Aims. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is known to have a poor
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. 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/mm2, 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 staining were performed for the specimens.Aims
Methods
The length of the tourniquet time during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is related to the incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of the early release of the tourniquet on the incidence of DVT in patients undergoing TKA. A total of 200 patients who underwent TKA between November 2015 and November 2016 were prospectively enrolled. The tourniquet was inflated before surgery and released immediately after the introduction of the components (early release group). This group was compared with a retrospective cohort of 200 primary TKAs, in which the tourniquet was released after the dressings had been applied (late release group). The presence of a DVT was detected using bilateral lower limb ultrasonography. Peri-operative clinical and follow-up data were collected for analysis.Objectives
Methods
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. 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 staining were explored.Objectives
Methods
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. 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 staining was also performed using primary antibodies
against CD68, CD55, Stat3 and phosphorylated-Stat3 (P-Stat3). Objectives
Methods
