Cartilage injuries rarely heal spontaneously and often require surgical intervention, leading to the formation of biomechanically inferior fibrous tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of amelogenin on the healing process of a large osteochondral injury (OCI) in a rat model. A reproducible large OCI was created in the right leg femoral trochlea of 93 rats. The OCIs were treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 μg/μl recombinant human amelogenin protein (rHAM+) dissolved in propylene glycol alginate (PGA) carrier, or with PGA carrier alone. The degree of healing was evaluated 12 weeks after treatment by morphometric analysis and histological evaluation. Cell recruitment to the site of injury as well as the origin of the migrating cells were assessed four days after treatment with 0.5 μg/μl rHAM+ using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.Aims
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Mechanical stimulation is a key factor in the development and healing of tendon-bone insertion. Treadmill training is an important rehabilitation treatment. This study aims to investigate the benefits of treadmill training initiated on postoperative day 7 for tendon-bone insertion healing. A tendon-bone insertion injury healing model was established in 92 C57BL/6 male mice. All mice were divided into control and training groups by random digital table method. The control group mice had full free activity in the cage, and the training group mice started the treadmill training on postoperative day 7. The quality of tendon-bone insertion healing was evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, micro-CT, micro-MRI, open field tests, and CatWalk gait and biomechanical assessments.Aims
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To evaluate inducing osteoarthritis (OA) by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in mice with and without a stereomicroscope. Based on sample size calculation, 70 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three surgery groups: DMM aided by a stereomicroscope; DMM by naked eye; or sham surgery. The group information was blinded to researchers. Mice underwent static weightbearing, von Frey test, and gait analysis at two-week intervals from eight to 16 weeks after surgery. Histological grade of OA was determined with the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring system.Aims
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The present study investigates the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel without adjunct to induce cartilage regeneration in large osteochondral defects in a rabbit model. A bilateral osteochondral defect was created in the femoral trochlear groove of 14 New Zealand white rabbits. The right knees were filled with PRP gel and the contralateral knees remained untreated and served as control sides. Some animals were killed at week 3 and others at week 12 postoperatively. The joints were harvested and assessed by Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) MRI scoring system, and examined using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) macroscopic and ICRS histological scoring systems. Additionally, the collagen type II content was evaluated by the immunohistochemical staining.Aims
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Ageing-related incompetence becomes a major hurdle for the clinical translation of adult stem cells in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). This study aims to investigate the effect of stepwise preconditioning on cellular behaviours in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from ageing patients, and to verify their therapeutic effect in an OA animal model. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from ageing patients and preconditioned with chondrogenic differentiation medium, followed by normal growth medium. Cellular assays including Bromodeoxyuridine / 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), β-Gal, Rosette forming, and histological staining were compared in the manipulated human mesenchymal stem cells (hM-MSCs) and their controls. The anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rabbit models were locally injected with two millions, four millions, or eight millions of hM-MSCs or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring was performed to measure the pathological changes in the affected joints after staining. Micro-CT analysis was conducted to determine the microstructural changes in subchondral bone.Aims
Methods
Previously, we reported the improved transfection efficiency of a plasmid DNA-chitosan (pDNA-CS) complex using a phosphorylatable nuclear localization signal-linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide (pNNS) conjugated to chitosan (pNNS-CS). This study investigated the effects of pNNS-CS-mediated miR-140 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra) gene transfection both in rabbit chondrocytes and a cartilage defect model. The pBudCE4.1-miR-140, pBudCE4.1-IL-1Ra, and negative control pBudCE4.1 plasmids were constructed and combined with pNNS-CS to form pDNA/pNNS-CS complexes. These complexes were transfected into chondrocytes or injected into the knee joint cavity.Objectives
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The aim of this study was to investigate the structural integrity of torn and non-torn human acetabular labral tissue. A total of 47 human labral specimens were obtained from a biobank. These included 22 torn specimens and 25 control specimens from patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty with macroscopically normal labra. The specimens underwent dynamic shear analysis using a rheometer to measure storage modulus, as an indicator of structural integrity.Objectives
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