findings with control bone from hip OA. Methods. Patients with OA at the base of the thumb, or the hip, underwent preoperative MRI to assess BMLs, and tetracycline labelling to determine bone turnover. Three groups were compared: trapezium bones removed by trapeziectomy from patients with thumb base OA (n = 20); femoral heads with (n = 24); and those without (n = 9) BMLs obtained from patients with hip OA who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Results. All trapezium bones demonstrated MRI-defined BMLs. Compared with femoral heads without BMLs, the trapezia demonstrated significantly higher bone turnover (mean . sd. 0.2 (0.1) versus 0.01 (0.01) µm. 3. /µm. 2. /day), mineralizing surface (18.5% (13.1) versus 1.4% (1.3)) and vascularity (5.2% (1.1) versus 1.2% (0.6)). Femoral heads with BMLs exhibited higher bone turnover (0.3 (0.2) versus 0.2 (0.1) µm. 3. /µm. 2. /day), a higher mineralization rate (26.6% (10.6) versus 18.6% (11.9)) and greater trabecular thickness (301.3 µm (108) versus 163.6 µm (24.8)) than the trapezia. Conclusion. Bone turnover and angiogenesis were enhanced in BMLs of both the thumb base and hip OA, of which the latter exhibited the highest bone turnover. Thus, the increase in bone turnover in weight-bearing joints like the hip may be more pronounced than less mechanically loaded osteoarthritic joints demonstrating BMLs. The histological changes observed may explain the water signal from BMLs on MRI. Cite this article: M. Shabestari, N. J. Kise, M. A. Landin, S. Sesseng, J. C. Hellund, J. E. Reseland, E. F. Eriksen, I. K. Haugen. Enhanced angiogenesis and increased bone turnover characterize bone marrow lesions in osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:406–413. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.76.BJR-2017-0083.R3

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the global and local impact of fat on bone in obesity by using the diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model.

Aims

The decrease in the number of satellite cells (SCs), contributing to myofibre formation and reconstitution, and their proliferative capacity, leads to muscle loss, a condition known as sarcopenia. Resistance training can prevent muscle loss; however, the underlying mechanisms of resistance training effects on SCs are not well understood. We therefore conducted a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of SCs in a mouse model.

Aims

The use of 3D printing has become increasingly popular and has been widely used in orthopaedic surgery. There has been a trend towards an increasing number of publications in this field, but existing literature incorporates limited high-quality studies, and there is a lack of reports on outcomes. The aim of this study was to perform a scoping review with Level I evidence on the application and effectiveness of 3D printing.

Bone is a dynamic tissue with a quarter of the trabecular and a fifth of the cortical bone being replaced continuously each year in a complex process that continues throughout an individual’s lifetime. Bone has an important role in homeostasis of minerals with non-stoichiometric hydroxyapatite bone mineral forming the inorganic phase of bone. Due to its crystal structure and chemistry, hydroxyapatite (HA) and related apatites have a remarkable ability to bind molecules. This review article describes the accretion of trace elements in bone mineral giving a historical perspective. Implanted HA particles of synthetic origin have proved to be an efficient recruiting moiety for systemically circulating drugs which can locally biomodulate the material and lead to a therapeutic effect. Bone mineral and apatite however also act as a waste dump for trace elements and drugs, which significantly affects the environment and human health.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(10):709–718.

Large bone defects remain a tremendous clinical challenge. There is growing evidence in support of treatment strategies that direct defect repair through an endochondral route, involving a cartilage intermediate. While culture-expanded stem/progenitor cells are being evaluated for this purpose, these cells would compete with endogenous repair cells for limited oxygen and nutrients within ischaemic defects. Alternatively, it may be possible to employ extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by culture-expanded cells for overcoming key bottlenecks to endochondral repair, such as defect vascularization, chondrogenesis, and osseous remodelling. While mesenchymal stromal/stem cells are a promising source of therapeutic EVs, other donor cells should also be considered. The efficacy of an EV-based therapeutic will likely depend on the design of companion scaffolds for controlled delivery to specific target cells. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from studies of EVs could one day inform the long-term development of synthetic, engineered nanovesicles. In the meantime, EVs harnessed from in vitro cell culture have near-term promise for use in bone regenerative medicine. This narrative review presents a rationale for using EVs to improve the repair of large bone defects, highlights promising cell sources and likely therapeutic targets for directing repair through an endochondral pathway, and discusses current barriers to clinical translation.

Cite this article: E. Ferreira, R. M. Porter. Harnessing extracellular vesicles to direct endochondral repair of large bone defects. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:263–273. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.74.BJR-2018-0006.