[ ISSN : 2576-5442 ]
In the last few years, clinical applications of regenerative medicine have been increasing their way in medical practice.
In the last few years, clinical applications of regenerative medicine have been increasing their way in medical practice. Concerning treatment of Osteoarthritis (OA), regenerative medicine is going to change the clinical approach and the possible therapeutic options especially in Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).
The understanding of extracellular matrix mediators as GFs, nucleotides and Hsps able to stimulate local MSCs, have been going hand in hand with tissue engineering and scaffolding. These recent knowledge in tissue regeneration and self-repairing processes are more and more making their way from the experimental research to the clinical practice.
In our original research and clinical application we have made upa biomaterial composed by Polydeoxyribonucleotides (Pdrn), Hsps and a thickening-scaffolding substance finally being called Gel -Repairer. It works as a local Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) activator, ultimately generating connective tissue renewal [1,2].
Gel-Repairer plays its role in the extracellular microenvironment. This space is usually deemed to be outside the plasma membranes, and occupied by fluid and matrix. Specifically the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) is a substance produced by cells in the extracellular space. It is a main component of the human body. Collagen fiber - a basic component of extracellular matrix material - represents 25 to 30% of the total protein mass of our body. It serves to reinforce the body structure and plasma membranes so that we can withstand gravity and tension, and plays a key role for being an adhesive substance and a signaling molecule for cells aggregation and communications. This material has many constituents such as told Fibrous Components, Glycosaminoglycans, Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins [3,4].
In addition in the extracellular space have been found different metabolites and byproducts, ions, various proteins and non-protein substances (i.e. fragments of DNA, RNA, lipids, microbial products etc.) that strongly affect cellular functions, their survival, apoptosis and cell’s replacement [5].
Gel Repairer exerts its action in the extracellular microenvironment, working through a prolonged action of proliferative and differentiate stimulus on resident MSCs. It’s making substances Polydeoxyribonucleotides, Hsps and local - trauma induced- Growth factors together with the scaffolding function of the Gel on the activated stem cells, finally produces a structural change of the joint’s tissue.
The Gel is positioned over the ligament bursa tissue with the aim of activating clusters of residential MSCs located in different spots into the joint tissue. The activation and differentiation of MSCs is evident by now in literature and in our experience, and consistent data have been reported in vitro and in experimental studies. Lines of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and condroblasts have been found in various conditions of joint MSCs stimulation.
process of cell differentiation leads to generate new-making proteins such as collagen (I-II type), elastin and healthy ECM production [2]. Tissue modifications result in increased flexibility of the joint capsule and ligaments. An improvement of the compliance of the bursa leads to a reduction in the intra-articular pressure and, consequently, of pain. Another effect of the Gel probably occurs on the sub-periosteal cluster of MSCs, inducing proliferation and cartilage-bone repair [1].
The objective measurements of the clinical results are still a main problem in this field and standardization would be vital to come out from empiricism to addressing evidences of clinical results. Questioners may be considered appropriate to assess the clinical outcomes in terms of pain, stiffness, mobility and grade of disability. However imaging findings might be vital to demonstrate, standardize and following up the improvement or failure of the joint tissue that we aimed to recover. Specifically we can say that our preferred markers of tissue restoration are modifications in capsulebursa tissue, the cartilage layer, the bone distortions and bone marrows rearrangements.
It seems quite odd that X-rays are still nowadays almost solely accepted and standardized as criterion to confront orthopedics outcomes. That would be reasonable considering trauma, prosthetic surgery, ostheomilelytis, and congenital or vascular bone’s problems. We deem that X-rays are utterly inadequate to study, measure and compare clinical results in regenerative medicine.
In OA patients are classified following the Kellgren and Lawrence Scale (K&L) for radiological X-rays assessment of DJD. The scale defines four pathological degrees for OA: Grade I: doubtful narrowing of joint space and possible osteophyticlipping. Grade II: definite osteophytes, definite narrowing of joint space. Grade III: moderate multiple osteophytes, definite narrowing of joint space, some sclerosis, and possible deformity of bone contour (pre-ankylosis).
