Priming chondrocytes during expansion alters cell behavior and improves matrix production in 3D culture.

Objective: Cartilage tissue engineering strategies that use autologous chondrocytes require in vitro expansion of cells to obtain enough cells to produce functional engineered tissue. However, chondrocytes dedifferentiate during expansion culture, limiting their ability to produce chondrogenic tissue and their utility for cell-based cartilage repair strategies. The current study identified conditions that favor cartilage production and the mechanobiological mechanisms responsible for these benefits.

Evaluation of lesion burden in a bone-by-bone comparison of osteological and radiological methods of analysis.

Objective: To evaluate differences in lesion identification in skeletal remains with respect to bone type and method of analysis.

Materials: 212 mostly 19th century adult skeletons from St. Bride's Church in London.