Altered microRNA profile during fracture healing in rats with diabetes.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. There is increasing evidence that some miRNAs are involved in the pathology of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. We hypothesized that the functions of certain miRNAs and the changes in their patterns of expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of impaired fractures due to DM.

Altered expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 during fracture healing in diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to impair fracture healing. The purpose of this study was to elucidate and compare the gene expression patterns and localization of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) during fracture healing of the femur in rats with and without DM.

Methods: Closed transverse fractures were created in the femurs of rats equally divided into a DM group and control group; DM was induced by streptozotocin.

Human pseudoarthrosis tissue contains cells with osteogenic potential.

Introduction: Nonunion is a challenging problem that may occur after certain bone fractures. The treatment of nonunion is closely related to its type. To develop an effective treatment strategy for each type of nonunion, biological analysis of nonunion tissue is essential.

Profiling microRNA expression during fracture healing.

Background: The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) has revealed a novel type of regulatory control for gene expression. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNA regulates chondrocyte, osteoblast, and osteoclast differentiation and function, indicating miRNA as key regulators of bone formation, resorption, remodeling, and repair. We hypothesized that the functions of certain miRNAs and changes to their expression pattern may play crucial roles during the process of fracture healing.

Topical cutaneous CO2 application by means of a novel hydrogel accelerates fracture repair in rats.

Background: We previously demonstrated that topical cutaneous application of CO2, by means of a hydrogel in which the CO2 readily dissolves, increases blood flow and oxygen dissociation from hemoglobin in the soft tissues surrounding bone. In the present study, we utilized a rat fracture model to test the hypothesis that application of this treatment to fractured limbs would accelerate fracture repair.

Methods: A closed femoral shaft fracture was created in each rat.

Comparative analysis of rat mesenchymal stem cells derived from slow and fast skeletal muscle in vitro.

Purpose: Skeletal muscle comprises different kinds of muscle fibres that can be classified as slow and fast fibres. The purpose of this study was to compare the yield, proliferation, and multi-potentiality of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the tibialis anterior (TA; fast muscle) and soleus (SO; slow muscle) in vitro.

Methods: The TA and SO muscles were harvested, and isolated cells were plated.

Efficient derivation of osteoprogenitor cells from induced pluripotent stem cells for bone regeneration.

Purpose: There has been great interest in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in bone regenerative strategies. To generate osteoprogenitor cells from iPSCs, the most widely used protocol relies on an intermediate using embryoid body (EB) formation. We hypothesized that an osteoprogenitor cell population could be efficiently generated from iPSCs by employing a "direct-plating method" without the EB formation step.

Effects of parathyroid hormone 1-34 on osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of human fracture haematoma-derived cells in vitro.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1-34 has been shown to accelerate fracture healing. Previously, we reported that progenitor cells with osteogenic and chondrogenic potential exist in human fracture haematoma, suggesting that the fracture haematoma-derived progenitor cells (HCs) contribute to fracture healing. However, there has been no study investigating the effect of PTH on HCs.

Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on bone morphogenetic protein 7-induced osteogenic differentiation of human nonunion tissue-derived cells in vitro.

Objectives: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (US) has been shown to have positive effects on the healing of nonunions, and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is known to be a strong stimulator of osteogenic differentiation. Recently, we showed that nonunion tissue contains multilineage mesenchymal progenitor cells, suggesting that nonunion tissue-derived cells may play an important role during the healing process of nonunions. In this study, we investigated whether low-intensity pulsed US promoted BMP-7-induced osteogenic differentiation of nonunion tissue-derived cells in vitro.

In vitro hypertrophy and calcification of human fracture haematoma-derived cells in chondrogenic differentiation.

Purpose: The haematoma at a fracture site plays an important role in fracture healing. Previously, we demonstrated that a fracture haematoma contains multilineage mesenchymal progenitor cells. We postulated that the haematoma provided a source of chondrogenic cells for endochondral ossification during fracture healing and preservation of the cells contributed to biological fracture healing.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in fractures around and below the knee with physical prophylaxis.

Fractures occurring at the distal part of the lower extremities are recognized to have a relatively lower risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE); however, few detailed reports exist on the subject. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of VTE in fractures around and below the knee. Overall, 109 consecutive patients with fractures around and below the knee who were surgically treated at the authors' hospital were analyzed retrospectively.

Venous thromboembolism in Japanese patients with fractures of the pelvis and/or lower extremities using physical prophylaxis alone.

Purpose: To investigate the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Japanese patients with fractures of the pelvis and/or lower extremities using physical prophylaxis alone.

Methods: Records of 66 men and 60 women aged 15 to 95 (mean, 57) years with fractures of the pelvis and/ or lower extremities were retrospectively reviewed. They were screened for VTE based on D-dimer values.

Technique to prepare the bed for autologous bone grafting in nonunion surgery.

This article describes a technique for preparing the bed for autologous bone grafting in nonunion surgery. The procedure is divided into 2 steps. First, both ends of the fracture fragments are chipped into small pieces using an osteotome and hammer without peeling off the periosteum, creating pathways into the bone marrow.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in pelvic and acetabular fractures in the Japanese population.

Background: There are no detailed reports of the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pelvic and acetabular fractures in the Asian population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of VTE in pelvic and acetabular fractures in the Japanese population.

Methods: Forty-six Japanese patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures treated at our hospital from February 2004 to April 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.