Cartilage development

3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds biomimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) are key in cartilage tissue engineering as they can enhance the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through the presence of active nanoparticles such as graphene oxide (GO). Here, biomimetic hydrogels were developed by cross-linking alginate, gelatin, and chondroitin sulfate biopolymers in the presence of GO as a bioactive filler, with excellent processability for developing bioactive 3D printed scaffolds and for the bioprinting process...

OBJECTIVE: Atticotomy represents an essential surgical step within the management of attical cholesteatoma during endoscopic ear surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and functional results of an endoscopic atticotomy performed with piezosurgery, in terms of audiological outcomes and tissue's healing. METHODS: This is an observational retrospective study on patients with attical cholesteatoma who underwent endoscopic ear surgery with piezoelectric atticotomy and subsequent scutum reconstruction either with tragal cartilage or temporalis muscle fascia...

Knee varus (KV) deformity leads to abnormal forces in the different compartments of the joint cavity and abnormal mechanical loading thus leading to knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study used computer-aided design to create 3-dimensional simulation models of KOA with varying varus angles to analyze stress distribution within the knee joint cavity using finite element analysis for different varus KOA models and to compare intra-articular loads among these models. Additionally, we developed a cartilage loading model of static KV deformity to correlate with dynamic clinical cases of cartilage injury...

Entheses are classified into three types: fibrocartilaginous, fibrous, and periosteal insertions. However, the mechanism behind the development of fibrous entheses and periosteal insertions remains unclear. Since both entheses are part of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), this study analyzes the TMJ entheses. Here, we show that SOX9 expression is negatively regulated during TMJ enthesis development, unlike fibrocartilage entheses which are modularly formed by SCX and SOX9 positive progenitors. The TMJ entheses was adjacent to the intramembranous bone rather than cartilage...

Trimeric G proteins transduce signals from a superfamily of receptors and each G protein controls a wide range of cellular and systemic functions. Their highly conserved alpha subunits fall in five classes, four of which have been well investigated (Gs, Gi, G12, Gq). In contrast, the function of the fifth class, Gv is completely unknown, despite its broad occurrence and evolutionary ancient origin (older than metazoans). Here we show a dynamic presence of Gv mRNA in several organs during early development of zebrafish, including the hatching gland, the pronephros and several cartilage anlagen, employing in situ hybridisation...

Regenerative medicine harnesses stem cells' capacity to restore damaged tissues and organs. In vitro methods employing specific bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, bio-inductive scaffolds, 3D cultures, co-cultures, and mechanical stimuli, steer stem cells toward the desired differentiation pathways, mimicking their natural development. Chondrogenesis presents a challenge for regenerative medicine. This intricate process involves precise modulation of chondro-related transcription factors and pathways, critical for generating cartilage...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of higher cumulative defined daily dose per year (cDDD/y) compared with lower cDDD/y of statin use in the incidence of any joint osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, patients who were aged ≥40 years were newly initiated on statin therapy between 2002 and 2011, and had a statin prescription for ≥90 days in the first year of treatment were identified from the 2000 Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database...

Chondrocyte hypertrophy and the expression of its specific marker, the collagen type X gene ( COL10A1 ), constitute key terminal differentiation stages during endochondral ossification in long bone development. Mutations in the COL10A1 gene are known to cause schmid type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (SMCD) and spondyloepiphyseal dyschondrodysplasia (SMD). Moreover, abnormal COL10A1 expression and aberrant chondrocyte hypertrophy are strongly correlated with skeletal diseases, notably osteoarthritis (OA) and osteosarcoma (OS)...

BACKGROUND: The development of neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the reasons why the pain is difficult to treat, and microglial activation plays an important role in NP. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a novel therapeutic method for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, it's unclarified whether PRP has analgesic effects on NP induced by KOA and the underlying mechanisms unknown. PURPOSE: To observe the analgesic effects of PRP on NP induced by KOA and explore the potential mechanisms of PRP in alleviating NP...

Autologous ear reconstruction remains a gold standard surgical technique for the treatment of external ear deformities. This highly technical procedure requires experience, an understanding of aesthetic principles, and a surgical approach that can consistently produce optimal results. As an experienced microtia surgeon having trained under Dr Satoru Nagata, the senior author has emphasized the importance of appropriate surgical tools during this procedure. Here, we present results of a novel surgical handle and gouge meant to optimize complex cartilage carving...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia, pannus formation, and cartilage and bone destruction. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme involved in transcriptional regulation, has an unclear role in synovial inflammation, fibroblast-like synoviocytes migration, and invasion during RA pathogenesis. In this study, we observed increased LSD1 expression in RA synovial tissues and in TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells. SP2509, an LSD1 antagonist, directly reduced LSD1 expression and reversed the elevated levels of proteins associated with inflammation, apoptosis, proliferation, and autophagy induced by TNF-α...