Grade IV: large osteophytes, marked narrowing of joint space, severe sclerosis and deformity of bone contour (ankylosis) [6,7]. These assessment criteria just show a minimal part of the story.
Indeed it is impossible to catch all the minimal joints modifications that have great biological and clinical meaning through traditional radiological analysis, given that most of the impact occurs on soft tissue as the fibro-cartilaginous compartment and the capsulaligament tissue. X-rays give precise information only in case of degenerative chondrocalcinosys. In this case the radiological opacities of the calcium deposits in the cartilage layer seem to be related with grade of OA degeneration. Sometimes, after regenerative treatment X-rays shows the reabsorption of calcium deposits which is an indirect sign of tissue activation and possible regeneration (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Right Knee: severe chondrocalcinosis in DJD [1]. A) Before treatment. B) After treatment (6 months follow-up). Mainly the medial compartment of the knee had been treated.
Patients that seem to reverse and improving their K&L grade after regenerative procedure, there are considered of undetermined significance and not reliable as a marker of real tissue upgrading.
MRI should be the standardized imaging able to catch joint soft tissue modifications. In fact MRI shows the fibro-cartilaginous layer and in case of regeneration, the formation of the “neo cartilaginous matrix”. The intensity of the signal of the neo-matrix is similar in MRI, to that produced by the original. Furthermore the color in the grey scale from white to black is an additional indicator to define the quality of regenerating tissue in comparison to the natural cartilage. The thickness of the bursa-capsule is a very important parameter; it generally increases its thickness with chronic inflammation.
The measure of this joint component before and after treatment is a significant indicator of the reversal of the disease. Traditional radiology has major limits in its ability to highlight the structural modifications of soft tissue that become apparent when X-ray and MR images of the same patient are compared.
We believe that the greater specificity and sensitivity of MRI will increase the percentage of patients showing a real down staging of DJD, once standard criteria will be introduced (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Rx vs MR of a 53-year-old patient before and after treatment. This comparative figure shows the right knee of a man whounderwentgelrepairer treatment mostly focused on the medial joint compartment. X-ray imaging results do not change from 2005 to 2010, and sothe K&L scale is steady. Comparing MR imagery after and before treatment, however, shows evidence of the recovery of thickness in the soft tissue layer and a great improvement over bone damage through diminishing erosion and pseudocyst marrow.
Basic MRI parameters to be introduced in Regenerative Joint Surgery:
1) Thickness of capsule and bursa tissue
2) Thickness of cartilage layer measured in three coronal plans (anterior, midline and posterior)
3) Color Grey scale (from white to black) of the cartilage layer
4) Bone erosion and pseudo-cyst marrow monitoring.
In conclusion our proposal is to introduce MRI as golden standard and objective criterion for the measurement of structural joint modifications, which may happen in mid or long term after regenerative tissue procedures. The above listed four basic factors may be a first and easy proposal, which after the introductions of appropriate units of measures would allow to quantitatively determining the effectiveness of tissue regenerations in the treated joints.
4. Gallagher JT, Lyon M. Heparan Sulfate: Molecular structure and interactions with growth factors and morphogens. In: Iozzo RV. Proteoglycans: structure, biology and molecular interactions. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, New York. 2000. pp. 27-59.
Nicola VD and Pietrantonio MD. MRI in Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD): A Proposal for Imaging Standardization in Regenerative Medicine. SM Musculoskelet Disord. 2016; 1(1): 1006.
Occlusion is biologically defined as the coordinated functional interaction between the various cell populations forming the masticatory system as they differentiate, model, remodel, fail and repair
Talia Becker*
Achilles tendon is a common site of foot and ankle discomfort but its rupture is not frequent. It’s a superficial tendon and this lends it to excellent evaluation by sonography instead of magnetic resonance imaging. Recently ultrasonography has been widely used in musculoskeletal practice. We present a case of Achilles tendon ruptures diagnosed based on fundamental sonographic findings.
