Aims. To explore the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of osteochondral defect (OCD), and its effects on the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, -3, -4, -5, and -7 in terms of cartilage and bone regeneration. Methods. The OCD lesion was created on the trochlear groove of left articular cartilage of femur per rat (40 rats in total). The experimental groups were Sham, OCD, and ESWT (0.25 mJ/mm. 2. , 800 impulses, 4 Hz). The animals were euthanized at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-treatment, and histopathological analysis, micro-CT scanning, and immunohistochemical
Abstract. Introduction. Articular cartilage degradation is a defining feature of osteoarthritis. Synovium is a reactive tissue with synovial villae, neoangiogenesis and intimal hyperplasia common to many joint pathologies. The consequences of cartilage debris in osteoarthritis impacting the synovial intima is not well understood. We analysed the immunohistology of synovium from 16 patients with osteoarthritis and 17 patients undergoing knee surgery for non-arthritic pathologies. This data was integrated with imaging and functional scores to correlate synovitis in osteoarthritis. Methodology. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded synovial biopsy sections were cut in serial sequence and processed for routine
Aim. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have several properties that may support their use as an early treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated the role of multiple injections of allogeneic bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritic changes in the various structures of the mature rabbit knee in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient OA model. Materials and Methods. Two months after bilateral section of the ACL of Japanese white rabbits aged nine months or more, either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 1 x 10. 6. MSCs were injected into the knee joint in single or three consecutive doses. After two months, the articular cartilage and meniscus were assessed macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically using collagen I and II. Results. Within the PBS injection (control group), typical progressive degenerative changes were revealed in the various knee structures. In the single MSC injection (single group), osteoarthritic changes were attenuated, but still appeared, especially in the medial compartments involving fibrillation of the articular cartilage, osteophyte formation in the medial plateau, and longitudinal tear of the meniscus. In the multiple-injections group, the smoothness and texture of the articular cartilage and meniscus were improved. Histologically, absence or reduction in matrix
Aims. It is increasingly appreciated that coordinated regulation of angiogenesis and osteogenesis is needed for bone formation. How this regulation is achieved during peri-implant bone healing, such as osseointegration, is largely unclear. This study examined the relationship between angiogenesis and osteogenesis in a unique model of osseointegration of a mouse tibial implant by pharmacologically blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Materials and Methods. An implant was inserted into the right tibia of 16-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (n = 38). Mice received anti-VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) antibody (25 mg/kg) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) antibody (25 mg/kg; n = 19) or an isotype control antibody (n = 19). Flow cytometric (n = 4/group) and immunofluorescent (n = 3/group) analyses were performed at two weeks post-implantation to detect the distribution and density of CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. endothelium. RNA sequencing analysis was performed using sorted CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. endothelial cells (n = 2/group). Osteoblast lineage cells expressing osterix (OSX) and osteopontin (OPN) were also detected with immunofluorescence. Mechanical pull-out testing (n = 12/group) was used at four weeks post-implantation to determine the strength of the bone-implant interface. After pull-out testing, the tissue attached to the implant surface was harvested. Whole mount immunofluorescent
The antidiabetic agent metformin inhibits fibrosis in various organs. This study aims to elucidate the effects of hyperglycaemia and metformin on knee joint capsule fibrosis in mice. Eight-week-old wild-type (WT) and type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice were divided into four groups without or with metformin treatment (WT met(-/+), Db met(-/+)). Mice received daily intraperitoneal administration of metformin and were killed at 12 and 14 weeks of age. Fibrosis morphology and its related genes and proteins were evaluated. Fibroblasts were extracted from the capsules of 14-week-old mice, and the expression of fibrosis-related genes in response to glucose and metformin was evaluated in vitro.Aims
Methods
As has been shown in larger animal models, knee immobilization can lead to arthrofibrotic phenotypes. Our study included 168 C57BL/6J female mice, with 24 serving as controls, and 144 undergoing a knee procedure to induce a contracture without osteoarthritis (OA). Experimental knees were immobilized for either four weeks (72 mice) or eight weeks (72 mice), followed by a remobilization period of zero weeks (24 mice), two weeks (24 mice), or four weeks (24 mice) after suture removal. Half of the experimental knees also received an intra-articular injury. Biomechanical data were collected to measure passive extension angle (PEA). Histological data measuring area and thickness of posterior and anterior knee capsules were collected from knee sections.Aims
Methods
Adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ (ALM) therapy exerts differential immuno-inflammatory responses in males and females early after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Our aim was to investigate sex-specific effects of ALM therapy on joint tissue repair and recovery 28 days after surgery. Male (n = 21) and female (n = 21) adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into ALM or Saline control treatment groups. Three days after ACL rupture, animals underwent ACLR. An ALM or saline intravenous infusion was commenced prior to skin incision, and continued for one hour. An intra-articular bolus of ALM or saline was also administered prior to skin closure. Animals were monitored to 28 days, and joint function, pain, inflammatory markers, histopathology, and tissue repair markers were assessed.Aims