Mechanical overloading can promote cartilage senescence and osteoarthritis (OA) development, but its impact on synovial macrophages and the interaction between macrophages and chondrocytes remain unknown. Here, we found that macrophages exhibited M1 polarization under mechanical overloading and secreted ectosomes that induced cartilage degradation and senescence. By performing miRNA sequencing on ectosomes, we identified highly expressed miR-350-3p as a key factor mediating the homeostatic imbalance of chondrocytes caused by M1-polarized macrophages, this result being confirmed by altering the miR-350-3p level in chondrocytes with mimics and inhibitor...

OBJECTIVE: DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3), as a downstream transcription factor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, is reported to regulate chondrogenic differentiation under physiological and pathological state. However, the specific involvement of DDIT3 in the degradation of condylar cartilage of TMJOA is unclarified. DESIGN: The expression patterns of DDIT3 in condylar cartilage from monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced TMJOA mice were examined to uncover the potential role of DDIT3 in TMJOA...

Considering the global burden related to tissue and organ injuries or failures, self-healing hydrogels may be an attractive therapeutic alternative for the future. Self-healing hydrogels are highly hydrated 3D structures with the ability to self-heal after breaking, this property is attributable to a variety of dynamic non-covalent and covalent bonds that are able to re-linking within the matrix. Self-healing ability specially benefits minimal invasive medical treatments with cell-delivery support. Moreover, those tissue-engineered self-healing hydrogels network have demonstrated effectiveness for myriad purposes; for instance, they could act as delivery-platforms for different cargos (drugs, growth factors, cells, among others) in tissues such as bone, cartilage, nerve or skin...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint degenerative disease, resulting in a significant societal burden. However, there is currently a lack of effective treatment option available. Previous studies have suggested that Botulinum toxin A (BONT/A), a macromolecular protein extracted from Clostridium Botulinum, may improve the pain and joint function in OA patients, but the mechanism remains elusive. This study was to investigate the impact and potential mechanism of BONT/A on OA in vivo and in vitro experiment...

Primary cilia have versatile functions, such as receiving signals from the extracellular microenvironment, mediating signaling transduction, and transporting ciliary substances, in tissue and organ development and clinical disease pathogenesis. During early development (embryos within 10 weeks) in the oral and maxillofacial region, defects in the structure and function of primary cilia can result in severe craniofacial malformations. For example, mice with mutations in the cilia-related genes Kif3a and IFT88 exhibit midline expansion and cleft lip/palate, which occur due to abnormalities in the fusion of the single frontonasal prominence and maxillary prominences...

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify prognostic risk factors for prolonged opioid use at 2 and 6 weeks after hip arthroscopy using data from the Femoroacetabular Impingement RandomiSed controlled Trial and its external validation cohort study. METHODS: Opioids were prescribed for postoperative pain management at the surgeon's discretion, with a majority being prescribed a combination of oxycodone and paracetamol (5/325 mg). Prolonged opioid use was defined as the ongoing use of any dosage of opioids reported at either 2 or 6 weeks after surgery to treat femoroacetabular impingement, as recorded in the patient's study medication log...

This study presents new insights into the potential role of polyelectrolyte interfaces in regulating low friction and interstitial fluid pressurization of cartilage. Polymer brushes composed of hydrophilic 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (SPMK) tethered to a PEEK substrate (SPMK- g -PEEK) are a compelling biomimetic solution for interfacing with cartilage, inspired by the natural lubricating biopolyelectrolyte constituents of synovial fluid. These SPMK- g -PEEK surfaces exhibit a hydrated compliant layer approximately 5 μm thick, demonstrating the ability to maintain low friction coefficients (μ ∼ 0...

A key objective of tissue engineering (TE) is to produce in vitro funcional grafts that can replace damaged tissues or organs in patients. TE uses bioreactors, which are controlled environments, allowing the application of physical and biochemical cues to relevant cells growing in biomaterials. For soft musculoskeletal (MSK) tissues such as tendons, ligaments and cartilage, it is now well established that applied mechanical stresses can be incorporated into those bioreactor systems to support tissue growth and maturation via activation of mechanotransduction pathways...

Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative disease that affects the knee joints, particularly among individuals aged over 40 years. It leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced quality of life; affects approximately 300 million individuals worldwide; and is increasing, particularly in developed nations. Although treatments for KOA range from conservative measures to surgical interventions, such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the financial burden of TKA in many countries underscores the urgent need for effective conservative therapies...