Overexpression of EGFL7 promotes angiogenesis and nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve injury.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) often leads to significant functional impairment. Here, we investigated the impact of epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing protein 7 (EGFL7) on angiogenesis and nerve regeneration following PNI. Using a sciatic nerve injury model, we assessed nerve function using the sciatic nerve function index.

Correction: -3 gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis in Chinese men.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18493.

gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis in Chinese men.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common late-onset degenerative joint disease., It is characterized by progressive degradation of articular cartilage. We investigated the association between OA occurrence and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the () gene involved in the breakdown of extra-cellular matrix proteins.

TIMP-2 SNPs rs7342880 and rs4789936 are linked to risk of knee osteoarthritis in the Chinese Han Population.

This study aimed to investigate whether functional polymorphisms in the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) gene are associated with susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the Chinese Han population. Six TIMP-2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assayed using MassARRAY in 300 patients clinically and radiographically diagnosed with knee OA and in 428 controls. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared between groups.

Association between GDF5 +104T/C polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis in Caucasian and Asian populations: a meta-analysis based on case-control studies.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease with a complex genetic background. Variants in growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) have been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in several ethnic populations. The present study aimed to assess the association between the GDF5 +104T/C polymorphism and the susceptibility of the knee to OA through a meta-analysis of available case-control studies.

Hypoxia promotes AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and induces apoptosis in mouse osteoblasts.

The hypoxic environment around the fracture site develops post the blood flow disruption and leads to osteoblast cell death and further impairs fracture healing. Hypoxia usually leads to the mitochondrial dysfunction and then results in apoptotic cell death. AMPK is ubiquitously expressed and functions as an intracellular fuel sensor by maintaining energy balance, as is potentially activated by hypoxia, ischemia, and ROS, however, the regulatory role of AMPK in hypoxia-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts and in the fracture healing has not been identified.

Improved Achilles tendon healing by early mechanical loading in a rabbit model.

Objective: To investigate the structure and the attachment strength of a healing tendon-bone interface and the role of mechanical loading in tendon healing.

Methods: Sixty rabbits underwent unilateral detachment and repair of the Achilles tendon. Thirty animals were immobilized (Group A), and the others wereallowed loadingimmediately postoperatively (Group B).

Clinical outcome of endoprosthetic replacement for failed treatment of intertrochanteric fractures: A retrospective case series.

Objective: The treatment methods for the failed internal fixation in elderly patients suffering from several osteoporostic fractures are still inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of endoprosthetic replacement for failure treatment of intertrochanteric fracture.

Methodology: A total of 13 patients with failed internal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture were collected between January 2002 and October 2009.

[Study on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived osteoblasts and endothelial cells compound with chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffold to construct vascularized tissue engineered bone].

Objective: To explore the osteogenesis and angiogenesis effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived osteoblasts and endothelial cells compound with chitosan/hydroxyapatite (CS/HA) scaffold in repairing radial defect in rats.

Methods: The BMSCs were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats and the 3rd generation of BMSCs were induced into osteoblasts and endothelial cells. The endothelial cells, osteoblasts, and mixed osteoblasts and endothelial cells (1:1) were compound with CS/HA scaffold in groups A, B, and C respectively to prepare the cell-scaffold composites.

Comparison of surgical intervention with functional treatment for acute ruptures of lateral ankle ligmant: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the effect of surgical intervention on functional treatment.

Methods: By searching the MEDLINE (1966 to October 2011), EMBASE (1980 to October 2011), the Chinese Biomedical Database Databases (1980 to October 2011), a total of 9 related RCT studies comparing surgical intervention with functional treatment were included in our study. RevMan software was taken to analyze the data.