Methods
Implantation of ultra-purified alginate (UPAL) gel is safe and effective in animal osteochondral defect models. This study aimed to examine the applicability of UPAL gel implantation to acellular therapy in humans with cartilage injury. A total of 12 patients (12 knees) with symptomatic, post-traumatic, full-thickness cartilage lesions (1.0 to 4.0 cm2) were included in this study. UPAL gel was implanted into chondral defects after performing bone marrow stimulation technique, and assessed for up to three years postoperatively. The primary outcomes were the feasibility and safety of the procedure. The secondary outcomes were self-assessed clinical scores, arthroscopic scores, tissue biopsies, and MRI-based estimations.Aims
Methods
Objectives. The lack of effective treatment for cartilage defects has prompted investigations using tissue engineering techniques for their regeneration and repair. The success of tissue-engineered repair of cartilage may depend on the rapid and efficient adhesion of transplanted cells to a scaffold. Our aim in this study was to repair full-thickness defects in articular cartilage in the weight-bearing area of a porcine model, and to investigate whether the CD44 monoclonal antibody biotin-avidin (CBA) binding technique could provide satisfactory tissue-engineered cartilage. Methods. Cartilage defects were created in the load-bearing region of the lateral femoral condyle of mini-type pigs. The defects were repaired with traditional tissue-engineered cartilage, tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with the biotin-avidin (BA) technique, tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with the CBA technique and with autologous cartilage. The biomechanical properties, Western blot assay, histological findings and immunohistochemical
One of the main causes of tibial revision surgery for total knee arthroplasty is aseptic loosening. Therefore, stable fixation between the tibial component and the cement, and between the tibial component and the bone, is essential. A factor that could influence the implant stability is the implant design, with its different variations. In an existing implant system, the tibial component was modified by adding cement pockets. The aim of this experimental in vitro study was to investigate whether additional cement pockets on the underside of the tibial component could improve implant stability. The relative motion between implant and bone, the maximum pull-out force, the tibial cement mantle, and a possible path from the bone marrow to the metal-cement interface were determined. A tibial component with (group S: Attune S+) and without (group A: Attune) additional cement pockets was implanted in 15 fresh-frozen human leg pairs. The relative motion was determined under dynamic loading (extension-flexion 20° to 50°, load-level 1,200 to 2,100 N) with subsequent determination of the maximum pull-out force. In addition, the cement mantle was analyzed radiologically for possible defects, the tibia base cement adhesion, and preoperative bone mineral density (BMD).Aims
Methods
Introduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combining PRP or concentrated bone marrow aspirate (CBMA) with a biphasic collagen/glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffold would improve the outcome of the treatment of full thickness osteochondral defects in sheep. Materials and Methods. Osteochondral defects (5.8×6mm) were created in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and the lateral trochlea sulcus (LTS) of the stifle joints of 24 sheep. Defects were either left empty or filled with a 6×6mm CG scaffold, either on its own or in combination with PRP or CBMA (n=6). At 6 months the sheep were euthanised, and the repair tissue subjected to mechanical testing, gross morphological analysis, semi quantitative histological scoring and immunohistochemical
This in vivo controlled laboratory
study was performed to evaluate various intra-articular clinical
injection regimes that might be less toxic than some in
vitro studies suggest. We hypothesised that low-concentration,
preservative-free, pH-balanced agents would be less toxic than high-concentration
non-pH-balanced agents with preservatives, and that injections of
individual agents are less toxic than combined injections. The left
knees of 12- to 13-week-old Sprague–Dawley rats were injected once
with eight different single agents, including low and high concentrations of
ropivacaine and triamcinolone, alone and in combination, as well
as negative and positive controls. The rats were killed at one week
or five months, and live–dead
Meniscal injuries are common and often induce knee pain requiring surgical intervention. To develop effective strategies for meniscus regeneration, we hypothesized that a minced meniscus embedded in an atelocollagen gel, a firm gel-like material, may enhance meniscus regeneration through cell migration and proliferation in the gel. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate cell migration and proliferation in atelocollagen gels seeded with autologous meniscus fragments in vitro and examine the therapeutic potential of this combination in an in vivo rabbit model of massive meniscus defect. A total of 34 Japanese white rabbits (divided into defect and atelocollagen groups) were used to produce the massive meniscus defect model through a medial patellar approach. Cell migration and proliferation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the sections was performed, and a modified Pauli’s scoring system was used for the quantitative evaluation of the regenerated meniscus.Aims
Methods
