Aims

Circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in the regulation of articular cartilage degeneration induced by inflammatory factors or oxidative stress. In a previous study, we found that the expression of circStrn3 was significantly reduced in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis (OA) patients and OA mice. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to explore the role and mechanism of circStrn3 in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, synovial membrane inflammation, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. Pathological changes in cartilage and subchondral bone are the main processes in OA. In recent decades, many studies have demonstrated that activin-like kinase 3 (ALK3), a bone morphogenetic protein receptor, is essential for cartilage formation, osteogenesis, and postnatal skeletal development. Although the role of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling in articular cartilage and bone has been extensively studied, many new discoveries have been made in recent years around ALK3 targets in articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and the interaction between the two, broadening the original knowledge of the relationship between ALK3 and OA. In this review, we focus on the roles of ALK3 in OA, including cartilage and subchondral bone and related cells. It may be helpful to seek more efficient drugs or treatments for OA based on ALK3 signalling in future.

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The effects of remnant preservation on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and its relationship with the tendon graft remain unclear. We hypothesized that the co-culture of remnant cells and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) decreases apoptosis and enhances the activity of the hamstring tendons and tenocytes, thus aiding ACL reconstruction.

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The primary aim was to assess whether robotic total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) had a greater early knee-specific outcome when compared to manual TKA (mTKA). Secondary aims were to assess whether rTKA was associated with improved expectation fulfilment, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient satisfaction when compared to mTKA.

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Rotator cuff (RC) injuries are characterized by tendon rupture, muscle atrophy, retraction, and fatty infiltration, which increase injury severity and jeopardize adequate tendon repair. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), possess the capacity to redefine the molecular signature of cells, and they may have the potential to inhibit the transformation of the fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) within the skeletal muscle into adipocyte-like cells, concurrently enhancing the myogenic potential of the satellite cells.

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To determine whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection improves outcomes two years after acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are the endogenous inhibitors of the zinc-dependent matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAM) involved in extracellular matrix modulation. The present study aims to develop the TIMPs as biologics for osteoclast-related disorders.

Objective. Mortality rates reported by the National Joint Registry for England and Wales (NJR) were higher following cemented total knee replacement (TKR) compared with uncemented procedures. The aim of this study is to examine and compare the effects of cemented and uncemented TKR on the activation of selected markers of inflammation, endothelium, and coagulation, and on the activation of selected cytokines involved in the various aspects of the systemic response following surgery. Methods. This was a single centre, prospective, case-control study. Following enrolment, blood samples were taken pre-operatively, and further samples were collected at day one and day seven post-operatively. One patient in the cemented group developed a deep-vein thrombosis confirmed on ultrasonography and was excluded, leaving 19 patients in this cohort (mean age 67.4, (. sd. 10.62)), and one patient in the uncemented group developed a post-operative wound infection and was excluded, leaving 19 patients (mean age 66.5, (. sd. 7.82)). Results. Both groups had a similar response with regards to the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). CD40 levels rose significantly on the cemented group over day one to day seven compared with that of the uncemented group, which occurred over the first 24 hours. The CD14/42a levels demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the cemented group (p < 0.001 first 24 hours and p = 0.02 between days one and seven). . Conclusions. The uncemented and cemented groups demonstrated significant changes in the various parameters measured at various time points but apart from CD14/42a levels, there was no significant difference in the serum markers of inflammation, coagulation and endothelial dysfunction following cemented TKR. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:108–16

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Bone regeneration during treatment of staphylococcal bone infection is challenging due to the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to invade and persist within osteoblasts. Here, we sought to determine whether the metabolic and extracellular organic matrix formation and mineralization ability of S. aureus-infected human osteoblasts can be restored after rifampicin (RMP) therapy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by joint pain and physical disability. Aberrant subchondral bone induces pathological changes and is a major source of pain in OA. In the subchondral bone, which is highly innervated, nerves have dual roles in pain sensation and bone homeostasis regulation. The interaction between peripheral nerves and target cells in the subchondral bone, and the interplay between the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems, allow peripheral nerves to regulate subchondral bone homeostasis. Alterations in peripheral innervation and local transmitters are closely related to changes in nociception and subchondral bone homeostasis, and affect the progression of OA. Recent literature has substantially expanded our understanding of the physiological and pathological distribution and function of specific subtypes of neurones in bone. This review summarizes the types and distribution of nerves detected in the tibial subchondral bone, their cellular and molecular interactions with bone cells that regulate subchondral bone homeostasis, and their role in OA pain. A comprehensive understanding and further investigation of the functions of peripheral innervation in the subchondral bone will help to develop novel therapeutic approaches to effectively prevent OA, and alleviate OA pain.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(7):439–452.

