Assessment of the osteogenic potential of alendronate on isolated adipose-derived stem cells: an ex-vivo and in-vivo study

Tissue engineering relies on the principle that mesenchymal stem cells are capable of differentiating to optimize almost all craniofacial structures. Temporary biomimetic scaffolds are necessary for accommodating cell growth and tissue genesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alendronate on adipose-derived stem cells [ADSCs] from dogs and to compare bone regeneration in critical-sized calvarial bone defect in dogs using ADSCs in the presence and the absence of locally delivered alendronate. Seven dogs were used for the study. After isolating the adipose tissue from the inguinal pad of fat, stem cells were harvested and expanded in culture. The effect of alendronate 1 mg/ml on stem cells' osteogenic differentiation was tested for 7 days. Three critical-sized calvarial defects were created in each dog. One defect was filled with stem cells seeded on a chitosan scaffold and soaked in an osteogenic media, the second was fi lled with stem cells seeded on a chitosan scaffold and soaked with osteogenic medium, and the third one was fi lled with stem cells seeded on a chitosan scaffold. Bone formation was tested histologically after 8 weeks in each defect. Alendronate is capable of inducing osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs after 7 days of in-vitro culture. Bones such as trabeculae were deposited in alendronate and osteogenic medium defects, whereas the control group showed only fibrous tissue formation. There was no statistically significant difference in the surface area of the deposited bone trabeculae between the alendronate group and the osteogenic medium group. The surface area of individual bone trabeculae in this group was 147.99 +/- 14.803 compared with the osteogenic group. Alendronate may be used locally at a concentration of 10 mg/ml to induce osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs both in vitro and in vivo. The combination of a local, short-term alendronate treatment with ADSCs and biodegradable chitosan scaffold enhances the bone repair of a critical-sized calvarial defect in vivo

Arthroscopic microfracture of chondral ulcers in osteoarthritis of the knee joint: a comparison of two postoperative rehabilitation programs

A hypothesis was put that the treatment of focal, full-thickness chondral defects in cases of non-deformed symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by an identical method of arthroscopic microfracture but with different postoperative regimens would not produce similar results. A randomized prospective clinical study in which the postoperative management was the major variable. Eighty six patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint treated over a six-year period [1999-2005] with a focal 2-3 cm2, full thickness, and solitary degenerative chondral lesion. They had arthroscopic microfractures distributed with 3-4 mm intervals. Postoperatively one group was treated with non-weight bearing and continuous passive knee mobilization for 6 weeks [group I]. The other group was allowed weight bearing as tolerated and did not use CPM but used active knee mobilization from full extension to the maximum knee flexion as tolerated [group II]. Evaluation was done based on subjective and objective criteria in comparison with the preoperative record, and was tabulated using Lysholm and Tegner knee scores. Results were compared using an independent t-test, or f-square test with significance assumed for p<0.05. 12 patients were lost to follow up leaving only 76 patients for evaluation with an average 5-years follow up period. The mean age was 50 years, and there were 28 males, and 46 females at the final follow up. For group I, Lysholm scores were 52 preoperative, 78 postoperative, and Tegner scores were 2 and 4, respectively. Group II Lysholm scores were 52 preoperative, 80 postoperative, and Tegner scores were 2 and 4, respectively. No statistically significant differences between groups were noted. In relatively small degenerative chondral defects treated by arthroscopic microfracture, this study found no difference in results comparing two rehabilitation programs differing by weight bearing status and use of CPM. Level III, Case Control Study

Prevalence of lymphotropic virues among patients with lymphoproliferative disorders

The involvement of viruses in the pathogenesis of malignancies is one of the major fields of research. The lymphotropic: Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], Human Herpes virus-6 [HHV-6], and Human T-Lymphoma/Leukemia virus [HTLV-1] have some roles in the pathogenesis of diverse types of neoplasms. The human CD4+ T-lymphocytes and monocytes are the major targets for Human immunodeficiency virus type 1[HIV-1]. One of the most important clinical finding in AIDS patients is lymph node enlargement. In this study we evaluated the association between diverse pathological and etiological types of lymph node enlargements including nasopharvugeal carcinoma [NPC], and lymphotropic viruses as a lymphotropic virus-associated disorder. The presence of [EBV] / [HHV-6] and [HTLV-1], which are the most common lymphotropic viruses and may act as co-factors with HIV-1 infection, was also investigated. The lymphoproliferative disorders included: Non Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, Tuberculous Lymphadenitis, lymphatic reactive hyperplasia, and diverse types of non specific lymphadenitis. Enzyme immunoassays, for detection of antibodies to HIV-1, and HTLV-1 were used, while the indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to screen for antibody to EBV and HHV-6 in sera, western blot [WB] was used for HIV- results 1 and HTLV-1 confirmation. Results indicated that 0/133 patients with NEC or lymph node enlargement whether malignant or reactive was HIV-1 positive; 31/133 [36%] were EBV IgG viral capsid antigen positive by IFA, 26/133 [19.5%] were HTLV-1 positive by ELISA; one case only [0.75%] was confirmed by WB; 46/133 [34.5%,] were HHV-6 positive by IFA

Immunohistological findings in otosclerosis

Twenty-four stapes specimens obtained from 24 otosclerotic ears were collected during stapedectomies and were examined histologically [Hx and E] and immunohistologically [peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique] for immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M and C3 complement. Immunohistological changes similar to those occurring in the active and inactive otosclerotic foci of the footplate are possible to be present in the head