We wanted to evaluate the effects of a bone anabolic agent (bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)) on an anti-catabolic background (systemic or local zoledronate) on fixation of allografted revision implants. An established allografted revision protocol was implemented bilaterally into the stifle joints of 24 canines. At revision surgery, each animal received one BMP-2 (5 µg) functionalized implant, and one raw implant. One group (12 animals) received bone graft impregnated with zoledronate (0.005 mg/ml) before impaction. The other group (12 animals) received untreated bone graft and systemic zoledronate (0.1 mg/kg) ten and 20 days after revision surgery. Animals were observed for an additional four weeks before euthanasia.Aims
Methods
Exercise increases tendon collagen synthesis and cross-link formation. Exercise also increases the expression of TGF-β1. TGF-β1 may contribute to the upregulation of tendon collagen synthesis during exercise, but this relationship has not been established in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of TGF-β1 receptor inhibition on tendon collagen. Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SED, n = 9) or exercised (RUN, n=15) groups. Exercised animals completed four days of treadmill exercise (60 minutes/days). The peritendinous space of one Achilles tendon was injected with LY-364947 (ALK5 inhibitor; INHIB) while the opposite leg was injected with a vehicle (SHAM). Injections were given daily after each exercise bout. ERK and Smad 2/3 phosphorylation was evaluated by Western blotting. Collagen I and III gene expression were evaluated via qRT-PCR. Tendon hydroxyproline and hydroxylyslpyridinoline (HP) cross-linking were assayed via HPLC. A longitudinal section of tendon was stained with H&E for evaluation of cell numbers and fibril organization.Introduction
Materials and Methods
Hip and knee arthroplasty present surgeons with difficult bone loss. In these cases the use of morselized allograft is a well established way of optimizing early implant fixation. In revisions, the surgical field is potentially infected. The use of allograft bone creates a “dead space” in which the immune system has impaired access, and even a small amount of bacteria may therefore theoretically increase the risk of infection. In vivo studies have shown that allograft bone is suitable as a vehicle of local antibiotic delivery. We hypothesized that the allograft bone could be used as a local antibiotic delivery vehicle without impairing the implant fixation, tested by mechanical push-out. Following approval of the Institutional Animal Care and use Committee we implanted a cylindrical (10×6 mm) porous-coated Ti implant in each distal femur of 12 dogs observed for 4 weeks. The implants were surrounded by a circumferential gap of 2.5 mm impacted with a standardized volume of morselized allograft. In the two intervention groups, 0.2ml tobramycin solution of high (800mg/ml) and low (200mg/ml) concentration was added to the allograft, respectively. In the control group 0.2ml saline was added to the allograft. ANOVA-test was applied followed by paired t-test where appropriate. A p-value < 0,05 was considered statistically significant.Introduction
Material and Methods