Stem cell therapy for osteonecrosis of femoral head: Opportunities and challenges.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a progressive disease with a complex etiology and unclear pathogenesis, resulting in severe hip pain and dysfunction mainly observed in young patients. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the most effective treatment for patients with ONFH in the terminal stage, the results of THA in young patients or active populations are often not favorable, with some complications related to the prosthesis. With the development of biotechnology, an increasing number of studies pay attention to use of stem cells for the treatment of ONFH.

Inhibition of TGF-β-induced collagen production in rabbit flexor tendon with mannose-6-phosphate in vitro.

The flexor tendon affects postoperative range of motion in the hand. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a key cytokine in the adhesion formation between the flexor tendon and its surrounding fibro-osseous sheath. The purpose of this study was to examine the inhibition of TGF-β-induced collagen-I production in rabbit flexor tendons with mannose-6-phosphate in vitro.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft versus allograft.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical outcome of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft versus allograft.

Methods: Between May 2000 and June 2004, 172 patients undergoing arthroscopic bone-patellar tendon-bone ACL reconstruction were prospectively randomized into autograft (n = 86) or allograft (n = 86) groups. The senior surgeon performed all operations using the same surgical technique.

ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft and irradiated fresh frozen allograft.

Objective: To analyze the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with irradiated bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) allograft compared with non-irradiated allograft and autograft.

Methods: All BPTB allografts were obtained from a single tissue bank and the irradiated allografts were sterilized with 2.5 mrad of irradiation prior to distribution.

99Tcm-DISIDA hepatobiliary imaging in evaluating gallbladder function in patients with spinal cord injury.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with increased prevalence of gallstones and acute acalculous cholecystitis. A possible explanation for the increased prevalence of gallstones in SCI patients is decreased gallbladder motility causing gallbladder stasis. In this study, we investigated gallbladder function in patients with SCI.

Effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes.

Objective: To study the proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes; and the effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production in the 3 cell types of rabbit flexor tendon.

Methods: Three cell lines of tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured. Cell culture media was added with chitosan.

Spinal cord injury and cholelithiasis.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is found to be related to increased prevalence of gallstones and acute acalculous cholecystitis. In this study we assessed the prevalence of cholelithiasis in male patients with SCI and the correlation of cholelithiasis with age and weight of patients, level of injury, as well as severity and duration of SCI.

Methods: One hundred male SCI patients (58 patients rated ASIA A or B and 42 rated ASIA C or D) aged more than 20 years (average 46.