Exploring the Properties of Deer Antler Velvet (DAV) and its Potential Use in Dentistry: A Narrative Review

@#For centuries, deer antler velvet (DAV) has been a staple in traditional medicine due to its numerous health benefits, including immune stimulation, anti-ageing, wound healing, and anti-osteoporosis properties. Researchers attribute the therapeutic advantages of DAV to various compounds in its extract, ranging from growth hormones to minerals and amino acids. Recently, there has been renewed interest in these natural products for their potential use in treating chronic diseases such as bone health and development, bacterial infections, and sports supplementation to increase athletic performance. The available literature supports that DAV significantly affects bone development, chondrogenesis, and antimicrobial properties, making it a valuable resource in medical and dental settings. This review aims to provide an in-depth overview of the potential applications of DAV in modern medicine and dentistry.

Ethical Issues in Tissue Engineering: A Systematic Review

@#This study examines, classifies and discusses the ethical issues of tissue engineering published in selected online databases from the year 2015 to 2020. In overview, the published literature could be classified according to the type of ethical issues discussed, the phase in development in which the ethical issues are prominently existing and into the type of journal they are published. It proceeds with in-depth discussions on selected relevant issues that deemed to be needing further attention and clarification. It will give the readers a broad mapping of ethical issues currently existing and discussed in the context of tissue engineering and highlights the conventional responses on the issues.

Legal Aspects of Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering Experimentation: A Review on Malaysian Acts, Regulations and Guidelines

@#Presently, there is no specific federal legislation governing articular cartilage tissue engineering (ACTE) experimentation practices in Malaysia. However, there are related regulations and guidelines provided by government agencies to oversee and guide such practices. The rules and regulations provided in the documents have the essential aim of safeguarding public health through ensuring that non-clinical studies reach a certain quality, efficient and safe for human use. There are themes identified when scrutinising relevant documents which includes, the need for authorised personnel and the establishment of facilities in conducting such experiments, the aspect of cell-scaffold construct development, the use of human materials, the aspect of biosafety, animal care and use during the experiments, and considerations on the impact on the environment. The individual laboratory or facility shall adopt and adapt these standards as deemed appropriate by the ACTE researchers to ensure that non-clinical studies are conducted in a proper and ethical manner.

Matrix Production in Chondrocytes Transfected with Sex Determining Region Y-Box 9 and Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Genes: An In Vitro Evaluation from Monolayer Culture to Three-Dimensional Culture

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to observe the cartilaginous matrix production in SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9)- and/or telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-transfected chondrocytes from monolayer to three-dimensional (3D) culture.

Tissue engineered cartilage with different human chondrocyte sources: auricular and nasal septum

Tissue engineering is a new biotechnological field that has emerged recently, providing an alternative to the treatment of damages and defects of human tissues. Amongst the most researched tissues is cartilage. In this study, the general characteristics of chondrocytes derived from three different sources in the body: articular, auricular and nasal septum cartilage, were investigated, looking both at cellular and tissue construct levels. With the approval of Research and Ethical Committee of Medical Faculty, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, redundant cartilages from human articular, auricular and nasal septum were obtained from several patients during surgical procedures. Samples were digested and chondrocytes obtained were cultured in a mixture of Ham's F12 : DMEM medium. All three chondrocyte sources were found to behave quite similarly in terms of cell morphology, gene expressions and histological analysis. No significant difference of the growth rates was shown by the three chondrocyte sources. Histological analysis via H and E and Safranin O stainings of the tissue-engineered cartilages demonstrate resemblance to the native cartilage. Gene expression results showed that collagen type II expression reduces after every passage, and collagen type I gene is expressed as early as P0, however, there were re-expressions of Collagen Type II gene in the in vivo construct. We have successfully engineered cartilage tissues which are similar to the native cartilage, using sources from articular, auricular and nasal septum chondrocytes