We evaluated the possible induction of a systemic immune response to increase anti-tumour activity by the re-implantation of destructive tumour tissue treated by liquid nitrogen in a murine osteosarcoma (LM8) model. The tumours were randomised to treatment by excision alone or by cryotreatment after excision. Tissue from the tumour was frozen in liquid nitrogen, thawed in distilled water and then re-implanted in the same animal. In addition, some mice received an immunological response modifier of OK-432 after treatment. We measured the levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 cytokines and the cytotoxicity activity of splenocytes against murine LM8 osteosarcoma cells. The number of lung and the size of abdominal metastases were also measured. Re-implantation of tumour tissue after cryotreatment activated immune responses and inhibited metastatic tumour growth. OK-432 synergistically enhanced the anti-tumour effect. Our results suggest that the treatment of malignant bone tumours by reconstruction using autografts containing tumours which have been treated by liquid nitrogen may be of clinical value

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The aim of the HIPGEN consortium is to develop the first cell therapy product for hip fracture patients using PLacental-eXpanded (PLX-PAD) stromal cells.

This review provides a concise outline of the advances made in the care of patients and to the quality of life after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) over the last century. Despite these improvements reversal of the neurological injury is not yet possible. Instead, current treatment is limited to providing symptomatic relief, avoiding secondary insults and preventing additional sequelae. However, with an ever-advancing technology and deeper understanding of the damaged spinal cord, this appears increasingly conceivable. A brief synopsis of the most prominent challenges facing both clinicians and research scientists in developing functional treatments for a progressively complex injury are presented. Moreover, the multiple mechanisms by which damage propagates many months after the original injury requires a multifaceted approach to ameliorate the human spinal cord. We discuss potential methods to protect the spinal cord from damage, and to manipulate the inherent inhibition of the spinal cord to regeneration and repair. Although acute and chronic SCI share common final pathways resulting in cell death and neurological deficits, the underlying putative mechanisms of chronic SCI and the treatments are not covered in this review.

In order to clarify the role of cytokines in the remodelling of the grafted tendon for ligament reconstruction we compared the responses to interleukin (IL)-1β, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 of extrinsic fibroblasts infiltrating the frozen-thawed patellar tendon in rats with that of the normal tendon fibroblasts, in regard to the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, using Northern blot analysis. We also examined, immunohistologically, the local expression of IL-1β, PDGF-BB, and TGF-β1 in fibroblasts infiltrating the frozen-thawed patellar tendon. Northern blot analysis showed that fibroblasts derived from the patellar tendon six weeks after the freeze-thaw procedure in situ showed less response to IL-1β than normal tendon fibroblasts with respect to MMP-13 mRNA gene expression. The immunohistological findings revealed that IL-1β was over-expressed in extrinsic fibroblasts which infiltrated the patellar tendon two and six weeks after the freeze-thaw procedure in situ, but neither PDGF-BB nor TGF-β1 was over-expressed in these extrinsic fibroblasts. Our findings indicated that IL-1β had a close relationship to matrix remodelling of the grafted tendon for ligament reconstruction, in addition to the commencement of inflammation during the tissue-healing process

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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether, after correction of an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), leaving out the subfascial drain gives results that are no worse than using a drain in terms of total blood loss, drop in haemoglobin level, and opioid consumption.

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Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a subset of osteoarthritis (OA). The gut microbiome is shown to be involved in OA. However, the effect of exercise on gut microbiome in PTOA remains elusive.

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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intra-articular injections may provide a simple and minimally invasive treatment for early-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA). This has led to an increase in its adoption as a treatment for knee OA, although there is uncertainty about its efficacy and benefit. We hypothesized that patients with early-stage symptomatic knee OA who receive multiple PRP injections will have better clinical outcomes than those receiving single PRP or placebo injections.