Meniscal injuries are often associated with an active lifestyle. The damage of meniscal tissue puts young patients at higher risk of undergoing meniscal surgery and, therefore, at higher risk of osteoarthritis. In this study, we undertook proof-of-concept research to develop a cellularized human meniscus by using 3D bioprinting technology. A 3D model of bioengineered medial meniscus tissue was created, based on MRI scans of a human volunteer. The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data from these MRI scans were processed using dedicated software, in order to obtain an STL model of the structure. The chosen 3D Discovery printing tool was a microvalve-based inkjet printhead. Primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from bone marrow and embedded in a collagen-based bio-ink before printing. LIVE/DEAD assay was performed on realized cell-laden constructs carrying MSCs in order to evaluate cell distribution and viability.Objectives
Methods
We studied subchondral intraosseous pressure (IOP) in an animal model during loading, and with vascular occlusion. We explored bone compartmentalization by saline injection. Needles were placed in the femoral condyle and proximal tibia of five anaesthetized rabbits and connected to pressure recorders. The limb was loaded with and without proximal vascular occlusion. An additional subject had simultaneous triple recordings at the femoral head, femoral condyle and proximal tibia. In a further subject, saline injections at three sites were carried out in turn.Objectives
Materials and Methods
The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on measurement of muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and other pathologies and to suggest guidelines to standardise protocols for future research in the field. The Cochrane and PubMed libraries were searched for any publications using the terms ‘hip’, ‘muscle’, ‘strength’, and ‘measurement’ in the ‘Title, Abstract, Keywords’ field. A further search was performed using the terms ‘femoroacetabular’ or ‘impingement’. The search was limited to recent literature only.Objectives
Methods
We have previously investigated an association between the genome copy number variation (CNV) and acetabular dysplasia (AD). Hip osteoarthritis is associated with a genetic polymorphism in the aspartic acid repeat in the N-terminal region of the asporin ( Acetabular coverage of all subjects was evaluated using radiological findings (Sharp angle, centre-edge (CE) angle, acetabular roof obliquity (ARO) angle, and minimum joint space width). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Agilent’s region-targeted high-density oligonucleotide tiling microarray was used to analyse 64 female AD patients and 32 female control subjects. All statistical analyses were performed using EZR software (Fisher’s exact probability test, Pearson’s correlation test, and Student’s Objectives
Methods
There are various pin-in-plaster methods for treating fractures
of the distal radius. The purpose of this study is to introduce
a modified technique of ‘pin in plaster’. Fifty-four patients with fractures of the distal radius were
followed for one year post-operatively. Patients were excluded if
they had type B fractures according to AO classification, multiple
injuries or pathological fractures, and were treated more than seven
days after injury. Range of movement and functional results were
evaluated at three and six months and one and two years post-operatively.
Radiographic parameters including radial inclination, tilt, and
height, were measured pre- and post-operatively.Objectives
Methods
We investigated the effects on fracture healing of two up-regulators of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a rat model of an open femoral osteotomy: tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and the recently reported nutraceutical, COMB-4 (consisting of L-citrulline, Paullinia cupana, ginger and muira puama), given orally for either 14 or 42 days. Unilateral femoral osteotomies were created in 58 male rats and fixed with an intramedullary compression nail. Rats were treated daily either with vehicle, tadalafil or COMB-4. Biomechanical testing of the healed fracture was performed on day 42. The volume, mineral content and bone density of the callus were measured by quantitative CT on days 14 and 42. Expression of iNOS was measured by immunohistochemistry.Objectives
Materials and Methods
We aimed to examine the characteristics of deep venous flow in
the leg in a cast and the effects of a wearable neuromuscular stimulator
(geko; FirstKind Ltd) and also to explore the participants’ tolerance
of the stimulator. This is an open-label physiological study on ten healthy volunteers.
Duplex ultrasonography of the superficial femoral vein measured
normal flow and cross-sectional area in the standing and supine
positions (with the lower limb initially horizontal and then elevated).
Flow measurements were repeated during activation of the geko stimulator
placed over the peroneal nerve. The process was repeated after the
application of a below-knee cast. Participants evaluated discomfort
using a questionnaire (verbal rating score) and a scoring index
(visual analogue scale).Objectives
Methods
The purpose of this study was to compare the results and complications of tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail with treatment using the traditional Ilizarov method. In this matched case study, 16 adult patients underwent 19 tibial lengthening over nails (LON) procedures. For the matched case group, 17 patients who underwent 19 Ilizarov tibial lengthenings were retrospectively matched to the LON group.Objectives
Methods
Excessive acetabular coverage is the most common cause of pincer-type
femoroacetabular impingement. To date, an association between acetabular
over-coverage and genetic variations has not been studied. In this
study we investigated the association between single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) of paralogous Homeobox (HOX)9 genes and acetabular
coverage in Japanese individuals to identify a possible genetic
variation associated with acetabular over-coverage. We investigated 19 total SNPs in the four HOX9 paralogs, then
focused in detail on seven of those located in the 3’ untranslated
region of Objectives
Methods
The major problem with repair of an articular cartilage injury
is the extensive difference in the structure and function of regenerated,
compared with normal cartilage. Our work investigates the feasibility
of repairing articular osteochondral defects in the canine knee
joint using a composite lamellar scaffold of nano-ß-tricalcium phosphate
(ß-TCP)/collagen (col) I and II with bone marrow stromal stem cells
(BMSCs) and assesses its biological compatibility. The bone–cartilage scaffold was prepared as a laminated composite,
using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nano-HAP)/collagen I/copolymer
of polylactic acid–hydroxyacetic acid as the bony scaffold, and
sodium hyaluronate/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as the cartilaginous
scaffold. Ten-to 12-month-old hybrid canines were randomly divided
into an experimental group and a control group. BMSCs were obtained
from the iliac crest of each animal, and only those of the third
generation were used in experiments. An articular osteochondral
defect was created in the right knee of dogs in both groups. Those
in the experimental group were treated by implanting the composites
consisting of the lamellar scaffold of ß-TCP/col I/col II/BMSCs.
Those in the control group were left untreated.Objectives
Methods
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively debilitating disease that
affects mostly cartilage, with associated changes in the bone. The
increasing incidence of OA and an ageing population, coupled with
insufficient therapeutic choices, has led to focus on the potential
of stem cells as a novel strategy for cartilage repair. In this study, we used scaffold-free mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
obtained from bone marrow in an experimental animal model of OA
by direct intra-articular injection. MSCs were isolated from 2.8
kg white New Zealand rabbits. There were ten in the study group
and ten in the control group. OA was induced by unilateral transection
of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint. At 12 weeks
post-operatively, a single dose of 1 million cells suspended in 1 ml
of medium was delivered to the injured knee by direct intra-articular
injection. The control group received 1 ml of medium without cells.
The knees were examined at 16 and 20 weeks following surgery. Repair
was investigated radiologically, grossly and histologically using
haematoxylin and eosin, Safranin-O and toluidine blue staining.Introduction
Methods