Introduction. Poor osseointegration of cementless implants is the leading clinical cause of implant loosening, subsidence, and replacement failure, which require costly and technically challenging revision surgery. The mechanism of osseointegration requires further elucidation. We have recently developed a novel titanium implant for the mouse tibia that maintains in vivo knee joint function and allows us to study osseointegration in an intra-articular, load-bearing environment. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important growth factors for regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis. It also plays critical roles in skeletal development and bone repair and regeneration. A specialized subset of vascular endothelium, CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. cells displaying high cell surface expression of CD31 and Endomucin, has been reported to promote osteoblast maturation and may be responsible for bone formation during development and fracture healing. Because of their potential role in osseointegration, the aim of this study was to use our mouse implant model to investigate the role of VEGF and CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. endothelium in osseointegration. Methods. Under an IACUC-approved protocol, the implant was inserted into the right tibia of 16-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (N = 38). The mice were then randomized into 2 groups: Control group (N=19) and Anti-VEGFR group (N=19). A cocktail of VEGFR-1 antibody (25mg/kg) and VEGFR-2 antibody (25mg/kg) was given to the mice in the Anti-VEGFR group by intraperitoneal injection every third day starting immediately after surgery until euthanasia. An equivalent amount of an isotype control antibody was given to the control group. Flow cytometric (N = 4/group) and immunofluorescencent (N = 3/group) analyses were performed at 2 weeks post-implantation to detect the distribution and density of CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. endothelium in the peri-implant bone. Pull-out testing was used at 4 weeks post-implantation to determine the strength of the bone-implant interface. Results. Flow cytometry revealed that Anti-VEGFR treatment decreased CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. vascular endothelium percentage in the peri-implant bone vs. control (p = 0.039) at 2 weeks post-implantation (Fig. 1). This was confirmed by the decrease of CD31 and EMCN double positive cells detected with immunofluorescence at the same time point (Fig. 2). More importantly, anti-VEGFR treatment decreased the maximum load of pullout testing compared with control (p = 0.042) (Fig. 3). Conclusion. VEGF is a key mediator of osseointegration and the development of CD31. hi. EMCN. hi. endothelium. This may provide a new drug target for the enhancement of osseointegration. We have also developed a system to run flow cytometric analysis and perform fluorescent
Introduction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether methylene blue dye, commonly used in sterile surgical marker pens, would have an effect on human chondrocyte viability, when cultured on a collagen membrane in-vitro. Methods. Bilayered collagen membranes were seeded in duplicate with 12 million human chondrocytes per ml and cultured for 24 hours under standard conditions. Group A consisted of a membrane marked with methylene blue ink on its smooth side, group B marked on its porous side, and group C acting as an unmarked control. At the end of the culture period the membranes were qualitatively analysed for cell survival by live/dead fluorescent
Objectives. This study aimed to investigate time-dependent gene expression
of injured human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and to evaluate
the histological changes of the ACL remnant in terms of cellular
characterisation. Methods. Injured human ACL tissues were harvested from 105 patients undergoing
primary ACL reconstruction and divided into four phases based on
the period from injury to surgery. Phase I was <
three weeks,
phase II was three to eight weeks, phase III was eight to 20 weeks,
and phase IV was ≥ 21 weeks. Gene expressions of these tissues were
analysed in each phase by quantitative real-time polymerase chain
reaction using selected markers (collagen types 1 and 3, biglycan,
decorin, α-smooth muscle actin, IL-6, TGF-β1, MMP-1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1).
Immunohistochemical
Aim. This aim of this study was to investigate apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and their upstream markers in Anteromedial Gonarthrosis (AMG). Methods. Ten resection specimens, from patients undergoing unicompartmental knee replacement for AMG, and ten control specimens, collected from vascular disease patients undergoing above knee amputation, were used. Routine histology and immunohistochemical studies were conducted for Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), Active Caspase 3, Cytochrome C, Active Bax, Bim, 3-Nitrotyrosine and Forkhead box O3A (FOXO 3A). Results. Cell death was shown predominantly in the surface layer of chondrocytes of damaged cartilage (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in TUNEL
INTRODUCTION. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells are a potential source of cells for the repair of articular cartilage defects. Hypoxia has been shown to improve chondrogenesis in adult stem cells. In this study we characterised bone marrow derived stem cells and investigated the effects of hypoxia on gene expression changes and chondrogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Adherent colony forming cells were isolated and cultured from the stromal component of bone marrow. The cells at passage 2 were characterised for stem cell surface epitopes, and then cultured as cell aggregates in chondrogenic medium under normoxic (20% oxygen) or hypoxic (5% oxygen) conditions for 14 days. Gene expression analysis, glycosoaminoglycan and DNA assays, and immunohistochemical
Introduction. Mesenchymal stem cells are a potential source of cells for the repair of articular cartilage defects. We have previously demonstrated that the infrapatellar synovial fat pad is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells and these cells are able to undergo chondrogenic differentiation. Although synovial fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells may represent a heterogenous population, clonal populations derived from the synovial fat pad have not previously been studied. Materials and Methods. Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the infrapatellar synovial fat pad of a patient undergoing total knee arthroplasty and expanded in culture. Six clonal populations were also isolated before initial plating using limiting dilution and expanded. The cells from the mixed parent population and the derived clonal populations were characterised for stem cell surface epitopes, and then cultured as cell aggregates in chondrogenic medium for 14 days. Gene expression analyses; glycosoaminoglycan and DNA assays; and immunohistochemical
We prospectively examined the physical and imaging findings, including MRI, of 23 patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee after obtaining informed consent to acquire tissue specimens at surgery. There were four men and 19 women, with a mean age of 67.5 years (58 to 77). Plain radiographs were designated as stages 1, 2, 3 or 4 according to the classification of Koshino. Five knees were classified as stage 1, five as stage 2, seven as stage 3 and six as stage 4. The histological specimens were
