Different timing in allograft and autograft maturation after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction does not influence the clinical outcome at mid-long-term follow-up.

Purpose: The use of allografts in primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is increasing although they are still supposed to be associated to greater risk of re-rupture due to a slower and less efficient graft maturation. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to compare the graft maturation after ACLR with allograft and autograft by MRI at 6- and 12-month follow-up and integrate these data with the functional and clinical results observed at 6-, 12- and 60-month follow-up.

Methods: Fifty patients with indication to primary ACLR were randomly and equally divided into hamstring autograft or allograft tendon groups.

Incidence of injuries in young soccer players: epidemiological study in an Italian elite club.

Background: Football is the most popular sport in the world, increasingly played by the youngsters. However, little epidemiological data exists regarding injuries in young players. The aim of this study was to describe the most common types and sites of injury among the different classes of a single professional football club.

Knee hyperextension and a small lateral condyle are associated with greater quantified antero-lateral rotatory instability in the patients with a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with quantified rotatory stability (pivot-shift phenomenon) in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured knee joint.

Methods: A consecutive sample of 54 patients who were diagnosed with an ACL injury and admitted to our hospital to undergo ACL reconstruction were enrolled in this study. Antero-lateral rotatory laxity of the knee joint was quantified using a Kinematic Rapid Assessment device (KiRA; Orthokey LTD) under spinal block before initiating reconstruction of the ACL.

The Effect of Three Different Suture Anchors for Rotator Cuff Repair on Primary Cultures of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

 The purpose of this study is to investigate the in vitro biocompatibility of three different suture anchors (all-suture anchor, metal anchor, and polyetheretherketone anchor), commonly used for the rotator cuff repair.  To assess the biocompatibility of the anchors, the possible cytotoxicity and the immunogenicity of the devices were assessed by cell viability assay and cell count on cultures of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs), respectively. The possible inhibitory effect of the devices on BMSCs osteogenic potential was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix deposition assay.

Rates of insufficiency and deficiency of vitamin D levels in elite professional male and female skiers: A chronobiologic approach.

Vitamin D is essential for the maintenance and promotion of musculoskeletal health, for the functioning of the immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems, and its main action is to keep calcium and phosphate plasmatic physiological concentrations at intestinal, renal and bony level. Vitamin D affects several parameters related to physical performance too and a particularly high percentage of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in professional athletes has been observed. Several variables are able to impair the synthesis of 25(OH)D in athletes, specifically both genetic and environmental factors, but the most probable explanation for the deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels is the insufficient ultraviolet B light (UVB) exposure during winter.

Advanced glycation end-products: Mechanics of aged collagen from molecule to tissue.

Concurrent with a progressive loss of regenerative capacity, connective tissue aging is characterized by a progressive accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). Besides being part of the typical aging process, type II diabetics are particularly affected by AGE accumulation due to abnormally high levels of systemic glucose that increases the glycation rate of long-lived proteins such as collagen. Although AGEs are associated with a wide range of clinical disorders, the mechanisms by which AGEs contribute to connective tissue disease in aging and diabetes are still poorly understood.

Growth factors in the management of sport-induced tendinopathies: results after 24 months from treatment. A pilot study.

Aim: The efficacy of PRP in the treatment of tendinopathies has been already studied both in in vitro and in clinical studies. This paper describes the local and the systemic effects of US-guided autologous PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections in chronic tendinopathies in sportspersons.

Methods: Fifteen patients (13 male, 2 female) between 17 and 68 years old, affected by chronic tendinopathies at different sites were treated with an echographically guided injection of autologous PRP within the pathological area of the tendons.