Arash Babaei-Ghazani¹,², Safoora Ebadi¹,², Bijan Forogh¹,³, and Bina Eftekharsadat⁴*
Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most common skeletal disorders characterized by cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation in joints, is induced by accumulated mechanical stress; however, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Several experimental OA models in mice by producing instability in the knee joints have been developed to apply approaches from mouse genetics. Although proteinases like matrix metalloproteases and aggrecanases have now been proven to be the principal initiators of OA progression, clinical trials of proteinase inhibitors have not been successful for the treatment, turning the interest of researchers to the upstream signals of proteinase induction. These signals include under graded and fragmented matrix proteins like type II collagen or fibronection that affects chondrocytes through distinct receptors. Another signal is pro inflammatory factors that are produced by chondrocytes and synovial cells; however, recent studies that used mouse OA models in knockout mice did not support that these factors have a role in the central contribution to OA development. Our mouse genetic approaches found that the induction of a transcriptional activator Runx2 in chondrocytes under mechanical stress contributes to the pathogenesis of OA through chondrocyte hypertrophy. In addition, chondrocyte apoptosis has recently been identified as being involved in OA progression. We hereby propose that these endochondral ossification signals may be important for the OA progression, suggesting that the related molecules can clinically be therapeutic targets of this disease.
Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Estimating the Knee Functional Axis (KFA) is crucial to both correctly implanting the prosthesis and accessing the joint kinematics. Researchers have mainly reported KFA by manual management of flexion extension movements, which are passively performed without any voluntary movements. Active touch and movement refers to what is ordinarily called as touching, which is defined as variations in skin stimulation caused by variations in a person’s motor activity.
The difference is very important for the individual. However, it has not been emphasized in the biomechanical literatures. This study aims to confirm the distinction between touching and being touched. We are particularly interested in measuring the Instantaneous Axes of the Knee (IAK) during locomotion. This geometrical “pattern” of the IAK is altered along with the touch pattern by the mechanical necessities of terrestrial movement.
Wangdo Kim¹, Young Choi², and Hong-Gi Lee³*
Although fractures of the epiphyseal cartilage injuries are common in childhood, epiphyseal fractures involving the proximal tibia entities are very rare and are usually caused by high-energy trauma, with an incidence ranging between 0.5 and 3.1% of patients; peak incidence between the ages 12-14 years in male patients. The aim of this report is describe a case of fracture of the epiphyseal cartilage of a 13 year old boy, a victim of sports trauma showing lateral tibial plateau fracture and epiphyseal cartilage fracture at the same side, not compatible with the classifications of fractures in children.
Omar Ferreira Miguel
The twentieth century epidemic of low back pain has continued unabated into the 21st century. Up to 20% of the Australian population will experience low back pain at some stage of their lives
J Saunders¹, M Cusi¹,³ and H Van der Wall¹,²*
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Wricha Mishra
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Baikeev RF¹, Mikusev GI², Osmonaliyev IZh², Zakirov RH² and Afletonov EN²*
Metallosis is an aseptic fibrosis, local necrosis, inflammation, or loosening of an implant device secondary to metallic corrosion and release of wear debris. The condition has been highlighted recent years due to the clinical complications caused by metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement. Although some major types of MoM hip prostheses have been recalled from the market, metallosis is far from over as not only there are still a million implanted MoM hip prosthetic cases worldwide, but also it has been found in non-MoM hip prostheses and other metal implants. This mini review aims to provide recent findings of implants related metallosisin skeletal tissue.
Zhidao Xia
Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative disease of the articular cartilage, is one of the most frequent pathologies of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), characterized by spontaneous pain at rest or in function, decreased range of motion, and articular noise.
Talia Becker