Type I collagen scaffold with WNT5A plasmid for in situ cartilage tissue engineering.

Background: Cartilage tissue lacks the ability to heal. Cartilage tissue engineering using cell-free scaffolds has been increasingly used in recent years.

Objective: This study describes the use of a type I collagen scaffold combined with WNT5A plasmid to promote chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation in a rabbit osteochondral defect model.

Restoration of cartilage defects using a superparamagnetic iron oxide-labeled adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell and TGF-β3-loaded bilayer PLGA construct.

We aimed to evaluate the capacity of the bilayer polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/TGF-β3/adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) construct used to repair cartilage defects and the role of ADSCs in the repair process . Defects were created surgically on the femoropatellar groove of knee joints in 64 rabbits. All the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: defect group, PLGA group, PLGA/TGF-β3 group and PLGA/TGF-β3/ADSC group.

Knockdown of KIAA1199 suppresses IL-1β-induced cartilage degradation and inflammatory responses in human chondrocytes through the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.

The overproduction of proteolytic enzymes and dysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism have been shown to accelerate the degradation process of articular cartilage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of KIAA1199 and its association with the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA). We found that the expression of KIAA1199 was significantly upregulated in OA cartilage compared with normal tissues.

Successful endoscopic removal of three embedded esophageal self-expanding metal stents.

In the report, we describe a case of refractory benign esophageal strictures from esophageal cancer after an operation for the placement of three partially covered self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs), which were all embedded in the esophageal wall. Using the stent-in-stent technique, the three embedded SEMSs were successfully removed without significant complications. To the best of our knowledge, few cases of the successful removal of multiple embedded esophageal SEMSs have been reported in the literature.

Promotion of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and increase of bone-bonding ability using urease-treated titanium coated with calcium phosphate and gelatin.

Because of its excellent biocompatibility and low allergenicity, titanium has been widely used for bone replacement and tissue engineering. To produce a desirable composite with enhanced bone response and mechanical strength, in this study bioactive calcium phosphate (CaP) and gelatin composites were coated onto titanium (Ti) via a novel urease technique. The cellular responses to the CaP/gelatin/Ti (CaP/gel/Ti) and bone bonding ability were evaluated with proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on CaP/gel/Ti and CaP/Ti .

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and inducible nitric oxide synthase by andrographolide in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of andrographolide on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 3, and 13 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in human articular chondrocytes from osteoarthritic cartilage.

Methods: Passaged chondrocytes were pretreated with or without andrographolide for 2 h, followed by coincubation with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) 1 ng/ml for 24 h. Expression levels of MMP-1, 3, and 13, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and iNOS were evaluated using real-time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting.

Reconstruction of segmental bone defects in the rabbit ulna using periosteum encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds.

Background: Repair of large bone defects remains a challenge for clinicians. The present study investigated the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or periosteum-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to promote new bone formation within rabbit ulnar segmental bone defects.

Methods: Rabbit bone marrow-derived MSCs (passage 3) were seeded onto porous PLGA scaffolds.

Cell transplantation for articular cartilage defects: principles of past, present, and future practice.

As articular cartilage has very limited self-repair capability, the repair and regeneration of damaged cartilage is a major challenge. This review aims to outline the past, present, and future of cell therapies for articular cartilage defect repair. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been used clinically for more than 20 years, and the short, medium, and long-term clinical outcomes of three generation of ACI are extensively overviewed.

Electrospun nanofibrous matrix improves the regeneration of dense cortical bone.

Numerous in vitro studies have indicated the potential of using electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue regeneration. However, few reports have demonstrated their utility in real tissue repair models. The present investigation tested the hypothesis that electrospun poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane leads to dense cortical bone regeneration and improves the efficacy of currently-used collagenous guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane.

The inductive effect of bone morphogenetic protein-4 on chondral-lineage differentiation and in situ cartilage repair.

Objectives: As recent studies have suggested that bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) and BMP-7 are promising cartilage differentiation factors, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of BMP-4 and BMP-7 for chondral-lineage differentiation in vitro as well as the efficacy of BMP-4 for articular cartilage repair in vivo.

Methods: Rabbit mesenchymal stromal cells and articular chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL human recombinant BMP-4 or BMP-7. The expression of cartilage-specific genes (col II, aggrecan, and Sox9) and fibroblast growth factor receptor genes was tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction in vitro.

Local delivery of autologous platelet in collagen matrix simulated in situ articular cartilage repair.

Bone marrow released by microfracture or full-thickness cartilage defect can initiate the in situ cartilage repair. However, it can only repair small cartilage defects (<2 cm(2)). This study aimed to investigate whether autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) transplantation in collagen matrix can improve the in situ bone marrow-initiated cartilage repair.

Ligament regeneration using a knitted silk scaffold combined with collagen matrix.

This study was aimed to develop a new practical ligament scaffold by synergistic incorporation of silk fibers, a knitted structure, and a collagen matrix. The efficacy for ligament tissue engineering was investigated in vitro and in animal models. Cells cultured on a collagen substrate expressed ligament matrix genes at higher levels than those on a silk substrate.